Today I want to bring you my itinerary for 6 days in Paris. This is a great amount of time to see the highlights of the French capital. From iconic landmarks to shops and restaurants, there are plenty of things to do in the City of Light. Whatever your interests, you can find a lot of ways to fill your time in Paris in just under a week. I’ve included a map, too.
6 Days in Paris Itinerary
One of the things I love most about being a travel blogger is helping people plan their trips. Whether it’s through my blog posts or my travel planning services, I always enjoy hearing my readers have had a richer experience on their journeys.
A lot of my clients want to know how many days to spend in Paris. I recommend spending at least 5 or 6 days here, especially if you’re a first-time visitor.
It’s a good amount of time to see the city without feeling rushed, and it will allow you to take a day trip if you want to.
How to Use This Itinerary
There’s no right or wrong way to spend your time on a Paris itinerary. Mine has a mix of the big sights and the local places Parisians love.
I’ve lived and worked in Paris in the past, and I’m meeting up with a number of local friends on this trip. As such, mine is an itinerary you’ll enjoy if you want something different from the standard box-ticking exercise.
When you’re planning your own trip to Paris, you can adjust the schedule to fit your personal tastes and interests. If you want more inspiration, you can take a look at this itinerary.
Best Time of Year to Visit Paris
As far as what the best time of year to go to Paris is, there’s no right or wrong time to visit. A lot depends on your preferences for weather, daylight hours, tourist crowds, and seasonal festivities.
Do keep in mind that a lot of restaurants and other businesses in Paris close for summer holidays in August, so you’ll need to plan ahead if you visit at that time.
What to Pack for 6 Days in Paris
In terms of what to pack for a 6-day Paris itinerary, the city has a fairly similar climate to London. You can use my guide to what to wear in London to get an idea of what to bring.
Where to Stay in Paris
There are plenty of options for accommodation in Paris. Whether you prefer a hotel or apartment, the French capital has an abundance of places to choose from.
On this trip I’m staying at Mama Shelter Paris East in the hip 20th arrondissement. This cool hotel has everything from a stylish lobby area to a rooftop bar. The rooms are great, and the rates are refreshingly reasonable for Paris.
You can see more options on my blog post about the best area to stay in Paris. You can also find deals and book accommodation in Paris here. With so many good choices, you’re bound to find a place you love.
Day 1: Pere Lachaise, Concorde, and Champs-Elysees
I start my Paris itinerary with an early train from London to the French capital. I arrive mid-morning and check into my room at Mama Shelter. Cool and modern, it’s the perfect place to call home-away-from-home for my 6 days in Paris.
Pere Lachaise
Once I’m settled in, I walk over to the famous Pere Lachaise. It’s the largest cemetery in Paris and the most visited necropolis in the world. Like London’s Highgate Cemetery, this beautiful historic place is packed with graves of famous figures.
I spend a peaceful afternoon walking down the long lanes and paying visits to everyone from Jim Morrison to Marcel Proust, Oscar Wilde, and Frederic Chopin.
Place de la Concorde
From Pere Lachaise I hop on the metro and make my way to Concorde. I’m meeting friends here, and I can’t wait to see them. We interned together at the US Embassy in Paris during our university years, and some of us haven’t seen each other since.
We all reunite in the Place de la Concorde, the largest square in the French capital. It’s known for its eye-catching Luxor Obelisk, which was given to France by Egypt in the 1830s.
One of my friends happens to work at the embassy now, so he takes us on a quick tour before we have drinks at the embassy bar. It’s a fun trip down memory lane.
Champs-Elysees and Dinner
After drinks we walk up the iconic Champs-Elysees towards the Arc de Triomphe. It’s glowing in the evening light, and it’s fun to see it get bigger as we approach.
Eventually we veer off the road to go to dinner at Le Courcelles in the 17th. This might just be the prettiest cafe in Paris.
With flowers and lights adorning its facade and classic Parisian tables on the sidewalk, it’s the perfect place for our first dinner of the trip. We have a great time reminiscing over plates of cheese, omelets, and other classic fare.
Day 2: Versailles and the 8th Arrondissement
I start the second morning of my 6-day Paris itinerary with a day trip to the Palace of Versailles. Along with two of my friends, I hop on a train in the morning and get to the famous chateau at 10am.
We’ve pre-booked tickets and an audio guide, so we enter the gates and start exploring right away. Versailles is huge, and we’ve all been here before, but it still amazes us how much there is to see.
We start with the interiors, which impress us with their grandeur. The famous Hall of Mirrors is particularly ornate, but the other rooms and halls are equally stunning.
