The first time I went to Paris was for a long weekend that I'll never forget. I thought that with good planning, I could see everything in two days. But Coco always bites off more than she can chew. Obviously, it's impossible to discover all the treasures of Paris in just two days. So I had to make some choices to optimize my two days in Paris and plan an itinerary that included the sites that were most interesting to me.

PARIS IN 2 DAYS - My itinerary with map and info

If you are going to Paris for the first time and you want, above all, to see the most beautiful sites of the City of Lights, then here is a guide to the most beautiful visits to do and my advice so that your two days in Paris are truly successful !

You will find ideas for visiting Paris in 2 days but above all itineraries to take on foot to discover the most beautiful places in the city with their Google Maps.

So go in sneakers and don't forget your bottle of water! That said, those who don't like walking can take a taxi or the metro for longer distances or for returning to the hotel in the evening.

How to visit Paris in a weekend?

You have several possibilities to visit Paris in a weekend:

Not all the monuments and museums in Paris can be visited in one weekend, it's totally impossible. However, it is interesting to discover them from the outside if only to admire the majestic architecture.

Depending on your tastes and pace, you might choose one or two museums for a quick visit. Personally, I selected the Orangerie Museum for a thorough exploration because my favorite painter, Claude Monet, painted the most beautiful frescoes in the world there (in my opinion): the Water Lilies . But those who prefer the smile of the Mona Lisa can take a stroll through the vast Louvre Museum.

Program and itinerary for your first day in Paris

This first day is quite busy but allows you to see the most emblematic sites of Paris. Here is the program and the itinerary that I propose to you:

  • In the morning, you will leave the Trocadéro, pass through the Champs de Mars to arrive at the Eiffel Tower via the Esplanade des Invalides.
  • At the end of the morning you can visit the Musée d'Orsay.
  • At midday, a lunch break can be had right next to the Musée d'Orsay at the Deux Margots restaurant.
  • In the afternoon, passing by the Pont des Arts, this route allows you to visit cultural Paris:
  • At the end of the afternoon, head to the Champs-Élysées which is a must-see shopping in Paris and that you will walk along to the Arc de Triomphe
  • The evening will be under the theme of romance with a dinner cruise on the Seine.

To avoid getting lost, I recommend that you follow the Google Maps route below on foot:

View from Montmartre on the Sacré Coeur

Program and itinerary for your second day in Paris

This second day is less busy than the first but just as interesting.

I propose a walking tour to discover medieval Paris with the Sainte Chapelle and its 15 stained-glass windows and 1,113 stained-glass windows and of course the Notre Dame Cathedral which has withstood the flames and still stands straight and proud in the heart of Paris.

The circuit also passes by the Pantheon, which houses the remains of the greatest men in the political and cultural history of France, but above all by a series of museums for all tastes (Modern Art with the Centre Pompidou , Cubism and Surrealism with the Picasso Museum and entertaining with the Grévin Wax Museum).

In France, we always say that we save the best for last . And for me, the best of Paris is Montmartre , its hill, its typical neighborhoods, its alleyways, its bistros and its Sacré-Cœur Basilica.

Sacré Coeur to visit during a weekend in Paris

Not forgetting a bit of shopping in Paris and a festive evening in the legendary Moulin Rouge cabaret!

Here is the recommended itinerary for this second day which allows you to discover the other emblematic sites of the French capital on foot:

  • Morning:
    • Holy Chapel
    • Pantheon
    • Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral
    • Picasso Museum
    • Centre Pompidou
  • Lunch: Restaurant le Pharamond (24 Rue de la Grande Truanderie)
  • Afternoon :
    • Musee Grevin
    • Montmartre
    • Basilica of the Sacred Heart
  • Evening at the Moulin Rouge

To do this tourist circuit, I advise you to follow the Google Maps route below on foot:

Sacré Coeur stage of my visit to Paris in 2 days

Dream evening for a weekend in Paris

If you want your weekend in Paris to be unforgettable, I recommend booking a dream evening: Dinner at the Eiffel Tower + romantic cruise + show at the Moulin Rouge

Where to stay to visit Paris in 2 days?

For your short stay or weekend in Paris, an apartment rental can be a good accommodation solution. I recommend a nice apartment with an ideal location to make the visits of my walking tours of the essentials of Paris.

See this apartment in Paris

If you prefer a hotel, here's the one I recommend: Ibis Montmartre . I chose this hotel because I love this area, but mainly to save money, as it offers excellent value for money.

See the Ibis hotel in Paris

However, for those with a more flexible budget, I recommend a very well-located 5-star hotel, ideal for a romantic weekend in Paris: the Hotel Juliana!

It is one of the best 5-star hotels located right next to the Eiffel Tower and only a 10-minute walk from the Seine cruise departures. In addition to its proximity to the Eiffel Tower, the Champs de Mars and the Champs Elysées, its main advantage is having a beautiful terrace on the 7th floor.

See the Juliana hotel in Paris

If you only have one day to visit Paris, here's how to visit Paris in 1 day

Or perhaps half a day: Visiting Paris in one afternoon

Or perhaps you'd like to continue exploring the area around Paris: What to visit around Paris

and if you want to take another city tour in France, why not

A weekend in Bordeaux , a 2-day visit to Marseille , or a short stay in Toulouse?

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