Five days in Paris for a first time is perfect. You have the time to see the big classics without rushing, and most of all to take it slow: sit on a terrasse, wander through the neighborhoods, eat well. Because Paris is as much about the museums as it is about a chair in the sun with a coffee.
Here's how I'd plan these five days, with my own addresses. Roughly: day 1 around the Eiffel Tower and the left bank, day 2 in Montmartre, days 3 and 4 in the center (the Louvre, le Marais), and day 5 in Versailles or Disneyland.
Day 1: Eiffel Tower, Left Bank and Musée d'Orsay
For your first day, start with the Paris everyone pictures. Go to Trocadéro early in the morning: that's where you get the best view of the Eiffel Tower, and at 8am you're almost alone. Then walk down to the Champ de Mars, cross over, and you're at the foot of the tower.
To go up or not? If it's your first time and you feel like it, go for it, but book your ticket online way ahead, otherwise you'll lose two hours in line. Otherwise, honestly, the view is often nicer from below, and you can save a sunset for the Arc de Triomphe another evening.
For lunch right nearby, Auberge Bressane is a real institution. Classic French cooking, generous and comforting. The bouchée à la reine and the comté soufflé are incredible. Exactly the kind of good Parisian restaurant you imagine.
In the afternoon, head to the left bank, to Saint Germain des Prés. This is the neighborhood of writers and legendary cafés. Les Deux Magots, it's very touristy and not cheap, but a coffee on the terrasse for the atmosphere is worth it once. Otherwise just wander the little streets, the bookshops, the galleries.
Finish at the Musée d'Orsay, my favorite of all the big Paris museums. It's set in a beautiful old train station and brings together the impressionists: Monet, Renoir, Degas, Van Gogh. It's much easier to handle than the Louvre, you can do it in two or three hours without burning out. Book a time slot online to skip the line.
Day 2: Montmartre
Second day, head to Montmartre. Go up early to Sacré Cœur: the view over all of Paris from the square is one of the best, and in the morning you avoid the crowds. Then take your time getting lost in the little streets behind the basilica, that's where Montmartre is prettiest. Place du Tertre is worth a look, then the vineyard, the small squares, the pink house.
It's a real village inside the city, you feel somewhere else. The best thing is to grab a coffee somewhere and walk with no plan. Just avoid the restaurants right on the touristy squares, often expensive and average. Go down toward Abbesses instead for better food.
And if you still have energy at the end of the day, Pigalle just below has changed a lot in recent years. Plenty of bars and good spots for apéro, but be careful with your bags (also a lot of pickpockets!)
Day 3: the Louvre, the Tuileries and Île de la Cité
Time for the center. Start with the Louvre, but with a plan, because it's huge and trying to see everything is the classic mistake. Pick two or three things you really want to see: the Mona Lisa of course (even if you'll be let down by the size and the crowd, that's how it is), the Winged Victory of Samothrace at the top of the stairs which is stunning, the Venus de Milo, the Napoleon III apartments. Book your ticket with a time slot, and go in through a side entrance rather than the pyramid, you'll save time.
On your way out, cross the Jardin des Tuileries to the Orangerie, all the way at the end. It's a small museum, but Monet's Water Lilies, those huge canvases set in rooms just for them, are really worth it. And there are far fewer people.
In the afternoon, go to Île de la Cité. Sainte Chapelle is a jewel: when the sun comes through the stained glass, it's magical, my big coup de cœur in the area. Notre Dame has reopened after the fire, you can visit it again, but book your free time slot online, it gets extremely busy. Finish on Île Saint Louis right next door, and there, mandatory stop at Berthillon. The most iconic ice cream in Paris, and homemade. Locals love it too!
Day 4: le Marais
Le Marais is my favorite neighborhood to walk around with no goal. No big monument to check off here, the idea is just to take your time, stop in the shops, look at the beautiful old mansions. Start with Place des Vosges, the oldest square in Paris and one of the prettiest, with its arcades and its little park in the middle. If you want to have lunch with a view, the terrasse of Pavillon de la Reine under the arcades is gorgeous (1 Michelin-star).
The rest you do by feel: the little streets, the galleries, the concept stores, rue des Rosiers and its falafel (yes, you have to try it). For good food, Café des Musées is a great spot, their bœuf bourguignon was voted best in Paris and it deserves it.
If you want to push a little further, head up toward Montorgueil, a pedestrian street full of cafés, grocers and terrasses, always lively. One of my favorite corners to see Parisians in their everyday life, doing their shopping, having a drink after work.
Day 5: Versailles or Disneyland
For your last day, get out of Paris a bit. Two options.
Versailles, if you want grandeur and history. The château is massive, the Hall of Mirrors still impresses, and the gardens are huge (plan to walk, or rent a bike or a little golf cart to get around). Get there early in the morning, it's the most visited spot in the region and the crowds can get annoying fast. The RER C takes you straight there.
Disneyland, if you're traveling with kids or you just feel like having fun. It's about forty minutes away on the RER A, in Marne la Vallée. Count on a full day.
If you're torn and you don't have kids, I'd say Versailles without thinking twice for a first time. But if you're coming back, or you want a lighter day, Disney does the job just fine.
Where to Stay in Paris
For the neighborhood to stay in, it depends on the vibe you're after.
Le Marais (the 3rd, and the 2nd right next to it) is my first pick for a first visit: central, lively, full of restaurants and shops, you can do almost everything on foot. It's by far the most fun neighborhood.
The 11th is a great alternative, a bit cheaper, very lively at night with its bars and good tables, and well connected by metro.
The left bank (Saint Germain, the Latin Quarter, the 7th) is more residential and quiet. Perfect if you're after a calmer, more chic Paris.
A Few Things to Know Before You Go
For transport, grab a Navigo Easy card as soon as you arrive and load a book of tickets on it, it's the simplest for the metro and the RER. For getting around, Citymapper or Bonjour RATP guide you in real time, super handy.
For the good restaurants, book ahead, especially in the evening and in summer.
On safety, Paris is a safe city, but watch out for pickpockets in the metro, around the big monuments and on terrasses: never leave your phone on the table or in a back pocket. A small bag that closes and sits in front of you is ideal.
For timing, spring and early fall are the nicest. Summer can be beautiful but also very hot, and in August a lot of restaurants close because Parisians go on holiday. Worth checking before you book a specific spot.
One last thing: always keep a bit of free time in your plan. The best moments in Paris are often the ones you didn't plan.
Want to Explore More of Paris?
This itinerary gives you the essentials for a first time, but Paris has so much more to offer. I've gathered all my best addresses in my Paris Guide: where to eat, where to stay, and how to explore the city like a true Parisian. The perfect way to round out your trip, well beyond these five days.
And if you want to see all these places in action, come find me on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube @ellevousguide. I share new spots and honest reviews every week.