A weekend in Paris

A Paris weekend can take in the Louvre, Notre-Dame, Sainte-Chapelle, the Eiffel Tower and Montmartre, with a cheap classic dinner every night, if you book the timed slots before you travel. The single most important planning fact: museums close on different days (the Louvre on Tuesday, Orsay and Rodin on Monday, the Orangerie on Tuesday), and the first Sunday of the month makes several of them free but very busy.

Paris in two or three days: a plan

Museums with timed slots go in the mornings, when queues are shortest; afternoons are for walking between neighbourhoods along the Seine; evenings for a view and a bouillon. Book the Louvre, Sainte-Chapelle and the Eiffel Tower before you travel, and check closing days before you swap days around.

1. Day 1: the Louvre, Île de la Cité and the Eiffel Tower at dusk

   • Morning

     Take the 9:00 slot at the Louvre (book on ticket.louvre.fr at least a week ahead) and enter by the Carrousel or Porte des Lions. Go to the Mona Lisa first, then the quieter Richelieu wing. Allow three hours, then walk out through the Tuileries.

     Full guide on Sightsale →

   • Afternoon

     Walk east along the Seine to Île de la Cité (20 minutes). Book a Sainte-Chapelle slot for about 14:30 and queue for security 20–30 minutes ahead. Then cross to Notre-Dame, free to enter (reserve a free slot on the cathedral's own site to skip the wait). Finish with a Berthillon sorbet on Île Saint-Louis (usually closed Monday and Tuesday).

     Full guide on Sightsale →

   • Evening

     RER C from Saint-Michel Notre-Dame to Champ de Mars–Tour Eiffel. Take an evening summit slot (booked on ticket.toureiffel.paris, open to 23:00 in October) to see the city lights, or skip it and watch the tower sparkle from Trocadéro. Dinner: Bouillon Chartier Montparnasse or a bistro in the 7th.

     Full guide on Sightsale →

2. Day 2: Orsay, Saint-Germain, the Marais and Montmartre

   • Morning

     Musée d'Orsay at 9:30 with an online ticket (closed Monday; free on the first Sunday of the month with a booked slot). Two to three hours for the Impressionists on the 5th floor. Then walk ten minutes to Saint-Germain for coffee or a croque monsieur at Café de Flore or Les Deux Magots.

   • Afternoon

     Metro to the Marais: Place des Vosges, then lunch at the Marché des Enfants Rouges (open Sunday until 17:00) or a falafel at L'As du Fallafel on rue des Rosiers (open Sunday, closed Saturday). Walk west through the covered Galerie Vivienne if the weather turns.

   • Evening

     Metro to Anvers or Pigalle and walk up to Sacré-Cœur for the view at sunset (basilica open until 22:30, free). Dinner at Bouillon Pigalle on boulevard de Clichy, open to midnight every day.

3. With a third day: Versailles, or Monet's Giverny

   • Morning

     RER C to Versailles Château Rive Gauche (about 45 minutes, €2.55) for a 9:00 Palace slot booked on ticket.chateauversailles.fr. Go straight to the Hall of Mirrors. Versailles is closed on Monday; on a Monday go to Giverny instead (open daily until 1 November 2026) or, after that, Chantilly (closed Tuesday).

     Full guide on Sightsale →

   • Afternoon

     The gardens and the Trianon estate (opens at 12:00), using the little train if your feet are tired. Back in Paris by late afternoon, or stay for the gardens until closing.

     Full guide on Sightsale →

   • Evening

     A special dinner: Le Train Bleu in the Gare de Lyon station buffet (open daily, book on its own site), or Septime in the 11th on a weekday (bookings open 21 days ahead at 10:00).

What to see in Paris

The big sights

• Museum

  Musée du Louvre

  The world's most visited museum: the Mona Lisa, the Winged Victory, the Venus de Milo, Napoleon III's apartments. Three to four hours for the highlights; pick a route rather than trying to see it all.

