Should I spend 1 or 2 weeks in Paris?
Should you spend 1 or 2 weeks in Paris?
Many visitors spend at least 3 or as many as 7 days in Paris during their trip. If you're not sure how much time you might need here, we have the answers because your journey calls for making the most of every moment. The city offers the chance to spend time at the museums, discover the big city activities, take in a show, and sample the delicious cuisine.
Paris is not only the capital city of France, but it is one of Europe's most iconic cities. For many visitors, its a dream destination that is filled with wide boulevards, charming cafes, and world class landmarks. The food is widely recognized as some of the best in the world. The city sits along the River Seine, and a stroll down the river at night is a quintessential Parisian experience.
Do you have one or two weeks to visit Paris? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one week enough time in Paris?
One week is more than sufficient for an in-depth trip to Paris, giving you the freedom to set your own pace. Enjoy the chance to spend time at the museums, discover the big city activities, take in a show, and sample the delicious cuisine on your own schedule. Then, unwind at your hotel or use Paris as a hub for some nice day trips in the surrounding area.
How to spend a week in Paris
When visiting Paris, you can't miss the Eiffel Tower as it's one of the most famous places in the world. Make sure you give yourself enough time to enjoy it.
Don't miss an evening at the theater while in town. Whether it's a musical, opera, ballet, or a famous Broadway-style production, Paris is known for its wide range of shows. There are world class theaters as well as smaller local venues where you can enjoy a show.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Private Art Nouveau and Art Deco tour near Opera ($142)
- Private Opera Garnier Theater 2-Hour Tour in Paris ($103)
- Admission ticket Arsène Lupine and the secret of the Opera ($31)
Paris is a very walkable city. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble exploring the local sights. Some streets can feel a bit overwhelming, but there are many parts of the city that are easily explored on foot.
Paris is home to renowned museums and iconic landmarks, so dive into the city's famous attractions. The city's historical sites rank among the most awe-inspiring globally. One of the most world famous landmarks is the Eiffel Tower. The city is also home to the world renowned Louvre, Notre-Dame, and Palais Garnier Opera House. In addition to the many iconic sights, there are beautiful buildings and hidden gems throughout the city.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Private Guided Professional Photoshoot by the Eiffel Tower ($142)
- Orsay Museum Semi-Private 8ppl Max Tour (Reserved Entry Included) ($145)
- Louvre Museum - Exclusive Guided Tour (Reserved Entry Included) ($145)
The delicious food of Paris is one of the main highlights of a trip to the region. Dining out is one of the highlights of a trip. Make sure you take the time to taste as much of it as possible during breakfast, lunch, and dinner at some of this city's best restaurants. And consider a food tour or cooking class. You can easily fit one into your schedule since many are just a few hours or half a day. There are countless local restaurants, markets, and patisseries to explore. Make sure you try the steak tartare, pate, and macarons.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Wine Tasting In Paris ($79)
- French wine and cheese tasting in Paris ($74)
- Paris Cheesemaking Workshop including Wine and Cheese Tasting with an Expert ($76)
Public transit in Paris is easy and efficient. In just a few days, you should be able to get around the city quite easily. The city's metro system is very comprehensive. There's also a bus system that you can use to get around.
