The Perfect 5 Day Paris Itinerary
If you want to have an affordable-yet-bougie time in the city of love, look no further for the best way to plan your visit to Paris. With everything from how to get around to where to eat, this guide has you covered. For more on my trip, check out my vlogs on TikTok and daily real-time updates in my Instagram highlight, Paris! To see our full schedule, scroll to the bottom of this post.
How to Get There
We flew into London (because that’s where we’re flying home from at the end of the trip!) and took the Eurostar from St. Pancras International to Paris Gare du Nord. It’s a 3-hour journey, no frills, but beware because it is not like US trains: you must be there to board your train an hour before departure to go through security and passport control. We missed our first train and had to pay a 44 euro per person fine.
You can also fly into Paris’s larger airport, Charles de Gaulle, which is easily accessible to the city via the B train line or by Uber or Taxi. We flew out of CDG upon leaving and took the B train line to the airport, but again, be sure you get the correct tickets to the airport, not just regular Metro tickets, because when we arrived at the airport we had the wrong tickets and had to pay a 35 euro per person fine! It was robbery at its finest!
Where to Stay
There are two options for accommodations in Paris, hotels or Airbnb. It’s no secret that Paris is home to some of the most beautiful hotels in the world, including the Ritz Paris and Plaza Athenee. However, the more affordable hotel options were lacking when it came to space, location, and amenities. We opted for an Airbnb, but before finding the one we ultimately went with, had a few Airbnb hosts cancel on us. I surveyed my Instagram audience about this and a few people had a similar experience, so beware and make sure you are communicating with your host and that you have a backup option when choosing Airbnb.
For some affordable hotel options that we would’ve gone with, check out:
In terms of location, we loved staying in the 10th arrondissement. It is a 20-minute train ride to the city center (museums, etc), and it is a relatively safe area with a popular canal, lots of amazing food options with outdoor seating, and local markets with everything you could possibly need.
Our Airbnb was the most beautiful 1 bedroom apartment with beautiful authentic French architecture and more. It was the absolute perfect Parisian home and we hope to return when we are back in Paris in the future!
Our Paris Airbnb
How to Get Around
Paris has an amazing public transit system, the Metro, which was easily understandable and affordable - $2.10 per ride. We took it 99% of the time (helped having a man with me, if I were traveling solo I would likely still take Ubers at night but if with a large group of women just be careful about your surroundings - I personally didn’t ever feel unsafe but pickpocketing is definitely common there.) When buying tickets, you will just buy for Zone 1 in Paris, that’s where everything is! We took Ubers a few times, they were quick and affordable, but traffic is a bit annoying in Paris so beware that Ubering may add to your commute time.
A quick overview of the most popular areas in Paris:
7th Arrondissement: an exclusive, beautiful neighborhood home to the Eiffel Tower
8th Arrondissement: home to the Louvre and other famous museums, as well as exclusive hotels like the Ritz
The Marais: home to many famous museums and walking paths
Montemarte: a charming, hilly village with great vintage shopping and restaurants
What to Do
Paris is a city full of rich history and culture, and you simply can’t do everything in a few days. It’s important to research the museums and places you want to go to, prioritize, and plan accordingly!
5 must-do activities:
A Seine river cruise: we did this on day 1 of our trip and it was super helpful to get a good lay of the land and a beautiful way to see sights we weren’t planning on dedicating an excursion to (like the Notre Dame and Grand Palais.) Our tour was super helpful and came with champagne! Book it here.
Shopping: whether vintage shopping in Montmarte, designer shopping at Le Bon Marche, or strolling the iconic Champs Elysees while viewing the Arc de Triomphe, you’re sure to find something you want to take home in Paris, so make sure to leave room in your suitcases!
Picnic in the park: parks aren’t just parks in Paris, they’re truly gardens - beautiful, full of art and culture. Plus, you’re legally allowed to drink in public, so grabbing a bottle of wine, some cheese, and sitting outside in the early afternoon or right after dinner is magical.
Attend the Crazy Horse or Moulin Rouge shows: Burlesque isn’t for everyone, but if it’s your cup of tea, the Crazy Horse show was ART. I heard about it because Beyonce’s Partition music video is inspired by the show, which she and Jay Z attended when they got engaged back in the day. It’s rich in history, a true spectacle, and you’ll fall head over heels for the SHOES - custom by Christian Louboutin.
