Discover Paris in 5 days! – An all-inclusive 2026 itinerary
The best way to visit Paris is to do so unhurriedly and spending time in what makes the City of Light charming: to explore secret nooks and crannies, to discover monuments leisurely, to taste a slow breakfast, to go shopping like a Parisian, or simply to let time go by in the outdoors of a café.
Discover Paris in five days with this all-inclusive itinerary that will take you both to the most iconic landmarks in France’s capital city as well as to its least known surprises! Stay tuned until the end in order to check a budget for your trip, an interactive map, and express itineraries, just in case you come for a shorter time.
Last minute preparations before your flight
When it comes to planning a trip to Paris, there are some must-check aspects that you need to bear in mind if you want everything to go smoothly. Here is your check list!
- Documents and insurance: you will need certain documents, and possibly travel insurance depending on your country of origin and the duration of your stay. EU citizens need nothing but their ID document or a valid passport, but all remaining travellers are required to have insurance, a passport and, in some cases, a Schengen visa.
- 5 day Paris City Pass: this City Pass allows you to pick five experiences or landmarks among fifty available choices (Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Arc du Triomphe, a cruise across the Seine, a panoramic bus, and so on). If you wish to visit museums and monuments, and to carry out activities such as cruises + tours + tastings, you can save up to 20 % and enormously hurry up your stay in places such as the Louvre. It may not be cost efficient if you are travelling with children, since they can access many landmarks free of charge!
- Navigo Découverte vs Carnet t+: the Navigo Découverte is a rechargeable transport card that costs 5 € and remains valid for 10 years. It can be charged with a weekly (22.80 €) or a monthly (75.20 €) pass to enjoy unlimited trips in all zones (1-5), including the airports and suburbs such as Versailles or Disneyland. It is ideal for long stays in town, or those which require moving out of the city centre! On the other hand, the Carnet t + consists of ten individual tickets for a total price of 17.35 € in digital format (14.90 € in paper). Each ticket can be used for a metro, tramway, or bus trip within Paris (zone 1). It is much more suitable for a few days, or if you are not going to leave the city centre, nor move around that much!
- Recommended accommodation zones according to each kind of traveller: if you are going to visit Paris as a family, and you are on the lookout for quiet and safe neighbourhoods, we suggest that you pick quarters such as Le Marais and Saint-Germain-des-Prés (more centrally located), or also Passy / Trocadéro and Batignolles (more affordable). Should you travel as a couple looking for a romantic trip, we recommend Montmartre, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Le Marais or Canal Saint-Martin. At last, if you are visiting the city with friends, seek accommodation in neighbourhoods such as Bastille, Oberkampf / République, or the Latin Quarter. We can tell you more about it in this monographic article on accommodation options in Paris!
Day 1 – Origins of the city and a cruise at sunset
Day 1 in Paris: explore the medieval core of the city and the Louvre Museum, and wrap it up with a cruise.
Not to be missed: a coffee and a croissant in any boulangerie in the vicinity of Notre Dame, the Librairie La Hune, or the magical nooks and crannies at the Pont Neuf and the park in the Place Dauphine.
For your first day in Paris, we suggest that you start it off early in the Île de la Cité in order to visit the outdoors of Notre Dame, the Sainte Chapelle, and the Conciergerie.
Next on, after a light lunch, head towards the Louvre Museum to walk through its masterpieces. We suggest that you book your entrance for 14:00!
Finally, enjoy the cherry on top with a twilight cruise across the Seine, and call it a day with a wonderful dinner at Saint-Germain-des-Prés, in venues such as The Procope or Fish La Boissonnerie.
Day 2 – Impressionist Art and a lit Eiffel Tower
Day 2 in Paris: discover Paris’ art and its most iconic monuments.
Not to be missed: a history packed coffee in the bohemian Musée d’Orsay and a toast at the Trocadéro with the best views on the Eiffel Tower.
On your second day in Paris, we suggest that you devote the morning to the thrilling Musée d’Orsay and the Tuileries Garden. After having lunch in the surroundings of the Champ de Mars, get ready to take an amazing panoramic picture from the Trocadéro square!
In the evening, book your climb to the Eiffel Tower beforehand and online by 17:00, and relish the most iconic monument in Paris. Make it perfect with a picnic, if the weather is fine, or with an informal dinner in the extremely charming Rue Cler!
Day 3 – Opera House, classic shopping, and Montmartre bohemian
Day 3 in Paris: discover Paris’ art and its most famous monuments.
Not to be missed: having breakfast at the Café de la Paix, opposite the Opera House, the peculiar shops in the Place du Terte, and a glimpse into the romantic Montmartre cemetery.
For your third day in Paris, nothing beats starting off your morning with a guided tour to the Opera Garnier (book it by 10:00), wrapping it up at the viewpoint in the Lafayette Galleries. Once there, ride the metro to Anvers and have lunch in the surroundings of the Sacré Cœur basilica (Le Consulat or La Maison Rose are ideal), and spend your evening both there and also in the delightful Place du Terte.
At night, you can attend a show at the Moulin Rouge!
Day 4 – Latin Quarter, gardens, and the Alexander III Bridge
Day 4 in Paris: take a walk across the Latin Quarter and get to know Les Invalides.
