Paris is regarded as one of the most beautiful and romantic places in the world. It’s a fairly big city and seems like there are endless things to do so it may be difficult to plan your trip, especially if it’s your first time. If you’re wondering what to do in Paris in 5 days, this best Paris 5 Day itinerary shows 5 full days of exploring the must-see spots in Paris. These places are organized and grouped together based on proximity to cut down on transportation time and money.
With this Paris 5-day itinerary, I recommend getting the 4-day Paris Museum Pass to save some money on museum entrance fees. This itinerary will start using the museum pass on the 3rd day. If you plan to only visit a few museums and decide to not purchase the museum pass, I recommend purchasing single tickets ahead of time to avoid lines.
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Day 1 of Paris 5 Day Itinerary
Summary of the Day: Shopping + Eiffel Tower
Breakfast at La Parisienne
On the first day of the Paris 5-day itinerary, breakfast is at La Parisienne. It’s a small French bakery that many locals go to. They serve all the typical French pastries and baguette sandwiches. The baguette sandwiches are my personal favorite.
Galeries Lafayette Haussmann
Shopping lovers will absolutely love this place. The Galeries Lafayette has 3 buildings – one for house and food products, another for men’s fashion, and the last and also most famous one is called the “Coupole” building which features immaculate architecture and design. Lights sparkle throughout the interior of the building and it’s just beautiful. It consists of 5 levels and offers various clothing, beauty, and handbag brands from top luxury brands to affordable luxury brands. If you’re not living in the EU, don’t forget to take advantage of the VAT tax refund. Just take a look at this picture to admire the beauty of this place.
Lunch at Les Bariolรฉs de Maud
Just steps away you’ll pass by this restaurant that has a large outdoor seating area. I’m not sure how to describe this kind of food – it’s almost like Greek/Mediterranean style but the French way. The best way I can describe is thin pita-like wraps with lots of vegetables, meat, and vegetable stuffing. They have a ton of vegetarian options also. I loved the taste and felt like a very cleansing meal.
Champs-รlysรฉes + Arc de Triomphe
From Galeries Lafayette to Champ Elysรฉe is about a 30min walk so if you’re up for some exercise and want some nice street views of Paris, I totally recommend walking. If you don’t want to walk, I recommend searching for directions on the metro using Google Maps. Google Maps is a lifesaver.
Champ รlysรฉe is a very long street with shops on both sides of the street. It definitely gets crowded here quickly so be prepared for that. Once you walk down to the end of the street, you’ll reach Arc de Triomphe. There’s another opportunity on this itinerary to visit the Arc de Triomphe again to see the night views as well as go up to the top of the arch to get beautiful views of Paris (also using the Paris Museum Pass).
If you don’t have the Paris Museum Pass, you can get a single ticket here.
Macarons at Pierre Hermรฉ
Along Champ รlysรฉe is a shop called Pierre Hermรฉ that sells delicious macarons. They offer to-go and also dine in but dine-in is significantly more expensive for the same desserts. Right across the street is another macaron shop called Ladurรฉe which in my opinion, tastes pretty similar but you can try both and be the judge.
Eiffel Tower
About a 20min walk from Champ Elysรฉe is the Eiffel Tower. If you plan to go inside the tower, remember to get tickets ahead of time (at least 1-2 weeks before). There are two options – walk up to the tower or take an old-fashioned elevator up. I personally tried both and I can tell you the stairs are incredibly tiring. I would go for the elevator but it does cost a bit more. Going up the Eiffel Tower is a great experience but I would recommend going up the Arc de Triomphe instead to get views of the city and the Eiffel Tower.
Eiffel Tower isn’t included in the Paris Museum Pass. To get tickets, you can visit here.
Dinner at L’abreuvoir
This restaurant is close to the Eiffel Tower and offers authentic French-style food. We got the steak and fries and veal dish. Both were so good. This place gets packed but is pretty big inside so you’ll likely find a table without little to no wait.
