Things to Do in Paris in 15 Days

A favourite destination for travellers all over the world, Paris is one of those places you should visit at least once in your lifetime. However, no matter how many times you've been to the City of Light, you'll always find something new to see, do or learn in Paris

However, with a 15-day itinerary in Paris you can enjoy the most popular attractions, explore less touristy areas and soak up the Parisian culture, as well as go beyond its boundaries to discover some magical places like Monet's Gardens or the forest of Fontainebleau. I hope you enjoy the guide I've prepared for you!

Take the sightseeing bus around Paris

I recommend starting the morning of your first day by taking the Paris sightseeing bus route for a quick tour of the city. It's an open-top bus that tours the city through the most important sights. This way, you will get a quick glimpse of the beauty of Paris and the places you will later visit in depth: The Eiffel Tower, the Opera Garnier, Musée du Louvre, Champs-Élysées and many more.

• Timetable: This type of service is usually available from 9.30am to 5pm. Buses depart approximately every 40 minutes.
• Ticket price: From €36 per person.
• Duration of visit: The complete tour lasts approximately 2 hours.

Louvre Museum

The Louvre's collection of artwork is impressive; it's not for nothing that it's considered one of the best museums in the world. With a total of 30,000 pieces on display, it's virtually impossible to get through it all in one day, so buy your Louvre tickets in advance without queuing and spend the day soaking up as much as you can. Be sure to visit the **Louvre'**s three Grande Dames: the Venus de Milo, the Winged Victory of Samothrace and the Mona Lisa.

• Opening hours: From 9 am to 6 pm.
• Entry fee: The entrance fee is around €15 for adults.
• Duration of the visit: To see the main works you will need to set aside at least two hours for the itinerary.

See the Rue Cler market

Start the morning of your second day at Paris' most famous market. Rue Cler is located in the heart of the 7th arrondissement, an area of Paris commonly associated with French nobility, filled with historic mansions. It is close to important Parisian monuments and museums such as the Musée d'Orsay, the Musée Rodin or Les Invalides. Spend a few hours of your morning browsing the stalls and stop for lunch in some of the stalls.

• Opening hours: From 9 am to 7 pm from Tuesday to Sunday, with a break on Mondays.
• Entry fee: It is a free street market and open to the public.
• Length of visit: Depends on what you want to do and whether you stop for lunch or a coffee. Allow about 30 minutes to see the stalls and walk around the market.

Visit the Eiffel Tower and Trocadero Square

The most iconic symbol of the Parisian capital is a 30-minute walk along the left bank of the Seine. You can climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower and take beautiful photographs of the city from the top of Paris. Inside the tower you'll find top-notch restaurants and, if you make a reservation for lunch or buy your Eiffel Tower ticket in advance, you can skip the entrance line.

Place du Trocadero

Leaving the Eiffel Tower behind and crossing the Seine via the Pont d'Iéna you will find Place du Trocadero, ranked as the best place to take pictures of the Eiffel Tower at sunset.

• Opening hours: From 9.30am to 11.45pm.
• Entry fee: From €10.7. The price increases if you want to go up to the top and if you want to use the lifts.
• Length of visit: Approximately 1.5 hours to visit the first floor and 2.5 hours if you want to go to the top.

Visit the city of Versailles and its most important tourist attraction: the Palace and Gardens of Versailles. Considered the most illustrious and opulent chateau in all of France, it is a prime example of the finest achievements of French art during the 17th century. It was once home to French kings until the fall of the monarchy, and today it tells the story of the country's past as an impressive history museum. Be sure to visit the luxurious Hall of Mirrors, the Queen's bedroom, the King's flats and the chapels.

Canal Saint-Martin

Start the morning of your fourth day with a leisurely stroll along the beautiful scenery around the Canal Saint-Martin; enjoy the view, relax with a coffee and have a snack at a nearby café. If you want even more relaxation, you can take a canal cruise and let the current carry you along.

To get to your next destination, take metro line 8from Metro République station and get off at Invalides station.

Rodin Museum

From Invalides station the Musée Rodin is a 10 minute walk. Dedicated entirely to the life and work of the famous French sculptor Auguste Rodin. By visiting this museum you will have access not only to his most important works, but also to the workshop spaces where he brought so many of his creations to life.

• Opening hours: The Rodin Museum is open from 10 am to 4 pm.
• Admission fee: Tickets start at €12 for adults.
• Duration of the visit: Book at least one hour to visit the entire museum.

Les Invalides complex

Continue your tour in the 7th arrondissement of Paris. Directly opposite the Rodin Museum is the Les Invalides Complex. Visit the Hôtel des Invalides, the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte, the Esplanade des Invalides and the other museums in the complex.

