Paris Travel Guide: The Ultimate 2 Day Itinerary
A weekend in Paris - how perfect! Whether this is your first time in Paris, or you have visited this beautiful city many times before, you'll want to make the most of your time here. In this ultimate 2 day itinerary, we'll be hitting the most popular main attractions, exploring some of the more quieter corners of Paris, searching for Instagram-worthy photo spots and tasting some of the best (and budget friendly) food Paris has to offer. So let's get started.
If you only have 1 day to explore Paris, read our 1 day in Paris itinerary here
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Day 1
Start Your Trip By Watching The Sun Rise At Trocadéro.
Where else would the perfect day in Paris begin, than watching the sun rise over this beautiful city? Trocadéro is an incredible spot to watch the sunrise and also provides one of the best views of the Eiffel tower, making this our favourite way to start the day. Location: Place du Trocadéro, 75016 Paris, France Nearest Metro: Trocadéro (Lines 6 & 9)
Grab A Delicious (and unique) Croissant From Pierre Hermé.
You simply cannot come to Paris without having a croissant for breakfast. And our top pick is the Ispahan, from Pierre Hermé. Only available at a small number of their stores (we always pick up ours on Rue Bonaparte) the Ispahan is a rose, lychee and raspberry flavoured buttery croissant and is the tastiest, prettiest croissant we've ever eaten.
If raspberry and rose doesn't sound like your thing, grab (Lee's favourite) a delicious pain au chocolat & pistache from here to satisfy that sweet breakfast craving.
Whilst you're here, we also recommend picking up some (or a lot of) macarons and a delicious dessert for later.
Location: Rue Bonaparte, 75006 Paris.
Nearest Metro: Saint Suplice (Line 4) & Mabillon (Line 10)
Website: www.pierreherme.com
Indulge In A Hot Chocolate From Angelina's.
Yes, today is probably going to ruin your diet. But with only 2 days in Paris, we'd say it's totally worth it.
Angelina is famous for their L'African hot chocolate and is often described as the best in Paris. It is very thick and rich, making it very different to the sweet, thin drink we're used to in the UK. This is a completely indulgent, must have treat.
If tourists have more time to spend in Paris, most will visit Angelina's popular tea room on Rue Rivoli. But with only 2 days in Paris, grabbing a cup to go from Rue de Vaugirard is the perfect way to try the famous hot chocolate without having to wait in a long queue to get it.
Note: Angelina's is hidden away as it's connected to a museum. You'll need to go through security (where there is generally no queue) and Angelina's is immediately on the left.
Location: 19 Rue de Vaugirard, 75006 Paris, France
How To Get Here: Only a 5 minute walk from Pierre Hermé.
Take A Stroll Around The Luxembourg Gardens.
Next door to Angelina's, the Luxembourg gardens offer the perfect, peaceful setting to enjoy your breakfast. Take your time, watch the world go by and enjoy the peace and quiet for a while in one of Paris' most popular gardens. Location: 15 Rue de Vaugirard, 75291 Paris, France How To Get Here: Turn left out of Angelina's and the entrance to the gardens is about 10 meters away.
Get Lost In The Louvre.
The Musée du Louvre is one of the world's largest and most visited museums in the world. It's home to some of the world's most famous works of art including, Mona Lisa, Winged Victory and Venus de Milo. Before heading inside, take some time to admire the architecture of this beautiful former palace and take some pictures of it's famous glass pyramids. Save yourself some time by buying your tickets in advance, especially if you're travelling during summer. Also, make a list of the pieces of art you'd like to see and plan a route to find them all. Location: Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France How To Get Here: About a 15-20 minute walk from the Luxembourg gardens. Nearest Metro: Palais Royal Musée du Louvre (Lines 1 & 6) Website: www.louvre.fr/en
Or Visit The Beautiful Musée d'Orsay
If you have visited the Musée du Louvre before and would like to try something different, we would highly recommend the Musée d'Orsay. Set inside a former railway station, the Musée d'Orsay is home to well known works of art from artists such as Van Gogh, Renoir and Manet. The museum retains some stunning original features of the station, which make for some great photos. Location: 1 Rue de la Légion d'Honneur, 75007 Paris, France Nearest Metro: Solferino (Line 12) Website: www.m.musee-orsay.fr/en/home.html
Enjoy Lunch At L'As du Fallafel.