Seine River Cruise
Next to the Eiffel Tower is where the Seine River Cruise stations. This river cruise goes along the Seine River and you can see various landmarks including Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Musรฉe d’Orsay, Grand Palais, and much more. I recommend going at night so you can see the entire city light up. The cruise is available from 10am-10pm and it’s a 1-hour ride. The ship departs every 30 minutes.
Day 2 of Paris Itinerary
Summary of the Day: Museums + Montmarte
Breakfast at La Maison dโIsabelle
On the second day of the Paris 5-day itinerary, we’ll start off the day at La Maison dโIsabelle. This small French bakery is well known for its croissants (won awards!) and I can confirm they were really good. There are many locals that come here to pick up their baguettes or grab a quick pastry to-go.
Army Museum
If you’re into history, this is the museum for you. There are many historical artifacts and information about past French military conflicts stored in this museum. Napoleon’s tomb is also stored in this museum. This museum is included in the Paris Museum Pass.
If you don’t have the Paris Museum Pass, you can get a single ticket here.
Rodin Museum
Rodin Museum features many different sculptures. The interior is decorated nicely and has a very modern style. There usually aren’t too many people here so no need to make a reservation. It’s included in the museum pass.
If you don’t have the Paris Museum Pass, you can get a single ticket here.
Lunch at Chez Germaine
This is one of the places that locals go for authentic French food. The restaurant is quite small inside and the tables are close together but I didn’t see a single foreigner here. Even as a foreigner, I didn’t feel out of place here. The waiter spoke perfect English and was really nice. We got the Duck Confit and Lamb Shank. Both were delicious.
Sacre Coeur
Going to the Sacre Coeur from Chez Germaine is quite far so I recommend taking the metro. Sacre Coeur is a Roman Catholic Church will a very beautiful interior. This place is free to enter but there are always long lines so do expect a wait. Since this is a popular attraction, beware of common tourist scams.
Salvador Dali Museum
This museum has very cool pieces of sculpture and art created by Salvador Dali. This museum is not included in the Museum Pass and the entrance fee is โค12. You can book tickets here.
Walk Around Montmarte
The surrounding area is a district called Montmarte which is home to countless painters and artists. In an area of Montmarte, you can see a lot of artists painting outside. There are also a ton of small shops in Montmarte that sells jewelry, clothes, stationery, and more.
Dinner at Pink Mama
This restaurant is in the Montmarte area so you can walk there. Pink Mama serves American-Italian cuisine that has a very modern and trendy interior. There is always a crazy line here so be sure to make a reservation ahead of time. I tried the truffle pizza and the dough is the softest pizza dough I’ve ever tried. It’s unlike any pizza I’ve had.
Dessert at Glazed Ice Cream
In the area, there is an ice cream shop called Glazed and I highly recommend going. They have 20+ flavors to choose from. I got the black sesame ice cream and I’m still craving it to this day. It’s super rich in flavor and so addicting. The only downside is that the scoops are incredibly tiny.
Day 3 of Paris Itinerary
Summary of the Day: Versaille + More Museums
Quick Breakfast at Prep A Manger
On the third day of the Paris 5-day itinerary, we’ll take a quick breakfast stop. The majority of Day 3 morning will be spent at Versaille. To get there early and avoid the crowds, I suggest getting a quick breakfast at a nearby cafe. Prep A Manger has a wide variety of food and usually opens early.
Take Train to Versaille
From Paris, you’ll need to take a train to Versaille. You can do that by riding the RER Line C to Chรขteau Rive Gauche station and then walking around 10 minutes to get to Versaille. Google Maps will help you with directions.
To enter Versaille, be sure to book tickets ahead of time (1-2 weeks ahead) and book for 9am, which is the earliest time slot. There will be fewer people at the 9am time slot so you can get in quicker.
