Visiting Paris the 1st time – for 1, 2 days or more

Visiting Paris the 1st time is a unic and special stay. It has to be a succès. Its duration should be at least 2 days, even if you follow our recommendations below to approach your stay “efficiently” from your first day.
We suggest you to choose among 4 options and 6 solutions to apply from your arrival and avoid the rush of the end of your stay which will always be too short.

We especially recommend our Stay Generators, which you can use for free by clicking on our Paris Trip Planner by VPBY. It will save you the hassle of trying to see as much as possible in as little time as possible.

How the Paris Trip Planner works:
1/ You enter your “general” preferences (museums, churches, monuments, parks, etc.),
2/ the planner then provides you with all the relevant listings,
3/ you click on what you want to visit,
4/ the planner returns the itinerary for each day of your stay
5/ with geographically optimized daily itineraries—if you wish—to avoid tedious and tiring travel.
It takes just 5 clicks and 3 minutes. And it’s completely free. To use it, click on “Paris Trip Planner.”

Coming to Paris for the first time: how to find your way around and how to start your stay?

Having trouble finding the right word or phrase in French? Click here on PHRASEBOOK—or in the top right corner of your screen.

It’s a glossary of 100 useful words and/or phrases for tourists visiting Paris (at restaurants, hotels, while shopping, on the metro, greetings, asking for directions, etc.). Eight languages are available. And guess what? You can even hear each word and phrase spoken aloud in French!

Paris is vast, with many inhabitants. Visiting Paris the 1st time could be puzzling. Parisians in the streets seem to come from everywhere, moving in all directions, in a hurry, without asking too many questions about the people they meet. It is logical to feel lost, especially if the language spoken is not your own.

We always recommend that for a first visit to Paris, you need a global view that will allow you to situate yourself in this foreign capital, to observe it “from a distance” without being directly immersed in the city streets – the time to put yourself in the local atmosphere and to recover from the jet-lag. And it’s easier than it seems, because we have several ways to help you as soon as you start your stay :

Visiting Paris the 1st time: see Paris from above

You will then have a panoramic view of the whole city and you will recognize most of the monuments and museums at your feet, at a distance.
You will be able to roughly locate them geographically and evaluate the distances to travel in the city of Paris. It’s smaller than it looks!

Climb one of the 4 highest monuments/buildings in the Capital:

Take a cruise on the Seine with the Bateaux-Mouches when visiting Paris the 1st time.

On the 2 banks of the Seine you will pass in front of almost all the famous buildings, monuments and museums of Paris, under the famous bridges and the surrounding squares.
It is also a relaxing tour with commentary that will put you directly in a pleasant and calm atmosphere, far from the “rumors” of the main streets. You will know almost everything about Paris in 1h1/2 or 2 hours.

Take a city tour with a Bus Tour.

Here you are “in the city” in a double-decker bus with a panoramic view. However, you are still “at a distance” from the crowds that you can simply observe in the streets to “acclimatize” yourself. And you will still see most of the “things” that must be seen in Paris and that you will visit in the following days.

What to visit the rest of the stay, during the first visit to Paris ?

Visiting Paris the 1st time offers a multitude of opportunities. It only depends of your taste and what you like. Our site includes a “database” of over 356 “points of interest” to see or visit. It is divided into 22 categories, in priority:

But you can learn more by clicking on “All you can see“.

A good start for your 1st visit in Paris : the list of “Must-sees” or “Must-visit”

This list is of course not exhaustive, nor “mandatory”. These sites are not classified by interest, the priority to see them will be yours. The list should be considered as a reminder of known sites among which you can easily choose what attracts you the most. You will find all the information you need by clicking on "Places to see"

What if you visit Paris the 1st time and on a special occasion?

If it is a special occasion that is the reason for your stay, make a specific detailed list : honeymoon, family visit with young children or teenager, spring, summer, etc…

Among the themes often discussed:

or a more personal reason:

We can also organize for you, your entire stay in Paris : our Paris Trip Planner by VPBY

It can be difficult for you to make a choice among all that is to be seen. That’s why we can organize for you a visit plan (and even a stay schedule), depending on the length of time you will stay in Paris, and of course on your personal interests.

Take advantage of our site’s NEW, free exclusive feature—it’s worth its weight in gold!

This site features a completely free “Paris Trip Planner” that will save you the hassle of trying to see as much as possible in as little time as possible.
1/ You enter your “general” preferences (museums, churches, monuments, parks, etc.),
2/ the planner then provides you with all the relevant listings,
3/ you click on what you want to visit,
4/ the planner returns the itinerary for each day of your stay
5/ with geographically optimized daily itineraries—if you wish—to avoid tedious and tiring travel.
It takes just 5 clicks and 3 minutes. And it’s completely free. To use it, click on “Paris Trip Planner.”

And why not extend your stay beyond 1 or 2 days?

One or two days in Paris is short, much too short. What there is to see can last for several months or even a year. But without going to that extreme, why not increase the length of your stay: 3, 4 or 5 days?

What to take home: gifts for you, gifts for your loved ones

Unforgettable Souvenir Photos of Paris
To ensure you return home with lasting memories (not plastic Eiffel Towers or snow globes), we offer:

• Photo shoots in Paris by appointment with one of our experienced professional photographers. Family portraits, weddings, engagements, and special events. The best value for money on the market – Click on My Photo Shoot.

• High-definition art prints in medium and large sizes (up to 100 x 100 cm – 40 x 40 in or larger) designed to decorate your home. Available digitally (instant delivery) or as framed or unframed prints (delivery within 8 to 10 days), on media and ink with a lifespan of 70+ years (a lifelong keepsake of your time in Paris). Very affordable prices that will surprise you – Click on Souvenir Photos.

Coming soon: We’ll be posting a special article featuring other affordable gifts you can find in Paris, along with where to buy them. Unfortunately, it’s not ready yet, but we can let you know when it goes live if you leave us your contact information via our contact form.

In the meantime, here are some gift ideas that you can use during your stay in Paris (Named by their french name).