Museum visits: home to the best museums in the world, there are simply too many to see while you’re there. Even the Louvre, with 38,000 works of art, is too much for one visit. Prioritize one to three museums you want to see and don’t beat yourself up for not seeing it all! We chose to visit the Musee des Arts Decoratifs and the Musee de YSL, our two priority interests and saved the Louvre for another time. Make sure to plan your days accordingly - most museums in Paris are closed on Tuesdays!
French Day Trips we wish we could take were:
Versailles - this is a true all-day trip, the scale of the area is massive. We couldn’t make it due to the weather but it’s a perfect day trip!
Champagne region - French wine, champagne, etc - we all know it’s good. This is a great trip to take if you’re interested in the history!
Where to Eat
There’s no shortage of good food in Paris! You can’t go wrong, but be sure to review the menus online before making a reservation because even though somewhere may be popular, it doesn’t mean you’ll love their offerings. Personally, I’m not a fan of French food like Beef Tartare, escargot, etc, so we opted for a lot of Asian food for lunch, and Italian for dinner!
Some Restaurant highlights for us were:
Les Refuges Des Fondus: an amazing little restaurant in Montemarte that’s a true experience. You get squeezed into tiny tables with barely any personal space, order fondue for two, and enjoy drinks served in baby bottles, complete with dessert for just 29 Euros per person. It’s amazing for groups or couples, but a reservation is a MUST - the line is out the door the second it opens!
Restaurant 7 Nouilles: the freshest Chinese food we’ve ever had - we went twice in a week! Highly recommend the noodles - you can see them making them in the back. Check this out for lunch before stepping out to the Siene cruise or the Eiffel Tower as it’s conveniently located nearby.
Le Relais Des Entrecote: a famous steak frites place that doesn’t take reservations - they serve one thing to everyone and it’s steak frites! Get there early (before the 6:45 opening time) or you’ll be waiting in line for an hour (like we did.)
If you love expensive hotels but aren’t staying in one, pop in for a drink around 5-6 pm to get a peek inside. We did this at Hotel Costes and the Ritz and it was amazing - super expensive (think $25+ euros per drink) but worth it if you’re an aspiring hotel snob. The espresso martini at Hotel Costes was the best one I’ve ever had.
Some other recommended restaurants I pulled from the community were:
Our Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive, unpack, explore the area, have dinner at a bistro nearby and sit outside at sunset (around 9pm) with a glass of wine.
Day 2: Exploration Day Wake up, grab croissants from a bakery, and take the train to the Eiffel Tower. Spend some time wandering around the 7th Arrondissement, where celebrities call home. Grab lunch at 7 Nouilles, and hop on a Seine river cruise for the afternoon. Walk the Seine yourself with some Rose from a grocery store like Franprix before dinner and check out the Jardin des Tuileries, or visit the Ritz for a drink. Walk over early to the famous Le Relais des Entrecôte to try to beat the line, but don’t be surprised if you’re waiting for up to an hour! Stroll around after and grab a drink outside at a bistro overlooking the Eiffel Tower to see the light show, every hour after sunset starting at 10pm.
Day 3: Museum Day: Wake up, croissants again, and head to the Louvre for the early opening. Grab lunch after at Le Cafe de la Regence, and then make your way to the Museum of Decorative Arts in the early afternoon. Stop by Cafe Kitsune Palais Royal for a true iced coffee and take photos at the Jardin de Palais Royal. Walk over to the Musee de YSL and then take a leisurely stroll to the Avenue des Champs Elysses and see the Arc De Triomphe. Do some shopping and stop at Laudree for some coffee and macaroons before heading home to refresh for dinner at Girafe for the Eiffel Tower views, and visit Crazy Horse Paris for the best burlesque show you’ve ever seen.
Day 4: Shopping Day: Wake up, don’t forget your croissants, and head to brunch at Cafe Casette, where you must get the Crocque Monsieur and the hot chocolate. Visit the nearby Le Bon Marche for designer shopping, and refuel at the famous Cafe de Flore with some afternoon coffee. Take the train to Montmartre for some vintage shopping all afternoon, and then pop over to Les Refuges Des Fondues for an intimate and fun dinner experience - just make sure to get a reservation.
Day 5: Day Trip: take a day trip to Versailles to see a gilded palace or visit anywhere else you might’ve discovered throughout your travels!
I hope this helps you all make the most of your trip to Paris! it’s by no means comprehensive, but we had the most magical time and I hope you do too!
