Paris in 5 days

The original city break, slow mornings, long lunches, and Haussmann light. Best time to visit: April-June and September-October. Average daily budget: $140 to $220 USD.

Day 1, Get oriented

Base: Le Marais, Medieval lanes, falafel, vintage shops, queer-friendly nightlife.

Morning: Musée d'Orsay first thing. Better than the Louvre for first-timers, Impressionists in two hours.

Afternoon: Explore Le Marais, Medieval lanes, falafel, vintage shops, queer-friendly nightlife.

Evening: Louvre on Wednesday or Friday night. Open till 9:45pm, half the daytime crowd, golden lighting.

Eat: Croissant at Du Pain et des Idées

Day 2, Iconic sights

Base: Saint-Germain, Literary cafés, galleries, the postcard Left Bank.

Morning: Picnic on the Seine at Pont des Arts. Bakery baguette, cheese, a €6 bottle from Nicolas.

Afternoon: Explore Saint-Germain, Literary cafés, galleries, the postcard Left Bank.

Evening: Sunset from Sacré-Cœur steps. Bring wine, watch the city light up.

Eat: Steak frites at Le Relais de l'Entrecôte

Day 3, Local neighbourhoods

Base: Canal Saint-Martin, Picnic by the water, indie boutiques, the city's chillest evenings.

Morning: Promenade Plantée, the original elevated park, before the High Line.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore Canal Saint-Martin, Picnic by the water, indie boutiques, the city's chillest evenings.

Evening: Picnic on the Seine or Canal Saint-Martin. Grab a baguette, cheese and wine from a market and post up on the riverbank or the leafy Canal Saint-Martin at golden hour, the most Parisian evening there is, for the price of groceries.

Eat: Natural wine at Septime La Cave

Day 4, Day trip or nature

Base: Montmartre, Sacré-Cœur, cobbled hills, tourist trap by day, magic at night.

Morning: Marché des Enfants Rouges, the oldest covered market in Paris.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore Montmartre, Sacré-Cœur, cobbled hills, tourist trap by day, magic at night.

Evening: Climb Montmartre for sunset. Skip the elevator lines elsewhere and wander up to Sacré-Cœur for a free panorama over the whole city. Get there before sunset, then lose yourself in the village lanes and squares behind it.

Eat: Falafel at L'As du Fallafel in the Marais

Day 5, Slow finish

Base: Belleville, Multicultural, street art, the best skyline view nobody talks about.

Morning: Square du Vert-Galant at sunset, the tip of Île de la Cité.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore Belleville, Multicultural, street art, the best skyline view nobody talks about.

Evening: Musée de la Vie Romantique, a hidden cottage museum with a tea garden.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Eat: Croissant at Du Pain et des Idées

Hidden gems

Promenade Plantée, the original elevated park, before the High Line.
Marché des Enfants Rouges, the oldest covered market in Paris.
Square du Vert-Galant at sunset, the tip of Île de la Cité.
Musée de la Vie Romantique, a hidden cottage museum with a tea garden.

Getting around

Buy a Navigo Easy card. The metro is fast but Paris is best on foot, most arrondissements are 20 minutes across. Vélib bikes are excellent along the Seine.

Safety

Generally safe. Pickpockets work the metro (line 1, 4) and Eiffel Tower area. Solo travellers, including women, are comfortable in central arrondissements at night. Avoid Gare du Nord surroundings late.

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