Paris – The Metropolis of Mild, the place each cobblestone avenue whispers tales of historical past, romance, and appreciation for artwork. Whether or not you’re a first-time customer otherwise you’re returning for a weekend break, spending two days in Paris exploring its timeless allure is not any unhealthy thought.
Paris has so many iconic landmarks, world-renowned museums, charming neighborhoods, and unbelievable views to see, and although you solely have 48 hours at your disposal, you may nonetheless get pleasure from an action-packed 2 day itinerary of Paris!
When you’re undecided learn how to spend 2 days in Paris, then you definately’re in the precise place. We’ve crafted the right two-day Paris itinerary to information you thru the guts of Paris, making certain you don’t miss the long-lasting landmarks whereas additionally discovering the quintessential parts that make Paris distinctive.
However first…
Are 2 Days Sufficient For Paris?
Two days is simply sufficient to see Paris’s highlights, however it will likely be a busy two days. You have to to be ready to do loads of strolling, and you can be hurried to get from place to position.
Chances are you’ll solely have a few hours to spend at iconic locations like The Louvre or the Eiffel Tower, whereas you might need to keep longer to admire the views and structure extra.
Ideally, 3 days can be preferable, as you may go to these websites extra leisurely, however in case you’re pleased with a whistle-stop tour of Paris, then 2 days will suffice.
If in case you have longer at your disposal, try our itinerary for 4 days in Paris right here.
The Finest Paris Itinerary For two Days
The next itinerary is how I’d counsel spending 48 hours in Paris. In fact, you may take out points of interest that don’t curiosity you or swap the times round – use it as a information and modify it because it fits you.
The primary day explores the long-lasting landmarks and neighborhoods. Today is designed to provide you an introduction to the Parisian lifestyle and to tick off the bucket record moments so you may really feel such as you’ve actually “accomplished Paris.”
The second day options a number of the different greatest points of interest in Paris equivalent to The Louvre and Arc de Triomphe, and covers extra of Paris’s historical past, gorgeous structure, and creative flare.
We additionally counsel ending your 2 day Paris itinerary with a bang…extra on that later!
Day 1
Cease 1: Breakfast at Montparnasse Café
Begin your day with a conventional French breakfast on the gorgeous Montparnasse Cafe, which is thought for its stunning out of doors eating space coated in flowers and foliage.
Remember to wander inside and take a look at the elegant decor, full with crimson wallpaper and darkish wooden furnishings and ceiling, framed in a heat glow of desk lights.
The meals is nice, the service is great, and it’s additionally within the Montparnasse neighborhood, an excellent place to remain within the metropolis that’s near points of interest however far sufficient away to be extra reasonably priced.
For a really typical French breakfast, go for a croissant and café au lait. Afterwards, stroll off your breakfast by going for a stroll by means of Jardin du Luxembourg which is only a quick stroll away, if it is advisable to.
Cease 2: Go to the Eiffel Tower
No journey to Paris can be full with out visiting the Eiffel Tower, it simply wouldn’t. You can’t merely go to and have a look at it, you must go up! That is one of the simplest ways to see the engineering efforts up shut and to understand its iron magnificence.
To go up the Eiffel Tower, you first take an elevator to a viewing platform on the primary ground, after which you may both climb to the second and third statement deck or take one other elevator.
We advocate climbing because it offers you a greater view of the underside of the construction in addition to extra possibilities for picture ops.
Head to the Eiffel Tower early to keep away from crowds!
You possibly can learn extra about learn how to climb the Eiffel Tower right here!
Cease 3: Discover Montmartre
There are various quaint little neighborhoods in Paris, however in case you solely have time for one (which you do, as you solely have two days) make it Montmartre.
Montmartre is situated on a hilltop overlooking Paris and is thought for its charming cobbled streets and vigorous environment.
Montmartre has a extra rural, small-town allure that you simply don’t typically discover in Paris. It’s because it was initially its personal small agricultural village earlier than being absorbed into Paris in 1860.
Head to one of many squares to look at avenue performers, or hike as much as the Sacré-Cœur Basilica for superb views of town – or if you’d like a extra distinctive expertise, think about taking a meals tour of Montmartre!
Cease 5: Sundown Seine River Cruise
If it’s your first go to to Paris, make sure to take a sundown cruise on the Seine River. This offers you an opportunity to see a number of the most iconic landmarks within the metropolis, like Notre Dame Cathedral and the Louvre, from a novel perspective.
There are various totally different choices out there for Seine River cruises, however we advocate in search of one with an audio information, so you may study just a little bit about Paris and France as you float down the Seine River!
It is a great, enjoyable solution to finish a day in Paris, and to relaxation up your aching legs forward of your second busy day exploring town.
Cease 6: Dinner in Le Marais
Le Marais is one other cute little neighborhood in Paris recognized for its slender, medieval streets and hidden courtyards.
It additionally has a number of avenue artwork and a youthful environment and is the place you can find some coated passages, a mode of procuring avenue distinctive to Paris.
It’s regular for retailers to shut between 8.00pm and eight.30pm in Paris, so if you wish to do some procuring earlier than a late dinner, or eat early and store after, it’s potential to do this right here.
The neighborhood has a number of fashionable boutiques and quaint eating places and would make for the right dinner spot to finish your day.
Day 2
Cease 1: Discover the Louvre Museum
The Louvre Museum is likely one of the finest points of interest in Paris and is an iconic image of town. It’s dwelling to a number of the world’s most well-known items of artwork, such because the Venus de Milo by Alexandros of Antioch and the Nike of Samothrace.
Probably the most well-known portray within the museum is the Mona Lisa, one in every of Leonardo da Vinci’s nice masterpieces from the Italian Renaissance.
