2-Day Paris Itinerary - Weekend Express: Top Sights & Classic Parisian Restaurants

Step inside Notre-Dame to admire its soaring Gothic nave, rose windows and sculpted façades. Arrive early or late in the day to dodge tour groups, dress modestly as it’s an active place of worship, and walk around the exterior afterwards to spot the details you missed from inside.

Climb into Sainte‑Chapelle’s upper chapel and let your eyes adjust before circling the 15‑meter walls of stained glass. Book a timed ticket to shorten security waits, aim for late morning or early afternoon when the sun lights up the panels, and do a full lap close to the windows to spot tiny narrative details in the glass.

See icons like the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo, then escape to quieter wings for sculptures and paintings in peace. Pre‑book skip‑the‑line access, enter via the Carrousel du Louvre underground mall if the pyramid is packed, and pick just 2–3 sections in advance so you don’t spend the day lost in corridors.

Cross the Tuileries on its wide gravel paths between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde, pausing at fountains, statues and long sightlines. Claim one of the green chairs around the basins for a short rest, then use the garden’s central axis for quick, symmetrical photos toward the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre and the Obelisk of Luxor.

Climb the Arc de Triomphe for 360° views over the Champs‑Élysées and the city’s radiating boulevards. Time your visit for sunset or blue hour for moody photos, use the underground passage to reach the base safely, and pause at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to catch the eternal flame before heading up.

Step into Sacré‑Cœur’s bright white basilica, then circle the hilltop terrace for one of the widest open views over Paris. Come just after opening or around sunset for softer light and fewer crowds, bring a scarf or shawl to cover shoulders if needed, and consider the paid dome climb for a quieter 360° lookout above the city noise.

Linger on Place du Tertre to watch painters and caricaturists at work in Montmartre’s open-air studio. Stroll slowly, compare styles and prices before committing, and step into nearby side streets for quieter glimpses of the old artists’ quarter.

Explore Impressionist and Post‑Impressionist icons inside the former Gare d’Orsay, a Beaux‑Arts train station turned museum. Start on the upper floors for the big names and clock‑window views over the Seine, then work your way down; pre‑book tickets and choose early morning or late afternoon for a calmer visit.

Ride up to the Montparnasse Tower observation deck for a skyline view that actually includes the Eiffel Tower. Aim for sunset to see Paris shift from day to night, and book tickets in advance to avoid queuing at busy evening slots.

Step into Shakespeare and Company, Paris’s iconic English‑language bookstore facing the Seine and Notre‑Dame. Browse slowly through the creaking upstairs rooms, keep voices low for the readers tucked into corners, and time your visit for just after opening or late evening to avoid the biggest queues at the door.

Walk a slow loop around Notre-Dame to admire the flying buttresses from the Quai de Montebello, then weave through the backstreets of Île de la Cité. Aim for golden hour for soft light on the stone façades, pause on a bench along the Seine, and use this as a calm reset between busier stops.