Versaille is included in the museum pass but if you want a single entry ticket, purchase them here.
Lunch at Le Souffle
After visiting Versaille, ride the train back to Paris and get lunch at Le Souffle. This place has delicious savory and sweet souffle. I recommend making a reservation ahead of time because this restaurant is usually packed.
Orangerie Museum
A short walk from the restaurant will take you to Orangerie Museum. This museum is covered in the Museum Pass and even though they allow reservations, you probably won’t need it. This place features extremely long and aesthetic paintings of lily ponds and water by the artist Claude Monet. There are also other art pieces by various other artists. Overall, this museum isn’t very big so you won’t need to spend too much time inside.
If you don’t have the Paris Museum Pass, you can get a single ticket here.
Musรฉe d’Orsay
Take a short walk to Musรฉe d’Orsay to explore even more paintings and art pieces. It’s also included in the Museum Pass. They won’t let you make a reservation but you can stand in a shorter line if you’re a museum pass holder. This museum is home to the famous Starry Night painting by Van Gough.
If you don’t have the Paris Museum Pass, you can get a single ticket here.
Dessert at Angelina’s
Angelina’s is well known for its French desserts. If you want to dine in, it’ll cost more for the same desserts but the interior is beautiful with its classy decoration, art, and decor. I tried the Mille-feuille (โค7.60 – takeout price) and I loved it.
Dinner at Chez Fernand
Many people recommend this place for its good food and atmosphere and I definitely agree. We got the beef bourguignon and veal kidneys. The veal kidneys were good but the taste got a little overwhelming after a while. The beef bourguignon was very flavorful and this is what they’re known for.
Day 4
Summary of the Day: Farmers Market + Museums + Le Marais area
Breakfast at Bastille Market
On the 4th day of Paris 5-day itinerary, we’ll start off at Bastille Market. Paris has a lot of outdoor Farmers markets and Bastille Market is one of the most popular ones. There are endless booths of food including freshly made crepes, meat, seafood, fruits & veggies, and more. There are also other booths selling clothes, bags, souvenirs, and other products. Bastille Market is open on Sunday (7am-3pm) and Thursday (7am-2:30pm).
Places des Vosges
Nearby is a square filled with greenery and nature. It is actually the oldest square in Paris. After some breakfast at Bastille Market, just walk over and rest a little in the square. It’s free to enter.
Picasso Museum
Very close by is the Picasso Museum which has paintings made by the iconic Pablo Picasso. It’s not too big inside but you probably won’t need to spend too much time inside. What’s special about this Picasso museum is that it features paintings that Picasso drew presenting her daughter, Maya. This museum is included in the museum pass.
If you don’t have the Paris Museum Pass, you can get a single ticket here.
Marche des Enfants Rouges
This is also walkable from the Picasso Museum and it’s an outdoor market that serves fresh fruits & veggies and has small food stalls. It’s similar to Bastille Market but is smaller and a bit more formal.
Lunch at L’As du Fallafel
Closeby is an insanely popular falafel restaurant called L’As du Fallafel. Everyone from all over the world comes here just to eat their food. You can choose to get takeout which is much faster or wait in line to dine in. I thought it was pretty good but I think I could get similar quality falafel here in the US so the hype is overrated (in my opinion!)
Walk Around Le Marais Area
The above spots mentioned are all in the Le Marais area but there’s also more to this district. There are small clothing boutiques, watch shops, and other small shops located on narrow streets. This area is very clean and it’s an enjoyable area to just wander around mindlessly.
Pompidou
This is a modern art museum that features abstract paintings and other forms of modern art. It’s much different than all the other traditional museums so highly recommend going there. Pompidou is also included in the museum pass.
If you don’t have the Paris Museum Pass, you can get a single ticket here.
Passage du Grand Cerf
Also in the area is Passage du Grand Cerf which is a unique indoor area that has dome-shaped window ceilings and small shops inside. It’s not very big – you can walk through the entire place in a few minutes. Nice spot for some pictures and to check out some small shops.
