Paris Checklist (Must-Do List For First and Second Trips to Paris)

Paris Must-Do List

Paris travel checklist for a first trip to Paris and a second trip to Paris.

So finally, you are traveling to Paris! Before your trip, you hardly got a chance to breathe, let alone organize your time on-site. What to do when you arrive in the City of Lights?

With a city spanning thousands of years in the making and a diverse collage of arrondissements and neighborhoods spread far and wide over the whole city, it’d be no surprise if you simply couldn’t fit in everything you wanted to get done during your stay.

But I can help! I have narrowed down a Paris checklist, a list of things to do in Paris with all the must-see attractions and points of interest for first-timers. Also, there’s a second Paris to-do list for those who have already been to the city and want to go beyond its main sights.

Whether you are visiting Paris for the first time or this is your second trip to Paris, there’s always something for everyone in the French capital, and finding a great day out in Paris has never been easier!

First Time in Paris Checklist

This is a to-do list Paris for those who are visiting Paris for the first time. This Paris trip checklist covers the main Paris tourist attractions and popular things to do in Paris.

By ticking most of the items on this Paris checklist, you will get a good idea of what the city has to offer.

At the end of this list, you will also find itineraries to visit Paris in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 days, which include most of these Paris tourist attractions.

TIP: Visiting Paris for the First Time? Check out these Paris tips for a unique trip to Paris

Monuments and Museums

 Louvre Museum (check  here how to visit the Louvre in 2 hours or less!)

 Sainte Chapelle

 Beaubourg – Centre Pompidou

 Notre Dame Cathedral

 Opéra Garnier

 Orsay Museum

 The Eiffel Tower

 The Panthéon in Paris

Squares, Parks and Gardens

DO YOU NEED MORE PARIS TRIP CHECKLISTS? Check out my Pre-Trip Checklist and these Packing Lists for Paris (by month!)!

 Tuileries Garden

 Palais Royal Garden and the Buren Columns

 Luxembourg Gardens

 Place Vendôme

 Place des Vosges

Paris Walks

 Ile de la Cité Walking Tour

 Le Marais Walking Tour

 Latin Quarter Walking Tour

 Montmartre Walking Tour

Other Things to See & Do in Paris

 Wake up with the view of the Eiffel Tower from your room

 Coffee and people-watching in a Parisian café

 Look for the best view of the Eiffel Tower

 Enjoy a traditional meal in a Parisian bistro

 Learn about French Wines

 Admire Paris’ skyline from a rooftop bar, cocktail in hand

 Taste some typical Parisian pastries

 Watch a Parisian Cabaret

 Enjoy a Seine boat tour

Day Trips from Paris

 Versailles Palace & Gardens (Ile de France)

 Monet’s House and Garden at Giverny (Normandy)

 Mont Saint-Michel (Normandy)

These are the top things to do in Paris. I recommend visiting these sights in the following Paris itineraries:

• 1 day in Paris itinerary
• 2 days 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

Second Time in Paris Checklist

For your second (or third) time in Paris, I understand that you have a good knowledge of Paris’s main tourist attractions.

This is a Paris must-do list for those who want to go beyond Paris’ main sights and for those who are looking for lesser-known or off-the-beaten-path places with a more local feeling.

By ticking most of the items on this second Paris checklist, you will discover more about the city, especially about local life.

And if you still want more, then check out the list of the 50 best things to do in Paris, with all the iconic things to do in Paris.

Monuments and Museums

 Arènes de Lutèce

 Grande Galerie de l’Évolution

 Les Invalides – Army Museum

 Quai Branly Museum

 Catacombs of Paris

Squares, Parks and Gardens

 Place Dauphine

 Jardin des Plantes

 Park Buttes-Chaumont

 Père Lachaise Cemetery

Paris Walks

 Montorgueil /Les Halles neighborhoods

 Covered Passages of Paris

 A stroll along Canal Saint-Martin

 Ernest Hemingway in Paris

 Promenade Plantée /Coulée Verte

 Street Art in Paris 13

 La Petite Ceinture (I recommend the section in Paris 15)

 French Revolution Walking Tour

Other Things to See & Do in Paris

 Go beyond Montmartre’s main sights

 Visit a local market or take a food tour

 Enjoy a picnic in one of the parks in Paris

 Visit a Parisian flea market for some vintage shopping

 Have fun like the locals with a Paris Treasure Hunt

 Visit the Flower Market on Ile de la Cité

 Paris canal cruise on a self-drive boat

 Look for the Paris festivals and seasonal events during your stay

Day Trips from Paris

 Loire Valley Castles

 Champagne Wine Region

 Normandy D-Day Landing Beaches

 Château de Chantilly

 Check out all the best day trips from Paris

Do you Need Extra Help with Your Paris Trip Checklist?

In addition to the information on this site and our Facebook community, I am also available for private travel consultations. These one-to-one meetings are the perfect opportunity for you to receive tailored advice about your upcoming trip— especially if this is your first time visiting France.​

You can read more about me and the service offered here.

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