6 Day Paris Itinerary For First Time Visitors

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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. My goal was to cover a few of them each day during my trip. This 6 day itinerary is perfect for those who want to see the best of what Paris has to offer.

Since this was 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: 

• Paris on a budget – Costly mistakes to avoid making
• 12 travel mistakes every first-timer makes in Paris
• Paris Pass review – is it worth it?

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.

You can click here to get a free coupon for your next Airbnb stay!

Saving Money on Tours & Attractions

Visiting Paris for the first time can be stressful. Paris is a big city and there’s lots of fun things to do and see. It can be challenging to plan an itinerary and determine which attractions to spend your money on.

Getting the most bang for your buck is my #1 factor when planning a vacation and the Paris Pass was rated the #1 Paris tourism pass by TripAdvisor.

They’re also recommended by Trust Pilot and the Paris Pass currently has a rating of 4.2/5 on Expedia. Many people have already used the Paris Pass for their Paris trip and posted happy reviews.

With the Paris Pass, you can save time, money, and enjoy stress-free sightseeing. But don’t just take my word for it. Check out these TripAdvisor reviews.

PRO TIP: Buy the pass online to save extra money off the retail price. To buy the Paris Pass, click here to go to the official website.

Here’s what’s included in the Paris Pass:

The Paris Pass is a sightseeing card which gives you FREE fast-track 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.

Hop on Hop off Bus Tour

Standard Entry Price
Adult: €38.00
FREE with the Paris Pass

 

Louvre Museum

Standard Entry Price
Adult: €15.00
FREE with the Paris Pass

 

Palace of Versailles

Standard Entry Price
Adult: €18.00
FREE with the Paris Pass

 

Plus, you can use the Paris Pass to get free entry to 60+ other attractions, museums, and tours in the city, including an unlimited 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.

How to get your Paris Pass:

Step 1: Choose which pass duration you want to buy (2, 3, 4 or 6 day). You can click here to purchase your Paris Pass from the official website.

Step 2: Download your mobile pass instantly using the Paris Pass App. If you prefer a physical pass, simply opt for delivery (they deliver worldwide) or collect on arrival in Paris.

Step 3: You now have FREE access to any of the 60+ top Paris attractions included for the duration of your pass. You can activate your pass anytime within 12 months from the date of purchase.

Step 4: Download the free guide book, which is included with your purchase. Use this book to help you easily plan your itinerary.

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 I hired a private shuttle for Paris and was very pleased with the service.

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).

PRO TIP: Download an offline map of Paris on your phone. This can easily help you navigate the city without having to pull out a paper map.

Chances are you’ll be hungry a long flight. 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 neighborhood. 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.

When we went to Paris the second time, we stayed near the Arch de Triomphe. While this area was more expensive, it was a beautiful neighborhood.

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).

PRO TIP: You can visit Sacre-Coeur for free. If you want to climb to the top of the Dome, you can visit for free with your Paris Pass. The view is amazing from the top!

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).

Not sure if the Paris Pass is right for you? Consider purchasing the Paris Explorer Pass instead. You can to visit 3, 5, or 7 top attractions and tours as you go. Save over 48% off Paris’s top attractions. Once activated, the pass is valid for 30 days. You can click here to buy your Paris Explorer Pass from the official website.

Moulin Rouge

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

PRO TIP: You can visit the Eiffel Tower for free with the Paris Explorer Pass. This is a good option for those who want to just visit a few attractions in Paris.

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.

PRO TIP: I recommend devoting a whole day to the Palace of Versailles since there is plenty to see and do here. Take advantage of exploring the gardens on the property. They are absolutely beautiful!

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. This was one of the most beautiful spots in Paris. I highly recommend a visit here!

Notre-Dame

As Paris’ most visited unticketed site, this cathedral is a beautiful display of French Gothic architecture.

PRO TIP: Don’t miss the climb up the Notre-Dame Towers. From the top you’ll find one of the best views of Paris. Free with your Paris Pass.

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.

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.