Visiting the city of lights is a must for anyone who enjoys travel and experiencing culture. The city offers some of the most notable and famous landmarks in Western Europe - from the crumbling remains of ancient Roman ruins, to classic renaissance artworks and architecture, to the eclectic cultural appeal of modern Paris.
With so much on offer and only a limited amount of time in your budget, the obvious question is; “How long should I plan my Paris trip to be?” In this article, we will give you our recommendations for trip lengths depending on what exactly you want to experience, from a day tour to a week-long Parisian extravaganza.
Day trip
In the event that you’re only able to spend one day in Paris, we would advise you to see the main sights that the city is famous for. At GoWithGuide, our guides offer several Paris day-trip options for your convenience.
These range in length from a mere 3 hours to an 8-hour walking tour, but all can be completed in a single day. The sights and attractions that you can visit on such a tour includes the world’s most famous art museum, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Cathedral of Notre-Dame, as well as the famous Latin Quarter.
This may sound like a lot, but all of these attractions can be visited within a couple of hours alongside our experienced guides, who will take care of pick-up, public transportation, and guide you through the various sites whilst conveying the kind of intimate information that cannot be gained from reading a simple travel brochure.
2 Day (Weekend) trip
In the event that you have a bit more time on your hands, you’ll obviously be able to discover much more of the city. In this case we still recommend going on a tour of the main famous landmarks during one of your days, and as mentioned above there are various options for this.
For the remaining day, we can spice things up by visiting some of the lesser traveled Parisian landmarks. If you’re feeling on the adventurous side, we would recommend a tour of the infamous Paris catacombs!
These cavernous tunnels are thought to house an estimated six million skeletons - moved from Paris’s overflowing cemeteries back during the 18th century. Parts of the catacombs are open to the public, and alongside one of our private tour guides you can also gain access to restricted areas! Here you will be treated to a fascinating dive into the city’s murkier history, exploring the history of the catacombs from its days as a limestone quarry all the way to its use as a mass grave site. This will definitely add a unique and memorable flair to your trip!
5 Day (Week-long) trip
In the event that you are lucky enough to be able to spend a full week in Paris, we have a veritable plethora of activities waiting for you to enjoy. As mentioned previously, we would still recommend spending at least one day taking in the traditional sights of the city such as the Eiffel Tower and Louvre, but if you have a particular interest in one you have the luxury of spending an entire day on it. Those with a penchant for art or opera can easily find themselves engrossed in Paris’s art museums and opera houses for a day or more.
We would then also recommend delving into the Parisian catacombs for at least a day, and after that enjoying a more leisurely day exploring the Latin quarter, cafés, shopping districts, and of course some of Paris’s world-famous restaurants for a truly world-class culinary experience.
After that, we can head to the outskirts of the city for something a bit more rustic. Contrary to popular belief, one can visit some amazing vineyards and wine farms right outside Paris, and the surrounding countryside features various activities to partake in, from wine tasting to hiking to taking art lessons in one of the studios used by the masters of old.
Conclusion
When it comes to traveling, our obvious recommendation would be “the longer, the better”, since one has much more time to experience a myriad of different sights and experiences. Realistically speaking, however, most people will be making their trip to Paris whilst on a larger tour of either France or Western Europe, so there may not be as much time for any single location as one would like.
In this case, we would recommend at least staying in the city for a two-day tour. This will allow you to experience all the main sites, whilst also reserving one day for perhaps a more relaxing leisurely trip through the city - or if it caters to your tastes, take a delve into the mysterious catacombs that snake under the ancient city.
Whichever you choose, at GoWithGuide you can find a guide that will be able to accommodate your needs! Simply head on over to our Paris tours page to browse through our extensive collection of tours, and here’s the kicker - you can even request a customized tour of the city! That means you will be able to decide where exactly you want to go and what sites you want to visit.
Hire a private tour guide for your Paris trip at GoWithGuide today!