There are myriad sights to see and places to visit in the city of love. I brought my mom here for her first time and created this itinerary so she could be sure to see all of the tourist attractions of Paris, France. I grouped them together in proximity for convenience, but feel free to mix and match your days depending on ticket availability, etc.
We walked most of the way, so bring your comfortable shoes, but Paris is easily accessible by metro or bus as well. Tip: download the app CityMapper, which gives you real-time updates on all public transportation and walking routes in Paris. It was an incredibly helpful tool!
Note: Keep in mind the days of the week you will be in Paris. Museum closures may not line up with this itinerary and you may need to adjust accordingly. For example, the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays and the Catacombs are closed on Mondays.
Keep reading for the best things to do for your first time visiting Paris.
Arrival in Paris
Depending on your arrival time and when you get settled into your accommodation, the first evening my recommendation is to get a little picnic and go to the Eiffel Tower lawn. Go to the nearest grocery store, grab a baguette, some cheese and snacks and a bottle of wine (don’t forget paper cups) and sit in the garden and watch it light up on the hour every hour after dusk. It’s a great way to acclimate yourself with the city and relax before all of the sightseeing.
Day 1: Louvre, Champs Elysées, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower
You’ll be spending most of your first full day North of the Seine. I highly recommend getting your Louvre entry tickets online in advance, unless you want to spend hours waiting in line. We wanted an early start to the day, so we opted for the 9am entry time. (For even less wait time, enter through one of the side exhibits down the stairs rather than standing in line by the pyramids).
Depending on how much of an art history nerd you are depends on how much time you want to spend perusing the ornate halls of the museum. My first time I spent about 6-7 hours, but with my mom, I knew that 3.5-4 would be sufficient to see the famous works.
After the Louvre, you’ll walk in a straight line West toward the Arc de Triomphe, stopping at these sights along the way:
Jardin de Tuileries
Place de la Concorde
Champs Elysees
Finish this tour at the beautiful Arc de Triomphe. The underground passageway leads you to the center of the enormous roundabout, and make your way to the top for more gorgeous views of the city.
If you have extra time during this first day and would like to see more, visit the Hôtel des Invalides (close to the Eiffel Tower), a military memorial where Napoleon’s remains are kept, and visit the Eiffel Tower again and go inside up to the second floor for great views of the city.
Day 2: Sacre Coeur, Montmartre, Wine and Cheese Tour, Stroll Along the Seine
Hands down, the best choice I made during this trip was booking a wine and cheese tour. The host Erwan was a delight. His expertise about the wines and regions of France and which cheeses paired best with them was unmatched! It was an intimate group of about 8-10 people and we had such an incredible experience, tasting 5 different wines (a mixture of red and white) and 5 kinds of cheese from all over France. I highly recommend fitting this into your trip if you’re able.
Before or after your wine and cheese tasting, depending on when you’re able to book it, head up North to the Place de Clichy metro station to Montmartre. From there you’ll walk along the Boulevard de Clichy and pass Moulin Rouge (book tickets to a show in the evening if you’re feeling up for it!)
Near the Sacre Coeur, stop by the Wall of Love, or Le Mur des Je t’aime, a 40 square meter mural with ‘I love you’ written 311 times in 250 languages.
The Sacre Coeur is a gorgeous cathedral and the view overlooking Paris makes it a must-see (there are a lot of steep stairs going to the top, so beware!). While you’re there, stroll through the streets of Montmartre to see artists and street performers.
After your visit to Montmartre, head South again to take a stroll along the river Seine and get lost along the beautiful bridges that connect the city.
Day 3: Catacombs, Notre Dame, Latin Quartier, Pantheon, Jardin de Luxembourg
Though not the most glamorous tourist attraction, the Catacombs were so fascinating (get the guided tour headset so you can hear all about the history of the 6 million Parisians buried there) and one of my favorite places in Paris. When we went in scorching July it was incredible to be able to cool down below the city in the afternoon.
As with the Louvre, I would recommend getting your Catacombs tickets well in advance because slots are limited due to the enclosed space and they tend to fill up quickly during high season. You can get last-minute tickets if they’re available, but you’ll be waiting in line and spots are not guaranteed. During the low tourist season, you’ll have much more luck getting a last-minute ticket than during the high season in the summer.
Depending on your entry and exit time for the Catacombs, stroll through the Jardin de Luxembourg and visit the Pantheon, the Latin Quartier, and the Notre Dame Cathedral. The Latin Quartier is one of the more hip neighborhoods in Paris, and if you’re a book lover be sure to visit Shakespeare and Company—an independent and world-famous English bookshop on the banks of the Seine near Notre Dame.
Les Marais is a trendy shopping district (also where Centre Pompidou, the art and culture center, is located) just North of the Seine from Notre Dame.
Extra day 4 or Substitute: Visit the Palace of Versailles
We unfortunately didn’t make it to the Palace of Versailles, but I’ve heard it’s amazing and if you have an extra day or want to substitute one of these days for a day trip outside of Paris, I highly recommend it!
Paris is an enormous city with so many things to see and do. We ended up taking a one-hour boat tour as well with one of the companies near the Eiffel Tower, which I do not recommend. It is a tourist trap and they don’t give you much information about the buildings you’re passing along the Seine, which I was looking forward to learning about the architecture and the history.
If you want to do a river tour, I suggest splurging a bit and booking a dinner cruise or sunset cruise with a private company because it will be time and money much better spent!