  Tip: Book the 9:00 slot and go to the Mona Lisa first. Every exit is final, so eat in the museum. Morning slots go about a week ahead.

  Price

  €32 non-EEA visitors; €22 EEA citizens and residents; free under 18 and EEA residents under 26; free after 18:00 on the first Friday (not July–August)

  Book ahead

  At least a week for morning slots; dates open about three months ahead

  Full guide on Sightsale →Official site (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026

• Landmark

  Eiffel Tower

  The 330-metre iron tower of 1889. The summit gives the widest view; the second floor is the better view of the city's landmarks. Allow 1.5 hours for the second floor, 2.5 with the summit, plus security.

  Tip: Decide on the summit when you book: a second-floor ticket cannot be upgraded on the day. Stairs tickets are cheaper and easier to find at short notice.

  Price

  Summit by lift €36.70; second floor by lift €23.50, by stairs €14.80; ages 12–24 half price

  Book ahead

  Up to 60–90 days ahead; summer summit slots sell out first

  Full guide on Sightsale →Official site (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026

• Church

  Notre-Dame de Paris

  The Gothic cathedral reopened in December 2024 after the 2019 fire, its stone and glass cleaned and its interior restored. The nave is free; the treasury in the sacristy and the climb up the towers (424 steps, no lift) are paid.

  Tip: Entry is always free: never buy a cathedral 'ticket'. A free time slot on notredamedeparis.fr (the only site taking reservations) skips the wait. Tower tickets are sold only online, on the towers' own CMN site, with no sales on site.

  Price

  Cathedral free; towers €16 (free under 18, EU 18–25 and with the Museum Pass, slot compulsory); treasury €12

  Book ahead

  Cathedral slot optional but advised; towers book ahead, slots are limited

  Official site (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026

• Church

  Sainte-Chapelle

  Louis IX's royal chapel of the 1240s, whose upper chapel is almost all stained glass. Forty-five minutes to an hour inside, plus the Palais de Justice security queue.

  Tip: Book a morning slot on a sunny day and go straight up the spiral stair to the upper chapel. The twin ticket with the Conciergerie next door saves €5.

  Price

  €22 non-EEA; €16 EEA citizens and residents; free under 18 and EU 18–25; twin ticket with the Conciergerie €30 (€23 EEA)

  Book ahead

  As soon as your dates are fixed

  Full guide on Sightsale →Official site (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026

• Museum

  Musée d'Orsay

  Impressionism in a Belle Époque railway station: Monet, Renoir, Degas, Van Gogh and Cézanne, with the Impressionist galleries on the 5th floor beside the great clock window. Two to three hours.

  Tip: Thursday is late opening until 21:45, with a cheaper ticket from 18:00. The reception areas are being renovated from 10 March 2026 until summer 2028, so check the access conditions on the museum's site. Only buy on billetterie.musee-orsay.fr: the museum warns about fake booking sites.

  Price

  €16 online, €14 at the museum; Thursday after 18:00 €12 online; free under 18 and EU/EEA 18–25; free for all on the first Sunday with a booked slot

  Book ahead

  A few days for weekends; a timed slot is required for first Sundays and Museum Pass holders

  Official site (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026

• Museum

  Musée de l'Orangerie

  Two oval rooms built for Monet's eight Water Lilies panels, plus the Walter-Guillaume collection of Renoir, Cézanne, Picasso and Modigliani downstairs. An hour, more with the exhibition. Until 25 January 2027 it shows 'Monet, painting time' for the centenary of his death.

  Tip: The museum warns of long waits during the Monet exhibition and strongly advises a timed slot online. It is closed on Tuesday and open until 21:00 on Fridays during exhibitions, with a cheaper ticket after 18:00.

  Price

  €12.50 online, €11 at the museum; Friday night €10; Orsay + Orangerie combined €20 (at the museum); free for all on the first Sunday with a booked slot

  Book ahead

  Book a slot, especially at weekends until January 2027

  Official site (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026

• Church

  Sacré-Cœur and Montmartre

  The white basilica on the Montmartre hill, with one of the classic free views over Paris from its steps. The dome climb gives a 360-degree panorama. Allow an hour for the basilica and dome, longer to wander the village streets around Place du Tertre.

