2 days in Paris: Itinerary for a 48-hour trip
Grand museums, breathtaking monuments, and charming neighbourhoods: the ideal itinerary for a two-day stay in Paris.
2 days in Paris: Itinerary for a 48-hour trip
Grand museums, breathtaking monuments, and charming neighbourhoods: the ideal itinerary for a two-day stay in Paris.
There are of course hundreds of places, monuments, and museums you could visit in Paris, some of them surely more interesting than others, depending on your taste. Keep in mind that the itinerary we propose here is merely a suggestion.
You don’t have to follow through with everything. In fact, if some of the attractions listed are not that interesting to you, you shouldn’t. Instead, swap them out for something that better fits your taste. You can find suggestions in the sights and neighbourhood sections of our website.
What we like to do to get familiarised with a city and understand what we want to visit the most is getting on a hop-on hop-off bus. They are the double-decker tourist buses with open tops that you see all over major European cities. These buses have audio guides that give you information about their itinerary and the monuments they pass by.
Usually, we do this as the very first approach to a new place, and we take notes of whatever it is that strikes our interest. After the bus tour, it’s much easier to have a clear idea of what the city is like and what should be considered a priority. The most recommendable tourist bus companies in Paris are Tootbus and Big Bus. If you want to follow our advice, you can get your tickets for a Tootbus hop-on hop-off bus here and tickets for a Big Bus tour here .
Day 1
Seeing as Paris’ centre is rather large, you should aim to dedicate your days to different areas of the city, visiting monuments that are within reach of each other. On day one, you can dwell in the northwestern part of the centre.
Eiffel Tower
You should start off nice and early in the morning with a visit to the Eiffel Tower and its nearby gardens, the Champ de Mars (just behind the Tour Eiffel) and the Jardins du Trocadéro (on the other side of the Seine, where you can get the best view over the Eiffel Tower).
The tower is the most famous symbol for Paris and France in general, so it’s only right that it be the first landmark you visit. If you’re up for it, you can even climb to the top and enjoy a panoramic view of the city. You can book your tickets to the Eiffel’s top here .
Eiffel Tower Practical Information
- Location: Champ de Mars 5, 7th arrondissement
- Opening times: Monday to Sunday, 9:30 am to 11:45 pm (last admissions at 10:45 pm).
- Tickets: Between €17.10 and €26.80, depending on how high up you want to go. Discounts for children available.
- Paris Museum Pass: not applicable.
Seine river cruise
Right in front of the Eiffel Tower, you can catch a Batobus, a river cruise on the Seine. This is the perfect chance to experience the charming river banks on a boat. You’ll also pass by Les Invalides before getting to your next destination.
Of course, if you want to visit the military honorary complex, you can get off at Les Invalides stop and catch the Batobus again when you’re done. Inside Les Invalides you’ll find the military museum, the museum of military models, and the tomb of Napoleon. You can get your tickets for the Hôtel des Invalides here .
Batobus Practical Information
- Itinerary: Tour Eiffel - Les Invalides complex - Musée d’Orsay - Saint-Germain-des-Prés - Notre Dame - Jardin des plantes - Hôtel de Ville - Louvre Museum - Place de la Concorde
- Schedule: Monday to Sunday, 10:00 am to 7:00 pm.
- Tickets: €20.00 for a 1-day ticket, €22.00 for a 2-day ticket. Discounts for children available.
Musée d’Orsay
Further down the river is the Musée d’Orsay, one of Paris’ top museums, famous for its large Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collection. Considering this museum is such a popular destination, we recommend getting your entries for the Orsay Museum in advance, which you can do here .
Musée d’Orsay Practical Information
- Location: Rue de la Légion d’Honneur 1, 7th arrondissement.
- Opening times: Every day, 9:30 am to 6:00 pm (last admission at 5:00 pm). Late closure on Thursdays (9:45 pm with last admissions at 9:00 pm). Closed on Mondays.
- Tickets: €16.00. Free for minors and EEA citizens under 26.
