Here’s How Long It Takes to Visit These 12 Major Attractions in Paris. Don’t Overplan!

Planning your first trip to Paris? This guide tells you exactly how much time to plan for each major sight—based on real visits, not guesses.

 

Eiffel Tower

Time needed to get there:

About 15–20 minutes by metro from most central areas. Then add 10 minutes walking to the base.

Important:

• There’s no metro stop right at the tower.
• Use École Militaire for a great view as you approach from the park side.
• Or take Line 6 from Arc de Triomphe—part of the ride is above ground with a perfect Eiffel Tower view.

Time to allocate:

• 1 hour for photos and walking around
• 2+ hours if you’re going up with a time-stamped ticket

Tip:

Don’t expect to just “swing by.” There are crowds, lines, and walking involved.

Nearby:

Walk to Rue Cler (10–15 min) for food, wine shops, bakeries.

 

Louvre Museum

Time needed to get there:

Very central. The metro stop is 5 minutes from the glass pyramid entrance.

Time to allocate:

• 30 minutes just to get inside (even with a ticket)
• 3–4 hours inside the museum
• You must book a timed-entry ticket in advance.
• Expect big crowds even early in the day.
• Everyone wants to see the same things (Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo), so it’s slow-moving.

What to know:

• Closed Tuesdays.
• Book early—visitors are limited to 30,000 per day.

Nearby:

Tuileries Gardens, Opéra Garnier, Musée d’Orsay (just across the river).

 

Notre-Dame Cathedral

Time needed to get there:

About 15 minutes from central Paris by metro.
Get off at Cité station (Line 4), then walk a few minutes.

Time to allocate:

• 30–45 minutes inside the cathedral
• Add time if you want to explore the island or nearby sights

What to know:

• Notre-Dame reopened in December 2024
• Entry is free, but there’s a reservation system (not required, but recommended)
• You can book your spot 2 days in advance on their official site
• Visitor limit: 3,000 people at a time, so expect a short wait if it’s busy

Nearby:

• Walk to Sainte-Chapelle, Pont Neuf, or relax in Place Dauphine

 

Sainte-Chapelle

Time needed to get there:

• Also on Île de la Cité, just a few minutes from Notre-Dame.
• Closest metro: Cité (Line 4)

Time to allocate:

• 45 minutes to 1 hour to see everything

What to know:

• Famous for its huge stained-glass windows
• You need a ticket to enter
• Best to buy online in advance, especially in spring/summer
• Located inside the Palais de Justice, so you’ll go through light security

Nearby:

• Combine with Notre-Dame, or visit the Conciergerie next door
• Great place to rest: Square Jean XXIII, behind Notre-Dame

 

Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur

Time needed to get there:

• 10–15 minutes by metro from the center
• Then a 15–30 minute walk uphill to reach the basilica
• Or take the funicular (slow, often has a line)

Time to allocate:

• 2–3 hours to walk around, enjoy the views, visit the church, explore the village

What to know:

• No ticket needed. The basilica is free to enter.
• The top is very crowded, and pickpockets are active here
• Place du Tertre has painters and portrait artists
• Don’t eat at cafés at the top—walk downhill to Rue des Martyrs for better food

 

Musée d’Orsay

Time needed to get there:

• About a 10-minute walk from the Louvre.
• Closest train stop: RER C, right outside the entrance.

Time to allocate:

• 90 minutes for highlights
• 2–3 hours to see it all
• It’s smaller and easier to navigate than the Louvre
• Still, lines can be long—get a timed-entry ticket
• Closed Mondays, extra busy Tuesdays (when the Louvre is closed)

What to know:

• Timed-entry ticket recommended to skip lines
• Closed Mondays, and extra busy Tuesdays (when the Louvre is closed)
• There are 2 must-visit cafés: one inside the main hall and one near the top floor

Nearby:

You’re in Saint-Germain, full of restaurants and shops.

 

Opéra Garnier

Time needed to get there:

• Only 5 minutes from the Louvre by metro or walking.
• There’s a metro stop right outside the Opera.

Time to allocate:

• 15–30 minutes for outside photos
• 1–2 hours to visit the inside
• No long lines unless there’s a performance
• Beautiful staircase and rooms to see
• Audio guides available

Nearby:

• Galeries Lafayette is just behind it
• Visit the Galeries Lafayette’s rooftop for a free view over Paris
• Lots of restaurants and bakeries in the area

 

Arc de Triomphe

Time needed to get there:

• About 15 minutes from central Paris by metro.
• Metro stop is right there. Use the underground tunnel to reach the base safely.

Time to allocate:

• 30 minutes for photos outside
• 1 hour if you want to climb to the top
• No need to book in advance unless it’s summer or a holiday

What to know:

• The view from the top is great (see Eiffel Tower and Champs-Élysées)
• Open daily from 10 AM to 10:30 PM.

Nearby:

You’re in the Golden Triangle, the luxury shopping zone. Most cafés are pricey.

 

Seine River Cruise

Time needed to get there:

Plan for a 10–15 minute walk from any nearby metro.

Time to allocate:

• 60–90 minutes for the cruise
• Be there 15–20 minutes early to get a good seat (especially at the front or sides)

What to know:

• Most boats run from 10 AM to 10:30 PM
• Tickets are for a fixed time—don’t be late
• Seats are first-come, first-served unless you booked a dinner/lunch cruise

Food:

Only drinks onboard (wine, champagne). No meals unless you booked it.

Great for:

Seeing landmarks without walking.

 

Luxembourg Gardens

Time needed to get there:

• 10 min from central Paris
• Best way is by RER B train—station right at the garden entrance.

Time to allocate:

• 1 hour for a quick walk or break
• 2+ hours if you want to relax, picnic, or read

What to know:

• No ticket needed
• Open 7 days a week
  • 7:30 AM–8 PM in summer
  • 8 AM–5 PM in winter
• Plenty of chairs, shaded paths, fountains, and lawns
• Great for a break between big attractions

Nearby:

The Panthéon, Latin Quarter, and lots of cafés and sandwich spots.

 

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Château de Versailles

Time needed to get there:

• About 1 hour from Paris by train + walk.
• Train = RER C, then walk 10–12 minutes from the station to the palace

Time to allocate:

• 2–3 hours inside the palace
• 4–5 hours total (including transport and gardens)
• Even with a ticket, expect long lines—many people have the same entry time
• Always crowded inside
• Big palace + huge gardens = a lot of walking

Important:

• Best to make it a full-day trip.
• Closed Mondays.

Food:

Limited options, all crowded. Bring snacks or eat outside the estate.

 

Catacombs

Time needed to get there:

• About 20 minutes by metro from the center.
• The metro exit is right at the entrance.

Time to allocate:

• 1 hour to walk through the tunnels
• You enter at one spot and exit at another
• Get a timed-entry ticket to avoid waiting

What to know:

• Closed Mondays.
• Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:45 AM to 8:30 PM.
• Long walk underground, not good if you dislike dark or tight spaces

Nearby:

Go to Rue Daguerre for food after your visit—lots of cafés and bakeries.