  Tip: Between 10:30 and 17:00 expect a 10–15 minute wait to get in. The dome (280 steps, no lift) is a separate ticket bought on site in the moat to the left after security; it closes at midday for a break.

  Price

  Basilica free; dome €8 adults, €5 up to age 15

  Book ahead

  No booking needed or possible for the dome

  Official site (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026

• Viewpoint

  Arc de Triomphe

  Napoleon's arch at the top of the Champs-Élysées, with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier beneath it (free) and a roof terrace looking down the twelve avenues of the Étoile. About an hour.

  Tip: Open until 22:30 from October to March (last entry 45 minutes before), so it works as an evening view after dinner. Reach it by the underpass, never across the roundabout.

  Price

  €16 October–March; €22 April–September (€16 on Wednesdays); free under 18, EU 18–25 and on the first Sunday of January–March, November and December

  Book ahead

  Not usually needed; e-tickets on the CMN site

  Official site (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026

• Museum

  Musée Rodin

  The Hôtel Biron, where Rodin worked, with The Kiss and Camille Claudel's The Waltz inside and The Thinker, The Gates of Hell and The Burghers of Calais in the sculpture garden. Ninety minutes, longer if you sit in the garden café.

  Tip: Free on the first Sunday of each month from October to March, with no booking needed. Closed Monday. Large bags and suitcases are refused.

  Price

  €14; Rodin + Orsay combined ticket €25

  Book ahead

  Not needed

  Official site (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026

Hidden gems

• Museum

  Musée de la Vie romantique

  Hidden gem

  A painter's house of the 1830s at the end of a cobbled lane in the 9th, where George Sand and Chopin came to visit, with portraits, Sand's mementos and a small garden. Forty-five minutes, plus tea.

  Tip: The permanent collections are free with no booking. The Rose Bakery tea room in the greenhouse is open Tuesday to Sunday until 17:30 and takes no reservations; go mid-afternoon on a weekday.

  Price

  Free (temporary exhibitions paid)

  Book ahead

  Not needed

  Official site (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026

• Museum

  Musée Jacquemart-André

  Hidden gem

  A Second Empire mansion on boulevard Haussmann built for a collector couple, with their Italian Renaissance paintings, French 18th-century rooms and a grand staircase. Until 24 January 2027 the exhibition 'Timeless Tintoretto' is included in the ticket.

  Tip: Open every day, until 22:00 on Fridays. Online tickets give a 15-minute slot during exhibitions. The Le Nélie tea room serves a weekend brunch from 11:00 to 14:30.

  Price

  €19 (with the exhibition); €10 ages 7–18; €16 ages 19–25

  Book ahead

  A day or two for weekend afternoons during the exhibition

  Official site (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026

• Neighbourhood

  Galerie Vivienne and the covered passages

  Hidden gem

  The glass-roofed shopping arcades of the early 19th century, between the Palais-Royal and the Grands Boulevards. Galerie Vivienne (1823, a listed monument since 1974) has 56 shops, among them a tea room, a wine cellar and an antiquarian bookshop. Walk on to Passage des Panoramas and Passage Jouffroy.

  Tip: Ideal for a rainy hour between the Louvre and Bouillon Chartier on the Grands Boulevards, ten minutes' walk north.

  Price

  Free

  Book ahead

  Not needed

  Official site (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026

• Park

  Coulée verte René-Dumont

  Hidden gem

  A 4.5-kilometre planted walk on a disused railway line from the Bastille to the Bois de Vincennes, first along the top of a viaduct above Avenue Daumesnil, then through tunnels and cuttings. The arches below hold craftsmen's workshops (the Viaduc des Arts).