- Paris Museum Pass: free admission.
Tuileries
Opposite the Musée d’Orsay, on the other side of the river, you’ll find the Jardin des Tuileries, a beautifully curated garden in central Paris. At its western edge is the Musée de l’Orangerie, known for its collection of Monet’s Water Lilies.
As usual, if you intend to visit, book your tickets before going: you can reserve your entries to the Orangerie by clicking here .
Orangerie Museum Practical Information
- Location: Jardin Tuileries, 1st arrondissement.
- Opening times: Every day, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, last admissions at 5:15 pm. Closed on Tuesdays.
- Tickets: €12.50. Free for minors and EEA citizens under 26.
- Paris Museum Pass: free admission.
Champs-Elysees
Once you reach the edge of the Tuileries Gardens, you’ll find yourself in front of the historical Place de la Concorde, behind which begins the Champs-Élysées, the most well-known avenue in Paris.
If you want to see the entirety of the Champs-Élysées with its hedges, trees, and luxury shops, you should get on a bus that runs its entire length from Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe. The best view is obviously offered by open-top tourist buses. You can book your ticket for Tootbus hop-on hop-off buses here or a ticket for a Big Bus tour here .
Arc de Triomphe
At the other end of the Champs-Élysées is the Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile, a monument to French military victories. The Arc is not only a beautiful monument but also a panoramic viewpoint. As you might know, there are several panoramic viewpoints in Paris, so we suggest you choose one to climb instead of trying all of them. If the Arc the Triomphe is the one you choose, you can book your tickets in advance here .
Arc de Triomphe Practical Information
- Location: Place Charles de Gaulle, 8th arrondissement.
- Opening times: 1st October - 31st March: 10:00 am to 10:30 pm (last admission at 9:45 pm). 1st April - 30th Sept: 10:00 am to 11:00 pm (last admission at 10:15 pm)
- Tickets: €13.00. Free for minors and EEA citizens under 26.
- Paris Museum Pass: free admission.
Montmartre
As the day progresses, you can make your way to the Montmartre neighbourhood. You’ll have to go by bus or Montmartre Funicular, as the neighbourhood is a bit further away from the centre. We suggest you try to make it there before dusk, as this neighbourhood is particularly romantic when the sun is setting.
This is a district you need to walk around if you want to get to feel the whimsical atmosphere that is so unique to the place. This makes Montmartre the perfect place for a walking tour. Among the most famous landmarks here you’ll find the Neo-Byzantine Basilique du Sacré-Coeur and the historical Place du Tertre.
Basilique du Sacré-Coeur Practical Information
- Location: Parvis du Sacré-Coeur, Montmartre, 18th arrondissement.
- Opening times: Every day, 6:30 am to 10:30 pm
- Tickets: Free
- Paris Museum Pass: not applicable.
Cabaret
As the night sets in Paris, you cannot miss the most famous form of entertainment in the city, cabaret at the Moulin Rouge. The Moulin Rouge is a true institution, one of the oldest and most famous cabaret clubs in Paris. You can expect burlesque shows, cancan dances, and extravagant costumes. As usual, it’s best to be prepared, so you can book a show with champagne at the Moulin Rouge here or a dinner show here .
Day 2
On day two, you’ll be spending your time on the more eastern side of Paris.
Pere-Lachaise
To start off your second day - again, seeing as you are on a tight schedule, try to be up and running early in the morning - you can go to the Cimetière du Père-Lachaise, a massive monumental cemetery. Père-Lachaise is in fact the world’s most visited cemetery. This is partly due to its beautiful monuments, mausoleums, and landscaping design, and partly because of the many famous figures buried there.
Père-Lachaise Cemetery is really rather large, so we recommend getting a tour guide to show you around the most beautiful areas and notable tombs .
Père-Lachaise Cemetery Practical Information
- Location: Rue du Repos 16, 20th arrondissement.
- Opening times: Monday to Friday: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. Saturday: 8:30 am to 6:00 pm. Sunday: 9:00 am to 5:30 pm.
