Four days cover the essentials without rushing; with five you can add Versailles or Disneyland. The big monuments and museums work with timed reservations, so plan before you arrive and buy online.
What to see in Paris: top sights
Eiffel Tower
The symbol of Paris, built for the 1889 World’s Fair. You can take the lift or the stairs to the second floor, and the lift to the summit at 276 metres. At night it lights up and sparkles for a few minutes at the start of every hour.
Recommended time: 2–3 h
Tip: Buy your ticket online in advance and pick a time: queues without a booking are very long. The best photos of the tower are taken from the Trocadéro.
The Louvre
The world’s most visited museum, in the former royal palace: the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, the Winged Victory of Samothrace and whole wings of painting, sculpture and antiquities. Impossible to see in one day, so choose your wings.
Recommended time: 3–4 h
Tip: Book a timed ticket on the official website and enter through the Carrousel gallery, which usually has a shorter queue than the pyramid.
Notre-Dame
The Gothic cathedral on the Île de la Cité, reopened in December 2024 after the restoration that followed the 2019 fire. Inside it is brighter than ever; outside, its gargoyles and rose windows remain the image of Gothic architecture.
Recommended time: 1 h
Tip: Entry is free; you can book a time slot online to skip the queue.
Sainte-Chapelle
A short walk from Notre-Dame, the 13th-century royal chapel is almost all stained glass: more than 600 square metres of coloured glass that turns the interior into a kaleidoscope on a sunny day.
Recommended time: 45 min
Montmartre and the Sacré-Cœur
The painters’ hill: the white Sacré-Cœur basilica with views over all of Paris, the Place du Tertre full of easels, vineyards, the Moulin Rouge at the bottom and steep streets that still feel like a village.
Recommended time: Half a day
Musée d’Orsay
A former railway station turned into the great museum of Impressionism: Monet, Renoir, Degas, Van Gogh and Cézanne under an iron and glass vault. The giant clock on the top floor is one of the most photographed spots in Paris.
Recommended time: 2–3 h
Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Élysées
The world’s most famous avenue runs from Place de la Concorde up to the Arc de Triomphe, in the middle of Place de l’Étoile. Its rooftop, reached by stairs, offers one of the best views of the grand boulevards.
Recommended time: 1–2 h
Seine cruise
A one-hour boat trip passes the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Orsay and Notre-Dame. At dusk, with the monuments lit up, it is one of the loveliest things to do in the city.
Recommended time: 1 h
Le Marais
17th-century mansions, the Place des Vosges, the Jewish quarter and its falafel, art galleries, design shops and the Picasso Museum. It is the liveliest neighbourhood for walking and eating.
Recommended time: Half a day
Latin Quarter and Luxembourg Gardens
The neighbourhood of the Sorbonne, the Panthéon and second-hand bookshops such as Shakespeare and Company. Next door, the Luxembourg Gardens, with their palace, fountains and the green chairs where Parisians sit.
Recommended time: Half a day
Day trips from Paris
Versailles
About 40 min by RER C train
The Sun King’s palace: the Hall of Mirrors, the royal apartments, Le Nôtre’s gardens and Marie Antoinette’s Trianon. It deserves a full day, and booking is advisable.
Disneyland Paris
About 40 min by RER A train
The two parks, Disneyland and Walt Disney Studios, east of Paris. With children, allow at least a full day.
Giverny
About 1 h by train to Vernon plus a shuttle
Claude Monet’s house and garden, with the water lily pond and the Japanese bridge he painted so many times. Open from spring to autumn.
Fontainebleau
About 40 min by train
A palace lived in by French kings for eight centuries, set in a huge forest for walking or climbing.
Mont-Saint-Michel
About 4 h by car, train or bus
The abbey on a rocky island in the Normandy bay. It is a long day trip, easier on an organised tour or by spending a night there.
Paris in 4 days
Day 1
Notre-Dame and the Sainte-Chapelle on the Île de la Cité, then a walk through the Latin Quarter to the Luxembourg Gardens. In the afternoon, the Eiffel Tower with a booked slot and a Seine cruise at dusk.
Day 2
The Louvre in the morning, a stroll through the Tuileries and Place de la Concorde, and up the Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe. Dinner in Saint-Germain.
Day 3
The Musée d’Orsay in the morning. In the afternoon, the Marais and the Place des Vosges.
Day 4
Montmartre and the Sacré-Cœur in the morning, or a day trip to Versailles.
Paris with kids
- Disneyland Paris, 40 minutes away by train.
- The Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie in the Parc de la Villette, with areas for every age.
- The toy sailboats and puppet shows in the Luxembourg Gardens.
- The Jardin d’Acclimatation in the Bois de Boulogne, with rides and animals.
Free things to do in Paris
- Visiting Notre-Dame and the Sacré-Cœur basilica.
- The Luxembourg Gardens, the Tuileries and the Canal Saint-Martin.
- Walking along the UNESCO-listed banks of the Seine and browsing the bouquinistes’ bookstalls.
- Père-Lachaise cemetery, resting place of Chopin, Oscar Wilde and Jim Morrison.
- National museums are free for under-26s resident in the European Union.
Where to stay in Paris
Paris has a dense, easy metro, but staying central, in arrondissements 1 to 7, saves a lot of time and lets you walk back at night.
Le Marais
Central and lively, with plenty of restaurants and shops. Ideal for a first visit.
Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Elegant and classic, with literary cafés and galleries. Perfect for walking to the Louvre, Orsay and the Latin Quarter.
Latin Quarter
Lively and slightly more affordable, next to Notre-Dame and the Luxembourg Gardens.
Montmartre
Bohemian with village charm, further from the centre but with characterful places to stay at good prices.
Around the Eiffel Tower
Quiet and residential, with the tower around the corner. Good for families.
When to go to Paris
Spring (April to June) and autumn (September and October) are the best seasons: good weather for walking and terraces in full swing. In December, Christmas lights and markets fill the city.
Summer is high season at the monuments, although in August many Parisians go on holiday and some restaurants close. Winter is cold and grey, but the museums are quieter.
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Frequently asked questions about Paris
How many days do you need in Paris?
Four days let you see the major monuments and museums and walk through the main neighbourhoods. With five you can add a trip to Versailles or Disneyland.
Do I need to book the Eiffel Tower?
It is highly recommended: timed tickets are sold online and sell out in high season. Without a booking, queues can last hours. Choose whether you want the second floor or the summit.
Is the Paris Museum Pass worth it?
If you plan to visit many museums and monuments in a few days, it can pay off, as it covers most of them. Even so, many places ask you to book a time slot.
How do you get from Paris to Versailles?
Take the RER C train to Versailles Château Rive Gauche station, about a ten-minute walk from the palace. The journey takes around 40 minutes.
What is the best area to stay in Paris?
The Marais, Saint-Germain and the Latin Quarter put the centre within walking distance; Montmartre has more charm and lower prices; the Eiffel Tower area is the quietest.
Guide written by the buiigo team · Updated October 8, 2026
