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!

Are You Planning a Trip to Paris Last Minute?

If you are booking a last-minute trip to Paris, I’ve got you covered! Below are our guides, top tours, hotels, and more:

» Plan: Paris Travel Planner; Paris Arrondissements Guide; Check out the best Paris Metro tickets for tourists

» Book your flight tickets with Omio; book your train tickets with Omio

Book your transfer from the airport to the city with Welcome Pickups.

» Where to Stay: Best Districts to Stay in Paris

  1. Le Pavillon de la Reine (historical 5-star hotel in Le Marais)
  2. Hotel La Comtesse (mid-range hotel with Eiffel Tower view from all the rooms!)
  3. Hotel Ducs de Bourgogne (super central 4-star hotel near the Louvre)

» Top-Rated Paris Tours & Tickets:

  1. Louvre Museum Skip-the-Line Ticket
  2. Eiffel Tower Summit Access Ticket
  3. Seine River Night Cruise
  4. Château de Versailles and Gardens
  5. Catacombs Skip-the-line tour with VIP access to restricted areas

Want skip-the-line access at museums & attractions in Paris? Get your hands on a Paris Museum Pass!

» Don’t leave without travel insurance! SafetyWing Essential plan works well for long and short trips (from 5 days up). Can also cover electronics theft through their add-on.

First Time in Paris Checklist

Paris Checklist
Best things to do 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

Visit Louvre Museum

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

Day Trips from Paris

Versailles Palace

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:

Join France Bucket List Facebook Group

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

Galerie Evolution Paris 5

Arènes de Lutèce

Grande Galerie de l’Évolution

Les Invalides – Army Museum

Quai Branly Museum

Catacombs of Paris

Squares, Parks and Gardens

Paris 19 - Buttes Chaumont

 Place Dauphine

Jardin des Plantes

 Park Buttes-Chaumont

Père Lachaise Cemetery

Paris Walks

Covered Passages Paris

 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

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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Visiting Paris soon? Have a look at our Best Things to do in Paris Checklist, with a list of things to do in Paris during your first time in Paris and top things to do during a second trip to Paris #paris #france
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About WORLD IN PARIS

Hi, I am Elisa! A quirky Parisian explorer with a preference for lesser-known sights, I am continuously looking for new ideas and tips to bring you the best of the City of Light. Are you planning a dream trip to Paris, France? Let me help you turn that dream into reality! Read more about me. If you find this site helpful, you can support my blog here.