Stained glass, Impressionists and long bistro lunches along the Seine
Three compact days that each focus on one side of the city: the medieval islands and Marais first, then the Louvre and Saint-Germain, and finally Montmartre and the Musée d'Orsay. The plan mixes headline museums, booked ahead to skip the queues, with a guided food walk, classic bouillons and neighbourhood bistros. It suits a couple who want serious art and real food without spending the whole trip in transit.
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Weather
Paris is mild and changeable. Expect around 3 to 8°C and grey skies in winter, 12 to 20°C with showers in spring, and 22 to 28°C in summer with occasional heatwaves. The best seasons are late April to June and September to October, when the weather is pleasant and crowds are thinner than in July and August.
Arriving
From Charles de Gaulle, the RER B train reaches Gare du Nord and Châtelet in 35 to 50 minutes for about 13 EUR per person. Official taxis charge a flat 56 EUR to the Right Bank or 65 EUR to the Left Bank, and the ride takes 45 to 70 minutes depending on traffic. From Orly, Metro line 14 runs straight to Châtelet in about 25 minutes for 13 EUR, and taxis charge a flat 36 to 44 EUR. Use only the official taxi rank and ignore anyone offering a ride inside the terminal.
Money & power
Euro (EUR). Plugs: Type C and E, 230V / 50Hz.
Trip checklist
The four things worth sorting before you fly. Tick them off as you go.
Book your stay in Le Marais
Central, walkable and the best base for this itinerary. Free cancellation on most rooms.
Check hotel pricesReserve the must-book experiences
4 of your picks regularly sell out — secure your time slots early.
See tours & ticketsGet a France eSIM
Land with data for maps, rides and translations — about 5 GB fits this trip.
Get eSIMCover the trip with travel insurance
Medical, lost bags and delays covered — it takes a couple of minutes.
Get insuranceDay by day
Each day is grouped by neighbourhood so you spend time exploring, not commuting.
Île de la Cité, Le Marais, Île Saint-Louis
Morning
Sainte-Chapelle's stained-glass upper chapel
Begin gently after your journey at the 13th-century royal chapel, whose upper level holds 1,113 stained-glass panels. Book a timed slot for late morning, when sunlight makes the glass glow. Afterwards, walk five minutes to see the restored facade of Notre-Dame.
Afternoon
Musée Picasso and the Marais backstreets
Grab a falafel on Rue des Rosiers, then visit the Musée Picasso in the 17th-century Hôtel Salé, which holds the world's largest public collection of his work. Finish with a stroll through the arcaded Place des Vosges and the small galleries along Rue Vieille du Temple. The museum is closed on Mondays.
Evening
Île Saint-Louis stroll and Provençal dinner
At dusk, cross Pont Louis-Philippe to Île Saint-Louis for a Berthillon ice cream and views of Notre-Dame's apse from Quai d'Orléans. Then head back into the Marais for dinner at Chez Janou, near Place des Vosges, which serves Provençal cooking and a famous self-serve chocolate mousse. Reserve a table there.
Louvre, Tuileries, Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Morning
Early timed entry at the Louvre
Take the first 9am slot and go straight to the Denon wing to see the Mona Lisa, the Winged Victory and the large French paintings before the tour groups arrive. Then slow down in the quieter Richelieu wing, which holds the Napoleon III apartments and Vermeer's Lacemaker. The Louvre is closed on Tuesdays.
Afternoon
Saint-Germain guided food walk
Walk through the Tuileries and across Pont des Arts to join a guided tasting tour of Saint-Germain. Expect cheese from an affineur, bread from Poilâne, chocolate from a master chocolatier and charcuterie, with stories of the cafés where Sartre and Hemingway wrote. It works well as a late lunch, so plan on a light breakfast.
Evening
Seine cruise as the city lights up
Board an hour-long cruise from the Pont Neuf or Eiffel Tower piers about 30 minutes after sunset to see the bridges, the Louvre and the illuminated Eiffel Tower from the water. Afterwards, eat a light supper at Bouillon Racine, an Art Nouveau dining room near the Odéon.
Montmartre, Pigalle, Musée d'Orsay, Trocadéro
Morning
Sacré-Cœur and the artists' village
Arrive by 9am, before the crowds, to see the panorama from the steps of the Sacré-Cœur. Then wander past Place du Tertre to the Musée de Montmartre, where Renoir painted in the gardens. Walk down Rue de l'Abreuvoir and Rue Lepic to see the Moulin de la Galette and the Bateau-Lavoir, where Picasso once had his studio.
Afternoon
Impressionists at the Musée d'Orsay
After lunch in Pigalle, take the metro to this former railway station. Go to the fifth floor first for the Monets, Renoirs and Van Goghs, and pause at the great clock window, which looks over the Seine towards the Louvre. Book a timed ticket, and note that the museum is closed on Mondays. On a Monday, swap it for the Musée de l'Orangerie and Monet's Water Lilies.
Evening
Eiffel Tower sparkle and farewell dinner
Ride to the Eiffel Tower summit at sunset, then watch the tower sparkle for five minutes on the hour from the Trocadéro esplanade. For your last night, book Le Bistrot du 7ème or Café Constant on Rue Saint-Dominique, both classic Left Bank bistros a short walk from the tower.
Where to stay
Chosen for your mid-range budget and this itinerary's route.
Le Marais
Top pickMedieval lanes, elegant 17th-century mansions, indie galleries and some of the city's best falafel and wine bars, all within walking distance of the Seine.
Best for: First-timers who want a central, walkable base for art, food and evening strolls
See hotels here
Saint-Germain
Classic Left Bank Paris of literary cafés, chic boutiques, art bookshops and the Luxembourg Gardens, polished but still lively.
