{"id":9454,"date":"2023-05-13T09:00:25","date_gmt":"2023-05-13T13:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nomadicmatt.com\/?p=9454"},"modified":"2025-12-04T12:14:53","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T17:14:53","slug":"how-to-spend-5-days-in-paris","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nomadicmatt.com\/travel-blogs\/how-to-spend-5-days-in-paris\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Spend 5 Days in Paris"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"A<\/p>\n

Paris<\/a>. It’s one of my favorite destinations in the entire world and a city that would take a lifetime to see.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been to the city more times than I can count (I even moved there for a while<\/a>) yet I\u2019ve barely scratched its surface. I’m always finding new things to see and do here, especially as I get further and further from the center.<\/p>\n

Understandably, planning a trip to Paris is hard. Just when you think you\u2019ve seen everything the city has to offer, you find new attractions, new caf\u00e9s, or new markets to explore (not to mention visiting Disneyland Paris<\/a>). There are layers to this city, which is one of the reasons why I love it so much.<\/p>\n

Most travelers seem to visit Paris for around three or four days. They see the highlights, snap some photos, and move on.<\/p>\n

While that is better than nothing, I think you need more time than that. Ideally, I think you should plan on spending at least<\/em> five days in Paris in order to see the bare minimum of what the City of Lights has to offer. There’s just too much to do.<\/p>\n

To help you plan your trip to Paris and figure out what to see, what to do, where to stay, and where to eat, here’s my suggested itinerary for a five-day visit (and some other suggestions in case you decide to spend longer there):<\/p>\n

Quick tip before you go:<\/strong> To make your trip to Paris as stress-free as possible, having a reliable way to stay connected is key and a lot of phone companies don’t give you high speed data in Paris. eSIMs are one of the best ways to overcome this. The company Holafly<\/a> is really good and I highly recommend them as they have UNLIMITED data packages (Use the code MATTK to get a 5% discount with them<\/a>). There is also Airalo and with an eSIM from Airalo<\/a>, you can also get an affordable data plan. Both will allow you to have instant access to maps, translation apps, and the ability to share photos.<\/p>\n

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Paris Itinerary Highlights<\/p>\n

Day 1<\/strong>: Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es, Arc de Triomphe, the Latin Quarter, & more!<\/a><\/p>\n

Day 2<\/strong>: Louvre, Mus\u00e9e d\u2019Orsay, Mus\u00e9e de l\u2019Orangerie, & more!<\/a><\/p>\n

Day 3<\/strong>: The Palace of Versailles, P\u00e8re Lachaise Cemetery, & more!<\/a><\/p>\n

Day 4<\/strong>: Eiffel Tower, Les Invalides, Holocaust Museum, & more!<\/a><\/p>\n

Day 5<\/strong>: Paris Catacombs, Rue Mouffetard, Mus\u00e9e de Cluny, & more!<\/a><\/p>\n

Where to Eat<\/strong>: My Favorite Restaurants in Paris <\/a><\/p>\n

Where to Stay<\/strong>: My Favorite Hostels & Hotels in Paris<\/a>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

What to See in Paris: Day 1<\/h3>\n

\"The
\nSpend your first day walking around Paris.<\/strong> There’s a lot to see, and you can spend a good half day (or whole day) wandering the cobblestone streets, parks, and neighborhoods of the city. If you want to orient yourself with a free walking tour, New Europe<\/a> runs regular walking tours that cover the highlights. Just make sure to tip your guide at the end.<\/p>\n

For paid tours, check out Take Walks<\/a>. They are my go-to walking tour company when I want something more in-depth and informative. They have all kinds of walking tours (as well as museum and food tours<\/a>). There’s something for every interest!<\/p>\n

However, if you want to follow my own walking tour, here’s my suggested route for an “orientation walk” around Paris:<\/p>\n

Start at the Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es<\/strong> and see the Arc de Triomphe<\/a>. There isn’t usually a line, and you’ll get sweeping views of the city to start your day. Stroll down the Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es and through Place de la Concorde, where you will see the Luxor Obelisk, which the French stole from the Egyptians. It’s over 3,000 years old and stands 75-meters (246 feet) tall. This square was also where they guillotined people during the French Revolution (1789-1799).<\/p>\n

Walk down the Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es through the Jardin des Tuileries<\/strong>, a beautiful garden that was once home to a palace that burned down in the 1800s. Stop and admire the Louvre before continuing down Rue Rivoli and crossing into the original section of the city on the \u00cele de la Cit\u00e9. This is where the Romans built their original settlement (called Lutetia, which was the basis for the modern-day city of Paris).<\/p>\n

