Ah Paris. The city of lights, romance, wine, cheese, the Mona Lisa, and countless others famous places and people. Exploring Paris in 5 days gives you just enough time to see some highlights and hidden gems. Paris is a truly fairy-tale like city with gastronomic delights, chic fashion (everyone is stylish dressed as if they’re going for a magazine photoshoot), and historic monuments and museums abound. It’s the perfect city for epicureans, photographers, architecture aficionados, and people who love to stroll and take in the charm.
This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you make a purchase after clicking on one of the affiliate links. I only recommend products I’ve personally used and liked. All opinions are my own.
Essentials
Language: French.
Currency: EURO (€)
Voltage: 230 V. See my post on Essential Items to Pack in your Carry-on for tips on what plug adapters to buy.
Major Train Stations: There are 6 major train stations in Paris. They all go to different parts of France and the rest of Europe.
Major Airport: Charles de Gaulle or Orly. Charles de Gaulle might be slightly farther from downtown Paris, but it all depends where you’re flying in from.
Getting There
There are 2 major airports in Paris: Charles de Gaulle (CDG) or Orly. Which one you end up flying into might depend on your departure point and where you intend to go right after.
Store your baggage at the baggage depot at the train stations if you’re exploring Paris for a few hours. The English translation can be a bit confusing. You might see Left Luggage or Lost luggage on the signs. That’s usually the place where you can store your luggage and maybe check lost and found as well.
Beware of pickpockets! Major tourist cities are prime locations for pickpockets. Be vigilant and keep bags in front of you. Most pickpockets work in groups, so be on the lookout.
Buy tours with Viator to explore Paris with local guides. A good, curated tour saves you the hassle of commuting and planning. Check out my list of curated Viator tours to Paris, France.
Where to Stay
Hotel de L’Abbaye
Website: https://www.hotelabbayeparis.com/fr/salon-et-terrasse
A beautiful boutique hotel with a gorgeous glass, greenhouse dining room. It’s in the 6th arrondissement and close to major transportation and bakeries. The room service is impeccable and they give you little surprises every night (like chocolates) when they make up your room. The rooms are elegant and the hotel is located on a quiet street. Perfect for a good night’s sleep after you’ve been out exploring for the day.
What to See and Do
Hit some highlights while you explore Paris for 5 days. I highly recommend buying tours to skip the line for major museums (like the Louvre or the Palace of Versailles). This is especially helpful if you’re going to Paris for the first time and if you’re on a tight schedule. A good tour saves you hours of waiting in line and will guarantee that you at least see the highlights.
Marvel at The Louvre
A classic hit to see because the Louvre is a sanctuary for relics from all over the world. Buy a tour to skip the line or else you’ll be wasting hours outside lining up and you might not even get in. Spend a bit more money and get yourself into the museum as fast as possible. There are free lockers for storage. The museum is serious about tourists abiding by its rules, so hang up any jackets or umbrellas and don’t take out any selfie sticks.
The great glass pyramid (the main entrance to the museum) was completed in 1989 and designed by renowned Chinese-American architect Ieoh Ming Pei. He was inspired by the shapes of triangles and squares found throughout the courtyard and the Louvre palace itself. The transparent glass making up the glass pyramid lets in soft, angelic light into the main thoroughfare, where visitors currently walk across, to enter the museum wings. It’s the perfect spot for portraits as the light is very flattering on the face.
The glass pyramid acts as the main access to all the wings leading into the museum. The pyramid entrance is not the museum. You need a ticket to actually enter the wings and do not exit or take short cuts through the pyramid! Tourists who turn back to the pyramid to get to the other wings are stopped at the escalators leading to other wings because the ticket is for a single entrance only. Once you’ve entered the wings, you can tour the whole museum just by going through the wings. Only exit back to the pyramid if you’re planning to leave the Louvre.
Enjoy all the artwork and appreciate it in all its glory. Highlights of the highlights include seeing The Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Winged Victory of Samothrace (or Nike) on the Grand Staircase, Hermaphrodite, and the gargantuan masterpiece The Coronation of Napoleon.