- Tickets: Free.
- Paris Museum Pass: not applicable.
La Madeleine
Heading back to the city centre, you can stop at the Église Sainte-Marie-Madeleine. The church, also known as La Madeleine, is famous for its Neoclassical style, which gives it the appearance of an ancient Greek temple.
La Madeleine Practical Information
- Location: Place de la Madeleine, 8th arrondissement.
- Opening times: Every day, 9:30 am to 7:00 pm.
- Tickets: Free
- Paris Museum Pass: not applicable.
Palais Garnier
Not far from La Madeleine is Paris’ most well-known opera house, Palais Garnier. Opéra Garnier is built in Eclectic style, a beautiful mix of different architectural influences. If you’re a fan of ballet, you can of course get a ticket for one of the shows. Otherwise, you can visit Palais Garnier as you would any other historical building. You can get your entries to visit the Opéra Garnier here.
Palais Garnier Practical Information
- Location: Place de l’Opéra, 9th arrondissement.
- Opening times: Every day, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (last admissions at 4:15 pm).
- Tickets: €14.00 or €12.00, depending on whether there are exhibitions. Discounts for children apply.
- Paris Museum Pass: not applicable.
Louvre Museum
The Musée du Louvre is the world’s most-visited museum, so it doesn’t really need an introduction. You already know this is where you can find da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo along with thousands of other magnificent masterpieces.
But there is something you should keep in mind. The Louvre is bigger than you think. It would be impossible to see it all in one day, even if one were to spend the entire day inside. If you do want to visit it, look at the museum’s directory, pick one or two sections you want to see, and stick to those.
The Louvre itself recommends that you book in advance, and since you don’t really have time to queue, it’s essential you do. You can book entries to the Louvre with an audio guide here or Louvre entries without audioguides here .
Louvre Museum Practical Information
- Location: Rue de Rivoli, 1st arrondissement
- Opening times: Every day, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm (last admission at 5:00 pm). Late closure on Fridays: 9:45 pm closing time (last admission at 8:45 pm). Closed on Tuesdays.
- Tickets: €17.00. Free for minors and EEA citizens under 26.
- Paris Museum Pass: free admission.
Île de la Cité
Once you are done at the Louvre, you just have to follow the course of the Seine river and you’ll find the Île de la Cité, Paris’ island. Here, packed into a small area, are some of the city’s most appreciated buildings and landmarks. The most well-known are the Conciergerie (Paris’ most infamous prison during the French Revolution), the Sainte-Chapelle (a stunning Gothic church), and the Cathédrale de Notre-Dame de Paris.
As with every other site, we recommend you get tickets before going: you can book your tickets for the Sainte-Chapelle here . Unfortunately, Notre-Dame de Paris is still under reconstruction, so you won’t be able to see the inside. However, you can book an outdoors tour of Notre-Dame to learn all about the historical cathedral .
Sainte-Chapelle Practical Information
- Location: Boulevard du Palais 10, Île de la Cité.
- Opening times: 1st Apr - 30th Sept: 9:00 am to 7:00 pm (last admission at 6:20 pm). 1st Oct - 31st Mar: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (last admission at 4:20 pm).
- Tickets: €11.50. Free for minors and EEA citizens under 26.
- Paris Museum Pass: free admission.
Conciergerie Practical Information
- Location: Bulevard du Palais 2, Île de la Cité.
- Opening times: Every day, 9:30 am to 6:00 pm (last admission at 5:15 pm).
- Tickets: €11.50. Free for minors and EEA citizens under 26.
- Paris Museum Pass: free admission.
Latin Quarter
Just south of the Île de la Cité is Paris’ academic neighbourhood, the Latin Quarter. The area is known for its prestigious higher education institutions, Mediaeval architecture, and historical buildings.
You should really take your time to explore the area and walk its alleys, but remember that the Latin Quarter is also home to several sights and museums, so if any one of them strikes your interest, you should make time for it.
