The first time you visit Paris, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. The city is home to more than 130 museums, over 400 parks and gardens, and an endless list of must-see attractions. So... where do you even begin?

Having lived in Paris for several years, I've put together what I believe is the perfect itinerary for a first visit to the French capital.

Don't worry, I'm going to share 10 must-see places (plus a few hidden gems) to help you make the most of your first stay in the City of Light.

At the end of this article, you'll also find my downloadable Paris My Map, so you can access every location mentioned here directly from your phone instead of coming back to this article every time.

1. Eiffel Tower

You simply can't visit Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower. It's the place to visit—not just on your first trip, but every time you return. It's just as beautiful during the day as it is after dark.

Tip: The best view is from the Trocadéro Esplanade directly across the river. Arrive before 8 a.m. for beautiful morning light and almost no crowds. If you're planning to go up the tower, book your tickets online several weeks in advance—otherwise, you could easily spend two hours waiting in line.

Good to know: Every evening after sunset, the Eiffel Tower sparkles for five minutes at the start of every hour. The Champ de Mars is one of the best places to enjoy the show.

Book your ticket here: https://www.ticketory.com/en/paris/eiffel-tower-v15352/eiffel-tower-reserved-entry-2nd-floor-access-by-elevator-o10307 

2. The Louvre Museum

The largest museum in the world and one visit is nowhere near enough.

Tip: Choose three or four masterpieces you really want to see (the Mona Lisa, the Winged Victory of Samothrace, Napoleon III's Apartments, the Egyptian Antiquities...) and plan your route around them. Let yourself be surprised by everything else you discover along the way. Two to three hours is more than enough for a first visit.

Good to know: Wednesday and Friday evening openings (until 9:45 p.m.) are usually much quieter. If possible, enter through the Porte des Lions or the Richelieu entrance instead of the Pyramid.

Book your ticket here: https://www.louvre.fr/visiter/horaires-tarifs  

3. Notre-Dame and île de la Cité

Now fully reopened to visitors, Notre-Dame Cathedral is once again one of Paris' greatest treasures.

Tip:Reserve your free entry time online, then continue exploring Île de la Cité. Just a few minutes away, Sainte-Chapelle is one of the city's greatest hidden masterpieces. Its 13th-century stained glass windows cover over 1,100 square metres, creating an unforgettable kaleidoscope of colour. Visit on a sunny morning for the most spectacular light.

Reserve your free ticket here: https://www.notredamedeparis.fr/visiter/reserver-gratuitement/  

4. Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur

A village within the city. Cobblestone streets, staircases, vineyards, charming cafés, and the white basilica overlooking all of Paris. When people picture Paris, this is often the neighbourhood they imagine.

Tip: Avoid Place du Tertre during the middle of the day, when it's packed with tourists. Instead, walk up via Rue Lepic or Rue de l'Abreuvoir. sunrise from the steps of Sacré-Cœur is magical.

5. Le Marais

This is where Paris is lived rather than simply visited. Seventeenth-century mansions, art galleries, independent boutiques, famous falafel shops on Rue des Rosiers, and Place des Vosges—the oldest square in Paris and one of my favourite places in the city.

Tip: Visit on a Sunday. It's one of the few neighbourhoods where almost everything stays open, and the atmosphere is fantastic.

I've gathered every location mentioned in this article inside my MY MAP Paris along with my favourite restaurants, cafés and bakeries in each neighbourhood

6. Musée d'Orsay

A former railway station transformed into one of the world's greatest Impressionist museums. Monet, Renoir, Degas, Van Gogh... It's my favourite museum in Paris.

Tip: Head straight to the fifth floor when you arrive. Don't miss the famous giant clock window it's one of the best photo spots in Paris.

Good to know: Much smaller than the Louvre, it can comfortably be visited in around two hours. If you only have time for one museum, this is my recommendation.

Book your ticket here:   https://www.musee-orsay.fr/fr/visite#anchor-navigation-3 

7. L'Arc de Triomphe et les Champs-Élysées

The avenue is famous for shopping, but the Arc de Triomphe is the real highlight—and yes, you can climb to the top.

Tip: Never cross the roundabout on foot. Use the underground pedestrian tunnel instead.

Book your ticket here: https://www.paris-arc-de-triomphe.fr/ 

8. Luxembourg Gardens

Without a doubt, one of the most beautiful parks in Paris. Green chairs, a pond filled with miniature sailboats, chess players, students relaxing on the grass... It almost feels like you've stepped into Emily in Paris. 

Tip: Pick up lunch from a nearby bakery and enjoy a relaxing picnic in the gardens. 

9. The Latin Quarter & Saint-Germain-des-Prés

Bookshops, the Panthéon, the Sorbonne, literary cafés... this is classic Paris at its finest.

Tip: Wander along Rue Mouffetard (especially in the morning market), stop by Shakespeare and Company bookshop, then make your way up to the Panthéon. Finish with a coffee on a terrace and simply enjoy the atmosphere.

10. A Seine River Cruise

Is it touristy? Maybe. Is it worth it? Absolutely.

In just one hour, you'll glide past nearly every major monument mentioned above—from the perspective they were originally designed to be admired.

Tip: Choose a sunset or evening cruise when the monuments are beautifully illuminated. If you'd rather skip the boat, walking along the Seine between Pont Alexandre III and Île Saint-Louis is just as magical.

Book your cruise here:  https://www.getyourguide.com/paris-l16/paris-1-hour-seine-cruise-departing-from-the-eiffel-tower-t193940/?partner_id=B8X0RRB&utm_medium=online_publisher  

If you're looking for a tailor-made itinerary for your Paris trip, New Escapade creates personalised travel guides designed around your interests, pace and budget.

Bonus: Hidden Gems in Paris

Already seen the major sights and still have half a day to spare? Here are some of my favourite lesser-known places.

Passage des Panoramas & Galerie Vivienne

These beautiful 19th-century covered passages were the ancestors of today's shopping centres. Expect glass roofs, mosaic floors, antique bookshops and charming cafés.

Galerie Vivienne is the most elegant, while Passage des Panoramas is the liveliest. They're perfect on rainy days and ideal for Instagram photos.

The Museum of Hunting and Nature

Probably the most unusual museum in Paris.

Located inside a magnificent mansion in Le Marais, it combines taxidermy, cabinets of curiosities and contemporary art in what feels like the home of a wonderfully eccentric collector.

 Go there : https://www.chassenature.org/documentaires/catalogues-des-expositions/les-fanfares-de-circonstance?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22427808361&gbraid=0AAAAABm6EiftabUXRI4Qb7xckRaszfw4K&gclid=CjwKCAjwmdLSBhANEiwAkREMNzVtfG7kJV6pqQ4AH69L6xkzfmOaWcU0sSAcRVjkg1aJbFvU1L_t-xoCieAQAvD_BwE 

Square du Vert-Galant

At the western tip of Île de la Cité, below Pont Neuf, you'll find this peaceful little park stretching into the Seine.

It's the perfect place to enjoy a drink in the sunshine while watching boats drift by.

Les Buttes-Chaumont

Completely different from Paris' formal gardens, this park feels like a miniature mountain landscape, with cliffs, waterfalls, suspension bridges and a hilltop temple. It's where many Parisians come to relax.

Père-Lachaise Cemetery

The largest cemetery in Paris—and arguably one of its most beautiful walks. Spread across 44 hectares, it's home to Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison, Édith Piaf, Chopin and Balzac. People visit as much for its peaceful atmosphere as for its famous residents.

Tip:
Pick up a map at the main entrance on Boulevard de Ménilmontant, otherwise you'll spend hours wandering without finding much. Allow around two hours. Entry is free.

La rue Crémieux

A colourful cobbled street lined with pastel houses that feels like a little piece of Notting Hill hidden inside Paris.

It's incredibly photogenic, so arrive early if you'd like photos without the crowds.

Practical tips for your first visit

• How many days?
  Four days is ideal, although three days is enough if you focus on the highlights.

  Getting around
  Paris has an excellent metro system, but it's also one of the world's best cities for walking. Bring comfortable shoes.

  Best time to visit
  May to June and September to October offer beautiful light, mild temperatures and fewer crowds than peak summer.

  Book ahead
  Reserve tickets in advance for any attraction with timed entry—you'll save yourself hours of waiting.

Paris is one of those cities everyone should experience at least once. Personally, I love it most in summer, when café terraces spill onto the pavements, the Seine's riverbanks become open-air living rooms, and daylight lingers until nearly 10 p.m.

Every place mentioned in this guide is, in my opinion, essential for a first visit.

If you'd like even more recommendations, MY MAP PARIS includes over 130 carefully selected places, organised by neighbourhood, with my favourite restaurants, cafés, bakeries and hidden spots.

And if you'd like an itinerary designed entirely around you, I also create fully personalised travel guides tailored to your interests, travel style and budget. 

See you soon

Ana from New Escapade