After a quick stop at the gift shop, we head into the gardens. Walking through the Water Gardens, we make our way down to the Great Lawn, past Apollo’s Fountain, and to the Grand Canal. It’s hard to believe how big the grounds are.
Next we walk over to tour the Grand Trianon and Petite Trianon, and explore Marie Antoinette’s estate with its little Queen’s Hamlet. It’s so cute I want to move in.
At the end we circle back to the main gardens and walk down the hedge-lined paths to see the fountains. We get lucky as we arrive at the Neptune Fountain right as the water starts spouting into the air. It’s a great parting gift from Versailles.
Dinner and Drinks in the 8th Arrondissement
We take the train back to Paris in the afternoon, then meet up later for dinner at a restaurant called Giuse Trattoria. This Italian place on the famous Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore is one of our local friend’s favorites.
We’re seated in the quiet dining room upstairs, and we tuck into their signature fettuccine with truffles. As we eat, we keep an eye out for the owner, who’s a famous soccer player.
Afterwards we walk over to a place called Le Chat Blanc for drinks. It’s buzzing, and we enjoy cocktails as we watch the world go by on the sidewalk.
Day 3: Shopping and Sightseeing
The next morning my 6 days in Paris continue with some shopping. This city inspires my inner fashionista like nowhere else (I even went around with a personal shopper once), and I’ve come armed with a list of places I want to go.
Shopping in Paris
I start at Sezane on Rue Saint-Fiacre in the 2nd. This iconic French brand is one of my favorite places to shop in London, but I’ve never been to their Paris boutiques. I can’t resist buying a cozy sweater before moving on.
From Sezane I walk over to Rouje on Rue Bachaumont. There’s more to love here, and I’m tempted by everything from handbags to shoes and dresses.
From Rouje I walk over to the Marais to do some more shopping. This historic part of the city is known for everything from its Jewish heritage to its cool shops, secret courtyards, lively restaurants, and Place des Vosges square.
The Picasso Museum is here, too, and the famous Centre Pompidou modern art museum is on the border of the neighborhood.
I hit up Sessun on Rue des Francs Bourgeois, where I find a shirt I can’t live without, and pop into Antoine et Lili, with its bright fabrics and prints.
Lunch
From the Marais I hop on the metro and meet friends for lunch at Joayo on Rue d’Assas in the 6th. We settle in for a Korean barbecue feast, and it goes down a treat in the small dining room.
Sightseeing
From the restaurant we do a bit of shopping on Rue Vavin and wander into the Jardin du Luxembourg. This is one of my favorite green spaces in Paris, and I love walking around to admire the statues, Medici Fountain, and 17th-century palace.
From the garden we walk over to Place Saint-Michel, with its grand fountain. Then we cross the Seine to get to the Ile de la Cite.
We take in the facade of the Notre Dame before passing the Sainte-Chapelle, a 13th-century Gothic chapel with amazing stained-glass windows.
Crossing the Seine again, we wave hello to the Louvre and make our way to the Palais-Royal. We take in the striped columns and shops in the middle, then settle in for drinks at a cafe called H.A.N.D. (Have a Nice Day) in Place Mireille.
Our feet rested, we walk up to Opera to see the Palais Garnier and the iconic dome of the Printemps department store on Boulevard Haussmann. From there we walk to the 8th to have dinner at our local friend’s place.
Dinner
He’s ordered delicious food from a Lebanese restaurant called Rimal, and we follow it up with pastries from a bakery called Maison Julien. It’s a great way to end a big day in Paris.
Day 4: Rue Mouffetard, Afternoon Tea, and Walks
The next morning my 6 days in Paris continue as I meet my friends on Rue Mouffetard, one of my favorite streets in the city. This road in the 5th arrondissement is packed with creperies, restaurants, food shops, and markets.
We spend time walking around, then settle in for lunch at a restaurant called TournBride. We’re treated to live music on the street as we enjoy big goat cheese salads.
From Rue Mouffetard we spend the early afternoon wandering around the Latin Quarter on the Left Bank. We shop, do some sightseeing, and take in the scene around us.
Afternoon Tea in Paris
At 3pm, we go to a hosted afternoon tea at the Hotel de Crillon. This landmark luxury hotel in the Place de la Concorde is close to our hearts, what with it being right across the street from the embassy where we interned.
We’re shown to a beautiful table in the Jardin d’Hiver, and we settle into plush chairs as the tea service begins. It’s a beautiful one, complete with all the traditional savories and pastries with a French twist.
We linger over tea for a couple hours, savoring the sweet treats and chocolates as we catch up on each other’s lives.
