Paris is home to some of the world’s most famous landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Louvre Museum.

But there’s also plenty to see and do away from these iconic sites.

So how many days do you need in Paris?

Here are some other things you shouldn’t miss while visiting this beautiful city and some suggestions on spending 1,2,3 or 4 days in Paris. 

I would recommend spending 3 days in Paris to see the main attractions, enjoy the best French food and see some parts of the Parisian lifestyle.

But 4 days in Paris will allow you to take it easier, at a more relaxed pace.

My complete 4 days in Paris itinerary includes the most comprehensive information such as what to see and do, how to plan your days, what area to stay in Paris and even recommendations on the best hotels with views of the Eiffel Tower.

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. 

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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. 

It’s quite an interesting structure, you can learn more about it in our post where we answer the 10 most popular questions about the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

It’s still one of the tallest structures in Europe today and there are many ways you can appreciate its beauty.

A) Book your skip-the-line entry ticket here: You will have an allocated time to come and go through the security before you go up the tower.

B) Join a river cruise on the river Seine in the evening to really see Paris magical at night.

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.

Don’t miss our EUROPE CITY GUIDES

• ROME 3 Day Itinerary
• VENICE 1 Day Itinerary
• FLORENCE 2 Day Itinerary
• AMSTERDAM 3 Day Itinerary
• KRAKOW 2 Day Itinerary

• BUDAPEST 2 Day Itinerary
• ATHENS 1 Day Itinerary
• PRAGUE 2 Day Itinerary
• LONDON 1 Day Itinerary

• PARIS 4 Day Itinerary
• BERLIN 2 Day Itinerary
• VIENNA 2 Day Itinerary
• LISBON 2 Day Itinerary

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.

Don’t wait in line, buy your skip-the-line entry ticket here beforehand.

I also recommend this guided tour to learn more about the art from a knowledgeable guide.

Champs Elysees

The prominent avenue of Paris also connects the Arc de Triomphe, the famous arch that stands at the centre of Place Charles de Gaulle, with a square, Place de la Concorde, which ushers you into the Tuileries Gardens, which are part of the Louvre complex.

The avenue is 2km long, so while you might enjoy walking down from Arc de Triomphe, I recommend using the metro line 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

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:

• Louvre Museum Timed-Entrance Ticket – From €17 per person
• Louvre Museum Skip the Line Access Guided Tour – From €59 per person
• Louvre Museum Timed-Entrance Ticket and Audioguide – From €26 per person

How many days in Paris do you need? Four 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 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).

Finish the evening with your pre-reserved evening dinner cruise to take it all in.

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2 days in Paris itinerary:

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 to the Arc de Triomphe (you can also visit for incredible views of the Eiffel Tower). Then, 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 to Sacré Coeur to watch the sunset over the city. Don’t miss the Basilica.

Place du Tertre square has plenty of restaurants where you can dine.

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.

This is the most popular Versailles Palace and Gardens Full Access Ticket.

When you get back to Paris from your day trip, make sure to book a night at one of these cabaret shows Paradis Latin, Moulin Rouge or Lido Cabaret.

4 days in Paris itinerary

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. 
• You can join this fabulous ‘Original Food Tour of Paris‘ or this Gourmet Gastronomy Food Tour of Paris to learn more about French cuisine.
• Love art? Then don’t miss the Centre Pompidou dedicated to modern art.

I hope this helps you to plan your time in Paris and answers the question: How many days should I spend in Paris?

Travel Tips for Europe

We have many travel guides and tips for Europe— an incredible continent!

Are you travelling on a budget? These ten cheapest European countries will help you plan an itinerary that lets you see as much as possible while there.

Furthermore, if you plan to travel long-term (or at least until the money runs out), these 21 cheapest countries to visit will help you make your hard-earned dollars stretch a bit further.

Delicious cuisine can be enjoyed across Europe, and our food map of Europe will inspire your culinary journey.

For food lovers, don’t miss our top 10 best countries for foodies, a couple of them are located in Europe.

Here are 8 things to know about travelling to Eastern Europe and it’s good to know these 7 misconceptions about Eastern Europe too.

These top 6 travel hacks to save money are great to read when planning your travels.

You’ll need to stay connected while travelling in Europe. We recommend eSIM. It’s easy, reliable and affordable. View eSIMs for individual European countries, or consider a regional eSIM for Europe (which covers 39 countries).

If your travels in Europe are part of a much larger global adventure, then a Global eSIM may be the answer. It connects you in 124 countries, offering data-only eSIM and data/call/text eSIM. The Global eSIM has been a game-changer; we couldn’t imagine travelling without it now.

If you want to travel with like-minded travellers, consider joining a group tour. Check out our Group Tours first for any upcoming European departures, or view Tourradar for great deals on group tours in Europe.

Check out our best-ever travel tips compiled from more than twenty years of experience.