5 days in Paris
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How to spend 5 days in Paris
Paris: the city that takes too many lifetimes to see. Just when you think you’ve seen everything, you find new attractions, new cafés, or new markets to explore. It’s impossible to try to see it all or even begin to think you can. Many travelers come for about three days and try to see the highlights of this beautiful city. You need more time than that. I think you should plan on spending at least five days in Paris in order to see the bare minimum of what the City of Lights has to offer.
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Day 1
Spend your first day walking around Paris.
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Start at the Champs-Élysées and see the Arc de Triomphe. There isn’t a long line, and you’ll get sweeping views of the city.
Jardin des Tuileries
Walk down the Champs-Élysées through the Place de la Concorde and the Jardin des Tuileries. Stop and admire the Louvre before continuing down Rue Rivoli and crossing into the original part of the city.
Notre Dame
Visit Notre Dame, an amazing Gothic church. Get there early to avoid the lines to the Bell Tower. Visit the underground Roman ruins and the Saint-Chapelle Church. Personally, I think this church is far more beautiful than Notre Dame, and the stained glass windows are some of my favorites in the world.
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Latin Quarter
Head south toward the Latin Quarter. The area is pretty touristy, but if you get off the main drag, you’ll find yourself in a labyrinth of alleys and café-lined squares that are far away from the local tourist hangouts. Plus, it’s a good way to get lost in a beautiful part of Paris and just explore.
Pantheon & Jardin du Luxembourg
Visit the Pantheon before heading west toward the Jardin du Luxembourg, where you can relax and watch life go by. There’s great people-watching here.
Recommendation of Hotels in Paris
Saint Sulpice
After that, head north to see Saint Sulpice. If you’re into The Da Vinci Code, you’ll be looking for symbols and hidden meanings throughout this church. If symbols don’t interest you, just marvel at how grandiose it is.
Stop at a café
By this time, it should be late in the afternoon. It’s a perfect time to stop in a café, order some wine, and relax the Parisian way.
Day 2
Use one day to see Paris’s three most popular museums:
The Louvre
With over a million pieces of art, you could spend a whole month in the Louvre and still not see everything! I don’t particularly enjoy medieval art; it’s too religious for me, and I can only see so many pictures of Mary and Jesus before I get bored. Nevertheless, the museum is worth seeing and I spent about five hours exploring all the masterpieces and marveling at the old royal palace.
Musée d’Orsay
The Musée d’Orsay, located in close proximity to the Louvre, houses the best impressionist and post-impressionist work in Paris. This is my favorite museum, and I always go when I’m Paris. You’ll find masterpieces by all the great artists of the world, including Degas, Monet, Manet, and Van Gogh, to name a few. I could spend hours there.
Musée de l’Orangerie
Finish off a wild museum day with this Monet showcase. The museum displays eight tapestry-sized Nymphéas (water lilies) paintings housed in two plain oval rooms. Monet painted these images later in his life, and each one represents a different time of day and season. There’s a bottom floor that shows other works too.
Over 150,000 hotels in top destinations
Budget Tip: Get the Paris museum pass. The four-day pass is 50 euros and will save you 50 euros or more if you just want to spend your time museum-hopping, as it covers these museums, a few others, and the Palace of Versailles.
Day 3
The Palace of Versailles
A trip to the Palace of Versailles takes a full day, as it’s located outside the city and you’ll need to take the train to get there. Spend the day exploring the château, get lost in the surrounding gardens, and make sure you see Marie Antoinette’s estate, which includes a fake peasant village. Versailles is beautiful, so don’t rush it. Most people see the Palace first, then the gardens, and then Marie-Antoinette’s estate. If you do everything in reverse, you’ll be able to avoid the crowds.
Moreover, go on weekdays to avoid paying for the gardens, since they charge on weekends.
Day 4
Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is beautiful and best seen in the early morning to avoid the crowds. Get there right as it opens, and you’ll be able to avoid most of the lines to the top. If you get there around midday, you’ll find yourself waiting in line for hours. I like coming here after going to Rue Cler (see below) and having a picnic on the grass and people-watching. I once saw a bunch of Parisian kids practicing Michael Jackson’s moonwalk dance.
Rue Cler
Located near the Eiffel Tower, this street is filled with good Parisian eateries. You’ll find cheese, meat, bread, vegetable, and chocolate stores to explore. I never walk away from this street without a pile of food and wine. I eat my way through this street and then buy more for later. It’s one of my favorite streets in the city.
Paris Sewer Tour
This tour is definitely an off-the-beaten-path attraction and isn’t too far away from the Eiffel Tower. Guests who take this underground tour can learn about the interesting history of Paris’s sewer system. You may be put off by the idea of a “sewer tour,” but don’t be. The smell isn’t too bad, and you’ll learn how Paris functions.
