One day in Paris
A full day along the Seine: the Louvre in the morning, the islands in the afternoon, and the Eiffel Tower in the evening light.
- Length: 1 day
- Pace: packed
- Rough cost: €90–€150 pp
- Best for: A stopover where you want the headline sights
The plan
Along the Seine Louvre, Île de la Cité, Champ de Mars
- 09:00–11:45 LouvreBook aheadIndoors
Enter at the Pyramid with a timed ticket. Pick two wings — Denon for the Mona Lisa and Italian painting. Closed Tuesdays.
- 11:50–12:30 Tuileries Garden
Chairs around the big pond.
- 12:30–13:30 Lunch around Rue Saint-Honoré
Bakeries and bistros north of the garden.
- 13:50–14:40 Notre-Dame de ParisIndoors
Free; reopened in December 2024. You can reserve a free time slot to skip the line.
- 14:45–15:45 Sainte-ChapelleBook aheadIndoors
13th-century stained glass, best on a bright day. Security queue shared with the law courts.
- 15:55–16:40 Latin Quarter and Shakespeare and Company
Small streets around Rue de la Huchette.
- 17:15–19:00 Eiffel TowerBook ahead
Book the lift to the second floor or the summit. Allow time for security.
- 19:15–20:45 Dinner around Rue Cler
Market street near the tower with brasseries.
Rough cost
Per person. Louvre, Sainte-Chapelle and Eiffel Tower (lift) tickets, metro/RER fares, lunch and dinner.
Prices checked November 2026 against official and widely published 2026 rates; they change, so confirm before you pay.
Book ahead
- Louvre — Timed tickets required. Non-EU visitors pay a higher rate since January 2026.
- Sainte-Chapelle — Timed slots; a ticket saves one of the two queues.
- Eiffel Tower — Summit tickets sell out first; book as soon as your date opens.
If it rains
- Instead of Tuileries Garden: Musée de l’Orangerie (Monet’s Water Lilies), at the west end of the garden
- Instead of Latin Quarter stroll: Musée de Cluny (medieval art) nearby
Good to know
- The Louvre is closed on Tuesdays and Orsay on Mondays — plan around that.
- Paris metro tickets are now a flat price inside the region; tap a Navigo Easy pass or buy tickets in the app.
Book it
- Tickets and tours in Paris (GetYourGuide)
- Hotels in Paris (Booking.com)
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