A ten-day Paris plan that balances icons, neighborhoods, and day trips with smart timing.
Got ten days to play with? This plan strings together the classics, the river and a palace day, leaving space for detours and rest. It reads like a route you can follow on the ground, with swaps marked for common Monday and Tuesday closures.
Ten-Day Paris Itinerary With Map And Timing
Here’s the big picture first. Use it as your checklist, then dive into the daily detail below.
| Day | Main Area | Headliners |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Right Bank Core | Opéra, Place Vendôme, Tuileries, sunset on the Seine |
| 2 | Louvre Zone | Louvre galleries, Palais Royal, covered passages |
| 3 | Left Bank Art | Musée d’Orsay, Saint-Germain, riverside bookstalls |
| 4 | Île Circuit | Notre-Dame exterior & interior, Sainte-Chapelle, Conciergerie |
| 5 | Versailles Day | Palace, Gardens, Trianon estate |
| 6 | Montmartre | Sacré-Cœur, artists’ square, vineyard lane |
| 7 | Eiffel Quarter | Tower visit, Champs-de-Mars picnic, Rue Cler |
| 8 | Marais | Place des Vosges, Musée Carnavalet, falafel lane |
| 9 | Modern Paris | Centre Pompidou, Canal Saint-Martin, rooftop views |
| 10 | Markets & Farewell | Bastille market, pastry crawl, last-minute sights |
Before You Go: Tickets, Passes, And Closures
Two things shape your timing: weekly closures and timed entries. The Louvre shuts on Tuesday; Orsay shuts on Monday; Versailles shuts on Monday; Arc de Triomphe can close for ceremonies. Book museum entries online when you can.
For museum-heavy days, a Paris Museum Pass helps you breeze through lines at many sites. For transit, a weekly Navigo load is simple if your trip hits a Monday to Sunday window; it covers metro, RER, buses, and trams across the region. Buy it from Friday for the following week.
Day 1: Right Bank Warm-Up
Settle in near Opéra or the Grands Boulevards. Walk to the Opéra Garnier, cut down to Place Vendôme, then drift into the Tuileries. Keep the Louvre’s courtyards for golden hour. End with a loop along the Seine footpaths or a short boat ride.
Food Stops
Grab a butter croissant near Madeleine, sip an espresso, and aim for dinner around the buzzy passages off Boulevard Montmartre.
Sample Timeslot
10:00 Opéra walk, 12:30 lunch, 15:00 gardens, 18:30 river loop, 20:30 bistro dinner near the passages.
Day 2: Masterpieces And Arcades
Morning in the Louvre’s Denon wing for the Italian greats, then the less packed Richelieu wing for sculpture and Napoleon III apartments. Lunch by the Palais Royal garden, then hunt glass-roofed passages like Galerie Vivienne and Passage des Panoramas.
Timing Tips
Pick this day on any date that isn’t Tuesday. Evening light in the Tuileries pairs well with post-museum calm.
Day 3: Left Bank Classics
Start at Musée d’Orsay for Impressionism and the clock views. Cross the river to Saint-Germain lanes, peek into old cafés, and browse bookshops.
Route Note
Run this day any time except Monday. Late-opening Thursday works if you like fewer crowds after 6 pm.
Day 4: Islands And Spires
Trace both islands. Spend time at the restored cathedral, then gaze up at the glass walls of Sainte-Chapelle. Walk the quay edges for river angles and bridges.
Photo Windows
Best light drops on the west façades near sunset. Morning is calm around the flower market.
Sample Timeslot
09:00 cathedral visit, 11:00 stained-glass chapel, 13:00 lunch on Île Saint-Louis, 16:00 bridge loop, 19:00 dinner in the Latin Quarter.
Sweet Break
Ice cream from the island hits the spot between church visits and bridge views.
Day 5: Royal Day Trip
Ride RER C to the palace town. Tour the State Apartments, Hall of Mirrors, and the Trianon retreats, then wander the tree-lined walks. Pack snacks; options near the Grand Canal are handy for a quick picnic.
Garden Game Plan
Sprinkle in fountains and groves. If you hit a Musical Fountains day, budget extra time for the loops.
Sample Timeslot
08:45 palace gates, 11:00 State Apartments, 13:00 canal snack, 14:30 Trianon, 17:00 train back.