• Opening hours: From 10am to 6pm.
• Admission fee: From €14 per adult ticket.
• Duration of visit: Approximately 2 hours to explore the complex and the museum area.

Considered one of the most enchanting regions in all of France, the Loire Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Loire region is a 2.5 hour drive from Paris and tours depart daily with small groups of tourists setting out on an adventure to see the valley's most famous châteaux. Due to the length of the trip, a tourfrom Paris to the Loire Châteaux will take at least 12 hours in total; this is enough time to see the most important landmarks.

Although the itinerary may vary depending on the company you hire for the tour, most include the most famous and impressive châteaux:

• Château de Chenonceau.
• Château de Cheverny.
• Château de Chambord.

Chateau de la Fontainebleau

The Chateau de Fontainebleau is a lesser visited destination, though just as beautiful as Versailles. Located just 1 hour from Paris, it is a favourite weekend getaway destination for Parisians.

For seven centuries, French kings and emperors lived in its chambers, and a succession of them worked to refurbish and beautify its spaces. A good plan is to spend the morning touring the castle and in the afternoon take a mountain excursion to the forests of Fontainebleau.

• Opening hours: From 9am to 5pm.
• Entry fee: The ticket costs from €12 for adults.
• Duration of the visit: A two-hour tour of the castle and the surrounding area.

Take a tour of the Seine

The Seine is the soul of Paris. On your return to the city, as night falls, you can take a night cruise on the Seine to enjoy the spectacle of night lights that illuminate the main Parisian monuments.

Le Marais Quartier is located in the city's 3rd arrondissement. It was once the Jewish quarter of Paris but today it's where the hippest art galleries are housed in several architecturally significant buildings.

In this district you can lunch in an alternative restaurant, shop in an avant-garde fashion atelier, all while admiring the contemporary art in the many museums scattered throughout the area. Here are my favourites, but I invite you to explore Le Marais for yourself - there may be some new art nooks and crannies that have popped up in the last few days!

• Musée National Picasso-Paris.
• Le Centre Pompidou.
• Musée Carnavalet.
• Museé Hunting and Nature.
• MuseéCognacq-Jay.

Giverny is less than an hour from the capital and day trips depart from Paris to this destination. Therefore, a visit to the village of Giverny, the Claude Monet Foundation, the famous artist's house and the accompanying gardens is an experience you'll appreciate if you're in Paris for a fortnight. On a tour of the house you will see **Monet'**s personal collection of more than 200 Japanese woodcuts and works of art by his favourite Impressionist contemporaries.

But the garden is undoubtedly the space in which Monet invested the most time and effort. Divided into distinct plots separated by low hedges, each has its own theme, harmony and colour palette. Pay attention to the Japanese bridge that the artist had installed and, when you cross it, admire the water lilies resting peacefully on the waters of the pond.

• Opening hours: From 9.30 am to 6 pm.
• Admission fee: Tickets start at €9.50 for adults.
• Duration of visit: A tour from Paris takes at least 5 hours, including the return journey.

Spend the morning at Les Jardins des Luxembourg

The Luxembourg Gardens are the heart of Paris' Left Bank and are considered by many to be the most enchanting park in the whole city due to their lush gardens built through different stages and integrating as many styles as you can imagine.

• Opening hours: From 10 am to 7 pm.
• Admission fee: Approximately €14 for adults.
• Duration of the visit: Touring the gardens and admiring the sculptures will take you 30-40 minutes.

Mouffetard Market

Leaving the Luxembourg Gardens along the Boulevard Saint-Michelle, a 15-minute walk away, you will find the Mouffetard Market. You can buy local gourmet food in one of the oldest and liveliest shopping streets in Paris, a permanent open-air market with roots dating back to the Neolithic period, frequented by locals for everyday shopping.

The Catacombs of Paris

Leaving from the Mouffetard Market, you can take a 20-minute walk to the entrance of the Catacombs or follow the same route by taking the 59 bus from Les Gobelins station.

The remains of approximately 6 million people rest here, making a visit to the Paris Catacombs one of the most amazing experiences you can have in the French capital.

• Opening times: Tours start at 10am, and the Catacombs close at 8.30pm.
• Entry fee: The price starts at €29 for an adult ticket.
• Duration of visit: The two-kilometre route takes about an hour.

Ile Saint-Louis and Île de la Cité

Paris is made up of two natural islands, located on the Seine River. Start the morning of your tenth day by visiting the important historical monuments that were built here.

Ile Saint-Louis is the smaller of the two and mostly residential. With its narrow streets, it feels like a 17th-century French village. Ile de la Cité is home to Paris' most imposing Gothic buildings such as Notre-Dame Cathedral, Sainte-Chapelle Basilica and the Conciergerie prison, where Marie-Antoinette spent her last days until her death.