  Tip: Start near the Bastille and walk the viaduct section, then drop down to the Marché d'Aligre (mornings, closed Monday). It closes at 19:30 until 24 October 2026, then at 17:45 from 25 October to the end of February.

  Price

  Free

  Book ahead

  Not needed

  Official site (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026

• Garden

  Père-Lachaise Cemetery

  Hidden gem

  A hillside city of tombs and chestnut trees in the 20th, where Chopin, Molière, Oscar Wilde, Édith Piaf and Jim Morrison are buried. One to two hours with a map.

  Tip: Free and open every day (until 18:00 to 5 November 2026, earlier in winter). The tomb of Héloïse and Abélard is under restoration until August 2027. The main gate is near Philippe Auguste and Père Lachaise metro stations.

  Price

  Free

  Book ahead

  Not needed

  Official site (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026

Day trips from Paris

• Versailles

  Louis XIV's palace: the Hall of Mirrors and the State Apartments, then the gardens, the Grand and Petit Trianon and Marie-Antoinette's Hamlet. Two to three hours for the Palace, a full day for everything.

  Getting there

  RER C to Versailles Château Rive Gauche, about 45 minutes from central stops such as Saint-Michel Notre-Dame or Musée d'Orsay, then a 10-minute walk. One Metro-Train-RER ticket (€2.55) covers it each way. Check for weekend engineering works on line C.

  Tip

  Buy the Passport on ticket.chateauversailles.fr (€35, €32 EEA, to the end of October; €25, €22 EEA, from November to March) for a timed Palace slot, and queue for security about 30 minutes before it. Closed Mondays.

  Full guide on Sightsale →ticket.chateauversailles.fr (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026

• Giverny (Monet's house and gardens)

  The pink house where Monet lived from 1883 to 1926, his flower garden (the Clos Normand) and the water garden with the Japanese bridge and the lily pond he painted. One and a half to two hours on site. Open only from 1 April to 1 November: in 2026 the season ends on Sunday 1 November.

  Getting there

  Train from Paris Saint-Lazare to Vernon-Giverny, about 45–60 minutes direct and roughly hourly, with fares from about €10 when booked ahead (Trainline, October 2026); buy on SNCF Connect. Then the Vernon–Giverny shuttle bus, €5 one way or €10 return, or rent a bike at Vernon station.

  Eat

  Lunch at Les Nymphéas, the restaurant opposite Monet's house, open daily during the season (until 1 November 2026).

  Tip

  Book the €13 ticket online: once the online quota is gone, the museum warns of long waits on site, and there is no skip-the-line access. Weekends and the last weeks of the season are busiest.

  claudemonetgiverny.fr (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026

• Chantilly

  A château with the Duc d'Aumale's collection of paintings, grounds with an Anglo-Chinese garden and a rustic hamlet, and the Great Stables with equestrian demonstrations. Half a day to a day.

  Getting there

  Train from Paris Gare du Nord to Chantilly-Gouvieux, 25 minutes on main-line trains (45 minutes on RER D). A 'TER + 1 day ticket' pack (€27) bundles the return train and entry. From the station, a free shuttle leaves from platform A1, or walk about 25 minutes.

  Eat

  Try Chantilly whipped cream at Le Hameau in the park's rustic hamlet, or eat at La Capitainerie in the château's old kitchens.

  Tip

  Closed on Tuesdays. Tickets are now timed and booking a slot is mandatory (€21, €17.50 ages 7–25). The 'Kalendae' equestrian show runs until 1 November 2026.

  chateaudechantilly.fr (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026

Where to eat in Paris

Parisians lunch from about 12:30 and dine from 20:00; most bistros serve only at set hours, while bouillons and big cafés serve all day. The classics are steak frites or steak au poivre, onion soup, croque monsieur, a buttery croissant and a baguette 'tradition'. Bouillons are the cheapest proper sit-down meal; book bistros and starred places ahead, queue for the falafel.

