Paris - Our 2-3 Day Itinerary!

This was our 2 day itinerary for visiting central Paris in November, we travelled around mostly by foot or using the metro. We were constantly on the move so the itinerary has been made to keep places near to each other to reduce travel time and as much crammed in as possible. Feel free to stretch over an extra day or two if you prefer to take things at a slower pace, especially if visiting the museums!

Day 1 - Overview:

• 1. The Centre Pompidou
• 2. Notre Dame
• 3. Sainte-Chappelle
• 4. Pont Neuf
• 5. Eiffel Tower
• 6. Trocadero Gardens
• 7. River Seine Cruise

Day 2 - Overview:

• 1. The Basilica of Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre
• 2. Place du Tertre
• 3. Arc de Triomphe
• 4. Champs-Élysées
• 5. Tuileries Garden.
• 6. Louvre Museum.
• 7. Palais-Royal Garden.

Day 1.

1. The Centre Pompidou.

If you like art and museums then this is definitely worth a visit, after grabbing a pastry (a must in france!) or breakfast, we went to the the museum Pompidou. It has an unusual appearance from the exterior showing all the building services in a quirky manner.

You can entry the main entrance and library for free from 11am onwards, but if you want to see the exhibitions you have to pay. We bought tickets to the main and temporary exhibits.

Our favourites were the temporary exhibits as they were more thought provoking, but the main exhibitions were still interesting. There are some great views from the top of the museum, and it was fun to go up and down the funky escalators.

The Centre Pompidou.

2. Notre Dame.

A short walk (approx. 10 mins) from the museum Pompidou over the river Siene, you can make your way to the Notre Dame whilst taking in the sights.

Unfortunately the Notre Dame was severely damaged a few years and is under renovation works, but you can still go round and admire the grand structure.

3. Sainte-Chapelle.

Just over the road from the Notre Dame, is the Sainte Chapelle, a 13th Century chapel with gothic features. There is a small entry fee to go and admire the interior of the church, and it is advised to book online to avoid queues. You can book a ticket here.

The stained glass windows are something to admire, and worth spending some time to walk around.

4. Pont Neuf.

After visiting the Sainte-Chapelle, pass the Conciergerie (feel free to visit if you fancy it, it does have an entry fee), and then go past the clock tower, making your way to Pont Neuf.

On route you'll also pass the Place Dauphine which is a small square with several cafes, before making it to Pont Neuf, a bridge built in 1607. There is also a statue of King Henri IV.

5. Eiffel Tower.

From Pont Neuf you can catch the Metro (Line C) or walk if you have time along the river Siene.

The Eiffel Tower is the most known structure in Paris, and it's well worth going up if you haven't been before!

After visiting the tower, wandering over teh Pont d'Iéna bridge towards the Trocadéro Gardens to get a great view of the Eiffel Tower from below.

The Eiffel Tower illuminated at night.

6. Trocadero Gardens.

Walking through the Trocadero Gardens the steps will lead you up to the Palais de Chaillot & Trocadéro Square, which is a popular photography spot of the Eiffel tower. The area also has two museums, the Homme museum, known for anthropology and the Cité de l'architecture et du patrimoine, a museum known for architecture.

7. River Seine Cruise.

Now THIS was the highlight of our trip!

The sunset had set at this point in our trip so the Eiffel Tower and all the surrounding buildings were lit up. We picked this boat cruise as it was cost effective, and it made the trip. You can find the trip we booked here!

The interior of the boat is nothing special, but the views were incredible. You can see the Eiffel Tower on the river and the boat heads north along the river Seine. We had some drinks, and after the tour went for some food before heading back to our hotel.

Day 2.

1. The Basilica of Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre.

With an early start we got the metro to Anvers Metro Station, which is a short walk away from the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur de Montartre. Head to the Square Louise Michel which is the gardens to the base of the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur de Montartre, you can take the steps up to the top (there is quite a few!) or there is a funiculaire available to the left of the gardens which will take you to the top if you prefer not to climb.

When you get to the top admire the views of Paris, take a look at all the locks bolted to the top and you may even have some buskers playing some music to create an atmosphere.

Entry to the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur de Montartre is free but there is a one way system to manage the crowds of people. The cathedral is just a beautiful on the outside as it is on the inside, so it is definitely worth a visit!

Veiw of the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre.

2. Place du Tertre.

Just to the left of the cathedral is the place du Terte, where there is lots of local art stands, coffee shops and art galleries.

We wandered through the streets to the direct of the Rue Lepic street, where there are lots of eateries and picturesque streets, but also leading to the Moulin Rouge area. If you continue south towards the Bd de Clichy you can find all the theatres, in particular Moulin Rouge - if you have time, go see a show!

There's also a lovely little bakery on the corner called Aux Merveilleux de Fred, which do an array of Merveilleux (Sweet cream pastry with filling and covered in chocolate shavings).

3. Arc de Triomphe.

Catch the Metro (Line 2) towards Arc de Triomphe, there are two routes that run underneath the roundabout which take you to the centre of the Arc de Triomphe. Wander around the structure and admire the architecture from within.

We didn't get tickets, but you can go up the Arc de Triomphe and get a great view of Paris!

View of the Arc de Triomphe from below.

4. Champs-Élysées.

After visiting the Arc de Triomphe you'll see the famous street, the Champs-Élysées, a street lined with loads of fancy shops. There are lots of flagship stores, and if you fancy an upmarket shopping spree then theres bound to be something here for you.

5. Tuileries Garden.

Further down the Champs-Élysées you can find the Place de la Concorde, which is a major public square. Although it seemed like a overly large roundabout. If you continue down the main road you'll find the Tuileries Garden, which is very large open garden, with plenty of spots to sit down and relax. Around the water fountains there were lots of seats, so we took a pause and watched the ducks before moving on.

When we visited Paris (in November) they were preparing the Christmas Markets which looked quite large - if you're here during the festive period stop and take a look.

6. Louvre Museum.

Often seen as a symbol of art and culture, the Lourve museum attracts millions of visitors annually for it's collections of artworks and masterpieces. Mostly known for the Mona Lisa, it also houses over 35,000 pieces of art! During peak times the queue for the Lourve can be quite long, as we've visited before we didn't go in this time, but if you have the time add this to another day and take the time to soak up the history.

The louvre also offer night tours, at certain times of the month, bringing a different experience to this very famous space. At the least admire the glass pyramid from the outside surrounded by all the historic palace facades.

You can find the Lourve night tours on their website here.

The Palais-Royal Garden with the Buren columns.

7. Palais-Royal Garden.

If you still have time, just round the corner from the Lourve is the Palais-Royal Garden. It provides a tranquil oasis in and amoungst the hustle and bustle of the Parisian streets. Upon entry you'll see the famous Buren Columns, these columns provide a striking contrast against the backdrop of the historical buildings.

Within the gardens there are benches, fountains and several pathways to wander around the grounds and explore, or just to take a moment and relax.

If you have more time...

Take the time to enjoy everything, there are so many things to do in Paris! This itinerary is heavily focused on attractions within the city, but don't forget all the different bakeries, cafes and restaurants for delicious french food in addition to wandering the streets for a spot of shopping!

Check out our post on all the food you should try when in France!