6 Day Paris Itinerary For First Time Visitors

***Price Increase Alert***
Buy the Paris Pass in January before prices go in February.
Use the pass over the next 12 months. Learn more here.

As one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, Paris has so many wonderful things to see and do. From snacking on Nutella crepes to marveling at the beautiful architecture, there is never a dull moment.

There are twenty different neighborhoods in Paris called arrondissements and I tried to cover a few of them each day. This six-day itinerary is the same one I used during my visit and involves moving at a quick pace.

As my first trip to Paris, I wanted to cover all of the major tourist attractions and explore a few off the beaten path neighborhoods too. The gardens were not in bloom when I went in February, so you may want to consider allotting more time to these if you plan on traveling during the warmer months.

I recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes and getting to know the Paris metro (and Batobus) to maximize your time in the city.

Related Posts: 12 silly mistakes to avoid when visiting Paris

Saving Money on Accommodations

While Paris is known to be one of the world’s most expensive cities, there are plenty of ways to have an incredible trip without breaking the bank. One of my favorite ways to save money on accommodations is to book through Airbnb. I have used Airbnb throughout Europe and North America and have always had a good experience. It’s great for groups, friends, or couples since prices are often cheaper than hotels.

CLICK HERE to get a coupon to use towards your next stay with Airbnb!

Saving Money on Sightseeing & Attractions

Paying for individual tickets at each attraction can get very expensive.

Of course I wanted to visit all the popular attractions in Paris, but needed to find a way to save money. Buying the Paris Pass was the BEST way for me to save money on the city’s paid attractions. It took the stress out of sightseeing while maximizing my time in Paris.

PRO TIP: I used the 4 Day Paris Pass for my trip. It worked well with this 6 day Paris itinerary. Using the Paris Pass was great because it allowed me to visit more attractions than I would have otherwise.

Wondering if this pass is right for your trip?

Key benefits of the Paris Pass:

• SAVE TIME + MONEY
  Good option for first-time visitors who want to stretch and manage their budget in a very expensive city. Plus, you’ll get FREE unlimited travel on the metro, RER, and buses!
• FAST-TRACK ENTRY
  The Paris Pass allows you to skip the long line-ups so you can spend more time sightseeing and less time waiting in busy Paris crowds.
• STRESS-FREE SIGHTSEEING
  If you’re looking to hit all the major attractions in Paris, then using The Paris Pass is a no-brainer.

How the Paris Pass works:

The Paris Pass is a sightseeing card which gives you FREE entry to the city’s top tourist attractions, including a free Hop on Hop off bus tour, the Louvre Museum, and the Palace of Versailles.

Plus, you can use the Paris Pass to get free entry to over 60 other attractions, museums, and tours in the city, including an unlimited Paris transit card to cover all your transportation needs. I used the Paris metro everyday during my trip and found it easy to get around to all the different neighborhoods.

PRO TIP: Buy the pass online and save an extra 10% off the retail price. You can instantly download the Paris Pass mobile ticket to your smartphone. The attraction pass is good for one year, so you can buy it now and validate it anytime in the next 12 months. To buy the Paris Pass, CLICK HERE to go to the official website.

If you only have a few days in Paris and want to get a lot done, the pass is a great deal. Plus, you’ll get a you’ll get a free detailed guidebook to help you plan your trip when you purchase the pass online! The pass has a 30-day money back guarantee.

***Price Increase Alert***
Buy the Paris Pass in January before prices go in February.
Use the pass over the next 12 months. Learn more here.

DAY ONE

Photo from the Opera Garnier

Flights from Canada and the USA usually arrive in Paris during the morning.

Plan how you’ll be getting from the airport to your hotel. Taking the metro is the cheapest option, but you may want to consider taking a shuttle (either shared or private) depending on your needs.

I  usually take the metro from the airport to my hotel, but the last couple of trips (Pairs and Istanbul) I’ve hired a private shuttle and was very pleased with the service. It may be more expensive, but it’s a little luxury to enjoy getting picked up from the airport, not having to fuss with my luggage and head straight to the hotel.

Once you arrive at the hotel, plan to leave your luggage at the front desk since check-in time usually starts in the afternoon. If you don’t already have a map of Paris, ask the front desk staff if they have a free map to provide you (most hotels have one available).