• Restaurant (classic)

  €

  Bouillon Chartier

  Grands Boulevards (9th), also Montparnasse and Gare de l'Est

  The original bouillon, opened in 1896 under the motto 'a proper meal for a modest sum': classic French dishes, served fast in a big old dining room. Starters from €1, mains from €7, desserts from €2; a full meal comes to under €20.

  Booking: No reservations; open every day 11:30–midnight non-stop. Expect a queue at 20:00; go at 18:30 or after 22:00.

  bouillon-chartier.com (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026

• Restaurant (classic)

  €

  Bouillon Pigalle

  Pigalle (18th), also République

  A newer bouillon on boulevard de Clichy at the foot of Montmartre, with the same idea: French classics at low prices. Handy for dinner after Sacré-Cœur.

  Booking: Open every day 12:00–midnight (République from 11:30); book on its own site to skip the queue.

  bouillonlesite.com (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026

• Historic café

  €€

  Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots

  Saint-Germain-des-Prés (6th)

  The two cafés of Sartre and Beauvoir face each other across the boulevard Saint-Germain. You pay for the terrace and the history: at the Flore an espresso is €5.50, a hot chocolate €10.50, a croque monsieur €14. Les Deux Magots opens 7:30–1:00.

  Booking: No booking; sit down and order. Early morning is calmest.

  cafedeflore.fr (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026

• Ice cream

  €

  Berthillon

  Île Saint-Louis (4th)

  The ice-cream maker on Île Saint-Louis since 1954, best known for its sorbets (try a fruit sorbet with a scoop of salted caramel). The queue can be long; several cafés on the island sell its ices too.

  Booking: No booking. Listed in 2026 as open Wednesday to Sunday 10:00–20:00 and closed Monday and Tuesday; its own website was offline in October 2026, so check before a special trip.

  fr.gaultmillau.com (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026

• Bakery

  €

  Le Fournil Didot

  Plaisance (14th)

  Winner of the City of Paris Grand Prix for the best baguette in February 2026, chosen from 143 entries. Ask for a 'tradition'. Closer to the sights, Boulangerie Laurent B. at 112 rue Saint-Dominique (7th, near the Eiffel Tower) placed fifth.

  Booking: No booking; 103 rue Didot.

  paris.fr (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026

• Bistro

  €€€

  Le Bistrot Paul Bert

  Faidherbe-Chaligny (11th)

  A classic Paris bistro in the 11th whose signature dish is the steak au poivre: the place to have the dish Paris bistros are known for.

  Booking: Phone bookings only (+33 1 43 72 24 01). Open Tuesday to Saturday, lunch 12:00–14:00 and dinner 19:30–23:00; closed Sunday and Monday.

  bistrotpaulbert.fr (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026

• Bistro

  €€

  Chez Janou

  Marais (3rd), near Place des Vosges

  A neighbourhood bistro a few steps from Place des Vosges, known for its long list of pastis. A relaxed dinner after a Marais afternoon.

  Booking: Open daily for lunch and dinner; book for weekend evenings.

  chezjanou.com (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026

• Street food

  €

  L'As du Fallafel

  Marais (4th), rue des Rosiers

  A kosher falafel shop on rue des Rosiers since 1979: a fluffy pita stuffed with at least six crisp falafel balls. You order and pay while you queue; the takeaway queue on the left moves faster than the sit-down room.

  Booking: No booking. Listed in 2026 as open Sunday to Thursday 11:00–midnight and Friday until about 17:00; always closed on Saturday for Shabbat.

  theinfatuation.com (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026

• Market

  €

  Marché des Enfants Rouges

  Haut-Marais (3rd), 39 rue de Bretagne

  A small covered market in the upper Marais whose food stalls serve lunch at shared tables. A good Sunday lunch, since it stays open until 17:00 when many restaurants close.

