Une Amie à Paris
First Time in Paris?
Here’s Exactly What to Do
A practical, day-by-day guide from someone who’s lived it — so you skip the tourist traps and fall in love with the real Paris from day one.
Listen — I know the feeling. You’ve dreamed about Paris for years, you’ve finally booked the trip, and now you’re staring at a thousand blog posts and TikToks and “top 50” lists and thinking where do I even start?
Start here. I’ve been in Paris for years, and I’ve walked every friend through their first trip. This is the guide I wish someone had given me — not a list of attractions, but an actual plan. Day by day, meal by meal, mistake by mistake.
Consider me your amie in Paris. Let’s get you ready.
Your first-time itinerary
4 Perfect Days in Paris
A realistic, walkable itinerary that balances the iconic sights with the moments that make Paris unforgettable.
Day 1
Arrive, Settle In & Fall in Love
Morning / Afternoon
Land at CDG and take the RER B to central Paris (about 35 minutes, €11.50). Drop your bags at your hotel and resist the urge to nap — your body clock will thank you later.
✦Tip: Buy a Navigo Easy card at the airport RER station. Load it with t+ tickets and you're set for the metro all trip.
Late Afternoon
Walk to the Seine. Cross Pont des Arts, stroll through the Tuileries Garden, and let the city wash over you. No agenda — just wander.
Evening
Dinner in Saint-Germain-des-Prés (6th arrondissement). Find a sidewalk table at a classic bistro, order a carafe of house red and steak-frites, and watch the world walk by. This is your 'I'm actually in Paris' moment.
✦Tip: Don't eat before 7:30pm — restaurants are empty and the kitchen is just warming up. Locals eat at 8 or 8:30.
Day 2
The Icons — But Done Right
Morning
Croissant and café crème at a neighborhood boulangerie — not a tourist café. Then head to the Musée d'Orsay (book tickets online in advance). The Impressionist collection on the top floor is unmissable, and the building itself is a converted train station.
✦Tip: Skip the Louvre on your first trip unless you're an art history devotee. It's overwhelming. Orsay is manageable and the art hits harder.
Afternoon
Walk across the river to the Louvre courtyard (the glass pyramid is stunning from outside — that's enough). Continue through the Tuileries to Place de la Concorde, then up the Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe. Climb to the top for the best panoramic view of Paris — better than the Eiffel Tower, and no queue.
Evening
Head to Le Marais (3rd/4th arrondissement) for dinner. This is Paris's most walkable, vibrant neighborhood — cobblestone streets, boutiques still open at 9pm, and some of the best food in the city.
✦Tip: Le Marais is wonderful at night. Walk Rue des Rosiers, peek into Place des Vosges (Paris's oldest square), and grab a falafel from L'As du Fallafel if you need a late snack.
Day 3
Montmartre, Markets & the Real Paris
Morning
Head to Montmartre early — before the tourist crowds arrive. Walk up Rue Lepic (the same street from Amélie), stop for coffee at a café with a terrace view, and reach the Sacré-Cœur basilica by 9am. The view of Paris from the steps is magnificent at this hour.
✦Tip: Take the metro to Abbesses (not Anvers) to start from the charming side of the hill, and avoid the steep tourist staircase on the south side.
Late Morning
Wander through the side streets behind Sacré-Cœur — Rue Cortot, Place du Tertre (artists' square), and down through the vineyard. Then descend to the covered market Marché de l'Olive or walk south to the 9th arrondissement for brunch.
Afternoon
Cross to the Left Bank. Explore the Latin Quarter (5th arrondissement): Shakespeare and Company bookshop, the Panthéon, and the Luxembourg Gardens. Grab a chair, sit by the fountain, and just breathe — this is the most Parisian thing you can do.
Evening
Splurge dinner tonight. You've earned it. Try a wine bar with small plates — Paris is full of incredible natural wine bars where the sommelier picks for you and the food is always excellent.
Day 4
Your Neighborhood Day — Slow Down
Morning
No museums. No monuments. Today you live like a Parisian. Pick a neighborhood and just exist in it. My recommendation: the Canal Saint-Martin (10th arrondissement). Walk along the water, browse the boutiques on Rue Beaurepaire, sit on the canal bank with a coffee.
✦Tip: If it's Sunday, the Marché Bastille is one of the best open-air markets in Paris. Buy cheese, bread, charcuterie, and a bottle of wine for a canal-side picnic.
Afternoon
Visit the Eiffel Tower area — but don't necessarily go up (the queues can steal 2+ hours). Instead, walk from Trocadéro for the iconic view across the river, then have lunch at a café on Rue Cler, a lovely Parisian market street nearby.
Evening
Last dinner. Go somewhere special — somewhere you'll remember. A tiny bistro with 20 seats, a handwritten menu, and a chef who comes out to say bonsoir. This is Paris at its finest: small, personal, unforgettable.