Chances are after a long flight you might be hungry. I suggest heading to a local café for breakfast to enjoy a pastry and café au lait. Use this time to take a look at the map to get yourself oriented (especially if this is your first time in Paris).

After a quick breakfast, it’s time to start exploring the neighbourhood. I stayed in the 9ème – Opéra, Pigalle area in Paris so plan to see the main attractions based on your hotel location for the first day.

Sacre-Coeur

Set at the highest point in the city, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart is a popular attraction in Paris that is worth a visit that includes a beautiful view of the city. (Note that photography and film is not permitted inside the basilica).

Eglise St-Pierre

While not as popular as Sacre-Coeur, this is one of the oldest surviving churches in Paris.

Nouvelle Athenes

Developed in the 1820s for the professional classes of the new industrialist era, this residential neighbourhood features beautiful architecture and neoclassical homes where many artists and musicians once lived, including Chopin, Berlioz and Sand.

Covered Passageways

Numerous passageways were created in Paris at the end of the eighteenth century and beginning of the nineteenth century. These include mostly shopping arcades covered with glass roofs that feature shops, tearooms and restaurants.

Opera Garnier (free entry and guided tour with the Paris Pass)

Designed by Charles Garnier in 1874, this Opera House is a blend of neo-Renaissance and baroque styles. As one of the most recognized opera houses in the world, I highly recommend taking a tour of the building (self-guided or guided).

Moulin Rouge

Head to Moulin Rouge in the evening to see it lit up.

End your evening by enjoying a nice dinner before retreating back to the hotel. I highly recommend Il caratello (5 rue Audran, 75018 Paris) which is not far from Moulin Rouge.

My must-have Paris accessories:
Click the product to shop

DAY TWO

Photo from the Arc de Triomphe

If breakfast is not included in your hotel, I suggest grabbing a quick bite to-go at a local café before heading to the Louvre. The Louvre will get busy, so aim to arrive a little before it opens to avoid long waits.

Musée du Louvre (free entry with the Paris Pass)

As one of the world’s largest and most visited museums, you can easily spend the entire day touring the Louvre. I don’t recommend it though as you’ll be exhausted and you may not be interested in seeing everything that it has to offer.

If you’re unsure what to see, grab a map of the museum at the information desk which provides a list of the most popular attractions to visit. Plan to spend 2-3 hours here (depending on your interests and walking pace).

Place de la Concorde

Designed for Louis XV in 1754, this busy crossroad is one of the most exquisite spots in Paris.

Musée de l’Armée (free entry with the Paris Pass)

Under the order of Louis XIV in 1671-6, the Invalides served as a hospital for wounded soldiers. Today you can visit the museum, the tomb of Napoleon I, the Dome and the St-Louis churches.

Museum Rodin (free entry with the Paris Pass)

Visitors can enjoy around 500 sculptures and 8,000 prints and drawings by the artist Rodin. Don’t miss the gardens which feature some of his most important works including Le Penseur (The Thinker) and Les Bourgeois de Calais (The Burghers of Calais).

Eiffel Tower

While it does cost a little more, I highly recommend a visit to the sommet (the top of the Eiffel Tower). Aim for a clear day which allows you to take in beautiful views of the city below.

Trocadero

This impressive Palais de Chaillot overlooks the Seine, opposite the Eiffel Tower. One of the best views of the Eiffel Tower is from here.

Arc de Triomphe (free entry with the Paris Pass)

The best time to visit the Arc de Triomphe is at sunset, where you can get another beautiful view of the city and the Eiffel Tower. Stay here until the sun goes down and watch the city light up.

DAY THREE

Photo from the Palace of Versailles

Château de Versailles (free entry with the Paris Pass)

Aim to arrive about 10-20 minutes before it opens to beat the tour groups. This will hopefully allow you be one of the first people inside the palace so you can get some photos of its famous rooms without too many tourists around.

Quick Tip: I recommend devoting a whole day to the Palace of Versailles since there is plenty to see and do here.