  Booking: No booking. Tuesday to Saturday 8:30–20:30 (Thursday to 21:30), Sunday 8:30–17:00, closed Monday. Arrive before 12:30 at weekends.

  paris.fr (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026

• Market

  €

  Marché d'Aligre

  Aligre (12th), near Ledru-Rollin

  An open-air street market of fruit, vegetables and flowers on rue d'Aligre, with the covered Marché Beauvau beside it. Pick up cheese and bread for a picnic on the Coulée verte, a few minutes' walk away.

  Booking: Tuesday to Friday 7:30–13:30, Saturday and Sunday 7:30–14:30, closed Monday.

  paris.fr (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026

• Restaurant (Michelin star)

  €€€€

  Septime

  Charonne (11th)

  One Michelin star in the 2026 guide for modern, creative cooking. Set menus only: five courses at lunch €85, seven at dinner €135, wine pairings €60/€75 extra.

  Booking: Weekdays only (Monday to Friday). Reservations open every day at 10:00 for the next 21 days; be online at 10:00.

  septime-charonne.fr (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026

• Restaurant (classic)

  €€€€

  Le Train Bleu

  Gare de Lyon (12th)

  The historic station buffet inside the Gare de Lyon, a grand dining room serving classic French dishes, with meat carved and flambéed at the table. The lounge bar (from 7:30) lets you see the room for the price of a drink.

  Booking: Open daily, lunch 11:15–14:30 and dinner 19:00–22:30. Book only on its own site or TheFork: it warns of fraudulent booking sites.

  le-train-bleu.com (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026

Where to stay in Paris for a weekend

For a first weekend, stay central so you can walk home: the Marais or Saint-Germain for atmosphere, the area near the Louvre and the Grands Boulevards for convenience. Montmartre and the Canal Saint-Martin are cheaper but 15–20 minutes by metro from the centre.

The best areas

• Le Marais (3rd/4th)

  Mansions, Place des Vosges, falafel and boutiques, open on Sundays when much of Paris shuts. Walkable to Notre-Dame, the Louvre and the Bastille. Suits couples and first-timers; lively at night.

• Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the Latin Quarter (6th/5th)

  Cafés, bookshops and the Luxembourg Gardens, a walk from Orsay, Notre-Dame and Sainte-Chapelle, with the RER B direct from CDG at Saint-Michel. Quieter evenings, higher hotel prices.

• Montmartre and Pigalle (18th/9th)

  Village streets on the hill, Sacré-Cœur and the bouillons, with more affordable hotels. Hilly, and 15–20 minutes by metro from the Louvre; Pigalle is busy at night.

• Canal Saint-Martin and Gare du Nord (10th)

  Budget base by the canal's footbridges and bars, with the RER B to CDG and trains to Chantilly at Gare du Nord. Less polished; the streets right around the stations are rough at night.

Hotels with character

• Canal Saint-Martin (10th)

  €

  Generator Paris

  A design hostel near the canal and Gare du Nord with private rooms as well as dorms, and a lively bar. For budget travellers who still want a private room.

  from €110 a night (private room for two, midweek November); about €186 on a Friday

  staygenerator.com (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026

• Les Gobelins (13th)

  €€

  Hôtel Henriette

  A small boutique hotel in the 13th, rated 9.1 by Booking.com guests, a few metro stops from the Latin Quarter. For travellers who want character at a mid-range price.

  from €220 a night (double, midweek November); about €256 on a Friday

  hotelhenriette.com (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026

• Marais (3rd), Place des Vosges

  €€€€

  Le Pavillon de la Reine & Spa

  A hotel with a spa set back from the arcades of Place des Vosges, the 17th-century square at the heart of the Marais. For a romantic weekend.

  from €762 a night (double, November weekday or Sunday); about €1,025 on a Saturday

  pavillon-de-la-reine.com (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026

• Montmartre (18th), avenue Junot

  €€€€

  Hôtel Particulier Montmartre

  A family mansion on avenue Junot, billed as the 'French Château Marmont', with its own restaurant and bar. The opposite of a chain hotel, a short walk from Sacré-Cœur.