After a full morning of walking, it's time for some lunch. If you're looking for a delicious lunch on a budget, look no further than L'As du Fallafel. Located in Paris's old Jewish quarter, L'As du Fallafel is home to the world famous - you guessed it - falafel. It's hard to miss this spot, just look out for the long line of customers against it's (now famous) green exterior. Tasty falafel isn't all that's on the menu here. On our last trip to Paris, we tried the shawarma (pictured below) and it was just as delicious.
Take your lunch to Rosiers Joseph Migneret Garden, a small, intimate garden only a 5 minute walk away. The garden offers the perfect quiet spot to rest your feet and enjoy your food. (Location: 10 Rue des Rosiers, 75004 Paris, France)
Location: 34 Rue des Rosiers, 75004 Paris, France
How To Get Here: A 20 minute walk from Musée du Louvre
Nearest Metro: Saint Paul (Line 1)
Grab An Ice-cream From Berthillon.
Just a stone's throw away from L'As du Fallafel is Berthillon, often described as home to the best ice cream in Paris. If you're visiting Paris during summer, grabbing an ice cream from Berthillon is essential. Established in 1954, Berthillon is Paris' most popular ice cream provider and once you've tasted it, you'll understand why.
Location: 31 Rue Saint Louis en L'Ile, 75004 Paris, France
How To Get Here: A 10 minute walk from L'As du Fallafel
Nearest Metro: Saint Paul (Line 1) & Ponte Marie (Line 7)
See The Notre Dame.
Located on the Île de la Cité, stands one of the world's most recognisable religious buildings, the Notre Dame. Before the fire that broke out in April 2019, visitors could go inside and admire it's grandeur up close. But as restorations are still on going to save this national monument, visitors will have to admire it's impressive exterior from a distance. Location: 6 Parvis Notre-Dame - Pl. Jean-Paul II, 75004 Paris, France How To Get Here: A 10 minute walk from Berthillon.
Get Lost Among The Books At Shakespeare & Company.
A book lovers' trip to Paris would not be complete without a visit to this world famous bookstore. Take a trip back in time as you explore it's book lined passages and find it's hidden reading nooks. Take the time to write at the antique typewriter or play a song on it's beautiful piano. Film lovers will also recognise it's yellow and green exterior from films such as Midnight in Paris and Before Sunrise. Location: 37 Rue de la Bûcherie, 75005 Paris, France
How To Get Here: A short walk across from Notre Dame Nearest Metro: Saint-Michel Notre-Dame (Line 4)
Buy Some Souvenirs From Les Bouquinistes de Paris.
If you looked back at the Notre Dame from Shakespeare & Co, you will have noticed a row of green, open air stalls. These are know as Les Bouquinistes de Paris (the booksellers of Paris) and they sell all kinds of souvenirs, from second hand books, postcards, pictures and records. We have picked up a number of prints from these stalls depicting some of our favourite spots in Paris and plan on doing so again next time we're there. Make sure to pick up a souvenir or 2 to remember your trip. How To Get Here: You should spot them along the banks of the Seine.
Smell The Roses At The Musée Rodin.
If you're visiting Paris in the spring or summer, we highly recommend visiting the Musée Rodin. The serene sculpture garden is filled with beautiful roses, making this a relaxing afternoon's activity. See some of Rodin's most recognisable sculptures including The Thinker, The Kiss and The Walking Man.
Location: 77 Rue de Varenne, 75007 Paris, France
How To Get Here: A 30 minute walk from Shakespeare & Co Nearest Metro: Varenne (Line 13)
Enjoy An Evening Picnic By The Eiffel Tower.
