Paris has worn many crowns—Roman village, royal capital, revolutionary stage, and modern art nexus. Today it’s the City of Light, where 19th‑century boulevards meet cutting‑edge fashion, world-class museums, and late-night culture that hums until dawn.

From the Louvre’s masterpieces to the Eiffel Tower’s iron poetry, you’ll pair the essentials with streetwear boutiques, crate-digging at vinyl shops, and a cruise on the Seine. We’ve balanced sightseeing with neighborhood flavor: Montmartre’s village feel, Le Marais’ design energy, and Right Bank nightlife.

Practical notes: the Metro is fast and safe—grab a Navigo Easy pass and tap through zones 1–3. Most restaurants welcome walk-ins at lunch; book dinners. French is the local language, but English is widely understood; polite bonjours go a long way. Service is included, but leaving small change is appreciated.

Paris

Paris stays endlessly new by honoring its old. Walk from Île de la Cité to the Louvre and you’ll pass 2,000 years of history in thirty minutes. Swing north to Montmartre for hilltop views and café life; head east to the Canal Saint‑Martin for creatives, streetwear, and vinyl culture.

Top sights you’ll hit: the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, and a Seine River cruise. Between them, we’ll thread in streetwear designers (think KITH, Supreme, Pigalle Paris, The Broken Arm, Starcow) and record stores (Souffle Continu, Balades Sonores, Superfly Records, Dizonord, Crocodisc).

Where to stay (mid-range focus with options):

• Hôtel des Arts Montmartre (arty, intimate, steps from Sacré‑Cœur): Check availability
• Hôtel du Temps (boutique gem near Opera/Grands Boulevards): Check availability
• Novotel Paris Centre Gare Montparnasse (convenient, modern, great links): Check availability
• Hotel du College de France (Left Bank value, walk to the Seine): Check availability
• Generator Paris (budget‑friendly private rooms + hostel vibe in the 10th): Check availability

Prefer an apartment? Browse vetted stays on VRBO Paris or compare hotels on Hotels.com Paris.

Getting to Paris: Fly into CDG or ORY. From CDG, RER B to central Paris takes ~35–45 minutes; taxis are flat‑fare to the Right/Left Bank. Compare flights to Europe on Omio (Flights). Arriving overland? Eurostar from London (~2h16), Thalys/ICE from Brussels (~1h22) and Amsterdam (~3h20), TGV from Lyon (~2h) via Omio (Trains) or Omio (Buses). If you’re coming from outside Europe, compare fares on Trip.com (Flights).

Day 1: Louvre to the Seine, plus late-night Paris

Morning: Travel and arrival day. If you land early, drop bags and revive at a specialty café: Café Verlet (heritage beans near the Louvre), KB Coffee Roasters (South Pigalle) or Ten Belles (Canal Saint‑Martin). Grab a classic croissant at Du Pain et des Idées if you’re in the 10th.

Afternoon: Dive straight into masterpieces with the Louvre Museum Masterpieces Guided Tour with Reserved Access for focused highlights—Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and crowd‑beating tips from an expert guide. Expect ~2–3 hours; perfect for a first orientation.

Late lunch nearby: Le Comptoir de la Gastronomie (duck confit, onion soup), Bistrot Vivienne (under a 19th‑century arcade), or the budget‑friendly Bouillon Chartier (classic French, brisk service, low prices).

Evening: Celebrate your first night with a glass‑roof dinner cruise: Bateaux Parisiens Seine River Gourmet Dinner & Sightseeing Cruise. You’ll glide past the Louvre, Notre‑Dame, and the Eiffel Tower while dining and listening to live music—Paris’ skyline as your backdrop.

Nightlife options post‑cruise: Cocktails at Little Red Door (seasonal, playful menu) or Le Syndicat (French‑spirits‑only speakeasy). For live music, look to New Morning (jazz/funk) or La Cigale (rock/indie) and catch a late show if the lineup fits.

Day 2: Tower views, Montmartre tastes, streetwear and vinyl digs

Morning: Beat the queues at the Iron Lady with Eiffel Tower Dedicated Reserved Access Top or 2nd floor by lift. Your host smooths entry, and the summit view frames Paris’ geometry—Seine’s curve, Haussmann’s avenues, Sacré‑Cœur on the hill.

Brunch nearby: Kozy Bosquet (hearty plates, good coffee) or Carette on Place du Trocadéro (buttery pastries with a view). If your sweet tooth calls, detour for Pierre Hermé macarons.

Afternoon: Taste your way through hilltop lanes on the Secret Food Tours Award Winning Paris Food Tour with 7+ Tastings in Montmartre—cheeses, charcuterie, breads, sweets, and wine with neighborhood stories woven in.

Then dedicate late afternoon to your passions in Le Marais and beyond:

• Streetwear circuit: KITH Paris (capsule drops), Supreme Paris (archive staples), Pigalle Paris (basketball‑meets‑runway), Starcow (sneakers and collabs), The Broken Arm (concept store with café), Études (graphic‑forward Parisian label). You’ll find most within walking distance around Haut Marais and the 1st/2nd arrondissements.
• Vinyl digs: Balades Sonores (indie and reissues) near Pigalle, Souffle Continu (avant‑garde, jazz, experimental) in the 11th, Superfly Records (soul/funk/jazz rarities) in the 2nd, Dizonord (left‑field electronic and global grooves) in the 18th, Crocodisc (Latin/jazz/blues) by the Sorbonne. Staff are friendly and will point you to fresh arrivals.

Evening: Dinner ideas by neighborhood: Bouillon Pigalle (great value French classics), Clamato (seafood small plates; arrive early), Frenchie Bar à Vins (walk‑in wine bar with standout charcuterie), or L’As du Fallafel for a quick, delicious pita in Rue des Rosiers. Nightlife: Rex Club (techno/house heritage), Le Sacré (eclectic DJ sets) or a concert at Philharmonie de Paris for classical and cross‑genre bills.

Want a final river view without dinner? Take the open‑air Paris Seine River Sightseeing Cruise with Commentary by Bateaux Parisiens—a relaxed way to say au revoir to the monuments.

Insider tips for a budget 50/100: Use bouillons (Julien, Pigalle) for hearty low‑cost French meals. Book museum/tower timed entries to avoid pricier last‑minute tickets. Ride Metro/buses; many sights cluster by neighborhood, so walk to save and discover cafés and street art along the way.

Need more? With extra time, swap in a half‑day Versailles escape via Versailles Palace and Gardens Tour from Paris—Baroque drama, Hall of Mirrors, and formal gardens.

That’s Paris in two days: iconic museums and views, a table on the Seine, neighborhood tastes, and hands‑on time with its fashion and music scenes. Expect to leave with a camera roll full of architecture—and a tote bag full of records and fresh fits.