Paris. So much to do, you could literally spend a lifetime exploring and still not get through it all.

So where’s a history lover supposed to start?

No worries! I’ve got you covered. Whether you’re visiting for 1, 2, 3, or 4 whole days, here’s what to do for a perfect visit to France’s capital city.

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION BEFORE YOU GO

Language: French

Currency: Euro

Time zone: Central European Time (UTC + 1)

Emergency number: 112

Plug type: C / E

Electrical: 220-240 volts / 50Hz

Visa needed: Depends on your nationality. Many citizens of several countries (including US, Canada, UK, Australia), no visa is required. However, starting in mid-2025, ETIAS will be required for many visa-exempt countries (including the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK).

GETTING TO AND FROM THE AIRPORT

There are two international airports serving Paris: Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) and Paris Orly Airport (ORY). We’ll cover both here.

FROM PARIS CHARLES DE GAULLE AIRPORT

There are four ways to get to the city center from Charles de Gaulle airport: RER B suburban train, taxi, RoissyBus or regular bus (2 lines).

The RER B Train is the quickest and easiest way to get to the center of Paris from CDG airport. This is my preferred way to travel into Paris city center and the one that I use whenever I visit.

The most common options for transport from CDG to the center of Paris are:

	RER B (recommended)	Taxi	RoissyBus	Bus line 350	Bus line 351
Cost	€11.80 (valid for 90 minutes and can be used for the metro as well)	€56 (right bank)   €65 (left bank)	€16.60	€2.15 (€2.50 on board the bus)	€2.15 (€2.50 on board the bus)
Time to city center	25-40 minutes   50 to terminus	45-50 minutes	60 minutes	70 minutes	80 minutes
Destination	Popular stops: Gare du Nord, Châtelet-les-Halles, Saint-Michel Notre-Dame	Door-to-door	Opéra in central Paris	Porte la Chapelle	Paris Nation (terminus)
Times	4:50am to 12:50am daily	24/7	6:00am to 12:30am daily	6:05am to 10:30pm daily	7:00am to 9:37pm
Frequency	every 10-20 minutes (more frequent during rush hour)	Varies	every 15-20 minutes	every 15-30 minutes	every 15-30 minutes
Other considerations	It’s great because you won’t get stuck in traffic	Payment type: Cash (always) or credit card (usually accepted)   Not all cab drivers speak English		Timetables change during summer and school holidays	Timetables change during summer and school holidays

FROM PARIS ORLY AIRPORT

There are several ways to get from Orly Airport to the center of Paris. Below are a few of the most common options (this is by no means an exhaustive list):

	RER B and OrlyVal	Taxi	OrlyBus	Tram T7	Métro Line 14 (starting June 2024)
Cost	€14.50	€44 (right bank)   €36 (left bank)	€11.50	€2.50	TBD
Time to city center	20-36 minutes	30-40 minutes	30 minutes	45 minutes	25 minutes (city center)   40 minutes (terminus)
Destination	Popular stops: Gare du Nord, Châtelet-les-Halles	Door-to-door	Place Denfert-Rochereau (connection to RER B and metro lines 4 & 6)	Villejuif Louis Aragon	Popular stops: Châtelet-les-Halles, Gare de Lyon   Terminus: Saint-Denis Pleyel
Times	6:00am to 11:35pm	24/7	5:35am to 12:30am daily	5:30am to 12:30am daily
Frequency		Varies	every 10-15 minutes	every 8-15 minutes
Other considerations	You’ll first take the OrlyVal to Antony station, then change to the RER B train	Payment type: Cash (always) or credit card (usually accepted)   Not all cab drivers speak English			Full service scheduled for the end of 2025

ITINERARY

Day 1

Morning:

Start the day off in the heart of Paris itself – the Île de la Cité.

This is where French history started, thousands of years ago, on the banks of the Seine (which are a UNESCO World Heritage Site). You’ll find some of France’s most iconic and historic monuments such as Notre Dame Cathedral, impressive stained-glass at the Sainte-Chapelle, and medieval and revolutionary history at the Conciergerie.