DAY FOUR

Photo from Ste-Chapelle

Musée d’Orsay (free entry with the Paris Pass)

Home to France’s national collection of impressionist, postimpressionist, and art nouveau movements spanning from the 19th and early 20th centuries, this is a must visit museum. Some of the most famous artists showcased here include: Degas, Manet, Van Gogh and Renoir.

Place Vendôme

Built in the shape of a rectangle with its corner cut off, the center of this square holds the Vendome column (19th century) which was made famous by Napoleon.

Pont des Arts

The famous Love Locks bridge in Paris. While most of the locks have been recently covered, it remains a popular spot for visitors.

Pont-Neuf

Completed in 1604 to allow King Henry IV to cross from one bank to the other, this is the oldest and most famous of Paris’ bridges.

Conciergerie (free entry with the Paris Pass)

A former prison in Paris, here you can visit the guardroom (14th century) and the cells where Queen Marie-Antoinette spent her last days.

Ste-Chapelle (free entry with the Paris Pass)

This Gothic chapel was built at the request of St Louis (1245-8) to house Christ’s Crown of Thorns.

Notre-Dame (free entry with the Paris Pass)

As Paris’ most visited unticketed site, this cathedral is a beautiful display of French Gothic architecture. Don’t miss the climb up the Notre-Dame Towers (not free) but holds one of the best views of Paris.

Ile Saint-Louis

This small island, just a few steps away from Notre-Dame, has a small French village vibe that’s lined with boutique shops and delicious ice cream.

Musée National du Moyen Age (free entry with the Paris Pass)

Housed in the Hôtel de Cluny, a gothic-style 15th-century mansion, this museum is best known for the beautiful, allegorical The Lady and the Unicorn tapestry. It also has a collection of medieval sculptures.

Pantheon (free entry with the Paris Pass)

Located in the Latin Quarter of Paris, the Pantheon contains the remains of some of France’s distinguished citizens which include: Voltaire, Victor Hugo, Rousseau and Marie Curie.

Eglise Saint-German-des-Pres

With parts of this church dating back to the 6th century, this is the oldest church in Paris.

DAY FIVE

Musée Gustave Moreau (free entry with the Paris Pass)

Originally Moreau’s dwellings, this museum was built to showcase his paintings. Worth a visit for those who are fans of his work.

Canal St-Martin

If you’ve seen the blockbuster hit, Amélie, you’ll recognize the iron footbridges that set as the backdrop for some of the film’s famous scenes. This 4.5 km long canal is worth a visit to explore the cafes and boutiques around the neighbourhood.

Belleville neighbourhood

Once a wine-making village, this neighbhourhood is home to a mix of cultures and includes one of Paris’ lively Chinatowns. Don’t forget to visit Parc de Belleville while you’re here.

Hotel de Ville

Constructed at the end of the 19th century, this is the administration centre of the municipality which houses the Mayor’s office, the Conseil of Paris, reception and exhibitions rooms.

Place des Vosges

Dating back to 1604, this is the oldest planned square in Paris and one of the most beautiful in the world.

Centre Pompidou (free entry with the Paris Pass)

Opened in 1977, the Centre Pompidou is home to the largest collection of modern art in Europe (second in the world after MoMA in NYC). While the Paris Museum Pass only includes admission to the permanent collections, it’s also worth paying extra to see the temporary exhibits.

Cimetière du Père Lachaise

Opened in 1804, this is the world’s most visited cemetery and the largest in Paris. Here you can visit the tombs of some notable people including Oscar Wilde, the rock star Jim Morrison, and the composer Chopin.

DAY SIX

Photo from the Galaeries Lafayette

Jardin du Luxembourg

One of the most popular gardens in Paris, this is the perfect place to take a stroll during a spring or summer afternoon. Don’t forget to relax in one of the chairs near the octagonal pond.

Catacombes

These underground ossuaries hold the remains of about six million people. While much of the catacombs are out of bounds, visitors can tour a small section which covers about 2 km and takes about 45 minutes to walk. I wrote a whole post about my visit to the Catacombs, you can check it out here.

Champs-Elysées

Stretching almost 2 km long, this is probably the most famous avenue in the world. Spend the afternoon here exploring a variety of cafes and luxury shops.

Galeries Lafayette

Shop the upmarket French department store while admiring its beautiful ceiling.

Over to you — what are your favorite things to do in Paris?