5 Days in Paris
🗼 Complete Itinerary & Cost Guide
5 days is the sweet spot for Paris — enough to see the major sights, eat well, and have one unscheduled day. Here's a realistic day-by-day plan plus what it costs.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
This plan covers the essentials without burnout. Adjust based on opening hours, weather, and your stamina. Most days are 4–6 hours of activity with long meals and downtime built in.
Settle into your hotel, grab a light lunch, then ease into Paris with Louvre — go after 5pm Wed/Fri. Don't overbook day one — jet lag is real.
Eiffel Tower from Trocadéro. Pair it with a sit-down lunch nearby and an evening walk through a different neighbourhood.
Musée d'Orsay. Take the morning slow and use the afternoon to explore a quieter district away from the tourist core.
Le Marais food crawl. Pair with a long lunch — Skip the touristy bistros in the 1st. Eat in the 11th, 18th or Belleville.
Hit one final must-see (Le Marais food crawl), pick up souvenirs, and leave time for a relaxed lunch before your flight or onward train.
What does 5 days in Paris cost?
Estimates below are per person, including accommodation, food, local transport, and ~1 paid activity per day. Flights to Paris are not included — they vary wildly by origin.
Paris survival tips
Metro Navigo Easy pass beats single tickets. Avoid taxis at peak hours — traffic is brutal.
Skip the touristy bistros in the 1st. Eat in the 11th, 18th or Belleville.
Beware "found ring" scams near tourist sites and petition signers around the Louvre.
When to go
April, May, September, October are the best months for Paris — the climate is at its best and crowds haven't peaked. Avoid August (locals leave, many bistros close).