Paris is a fantastic city that offers so much for visitors. But how many days in Paris do you need to see it all?
Should you spend 3 days in Paris or is 4 days in Paris more suitable considering this is the most visited city in the world! And is it possible to visit Paris for just one full day?
How Many Days In Paris Do You Need?
Paris is a fantastic city that offers so much for visitors. But how many days in Paris do you need to see it all?
Should you spend 3 days in Paris or is 4 days in Paris more suitable considering this is the most visited city in the world! And is it possible to visit Paris for just one full day?
Hi, we’re Rach & Marty!
We’ve visited every country in the world and want to help you get the most out of your travels!
Spend an evening just sitting at the bank of the Seine River with some drinks & cheese and watch the boats filled with tourists go past at sunset.
Table of Contents
How many days in Paris do you need to see the 5 main attractions in Paris?
It’s possible to see all 5 landmarks just in 1 day in Paris, but you must be organised.
The Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is one of the most recognisable symbols of Paris. This 330 metre / 1,063-foot tall structure was designed by Gustave Eiffel and opened to the public in 1889.
For something a little extra special, I’d recommend this Seine River Gourmet Dinner & Sightseeing Cruise. See famous monuments, such as the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, and Ile de la Cité aboard a luxury riverboat, while enjoying a 3-course meal.
Pro Tip: Reserve one of the select 8:30 pm departure that also includes champagne and live music.
Notre Dame Cathedral
Another famous landmark in Paris is the Notre Dame Cathedral. This Gothic-style church was completed in 1345 and has been standing since then.
It’s also known as the “Cathedral of Paris” because it’s located at the centre of the city.
Sadly, the fire in 2017 damaged most of the cathedral and Notre Dame is currently under reconstruction until 2025. It’s still possible to come and see it from the outside.
Musee d’Orsay
If you’re planning a trip to Paris, make sure you check out the Musée d’Orsay. Located not too far from the Eiffel Tower, this museum houses one of the world’s largest collections of Impressionist paintings.
The prominent avenue of Paris, also connects the Arc de Triomphe, the famous arch that stands at the centre of the Place Charles de Gaulle with a square Place de la Concorde that ushers you into the Tuileries Gardens that are part of the Louvre complex.
The avenue is 2km long so while you might enjoy walking down from Arc de Triomphe, I also recommend using the metro line that runs underneath to reach the Louvre.
Louvre Museum
If you only have one day in Paris, make sure you check out the Louvre Museum. It houses some of the world’s greatest paintings, sculptures, and other artwork
In fact, it has more than 2 million works of art, including Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa.” and Venus de Milo. If you spent 1 minute looking at each piece of art in the Louvre, you would need 9 months to see it all! So the “How many days do you need in Paris?” question can be hard to answer for any art lover.
Tickets to the Louvre must be purchased online, so depending on how many days you spend in Paris I suggest securing them first and arranging your itinerary around it. Here are a few options for your visit to the Louvre:
How many days in Paris do you need? Here are 5 examples of itineraries for Paris
1 day in Paris itinerary:
Start your day with Arc de Triomphe, walk down the Avenue des Champs-Élysées and take the metro to the Louvre for your pre-booked entry/guided tour of the museum.
When you finish, walk to Notre Dame and view it from the outside. Enjoy some lunch near the St Germain district. Then take the metro line C or a taxi to the Eiffel Tower and go up to enjoy the view of Paris. (Pre-book your entrance ticket here).
DAY 1: Start your day with a visit to the Louvre museum. Take some time to explore it and then enjoy the Tuileries Garden.
Walk to Notre Dame and explore the island around it and finish with a visit to the Eiffel Tower, then followed by a river cruise.
DAY 2: Start with Opera Garnier and walk down through Place Vendome all the way to the Place du Concorde.
From here, catch the metro up to Arc de Triomphe (you can also visit for some incredible views that include the Eiffel Tower). Take in the vibes of Champs-Élysées.
In the afternoon, enjoy a visit to Musée d’Orsay, possibly with a guided tour.
In the evening you might consider taking the metro up to Sacré Coeur to simply watch the sunset over the city and don’t miss the Basilica.
Place du Tertre square has plenty of restaurants to dine at.
3 days in Paris itinerary
Follow the 2 days itinerary above and spend day 3 going out to Versailles – visit the palace and the gardens as well.
4 days in Paris is the perfect time to spend in the city of love if you can. When I get asked how many days in Paris you need to see all the main sights, I say 4 days in Paris is perfect.
You can follow the 2 days in Paris itinerary and take a day trip to Versailles on day 3.
On your last day in Paris, day 4 allows you to explore Paris like a local.
You might consider visiting one of the areas such as Montmartre, le Marais, or Canal St. Martin.
You can also enjoy dinner and a show at one of the famous cabarets in Paris. I would recommend Lido or Moulin Rouge.
🐶 Become a House Sitter: Join Trusted Housesitters and enjoy FREE accommodation worldwide. Use our invite to receive 25% off your new membership.
💰 Send Money Anywhere:WISE & Revolut are the best online accounts that let you send money, get paid, and spend money internationally. Both are so easy to use and way cheaper than any bank transfer.
📶 Stay Connected: Airalo eSIM allows you to get connected the moment you land at your destination, and you can avoid those expensive data roaming charges. We LOVE this product! Use promo code NOMAD15 for 15% off ALL eSIMs (new Airalo users only) OR use NOMAD10 for 10% off ALL eSIMs (for existing Airalo users)