A Sunday in Paris, from the hill of Montmartre to the Impressionists of Orsay.

A Paris Sunday that runs from north to south and from the hill to the river. Montmartre is best enjoyed before ten, when the Sacré-Cœur steps are still empty. At midday, bistro food at workers'-canteen prices at the foot of the hill. In the afternoon, the Impressionists in the former Orsay station, and to finish, the Luxembourg Garden, with its pond and green chairs. It is a cheap day: the only thing you really pay for is Orsay.

The day, hour by hour

8:45 · Departure. By metro to Anvers, on line 2, or to Abbesses, on line 12.

9:15 · Montmartre and the Sacré-Cœur. From Anvers, climb to the funicular, which costs a metro ticket and goes up in under a minute and a half; or take the stairs, if you feel up to it. The basilica opens every day from 6:30 to 22:30 and admission is free; the dome, which you climb on foot, costs €8 and opens from 10:15. Afterwards, the streets behind the old village and place du Tertre.

12:15 · Lunch at the Bouillon Pigalle. Walk down to boulevard de Clichy. It is a big bouillon: classic bistro cooking at very low prices and continuous service. Eggs with mayonnaise, onion soup, bœuf bourguignon and profiteroles. At weekends it opens from 11:30 and you book on its website; if not, arrive early.

13:45 · Musée d'Orsay. Line 12 takes you without a change from Pigalle to Solférino, a step from the museum. Go straight to the fifth floor, the Impressionist gallery: Monet, Renoir, Degas, Van Gogh. Allow two and a half hours. €16 online, €14 at the ticket office, free for under-26s from the European Economic Area. On Sundays it closes at 18:00.

16:30 · Luxembourg Garden. About 20 minutes' walk through Saint-Germain. The Senate's garden has the big pond for toy boats, the Médicis fountain and thousands of chairs to sit on for free. Its hours change with the light: in November it closes at 17:00, in summer much later. Check the table on its website before you go.

18:00 · Return. RER B from Luxembourg or metro 4 from Saint-Germain-des-Prés.

With children

The funicular, the Sacré-Cœur stairs and the Luxembourg boats are for them. At Orsay, the giant clock on the fifth floor appeals more than the paintings: go with a short list.