Itinerary in Paris: what to visit during your stay in the City of Lights

Today. we are talking about a place that is practically an open-air museum, which surprises us at every corner. Check out our guide to getting to know Paris while spending 1 to 3 days (or more) in the city and start organizing your trip now! Prepared?

1 day itinerary in Paris

City of love, capital of fashion, gastronomy, with lots of history, culture and glamour. Yes, the City of Lights is all this and much more. But you don’t want to know everything at once. Paris is a destination with many attractions and countless charming places and must be visited and revisited. No matter how much you’ve been there, there’s always something new to see.

If it’s your first time in the French capital, know that you’ll need at least a 3-day itinerary to get to know Paris.

With a week available, it will be possible to do everything more calmly, making the most of each place, and even enjoying the various possibilities of traveling to nearby cities.

Eiffel Tower

Start your tour of Paris at the iconic tower, symbol of France, the Eiffel Tower . The monument is one of the best known in the world and is part of the imagination of tourists when they talk about Paris. At 330 meters high, it can be seen from various points in the city.

The tip is to arrive early to make the most of it, before you encounter a crowd. To climb the tower, buy a ticket in advance with access to the second floor or the top and keep in mind that you will need at least two hours. But it’s worth it, not only for the experience, but also for the spectacular 360-degree view of Paris!

Then, go to Trocadéro Square, where you have the best view of the Eiffel Tower, and prepare your cell phone or camera for lots of clicks.

Remembering that another attraction is seeing the tower lit up at night, as soon as it gets dark, and flashing, every full hour. A true spectacle!

Arch of Triumph

Head to the other side of the River Seine to see the Arc de Triomphe , another symbol of the city. Take bus number 30 (Pigalle) and enjoy the journey to see the city, the great advantage of this means of transport. Get off at Charles de Gaulle-Étoile-Kléber and you will be right in front of the Arch.

Champs-Élysées

Right in front of the Arc de Triomphe is the Champs-Élysées, one of the most famous and elegant avenues on the planet, with its luxury shops, cafes and restaurants. Walk slowly and take a break to eat something and enjoy the scenery.

Louvre Museum

On the Champs-Élysées itself, take the metro at Franklin Roosevelt station and get off at the Palais Royal – Musée du Louvre stop. You will be in front of the largest art museum in the world, an old palace where there are treasures such as Mona Lisa, by Leonardo da Vinci, the Venus de Milo sculpture and many other highlights.

If you want to enter the Louvre Museum , buy the ticket in advance, but, due to the limited time available, a suggestion is to leave it for a next opportunity, this way you don’t have to see everything in a hurry and you can make the most of your visit. Then, get to know the outside, such as the 17th century architecture, the great pyramid and the inverted pyramid, located underground.

2 day itinerary in Paris

With two days in Paris it is already possible to see some other tourist attractions and even visit the Louvre Museum.

Entrance to the Louvre Museum

Start the day with the Louvre, as, with a little more time, you can discover part of the museum’s rich collection. Don’t forget to buy your ticket in advance and schedule a time.

At the museum, prioritize your visit by choosing the collections you would like to see. And if you don’t manage to do everything you planned, don’t worry, as the Louvre is huge and it takes several visits to see the works on display.

Île de la Cité

After the museum, head towards Île de la Cité. Walk along the riverbank and pass next to the beautiful Pont Neuf, the oldest bridge crossing the Seine, which began construction in 1578.

Then cross the Pont au Change, arriving at the island. Now you will get to know the Île de la Cité, where Notre Dame is also located. Take a break for lunch or something to eat.

Conciergerie

First stop: Conciergerie. Built on the banks of the River Seine, it is another important – and beautiful – French monument. During the French Revolution it was transformed into a prison, where important characters in history were imprisoned and sentenced to death. The most famous prisoner is Marie Antoinette.

Palace of justice

Stop to observe the Palace of Justice, which is nearby. Here is the headquarters of France’s main legal institutions. The architectural complex occupies the space of the medieval Palais de la Cité, the former palace of the kings of France, which also includes the Saint Chapelle and the Conciergerie.

Sainte-Chapelle

Next, visit the Sainte-Chapelle , known for storing Christ’s crown of thorns. Of Gothic architecture, the former royal chapel was built in the 13th century by Louis IX and has 15 huge windows each 15 meters high.

Its colorful stained glass windows depict scenes from the Old and New Testaments and make a wall of light inside. Don’t forget to buy tickets in advance.

3 day itinerary in Paris

Take advantage of your three days in the city to discover other attractions and stroll through beautiful parks and charming streets.

Île de Saint-Louis

Early in the morning, stroll along the charming Île de Saint-Louis, in the 4th arrondissement. Walk calmly through the small streets lined with historic residential buildings and discover this charming region with a village atmosphere.

Pantheon

On foot or by bus (numbers 86 or 89), you reach the next stop: the Panthéon, located in the Latin Quarter. Built between 1758 and 1790, the monument was originally commissioned by King Louis XV to be a church, but over time it became a mausoleum for French personalities.

Its crypt houses the tombs of Voltaire, Jean Jacques Russeau, Alexandre Dumas, among others.

In the center of the Panthéon there is the Foucault Pendulum, an experiment by the French physicist that demonstrates the rotation of the Earth. Buy your ticket in advance and avoid queues.

Luxembourg Garden

Do you want to rest for a while and enjoy the landscape? Go to the Luxembourg Gardens , which is very close to the Panthéon and is one of the most popular parks in Paris.

Designed in 1612, the park covers 25 hectares and has plants, flowers, an orchid garden, statues, the Medici Fountain, the Luxembourg Palace (former royal residence) and a lake where children enjoy playing with sailing boats with flags. of countries.

Saint-Germain-des-Prés

Then, head out for a walk in the upscale garden district of Saint-Germain-des-Prés in the 6th arrondissement. Along the route, there is no shortage of cafes, restaurants and shops. Take a lunch break.

Les Invalides

If you like history and wars, this visit is unmissable! The majestic complex with the golden dome was built in the 17th century to serve as a hospital for the wounded of the French army who fought in the war.

Its initial function continues, however, the monument is also home to the Weapons Museum which, with a rich collection, tells the military history of France. Furthermore, just below the dome is the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte.