A romantic, mostly walkable five days in Paris: the big sights first, then a slower pace with churches, art and the best sunset view in the city.

At a glance

• How long: 5 days
• When we went: Mid-May
• Where we stayed: Hotel Pilgrim, in the centre
• Best for: Couples, first-timers
• Pace: One packed day, one full day trip, then calmer days
• Getting around: On foot from a central hotel

Sort out before you go

• Versailles tickets. It’s a full day and very crowded.
• A Seine boat tour.
• Montparnasse Tower for sunset.
• Visits to Sainte-Chapelle and the Paris Opera House.

Day 1: The classics

1. Eiffel Tower.
2. Jardins du Trocadéro for the best view of the tower.
3. Pont Alexandre III, the prettiest bridge in Paris.
4. Arc de Triomphe. We admired it from below.
5. A boat tour on the Seine to rest your feet.

Day 2: Versailles

1. A full day at Versailles Palace: the rooms, the ceilings, the gardens.
2. Expect crowds and to be tired by the evening.

Day 3: Churches and art

1. Sainte-Chapelle and its stained glass.
2. Musée Rodin, calm and not overwhelming.
3. Hôtel de Ville from the outside.

Day 4: Viewpoints and sunset

1. Panthéon.
2. Sacré-Cœur and a wander around Montmartre.
3. A walk around the Louvre (we stayed outside this time).
4. Sunset from the top of Montparnasse Tower. The best decision of the trip.

Day 5: Ending on a classic

1. Paris Opera House. Go inside.
2. Notre-Dame.
3. The rest of the day: walking, cafés, food.

Tips from our trip

• Stay central so you can walk everywhere.
• Bring shoes you can walk in for 10 hours.
• Montparnasse was less crowded than we expected, and the view includes the Eiffel Tower.
• Paris is expensive. Budget for it.

What we’d change

• More time in cafés, fewer big attractions.