Paris 5 Day Tourist Itinerary +Recommendations
May 17th, 2022
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70877 views
I've studied abroad in Paris. Other than that, I've visited Paris another 6 times, and have driven all around France.
General tips
- If you have a European Union identification of some sort and you are between 18-26 years old, most museums in Paris are free
- Buying RER tickets in a pack is a little bit cheaper and more convenient than by the ticket (€13.70 for 10, €1.70 for 1), so definitely do that. If you don’t want to walk as much, then you can also get the 5-day pass (€35.70). You can get a Navigo pass at the window of a subway stop, it’s only €21.25 for a week. Of course none of these include the cost for going to the airport via RER, which is about €10 one-way.
- A great place to stay is Le Marais (close to Line 1 – Saint Paul) for a feel of the narrow Paris streets, a great restaurant/bar/bakery selection, a park, and even churches and museums. You’ll be steps away from Notre Dame, Berthillon, L’as du Falafel, Shakespeare and Co, the Jewish museum, and more! Another great place is Saint-Germain-des-Prés with its iconic streets and famous cafés like Cafe de Flore and Les Deux Magots frequented by Jean-Paul Sartre, Ernest Hemingway, Pablo Picasso, Albert Camus, and James Joyce.
- If you're in Paris for shopping, you should stay around the Ópera area since you'll be right in the middle between the department stores (Printemps, Galeries Lafayette) and the shopping streets (Rue St. Honoré, Rue Cambon, etc)
Day 1
Notre Dame and Eiffel Tower
1
Notre Dame
- The line goes fast
5 min · 0.28 mi
2
Shakespeare & Company
Book store
- It's possible to stay overnight here if you volunteer
- You do have to request for this very in advance online or through the phone
11 min · 0.56 mi
3
Berthillon Glacier
Ice cream shop
Tea house
- The most favors will actually be at the Berthillon store, although many of the cafes and restaurants in Le Marais and Ile Saint Louis will sell Berthillon icecream
9 min · 0.46 mi
4
L'As du Fallafel
cheap
Falafel restaurant
- Slightly cheaper to-go
- Get the falafel!
18 min · 4.2 mi
5
Trocadéro
Town square
- The staircases here are where everybody gets their pictures with the Eiffel tower on instagram
- If you go here early in the morning you can get a picture without anyone
13 min · 0.64 mi
6
Eiffel Tower
- Make sure you go on the hour for the 5 min light show
- It's cold at the top so bring a sweater
- It's worth it to go up the elevator, although the climb is not as strenuous as it sounds
11 min · 2.4 mi
7
Café de Flore
expensive
Haute French restaurant
Cafe
- Open late, so you can grab a onion soup and sit with where great artists, writers and philosophers once used to go (Picasso, Sartre, de Beauvoir, Camus)
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Day 2
Rodin Museum, Luxembourg Gardens, Pantheon and Catacombs
1
Rodin Museum
Sculpture museum
Museums
From the web: 18th-century mansion & sculpture garden displaying Rodin's influential works, such as The Thinker.
14 min · 0.71 mi
2
La Grande Epicerie de Paris
expensive
Gourmet grocery store
- Can grab lunch here or stuff to picnic in the Luxembourg Gardens
- Part of Le Bon Marché department store (most notably a beautiful shoe salon and cool art that they display throughout the store)
10 min · 0.49 mi
3
Pierre Hermé
expensive
Pastry shop
Tea house
- My favorite macarons in Paris!
10 min · 0.52 mi
4
Luxembourg Gardens
Garden
Nature & Parks
Park
- The Luxembourg Gardens are one of the biggest public gardens in Paris, covering over 23 hectares.
- Bring a picnic here or just sit down and relax for a bit after walking
- The park already has different lawn games you can play
14 min · 0.66 mi
5
Panthéon
Monument
Education and culture
- Crypts where famous people are buried
26 min · 1.3 mi
6
Catacombs of Paris
Historical place
Sights & Landmarks
- Best time to go for the shortest line is in the afternoon, around 2h before closing
- If you go in the morning, you'll want to get there at least an hour before opening
11 min · 0.56 mi
7
L'Assiette
affordable
French restaurant
From the web: Country fare like cassoulet, terrines & game dishes, in a space with an ornate ceiling & mirrors.
Day 3
Orangerie and Louvre
1
Angelina Paris
expensive
French restaurant
- This is a very thick type of hot chocolate to drink
- The main hall is popular for photos
- Most famous dessert is the Saint Honoré
12 min · 0.60 mi
2
Musée de l'Orangerie
Art museum
Museums
Specialty Museums
- This is where you'll see the wall to wall oval rooms with Monet's water lillies
- There's usually another non-Monet temporary exhibition in the basement level
7 min · 0.27 mi
3
Tuileries Garden
Garden
Nature & Parks
From the web: Expansive, 17th-century formal garden dotted with statues, including 18 bronzes by Maillol.
