Two days in Paris is enough to hit the icons without feeling like a sprint. This plan splits the city into a Right Bank day built around the Eiffel Tower and Champs-Élysées, and a Left Bank day centered on Notre-Dame and one great museum.
Day 1: Eiffel Tower and the Grand Boulevards
Begin the morning at the Eiffel Tower, booking a timed entry to go up before the crowds build. From there, stroll or take the metro to the Arc de Triomphe and climb it for a skyline view down the Avenue des Champs-Élysées. Spend the afternoon walking the avenue toward Place Vendôme, then use the late afternoon for the Musée d'Orsay, whose Impressionist collection is a manageable size for a first visit. Wrap up the evening with dinner in the surrounding streets before the tower lights up after dark.
Day 2: Notre-Dame, the Latin Quarter, and Montmartre
Start on the Île de la Cité at Notre-Dame Cathedral, then step inside the nearby Sainte-Chapelle for its stained glass. Cross into the Latin Quarter and pass the Panthéon on the way to the Luxembourg Gardens for a break, with a detour through Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the Church of Saint-Sulpice. In the afternoon, choose either the Musée du Louvre for classical art or the Bourse de Commerce – Pinault Collection for contemporary art (the Centre Pompidou is closed for renovation until 2030), then finish the day climbing up to Montmartre and the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur for sunset over the city.
Tips for Your Trip
- Book timed tickets for the Eiffel Tower and Louvre online in advance to avoid long queues.
- Pick only one major museum per day — trying to fit in more leads to museum fatigue.
- The metro connects all these areas quickly, so don't hesitate to hop on rather than walking long stretches.
- Wear comfortable shoes, as both days involve significant walking between sights.