How to spend two days in Paris

Day one: The best of Marais and Montmartre

Spend the morning museum hopping

Start your first day in Paris as you mean to go on: with a coffee and a croissant (or two). A pavement table at Camille in the heart of the Marais district is the perfect setting, and places you in easy reach of some of the Marais’ best museums.

Just a one-minute walk away, free-to-enter Musée Carnavalet is a great way to get a quick handle on the fascinating history of Paris. You can then dive straight into a history lesson of artistic masterpieces at the renowned Musée Picasso – a five-minute amble around the corner.

Go shopping and sightseeing

Stroll through the atmospheric streets of the Marais district and browse the independent boutiques. Stop for a light lunch at the artfully rustic Le Voltigeur before strolling for eight minutes to the Centre Pompidou.

If you don’t have time to take in its engrossing collection of modern and contemporary art, take the lift to Restaurant Georges and have a coffee on the roof terrace. It’s pricey, but worth it for the sweeping views of Paris.

From here, it’s a ten-minute walk to Rue Montorgueil, one of the most picturesque streets in Paris. It’s lined with old-fashioned food shops and numerous cafés and, if you’re in need of an afternoon pick-me-up, you can buy a delicious pastry from Stohrer at No 51.

See out the afternoon at the Sacré Coeur

At this point, you can hop on the Métro at nearby Etienne Marcel station and arrive half an hour later at Sacré Coeur, where you can take in panoramic views of the city from the elaborate basilica. Wander around the streets of Montmartre, where you might come across the unusual sight of a city vineyard – Clos Montmartre – on Rue des Saules.

Tuck into a traditional dinner

In Montmartre, stop in charming Le Poulbot for mouth-watering French classics such as onion soup and confit duck. Or if you want to head back to the Marais, check out the courtyard garden of Jaja, a lively bistro that knows a thing or two about wine.

End the evening with skyline views and sundowners

For a sunset or late-evening treat, ride the Métro to the Arc de Triomphe, which is open until 10.30pm. Climb to the top for a lofty view of Paris’s twinkling skyline, including a grandstand view of the Eiffel Tower covered in lights. Time your visit to catch the on-the-hour light show that makes the tower sparkle magically.

Night owls who want some late-night, Brazilian-style fun can head over to the Canal Saint-Martin area for cocktails and DJ sets at Favela Chic (open Wednesday - Saturday).

Day two: Iconic sights and the Seine

Start the day at the Notre-Dame

Your second day in Paris begins early with a pastry and freshly ground coffee from Noir Coffee Shop in the relative calm of Ile Saint-Louis.

Then, cross the Saint-Louis bridge over to Ile de la Cité, towards the Notre-Dame. Before you reach the cathedral, turn left into the park that contains the stark memorial to the French Jews who were deported during the Second World War. While the Notre-Dame remains closed for renovation (due to reopen 8 December 2024), you can still admire its exquisite gothic exterior, plus see the exhibits detailing the cathedral’s reconstruction.

See the city by boat

On the Left Bank of the Seine, look out for the jetty for the Batobus, the boat service that shuttles along the river. A ticket gives you a whole day’s worth of travel.

Sit back and enjoy the enchanting riverside aspects of Paris as the boat chugs along to the Eiffel Tower.

Admire the Eiffel Tower

No Paris itinerary would be complete without a visit to the city’s greatest icon. For the best chance of seeing the Eiffel Tower without the queues, you need to book a ticket and time slot in advance. If time is short, cross to the Right Bank and take in the splendid view of the tower from the Trocadéro.

Refuel at Chez Francis, a classy bistro just 15 minutes away on foot with its own boast-worthy view of the Eiffel Tower.

Wander galleries and gardens in the afternoon

Reserve a ticket online to avoid the lines at Musée d’Orsay, about a 30-minute walk. Once you’ve toured this captivating temple to 19th-century art, cross the Seine for a walk through the Tuileries Garden and then gaze upon the giant glass Pyramide opposite the Louvre. (Save this colossal museum for your next visit).

Take the Métro at Concorde to Notre-Dame-des-Champs, a short walk from the Luxembourg Gardens. This green space teams up with a palace to create one of the most relaxing and endearing places in Paris.

Enjoy dinner and drinks in the Latin Quarter

From the gardens you are only a short walk from Les Papilles, a convivial bistro with top-notch food. Take a post-prandial stroll through the buzzing streets of the Latin Quarter past the Sorbonne and towards the imposing Pantheon.

You could head to the student bars around Place de la Contrescarpe and Rue Mouffetard, or have a glass of wine at the more grown-up Bar du Bouillon. A final moonlight stroll along the Seine is a fitting end to your two-day break in Paris.

Top tips for a weekend in Paris

• Book tickets online in advance for the sights you definitely want to see and save time by avoiding the queues.
• Staying out of the city centre often offers better accommodation prices, but make sure to stay near a metro stop for quick transport to the sights.
• Time your trip to coincide with the first Sunday of the month to get free admission to museums such as the Musée Picasso and the Musée d’Orsay.
• Consider using Eurostar Snap to save money on train tickets to Paris.
• If you’re flying into Charles de Gaulle Airport, the RER express train is the quickest public transport option to the city centre.
• Travel in the shoulder seasons of September to November and January to March to find cheaper holiday deals.