I’ve heard many people say that Paris is overrated and not worth much time. I disagree, but I will add the caveat that it is important to have reasonable expectations. Paris is not always clean, Parisian waiters can be rude, and the top sights will be packed with other tourists. Despite all of that, Paris is a wonderful city and no matter how long you spend here, you won’t be able to see it all. Whether you have two days or seven days, you won’t be able to see everything in Paris, no matter how perfect your itinerary.
Since not everyone has weeks to dedicate to exploring Paris, I’m taking the best of my five days in Paris and shrinking it down into two day Paris itinerary. Two days in not enough to see everything in Paris (even with five days, I had to pick and choose), but it will still give a great overview of this city.
Before Your Trip
Before you actually go on your trip, I recommend purchasing the Paris Museum Pass. While it may seem pricey at 55 euros per adult for a 2-day pass, it’s worth it. This works out to 27.5 euros per day for nearly unlimited sightseeing. That’s a great deal and if you visit all of the sights on this two day Paris itinerary, you will end up saving a little money.
There is one major caveat to this pass, though. When I used it, I could just skip the line and go into museums as I pleased. That’s no longer the case. Even with the Paris Museum Pass, most sights either require, or strongly encourage, making a reservation in advance. This does take the spontaneity out of your trip, but it means that you’ll be able to see everything on your list. And, since these measures were aimed at controlling crowds, this hopefully means you’ll be able to visit the top sights with fewer people
At the end of this post, there’s more information about which reservations you’ll need.
Day 1
Whenever possible, I like to start my visit to any city with a walking tour. This two day Paris itinerary is no exception. You have loads of options for tours. You could join a group walking tour, hire a private guide, or do your own self guided tour. I prefer self-guided walking tours since they give me the ability to go at my own pace. In Europe, I use Rick Steves’ City Walks. While they often have cheesy dialogue, they are free (just download the app to your phone) and give an efficient and informative overview of the city.
With your introductory walking tour complete, we’re going to head for a great view of Paris. Take the metro across the city to climb up the Arc di Triomphe for fantastic views of the city. When you arrive at the Arc di Triomphe, do not panic. You do not have to cross the massive roundabout. Before you cross the street, look around. There are entrances that will allow you to go down and under the street (and roundabout), to reach the Arc di Triomphe.
After your iconic view of Paris, take a break for lunch (it’s not hard to find a cafe). As idyllic as it is to sit and watch the world go by, we have limited time, so don’t linger too long.
This afternoon, the plan is to visit two museums: The Museé d’Orsay and the Museé d’Orangerie. Your Paris Museum Pass covers both museums.
At the Museé d’Orsay, you’ll see 19th and 20th century art. For many visitors, seeing the impressionist artworks are a highlight. It’s at this museum that you’ll find paintings from Claude Monet, Edouard Manet, Vincent Van Gogh, Auguste Renoir, Paul Cezanne, and so many more.
Just a short 10 minute walk from the Museé d’Orsay is the Museé d’Orangerie. The collection at the Museé d’Orangerie is smaller, but it holds Claude Monet’s famous waterlily paintings. These waterlilies are the highlight of the Museé d’Orangerie.
After the museums, we’re going to visit the most iconic sight of Paris. Head over to the Eiffel tower.
It is your choice if you want to head up the Eiffel Tower. It is important to note that the Paris Museum Pass does not include the Eiffel Tower, so you must pay an additional fee. By visiting the Arc di Triomphe, you’ll have several amazing views of the city (with Paris’s most iconic symbol in your photographs!) Even if you don’t want to go up to the tower, you can go through the security check point and get some really cool views from underneath the tower.
If you want to go up the Eiffel Tower, make sure to reserve your spot in advance to avoid wasting time in line.
After the Eiffel Tower, the evening is free for you to do as you please. Have a nice dinner, find another great view of Paris (I like the view from Sacre Ceour in Montmartre), take a sightseeing boat down the River Sienne, or head back to your hotel to relax. There’s no wrong answer.
Day 2
It’s the second, and final day, of this two day Paris itinerary and we’re starting it at the birthplace of the city: the island in the middle of the Seine River. This island, and its immediate surroundings, house three phenomenal stops: Notre Dame, Sainte Chapelle, and the Archeological Crypt.