The most well-known are the Panthéon, a historical mausoleum, the Musée Cluny, the National Museum of the Middle Ages, the Arab World Institute, and the Jardin des Plantes, a botanical garden containing various research facilities and museums. As usual, whatever you decide to visit, get your tickets ahead of time.
Cluny Museum Practical Information
- Location: Rue du Sommerard 28, Latin Quarter, 5th arrondissement.
- Opening times: Tuesday to Sunday, 9:30 am to 6:15 pm (last admission at 5:30 pm). Closed on Mondays.
- Tickets: €12.00. Free for minors and EEA citizens under 26.
- Paris Museum Pass: free admission.
Panthéon Practical Information
- Location: Place du Panthéon, Latin Quarter, 5th arrondissement.
- Opening times: 1st Apr - 15th June: 10:00 am to 6:30 pm (last admission at 5:45 pm).
15th Jun - 30th Sept: 10:45 am to 7:00 pm (last admission at 6:15 pm).
1st Oct - 31st Mar: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm (last admission at 5:15 pm).
- Tickets: €11.50. Free for minors and EEA citizens under 26.
- Paris Museum Pass: free admission.
Drinking in St-Germain-des-Prés
Just north-west of the Latin Quarter is another one of Paris’ famous neighbourhoods, St-Germain-des-Prés. The area is known for its elegance, art institutions, and gourmet dining options, so this is really the best place to conclude your second day of wandering around. You can walk around and enjoy the charming streets of St-Germain-des-Prés and then stop for a drink and dinner in a famous brasserie.
Getting around in Paris
Paris’ has the advantage of having excellent public transport as well as several great private transport options, like taxis, and bike and scooter rentals.
The public transport system consists of a Métro network, urban buses, rapid transit trains known as RER, the Montmartre funicular, and the tramway. In the city centre, you’ll mainly use the Métro and buses. You’ll only use the RER and Montmartre funicular occasionally.
Our recommendations
In terms of transport zones, the city centre is Zone 1, where you’ll be spending the great majority of your time (with the exception of the airports, of course). If you want to find out more about how to get around in Paris, you can read our article on local transport.
As for private transfers and taxis, they are best used occasionally, like for airport-city journeys or late at night. A cab within the city centre should cost between €10.00 - €15.00.
What tickets and passes to get
As for transport passes, you have two main options. If you don’t plan on using transport a lot, you should get a 10-journey transport pass, called T+ 10 carnet. The pass costs €14.90 and is valid throughout Paris’ transport network for 10 separate journeys.
For those who tend to rely on public transport more than walking, the ideal is a 3-day Paris Visite pass. It costs €26.65 and it can be used unlimitedly throughout Paris’ transport network for three days.
However, if you are visiting Paris between Monday and Thursday, you should get a weekly Passe Navigo. This pass is the same as a Visite pass, but it costs less - €22.80 for a week’s worth of travelling. Unfortunately, if you arrive in Paris between Friday and Sunday, you won’t be able to get the pass, as it is sold only on weekdays, to be used during the current week.
Tips to maximise your time
Our recommendations
Since your stay in Paris is so short, spending time on transport can really feel like you’re wasting precious time not enjoying the city’s views and monuments. If you get on a hop-on hop-off bus or a Seine river cruise, you’ll get to move from one point to the other (all the most important attractions are part of the itinerary) while also sightseeing and getting information about those very monuments. You’re catching two birds with one stone, really.
The most reliable hop-on hop-off bus companies in Paris are Tootbus and BigBus, so we recommend you go with those. You can get 1 or 2-day tickets for BigBus here , or buy 1 or 2-day tickets with Tootbus here .
As for the river cruise - which works just like the hop-on hop-off bus, just on the water - the Batobus gives the best service. By buying your Batobus tickets online rather than in person, you get a discount .
The airports
Depending on which airport you fly to and from, there will be different solutions available to you.
Charles De Gaulle Airport is the biggest one, in Zone 5. It is reachable by RER line B, by bus, or by cab. You can book your private transfer to or from CDG Airport here . You can find in-depth details about the airport and how to reach the city from it in our dedicated article.
