2 Days in Paris for First-Timers – What to See in Paris in 2 Days

How to Spend 2 Days in Paris?

This article describes the perfect Paris 2-day itinerary for first-time visitors. If you’re in a hurry, jump to the itinerary overview here.

What to see in Paris in 2 days? Paris is beautiful and incredibly romantic, and there is no city that is easier to spend time in than Paris. The kind of place where one always finds new things to see and do, Paris truly is a moveable feast!

Ideally, you’ll want to spend at least 3 days in Paris to get a good picture of the city. But if you only have 2 days in Paris, this guide is a great starting point. Use this 2-day Paris itinerary as a step-by-step guide, or simply use it as inspiration for your trip planning.

Related Articles

Paris 2-Day Itinerary – My Proposal for Paris in Two Days

How to spend 2 days in Paris? Here’s an overview of the perfect two days in Paris itinerary.

• Day 1 in Paris – Ile de la Cité and Right Bank with Montmartre
• Day 2 in Paris – Latin Quarter, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Trocadéro, and the Eiffel Tower.

This 2 days in Paris itinerary is divided into Paris Right Bank and Paris Left Bank. This has an obvious logistics advantage: all the proposals for the day are concentrated on the same side of Paris, so the walking and metro distances are optimized.

This Paris itinerary 2 days includes two separate maps, one for each day spent in Paris, with the suggested places to visit pinpointed.

This itinerary is completed with suggestions on where to stay in Paris for 2 days and insider tips on how to get around at the end of the article.

2 Days in Paris Itinerary, Day 1 – Paris Right Bank

On day 1 of this 2 days in Paris itinerary, you will be visiting:

• Notre Dame Cathedral
• Louvre Museum
• Tuileries Garden
• Montmartre
• Moulin Rouge

Click here to view this Paris 2-day Itinerary Map, day 1 on Google

Paris is bisected by the Seine River (La Seine, in French), which flows westwards to the English Channel. In Paris, you will often hear about Paris Rive Gauche (Paris’ Left Bank) and Paris Rive Droite (Paris’ Right Bank): when facing downstream, the northern bank is to the right, and the southern bank is to the left.

The island that you can see in the middle of the Seine River is named Ile de la Cité, which was the center of the royal and religious powers in Medieval times. This will be the starting point of this Paris itinerary.

1. Notre Dame Cathedral

Grab a coffee and head to Ile de la Cité, the heart of Paris. From metro station Cité (line 4), look for Notre Dame’s twin towers; this will be the starting point of your explorations today.

The construction of this jewel of Gothic Architecture began in the 12th century and was finally completed in the 14th century. Notre Dame Cathedral is dedicated to Our Lady of Paris, and you can see Her represented in the rose window.

Here’s how to visit Notre Dame, with or without a booked time slot. Once inside, there’s no set itinerary and you’ll be able to wander around the Cathedral as you please. Stay as long as you like to admire the architecture and restoration work following the April 2019 fire.

Just in front of the Cathedral’s main façade, there is a plaque indicating France’s km 0. This means that all the French roads are measured from this point.

Before leaving Ile de la Cité, consider visiting one of these historical sights located on the island: Sainte Chapelle or the Conciergerie.

» The Sainte Chapelle is a royal chapel built in the 13th century in Gothic style to host the Crown of Thorns. Today, this building has one of the most extensive 13th-century stained glass collections anywhere in the world – Click here to buy your tickets

» The Conciergerie is a 14th-century Gothic building that was formerly the palace of the Kings of France and later used as a prison. Visitors can explore the dungeons and the chapel where Queen Marie-Antoinette was held prisoner during the last days before dying under the guillotine – Click here to buy your tickets

2. Explore the Banks of the Seine River

This Paris in two days itinerary continues on the Right Bank. Take Rue d’Arcole and cross the bridge: you’ve just reached the Seine’s Right Bank. Start walking northwest following Quai François Mitterrand, with the river on your left side.

From here, you have a better view of Ile de la Cité, and you can admire the Conciergerie (the building with the pointed towers), the iconic rooftops of Paris, and the Pont Neuf (New Bridge), which is the oldest bridge in Paris!

After a pleasant 20-minute walk, you will reach the Louvre Museum.

3. Louvre Museum

With only two days in Paris, you might have time for only one museum. Pick either the Louvre Museum or the Musée d’Orsay. I recommend the Louvre.