Not to be missed: having a coffee at Les Deux Magots, snooping around the bouquinistes by the Seine, and the Cour du Commerce Saint André, very close to the Sorbonne.
This is your fourth day in Paris, and we shall begin with a route on foot all the way through the Sorbonne University and the spellbinding Jardin du Luxembourg, where you can have a picnic lunch with fresh produce from the Marché Saint Germain or the Fromagerie Laurent Dubois.
In the afternoon, we recommend a visit to Les Invalides and Napoleon’s burial place, finishing off at the Alexander III Bridge at dusk for a picture perfect photo session!
Day 5 – Versailles Palace and a chic soirée at Le Marais
Day 5 in París: Versailles or Disneyland and the magic of chic Paris.
Not to be missed: a walk across the secret garden at the Hôtel de Sully, at the end of the Place des Vosges, and a stroll by the banks of the Seine to bid farewell to Paris until next time.
For your fifth and last day in Paris, we propose a trip to Versailles Palace, where you could have an informal lunch, or even buy your own picnic at La Petite Venise while you find out what life was like for the French nobility during the 1600s and the 1700s.
Book your departure on the RER C at 08:00 to Versailles and purchase an online ticket to skip the queues!In the afternoon, experience the chic and elegant ambience of Le Marais, the Rue des Rosiers, and the Place des Vosges, going shopping at indie stores such as Merci, The Broken Arm, or Fleux. Do not leave without trying the typical falafel in the neighbourhood: the best one can be found at L’As du Fallafel.
Should you travel as a family, you can always swap your trip to Versailles for a day at Disneyland Paris!
Budget estimate for 5 days
Should you be wondering how much you will spend during 5 days in Paris, there is no exact answer, since this will highly depend on the accommodation option that you pick, the restaurants that you choose, and the landmarks that you will visit. But here you are a very accurate budget estimate according to a low-cost, standard, or comfort trip!
| Conceptos | Low-cost | Standard | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (5 nights) | 300 € guesthouse | 600 € 3★ | 1.200 € 4-5★ |
| Meals | 25 €/day | 45 €/day | 80 €/day |
| Landmarks | 150 € (Paris Pass) | 230 € | 420 € (VIP) |
| Transport | 25 € | 40 € | 60 € |
| Total approx. | 650 € | 1.135 € | 1.760 € |
Key tips to save time and money
Even though five days is an excellent amount of time to enjoy Paris unhurriedly, here you are a few tips that will help you to optimize your time in the city, and also to save a handful of euros:
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Book your tickets online and as early as possible for highly visited monuments, such as the Louvre Museum or the Eiffel Tower. Skip the queues as you purchase them in order to avoid wasting your time waiting!
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Should you intend to visit several museums and landmarks a day (at least three or four), it will probably be worth it to get a Paris City Pass. Not only does this include admission to museums and monuments, but also public transport and even cruises along the Seine.
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Do remember that National Museums (such as the Louvre or Orsay) are free of charge on the first Sunday of every month!
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Ride the metro with day passes or carnets. Rather than purchasing individual tickets, choose a “10 ticket carnet”, or the Paris Pass, should you intend to use public transport frequently.
Parisian picnic: delicious, inexpensive, and scenic. Buying local products at markets or boulangeries, and going on a picnic in gardens such as Luxembourg, Champ de Mars, or the Tuileries, is a delicious and affordable way to eat like a Parisian!
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How much will I spend for 5 days in Paris?
During five days in Paris, your average daily expenses could range from 100 € to 300 €, depending on your travelling style. By and large, a trip this long can cost anything from around 350 € up to more than 1200 € per person.
How many days are advisable to see Paris?
The ideal would be between 4 and 5 days to get to know the essentials of Paris leisurely: museums, emblematic quarters, monuments, and some cuisine. Should you have some extra time, you may include a few trips to Versailles or Disneyland.
Are 5 days enough to spend in Paris?
Five days is the perfect stay to get to know the best of Paris and go on a trip across its surroundings!
What must I not miss out on if I go to Paris?
Do not miss out on the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Sainte Chapelle, Montmartre and the Sacré Cœur basilica, the Jardin du Luxembourg, the Place des Vosges and Le Marais, the Latin Quarter, the Champs Elysées, a stroll or a cruise along the Seine, and the Lafayette Galleries. a y las Galerías Lafayette.
Which is the most affordable month to travel on?
The most inexpensive months to visit Paris are usually January, February, and November. Bear in mind that it will be colder and the days will be shorter!
How can I avoid the queues at the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower?
Book your tickets online and in advance, choosing the “no queues” option, or an allocated time slot for your visit, and make sure to avoid bank holidays and weekends.
How much does a café or a croissant cost in Paris?
An espresso coffee at the counter can cost you from 1.50 € to 2.50 €, whereas in a terrace you will pay from 3 € to 5 €. A croissant in a boulangerie will cost you from 1 € to 2.50 €.
Can I explore Paris with kids in five days?
Of course you can! Paris is a very family friendly city to explore, since you will find plenty of green areas, gardens, and squares which are ideal to take a rest. Additionally, many landmarks offer free of charge or reduced admission fees for children.
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