Experience Paris Like an Insider – 5 Must-Do Itineraries

Paris is a treasure trove of attractions, and it can feel impossible to see it all, no matter how much time you have. That's where we come in. We've taken the sprawling list of must-see attractions and edited them into easy-to-follow half-day and full-day itineraries that make the most of your time in the City of Light. Our top tip? Let a local guide show you the way with a museum, neighborhood, or food & wine tour — because that's how we do Paris!

Itinerary #1: Trocadero – Eiffel Tower – Quai Branly

The Eiffel Tower seen from Trocadero (Palais du Chaillot to left), photo by Mark Craft

Start your day by hopping on Metro Line 6 or 9 and riding to Trocadéro. As you climb the steps and walk onto the plaza at Palais de Chaillot, you'll be greeted by the jaw-dropping view of the Eiffel Tower. This is the moment you'll want to have your camera ready — the iconic Iron Lady in all her glory.

After soaking in the view and taking a few photos, consider exploring one of the museums tucked into the palais, like the Musée National de la Marine for a maritime-themed adventure. When you're ready, take a leisurely stroll down the hill, past the gardens and fountains, and cross the Seine to get up close and personal with the Eiffel Tower herself. If you've booked a guided tour, you'll breeze past the lines and head straight to the top. Or, simply wander beneath the tower, marveling at its sheer size and presence.

The pedestrian bridge at Quai Branly, photo by Mark Craft

Once you've marveled at the Eiffel Tower, it's decision time. You could wander over to the Musêe du Quai Branly, a fascinating museum that celebrates art and culture from around the globe. Or, if modern art piques your interest, take the pedestrian bridge at Quai Branly and cross to the Palais de Tokyo, home to the Museum of Modern Art of the City of Paris. We recommend the latter — it's free, after all!

If you're ready to slow down and experience a true Parisian moment, stroll over to Rue Cler in the 7th Arrondissement. You'll find an irresistible mix of charming cafês, bustling markets, and local food shops — perfect for a relaxing end to the day.

More Information about this Itinerary

• Eiffel Tower Skip-the Line Tours…
• Guide to the Eiffel Tower…
• Musée d'Art Moderne – Paris Museum of Modern Art…
• Guide to Musée du Quai Branly…
• Paris Museum Pass…

#2: Arc de Triomphe – Champs Elysées – Tuileries

The Arc de Triomphe, located on a busy traffic circle

Start your day at the top of the Arc de Triomphe, located at the western end of the Champs-Elysêes. The Arc offers one of the best panoramic views of Paris, where you can see from the Louvre to La Grande Arche at La Dêfense. The Arc is much more intimate than the Eiffel Tower, and the views are more of a human scale. To get there, hop on Metro lines 1, 2, or 6 to Charles-de-Gaulle-êtoile, then take the underground passage to avoid the chaos of the traffic circle.

Take your time to get a real feel for the city. When you're done, return on the underground stairs to walk down Champs Elysées towards the Louvre, and do a bit of window shopping at Louis Vuitton and the other designer shops. From Louis Vuitton it's an easy nine-minute walk to the traffic circle at Avenue Montaigne, home to another batch of luxe shopping destinations — Christian Dior, Valentino, Chanel, Bulgari and others.

The Petit Palais, photo by Mark Craft

But you can't shop forever, especially at these prices! So, pop down to Avenue Winston Churchill (turn right at the next intersection) and stop at the Petit Palais, home of the Museum of Fine Arts of the City of Paris, for a dose of free art. (Almost all City of Paris museums are free.) It's a lovely museum and they have some surprising pieces. We also like the gift shop!

Once you're ready, head back to the Champs-Elysêes, continuing down towards Place de la Concorde (the US Embassy is on your left). At the end of your journey, you'll find the lush Jardin des Tuileries, where you can relax with a drink at one of the outdoor cafês. After all that walking, you deserve it!

More Information about this Itinerary

• Arc de Triomphe tickets…
• Guide to the Arc de Triomphe…
• The Petit Palais, Musée des Beaux-Arts…
• La Defénse and La Grande Arche…
• Place de la Concorde…
• Jardin des Tuileries…

#3: Montmartre – Place du Tertre – Sacre Coeur

Montmartre, with dome of Sacre-Coeur in the background, photo Wikimedia by Albany Tim

Your Montmartre adventure begins at the charming Place des Abbesses. Step out of the Art Nouveau Metro station (Line 12), designed by Hector Guimard, and make your way up Rue des Abbesses. This is where you'll get a taste of the old Montmartre village — once home to the likes of Picasso and other artists. Be sure to stop at one of the many bakeries along the way for a fresh, warm baguette.

From there, wander uphill on Rue des Abbesses (against the traffic direction) to take in the Montmartre village vibe. It wasn't that long ago the the was, in fact, a village on a hill near Paris, with dirt streets and cheap accommodations that attracted the likes of Picasso and his bohemian clique. Stop in one of the prize-winning boulangeries along Rue des Abbesses for a mouthwatering, warm baguette. Montmartre has a thriving food scene and a perfect way to experience it is on a guided food walking tour of the quartier.