First-timers in Paris find it difficult to resist the temptation of visiting the Louvre Museum, even if they visit Paris for 2 days! Originally built as a royal palace, the Louvre Palace is today one of the world’s best and most visited museums.

Admire Pei’s Glass Pyramid, located in the Louvre’s inner courtyard, and then enter the museum for a short visit.

MAKE IT SPECIAL: The famous tea house Angelina has an establishment inside the Louvre Museum, not far from Napoleon III’s apartments. Enjoy Angelina’s famous hot chocolate or taste the incredible Mont Blanc dessert without the crowds!

4. Explore the Tuileries Garden

After visiting some of the most famous Louvre artworks, head to the Tuileries Garden for a walk in the fresh air.

The Tuileries Garden is one of the most beautiful parks in Paris and the oldest French garden in the city. It was designed in the 16th century on the site of ancient tile factories that gave the park its name. The current layout retains the spirit of André Le Notre’s design, the same landscape designer as the Gardens of  Versailles and the gardens of Château de Chantilly.

Take a stroll around the park to see the ponds and the flowers, and admire the different sculptures. If you haven’t eaten yet, the park has a couple of guinguettes (kiosks) where you can get coffee and a quick bite to eat.

MAKE IT SPECIAL: Do you want to learn about the park’s fascinating history while having fun? Check out this self-guided Tuileries Garden Quest for a unique view of the Tuileries Garden in Paris.

If the first day in Paris is rainy or too cold outside, replace the Tuileries Garden with some of the most beautiful covered passages in Paris. Most of the passages on this list are located not far from the Louvre.

5. Montmartre

Spend the last hours of this first day in Paris exploring the iconic neighborhood of Montmartre.

From the Tuileries, take the metro to Anvers metro station (line 12) and follow this self-guided Stories of Old Montmartre Walking Tour, which explores the top sights of Montmartre, including the Sacré Coeur, the Moulin de la Galette, Place du Tertre, and the Wall of Love.

From the Sacré Coeur down to Place des Abbesses, take your time to read the stories behind the main sights, perhaps with a coffee break in between.

MAKE IT SPECIAL: Climb up to Sacré Coeur’s dome for amazing panoramic views of Paris! Access to the dome is from outside the basilica, on the left side.

6. Moulin Rouge Cabaret Show

For the first evening of this itinerary, head to the Moulin Rouge for a fun night of music, can-can, and bubbles. The Moulin Rouge is one of the most popular cabarets in Paris, so you may want to buy your Moulin Rouge tickets well in advance!

Alternatively, you can decide to spend the first evening exploring other bits of Montmartre under the moonlight and have dinner in one of the best restaurants in Montmartre. Then, finish your day with a cocktail at one of my favorite rooftop bars in Paris, the Terrass Rooftop Bar (12 Rue Joseph de Maistre), gazing across the lights and landmarks that define the City of Lights.

Two Days in Paris Itinerary, Day 2 – Paris Left Bank

On day 2 of this two days in Paris itinerary, you will be visiting:

• Latin Quarter
• Luxembourg Gardens
• Saint-Germain-des-Prés
• Eiffel Tower

Click here to view this 2-Day Paris Itinerary Map, day 2 on Google

1. Latin Quarter

Start the last day of your Paris 2-day itinerary with a coffee in the Latin Quarter, the heart of university life.

The Latin Quarter is also one of the oldest districts of Paris, where the former Roman city Lutetia (AD 1) developed along its Cardo Maximus, the present-day Rue Saint-Jacques. Like all Roman cities, Lutetia had a forum (located on the current Rue Soufflot), a couple of Roman baths (Les Thermes de Lutèce), and even an amphitheater, now known as the Arènes de Lutèce.

2. The Panthéon

The Panthéon in Paris is one of the most famous landmarks in the city. Originally built as a church, the Panthéon operates today as a mausoleum with tombs of illustrious French citizens – Click here to buy your tickets

The building has an impressive facade surmounted by a large dome. In 1851, physicist Léon Foucault demonstrated the rotation of the Earth by constructing a 67-meter Foucault pendulum beneath the central dome. Today, a replica of this famous pendulum is still displayed inside the Panthéon.

Wander around the Latin Quarter (parts of this Latin Quarter walking tour may come in handy). In this same area, several buildings make up the large complex of La Sorbonne University, which is also impressive and always teeming with students.

