Two days in Paris? It’s reckless. It’s ridiculous. It’s exactly the kind of plan we support. Skip the bad choices and the endless museum queues—you’ve got 48 hours to live fast, dine well, and leave with a story. Here’s how to do two days in Paris right.
Pro tips:
- Bookmark this in your browser, you’ll want to circle back later. Trust me.
- Planning a trip to Paris? Check out our recommendations on where to stay by neighborhood!
All Paris Itineraries
Day 1 – Louvre, Seine Cruise, Le Marias
You can’t understand Paris without standing in front of the Mona Lisa, cruising under Pont Neuf, or losing yourself in Le Marais.
This day starts heavy—with masterpieces and royal palaces—and ends light, with slow river views and local bites.
It’s not about seeing it all. It’s about feeling what Paris actually is: grand, relaxed, and a little unpredictable if you let it be.
🕐 9:00 AM – Skip the Line at the Louvre
👉 Book our Secrets of the Louvre Museum Tour with Mona Lisa
Hit the big stuff fast: Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Winged Victory—all with a guide so you don’t waste time pretending to care about 17th-century pottery.
Pro Tip: Enter via the Carrousel du Louvre. The Pyramid is for amateurs.
Where to eat nearby: Best Restaurants Near the Louvre
Interessante Fact: During World War II, the Mona Lisa was packed up and smuggled to various countryside locations to avoid Nazi capture. She spent years on the move—more than most tourists.
🕐 12:00 PM – Seine River Cruise
Board at Port de la Bourdonnais (near the Eiffel Tower). Cruise the river and spot Notre-Dame, the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, and more from the comfort of a boat.
💡 Yes, a river cruise sounds corny, but in Paris it’s almost mandatory. The cityscape is beautiful from the Seine and very relaxing.
Interessante Fact: The Seine runs under 37 bridges in Paris. The oldest, Pont Neuf, ironically means “New Bridge.”
🍽️ 1:30 PM – Lunch at Camille
📍24 Rue des Francs Bourgeois, 75003
Classical French food without the pretense. Duck confit, escargot, and a tartare that will ruin all others.
More options in the area? Best Restaurants in the Marais
🕐3:00 PM – Eiffel Tower
👉 Book our Summit Eiffel Tower Tour with Skip the Line Tickets
Yes, you’ve seen it. Now see it from the inside. Summit access included.
Interessante Fact: Gustave Eiffel had a secret apartment at the top of the tower. He used it to host famous guests like Thomas Edison.
Refuel nearby: Where to Eat Near the Eiffel Tower
🕐 5:30 PM – Le Marais Food Tour
European cities, including Paris, almost always have city-specific culinary cultures. We recommend doing a food tour on your first day at a location as an “orientation” to that city’s local culture.
👉 Book our Le Marais Paris Food Tour
🕐9:30 PM – Nightcap at Chez Nous
📍10 Rue Dauphine, 75006
🥂No menu. You tell them the wine you like. They bring you a glass. Paris magic.
Day 2 – Notre Dame, Sainte-Chapelle, Eiffel Tower, Montmartre
This day is designed to shift gears—from Gothic stone to glittering glass to hillside villages.
You’ll feel the weight of history in Notre Dame, the burst of light in Sainte-Chapelle, and then watch the city spread out under your feet from Montmartre.
Paris was built to be admired slowly, from a café chair or a cathedral step. This itinerary lets you do both—without racing the clock.
🕐 9:00 AM – Notre Dame + Sainte-Chapelle
Notre Dame is open again. Sainte-Chapelle is 5 minutes away, so bundle it. Don’t skip the stained glass—it’s borderline psychedelic.
Pro Tip: Sainte-Chapelle tickets sell out. Book ahead.
Interessante Fact: During the French Revolution, Sainte-Chapelle’s windows were shattered and buried in sand for protection. That’s 1,134 pieces of stained-glass jigsaw puzzle later.
Need breakfast nearby? Best Restaurants Near Notre Dame
🕐 11:30 AM – Catacombs Tour
👉 Book our Paris Catacombs Tour with Secret Rooms & Privileged Access
Six million skeletons under your feet. We get you into the off-limits sections.
Interessante Fact: The Catacombs weren’t just a dumping ground—they were a revolution-era solution to overcrowded cemeteries. Monks, plague victims, and revolutionaries now mingle underground.
🕐 1:00 PM – Lunch at La Cantine du Troquet Daguerre
📍89 Rue Daguerre, 75014
No frills. Big flavors. Great price-to-quality ratio.
More spots: Best Restaurants Near the Catacombs
🕐 3:00 PM – Montmartre + Sacré-Cœur
Wander up through Place du Tertre, past painters and performers, until you hit Sacré-Cœur. Sit on the steps and pretend you’re in a French film.
Interessante Fact: There’s a functioning vineyard tucked behind Sacré-Cœur. The wine is auctioned off for charity and is almost impossible to find in shops.
🕐 6:30 PM – Dinner at Sacrée Fleur
📍50 Rue de Clignancourt, 75018
Specializes in meat and more meat. If you haven’t tried frog’s legs yet, this is the spot.
Hungry for more? Where to Eat Near Sacré-Cœur
🕐 8:00 PM – Nightcap at Andy Wahloo
📍69 Rue des Gravilliers, 75003
Funky, Moroccan-inspired cocktail bar tucked behind a courtyard. Think velvet couches and wild drinks
✔️ Final Thoughts
Two days in Paris isn’t a marathon—it’s a sprint with wine stops. You won’t do everything, but you’ll do it right. Follow this plan, and you’ll eat like royalty, cruise the river, and still have time to drink under the stars.
Want the guided version of this chaos? 👉 Book the Paris in a Day Tour
Where To Stay in Paris
With a city as magnificent as Paris, it can be hard to find the perfect hotel at the perfect price. Explore the best hotels and places to stay in these incredible neighborhoods in Paris.
