2 days in Paris

Day by day

1. Day 1: Eiffel Tower and Musée d'Orsay

   Eiffel Tower, Musée d'Orsay, Musée Rodin and Louvre Museum, then Arc de Triomphe in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Eiffel Tower

      You can climb the stairs to the second floor or take lifts to the summit; the second floor often gives the better, less hazy panorama. After dark the tower sparkles for five minutes on the hour.

   2. Late morning

      Musée d'Orsay

      It is smaller and easier to enjoy than the Louvre, and the giant station clock on the fifth floor frames a view of Sacré-Cœur.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Croissant and pain au chocolat

      Any neighbourhood boulangerie with a queue of locals; bakeries that have won the city's annual baguette contest are a reliable sign.

   4. Afternoon

      Musée Rodin

      It is one of the most relaxing museums in Paris, and the garden alone can be visited on a cheaper ticket.

   5. Late afternoon

      Louvre Museum

      It is far too big to see in one visit, so pick two or three wings. Entry is by timed ticket, and the Carrousel entrance under the shopping arcade is usually quieter than the pyramid.

   6. Evening

      Arc de Triomphe

      Use the underground passage from the Champs-Élysées; never try to cross the roundabout on foot.

2. Day 2: Notre-Dame Cathedral and Sainte-Chapelle

   Notre-Dame Cathedral, Sainte-Chapelle, Sacré-Cœur and Montmartre and Luxembourg Gardens, then Seine river cruise in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Notre-Dame Cathedral

      Entry to the nave is free. The square in front marks point zéro, from which distances across France are measured.

   2. Late morning

      Sainte-Chapelle

      It sits inside the Palais de Justice, a five-minute walk from Notre-Dame, and a combined ticket with the Conciergerie is available.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Baguette tradition

      Ask for 'une tradition' rather than 'une baguette' at any boulangerie; it costs a little more and is worth it.

   4. Afternoon

      Sacré-Cœur and Montmartre

      Behind it, Place du Tertre fills with portrait artists, while the quieter streets around Rue de l'Abreuvoir and the Montmartre vineyard keep their village charm.

   5. Late afternoon

      Luxembourg Gardens

      There is a puppet theatre and a playground, and the Medici Fountain is one of the most romantic corners of the Left Bank.

   6. Evening

      Seine river cruise

      Choose a sailing that leaves about 30 minutes before the hour after dark so you pass the Eiffel Tower as it sparkles.

Before you go

• Eiffel Tower: Summit tickets sell out in summer and school holidays; book timed tickets on the official site weeks ahead.
• Louvre Museum: Timed-entry tickets are effectively required; reserve online before you go.
• Musée d'Orsay: Book a timed slot online, especially for weekends and Thursday late openings.
• Sainte-Chapelle: Security queues can be long; a timed ticket bought online helps.

If it rains

• Swap in Musée Carnavalet (Le Marais): Don't miss the courtyard garden and the room of old painted shop signs near the entrance.
• Swap in Musée de l'Orangerie (Tuileries): Arrive at opening and sit quietly in the first water-lily room before it fills.
• Swap in Catacombs of Paris (Montparnasse): Bring a layer; the tunnels stay cool all year, and the exit is some distance from the entrance.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 16–21 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 8.3 hours in December to 16.2 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

Getting between stops: Metro. The Métro runs from about 5:30am to after midnight (later on Friday and Saturday nights) and is usually the fastest way across the city.

More or fewer days

• One day in Paris
• 3 days in Paris
• 4 days in Paris
• 5 days in Paris
• 7 days in Paris

Questions travellers ask