Leaving the Musée Rodin, we suggest grabbing a bottle of wine as well as some bits for a picnic and making your way to Champ de Mars. Sitting on the grass by the Eiffel tower (Champ de Mars) and watching the sun set is our absolute favourite way to end a day in Paris. There's a great atmosphere here as everyone waits for the tower to light up. It's the perfect place to rest your feet, reflect on the day you've had and to make your plans for the next day.
Day 2
Start Your 2nd Day With Breakfast At Kozy's.
After a full day of sightseeing yesterday, we recommend having a relaxed start to the morning by enjoying a "sit down" breakfast. We recommend Kozy's, located just a short walk from the Eiffel Tower, where you can enjoy a delicious (Instagrammable) breakfast in a cosy, relaxed setting.
Location: 79 Avenue Bosquet, 75007, Paris Nearest Metro: École Militaire (Line 8) Website: www.kozy.fr/kozy-bosquet
Climb To The Top Of The Eiffel Tower.
The Eiffel Tower is one of the most visited attractions in the world, welcoming close to 7 million visitors every year. A trip up the Eiffel Tower is on most people's bucket lists and a must do attraction when in Paris. If you have always wanted to go up the city's most iconic monument, now is your chance to do it. We recommend booking a ticket for the morning, as crowds will increase throughout the afternoon and evening. To make this bucket list entry even more special, why not enjoy a glass of champagne at the top?
Location: Champ de Mars, 5 Avenue Anatole France, 75007 Paris, France Nearest Metro: Trocadéro (Lines 6 & 9) or Bir-Hakeim (Line 6)
Have Some Lunch In Montmartre.
Once you have descended the stairs of Paris' most famous landmark, take the metro up to the charming neighbourhood Montmartre and spend the afternoon exploring the artist's neighbourhood.
By now you should be ready to grab some lunch. Our favourite place for a quick lunch is Le Grenier à Pain, a bakery selling delicious breads, pastries, sandwiches and sweet treats. This is a popular spot for tourists and locals alike due to it's high quality food and reasonable prices. We recommend everything here! If you're wanting to take the weight off your feet for a bit and spend a bit longer having lunch, Montmartre is home to popular cafes and restaurants such as Café des Deux Moulins (from the film Amelie), the Instagram-famous La Maison Rose and The Hardware Société. Location: Le Grenier à Pain, 38 Rue des Abbesses, 75018 Paris, France Nearest Metro: Abbesses (Line 12) Website: www.legrenierapain.com
Take Some Romantic Pictures at Le Mur des Je T'aime (The "I Love You" Wall)
After lunch, walk over to Le Mur des Je T'aime, a dark blue tiled wall within a small park. The wall has "I Love You" written in hundreds of languages, making it a perfect photo spot for romantics. Location: Square Jehan Rictus, Place des Abbesses, 75018 Paris, France How To Get Here: Behind the entrance to Abbesses Station there is a little gate entering into the park. Here is where you'll find the wall.
Take In The Views From The Sacré-Cœur.
Standing proudly at the highest point in Montmartre, is the Sacré-Cœur Basilica. The Sacré-Cœur is an impressive building and it's iconic domes and it's dazzling white façade are visible from across the city. It's crowning position at the highest point in Montmartre provides spectacular views across Paris and is a popular meeting place for tourists and locals alike. So take a seat on one of the steps and enjoy the view. Location: 35 Rue du Chevalier de la Barre, 75018 Paris, France How To Get Here: Less than a 10 minute walk from Le Mur des Je T'aime.
See The Sinking House Of Montmartre.
This optical illusion is easily missed. With a turn of the camera, you can make a house appear as though it's sinking. Whilst sitting on the steps outside of the Sacré-Cœur, if you turn to your left, you'll notice a grass banking. Beyond that is a beautiful, classically Parisian house. If you tilt your camera and take the picture, the house will look as though it's sinking. Location: 35 Rue du Chevalier de la Barre, 75018 Paris, France How To Get Here: You can see this optical illusion on the steps of the Sacré-Cœur.
See The Artists Work At Place du Tertre.
