Paris is a city of layers: Roman roads beneath wide boulevards, medieval islands studded with Gothic marvels, and Belle Époque passages where light falls like theater. From the “Iron Lady” to the hushed halls of the Louvre, you’ll encounter centuries of art and architecture at every corner.

But Paris is also a feast. Classic bistros rub shoulders with natural wine bars, and small artisan bakeries bake some of the world’s best bread before dawn. Markets brim with cheeses, oysters, and berries; cafés offer front-row seats to the city’s grand performance—people-watching.

Practical notes: Most museums require timed tickets; Mondays often see the Musée d’Orsay closed, Tuesdays the Louvre. Pack comfortable shoes, carry a light crossbody bag (pickpockets work crowded areas), and buy metro tickets in sets or load a Navigo Easy for savings. Expect spring and fall to offer the best light for photography.

Paris

Paris rewards curiosity. Wander the arcades of the Palais-Royal, photograph sunrise at Trocadéro, and linger on the bridges—Pont Alexandre III, Pont Neuf, and Passerelle Debilly are especially photogenic. Neighborhoods like the Marais, Saint‑Germain, and Montmartre each feel like different chapters in the same novel.

• Top sights: Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Notre‑Dame (reopened), Sainte‑Chapelle, Montmartre & Sacré‑Cœur, Luxembourg Gardens, Palais Garnier.
• For photographers: Trocadéro at sunrise, Bir‑Hakeim Bridge for leading lines, Rue de l’Abreuvoir in Montmartre, Île Saint‑Louis at blue hour, and the Galeries Lafayette rooftop at sunset.
• For food lovers: Morning bakeries (try flaky viennoiseries), bustling markets (Marché des Enfants Rouges), hearty bistros, crêperies, and natural wine bars.

Where to stay (mid-range focus, with a few splurges):

• Browse Paris apartments on VRBO or hotels on Hotels.com.
• Hotel du College de France (Latin Quarter): Warm, scholarly vibe; walk to the Seine, Pantheon, and cafés.
• Hôtel des Arts Montmartre (Montmartre): Cozy, artful, great for early photos around Sacré‑Cœur.
• Novotel Paris Centre Gare Montparnasse (Montparnasse): Modern rooms, easy train/metro links, good value for families.
• Hôtel du Temps (9th): Boutique style near Grands Boulevards and covered passages.
• Generator Paris (10th): Design-forward hostel with private rooms; budget-friendly.
• Premium options if you’re celebrating: The Ritz Paris, Le Meurice, The Peninsula Paris, or Hôtel Plaza Athénée.

Getting there & around:

• Within Europe, compare flights, trains, and buses on Omio (flights), Omio (trains), and Omio (buses). London–Paris is ~2h 20m by train; Barcelona–Paris ~6h 30m by train or ~1h 45m by air.
• Flying from outside Europe? Check fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.
• CDG to central Paris by RER B takes ~35–45 minutes (about €12). Orlybus/Orlyval options take ~30–45 minutes. Taxis to the Right Bank have a flat fare.
• Get a Navigo Easy or reloadable card for metros/buses. Walking + metro is usually fastest; rideshares are best late at night.

Day 1 — Arrival, the Marais, and Seine at Sunset

Morning: Travel day. If you arrive early, power up with a light snack and water; limit heavy meals until you’ve settled in.

Afternoon: Check in, then stretch your legs in the Marais. Stroll Place des Vosges (arcades and brick facades), then browse Rue des Rosiers. Snack ideas: a falafel pita at L’As du Fallafel, pistachio escargot pastry at Du Pain et des Idées (go earlier for best selection), or a choux from Popelini.

Evening: Blue-hour photo walk: Île de la Cité, Pont Neuf, and along the Seine toward Île Saint‑Louis. Dinner nearby at Bouillon République or Bouillon Pigalle for classic, budget-friendly French (steak‑frites, oeufs mayo, profiteroles). For a Provençal bent and a legendary chocolate mousse, try Chez Janou. Cap it with a scoop at Berthillon if open.

Day 2 — Bake Croissants, Masterpieces at the Louvre, and Palais Royal

Morning: Join a hands-on baking workshop to level up your pastry game. It’s ideal for foodies and a delicious way to understand French viennoiserie.

Paris Croissant Small-Group Baking Class with a Chef (about 2.5–3 hours). Learn to craft buttery croissants, pains au chocolat, and pains aux raisins—then savor your creations with coffee.

Pre-class coffee option: Café Verlet (historic roaster) or KB Coffee Roasters (specialty coffee) if you have time.

Afternoon: Head to the Louvre with reserved access to see icons without getting lost in the world’s largest museum. Expect 2–3 hours for highlights.

Louvre Museum Masterpieces Guided Tour with Access — a structured route to the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Winged Victory, and French masters.

Post-museum, wander the Palais-Royal gardens and arcades; the striped “Colonnes de Buren” make playful photo foregrounds.

Evening: Dinner near the 1st/2nd arrondissement: Bistrot Victoires (crispy duck, frisée lardon salad, great value), Frenchie Wine Bar (walk-in friendly small plates; try the pâté en croûte and smoked trout), or Ellsworth (market-driven small plates). Nightcap in a covered passage—Le Mary Celeste (oysters + cocktails) is a short stroll away in the Marais.