Given that Paris is a large and popular city, give yourself a full day to uncover the diverse neighborhoods, captivating attractions, and engaging activities scattered throughout the area. Be sure to include visits to some of the city's premier landmarks and quintessential neighborhoods, too. It is one of the most popular tourist city's in the entire world. It's an iconic destination that is known for its beauty and beautiful architecture.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Paris Seine River Private or Shared Boat Tour ($142)
- Paris Highlights city tour on a vintage Sidecar Motorcycle ($103)
- Paris Segway Tour with Ticket for Seine River Cruise ($93)
This city is very popular for nightlife. After the sun goes down, head out to one of the many popular venues around town. Head to Pigalle or the Latin Quarter for some of the city's best nightlife. There are all-night parties, cabarets, and exclusive night clubs that you can experience.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Paris Latin Quarter Pub Crawl Bars and Clubs ($24)
- Paris Bar Crawl ($24)
- Original Paris Pub Crawl ($16)
Shopping in Paris is very popular, and it's easy to see why. Spend time exploring the many shops and boutiques to find the perfect gift, souvenir, or outfit. Some of the best areas for shopping are Boulevard Haussmann and the Grands Boulevards, the Marais, and Avenue Montaigne and the Champs-Elysées. The city is iconic for its fashion scene and world class shopping venues.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Private shopping tour at the Paris Antique Flea Market ($180)
- Day at Giverny Monet foundation & shopping at McArthurGlen Center ($104)
- Teen Shopping and Fashion Accessories Tour in Paris ($153)
Paris is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. It is famous for it's beautiful buildings, grand avenues, and impressive gardens. Many consider it among the most romantic and beautiful cities in the world.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Paris City Center "History of Paris" Guided Walking Tour - Semi-Private 8ppl Max ($80)
- Pere Lachaise Cemetery Paris - Exclusive Guided Walking Tour ($80)
- Paris Seine River Private or Shared Boat Tour ($142)
After you've explored most of Paris, take a day trip to one of the many beautiful destinations nearby.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Fontainebleau and Vaux-Le-Vicomte Castle Small-Group Day Trip From Paris ($207)
- Champagne Region Private Day Trip from Paris ($202)
- Giverny Small-Group Half Day Trip with Monet’s Gardens from Paris ($120)
Live music is very popular in Paris, so make sure you spend the evening exploring some of the more popular venues. Some of the most famous music venues include Le Pop In, La Mécanique Ondulatoire, and Les Disquaires. You'll also find many small bars where you can enjoy live music in a quaint setting.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Paris Seine River Dinner Cruise with Live Music by Bateaux Mouches ($131)
- Seine River Dinner Cruise Maxim's de Paris with Champagne and Live Music ($172)
- Classical Music Concert Ticket at the Madeleine Church ($55)
Paris is such a huge city that you can easily spend another day in one of the neighborhoods that you haven't visited. Look for those hidden gems and local spots where most tourists don't go. Or, pick another neighborhood with local charm that you haven't fully explored yet.
As the live music scene is so popular in Paris, make sure you spend another evening finding more of the area's best places to take in a show. Often, many of the local venues are near one another, so you can hop from place to place.
Because this is a world-class shopping destination, you'll need yet another day to find the best deals. Each area of Paris offers a different vibe and atmosphere, and along with it, different styles of shops.
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Paris.
Is 2 weeks enough time in Paris?
Two weeks is more than enough time to see everything that Paris has to offer. Many visitors prefer to spend three to seven days here, so you'll be able to take in all of the famous sights and museums, the big city activities, the theatre, and the food at your own pace. We have a few suggestions of things to do while you're visiting, and then you can take a day trip if you're looking to explore further around the area.
The Louvre, Paris
How to spend 2 weeks in Paris
With 2 weeks in Paris, you'll have plenty of time to enjoy everything the city has to offer at your own relaxed pace. You'll want to spend plenty of time perusing the musuems, experiencing the city's neighborhoods, dining at local restaurants, hopping around the bars and clubs, hanging at the music venues, and browsing the shops. You can also relax at your hotel, or casually explore this city looking for hidden gems. Also, consider taking some day trips to nearby destinations where you can explore more of the region.
A few trip suggestions:
- Fontainebleau and Vaux-Le-Vicomte Castle Small-Group Day Trip From Paris ($207)
- Champagne Region Private Day Trip from Paris ($202)
- Giverny Small-Group Half Day Trip with Monet’s Gardens from Paris ($120)
- Small Group Paris to Versailles Day Trip with Garden Stroll ($83)
- Normandy D-Day Landing Beaches Day Trip with Cider Tasting & Lunch from Paris ($174)
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Paris, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
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