• Opening hours: Sainte Chapelle is open to the public from 9am to 5pm.
• Entry fee: Tickets start at €11,50.
• Duration of the visit: The tour to appreciate the interiors of Sainte-Chapelle will take about 30 minutes.

Place de la Bastille

The walk from the Ile Saint-Louis to the Place de la Bastille takes only 13 minutes, crossing the Seine via the Pont de Sully. This square is an important Parisian icon, its seizure by the armed people during the early days of the revolt marking a significant milestone in the development of the French Revolution.

Head to the 18th arrondissement to see what was in the early 20th century the centre of a thriving artistic community. This area of Paris was home to geniuses of impressionist and abstract art such as Van Gogh, Picasso, Duchamp, Dali and Monet. Today, Montmartre is distinguished by a thriving nightlife, but some of the historical and cultural icons you should visit are:

• Sacre-Coeur Basilica.
• Dali Museum
• Moulin Rouge.
• Place de Montmartre.

Spend the morning at Musée Jacquemart-Andre

Housed in a former 19th century mansion and decorated in period style, this museum features paintings, sculptures, furniture and all manner of antiques collected by Édouard André and Nélie Jacquemart.

• Opening hours: From 10am to 6pm.
• Admission fee: The basic adult ticket is available from €15.
• Length of visit: Allow at least one hour to explore the museum in its entirety.

See the Arc de Triomphe

Just a 15-minute walk from the Jacquemart-Andre Museum is one of the most iconic Parisian landmarks (along with the Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame): Paris' Arc de Triomphe. Ordered to be built by Napoleon himself, in honour of those soldiers who died fighting in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, this monument houses the Tomb of the Anonymous Soldier.

• Opening hours: From 10.00 am to 11.00 pm.
• Entry fee: Free admission to the square. Admission to the museum costs approximately €13.
• Duration of visit: Approximately 45 to 1.30 hours.

Enjoy an afternoon of shopping in Paris

Take advantage of your privileged location to spend an afternoon shopping in the most commercial Parisian streets. Paris' luxury shopping avenues are as follows: Champs Elysées, Avenue Montaigne and Rue Royale. If you like fashion, you will certainly appreciate a visit to the Galeries Lafayette shopping centre, located on Boulevard Haussman.

Spend the morning in Saint-Germain-des-Prés

Saint-Germain-des-Prés Quarter, located near the Seine, was the former centre of the French existentialist movement. Historically associated with figures such as Simon de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre, today it is one of Paris' most elegant luxury neighbourhoods, as well as an artistic centre with many prestigious museums and art galleries.

Among the monuments to be found in this neighbourhood is the famous Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Pres. Built in 990 and partially destroyed during the French Revolution, it now houses one of the oldest bell towers in France.

• Opening hours: From 8 am to 7.45 pm.
• Entry fee: The abbey is open to the public free of charge.
• Duration of the visit: Estimate 30 minutes to visit the church and its surroundings.

Montparnasse Cemetery

A 20-minute walk from Saint-Germain-des-Prés is another mythical Parisian spot worth exploring. Montparnasse Cemetery is not only beautifully designed, but also houses the remains of important historical figures, with beautiful, sculptural tombs everywhere you look.

• Opening hours: From 8am to 5.30pm or 6pm depending on the season.
• Entry fee: Admission is free.
• Duration of the visit: If you have a map of Montparnasse with you showing the exact location of the tombs you can do the whole tour in less than 2 hours.

Between the 5th and 6th arrondissements of Paris lies the Latin Quarter. Known the world over for its youthful atmosphere, it is home to the most famous Parisian centres of higher learning: The Sorbonne, École Normale Supérieure, l' École des Mines de Paris, Panthéon-Assas University, the Schola Cantorum and the Jussieu university campus.

You can spend a whole day exploring its monuments and gardens or sampling its food; for which a gastronomic tour of the Latin Quarter is very useful. Some points of interest worth exploring include the Musée De Cluny and the Panthéon de Paris.

Have an experience to remember by visiting Disneyland Paris on your holiday. Since its opening in the 1990s, this amusement park has become one of Parisians' favourite weekend getaways, so you'll find a variety of transportation options in Paris. Spend a full day on this excursion and take the opportunity to ride the best attractions of Disneyland Paris and of course visit the best Disneyland restaurants in the resort.

• Opening hours: From 10 am to 6 pm. In summer, until 10 pm.
• Ticket price: A day ticket with access to all attractions (both parks) is available from €74.
• Duration of visit: You will need to book the whole day to enjoy this tour.