Things to Do in Paris in 15 Days

Known as a favorite destination for travelers around the world, Paris is one of those places you should visit at least once in a lifetime but, sadly, can never get enough of. No matter how many times you have been to the City of Light, you will always find something new to see, do or learn in Paris

However, a 15-day itinerary in Paris is a once in a lifetime opportunity. With this time available you can really enjoy the most popular attractions, explore less touristy areas and soak up the Parisian culture; additionally I propose you to go beyond the boundaries of Paris and visit some magical places such as: Monet's Gardens or the forest of Fontainebleau, I hope you enjoy the guide I have prepared for you!

Take the tourist bus through Paris

I recommend starting the morning of your first day by taking the Paris sightseeing bus route for a quick tour of the city. This is an open top bus that runs around the city through the most important tourist spots. You get a quick glimpse of the beauty of Paris with the places you will later be seeing in depth: The Eiffel Tower, Opera Garnier, Musée du Louvre, Champs-Élysées and much more.

• Schedule: This type of service is usually available from 9.30 am to 5 pm. A new bus leaves every 40 minutes on average.
• Ticket price: From 36€ per person.
• Duration of the visit: The complete tour lasts approximately 2 hours

Louvre Museum

The Louvre's collection of works of art is impressive; not for nothing is it considered one of the best museums in the world. With a total of 30,000 pieces on display, touring it completely in one day is practically impossible. Buy your Louvre tickets in advance and spend the day absorbing as much as you can. Be sure to visit the three Great Ladies of the Louvre: The Venus de Milo, The Winged Victory of Samothrace and Mona Lisa.

• Hours: 9 am to 6 pm.
• Admission fee: The entrance fee is around 15€ for adults.
• Duration of the visit: To see the main works you must set aside at least two hours of itinerary.

Visit the Rue Cler market

Start the morning of your second day at the most famous market in Paris. Rue Cler is located in the heart of the 7th arrondissement, an area of Paris commonly associated with French nobility, filled with historic mansions. It is close to important Parisian monuments and museums such as the Musée d'Orsay, the Musée Rodin or Les Invalides. Take a few hours of your morning to visit the stalls and stop for lunch in some of its premises.

• Hours: From 9 am to 7 pm from Tuesday to Sunday with a break on Mondays.
• Admission fee: It is a free street market and open to the public.
• Duration of the visit: It depends on what you want to do and if you stop for lunch or a coffee. Estimate about 30 minutes to see the stalls and walk around the market.

Visit the Eiffel Tower and Trocadero Square

The most iconic symbol of the Parisian capital is a 30-minute walk along the left bank of the Seine. You can climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower andtake beautiful pictures of the city from the top of Paris. Inside the tower you will find first class restaurants, if you make a reservation to eat or if you buy your ticket for the Eiffel Tower in advance you can skip the entrance line.

Place du TrocaderoLeaving the Eiffel Tower behind and crossing the Seine by the Pont d'Iéna you will find Place du Trocadero, classified as the best place to take pictures of the Eiffel Tower at sunset.

• Hours: From 9:30 am to 11:45 pm.
• Ticket price: From 10,7 ¤ the price increases if you want to go up to the top and if you want to use the elevators.
• Duration of the visit: Set aside approximately 1.5 hours to visit the second floor and 2.5 hours if you want to climb to the top.

Take the day to get to know the city of Versailles

Visit the city of Versailles and its most important tourist attraction: The Palace and Gardens of Versailles. Considered the most illustrious and opulent castle in all of France, it is a clear example of the most outstanding achievements of French art during the 17th century. For a time it served as the home of the French kings until the fall of the monarchy, but today it tells the story of the country's past as a museum of impressive history. Be sure to visit the luxurious Hall of Mirrors, the Queen's bedroom, the King's apartments and the chapels.

Canal Saint-Martin

Start the morning of your fourth day with a leisurely stroll through the beautiful scenery around the St. Martin Canal; enjoy the view, relax with a coffee and have a snack at a nearby café.

To get to your next destination, take metro line 8at the Metro République station and get off at the Invalides station.

Rodin Museum

From the Invalides station the Musée Rodin is a 10 minute walk. Dedicated entirely to the life and work of the famous French sculptor Auguste Rodin; you will have access not only to his most important works but also to the workshop spaces where he gave life to so many creations.

• Hours: The Rodin museum is open from 10 am to 4 pm.
• Admission fee: The base rate for adults is from 12€ per ticket.
• Duration of the visit: Book one hour to visit the entire museum.

Les Invalides complex

Continue your tour in the 7th arrondissement of Paris. Directly opposite the Rodin Museum is the Invalides Complex. Visit the Hôtel des Invalides, the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte, the Esplanade des Invalides and the other museums of the complex.