Best for: Art lovers who want easy walks to the Musée d'Orsay and the Louvre
See hotels here
South Pigalle
A buzzy, slightly bohemian neighbourhood of cocktail bars, natural-wine bistros and the food shops of rue des Martyrs, just below Montmartre.
Best for: Food-focused couples who like a local nightlife scene
See hotels here
Le Marais · Mid-range
A charming, good-value base on a quiet street near Place des Vosges and Saint-Paul metro, putting you a short walk from Musée Picasso, Notre-Dame and the Marais food scene.
Free cancellation on many rooms
Le Marais · Mid-range
A design-led boutique hotel in a former bakery with rooms styled by Christian Lacroix, ideal for art lovers who want their hotel to feel like part of the trip.
Free cancellation on many rooms
Saint-Germain · Mid-range
A warm, family-run hotel on rue Monsieur-le-Prince between the Luxembourg Gardens and Saint-Germain's cafés, an easy walk to Orsay and across the river to the Louvre.
Free cancellation on many rooms
South Pigalle · Mid-range
A quirky, art-filled hotel with a popular leafy courtyard restaurant, perfect for food-loving travellers who want rue des Martyrs and Montmartre on their doorstep.
Free cancellation on many rooms
Book ahead
Skip-the-line tickets and tours that genuinely improve the trip — the ones that sell out are flagged.
An expert guide takes you straight to the essential masterpieces and explains the stories behind them in two hours, without the guesswork or the long queues.
A small-group walk through the Left Bank's best fromageries, bakeries and chocolatiers, with generous tastings and wine. It doubles as a long lunch.
An easy, atmospheric hour on the water that passes Notre-Dame, the Louvre and the illuminated Eiffel Tower.
A timed ticket with lift access all the way to the top avoids the longest queues in Paris and gives you sunset views over the whole city.
Learn to make true Parisian macarons in a small hands-on class with a pastry chef, and take your batch home as an edible souvenir.
Planning several sights?
One Go City pass covers many of Paris's top attractions and tours. If you're visiting three or more paid sights, it often costs less than buying tickets one by one.
Travel essentials
A 5GB eSIM covers 3 days of maps, metro route planning, restaurant bookings and photo sharing, and avoids expensive roaming for travellers from outside the EU; activate it before landing so you can navigate from the airport.
Pickpocketing of phones and wallets is common in tourist areas and on the metro, French rail and air strikes can disrupt flights and airport transfers at short notice, and non-EU visitors face full private medical costs. Choose a policy covering theft of electronics, trip delays and medical care.
Honest numbers
Estimated total · 2 travelers · 3 days
€1,850
Per person / day
€308
accommodation
Approx. 200 EUR/night x 3 nights x 1 room
€600
32%
food
Per person daily: café breakfast 15, bistro lunch 25, dinner with wine 45, pastries/coffee 10
€570
31%
activities
Louvre, Orsay, Sainte-Chapelle, Orangerie, Seine cruise and a food tour for two
€380
21%
transport
Airport train or bus both ways plus about 8 metro rides each on Navigo Easy
€100
5%
connectivity & insurance
Two 5GB eSIMs plus short-trip travel insurance for two
€70
4%
extras
City tourist tax (about 5 EUR pp/night), apéritifs, market treats and small souvenirs
€130
7%
Smart saving
Make lunch your main restaurant meal: most bistros offer a formule (two or three courses) for 18-28 EUR at midday, often the same kitchen that charges double at dinner.
Good to know
Estimates exclude flights. Hotel prices move with demand — booking 4–8 weeks ahead usually gets the best rates in central areas.
Local know-how
Load a Navigo Easy card
Buy a Navigo Easy pass (2 EUR) at any metro station and load individual tickets, or simply tap a contactless bank card at the gates where supported. Airport journeys need a separate airport ticket, so buy it before boarding the RER B or Roissybus.
Pre-book museum time slots
The Louvre requires timed tickets and sells out days ahead in high season; Sainte-Chapelle and Orsay are much faster with a reserved slot. Remember the Louvre closes on Tuesdays and Orsay and the Orangerie (Tuesdays) have their own closing days, so plan around them.
Watch for pickpockets and petition scams
Pickpockets work the metro lines 1 and 4, the Louvre pyramid area and Sacré-Coeur steps. Politely ignore anyone with a clipboard petition, a 'found' gold ring or a friendship bracelet.
Always start with Bonjour
Greet staff with 'Bonjour' (or 'Bonsoir' in the evening) when entering any shop, café or restaurant; skipping it is considered rude and noticeably changes the service you get.
Tipping is light
Service is included by law (service compris), so leave a few euros or round up for good service rather than 15-20 percent. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, but keep a little cash for markets and bakeries.
Eat on Paris time
Lunch runs roughly 12:00-14:00 and dinner kitchens open around 19:00-19:30; many bistros close between services, and popular spots need a reservation, often bookable online.
Best seasons and typical weather
April-June and September-October offer mild 15-24 C days and the best light; summers can hit 30 C+ and are busy, while winters are grey and 3-8 C but cheaper. Showers can come any month.
Free water and Wi-Fi
Ask for 'une carafe d'eau' for free tap water in restaurants, and refill bottles at green Wallace fountains. Most cafés and public parks offer free Wi-Fi, but an eSIM is far more reliable for maps.
Pack this
Say it like a local
Prices for the best-located rooms rise as dates fill up. Lock in your stay now — most rooms can be cancelled for free.
PlanVoya may earn a commission when you book through links on this page, at no extra cost to you (how this works). Prices are estimates — always confirm details with the provider.
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