✦Tip: For your last night, book ahead. Ask your hotel for a recommendation — they often know the best local spots that aren't on any app.
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Learn from others
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Trying to see everything
Paris rewards slow travel. Pick 2-3 things per day maximum. The best moments happen between the sights — a perfect croissant, a hidden courtyard, a conversation with a shopkeeper. Leave room for those.
Eating near major landmarks
The restaurants surrounding the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, and the Louvre are almost universally terrible and overpriced. Walk 10 minutes in any direction and the quality (and price) improves dramatically.
Not booking museum tickets in advance
The Orsay, Louvre, and Versailles all sell out or have 90+ minute queues. Book online at least a few days ahead. Most museums are closed on Mondays or Tuesdays — check before you go.
Taking taxis everywhere
The Paris metro is fast, cheap, safe, and covers the entire city. A single t+ ticket costs €2.15, and you can get anywhere in 20 minutes. Taxis in traffic will cost 10x more and take twice as long.
Speaking English immediately
Start every interaction with 'Bonjour' and a smile. Even if your French stops there, that one word changes everything. Parisians are far warmer when you try — they consider it basic politeness, like a handshake.
Over-packing
You'll walk 15,000+ steps every day on cobblestones. Bring comfortable walking shoes (not brand-new ones). Pack layers — Paris weather shifts fast, even in summer. Leave room in your suitcase for the things you'll inevitably buy here.
Ignoring Sunday closures
Many shops, bakeries, and some restaurants close on Sundays (and Monday mornings). Plan around it: visit markets, parks, and museums on Sundays, and save shopping for weekdays.
From your amie
This page gives you the overview — my full guide gives you the hour-by-hour plan, the exact restaurants, and the spots only locals know.
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Everything you need to know
Practical Paris Tips
Getting Around
✦Buy a Navigo Easy card (€2) and load t+ tickets (€2.15 each or a carnet of 10 for €17.35). Works on metro, bus, tram, and RER within Paris.
✦The metro runs from ~5:30am to ~1:15am (2:15am Friday/Saturday nights). After that, use the Noctilien night bus or Uber.
✦RER B connects CDG airport to central Paris. RER C goes to Versailles. These are commuter trains, not metro — you need a separate ticket.
✦Google Maps works perfectly for transit directions. Download offline maps before your trip just in case.
Money & Tipping
✦Card is accepted almost everywhere. Visa and Mastercard work best. Always decline 'dynamic currency conversion' — pay in euros.
✦Tipping is not expected. Service is included in the bill by law. If the service was exceptional, round up or leave €1-2 — but never feel obligated.
✦ATMs (called 'distributeurs') are everywhere. Use bank-affiliated ones, not standalone machines in tourist areas, to avoid fees.
Language Basics
✦'Bonjour' (hello) — say it every time you enter a shop, restaurant, or interact with anyone. This is the single most important word of your trip.
✦'Merci' (thank you), 'S'il vous plaît' (please), 'Excusez-moi' (excuse me), 'L'addition, s'il vous plaît' (the check, please).
✦'Parlez-vous anglais?' (Do you speak English?) — ask politely after your bonjour. Most people in central Paris speak some English.
✦Don't worry about being perfect. Parisians genuinely appreciate the effort, even if you mangle the pronunciation.
Safety
✦Paris is very safe for tourists. Standard big-city awareness applies: watch your bag on the metro, keep your phone secure, and be alert at major tourist spots.
✦The main risk is pickpocketing at crowded sites — the Eiffel Tower, Sacré-Cœur, and metro line 1. Keep valuables in front pockets or a cross-body bag.
✦Avoid the 'friendship bracelet' and 'petition' scams at Sacré-Cœur and the Trocadéro. Just say 'non, merci' and keep walking.
Dining & Reservations
✦Book dinner reservations 2-3 days ahead for popular bistros. For high-end restaurants, book 2-4 weeks ahead.
✦Lunch is the local secret — many excellent restaurants offer a 'formule' (set lunch) for €15-25 that would cost twice as much at dinner.
✦Water is free: ask for 'une carafe d'eau' (tap water). Don't order bottled water unless you want to.
✦Bread is always free and automatically brought to the table. Don't ask for butter — it's not the French way (except at breakfast).
Packing Smart
✦Comfortable walking shoes are non-negotiable. You'll cover 12-20km per day on uneven cobblestones and stairs.
✦Layers, always layers. Even in summer, mornings and evenings can be cool. A light jacket or cardigan is essential.
✦A small cross-body bag or daypack — just big enough for your phone, wallet, water, and a light layer.
✦Leave the heels at home unless you're going to a specific event. Parisian style is effortless, not painful.
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