Central Paris in a day, from the Île de la Cité to the Louvre, by way of the river.

The first day in Paris is often this one: the island where the city was born, the river and the biggest museum in the world. What changes the day is the order. The Sainte-Chapelle at 9:00, before the groups; the boat at midday, when you already know where you are; and the Louvre in the afternoon, with a booked time, when the morning queues have already gone in. In between, lunch in the Marais. Everything is on foot or one metro stop away.

The day, hour by hour

8:30 · Departure. From your accommodation, by metro to Cité, on line 4, or by RER B or C to Saint-Michel Notre-Dame. A metro ticket costs €2.55.

9:00 · Île de la Cité. Start with the Sainte-Chapelle, which opens at 9:00: the windows of the upper chapel are seen best in the morning light and without crowds. Admission costs €16, with a booked time. Afterwards, Notre-Dame, which is visited free as a place of worship; if you want to climb the towers, it is €16 more and also booked.

11:45 · Seine cruise. Cross to the Pont Neuf and go down to the square du Vert-Galant, at the tip of the island. The Vedettes du Pont Neuf leave several times a day; in November 2026, for example, at 12:00. An hour to the Eiffel Tower and back past Notre-Dame, with a guide in French and English and a free app with commentary in Spanish. €15 online, €7 for children.

13:15 · Lunch at the Breizh Café. Cross to the right bank and go up through the Marais to rue Vieille-du-Temple. Savoury buckwheat galette, salted-butter crêpe for dessert and Breton cider. Open from 9:00 to 23:00 and booked online.

15:00 · The Louvre. From Saint-Paul, one stop on line 1 drops you at the museum. With the booked slot you skip the long queue. In three hours you can fit the Mona Lisa, the Winged Victory of Samothrace, the Venus de Milo and one more room of your choice. The ticket for EU residents costs €22. It closes at 18:00, except Wednesday and Friday, when it opens until 21:00.

18:00 · Return. If you still have the energy, cross the Tuileries gardens before going down to the metro.

With children

The boat is what they like most, and the Sainte-Chapelle impresses them if there is no waiting. At the Louvre, choose few rooms: the Egyptian antiquities work well. With small children, swap the museum for a stroll through the Marais and place des Vosges.