13 min · 0.57 mi
4
Louvre Museum
Art museum
Museums
- The Louvre is huge and takes a long time to go through if you want to go through it all.
- Or if you just want to walk through the Tuileries, take a picture with Mona and the I.M Pei triangle, that works!
8 min · 0.42 mi
5
Sanukiya
affordable
Japanese restaurant
From the web: Snug, down-to-earth establishment offering traditional Japanese udon noodles & outdoor dining.
14 min · 0.74 mi
6
Passage des Panoramas
Historical landmark
Sights & Landmarks
- These are cool passages lined with small interest stores and cafes
5 min · 0.24 mi
7
La Bourse et La Vie
Bistro
French restaurant
From the web: Upscale bistro serving classic dishes like steak frites & pot-au-feu in a compact, stylish space.
Day 4
Centre Pompidou & Musee D'Orsay
1
Merci
expensive
Store
- Cute concept store with a cafe library
5 min · 0.27 mi
2
Breizh Café
affordable
Creperie
Cafe
Restaurant
10 min · 0.53 mi
3
The Centre Pompidou
Museum
Art museum
- Your fix of modern art
11 min · 2.5 mi
4
Septime
expensive
French restaurant
Bistro
- Make a reservation by phone for lunch
6 min · 0.33 mi
5
Ble Sucre
Bakery
- Stop by for a croissant
15 min · 3.4 mi
6
Musee D'Orsay
Building
- Highlights: Impressionism gallery where you'll be able to take a silhouette picture with the famous Musee D'Orsay clock and the background of Paris
- Open late on Thursdays (9:45)
Day 5
Sacre Coeur and Shopping
1
Café des Deux Moulins
affordable
Restaurant
Brasserie
- If you're an Ámelie fan this is the cafe the movie was filmed in
12 min · 0.65 mi
2
Sacré-Cœur Basilica
Basilica
Catholic church
Monument
From the web: Iconic, domed white church, completed in 1914, with interior mosaics, stained-glass windows & crypt.
14 min · 0.74 mi
3
Moulin Rouge
Dinner theater
Cabaret club
Performing arts theater
- I've actually never watched a cabaret here but watched one at Crazy Horse
19 min · 0.99 mi
4
Palais Garnier
Opera house
Concerts & Shows
- Watch an opera or ballet if there is one!
3 min · 0.18 mi
5
Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann
Leather goods store
- There's now a line to take a picture with the dome
4 min · 0.19 mi
6
Printemps Haussmann
Clothing store
Fashion accessories store
- Another department store
16 min · 0.83 mi
7
Rue Saint-Honoré
Notable street
- You'll find high-end shops like Chanel on Rue Cambon, Hermes on Rue Saint Honore, etc
Day Trips
If you have a little more time - these are great day trips from Paris that you can take a train to.
1
Giverny
- You can take a SNCF train to Giverny to see the painting studio of Monet where he painted the water lillies
- The garden itself is the highlight, and is open from the late spring until early fall
2
Versailles
- This can take a whole day if you want to go to all of the smaller estates nearby, like Marie Antoinette's
- You can get there directly by the RER C
- The parks are really nice to have a picnic, row a boat, go on a run, lie down and rest
3
Strasbourg
Sights & Landmarks
Historic Walking Areas
- If you're in Paris in the late fall, definitely go to Strasbourg for the biggest Christkindlmarket in the world and a beautiful light show display
- Take a SNCF train
4
Fontainebleau
Nature & Parks
Forests
- If you loved Versailles or wanted to see a less flashy castle near to Paris, Fontainebleau is a good next option
5
Rouen
From the web: Rouen, capital of the northern French region of Normandy, is a port city on the river Seine. Important in the Roman era and Middle Ages, it has Gothic churches, such as Saint-Maclou and Saint-Ouen, and a cobblestoned pedestrian center with medieval half-timbered houses. The skyline is dominated by the spires of Cathédrale Notre-Dame, much-painted by Impressionist Claude Monet.
6
Arboretum de la Vallée aux Loups
Arboretum
Nature & Parks
Not really a day trip but a bit out of the way
Places to Visit with Great Repeat Value
These are some other places that aren't in the 5 day itinerary that I visit over and over again with great repeat value!
1
Parc des Buttes-Chaumont
Park
Nature & Parks
From the web: 19th-century park in former quarry, with tall trees, lake, waterfalls and old, iron railway bridge.