Admire the Palace of Versailles and Gardens (Château de Versailles)
Spend a day admiring the overwhelmingly ornate Palace of Versailles and its gardens in the charming city of Versailles. King Louis XIII loved hunting here and built a small (in relative terms) hunting lodge where he could spend the night. Eventually, King Louis XIV moved to Versaille from Paris and brought the royal court with him. He spent more than 50 years renovating the lodge into the palace it is today. The French Revolution of 1789 meant the palace was raided and a lot of the furniture was sold off or stolen. The furniture you see staged inside the palace today aren’t the originals, but they’re antiques from the same era and would’ve been what the King would’ve used to decorate his palace.
Skip the lineup by buying a tour with coach service that’ll pick you up in Paris and drop you off at the palace. Most tours are 3 hours long and you get to see the main attractions such as the Hall of Mirrors (where the Treaty of Versaille was signed in 1919), Marie Antoinette’s bedroom (with secret passageway), and King Louis XIV’s bedrooms and studies. Almost every room at the Palace of Versailles is represented by a god (like Mars the god of war) with their likeness painted on the ceilings.
The Hall of Mirrors is the main event with crystal chandeliers and, of course. mirrors. All 357 of them to be exact. There are lavish golden statues by the archways overlooking the gardens. The entire gallery is absolutely brilliant, stunning, and luxurious. And of course you must get some selfies in front of the shining mirrors.
Louis XIV hired the architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart to make something more out of a large, open terrace that nobody enjoyed since it was damp and exposed to bad weather. So the architect revamped it into a glorious hall with mirrors and golden statues capped with candelabras. Ambassadors from Siam (now Thailand), Persia (now Iran), and the Ottoman Empire (now Türkiye) would walk through this hall to meet the Sun King who’d be seated on a raised throne at the end of the hallway. It’s quite the place for self-reflections. Make sure to crane your neck to admire the painted ceilings showing off the King’s diplomatic and military victories.
Your ticket should include access to the Versailles Gardens. It’s a separate ticket from the Palace ticket! Make sure to confirm with your tour guide that you’re getting 2 separate tickets: one for the palace and one for the gardens.
The gardens are vast! And I mean you could spend hours in one part of the garden. The tour we bought ended the tour at the gardens and required us to be back at the coach at a certain time to catch a ride back to Paris. I strongly recommend taking the RER train back to Paris and taking your time to explore the gardens.
It’s very easy to get back from Versailles to Paris by public transport (the coach is a nice convenience with the tour but not necessary). Go to Versailles Château Rive Gauche train station (it’s only a 10 minute walk from the palace) and take the train to whatever stop you want to get off at in Paris. All trains pass through Paris so there’s no worry about missing your stop.
There are restaurants and snack shops inside the palace of Versailles, and yes, you’ll pay a fortune to eat inside the restaurants. We took a short stroll through downtown Versailles on our way back to the Versailles Château Rive Gauche train station and found The Stray Bean coffee shop which served lovely flat whites. Right across the street is a bakery called Aux Pains de la Ferme where they sell pastries, but also baguette sandwiches. We got our coffee and a sandwich and happily had that for lunch after all the walking and exploring inside the palace and gardens.
Catch a Cabaret Show at Le Moulin Rouge
And no, it’s not a high-end strip show. It’s cancan dancing with stunning dancers in outrageous costumes (which the production spared no expense on) and yes there is semi-nudity, but there is absolutely nothing erotic about it. I personally find the story line completely absurd and the choreography a bit mediocre. However, the show is a spectacle! Colourful costumes, dancing, singing, and acrobatic acts make it a fun 90 minutes.
The Moulin Rouge opened for business in 1889 the same year the Eiffel Tower was completed to cheer up the residents. The Franco-Prussian war had ended in 1870, so much cheer was needed to raise the spirits. Along came the Moulin Rouge with their sky-high kicks, contortionists, and circus acts. Henri-Touluse Lautrec was a constant visitor who created prints of the shows using Japanese engraving techniques. They depict the most famous shows like La Goulue which you can purchase copies from at many art galleries.
Tickets cost 200 EUROs per person at the time I went in October 2024. It’s a basic show ticket that also gets you a bottle of champagne (or another alcoholic or
non-alcoholic beverage if you want). We got a bottle of red wine with our ticket and the wine was delicious (how can it not be in France?). You can opt for a dinner and show ticket instead, but of course the prices will be higher. Book in advance online if you’re serious about attending. I say it’s a fun event for first-timers to Paris (but not necessary) and I say a one-time experience is definitely enough!
