How to plan a visit to the most important attractions in Paris if you only have 2 days in the capital of France? The itinerary of our Paris in 2 days trip plan will help you to plan a trip to Paris by yourself and to explore the most important sights of the city.
As Paris is full of tourist attractions, expect your 2 days to be very intense.
Day 1 in Paris
Our recommended itinerary for 1 day trip in Paris can be easily used as the first part of this 2 day trip. Start you day early and on your first day you will be able to visit these important attractions:
- 08:00 Notre Dame Cathedral *temporarily closed*
- 10:00 Sainte Chapelle (can be combined with a visit to Conciergerie)
- 12:00 Louvre Museum
- 15:00 Tuileries Garden
- 16:00 Arc de Triomphe
- 17:30 Eiffel Tower
For fitting all these attractions in your day 1 in Paris, make sure to book Skip-The-Line tickets in advance wherever it is possible. On your first day you will need:
- Sainte-Chapelle Skip-The-Line Ticket or Sainte-Chapelle & Conciergerie Skip-the-Line Combo Ticket
- Priority Access Entrance Ticket to the Louvre Museum
- Arc de Triomphe Skip-The-Line Ticket
- Eiffel Tower Skip-the-Line Entry Ticket
Detailed itinerary of Day 1 in Paris can be found here: Paris in 1 Day – The Best Paris Trip Itinerary.
Your intense first day in Paris should be over about 20:00 and you will have some time for enjoying dinner with a glass of French wine in one of many fabulous restaurants in Paris and prepare for your second day in the city of love.
Day 2 in Paris
Even if you’ve visited the most iconic places of Paris on the first day, there are still many things to see on your second day in Paris so start it early enough.
9:30 Sacre Coeur Basilica & Montmartre
Sacre Coeur Basilica is a Roman Catholic Church and famous landmark in Paris. It is not only a religious monument but also the place that has political and cultural significance to the French people. The architectural style of the Roman-Byzantine cathedral is very unique. From the top of the Montmartre hill, where Sacre Coeur Basilica is standing, opens up truly breathtaking views of Paris and its iconic Eiffel Tower.
Opening hours:
- Cathedral: 6:00 – 22:30
- Domes October – April: 9:00 - 17:00
- Domes May – September: 8:30 - 20:00
Duration of visit: Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes
Admission fee: Free
You can visit Sacre Coeur Basilica and explore the surrounding Montmartre neighborhood on your own. However, we would recommend joining a walking tour as it will let you get closer to this wonderful neighborhood. You can wander around Montmartre's streets and step into the beautiful Sacre Coeur Basilica with your English speaking guide when booking this tour: Paris Montmartre Guided Walking Tour. The tour starts at 10:00 and takes about 2 hours.
Get something for lunch and continue your trip.
If you are planning to use public transportation for getting around Paris, take metro from Château Rouge station to Saint-Michel Notre-Dame station and from there walk about 15 minutes to Pantheon.
13:00 Pantheon
Pantheon is an ancient white cathedral located on the "Left Bank" or "Rive Gauche" in Paris. Pantheon is considered as one of the most important tourist destinations in France. The building, presenting the beauty of the old Neo-Classic architecture, is more than 2,000 years old but still remains in a really good condition. Inside Pantheon you will find paintings and statues created by French artists.
Opening hours:
- April - September: 10:00 - 18:30
- October - March: 10:00 - 18:00
Duration for visit: Approximately 45 minutes
Admission fee: the regular ticket price is 9 Euro
Save your time at the attraction by booking you Skip-the-Line Ticket here: Pantheon Skip-the-Line Ticket in Paris.
After completing your visit at Pantheon, walk for about 550 meters or 7 minutes to Luxembourg Gardens.
14:00 Luxembourg Palace
Luxembourg Palace was originally built as a residence for Marie de Médicis, the mother of Louis XIV. After the French Revolution, this palace has been changed to a parliament building. The north side of the palace was changed to be the residence of the president of the high council. The west building became a museum.
South of the palace you will find a magnificent large garden with a nice round pond. At Luxembourg Gardens you will see many statues of French queens and saints, flowers and decorative plants in beautifully arrangement.
Opening hours: 7:30 - 16:30, 8:15 - 21:30, depending on the season
Duration of visit: Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes
Admission fee: Free
If a walking distance of about 1.8 km doesn’t bother you, from Luxembourg Gardens you can reach the next spot of this trip plan in about 25 minutes. Otherwise, you can take metro from Notre-Dame des Champs station to Notre-Dame des Champs station which is located nearby the Orsay Museum.
16:00 Orsay Museum
Orsay Museum or Musée d'Orsay is another museum that should be included in a must-see list on your trip to Paris. Orsay Museum has rich collection of French art, including paintings, sculptures, furniture and photography made during 1848-1915. The masterpieces of the Impressionism and Post-impressionism displayed here include paintings by famous artists such as Monet, Manet, Renoir and Van Gogh.
Opening hours:
- Tuesday – Sunday: 9:30 - 18:00
- Thursday: 9:30 - 21:45
- Closed on Mondays
Duration of visit: Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes
Admission fee: the regular ticket price is 14 Euro
Don’t waste your time standing in the queue as the last entry on any day except of Thursday is 17:15. Booking your Orsay Museum Skip-the-Line Ticket in advance will help you to get into the museum faster.
18:30 River Cruise on the Seine
You can end your second day in Paris with a scenic cruise on the Seine River and cruise through famous city attractions such as Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Musée d'Orsay, the Louvre, le Grand Palais, the Eiffel Tower and many more famous Paris tourist attractions. We recommend a cruise along the Seine at the sunset to enjoy the atmosphere and magnificent views of the city at night.
Some of the best deals for Seine River Cruise in Paris can be found online here:
- Seine River 1 Hour Sightseeing Cruise Direct Entry Ticket
- Seine River Sightseeing Cruise with Optional Champagne or Snacks by Vedettes de Paris
- River Seine Lunch or Dinner Cruise
20:30 End of Trip
Your intense Paris in 2 Days itinerary is over. If you still have some energy left, continue exploring the nightlife of the city.
Tips
Instead of walking or using public transportation, choose the most convenient way for getting between attractions - Paris Hop-On Hop-Off Bus. You will not only travel between the main sights easily but will get a chance to enjoy the view of Paris from the open top deck along the way.
Other useful tips for independent travel in Paris can be found here: Paris Travel Tips.