The museum spans 73,000 sq. meters and incorporates greater than 35,000 artistic endeavors, and making an attempt to see all of it can be overwhelming, so we advocate getting the audio information so that you will be whisked round to see the highlights.
Cease 2: Sainte-Chapelle Cathédrale
Since a fireplace significantly broken the Notre Dame Cathedral, placing it below years of renovations, these desirous to see one in every of Paris’s most stunning church buildings ought to try Sainte-Chapelle.
This Gothic cathedral is situated on the Île de la Cité, the identical web site because the Notre Dame, and was commissioned by King Louis IX in 1248 to deal with his assortment of non secular relics.
The Sainte-Chapelle not solely incorporates stunning items of non secular paintings however can be architecturally gorgeous. It’s most well-known for its stunning stained glass home windows, which cowl virtually the complete wall at 40 meters excessive. It’s one in every of our favourite views in Paris.
Cease 3: Go to the Musée d’Orsay
The Musée d’Orsay is the place to go to admire Impressionist and Publish-Impressionist masterpieces. In reality, it has the biggest assortment of impressionist and post-impressionist artwork on the planet!
Positioned inside the previous Gare d’Orsay, a Beaux-Arts railway station, the museum itself is as magnificent because the paintings it homes. The constructing, in-built 1900 in an artwork nouveau fashion, has a beautiful central corridor with a curved, glass ceiling that may take your breath away.
Some notable masterpieces you may see listed here are Starry Evening Over the Rhône by Vincent Van Gogh, and La Gare Saint-Lazare by Claude Monet, in addition to a number of work by Manet, Pissarro, Morisot, and Renoir.
Cease 4: Champs-Élysées
When you’re visiting Paris with teenagers, then you definately can not miss an opportunity to walk alongside the well-known Champs-Élysées, probably the most well-known procuring avenue within the metropolis.
Not solely is it one of the best place to buy within the metropolis however additionally it is visually placing, with tree-lined walkways and the quintessential Haussmann architectural buildings. This 1.8km avenue is extra than simply huge model shops.
Don’t be shocked in case you see lengthy queues outdoors Laduree Bakery and Tearoom for his or her well-known macarons!
Not solely is it probably the most well-known avenue on the planet, but it surely additionally leads on to our subsequent cease…
Cease 5: Arc de Triomphe
Sitting proudly on the western finish of the Champs-Élysées, the Arc de Triomphe is one other iconic image of Paris and an necessary piece within the nation’s army historical past.
It was commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte after his conquest at Austerlitz and commenced development in 1806, but it surely wasn’t accomplished till 1836.
It was designed by Jean Chalgrin and options ornate reliefs of battle scenes and the lists of names of French army leaders engraved on its pedestals.
You possibly can climb to the highest for panoramic views from the statement deck, which is likely one of the finest views of the Eiffel Tower from anyplace within the metropolis, in my view.
Cease 6: Watch a present at Moulin Rouge
Relating to nightlife, probably the most iconic factor you are able to do is watch a present on the world-famous Moulin Rouge. It’s one of the simplest ways to finish your Parisian journey on a excessive notice.
The Moulin Rouge first opened its doorways in 1889 and is well-known for its lavish cabaret exhibits, which mix music, dance, and acrobatics.
The resident present on the Moulin Rouge is known as “Féerie”, which interprets to Fairy Play in English. It options 80 artists from all over the world in a blinding show of shade, gentle, and dance!
Map of this 2 Day Paris Itinerary
That can assist you work out learn how to get round, right here is an interactive map of those points of interest and locations to go to…
Finest Time to Go to Paris
The very best time to go to Paris is throughout the spring months of April to June, when town is a snug temperature for sightseeing, has blooming flowers, and fewer crowds earlier than the summer time rush.
The autumn months of September and October are additionally good instances to go to and customarily have fewer crowds, nice climate, and gorgeous autumn foliage.
The place to Keep in Paris
Because you solely have a few days in Paris, it would be best to keep as central as potential to keep away from touring lengthy distances.
The St Germain or the Latin Quarter are nice neighborhoods since they sit proper on the banks of the Seine River and are inside a stone’s throw of the highest points of interest of town.
We stayed on the Novotel Paris Centre Gare Montparnasse, which was a beautiful 4-star lodge inside a 5-minute strolling distance of Montparnasse Tower and a metro station, but it surely’s a bit distant from points of interest you probably have two days.
If you wish to keep someplace particular, Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel is completely situated and has a luxurious, modern fashion and panoramic views of Paris
Earlier than You Go: Final Minute Suggestions for Visiting Paris
Earlier than you pack up your suitcase and begin jet setting off, listed here are a couple of issues to know earlier than you go to Paris:
- Use the Paris Métro to get round. It’s probably the most environment friendly type of transport as visitors within the metropolis is chaotic!
- Go to main points of interest early. You’ll discover on this itinerary we’ve put the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre first, that is strategic, because it’s the quietest time of the day to see these iconic landmarks.
- Ebook tickets upfront. Fashionable points of interest ebook up upfront, and so in case you depart it till the day to ebook tickets you might miss out. Reserving forward additionally helps keep away from lengthy traces.
- Be conscious of pickpockets. Paris is protected on the entire, but it surely has a nasty popularity for pickpockets, so control your stuff.
- Embrace the café tradition. It might really feel overwhelming in Paris with the quantity of individuals and the honking noises, so take day trip of your itinerary to take a seat in cafés, people-watch, and revel in a espresso.
- Carry a reusable water bottle as many parks and public areas have consuming fountains to fill them up in. Eating places are so sluggish at filling up your glass with water!
- Plan for Museums to be closed on Tuesdays.
- Be taught some fundamental phrases in French. The native folks adore it while you use their language!
- Put on comfy sneakers as you’ll be strolling loads.