Itinerary · France
Paris in 5 Days: A First-Timer's Itinerary with Museum, Transit and Safety Tips
A 5-day first trip to Paris: museum booking tips, Navigo and tickets, which arrondissements to stay in, pickpocket safety and Versailles.
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Where to stay: choosing an arrondissement
Paris is divided into 20 arrondissements that spiral out from the center. For a first visit, the inner ones, 1st to 7th, put you closest to the main sights. The Marais (3rd and 4th) is walkable and packed with places to eat, Saint-Germain (6th) is elegant and calm, and the 7th is quiet and close to the Eiffel Tower but pricey.
To save money, the 11th in the east has good metro links and a local feel. The areas right around Gare du Nord and Gare de l'Est are convenient for transport but can feel rough late at night, so first-timers may prefer elsewhere. Whatever you choose, check that the hotel is within about five minutes' walk of a metro station.
Day 1: Arrive and walk the Seine
From Charles de Gaulle Airport, RER B reaches central Paris in about 35 to 50 minutes, and the airport fare is about 14 euros (about 16 USD). Orly is now linked by metro Line 14, which makes the trip into the city simpler. If you land late or carry heavy bags, official airport taxis charge a fixed fare to central Paris.
Keep day one easy: walk around Île de la Cité to see the exterior of Notre-Dame, stroll along the Seine, and finish with the Eiffel Tower at night. The tower sparkles for a few minutes at the top of each hour after dark.
Day 2: The Louvre, Tuileries and the Champs-Élysées
A timed reservation for the Louvre is effectively essential. Book a date and time slot on the official website and choose an opening slot if you want a calmer view of the Mona Lisa. The museum is closed on Tuesdays, so plan around that. Ticket prices have recently changed for visitors from outside the EU, so check the current rate on the official site.
Afterwards, walk through the Tuileries Garden to Place de la Concorde and up the Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe. The rooftop of the arch gives a great view of the avenues radiating out across the city.
Day 3: Musée d'Orsay, Saint-Germain and Sainte-Chapelle
The Musée d'Orsay is famous for its Impressionist collection and is closed on Mondays. It is much smaller than the Louvre, so two or three hours covers the highlights. A timed ticket booked in advance usually means a far shorter line.
In the afternoon, wander Saint-Germain-des-Prés, then see the stained glass of Sainte-Chapelle on Île de la Cité, which is at its best when afternoon sun streams in. Dinner in the Latin Quarter fits naturally into this route.
Day 4: Day trip to Versailles
The Palace of Versailles is about a 10-minute walk from Versailles Château Rive Gauche station on RER C, roughly 40 to 60 minutes from central Paris. It lies outside the standard metro ticket area, so make sure you buy the correct ticket. The palace is closed on Mondays, and booking a timed entry ticket in advance is strongly recommended.
See the palace interior in the morning and the vast gardens and Trianon estate in the afternoon. Wear comfortable shoes; the grounds are enormous. On some summer weekends the gardens charge admission because of fountain shows and events.
Day 5: Montmartre and departure
Spend your final morning on the hill of Montmartre and at Sacré-Cœur. Early in the day the lanes are quiet and pleasant to explore. Leave plenty of time for the airport in the afternoon, and store your luggage at the hotel or with a luggage storage service so you can move around freely.
Transit: Navigo Easy, Navigo Découverte and single tickets
Paris has largely replaced paper tickets with rechargeable cards and mobile tickets. For a short stay, the usual approach is to load single tickets onto a Navigo Easy card or buy them in the official app. A single metro or RER ticket within Paris costs about 2.50 euros.
If your stay runs Monday to Sunday, the Navigo Découverte weekly pass (roughly 30-something euros, passport-style photo required) covers the whole region, including the airports and Versailles, and can be excellent value. Fares change regularly, so check RATP and Île-de-France Mobilités before you travel.
- If you will visit many museums over several days, compare the Paris Museum Pass
- Even with a pass, some sites such as the Louvre may still require a time-slot reservation
Pickpocket safety and budget
Pickpockets concentrate around the Eiffel Tower, Sacré-Cœur and the Louvre, and on metro Line 1 and RER B. Common tricks include fake petitions, strangers tying a string bracelet onto your wrist, and someone pretending to find a gold ring on the ground. Wear your bag in front with zips closed, and never leave your phone on a café table.
Figures below use roughly 1.10 to 1.20 USD per euro and exclude flights. A mid-range central hotel costs about 150 to 280 euros per night for the room.
- Transit: about 30 to 50 euros for 5 days
- Food: about 40 to 80 euros per day
- Admissions (Louvre, Orsay, Versailles, a viewpoint): about 80 to 130 euros combined
- Total excluding accommodation: about 350 to 600 euros (about 400 to 700 USD)
Services mentioned in this article
Affiliate links. You book on each company’s official site — one travel never takes payment.
FAQ
Is the Paris Museum Pass worth it?
It can be if you visit two or three museums a day. If you only plan the Louvre, Orsay and Versailles, compare the pass price with individual tickets.
Which days are the big museums closed?
The Louvre closes on Tuesdays, and the Musée d'Orsay and the Palace of Versailles close on Mondays. There are occasional special closures, so check the official sites before booking.
Are there new entry requirements for Europe?
The EU is rolling out the Entry/Exit System (EES) and the ETIAS travel authorization. Timing and who is affected can change, so check the official EU websites for your nationality.
What should I do if I am pickpocketed?
File a report at a police station and keep a copy, which you will need for insurance claims. If your passport was taken, contact your embassy or consulate in Paris.