Paris Itinerary: for First Time Visitors
“You never forget your first trip to Paris.”
This quote is so true! I’ve been thinking about my trip to Paris ever since I made it back. It was the best trip I’ve taken in my life, and I’ve been to some fantastic places. The people were so nice and welcoming, the food was amazing, and the pastries are out of this world(I’ll never eat another American Croissant again).
When I started planning my trip, I knew all the places I wanted to visit, but I had a hard time deciding which order to do it in. I wanted to make sure that I made the most of my time and see everything I possibly could in a short time. After many hours of research, I believe that my trip went as planned. So I am happy to share with you my Paris itinerary: for first-time visitors.
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What To Pack For Paris
- Washcloths / Loufer: Only one hotel during our trip to both Paris and London had a washcloth. A towel and hand towel was provided.
- Outlet Converter: Some hotel had USB plugs, but those charge your phone slowly.
- Rain jacket: It would be sunny outside, and then the rain would come. Rain jackets are way more convenient than an umbrella. Roll it up and place in a bag for emergencies.
- Comfortable Shoes: There is a lot of walking involved! Also, bring shoes that you don’t mind getting scuffed.
- Allergy Medication: My allergies went crazy once I was in Paris. Non-drowsy Benedryl gave me the ability to enjoy my trip without the sniffles.
- Small Compact Bag/purse: You have to keep your belongings close to you, especially on the metro. A small bag that doesn’t pull on your shoulder that can fit your essentials is a must.
Transportation Advice
We took the metro/tram to most of our destinations. It was convenient and inexpensive. You can purchase a pack of 10 tickets for 14.90 Euros! Best decision we ever made. Taking the metro saved us so much money in the long run. The only time we used Uber was to go to dinner or if we were too tired for the trek back.
Check out the Paris by Train site for more information on their metro system.
Day 1 Notre Dame Cathedral to The Louvre
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Notre Dame Cathedral Walk 16 mins Luxembourg Gardens Walk 16 mins Louvre Museum Walk 6 mins Palais- Royal Walk 9 mins Place Vendome Walk 4 mins Tuileries Garden |
- Due to the fire, the Notre Dame Cathedral is not open to visitors, but it’s still worth seeing from the outside.
- Luxembourg Gardens is gorgeous, especially on a beautiful day. Its a must see even if you’re only walking through.
- I didn’t realize how big the Louvre museum is. Those comfortable walking shoes came in handy! There is no way possible that you can see everything. If I could do it over again, I would plan better before visiting the museum. We spent most of our time figuring out what we wanted to see and then trying to find it!
- Palais- Royal use to be a royal palace and now is the location for the art installation Colonnes de Buren.
- Tuileries Garden is a public park and a perfect ending to a day full of walking.
Day 2: Shopping & Museum
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Arc De Triomphe Walk 9 mins Champs Elysees Walk 23 mins Pont Alexandre iii Walk 13 mins Musee D Orsay |
- How could you come to Paris without visiting the iconic Arc De Triomphe. It’s worth the trip.
- If shopping is your thing, then you should go for a walk down Champs-Elysees. This avenue has ever luxury shop that you can think of! Just grab a crepe and your credit card and make a day of it!
- Pont Alexandre iii is one of the most glamorous bridges I’ve ever seen. Its the perfect way to get from Champs-Elysees to Musee D Orsay.
- Musee D Orsay is another big museum in Paris. It holds a lot of famous pieces of art, including the Starry Night Over The Rhône.
Day 3: Eiffel Towel
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Eiffel Tower Walk 10 mins Trocadero Take the Metro 6 & 2 Moulin Rouge Walk 18 mins Sinking House (next to the Sacre-Coeur)
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- The Eiffel Tower…..enough said.
- Trocadero is my favorite view of the Eiffel Tower!
- The sinking house has been on my Paris bucket list for a while! But I was up for a pleasant surprise because the Sacre-Coeur has the best view of Paris that I have ever seen!
Day 4: Day Trip
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Day trip to Disney Land Or Versailles |
Taking a day trip from Paris to either Disney Land Paris or Versailles is so easy! We used google maps to plan the metro trip and didn’t have any problems!
Hope my Paris Itinerary: for First Time Visitors post helps make your Paris trip go smoothly! What places did I miss? What should I see on my next trip to Paris?