  from €818 a night (suite for two, Sunday in November); about €1,046 on a Friday or Saturday

  hotelparticulier.com (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026

• Tuileries (1st), rue de Rivoli

  €€€€

  Le Meurice

  A Dorchester Collection palace hotel on rue de Rivoli facing the Tuileries Garden, between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde. For the classic grand-hotel weekend.

  from €1,562 a night (double, midweek November)

  dorchestercollection.com (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026

Paris passes, free days and deals

• Paris Museum Pass

  €85 for 2 days, €105 for 4, €125 for 6, counted in hours from the first visit (a 2-day pass started at 15:00 on Wednesday runs to 15:00 on Friday). Covers more than 50 sites, including the Louvre, Orsay, the Arc de Triomphe, the Notre-Dame towers, Versailles and Fontainebleau, but not the Eiffel Tower. The official site says it saves money from the 4th visit on the 2-day pass. Louvre, Orsay and Notre-Dame towers still need a free timed reservation.

  parismuseumpass.fr (opens in a new tab) · as of October 2026

• Free first Sundays

  Free for everyone on the first Sunday of the month: Orsay and the Orangerie (all year, timed slot required), Rodin and Fontainebleau (Rodin October–March; Fontainebleau except July–August), the Arc de Triomphe, the Notre-Dame towers and Sainte-Chapelle (January–March, November, December), Versailles (December–March). Sunday 1 November 2026 is also All Saints' Day: expect crowds. The Louvre's free time is the first Friday evening instead.

  musee-orsay.fr (opens in a new tab) · as of October 2026

• Free under 18, and under 26 for EEA residents

  National museums and monuments (Louvre, Orsay, Orangerie, Sainte-Chapelle, Arc de Triomphe, Notre-Dame towers, Versailles) are free under 18 for any nationality and for EU/EEA citizens and residents aged 18–25. UK, US and other non-EEA under-26s pay full price. Bring ID and book the free slot.

  paris-arc-de-triomphe.fr (opens in a new tab) · as of October 2026

• Combined tickets

  Orsay + Orangerie €20 (at the museum), Orsay + Rodin €25 (valid three months, no reservation), Sainte-Chapelle + Conciergerie €30 (€23 EEA). Giverny sells a combined ticket with the Orangerie for €25.50 on site.

  musee-rodin.fr (opens in a new tab) · as of October 2026

• Transport: single tickets or a day pass

  Since the 2025 fare reform there are no discounted 10-ticket packs. A Metro-Train-RER ticket is €2.55 for any journey in the region except the airports (Versailles included); bus and tram €2.05. The Navigo day pass is €12.30 and pays off from five metro rides. The Paris Visite tourist pass (from €30.60) rarely beats these for a weekend.

  bonjour-ratp.fr (opens in a new tab) · as of October 2026

Getting around Paris

• From Charles de Gaulle: RER B to Gare du Nord, Châtelet or Saint-Michel, about 40 minutes to Châtelet, on the €14 'Paris Region <> Airports' ticket. Taxis charge a fixed fare, reported in the French travel press as €56 to the Right Bank and €65 to the Left Bank under a decree of December 2025, plus a booking fee if you order one; take them only from the official rank. Roissybus tickets are no longer sold.
• From Orly: Metro line 14 runs direct to central Paris (Châtelet, Pyramides for the Louvre) in under 40 minutes, also on the €14 airport ticket; the Orlyval shuttle to the RER B at Antony takes 8 minutes.
• Metro, RER and buses: a Metro-Train-RER ticket costs €2.55 (€1.30 for ages 4–9) and is valid for two hours without leaving the network, anywhere in the region except the airports. Load tickets onto a Navigo Easy card (€2 at any station ticket desk, one card per person) or into the IDF Mobilités or Bonjour RATP app. Bus and tram tickets (€2.05) are separate.
• Day pass: the Navigo day pass (€12.30) gives unlimited rides for one day and loads onto the Navigo Easy card. The weekly pass runs Monday to Sunday only and needs a €5 Navigo Découverte card with a photo, so it rarely suits a weekend.
• Walking: the centre from the Louvre to Notre-Dame and Saint-Germain is all within 20–25 minutes on foot along the Seine, often faster than the metro with its long corridors.