Just a stone's throw away from the Sacré-Cœur is the bustling Place du Tertre, a meeting place that's been popular with artists for decades. The square is bordered with pretty little shops, restaurants and art galleries, whilst in the middle of the square, dozens of artists are hard at work. Take some time to walk amongst the artists, stop for a portrait or pick up a couple of pieces to remind you of your trip. Location: Place du Tertre, 75018 Paris, France How To Get Here: Less than a 5 minute walk from the Sacré-Cœur.
Take Some Further Time To Enjoy Montmartre.
We've hit some of the main sights in Montmartre, but this neighbourhood has a lot more to offer, so go and explore: • Take a peek at the secret vineyard. The last vineyard in Paris is closed off to the public. But thanks to it's open wired fencing, visitors can still see the vineyard. A pretty spot if visiting in May, as the flowers in the vineyard are in bloom. Location: Rue des Saules, 75018 Paris, France • See the red windmill of the Moulin Rougue. You're so close, why not snap a couple of pictures outside this famous club of it's iconic red windmill. Location: 82 Boulevard de Clichy, 75018 Paris, France • Walk in the footsteps of famous artists. See Van Gogh's house (Location: 54 Rue Lepic, 75018 Paris, France), take a stroll around Renoir's garden (Location:12 Rue Cortot, 75018 Paris, France) and visit Picasso's studio (Location: 49 Rue Gabrielle, 75018 Paris, France) • Go in search of famous statues such as Dalida (Location: Place Dalida, 75018 Paris, France) and The Man Who Walks Through Walls (Location: Place Marcel Aymé, 75018 Paris, France)
Take In A View Of Paris.
• Montmartre. Stay in Montmartre (nobody would blame you) and take in the view from the steps of the Sacre Coeur. There is a great atmosphere on the steps, especially as the sun begins to set. Make up a picnic, grab a bottle of wine and spend your last evening here.
Location: 35 Rue du Chevalier de la Barre, 75018 Paris, France Nearest Metro: Abbesses (Line 12) or Anvers (Line 2)
• Galeries Lafayette Rooftop. If you're visiting Paris on a budget you'll be happy to know that this viewing spot is free. Take the (many) escalators up to the top of the beautiful Galeries Lafayette to look out across this beautiful city. We visited this spot midday and it was a little busy, so be prepared for large crowds at sunset.
Location: 25 Rue de la Chau. d'Antin, 75009 Paris, France
Nearest Metro: Chaussée d'Antin — La Fayette (Lines 7 & 9)
• Montparnasse Tower. Take the lift (elevator) to the top of Montparnasse Tower for the highest viewpoint in Paris. This is a great option if you're visiting in winter as there is an indoor viewing area as well as the outdoor observation deck. This is also the least busy viewing spot on the list (from our experience), so a great option if you want to get away from the larger crowds and still enjoy a great view of Paris.
Location: 33 Avenue du Maine, 75015 Paris, France Nearest Metro: Montparnasse-Bienvenüe (Lines 4, 6, 12 & 13) • The Arc de Triomphe. Our favourite view of Paris is from the top of the Arc de Triomphe. The climb up it's 200+ steps is worth it for the incredible view of the city below. Unlike when you climbed the Eiffel Tower this morning, the tower is part of the view and whilst you can see further from Montmartre or Montparnasse, Paris' landmarks can feel so far away. So our suggestion is to enjoy the view in the late afternoon sun from the Arc de Triomphe.
Location: Place Charles de Gaulle, 75008 Paris, France Nearest Metro: Charles de Gaulle–Étoile (Lines 1, 2 & 6)
Enjoy A Final Evening In Paris.
Our favourite way to spend an evening in Paris is going back to Champ de Mars and having another picnic by the Eiffel Tower. But if you'd like to try something different, why not enjoy a meal as you cruise along the Seine, seeing once more the sights you've spent the last 2 days exploring? We've not tried this yet, but there are plenty of companies offering this service. Take a look at some of the most popular choices here
We hope you've enjoyed reading our itinerary for the perfect 2 days in Paris. Is there anything you think we've missed to make a trip even more special? Let us know down below.
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