• Hours: From 10 am to 6 pm.
• Admission fee: From 14€ per adult ticket.
• Duration of the visit: Approximately 2 hours to visit the complex and the museum area.

Day trip to the Loire Valleys

Considered one of the most charming regions of France, it was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco.

The Loire Valley is located 2.5 hours away from Paris; tours depart every day with small groups of tourists who undertake the adventure of visiting the most famous castles in the valley. Due to the length of the trip, an excursionfrom Paris tothe Loire Châteaux will take at least 12 hours in total; this is enough time to see the most important landmarks. Although the itinerary may vary depending on the company you hire for the tour, most usually include the most famous and impressive castles:

• Château of Chenonceau
• Château of Cheverny
• Château of Chambord

Chateau de la Fontainebleau

The Chateau de Fontainebleau is a less visited destination, but equally as beautiful as Versailles. Located just 1 hour outside of Paris, it is a favorite weekend getaway destination for Parisians.

For seven centuries, French kings and emperors inhabited its chambers, and a succession of them worked to refurbish and beautify its spaces. Spend the morning touring the castle and in the afternoon take a mountain excursion to the forests of Fontainebleau.

• Hours: From 09h to 17h.
• Admission fee: The entrance ticket is from 12€ for adults.
• Duration of the visit: In a two-hour tour you can visit the castle and the surrounding area.

Take a tour on the Seine

The Seine is the soul of Paris. On your return to the city, and at nightfall you can take a night cruise on the Seine to enjoy the spectacle of night lights that illuminate the main Parisian monuments.

Explore Le Marais Quartier

Le Marais Quartier is located in the 3rd arrondissement of the city. It was once the Jewish quarter of Paris but today it is the place where the most fashionable art galleries have their home in several architecturally significant buildings.

In this district you can have lunch in an alternative restaurant, shop in an avant-garde fashion atelier, all while admiring the contemporary art of the many museums scattered around the place. Here are my top favorites, but I invite you to explore Le Marais for yourself, some new art nooks may have appeared in the last few days!

• Musée National Picasso-Paris
• Le Centre Pompidou
• Musée Carnavalet
• Museé Hunting and Nature
• Musée Cognacq-Jay

Excursion to Giverny and the Maison Monet

Giverny is less than an hour from the capital; day trips to this destination depart from Paris or less. Therefore, a visit to the village of Giverny, the Claude Monet Foundation, the famous artist's house and the gardens that accompany it, is an experience you will appreciate if you are in Paris for several days. On the tour of the house you will see **Monet'**s personal collection of more than 200 Japanese woodcuts and works of art by his favorite impressionist contemporaries.

But the garden is undoubtedly the space in which Monet invested the most time and effort. Divided into distinct plots separated by low hedges, each has its own theme, harmony and color palette. Pay attention to the Japanese bridge that the artist had installed, when you cross it, admire the water lilies resting peacefully on the waters of the pond.

• Hours: From 9:30 am to 6 pm.
• Admission fee: The entrance ticket for adults is from 9,50€.
• Duration of the visit: A tour from Paris will take at least 5 hours including the round trip.

Spend the morning at Les Jardins des Luxembourg

The Luxembourg Gardens make up the heart of the left bank of Paris; considered by many to be the most charming park in the whole city due to its lush gardens built through different stages and integrating as many styles as you could imagine.

• Hours: From 10 am to 7 pm.
• Admission fee: 14€ approximately for the adult rate.
• Duration of the visit: Touring the gardens and admiring the sculptures will take you 30 to 40 minutes.

Mouffetard Market

Leaving the Luxembourg Gardens along the Boulevard Saint-Michelle, a 15-minute walk away, you will find the Mouffetard Market. You can buy local gourmet food in one of the oldest and liveliest shopping streets in Paris, a permanent open-air market with roots dating back to the Neolithic period, where locals frequent for their daily shopping.

The Catacombs of Paris

Departing from the Mouffetard Market you can take a 20 minute walk to the entrance of the Catacombs or do the same route by taking the 59 bus from Les Gobelins station.Visiting the catacombs of Paris is one of the most amazing experiences you can do in the French capital. Here lie the remains of approximately 6 million people.

• Hours: Tours start at 10 am, the Catacombs close at 8:30 pm
• Admission fee: The entrance fee to the Catacombs is from 29€ per adult ticket.
• Duration of the visit: The two-kilometer route will take about an hour to complete.

Ile Saint-Louis and Île de la Cité

Paris is composed of two natural islands, located on the Seine River. Start the morning of your tenth day by visiting the important historical monuments that were built here.

Ile Saint-Louis: the smaller of the two and mostly residential; with its narrow streets it gives the sensation of transporting you to a 17th century French village. Île de la Cité: home to Paris' most imposing Gothic buildings such as Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Sainte-Chapelle basilica and the Conciergerie prison, where Marie-Antoinette stayed during her last days until her death.