The Museum of the Shoah (the Holocaust Museum)
Despite having an excellent exhibit on France, anti-Semitism, and the Holocaust, the Museum of the Shoah never draws a lot of people. It’s a real shame, as the information and collection here is really great and in depth. (I think the French are trying to atone for their anti-Semitic past!) I’ve been to many Holocaust museums, and this is one of the best and most detailed in the world.
Day 5
Paris Catacombs
The Catacombs of Paris are a fascinating but grim tourist attraction. They go on for miles (no one really knows how far), and the endless winding tunnels house thousands of bones. It’s morbid but an interesting look into the history of Paris. They’re often closed, so check ahead before you walk down to try to see them.
Rue Mouffetard
This street is filled with cafés and shops and has an outdoor market. It’s a great street to just wander down or to sit in front of a café and watch life go by. Make sure to stop by the nearby Place de la Contrescarpe, where artists for decades spent their time. There are good, inexpensive restaurants in the area too.
Montmartre
Another artistic center of Paris, this is where artists and writers like Hemingway spent their time. There’s still a lot of art, and you’ll find galleries and artists on the streets throughout the area. The streets are quiet and beautiful to wander around. The church offers a great view of the city and is a great place to have lunch.
Directly opposite Église Saint-Pierre de Montmartre is Place du Tertre. This is probably one of the most touristy spots in all of Paris! Filled with buskers and portrait artists, it was originally the main square of the village of Montmartre. Be careful of overly flattery painters as there is no free paintings over here. Just say "Non, merci" to reject them. If you do intend to get your photos taken, walk around to find an artist of your choice and agree on the price before starting! I did not get my picture drawn as it would take 30 minutes to an hour! Make sure you do have the time. For oil paintings, you could walk out of the square to the neighbouring streets for better prices.
If you follow the path carefully, you will find shops selling posters of famous pictures. 1 for 6€ and 3 for 15€. Much cheaper as compared to Place du Tretre.
Moulin Rouge
After wandering Montmartre, head into the “seedy” district of Paris. This is where you can take in a show at the Moulin Rouge or just wander around and witness the interesting mix of tourists and locals awkwardly gazing into sex shops.
Père Lachaise Cemetery
Finish off the day with a train ride east of the city center to visit Paris’s most famous graveyard, where you’ll see the graves of celebrities like Antonio de La Gandara, Honoré de Balzac, Sarah Bernhardt, Frédéric Chopin, Jim Morrison, Édith Piaf, Camille Pissarro, Gertrude Stein, and Oscar Wilde. It’s beautiful (can we call a place of death beautiful?).
Even with five days, you’ll barely scratch the surface of Paris. It’s a huge city that takes a lifetime to really see. But you’ll see some of the on- and off-the-beaten-path attractions as well as get a chance to experience some of the great food and nightlife the city has to offer. I could have squeezed more stuff into this itinerary, but why rush things? This way you have some free time to wander, shop, have a picnic, and just relax. After all, Paris is best explored calmly and slowly.
Recommendation of Hotels in Paris
Saint Sulpice
After that, head north to see Saint Sulpice. If you’re into The Da Vinci Code, you’ll be looking for symbols and hidden meanings throughout this church. If symbols don’t interest you, just marvel at how grandiose it is.
Stop at a café
By this time, it should be late in the afternoon. It’s a perfect time to stop in a café, order some wine, and relax the Parisian way.
Day 2
Use one day to see Paris’s three most popular museums:
The Louvre
With over a million pieces of art, you could spend a whole month in the Louvre and still not see everything! I don’t particularly enjoy medieval art; it’s too religious for me, and I can only see so many pictures of Mary and Jesus before I get bored. Nevertheless, the museum is worth seeing and I spent about five hours exploring all the masterpieces and marveling at the old royal palace.
Musée d’Orsay
The Musée d’Orsay, located in close proximity to the Louvre, houses the best impressionist and post-impressionist work in Paris. This is my favorite museum, and I always go when I’m Paris. You’ll find masterpieces by all the great artists of the world, including Degas, Monet, Manet, and Van Gogh, to name a few. I could spend hours there.
Musée de l’Orangerie
Finish off a wild museum day with this Monet showcase. The museum displays eight tapestry-sized Nymphéas (water lilies) paintings housed in two plain oval rooms. Monet painted these images later in his life, and each one represents a different time of day and season. There’s a bottom floor that shows other works too.