Hike up to the Sacré-Coeur Basilica in Montmartre
There is a funicular at the bottom of the steps leading up the Sacré-Coeur Basilica that you can ride up in to avoid hiking up all the steps. Hiking up the stairs is great for burning the calories from all the great French food you’re eating, but the stairs are pretty intense, so make sure to hold onto the banisters.
You can spot the Scaré-Coeur Basilica from a good distance as it sits atop the hill right in Montmartre. The Basilica was designed in the Roman-Byzantine style with its signature rounded domes, which marks its contrast against the French Gothic cathedrals. Construction of the Basilica started in 1875 as a penance for all the bloody conflicts that were going on during the year of 1870, such as the
Franco-Prussian War (where the French lost to the German states led by Prussia), and the Paris Commune, where revolutionaries set up their own government in Montmartre in defiance of the official French government, the Third Republic. Needless to say, the Third Republic was not amused. They sent their army to quash the revolutionary insurgents and left a bloody mess behind. The whole thing took place over a week.
And to repent for all this chaos and bloodshed, the people started building
Sacré-Coeur hoping that the presence of the church would atone for everyone’s sins. The foundation was laid in 1871 and the Basilica was completed in 1914, just in time for WWI, ironically.
Also, the Montmartre neighbourhood is generally quite steep, so you’ll be walking uphill a lot. Pay attention to your footing and wear good shoes!
Tour the Musée de l’Orangerie (Monet’s Water Lilies)
Ever wanted to see Monet’s lilies as Monet himself intended? The l’Orangerie museum has curved walls to accommodate the curved canvases. It adds a tranquil feel to the whole place. The 8 Water Lily paintings you’ll see in the l’Orangerie were donated by Monet to France when armistice was reached on November 11th 1918. The paintings show water lilies and willows and reflections of clouds from a pond.
It’s fascinating to see Monet’s swirling brush strokes and his impressions of lilies. It’s also eye-opening to see the colours he employed and how it all adds to the dreaminess of his painting style.
Buy tickets for timed-entry or else you’ll have to wait in line. You might not get in if the quota has been reached for the day, so save yourself agony by booking tickets online. There are also paintings by Matisse, Picassos, Renoir here as well. It’s quite the small but mighty collection of masterpieces and also a nice palette cleanser for the eyes. Since it’s a museum of impressionist works, it’s a refreshing break if you’ve been viewing mainly Renaissance paintings.
Where to Eat
Your 5 day Paris itinerary must involve trying some delectable classic French dishes. Make sure to walk as much as you can so you can burn off as many calories between meals before indulging in many more sumptuous meals. Ask for une carafe when you’re in a restaurant and you’ll be served a jar of tap water for free. Say anything else and you’ll be charged for a bottle of still or sparkling water for €7 or more. Yes, it’s a lot of money, so make sure to ask for une carafe!
Bouillon Julien
Website: https://www.bouillon-julien.com/
Style: Casual dining.
Price range (as of October 2024): Between €5 and €15. Yes, it is insanely cheap and delicious. The restaurant boasts on their website that at the Bouillon Julien everything is beautiful, delicious, and of great value.
Bouillon Julien is where quality meets affordable luxury. A Monsieur Louis-Pierre Duval, a butcher by trade, wanted to serve good, simple, hearty meals for the people in his neighbourhood. Years later in 1906, the idea to serve hearty, good food at affordable prices and in a beautifully decorated place was taken up by Edouard Fournier who opened up Bouillon Julien. Eating here is like dining in an art museum with Alphon Mucha-inspired paintings, stained glass ceilings, and large, shiny mirrors. It’s a veritable testament to art nouveau. Dare I say this place isn’t just affordable, it’s cheap! The prices look like they’re from the 1950s and, in my opinion, the food is delicious to boot.
Try the rabbit terrine for appetizer and calf’s head (veal cheek) for your entrée. There’s also classic steak frites and creme brûlée for dessert. You MUST book in advance for a seat. This place is always packed and there will be huge lineups out the door. Walk up to the host if you see a large line up and make sure to tell them you have a reservation or you might end up waiting in line where you didn’t need to.
Le Moulin de la Galette
Website: https://www.moulindelagaletteparis.com/
Style: Casual-elegant dining, family friendly, French classics.
Prices (as of October 2024): Between €20 to €50 per dish.