Tips and tricks

Gathered from travel forums, locals and the sight’s own advice, rewritten in our own words. What worked for others, not a guarantee.

1. Get a physical Navigo Easy card

   Visitors in early 2026 reported the phone app failing at the metro gates several times in a week. A €2 card per person, loaded at a ticket desk, shows the tickets left on the gate display and is quicker. Never walk through an open gate without validating: inspectors fine on the spot.

   From Rick Steves France forum, February 2026

2. Keep airport tickets on a separate card

   A Navigo Easy card cannot hold the €14 airport ticket alongside unused metro tickets. Use up the metro tickets first, or carry a second card for the airport run.

   From Rick Steves France forum, February 2026

3. Ignore old advice about carnets and zones

   Since January 2025 there are no discounted packs of ten, and the RER is no longer priced by distance: one €2.55 ticket reaches Versailles or Disneyland. Much of what is online and in older guidebooks is out of date.

   From Rick Steves France forum, February 2026; RATP fares page, 2026

4. Check closing days before you shuffle the plan

   The Louvre closes on Tuesday, Orsay, Rodin and the Vie romantique on Monday, the Orangerie and Chantilly on Tuesday, Versailles on Monday. A Monday is good for the Louvre, the Orangerie, Jacquemart-André and Giverny.

   From Official museum opening-hours pages, 2026

5. Book the Louvre morning slots a week ahead

   In early October 2026 the official calendar had no morning slots for the next five days and the 9:00 slot was gone ten days out, while afternoon slots were still free the next day.

   From ticket.louvre.fr booking calendar, October 2026

6. Do the Museum Pass sums first

   Forum regulars point out that the 2-day pass is a 48-hour window and does not skip security or the need for timed slots. Add up the full prices of what you will really see; with only one or two paid museums, single tickets are cheaper.

   From Rick Steves France forum, 2024–2026

7. The Centre Pompidou is closed until 2030

   The Beaubourg building closed in 2025 for renovation; its collections are shown at partner venues in the meantime, including the Grand Palais ('Cezanne and us' until 17 January 2027). Don't plan a visit to the building itself.

   From centrepompidou.fr, 2026

Scams and problems to watch for

• Friendship bracelets on the Sacré-Cœur steps

  A widely reported trick at the foot of the Montmartre steps: men tie a string bracelet round your wrist "as a gift", then demand money and block your way. The tell-tale sign is someone reaching for your hand; keep your hands in your pockets and walk straight past, or take the funicular up.

• The found gold ring

  A long-running trick reported along the Seine and near the Tuileries: someone "finds" a gold ring on the ground beside you, offers it to you and then asks for money. The ring is worthless. Say no and keep walking.

• Petition and 'deaf charity' clipboards

  Young people with clipboards ask 'Do you speak English?' and want a signature, then a donation; the clipboard can also cover a hand going into your bag. Common around the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, the Louvre and the bridges. Don't stop or sign.

• The shell game

  Three cups or cards on a cardboard box on the paths around the Eiffel Tower and the bridges. The 'winners' are part of the team and you will lose; the watching crowd is where pockets get picked. Don't stop to watch.

• Pickpockets on metro line 1 and the RER

  Line 1 (Louvre, Champs-Élysées, Bastille), the RER B from the airports and the RER C to Versailles are crowded and busy with pickpockets, especially at the doors when trains stop. Keep phones and wallets in a zipped front pocket and be wary of anyone pressing close.

• Unofficial taxis at the airport

  Drivers approaching you in the arrivals hall offering a "taxi" are not licensed and overcharge. Licensed taxis wait at the signed ranks outside and charge the fixed fare (reported as €56 to the Right Bank and €65 to the Left Bank from CDG in 2026).

Questions people ask about a weekend in Paris