Street in Montmartre, photo by Mark Craft

After a slice of real life in real Montmartre, continue up Rue des Abbesses and then take Rue Lepic uphill (it forks off to the right). Wind your way through the old village streets and historic cabarets (and more tourists!) until you reach Place du Tertre, hangout of artists in Picasso's day and still the haunt of many Parisian artists. To discover more of the Montmartre that Parisians know, sign up for this highly-rated guided tour of hidden Montmartre.

Follow the curves of Rue Lepic, and you'll find yourself at the base of Sacrê-Coeur. Walk around the basilica for breathtaking views of the city. When you're ready to descend, take the funicular down the hill and stroll over to Metro Anvers on Line 2.

More Information about this Itinerary

• Eleven Great Things About Montmartre…
• Hector Guimard's Metro Entrances…
• The Best Baguette in Paris Awards…
• Paris Metro Navigo Easy Card…
• Guide to Sacre Coeur…

#4: Musée d'Orsay – Tuileries – Place de la Concorde

The Statue of Liberty at Musée d'Orsay

It started life as a train station, but the d'Orsay is now home to a museum housing the most famous Impressionist paintings and one of the major attractions in Paris. And that's where we start this itinerary. Musée d'Orsay, located on the Left Bank of the Seine at the border between the 6th and 7th arrondissements, is something you are not going to want to miss. Plan to spend three hours there, maybe having lunch in the Belle Époque dining room.

Metro Solferino and Metro Asssemblée Nationale are the closest stations; both are on Line 12. From Solferino walk towards the Seine on Rue de Belle Chasse; from Asssemblée Nationale walk east along Rue de Lille. (We often take bus 24, which stops right in front of the museum.)

After your morning, and perhaps your lunch, at d'Orsay, cross the quay to the Seine and take the pedestrian bridge to the pretty garden of the Jardin des Tuileries, attached to the Louvre. Stroll through the garden, enjoying the paths and fountains. If you haven't eaten lunch, stop into one of the cute cafes in the park. After your stroll, be sure to head to the west end of the park (towards Place de la Concorde) to take a quick tour of the Musée l'Orangerie to see Claude Monet's famous water lily paintings. The rest of the collection is also worthwhile.

Exit the Orangerie into the Place de la Concorde, replete with fountains and romance, as well as the famous Egyptian obelisk. If you're up to it, turn right and cross Rue de Rivoli for a well-deserved hot chocolate or pastry at Angelina tearoom. (There will be a line!)

Musée d'Orsay Skip-the-Line Impressionism Tour

Musée d'Orsay Skip-the-Line Impressionism Tour

The Musée d'Orsay holds the world's most important collection of Impressionist art, with scores of stunning works by the likes of Van Gogh, Monet, Manet, and Renoir. Since the lines are always long, the best way to get to see the art is on a skip-the-line tour with an Impressionism expert guide. Once the tour finishes, you're free to spend as much time as you want perusing the masterpieces.

More Information about this Itinerary

• Place de la Concorde …
• Guide to Musée d'Orsay…
• Guide to the Paris Museum Pass…
• Jardin des Tuileries…
• Musée L'Orangerie…
• Angelina Tearoom…

#5: A Day at the Louvre

The Louvre and its Pyramids

It can't be done in a day, perhaps not even in a lifetime, but the Louvre Art Museum should be on your shortlist. So far in our Paris attractions itineraries we've sort of skirted around the Louvre — we've visited Place de la Concorde and the Jardin des Tuileries. A quick glance at a map will show you that these both are related to the Louvre and that, if you start at Concorde and head east through the Tuileries, you will finally at the Louvre.

The Louvre is, by itself, a full-day itinerary. Even if you don't spend all day inside, you need time to absorb what you've seen and time to wander around the grounds, up and down Rue de Rivoli, and stroll along the banks of the Seine.

A normal person can probably only take 3 or 4 hours at a time in the Louvre. (That's us, anyway.) So, after you emerge from the museum, stop in at the terrace of Cafe Marly for a refreshing glass of champagne. Then, cross Rue de Rivoli and spend time relaxing in the garden of the Palais Royal, one of the more under-appreciated spots in Paris.

Louvre Masterpieces Tour

Masterpieces of the Louvre guided tour

Why waste time in line when you could be standing in front of the world's most famous works of art? On this small-group guided tour, skip the queues and head straight to the highlights of the Louvre. You'll be led by an expert guide who will bring the museum's treasures to life — from the Venus de Milo to the Winged Victory of Samothrace and, of course, the Mona Lisa. After the tour, feel free to explore the rest of the museum at your leisure.

More Information about this Itinerary

• Guide to the Louvre Museum…
• Guide to Arc de Triomphe de Carrousel…
• Louvre Museum Tours…
• Gardens of the Palais Royal…

Paris – A Small City

Walking in the Marais, photo Ville de Paris

Paris is a relatively small city, so it's possible to see a lot in a short amount of time. Whatever your pleasure — the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Place de la Concorde, Sacre Coeur, Champs Elysées, the Louvre, or Musée d'Orsay — these itineraries will save you time and get you to a whole bunch of great Paris attractions in one fell swoop.

It's important to allow extra time to explore the neighborhoods after a guided tour or a visit to the top attractions. There are small, local parks; narrow streets; bars and cafés to discover in every part of Paris. Did we mention the shopping?