A charming, casual-elegant joint in the heart of the Montmartre area. It’s a fun choice, especially if you want an early dinner before going for a Moulin Rouge show. For appetizers, I recommend trying the escargots or French onion soup, and for your mains, the duck leg confit or coq au vin. Both main courses were hearty and flavourful. And don’t forget to have a glass of champagne before dinner (isn’t it great you can drink champagne before a meal?).
Neige d’êté
Website: https://www.neigedete.fr/
Style: Fine-dining with prix fixe menu (there are no à la carte choices).
Prices (as of October 2024): €155 per person with optional wine pairings of either 4 glasses (€60) or 5 glasses (€75).
The talented chef Hideki Nishi offers a set menu of classic French dishes with Japanese influences. This place is a real gem of a discovery. There are no à la carte options here. It’s truly trusting the chef to create a delectable dinner for you and it’s a splurge-worthy affair if you’re looking for a fine-dining experience that melds fine French cuisine in an omakase style menu. The dishes are meticulously prepared and you can taste and see the intense labour work behind it. The restaurant is tucked into some back streets, but very accessible and not sketchy. The spotlight dishes include the stuffed squab with foie gras for me.
Bistro La Ferme du Pré
Website: https://leprecatelan.paris/bistrot-la-ferme-du-pre
Style: Elegant bistro dining with hearty, but refined, French classics.
Prices (as of October 2024): About €20 to €30 per dish.
Chef Fédéric Anton runs the 3 Michelin-star restaurant of le Pré Catelan in the Bois du Boulogne neighbourhood where, after showcasing his talents, he finally gets to realize his dream of running a fine, but un-stuffy bistro.
This place is a treat for refined, bistro French food where the chef has found a happy medium between upscale and hearty. I personally liked the terrine de campagne, ris de veau (sweetbreads) with mushrooms and Madeira sauce, and the baba al rhum for dessert.
My partner had the steak frites and devilled eggs with pulled chicken which were all delicious choices. The setting is whimsy with copper pots hanging on the walls, framed silver lids, and hunting-lodge style chandeliers. It’s another hidden gem that requires a taxi to get to but well worth the effort. I highly recommend this place if you’re looking for a balance between sumptuous and cozy dining that’s outside of downtown Paris.
Bar de la Croix Rouge and Poilâne Bakery
Neighbourhood: In St Germain (but lots of locations abound).
Prices (as of October 2024): Between €15 to €20 for tartines.
Tartine are open-faced sandwiches or, in other words, toast with toppings on it. Sounds lame? Don’t judge until you’ve tried it. I had the salmon on toast and my partner had the roast beef with mayo on toast. Divine! And you must get it accompanied with a nice glass of chilled beer. The bread is served with Poilâne bread (a legendary bakery in Paris). Poilâne is around the corner from Bar de la Croix Rouge and worth a visit if you want some fresh bread for breakfast. If you’re on the hunt for some of the best French bread, then this is where you go.
Le Train Bleu (at the Paris Gare de Lyon Train Station)
Website: https://www.le-train-bleu.com/en/
Style: Fine-dining in a majestic setting.
Prices (as of October 2024): Breakfast is between €5 to €20 and lunch and dinner prices can range between €30 to over €150 depending on what you’re ordering of course. Check out their prix fixe menus for some more options.
Le Train Bleu was created for the 1900 Paris Exhibition when visitors came flocking to Paris via the Gare de Lyon. The manager of the train station wanted to offer the visitors an unparalleled gastronomic experience right inside the station and he entrusted the architect Marius Toudoire to design it. You can enjoy breakfast crepes or an omelette with a side of mushrooms while sitting under
Renaissance-style frescoes.
The ambiance makes it seem like you’re dining the way King Louis XIV did: ultra-luxurious, fine, and opulent. It’s incredible you can get off the high-speed rail and waltz into this restaurant with your baggage and no one bats an eye. And, it’s really like you’re travelling through time and space as a traveller to Paris. Definitely check out their prix fixe menus which range from decadent to quite affordable (like the traveller’s menu). Definitely make a reservation on their website if you know for sure you want to have lunch or dinner there.
Planning for some dream trips or bucket-list journeys? Sign up to my email list and get my FREE travel planner, so you can plan (and go on) your trip instead of planning how to plan your trip!
Check out my other travel guides too for more tips and tricks on planning your ultimate dream getaways.