Afternoon:

Take a cruise on the Seine River and see several of Paris’ most famous sites. This tour is a good option.

If you have time, head over to Les Invalides where you can see the tomb of the emperor Napoleon. Then check out some French military history at the Musée de l’Armée. (The same ticket will get you into both Napoleon’s tomb and the military museum.)

For those who might prefer art over army, the nearby Musée Rodin contains some of the master sculptor’s most celebrated works, including The Thinker.

Evening:

It isn’t really a trip to Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower. Purchase tickets in advance if you plan to go up the tower itself or dine at the restaurant. Watch the Eiffel Tower’s light and see Paris lives up to its name of “The City of Light.”

Day 2

Morning:

Make it a museum day by starting off at the Louvre, the world’s largest museum. Admire some of the most important works of Western art, including the Greek statue Venus de Milo and the enigmatic Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci.

The Louvre is so big, you can easily spend several days here. For a “quick” visit, focus on the sections containing Greek sculpture and Italian and French painting.

Afternoon:

Check out the next most iconic museum in Paris, the Musée d’Orsay. Housed in an old train station, this museum is known for having the foremost collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art in the world.

Van Gogh’s Self-Portrait, Starry Night, and Bedroom at Arles, Monet’s Haystacks and Rouen Cathedral, Renoir’s Bal du moulin de la Galette, and Manet’s Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe are just some of the works you can find here.

Day 3

Morning:

Get to know one of Paris’ most historic neighborhoods, the Latin Quarter, which still retains the narrow medieval streets that are a rare find in the city. Here you can explore more of medieval (and even Roman) Paris at the Musée Cluny, visit France’s illustrious dead at the Panthéon, or take a relaxed stroll through the Luxembourg Gardens.

Afternoon:

Make your way to another of Paris’ most historic neighborhoods, Montmartre and explore the place that is perhaps most closely associated with the Belle Époque.

The top of the butte of Montmartre has the best views of Paris. And while you’re there, visit Sacré-Coeur Basilica, a beautiful white church that is actually the second-most visited tourist site in Paris.

Evening:

Fans of the movie may want to watch a cabaret show at the famous Moulin Rouge.

I wanted to learn more about France’s gastronomic culture, so I took this tour, which I highly recommend. You guide will introduce you to the best food in the neighborhood before you and your fellow tourists sit down and enjoy a meal with all the gourmet delights you picked up along the way. (I took with the Montmartre tour, but they offer similar tours in other Paris neighborhoods as well.)

Day 4

All day:

Take a day trip to none other than Versailles, the breathtaking palace of King Louis XIV, known as the “Sun King.”

The star attraction? The Hall of Mirrors. Impressive on its own, it’s also where the German Empire was proclaimed in 1871 and the Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919, officially ending World War I.

Don’t forget to give yourself time to explore the immense gardens. No matter what time of year you visit, you can explore the Grand Trianon, the king’s private residence (more intimate than palace life), and the Petit Trianon, a favorite getaway of Marie Antoinette. In the summer, you can also witness the Fountains Show and Musical Gardens.

As entrance is timed, booking your ticket in advance (for both the palace and the gardens) is recommended.

WHERE TO STAY

Last time I was in Paris, I stayed at French Theory Hotel and Coffee Shop. Overall, I really liked this place. The only downside was that could be a bit noisy at night, so light sleepers should be aware (or have some kind of white noise maker handy and/or ear plugs). The room was a little small, but that’s Europe for you.

Apart from that, it was clean and modern, had a 24/7 front desk, was located in the Latin Quarter (safe, touristy area, with easy access to public transportation such as the RER B and other metro lines), walkable to several major sites, and had its own coffee shop! I also liked the reading materials they provided in your room.

There you have it! Itineraries for a perfect trip to Paris. Got any questions? Let me know in the comments. I hope you enjoy your trip!