Planning Our First Visit to Paris: A 2-Day Itinerary
Our 2-day Paris itinerary was part of a longer trip to France. Before heading into Paris, we spent four nights at Disneyland Paris. If you’re a Disney fan planning a trip of your own, read my first-hand comparison of Disneyland Paris and Walt Disney World in Florida. That left us with just two nights and approximately two and a half days to explore the French capital, and we wanted to make every moment count! Read on and check out our 2-day Paris itinerary & travel tips.
If you’re planning a short trip to Paris, here’s what we managed to see during our two nights in the city.
We left our fun-filled trip to DIsneyland Paris and traveled on to Paris proper via the RER-A commuter train, station Marne-la-Vallée–Chessy. The train station was just outside Disneyland, about a 5-minute walk from Disney Village. For less than seven euros per person, we had a very comfy 45-minute trip to our hotel in the 8th arrondissement. We exited the train at Charles de Gaulle – Étoile station and had less than a 15-minute walk to the Chambiges Hôtel Élysées.
Where to Stay in Paris for a 2-Day Visit
Choosing where to stay in Paris for sightseeing was one of our biggest decisions. We had originally envisioned a quaint, Parisian hotel, complete with cobblestone streets and flower-fronted cafes. Yet we also wanted to be able walk locally to major attractions. As we only had 2 nights/3 days, and having never been to Paris before, my “must-sees” were the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Seine River and Notre-Dame Cathedral.
Our Stay at Hôtel Chambige Élysées
The Chambiges Hôtel Élysées truly fit the bill on all accounts for us. It was about a 15-minute walk from the train and a 15-20-minute walk to the Eiffel Tower. The lobby, lounge and our room had the quintessential Parisian charm we were looking for. The Chambiges Hôtel Élysées was beautifully presented, and the staff were welcoming and accommodating. Best of all, our room was ready when we arrived a little early, allowing us to drop off our luggage and start exploring!
https://www.paris-hotels-charm.com/en/hotels/chambiges-elysees/
Hôtel Chambiges Elysées
Hôtel Chambiges Elysées
An Unexpected First Glimpse of the Arc de Triumph
On our lovely walk from the train to the hotel, we were pleasantly surprised to be meandering directly past the Arc De Triomphe. What a classic way to first experience Paris!
Enjoying Parisian Café Culture
As this was our first trip to Paris, we were looking forward to the Parisian experience of dining al fresco. We just began wandering and found a lovely cafe to stop and have a drink.
Le Castel Cafe
5 Av de Suffren 75007 Paris, France
Le Castel Cafe was perfectly situated with an amazing view of the Eiffel Tower alongside. While we intended to have a drink and wander, we decided to stay and have a bite as well. It was a gorgeous weather day and sitting at an outside cafe, lingering over a drink, and deciding to stay for a meal, was a lovely way to spend our first few hours in Paris!
Another surprise on our quick visit to Paris~
Yes, the day before we were to arrive in Paris “proper”, I read about Pope Leo’s quick visit to Paris!
His visit was not announced publicly, which is understandable, however, this visit did alter some of our plans. We had purchased tickets to the view atop the Arc de Triomphe at sunset on September 25, 2026, our first day in Paris. Unfortunately for us, we received an email stating that due to exceptional circumstances, the Arc de Triomphe would not be open to the public on September 25, 2026. So, good thing we got a lovely view while walking to our hotel on the day we arrived.
Day One: The Eiffel Tower at Sunset
The Eiffel Tower was at the top of our list of things to do in Paris in two days. On our first afternoon in Paris, we were able to walk all around it, and the different views were stunning.
We happened to be there at dusk on our first evening and hubby captured this amazing video!
Day Two: Exploring the Eiffel Tower
In order to enjoy every minute of our short visit, we had reservations for a 9:00 AM tour of the Eiffel Tower, including lift tickets to the summit! To learn more about the Eiffel Tower and how to purchase tickets in advance, see the link:
https://www.toureiffel.paris/en
The tour guide was very helpful and informative. We learned the history of the tower which was built by Gustave Eiffel, that it was built in only two years (1887-1889), that it has been in existence for 137 years, and that there were no on-the job deaths during the construction. What an amazing architectural and engineering feat!
On the morning of our tour, this picture from beneath the tower was surreal.
We proceeded to the lift entry and exited on the 2nd floor for some amazing views. However, once I was actually taking in the views from the second level, I realized my heart, mind and stomach couldn’t handle proceeding to the summit. It’s reallllly high, 330 meters (1,083 feet), comparable to an 81-story building!
Maybe if we didn’t have to exit the elevator on the second story to get on the summit elevator I would have made it…but this view was good enough for me!
Day two afternoon in Paris
After our amazing tour of the Eiffel Tower and the breathtaking views, we meandered around. Simply strolling around in the afternoon and stopping to breathe in the history all around us was a fantastic way to spend our time:
Paris France
Paris France
Lunch and People-Watching in Paris
We also found another lovely cafe for lunch, Le Grand Corona. We actually dined here al fresco twice! Sitting out in the warm Paris evening, watching people stroll by, no rush, enjoying the moment. The service was lovely, food was delish, and location, location, location.
A Sunset Seine River Cruise: Paris from the Water
Hubby and I love taking scenic boat tours wherever we travel, so a Seine River cruise was an absolute must on our first visit to Paris! We were lucky enough to experience the city from the water at sunset, with beautiful views of its historic landmarks. A Seine River cruise turned out to be one of the highlights of our short Paris itinerary. The boat tours we took were fairly inexpensive, 25 euros per person and up, depending on the length of the tour.
The boat tour allowed us to see so many amazing landmarks, such as Notre-Dame Cathedral and The Louvre Gallery. These landmarks had limited access during our short stay in Paris due to Pope Leo’s visit. The boat tour is also the perfect way to get a “lay of the land” before you begin your visit.
What We Would Change About Our 2-Day Paris Itinerary
I was thrilled with what we were able to accomplish in the mere two and half days we were in Paris “proper”. We had lovely meals at Parisian cafes, Hôtel Chambiges Élysées was beautiful and perfectly located for us.
With our 2-Day Paris Itinerary, if I had to change anything, I would have stayed 3 nights at Disneyland (rather than 4) and then would have had 3 nights (not 2), in Paris proper. This would have allowed more time for us to visit Notre-Dame, the Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre.
With the exceptional, but unexpected, closure of the Arc de Triomphe on the day of our visit, and the limited access to Notre-Dame Cathedra on our short trip, we were very happy with our choice of taking the boat tour, I was excited that I was able to see these amazing wonders! Our first visit to Paris showed us that a 2-day Paris itinerary can cover many highlights, but we’d love to return for longer.
My final recommendation? For a “quick trip” to Paris proper, a 3-night minimum would be best. Plan your stay around what you want to do and see and where the best suited hotel accommodation is for you. And experience travel the way you enjoy it!
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