2
Palais de Tokyo
Modern art museum
Museums
- Has some really cool parties at night
3
Place des Vosges
Park
Sights & Landmarks
Points of Interest & Landmarks
From the web: Oldest planned square in Paris, lined with trees and red brick houses, built by Henri IV in 1612.
4
Palais-Royal
- Chic to walk through
- Near Maison Kitsune
Restaurants
Some rules of thumb. Nice French restaurants always create their menu around fresh ingredients. So make sure that you order the vegetables or fish that are in season (they'll tell you) like peas in the spring and tomatoes in the fall. The flavor won't disappoint!
I've also been to a lot of the restaurants recommended in Paris By Mouth, such as Verjus, L'Arpège, L’Astrance, Papillon, Yam'tcha, Au Passage, L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon, Le Meurice, Au Petit Thai, Suan Thai, Cafe des Musées, Les Enfants Rouges, Au Pied de Fouet, Chez Janou, Le Souffle, Breakfast in America, Jaja, Le Marche, and more -- so ask if any of those seem like a place you want to try.
The list is in order of my favorites.
1
Septime
expensive
French restaurant
Bistro
- The set menu at lunch is €42 which is amazing value
- This has a 1 Michelin star
- French
2
La Bourse et La Vie
Bistro
French restaurant
- Traditional bistro vibe
- Can make reservations up to a few days in advance
- The veal stew is amazing!
- French
3
Frenchie
expensive
Restaurant
French restaurant
- €42 lunch or €70 dinner
- Also has a Bar à Vin and a Sandwich shop if you can't get reservations but want to to check out the vibe
- French
4
Le Cinq
very expensive
French restaurant
- My favorite 3-michelin restaurant with set menu
- French
5
Le Châteaubriand
affordable
French restaurant
Bistro
- San Pellegrino's world top 10 best restaurants list
- Can walk-in after 9pm
- French
6
Clamato
expensive
Seafood restaurant
Bar
- Sister restaurant to Septime
- Can walk in for dinner when it opens
- French
7
L'Assiette
affordable
French restaurant
- Traditional bistro vibe
- French
8
Sanukiya
affordable
Japanese restaurant
- Best udon noodles
- Japanese
9
Restaurant Kunitoraya
affordable
Udon noodle restaurant
Japanese restaurant
- Best udon soup
- Japanese
10
L'As du Fallafel
cheap
Falafel restaurant
- Vegetarian friendly
- Mediterranean
11
Kodawari Ramen (Tsukiji)
affordable
Ramen restaurant
Japanese restaurant
- looks like a fish market
- uses fish broth for ramen, which is unique
Bakery Tour
These are just some of my favorite croissants and bakeries in Paris!
1
Du Pain et des Idées
expensive
Bakery
From the web: Traditional French pastries & signature "pain des amis" bread in an 1875 shop with painted ceilings.
2
Ble Sucre
Bakery
3
La Maison d’Isabelle
affordable
Bakery
Patisserie
4
Miss Manon
affordable
Bakery
Tea house
- For my own nostalgia, not necessarily renowned
5
Maison Landemaine Beaumarchais
affordable
Bakery
- For my own nostalgia, not necessarily renowned
- Best of the chain store croissants!
Cafes
1
Café Kitsune Palais Royal
affordable
Cafe
Art cafe
Chocolate cafe
Coffee stand
Espresso bar
Juice shop
2
Café de Flore
expensive
Haute French restaurant
Cafe
From the web: Long-running coffeehouse & celebrity haunt serving familiar French fare in a charming corner locale.
3
Breizh Café
affordable
Creperie
Cafe
Restaurant
4
Merci
expensive
Store
From the web: Fashion items & design objects in a trendy 3-story boutique, with large spaces & a glass roof.
Bars
1
Le Mary Celeste
affordable
Restaurant
From the web: Cozy neighborhood bar serving creative light meals alongside cocktails & an extensive list of wines.
2
Candelaria
affordable
Mexican restaurant
From the web: Fashionable spot serving creative tacos & classic cocktails along with basic Mexican sides.
3
Les Etages
affordable
Bar
Sweets
1
Berthillon Glacier
Ice cream shop
Tea house
Best icecream! If it's not open, most of the restaurants or cafes on Île Saint Louis will also have a selection of icecream but the biggest variety will be at the main store
2
Pierre Hermé
expensive
Pastry shop
Tea house
There are many locations - some of which have more dessert styles and icecreams! My favorite macaron flavor is the olive oil and the mogador. They have seasonal flavors like truffle which you won't find elsewhere.
3
Angelina Paris
expensive
French restaurant
- For the ambiance
- Share a hot chocolate (melted chocolate is very rich)
4
La Grande Epicerie de Paris
expensive
Gourmet grocery store
- Part of Le Bon Marché
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