Walk in Paris
Next on our itinerary for 6 days in Paris is a walk. We leave the hotel and meander through the gardens in the Tuileries. This is one of my favorite green spaces in the city, not least because of all the trees, fountains, and views of the Louvre.
When we get to the Seine, we watch the river cruise boats on the water before parting ways for the evening.
I continue the walk solo, wandering over to the Louvre, back into the Palais-Royal, over to the Ile de la Cite and the Ile Saint-Louis, and out to the Place de la Bastille as the sun sets.
Day 5: Marais, the 5th, and Montmartre
The next morning my 6 days in Paris continue with a trip to the Marais. I start with breakfast at Carette, a popular restaurant under the arches in the Place des Vosges. Afterwards I walk around the square and admire the fountains.
From the Place des Vosges I can’t help doing a bit more shopping. I walk up to Soeur on Rue de Sevigne, The Frankie Shop on Rue Saint-Claude, and Merci, one of my favorite shops in Paris. I pick up two sweaters in their hip 3-story boutique.
Lunch in the 5th
After shopping I hop on the metro and meet a local friend for lunch at a restaurant called Orphee on Rue Broca in the 5th arrondissement. She and I have fun catching up over a set menu with classic dishes.
Montmartre
After lunch I take the metro to Montmartre to meet up with my intern friends. With its fun shops, buzzing cafes, beautiful views, and famous Moulin Rouge, this is one of my favorite places in Paris.
From the metro station we walk up the stairs to get to the pretty Place du Tertre, where street artists and colorful cafes vie for our attention.
After walking around it, we head over to the Sacre-Coeur, the iconic hilltop basilica in Montmartre. We admire the view from it, then walk down the paths to the bottom of the hill.
Canal Saint-Martin
From Montmartre we walk way over to the Canal Saint-Martin, another of the areas I love in Paris. This romantic waterway is lined with fun boutiques, restaurants, and cafes, and it’s a pleasant place to wander.
We stop for gelato from Amorino, watch the boats go by, then continue our walk to get to Bastille.
Drinks in Bastille
Once in Bastille, we meet another friend and settle in for drinks at a bar called La Reverie. This hip place is a great spot for pre-dinner cocktails, and we enjoy them before heading to get food.
Dinner in the Marais
Dinner is nearby in the Marais. We all love L’As du Fallafel, a casual spot with delicious Middle Eastern food. We used to eat here in our intern days, and I still come here every time I’m in Paris.
We enjoy big platters of food, then walk over to see the Hotel de Ville lit up at night.
Day 6: Eiffel Tower and 17th Arrondissement
On the last of my 6 days in Paris I head to the Eiffel Tower. It’s a must on any Paris itinerary, and I’ve saved the best for the end.
I get off the metro at Trocadero and walk through the gardens as I take pictures of the famous structure across the river. After crossing the Pont d’Iena bridge, I come to the tower itself. I’ve been up in it before, but today I’m going to admire it from below.
I walk through the Champ de Mars behind it, getting good views as I make my way to Rue de Belgrade. When I reach it, I stroll down to Rue Cler. This street is famous for its cafes, restaurants, and shops, and I love coming here when I’m in town.
Walk to Lunch
After exploring, I take a long walk to lunch. First I head over to the Hotel des Invalides to admire its ornate dome.
Then I cross the beautiful Pont Alexandre III, which has great views of the Eiffel Tower. Once on the Right Bank, I walk past the Grand Palais and Petit Palais to get to the Champs-Elysees.
I cross the famous avenue, then head up the side streets to get to Parc Monceau. This is my favorite park in Paris, what with its water features and gardens being so beautiful.
Lunch in the 17th Arrondissement
After strolling through the park, I make my way to a creperie called Brutus on Rue des Dames in the 17th. I meet an old friend here, and we have fun catching up over delicious savory galettes and sweet crepes as the lunch crowd buzzes around us.
After lunch I can’t resist doing a bit of shopping in the area (there’s another Sezane here) and over in the Marais before heading back to Mama Shelter to pick up my bags.
From the hotel I take the metro to Gare du Nord, where my train whisks me off to London.
6-Day Paris Itinerary Map
As promised, I created an interactive Google map of all the places I mentioned in this blog post. You can find it here. I hope it helps you plan the perfect 6-day trip to Paris!
6 Days in Paris
I hope you’ve enjoyed my itinerary for 6 days in Paris, and that it’s inspired you to get out and explore the French capital yourself. It’s an amazing city, and it’s worth discovering the highlights and local areas while you’re visiting. Happy travels!
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