La Sorbonne was founded in 1253 at the request of King Louis IX as a college for 16 poor students who wished to study theology. After 1885, it became the most prestigious university in France, and it remains one of the most important universities in Paris.

Around the Sorbonne, you can find the Collège de France, other prestigious schools, and the beautiful Sainte-Geneviève library. There are also many bookshops, cafés, and independent cinemas.

3. Luxembourg Gardens

Next on the itinerary is one of the city’s most beautiful gardens.

Explore the beautiful Luxembourg Gardens and admire the palace originally built for Queen Marie de Médicis (now the Sénat Palace) as well as other beautiful sights, such as the octagonal pond, and the romantic Médicis Fountain.

If the weather is good, don’t hesitate to blend in with the locals and have a picnic on the grass.

MAKE IT SPECIAL: This self-guided Treasure Hunt is perfect for exploring the Luxembourg Gardens while having fun!

4. Saint-Germain-des-Prés

From Luxembourg Gardens, take the Avenue Bonaparte to the neighborhood of Saint Germain-des-Prés.

Developed around the former Saint-Germain Abbey, the neighborhood of Saint-Germain-des-Prés became after the Second World War a center of intellectual and cultural life in Paris, with the presence of interesting writers and artists like Marguerite Duras, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Simone de Beauvoir, François Truffaut, Picasso, Giacometti and many more. All these cool people liked to wander around Saint-Germain and enjoy its unique atmosphere and good intellectual discussions at Café Les Deux Magots or Café de Flore.

Today, Saint-Germain is a great place to get lost in its winding streets or to stop at a nice cafe for people-watching.

MAKE IT SPECIAL: Saint-Germain is well known for having some of the best chocolate shops and pâtisseries in Paris! Check out this Saint-Germain Chocolate Walking Tour, which always gets the best reviews.

5. Eiffel Tower

For the last night of your 2 days in Paris, head to the Eiffel Tower for a “grand finale” in the City of Light! Climb up to the Eiffel Tower’s summit to watch the sunset over Paris.

Designed by the engineer Gustave Eiffel, the Eiffel Tower is always impressive, but it is even more incredible to see at night when the golden floodlights come on. When the Tour Eiffel is lit up, it will sparkle for the first five minutes of every hour, so check your watch not to miss the next one!

6. Seine River Cruise

End your day with a Seine night boat tour – and perhaps a glass of champagne – and admire the historical monuments dotted along the route: The Eiffel Tower, the Musée d’Orsay, the Conciergerie, … and back to Notre Dame, where everything started.

What to Visit in Paris in 2 Days – Alternatives

Of course, there are many other interesting things to do in Paris in 2 days, but I couldn’t include everything in a short itinerary! Below, find more ideas of places to visit in Paris for 2 days:

» This Paris itinerary 2 days does not include Le Marais. Le Marais is another interesting area to explore, and this Le Marais walking tour covers most of its main sights.

» Are you planning your trip to Paris during the winter? Check out my guide to Winter in Paris, with some cool proposals when it’s too cold to be outside. If the weather forecast shows rain in Paris, then consider this list of things to do in Paris when it rains.

» If you want to surprise your partner with a romantic weekend getaway, here’s a romantic weekend in Paris itinerary.

» Hop-on Hop-off tours are a great way to get an overview of the city for first-timers and to check off the most famous Paris landmarks in one day.

» If you have some more time, you may want to include some of the 50 best things to do in Paris in your itinerary.

2 Days in Paris – Where to Stay

When it comes to where to stay in Paris, there is no one right answer; it very much depends on the sort of trip you are planning. Check out my suggestions on the best districts to stay in Paris, or browse the map here below.

How to Get Around Paris

Best Ways to Get to/from the Airports of Paris

Once you’re in Paris, the easiest way to get around is by using the metro. This Metro of Paris guide, has all the information that you need, including the different types of metro tickets and passes, and my best tips.

And there you have it, a comprehensive Paris 2-day itinerary, map included, with the best things to do in Paris in 2 days. If you decide to shorten or extend your stay, have a look at my other Paris itineraries:

• 1 day in Paris Itinerary
• 3 days in Paris Itinerary
• 4 days in Paris Itinerary
• 5 days in Paris Itinerary
• 6 days in Paris Itinerary
• 7 days in Paris Itinerary

Back to Homepage

Pin it now & read it later