Day 6: Montmartre Stairways
Climb to the basilica plaza, then thread downhill through Rue de l’Abreuvoir and the vineyard patch. Hunt mosaics, pocket squares, and tiny cafés. Aim for sunset views from the steps or the back terraces.
Local Flavor
Try a simple crêpe near Abbesses and a plate of roast chicken in a bistro tucked on a side street.
Sample Timeslot
10:00 basilica, 12:00 artists’ square, 14:00 lanes and steps, 17:00 views, 20:00 dinner near Lamarck.
Hidden Corners
Seek the ivy wall on Rue de l’Abreuvoir and the tiny vineyard plot above it.
Day 7: Iron And Lawns
Book a timed slot up the Tower. Picnic on the grass at the Champs-de-Mars, then stroll Avenue de la Bourdonnais and Rue Cler. Add Trocadéro for the grand view arc, then slide to the river for a dusk crossing.
Height Choices
Top deck gives the city grid; second floor frames the river bends and the golden dome. Even ground level at night feels special.
Sample Timeslot
09:00 Tower slot, 12:00 picnic, 15:00 Rue Cler food crawl, 18:30 Trocadéro photo stop, 20:30 riverbank stroll.
Plan B For Wind
If top deck shuts, second floor views and the nearby grassy lawns still make the day shine.
Day 8: Marais Layers
Start at Place des Vosges and peek into courtyards. Step through the free city history museum, then lunch around Rue des Rosiers. Add a short fashion or photo stop in nearby galleries.
Evening Ideas
Rooftop views near Centre Pompidou or a calm canal walk give you an easy close.
Day 9: Pompidou To Canal
See the colorful pipes and modern galleries, then ride or walk north to Canal Saint-Martin. Sit by the locks with a pastry and watch boats lift.
Side Quest
Head to Parc des Buttes-Chaumont for hills, bridges, and skyline frames. Then loop back for dinner near République.
Day 10: Markets, Food Gifts, And Loose Ends
Hit the Bastille market morning hours, then fill a box with caramels, teas, and sardines in pretty tins. Mop up any sight you missed, revisit a favorite lane, and keep the last sunset open.
Smart Swaps For Monday And Tuesday
Move Orsay, Versailles, and any Monday-only closures away from Day 3 or 5 if they land on Monday. Shift the Louvre off Tuesday. If the Arc terrace closes for a ceremony, slide it to another evening.
Getting Around: Metro And Walking
Paris is stitched for riders and walkers. Distances between clusters are short, and the metro grid moves you fast. Load a weekly Navigo weekly pass if your dates span a Monday through Sunday; single tickets or a contactless card work fine for light days.
Airport And Day Trip Notes
CDG to the city runs on RER B. For the palace town, RER C serves the château stops. Trains run often, so you can start early and beat tour waves.
Metro Basics
Trains run every few minutes. Stand on the right on escalators, and keep your ticket or pass handy for transfers and exits.
Walking Pace
Plan 12–18k steps on museum days and 8–12k on lighter days. Add short café resets to keep feet fresh.
Where To Stay For A Ten-Day Trip
Pick a base near lines 1 or 14 to cut transfers. Right Bank near the Tuileries or Left Bank near Saint-Germain both keep you central. If you like village vibes, Montmartre slopes or the Canal zone are easy picks.
How To Book And When To Go
Buy timed entries online for big hitters and pick early slots. Spring and fall bring mild weather; winter lights are lovely; summer runs late with riverside events.
Closures And Booking Table
| Place | Closed Day | Booking Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Louvre | Tuesday | Reserve timed slot |
| Musée d’Orsay | Monday | Late Thursday works |
| Versailles | Monday | Start early on RER C |
| Arc de Triomphe | Occasional | Check ceremony days |
Packing And Daily Rhythm
Carry a refillable bottle and light scarf. Book one anchor each day, then leave air for cafés and streets. Dinner later than home keeps nights long, so plan snacks.
Cost Savers That Don’t Feel Like Compromises
Mix picnics with one sit-down meal. Pick rooftops with free entry for views. Group sights in the same zone to save rides. If your week aligns, load that Navigo once and ride at will.
Why This Ten-Day Plan Works
It groups close sights, respects weekly pauses, shares crowds across morning and night, and sprinkles views and parks so feet stay fresh. Swap days without breaking the flow and you’ll still see the lot.