Enjoy the Pont Neuf and the statue of Henry IV.<\/strong> This stone bridge, the first in Paris, was built in 1578. Stroll to my favorite church of all time, Sainte Chapelle, with its incredible 12th-century stained glass. There’s usually a line, so book tickets in advance<\/a>. You’ll skip the huge line (sometimes the wait is over an hour).<\/p>\n

After that, head to the underground Roman ruins and then visit Notre Dame<\/strong>, the world’s most famous Gothic church. It was damaged in a fire in 2019 and has recently reopened and is beautifully restored!<\/p>\n

Next, head south toward the Latin Quarter<\/strong>. This area is rather touristy but if you get off the main drag, you\u2019ll find yourself in a labyrinth of alleys and caf\u00e9-lined squares that are far away from the local tourist hangouts.<\/p>\n

Visit the Pantheon and honor France’s most famous dead citizens before heading west toward the Jardin du Luxembourg,<\/strong> where you can relax and watch life go by. There’s great people-watching here, and it’s one of the best parks in the city.<\/p>\n

After that, head north to see Saint Sulpice<\/strong>. If you’re into The Da Vinci Code<\/em>, you\u2019ll be looking for symbols and hidden meanings throughout this church. If symbols don\u2019t interest you, just marvel at how grandiose this place is.<\/p>\n

By this time, it should be late in the afternoon and a perfect time to stop in a caf\u00e9, order some wine, and relax the Parisian way.
\n <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

What to See in Paris: Day 2<\/h3>\n

The Louvre<\/strong>
\n\"people
\nWith over a million pieces of art, you could spend a whole month in the Louvre and still not see everything. I don\u2019t particularly enjoy medieval art; it\u2019s too religious for me, and I can only see so many pictures of Mary and Jesus before I get bored.<\/p>\n

If that\u2019s not your thing, there are plenty of impressionist period gems like Monet, Renoir, C\u00e9zanne, and other masters. Nevertheless, the museum is worth seeing, and I spent about five hours exploring all the masterpieces and marveling at the old royal palace. You could easily spend more time if you’re an art buff too. If you’d just like to see the highlights, expect to spend a couple of hours.<\/p>\n

Timed skip-the-line tickets<\/a> cost 17 EUR. You definitely want to get these as they often run out of tickets as, to deal with the crowds, they have started to limit the number of visitors per day.<\/p>\n

You can also take a guided tour around the Louvre<\/a> (which also skips the line) if you really want to dive into the incredible art in this museum. You’ll learn much, much more this way.<\/p>\n

You can also skip the lines if you have a Paris Museum Pass<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Mus\u00e9e d’Orsay<\/strong>
\n\"iconic
\nThe Mus\u00e9e d’Orsay, located in close proximity to the Louvre, houses the best impressionist and post-impressionist work in Paris. It’s one of the largest museums in Europe and my favorite museum in Paris. I always go when I’m in town. The museum sees over 3 million visitors each year and is home to masterpieces by all the great artists of the world, including Degas, Monet, Manet, and Van Gogh, to name a few. I could spend hours here and never get bored.<\/p>\n

Admission is 17 EUR<\/a> (or 9 EUR after 4:30pm every day but Thursday). It’s free on the first Sunday of the month. Be sure to buy tickets in advance<\/a> so you can skip the long line.<\/p>\n

Mus\u00e9e de l’Orangerie<\/strong>
\nFinish off a wild museum day with this Monet showcase. The museum displays eight tapestry-sized Nymph\u00e9as<\/em> (water lilies), housed in two plain oval rooms. Monet painted these images later in his life, and each one represents a different time of day and season. There\u2019s a bottom floor that shows other works too. It’s a beautiful museum.<\/p>\n

Budget travel tip:<\/strong> Get the Paris Museum Pass<\/a>. This pass covers over 50 museums and attractions in Paris. It covers all the museums above, so getting this pass and using it to see all the attractions listed in this article will save you a ton of money. A two-day pass costs 55 EUR, a four-day pass costs 70 EUR, and a six-day pass costs 85 EUR. Plus, it will let you skip all the long lines that these attractions have.<\/p>\n

NOTE:<\/strong> People will say “That’s too much to do in a day! Those museums take a day each!” And they are right. These museums can actually take DAYS<\/em> to see. But, since you’re short on time, you can see the highlights of each in a very long day. Or don’t and take your time in each museum. This itinerary is just a mere suggestion anyways! Do what you want!<\/p>\n

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