Paris, France

Plan a trip to Paris

Twenty arrondissements spiraling out from the Seine. Book the two or three timed-entry sights and let the rest of each day be a neighborhood walk.

  • Couples
  • First-timers
  • Food trips
  • Art
Trip length

Free to run, and you keep editing after. Add who's coming or a pace like “slow mornings” to shape the result.

Paris at a glance

Most trips run 4 to 6 days. This page covers the 4 stops worth anchoring a plan around, 3 neighborhoods to base yourself in, and what the timing looks like across the year — then you can turn any of it into a mapped Paris itinerary you can edit and share.

How long
46 days
When to go
April to June and September to October. August empties of locals and many restaurants close for the month. Museums are quietest on weekday evenings with late openings.
Getting around
The metro reaches everywhere and a carnet or Navigo Easy card pays for itself in a day. Walk between adjacent arrondissements. Skip taxis in traffic.

What to build the plan around

  1. 1

    Louvre

    Book a timed slot and enter through the Carrousel to skip the pyramid line. Closed Tuesdays.

  2. 2

    Eiffel Tower

    Summit tickets sell out weeks ahead. The view of it from Trocadéro or Rue de l'Université is the better photo.

  3. 3

    Musée d'Orsay

    Impressionists in a converted railway station, and a more manageable half-day than the Louvre.

  4. 4

    Le Marais

    The best walking in the city, with Place des Vosges, falafel on Rue des Rosiers, and shops open on Sunday.

Where to stay in Paris

Le Marais (3rd/4th)
Central, walkable to Notre-Dame and the Seine, liveliest at night.
Saint-Germain (6th)
Classic Left Bank, cafés and bookshops, close to the Orsay and the Luxembourg gardens.
Canal Saint-Martin (10th/11th)
Younger and cheaper, best casual food, twenty minutes to the center by metro.

A ready-made Paris itinerary

Sunset at the tower, backstreet pâtisseries, and museum mornings.

Paris Couples Getaway: 3-Day Itinerary13 mapped places across 3 days, free to read and copy.

Paris planning questions

How many days do you need in Paris?
4 to 6 days. Four days covers two big museums and three neighborhoods. Six lets you add Versailles and eat at a leisurely pace.
What is the best time to visit Paris?
April to June and September to October. August empties of locals and many restaurants close for the month. Museums are quietest on weekday evenings with late openings.
Where should I stay in Paris?
Three areas cover most trips — Le Marais (3rd/4th) (central, walkable to notre-dame and the seine, liveliest at night); Saint-Germain (6th) (classic left bank, cafés and bookshops, close to the orsay and the luxembourg gardens); Canal Saint-Martin (10th/11th) (younger and cheaper, best casual food, twenty minutes to the center by metro). Pick based on whether you'd rather walk to dinner or pay less per night.
How do you get around Paris?
The metro reaches everywhere and a carnet or Navigo Easy card pays for itself in a day. Walk between adjacent arrondissements. Skip taxis in traffic.
What should I see first in Paris?
Start with Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Musée d'Orsay. Louvre is the one to schedule first: book a timed slot and enter through the Carrousel to skip the pyramid line. Closed Tuesdays.
Is there a free Paris itinerary I can copy?
Yes. Arriv has a curated Paris itinerary with every stop mapped and a suggested day-by-day order. Reading it is free, and you can duplicate it into your own trip to change dates, swap places, and share it with whoever you're going with.