Day 3 — Eiffel Tower, Seine Lunch Cruise, and Saint‑Germain

Morning: Arrive at Trocadéro just after sunrise for soft light and fewer crowds. Then use dedicated access to ascend the Eiffel Tower—time it for the opening slots to reduce lines.

Eiffel Tower Dedicated Reserved Access Top or 2nd floor by lift — efficient entry and history from your guide. Allow ~1.5–2 hours door-to-door.

Pre- or post-visit pastry: Carette (Trocadéro) for croissants and hot chocolate; photographers love the terrace views.

Afternoon: Board a glass-canopy boat for a 2-hour lunch as Paris’s monuments glide by—an elegant, mid-day splurge that’s still easier on the wallet than a dinner cruise.

Bateaux Parisiens Seine River Gourmet Lunch & Sightseeing Cruise — 3-course menu, live music, and postcard views of the Louvre, Orsay, and Notre‑Dame.

Afterward, stroll the Left Bank: Musée d’Orsay (if open), the Rodin Museum’s sculpture garden, or the Luxembourg Gardens for timeless Paris scenes.

Evening: Dine in Saint‑Germain. Options: L’Avant Comptoir de la Terre (standing-room tapas-style French plates; brisk, fun), Les Papilles (set menu bistro and curated wines), or Huguette (seafood platters). Finish with an amble along the Seine when bridges twinkle and buskers play under vaulted stone.

Day 4 — Montmartre, Canal Saint‑Martin, and Night Views

Morning: Explore Montmartre early to beat crowds: Sacré‑Cœur’s steps for skyline panoramas, the backstreets around Place du Tertre, Rue de l’Abreuvoir, and La Maison Rose for dreamy photos. Breakfast at La Bossue (homey pastries, weekend brunch) or Pain Pain (award-winning baguette and éclairs). Quick coffee at KB Coffee Roasters.

Afternoon: Head to the Canal Saint‑Martin for a slower, local rhythm. Picnic from Du Pain et des Idées or grab a table at Holybelly 5 (pancakes, savory daily specials). Wine lovers: Le Verre Volé for small plates and natural bottles. If you want a leafy escape, detour to Parc des Buttes‑Chaumont for dramatic bridges and cliff views.

Evening: Dinner in Belleville or the 11th: Le Baratin (market-driven, soulful cooking; reserve), Breizh Café (buckwheat galettes and cider), or Clamato (seafood small plates, walk-in). For a final photo session, catch the city lights from the Galeries Lafayette rooftop or frame the gilded lamps of Pont Alexandre III at blue hour.

Day 5 — Île de la Cité Morning, Last Bites, and Departure

Morning: Circle back to the historic heart. Visit the restored Notre‑Dame interior (arrive at opening for calmer vibes), then marvel at Sainte‑Chapelle’s stained glass if time allows. Breakfast nearby at Carette (Place des Vosges location is lovely), Café Saint‑Régis on Île Saint‑Louis, or Shakespeare and Company Café for a literary nod.

Afternoon: Quick lunch before you go: Marché des Enfants Rouges (try Chez Alain Miam Miam’s monumental sandwiches, or Moroccan tagines), or a last crêpe at Breizh Café. Pick up edible souvenirs—salted butter caramels, Bordier butter, or a box of macarons—then head to the airport or station.

Evening: Travel home. If you have a late departure, consider a final stroll along the Seine between the Louvre and the Orsay; it’s the city’s best free museum of light.

Optional Half-Day: Versailles (If You Swap a Morning)

If you want a royal interlude, ride RER C to Versailles Château–Rive Gauche (~35–45 minutes; about €4–5 each way). Tour the Hall of Mirrors, then wander the vast gardens; pack snacks or plan for a café on-site. Go early to minimize lines and return by early afternoon to keep your Paris cadence.

Book Your Key Activities (Curated for Foodies, Sightseers, and Photographers)

• Paris Croissant Small-Group Baking Class with a Chef

• Louvre Museum Masterpieces Guided Tour with Access

• Eiffel Tower Dedicated Reserved Access Top or 2nd floor by lift

• Bateaux Parisiens Seine River Gourmet Lunch & Sightseeing Cruise

Money-saving tips for a mid-range budget (~50/100): Mix classic “bouillons” (great value) with one special meal; choose lunch for pricier restaurants; use the metro for longer hops and walk the rest; and prioritize a few paid entries (Eiffel Tower + one major museum) while enjoying Paris’s many free wonders—gardens, bridges, passages, and façades.

For accommodations, compare neighborhoods and dates via Hotels.com or apartment stays on VRBO, then lock in your intercity transport with Omio trains, Omio flights, or Omio buses. Flying in from abroad? Check fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com and arrive ready to wander.

Photography cheatsheet: Golden hour at Trocadéro; leading lines on Pont de Bir‑Hakeim; reflections near the Louvre Pyramids after rain; silhouettes under the arches of the Pont Neuf; and sweeping views from the steps of the Sacré‑Cœur. Always step aside from crowds—one block off the main squares is where Paris gets interesting.

In five days you’ll taste, see, and photograph the essentials: croissants crafted by your own hands, the Louvre’s timeless masterpieces, sweeping river views, and hilltop frames in Montmartre. With smart timing and a mid-range budget, you’ll leave with a full camera roll—and a fuller heart.