I believe that it is best to visit Sainte Chapelle early when you can admire the stained glass without throngs of tourists. This chapel was built to house Jesus’s crown of thrones and the stained glass windows tell the stories of the Bible. A visit here can be quick, but the chapel is beautiful.
A short walk away on the actual island where Paris was founded sits Notre Dame and the Archeological Crypt. Many people just visit Notre Dame and skip the Archeological Crypt. However, the Paris Museum Pass gets you into the Archeological Crypt for free, so why not make a quick stop while you’re here?
The Archeological Crypt allows you to walk through the ancient Roman ruins that Paris was built upon. As I wandered through the Archeological Crypt and Museum, I couldn’t help but wonder why more people weren’t visiting.
Notre Dame is a magnificent 14th century cathedral that has become one of the symbols of Paris. Unfortunately due to a fire in April 2019, much of the Cathedral is closed and is not expected to be open until December 2024. While you can’t enter the cathedral, you can still admire the structure from the exterior.
By now, you’ve probably worked up an appetite. The good news is, you should have absolutely no problem finding a cafe nearby to grab a bite to eat.
After lunch, it’s time to visit one of the most iconic museums in the world: The Louvre. Do not expect to have a crowd free visit at The Louvre. It will be busy, particularly around the most well known pieces.
Not a big fan of art? The building itself is a former palace and absolutely stunning. I think I enjoyed marveling at the architecture of the building more than some of the actual paintings. I followed a self guided walking tour of the Louvre to make my visit efficient, but not too long winded. Without the tour giving me context, I likely would have been very bored.
The evening is once again yours to explore.
More Notes on the Paris Museum Pass
Many sights now days require timed entry reservations. When you purchase a museum ticket online, you will pick a time slot to go with it. For users of the Paris Museum Pass, there will be an option to make a free reservation. You will still be held to that time slot, but it is free.
When I visited Paris, I didn’t need timed reservations and I just showed up with my Paris Museum Pass whenever I wanted. It was a lot more convenient, but it’s no longer quite that easy. So here’s what I recommend for timed entry reservations for your two day Paris itinerary. These are based on my experience (of how long I felt like I needed at each sight) and factors in travel time between sights.
Arc di Triomphe – Day 1, 11:00 am
Museé d’Orsay – Day 1, 2:00pm or later
Museé d’Orangerie – Day 1, 3:30pm or later
Eiffel Tower – Day 1, 5:00 pm or later – **not covered by your Paris Museum Pass
Sainte Chapelle – Day 2, 9:00am, First entry of the day
Archeological Museum – Day 2, 10:30am
Le Louvre – Day 2, 2:00pm
If you visit all of the sights listed here without the museum pass (excluding the Eiffel Tower), you’ll pay 63 euros. So while the savings is minimal, purchasing the Paris Museum Pass for 55 euros saves you 8 euros. But, that’s enough to get a treat at a cafe.
Final Thoughts
I’m typically a fast paced traveler and often don’t spend more than two days in any given city. Currently, for me, it’s more important to me to get an overview of a lot of cities so I can find which are the ones I need to return to. Paris is one exception. I spent five days in Paris and I left feeling like I still had so much more to see. But I realize that not everyone has five days (or more!) to dedicate to one city. With this two day Paris itinerary, you’ll be able to see the highlights of the city. Hopefully you find as much joy in Paris as I did.
Continue Your Adventure
Paris: For travelers with more time, check out my 5 Day Paris Itinerary which allows you to dive deeper into this city.
Loire Valley: Paris is a fantastic starting (or ending) point for any trip through France, and no trip through France would be complete with a trip to the Loire Valley and it’s fabulous chateaux.
France Travel Guide: Start planning your trip to France with my France Travel Guide.
London, England: For another fun capitol city (and one that’s easy to pair with Paris), check out my guide for Two Days in London.
Amsterdam, Netherlands: Another city that’s easy to visit, either before or after your stop in Paris, is Amsterdam.
Europe in 10 Days: Starting in Paris, travel to Belgium before finishing in Amsterdam on this amazing 10 Days in Paris, Belgium, and Amsterdam Itinerary.