Over 150,000 hotels in top destinations
Budget Tip: Get the Paris museum pass. The four-day pass is 50 euros and will save you 50 euros or more if you just want to spend your time museum-hopping, as it covers these museums, a few others, and the Palace of Versailles.
Day 3
The Palace of Versailles
A trip to the Palace of Versailles takes a full day, as it’s located outside the city and you’ll need to take the train to get there. Spend the day exploring the château, get lost in the surrounding gardens, and make sure you see Marie Antoinette’s estate, which includes a fake peasant village. Versailles is beautiful, so don’t rush it. Most people see the Palace first, then the gardens, and then Marie-Antoinette’s estate. If you do everything in reverse, you’ll be able to avoid the crowds.
Moreover, go on weekdays to avoid paying for the gardens, since they charge on weekends.
Day 4
Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is beautiful and best seen in the early morning to avoid the crowds. Get there right as it opens, and you’ll be able to avoid most of the lines to the top. If you get there around midday, you’ll find yourself waiting in line for hours. I like coming here after going to Rue Cler (see below) and having a picnic on the grass and people-watching. I once saw a bunch of Parisian kids practicing Michael Jackson’s moonwalk dance.
Rue Cler
Located near the Eiffel Tower, this street is filled with good Parisian eateries. You’ll find cheese, meat, bread, vegetable, and chocolate stores to explore. I never walk away from this street without a pile of food and wine. I eat my way through this street and then buy more for later. It’s one of my favorite streets in the city.
Paris Sewer Tour
This tour is definitely an off-the-beaten-path attraction and isn’t too far away from the Eiffel Tower. Guests who take this underground tour can learn about the interesting history of Paris’s sewer system. You may be put off by the idea of a “sewer tour,” but don’t be. The smell isn’t too bad, and you’ll learn how Paris functions.
The Museum of the Shoah (the Holocaust Museum)
Despite having an excellent exhibit on France, anti-Semitism, and the Holocaust, the Museum of the Shoah never draws a lot of people. It’s a real shame, as the information and collection here is really great and in depth. (I think the French are trying to atone for their anti-Semitic past!) I’ve been to many Holocaust museums, and this is one of the best and most detailed in the world.
Day 5
Paris Catacombs
The Catacombs of Paris are a fascinating but grim tourist attraction. They go on for miles (no one really knows how far), and the endless winding tunnels house thousands of bones. It’s morbid but an interesting look into the history of Paris. They’re often closed, so check ahead before you walk down to try to see them.
Rue Mouffetard
This street is filled with cafés and shops and has an outdoor market. It’s a great street to just wander down or to sit in front of a café and watch life go by. Make sure to stop by the nearby Place de la Contrescarpe, where artists for decades spent their time. There are good, inexpensive restaurants in the area too.
Montmartre
Directly opposite Église Saint-Pierre de Montmartre is Place du Tertre. This is probably one of the most touristy spots in all of Paris! Filled with buskers and portrait artists, it was originally the main square of the village of Montmartre. Be careful of overly flattery painters as there is no free paintings over here. Just say "Non, merci" to reject them. If you do intend to get your photos taken, walk around to find an artist of your choice and agree on the price before starting! I did not get my picture drawn as it would take 30 minutes to an hour! Make sure you do have the time. For oil paintings, you could walk out of the square to the neighbouring streets for better prices.
Le Poulbot is one of the restaurant near Place du Tretre.
You could dine here as it is one of the recommended restaurants at Montmartre.
You could dine here as it is one of the recommended restaurants at Montmartre.
If you follow the path carefully, you will find shops selling posters of famous pictures. 1 for 6€ and 3 for 15€. Much cheaper as compared to Place du Tretre.
Moulin Rouge
After wandering Montmartre, head into the “seedy” district of Paris. This is where you can take in a show at the Moulin Rouge or just wander around and witness the interesting mix of tourists and locals awkwardly gazing into sex shops.
Père Lachaise Cemetery
Finish off the day with a train ride east of the city center to visit Paris’s most famous graveyard, where you’ll see the graves of celebrities like Antonio de La Gandara, Honoré de Balzac, Sarah Bernhardt, Frédéric Chopin, Jim Morrison, Édith Piaf, Camille Pissarro, Gertrude Stein, and Oscar Wilde. It’s beautiful (can we call a place of death beautiful?).
Even with five days, you’ll barely scratch the surface of Paris. It’s a huge city that takes a lifetime to really see. But you’ll see some of the on- and off-the-beaten-path attractions as well as get a chance to experience some of the great food and nightlife the city has to offer. I could have squeezed more stuff into this itinerary, but why rush things? This way you have some free time to wander, shop, have a picnic, and just relax. After all, Paris is best explored calmly and slowly.
