France · Weekend · 3 days · 14 stops
A weekend in Paris: Marais, Louvre, Montmartre
Friday night stays short and close: the Marais is quick to reach from the stations and lively in the evening. Saturday is the long day with the Louvre, the Tuileries and the view from the Arc de Triomphe, ending on a boat on the Seine. On Sunday you head up to Montmartre and finish at the Opéra, within walking distance of Gare Saint-Lazare.
In short
- Length
- Friday evening to Sunday, 14 stops
- Highlights
- Place des Vosges, Louvre, Sacré-Cœur, Île Saint-Louis, Musée de l'Orangerie
- Where to stay
- Le Marais, Saint-Germain-des-Prés
- Getting around
- Paris is good to explore on foot, and the metro gets you quickly between neighbourhoods.
- Best time to go
- April to June and September to October: pleasant temperatures, long days and fewer crowds than in high summer.
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Plan created with AI support – please check opening hours, prices and routes before you go. YesTrip editorial team · Updated: .
Friday
Arriving in the Marais
Place des Vosges
Arrive under the arcades and sit on a bench in the square for a moment before the weekend really starts.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Place des Vosgesabout 5 min on foot
Rue des Rosiers
The street in the old Jewish quarter is known for falafel – in pitta to take away or at a small table.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Rue des Rosiersabout 10 min on foot
Île Saint-Louis
An evening walk across the quiet island. From the bridge to the Île de la Cité you see the floodlit back of Notre-Dame.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Île Saint-Louis
Saturday
Louvre, Champs-Élysées and the Seine by night
Louvre
Go in with a timed ticket right at opening. Mona Lisa first, then the sculptures in the Richelieu wing at your own pace.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Louvreabout 10 min on foot
Tuileries Garden
Lunch at one of the kiosks in the garden, then pull one of the green metal chairs up to the pond.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Tuileries Gardenabout 5 min on foot
Musée de l'Orangerie
Monet's Water Lilies in two oval rooms lit by daylight. An hour is enough; a timed ticket makes sense.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Musée de l'OrangerieMetro line 1 from Concorde to Charles de Gaulle–Étoile, about 10 min – or walk up the Champs-Élysées, about 35 min.
Arc de Triomphe
Take the underpass to the arch and climb the stairs. From the top, twelve avenues radiate out like a star.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Arc de Triompheabout 20 min on foot
Trocadéro
From the terrace the Eiffel Tower stands in full height in front of you. Late afternoon light is good for photos.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Trocadéroabout 20 min on foot
Seine cruise with Bateaux Mouches
Boats leave from Pont de l'Alma. After dark you pass the lit-up bridges, Notre-Dame and the Louvre.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Seine cruise with Bateaux Mouches
Sunday
Montmartre and the Opéra
Sacré-Cœur
On Sunday mornings the basilica is often full for Mass – keep quiet inside, or enjoy the view from the steps first.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Sacré-Cœurright next door
Place du Tertre
A quick look at the painters' square, then down through the lanes towards Abbesses.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Place du Tertreabout 5 min on foot
Wall of Love
In a small garden on Place des Abbesses, 'I love you' is written in more than 250 languages on blue tiles.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Wall of Loveabout 10 min on foot
Rue des Martyrs
A street full of bakeries, cheese shops and cafés. Good for a late breakfast or a sit-down lunch.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Rue des Martyrsabout 15 min on foot
Palais Garnier
Finish inside the opera house: the staircase, the foyer and the boxes. From here it is a short way to Gare Saint-Lazare.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Palais Garnier
Good to know
Book the time slots
The Louvre, the Orangerie and the Opéra all use timed tickets. Book the Louvre first – it sells out fastest.
Sundays in Paris
Many small shops close on Sundays; bakeries and cafés in Montmartre usually don't. Check opening hours before you go.
Luggage on Friday
If you come straight off the train, drop your bag at the hotel first – the Marais lanes are narrow and busy at night.
For the best time to go, public transport and where to stay, see the 3-day plan for Paris.
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A weekend in Paris: frequently asked questions
Is a weekend in Paris worth it?
Yes, if you stick to one area per half-day. With the Louvre, the Seine and Montmartre you see the three big sides of the city.
Do I need to book the Seine cruise in advance?
Usually not – boats run regularly in the evening. In high season an online ticket saves you the queue at the ticket desk.
More plans for Paris
- One dayOne day in Paris – walking route with mapFrom the Île de la Cité along the Seine to the Eiffel Tower – with the Orsay in the afternoon and dinner on Rue Cler.
- 3 days3 days in Paris – a ready-made itineraryThe islands and the Marais, the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre and the Opéra Garnier.
- 5 days5 days in Paris with a trip to VersaillesFive days, each with its own theme: islands and Latin Quarter, art, the Left Bank, Versailles and the east of the city.
- With kidsParis with kids: 2 easy daysPushing boats in the Luxembourg, animals at the Jardin des Plantes, then the Eiffel Tower, an aquarium and fountains.
- On a budgetParis on a budget: 2 days with free museumsTwo days in Paris with churches, parks and city museums whose collections are free – plus food from bakeries and takeaways.
Plan created with AI support – please check opening hours, prices and routes before you go. Coordinates checked with Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap (Photon). Photo: Jebulon, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. More in Sources & licences. YesTrip is a trip planner, not a travel agency – nothing is booked.
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