Orly Airport is Paris’ second biggest airport, in Zone 4. It can be reached using a combination of the airport’s shuttle services and RER lines B or C. Of course, the third option is a taxi. You can get a private transfer between the city and Orly Airport here . If you need more information about the airport and its transport options, read our dedicated article.
And finally, the smallest airport is Beauvais Airport. It is not as well-connect as the others, so the two best options are to either take the shuttle bus to the city centre or arrange a private transfer between the city and BVA airport . You can find all the details in our article.
Where to stay
Normally, finding accommodation outside the city centre is much easier and cheaper, therefore recommendable. However, since you are planning a two-day trip to Paris, we warmly recommend trying to find something as close to the city centre as possible, meaning anything within arrondissements 1 to 9 or in Montmartre (18th arrondissement).
If you stay anywhere outside of those areas, you’ll have to waste precious time on transport trying to get to the city centre. In terms of safety, pretty much the entire city centre is safe, so you don’t have much to worry about. If you plan on staying out late at night, it’s best to avoid rooms or hotels too close to the major train stations, which tend to be a bit more dangerous at night. The biggest stations are Gare du Nord, Stalingrad, Barbès-Rochechouart, and Jaures.
The most important thing to do when trying to find accommodation in Paris is to book early. Paris is an extremely popular destination, and hotels, apartments, and rooms sell out quickly. If you want to find a place to stay, start looking immediately. You can book your stay in the dedicated section.
When to visit and seasons
Of course, every season in Paris has its charm. Summer is a great time, with warm, sunny weather and long hours of daylight. Winter, although cold, is extremely romantic and a perfect time to enjoy the local cuisine. The quieter seasons are spring and autumn - the former offering the beautiful spectacle of plants and trees in bloom and the latter gifting visitors with the perfect weather to travel.
If we had to choose the perfect time for ourselves, we would pick the early autumn months or the late spring. In May and September-October the weather is warm but less stuffy than in the summer and the city is alive and eventful. Crowds are considerably reduced and accommodation prices tend to be way more accessible than in July-August or Christmas-time.
If you’d like to know more about the climate and temperatures in Paris year-round, you can read our dedicated article.
If you have a choice regarding the day of the week for your visit, we suggest you avoid Mondays and Tuesdays. Several museums are closed on these two days, so it can be a bit more difficult to organise around those opening times. Among others, the Musée d’Orsay, Musée Rodin, and Versailles Palace are closed on Mondays, while the Louvre, the Musée l’Orangerie, and the Centre Pompidou are closed on Tuesdays. Similarly, almost all sites of tourist interest are closed on the 1st of May and on the 25th of December, so don’t expect to be able to visit much on those days.
The ideal days for a visit, in our opinion, are Wednesday to Friday. Monuments and sights are not as busy as the weekend, and you’ll find everything pretty much open.
General tips
- Book your accommodation immediately. Don’t put it off to a later time, hotels and apartments will get exponentially more expensive and difficult to find as you approach the date of your visit. You can find and book your accommodation in the dedicated section.
- Book all the entries and tickets you can online. This will save you lots of time - you won’t have to queue if you buy online - and it will make it easier to follow a schedule and visit everything you intend to.
- If you are visiting a lot of sights and attractions, get a Paris Museum Pass. This pass gives you free access to the most important monuments and museums and lets you skip the queue. You can get your Paris Museum Pass here .
- Stay hydrated. You’re going to have a couple of intense days, so it’s going to be easy to lose track of time and how much you are doing. Keep a (preferably refillable) water bottle with you and make sure you use it. In Paris, tap water is always drinkable unless it is specified on a sign by the tap.
- Be aware of pickpocketing. It’s the most common crime in Paris, especially if you look like a tourist. Always be aware of where your bag and belongings are. Don’t make assumptions about what a pickpocket looks like, they could be anyone, so it’s best to just always be careful. To be fully prepared, you can look up all of our safety tips for your stay in Paris.
