5 Days in Paris Itinerary: A Slow Travel Guide to the City of Light

Introduction

Paris isn’t a city you rush through — it’s a place you linger, notice, and return to in memory long after you’ve left. If you have 5 days in Paris, you’ll have time to see the icons while also slowing down for café mornings, riverside walks, and moments that can’t be scheduled.

Where to Stay in Paris: Latin Quarter

Before diving into the itinerary, let’s talk about where to stay. Location shapes your Paris experience, and the Latin Quarter is one of the best bases in the city. It’s historic, lively, and central, with quick metro access to the rest of Paris.

For a quieter stay off the busy streets, I recommend Hotel du College de France - A boutique property with a warm atmosphere and great metro connections, it’s ideal if you want evenings that feel more restful.

If you’d rather be in the middle of it all, try Europe Saint Severin–Paris Notre Dame. This is actually one of our personal favorites. This hotel sits right in the heart of the Latin Quarter, surrounded by cafés, shops, and energy — plus as you can see on the map, it's very close to the metro!

Both hotels give you excellent metro access, just a short walk from Notre Dame, and make it easy to explore landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Montmartre — or even take a day trip to Versailles. Both options also keep you close to the cafés, bookshops, and lively spirit of the neighborhood without sacrificing convenience.

Europe Saint Severin–Paris Notre Dame Hotel in the heart of the Latin Quarter, Paris. Photos by Second Time Around Travel, 2023

Hotel du College de France in the Latin Quarter, Paris. Photo by Second Time Around Travel, 2025

Day 1: Arrival & the Latin Quarter

Your first hours in Paris should be about soaking it all in, not rushing through a checklist. After settling into your hotel, wander the Latin Quarter, one of the city’s most atmospheric neighborhoods. Here, cobblestone streets wind past historic bookshops, lively cafés, and hidden courtyards that make you feel instantly connected to the Paris rhythm.

✨ Suggested Stops

• Shakespeare & Company – A legendary English-language bookstore full of history and charm.

• Place Saint-Michel – A bustling square that makes a great starting point for exploring the area.

• Café Terrace Break – Pause for a coffee or glass of wine at one of the cafés that spill into the streets — this is the Paris you came for

🌙 Evening Highlight

End your first night with a stroll along the Seine River, where the bridges glow at dusk. Don’t miss your first sparkling glimpse of the Eiffel Tower, which lights up every hour after sunset. It’s the perfect way to start your Paris story.

Day 2: The Icons of Paris

After a gentle first evening, Day 2 is about soaking in Paris’s most iconic landmarks — the ones you’ve seen in films and photos, now right in front of you.

☀️ Morning: Notre Dame & Sainte-Chapelle

• Begin your day on Île de la Cité, one of the two small natural islands in the Seine and considered the birthplace of Paris. This is where the city began, and today it’s home to some of its most important monuments.

• Visit the Notre Dame Cathedral, now reopened to visitors after years of restoration. Step inside to see the soaring Gothic architecture and learn about its history.

• Just a few steps away is Sainte-Chapelle, a smaller Gothic chapel with some of the most stunning stained-glass windows in the world.

👉 Notre Dame & Sainte-Chapelle entry tickets — Explore the island where Paris began, with two of its most extraordinary Gothic masterpieces.

🌆 Afternoon: The Louvre Museum

Spend your afternoon at the Louvre, the world’s largest art museum and home to over 35,000 works. For a slower experience, choose one or two sections that interest you most — perhaps Renaissance paintings, Egyptian antiquities, or French sculpture.

Take breaks in the courtyards or at cafés nearby. Slow travel here means savoring the art, not trying to see it all.

There is a LOT to take in during a visit here! If you'd like be part of a tour, check get out these options from Viator.

👉 Louvre skip-the-line tickets

👉 Louvre guided tours

🌙 Evening: Seine River Cruise

End your day with a Seine River cruise, gliding past Notre Dame, the Louvre, and the Eiffel Tower glowing at night. Watching the city light up from the water is one of the most memorable experiences in Paris.

👉 Affiliate insert: Evening Seine River cruises

Wander through Paris where it all began — from the stones of Notre Dame to the winding lanes of Île de la Cité. This walking tour invites you to slow down and see the city’s story unfold.

Looking for a guided path?

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