Day 5
Summary of the Day: Museums + Latin Quarter
Breakfast at Les Deux Magots
On the last day of the Paris 5-day itinerary, we’ll start off with breakfast at Les Deux Magots. It’s one of the most popular cafes in Paris. It’s famous because many influential literary and artistic individuals in the past frequently visited this cafe to work. I got their apple pastry and hot chocolate and it was delicious.
Louvre Museum
We cannot leave out this Paris 5-day itinerary without visiting Louvre. It’s a unique building because the triangle you see sticking out is the window ceiling of the museum. The museum is actually underground. Louvre is home to the world-famous Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci and the Venus de Milo sculpture by Alexandros of Antioch.
Louvre is included in the museum pass and if you’re using the museum pass, Louvre also requires you to also reserve a time slot on their website.
If you don’t have the Paris Museum Pass, you can get a single ticket here. This single ticket already includes the slot reservation.
Tuileries Garden
Just right outside of the Louvre Museum. Depending on the season, you may see beautiful roses in the garden. You can also usually spot dogs running around in the grassy field.
Saint Chapelle
About a 25-minute walk away from the Tuileries Garden is Saint Chapelle. It’s a Gothic-style Royal Chapel. It’s beautiful inside with its stained glass windows. This museum is included in the museum pass. If you purchase the museum pass, I highly recommend reserving a time slot ahead of time to avoid the lines.
If you don’t have the Paris Museum Pass, you can get a single ticket here.
Lunch at Brizh Cafe
Brizh Cafe is one of the most popular spots to eat authentic-style French crepes. They serve sweet and savory crepes and it’s a must-try. I recommend making a reservation just in case it gets full quickly.
Latin Quarter
The above places mentioned are in Latin Quarter but I also recommend exploring other areas in Latin Quarter. This includes the Notre Dame (still closed, but expected to open in 2024), Shakespeare Library, and just walk around aimlessly. Take a walk by the Seine River also – it’s beautiful.
French Cheese at Androuet
French are known for their cheese and it’s a great souvenir to bring back home as well. If you’re going back to the US, cheese without meat products is allowed. Androuet is a small family-owned shop and they have all different kinds of quality cheeses. The owner is very generous with letting customers sample the cheeses before purchasing.
French Skincare at a Pharmacy
There are a lot of well-known French beauty brands that are popular around the world. But did you know that most French products sold elsewhere in the world (especially US) are much more expensive than when sold in France? Take advantage of these and stock up on beauty products. Since the liquid weight is likely to be over the carry-on limit, you’ll need to put it in your check-in bag. These products are also eligible for VAT tax refund. Double savings!
Arc de Triomphe + Champs-รlysรฉes
These two places were already listed before but I definitely suggest coming again to get a night view of the area. When it gets dark, Champs-รlysรฉes lights up and when you go up to the top of Arc de Triomphe, you can see the amazing night views of the entire street. Arc de Triomphe is included in the museum pass.
If you don’t have the Paris Museum Pass, you can get a single ticket here.
Vietnamese Food for Dinner
There are quite a few Vietnamese restaurants in Paris and most of them are pretty authentic. Yelp the best Vietnamese restaurant around you and enjoy a nice non-French meal for the last day of the Paris 5-day itinerary.
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FAQ: Paris Itinerary
The Best 5 Day Paris Itinerary?
These events are grouped together to avoid extra travel so you save time and money.
Day 1: Galeries Lafayette + Champs-รlysรฉes + Eiffel Tower
Day 2: Army Museum + Rodin Museum + Monmarte + Sacre Coeur
Day 3: Versaille + Musee D’Orsay + Orangerie Museum
Day 4: Bastille Market + Picasso Museum + Le Marais District + Pompidou
Day 5: Louvre + Sainte Chapelle + Latin Quarter