• Hours: Sainte Chapelle is open to the public from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Ticket price: The ticket price is from 11,50€
• Duration of the visit: The tour inside Sainte-Chapelle to appreciate the interiors will take about 30 minutes.

Bastille Square

From the Ile Saint-Louis to the Place de la Bastille the walking tour is only 13 minutes, crossing the Seine by the Pont de Sully. This square is an important Parisian icon, its seizure by the armed people during the early days of the revolt marked a significant milestone in the development of the French Revolution.

Spend the day exploring Montmartre

On your last day, head to the 18th arrondissement to see what was in the early 20th century the center of a thriving artistic community. This area of Paris was home to impressionist and abstract art geniuses such as Van Gohg, Picasso, Duchamp, Dali and Monet. Today Montmartre is distinguished by a thriving nightlife. Some of the historical and cultural icons you should visit during your exploration are:

• Sacre-Coeur Basilica
• Dali Museum
• Moulin Rouge
• Place de Montmartre

Spend the morning at the Musee Jacquemart- Andre

Housed in a former 19th century mansion and decorated in period style, this museum features paintings, sculptures, furniture and all kinds of antiques collected by Édouard André and Nélie Jacquemart.

• Hours: From 10 am to 6 pm.
• Admission fee: The basic adult admission ticket is available from 15€
• Duration of the visit: Book at least one hour to visit the museum in its entirety.

Visit Arc de Triomphe

Just a 15-minute walk from the Jacquemart-Andre Museum is one of the most iconic Parisian landmarks (along with the Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame): Paris' Arc de Triomphe. Ordered to be built by Napoleon himself, in honor of those soldiers who died fighting in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. In this monument is the Tomb of the Anonymous Soldier.

• Hours: From 10 am to 11 pm.
• Admission fee: Free access to the square. The entrance to the museum costs approximately 13€.
• Duration of the visit: Approximately 45 to 1.30 minutes.

Enjoy an afternoon of shopping in Paris

Take advantage of your privileged location to have an evening of shopping in the most commercial Parisian streets. The luxury Parisian shopping avenues are the following: Champs Elysees, Avenue Montaigne and Rue Royale; if you like fashion you will appreciate a visit to the Galeries Lafayette shopping m all located on Boulevard Haussman.

Spend the morning in Saint-Germain-des-Prés

Saint-Germain-des-Prés Quarter, a neighborhood located near the Seine was the former center of the French existentialist movement, historically this place is associated with figures such as Simon de Beauvoir or Jean-Paul Sartre. Today it is one of the most elegant luxury neighborhoods of Paris, it is also an artistic center with many prestigious museums and art galleries.

Among them the famous Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Pres; built in 990 and partially destroyed during the French Revolution, it houses one of the oldest bell towers in France.

• Hours: From 8 am to 7:45 pm.
• Admission fee: The abbey is open to the public free of charge.
• Duration of the visit: Estimate 30 minutes to visit the church and its surroundings.

Montparnasse Cemetery

A 20-minute walk from Saint-Germain-des-Prés you will find another mythical Parisian corner worth exploring. The Montparnasse Cemetery not only displays a beautiful design but also houses the remains of important historical figures, with beautiful sculptural tombs everywhere you look.

• Hours: From 8 am to 5:30 pm or 6 pm depending on the season.
• Admission fee: Admission is free.
• Duration of the visit: If you bring with you a map of Montparnasse showing the exact location of the tombs you can do the whole tour in less than 2 hours.

Spend the day in the Latin Quarter

Between the 5th and 6th arrondissements of Paris lies the Latin Quarter. Known worldwide for its youthful vibe, it is home to the most famous Parisian centers of higher learning: The Sorbonne and École Normale Supérieure, l' École des Mines de Paris, the Panthéon-Assas University, the Schola Cantorum and the Jussieu university campus.

You can spend a whole day exploring its monuments and gardens or tasting its food; for which a gastronomic tour of the Latin Quarter is very useful. Some points of interest worth exploring are: the Musée De Cluny and the Pantheon de Paris.

Schedule a trip to Disneyland from Paris

Have an experience to remember by visiting Disneyland Paris on your vacation. Since its opening in the 90's this amusement park has become one of the favorite weekend getaways for Parisians; so you will find several transportation options in Paris. Dedicate a full day to this excursion and take the opportunity to ride the best attractions of Disneyland Paris and of course visit the best Disneyland restaurants in the complex.

• Hours: From 10 am to 6 pm. In summer time until 22h.
• Ticket price: The one-day ticket with access to all rides (both parks) is available from 74€
• Duration of the visit: You must book the whole day to enjoy this tour.