As the founder of En Route to Rêverie I have helped hundreds of people plan a trip to Paris via Rêverie in Paris. Paris is a huge city with so much to offer. World class works of arts, iconic monuments, beautiful parks and don’t even get me started on the food. I have so many favorite bites in this city!
But as such, it can be rather overwhelming to plan a trip to Paris or determine how many days you need in Paris. And of course, like any other major city, Paris is always changing. The city is home to loads of new restaurants, ever changing exhibitions and plenty of newness that is being introduced.
How Many Days Do You Need In Paris
How many days you need in Paris really depends on your travel style, whether you’ve been to Paris before, the time of year and who you are going with. If it’s your First Time to Paris you should plan for at least four days but a week is usually best. If you’re combining Paris with another destination in France, you may want to try for two to three nights in Paris first or at the end of your trip if you’re flying out of Charles de Gaulle.
I’ve been to Paris countless times and I can easily spend weeks there and still fill my days so trust me when I say there is no shortage of things to see, eat and do while you’re in Paris. While we all love the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, there’s so much more in Paris to explore and I have loved watching the city change over the years.
In recent years there has also been a proliferation of social media sharing the same, tired or very mediocre places in Paris. So many people end up doing things that leave them disappointed or they don’t know how to best prepare and enjoy Paris. This was one of many reasons I began working with clients to help them plan their trip to Paris and eventually founded En Route to Rêverie.
I don’t believe any two trips to Paris should be the same and I think it’s hard to find someone on the internet with a one-and-done PDF guide whose opinion and more importantly, taste you can trust.
Paris Itinerary
As a sampling, see below to get a sense of how you could spend a few days in Paris. For our En Route to Rêverie our itinerary days are much more detailed. We plan days from sun up to sun down for your time in Paris and share efficient ways to cover ground. So often we see unrealistic “itineraries” for a single day in Paris that would never be feasible to accomplish.
Rather, we want our clients to ensure they are seeing what they want to see while also getting to really enjoy the city and feel like they are on vacation.
Day One
See the major sites and get acclimated. Prioritize what you most want to see and do but don’t try and do too much on your first day as you’ll have jet lag. The Left Bank is home to Saint Germain and the Champ de Mars and of course the beautiful Luxembourg Gardens and can be a nice introduction to Paris.
Day Two
Explore the Marais. There is so much to see and do in Le Marais. We love sending our En Route to Rêverie clients to our favorite parks, gardens, shops and coffee spots in this area when we plan the day for them.
We also arrange food tours and walking tours if clients are interested and have a whole list of favorite restaurants in this neighborhood, too.
Or, for example, if you’re an art lover, we can arrange for you to be guided to all the best galleries in the neighborhood, too.
Day Three
Shop and do a special experience! No trip to Paris is complete without some good shopping. Whether you want to shop at the iconic La Grande Épicerie in Paris or buy Designer Bags in Paris, there is no shortage of shopping to explore.
For our En Route to Rêverie clients we also provide an up to date shopping directory broken down by arrondissement as well as Google Map to help plot and plan where to find the best brands and local shops.
As for a special experience? Whether it is a behind the scenes tour at the Opera, after hour access to the Arc de Triomphe or a bespoke wine and cheese pairing, we can arrange all sorts of special experiences for our En Route to Rêverie clients and we love doing so.
We work with some of the best operators for guided tours and special experiences to make your trip super memorable.
Day Four
Head to the Palace of Versailles. Visiting the Chateau which is about 40 minutes outside of Paris is well worth it but you’ll need to dedicate a full day for it.
If you’d like a private tour, my En Route to Rêverie atelier can arrange this for you. It is well worth it as you’ll get to experience less crowds and see parts of the Chateau that are usually closed to the public in some cases.
. . .
If you’re someone who would like help to really maximize your time in Paris and would benefit from Paris itineraries that will slot in your priorities along with insider recommendations, my travel atelier’s Rêverie in Paris Premiere Plans would be perfect for you.
We tailor the Paris itineraries entirely to how you want to explore Paris based on a variety of factors. We consider things like the group you’re with, how long you’ll be in Paris, your budget, your preferences, your dietary restrictions and more.
Our team aims to help you visit Paris in the very best way possible.
And need help with a stay in Paris? My Atelier is connected with the best hotels in the city and can help you find the perfect hotel or apartment for your time in Paris. We often get wonderful VIP Perks at the top hotels in Paris, too which can make the time you spend in Paris all the more special and memorable.
The city of light has so much to offer and a few days can absolutely give you a great taste of Paris and its many tourist attractions.
If you’ve been to Paris before and don’t feel you need to have too much time there on a return trip, one to two nights before you fly in or out of Charles de Gaulle can be really perfect.
A lot of our En Route to Rêverie clients combine Paris with a day trip or overnight to Champagne or Normandy. I personally love to combine a couple nights in Paris with time spent in Provence or the French Riviera.
The South of France is truly so magical and I would go every year if I could. (I try to!)
You could also consider pairing a few nights in Paris with a few nights in the Loire Valley. It’s not far from Paris but the castles and beautiful landscapes hold plenty to explore.
Paris also pairs well with other cities outside of France, too of course. One of our most popular trips we plan for En Route to Rêverie clientele is a Paris and London trip combo. The Eurostar makes it so easy to go between the two.
You could also easily combine Paris with Barcelona, Rome or Amsterdam. Flying within Europe is often rather inexpensive so adding another city can be a fun way to get a dose of French culture and then pair something else with that.
If you need help with what to pack for Paris as you plan your trip, don’t miss my packing lists for Paris.
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