Itinerarly
One day in Paris: a walking route in the best order
Paris is easy to walk along the Seine, and the river ties most of the famous sights together. This plan uses the Complete Paris audio tour in the Itinerarly app: the Left Bank in the morning and the Eiffel Tower around sunset, with the Paris Express tour as a shorter option.
At a glance: 7 stops, about 6.9 km in straight lines between them (expect a bit more on foot), and about 2 h 20 of walking and listening, plus the time you spend inside the sights.
Morning: Les Invalides, Musée d'Orsay, National Assembly
- Les InvalidesThe Hôtel National des Invalides is an imposing architectural complex commissioned by Louis XIV in 1670 to care for and house his veteran soldiers. Its golden dome, one of Paris's most famous landmarks, now protects the tomb of Napoleon I, placed at the center of a spectacular circular crypt.
- Musée d'OrsayWelcome to the Musée d'Orsay, housed in a monumental train station built for the 1900 World's Fair. This exceptional setting contains the world's richest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings.
- National AssemblyThe Palais Bourbon, housing the National Assembly, is the seat of French democracy on the Left Bank of the Seine. Originally built for the daughter of Louis XIV, the building underwent numerous transformations before becoming the heart of legislative power.
Afternoon: Trocadéro Sunset, Eiffel Tower, Pont Alexandre III, Orangerie Museum
- Trocadéro SunsetThe Trocadéro Esplanade offers arguably the most iconic and photographed view of Paris toward the Eiffel Tower. Located between the two wings of the Palais de Chaillot, this balcony over the city overlooks the Trocadéro gardens and fountains that stretch down to the Seine.
- Eiffel TowerHere is the Eiffel Tower, the undisputed emblem of France throughout the world. Erected by Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 World's Fair, it was initially meant to be dismantled after twenty years.
- Pont Alexandre IIIThe Pont Alexandre III is widely considered the most elegant and richly decorated bridge in Paris. Inaugurated for the 1900 World's Fair, it symbolizes the Franco-Russian alliance signed by Tsar Alexander III.
- Orangerie MuseumThe Musée de l'Orangerie, located in the former greenhouse of the Tuileries Palace, has become a sanctuary dedicated to modern art. It is world-famous for housing the 'Water Lilies', Claude Monet's monumental and testamentary work.
Only have an hour?
Take the Paris Express tour instead: 3 stops, about 1 h: Notre-Dame Cathedral → Sainte-Chapelle → Louvre Museum.
Practical tips
- The Louvre is closed on Tuesdays and the Musée d'Orsay on Mondays. Check before you build your day around them.
- Notre-Dame reopened in December 2024. Entry is free; a time slot can be reserved to skip most of the queue.
- Sainte-Chapelle and the Louvre sell timed tickets. Book them for the morning and plan the walking around them.
- After dark, the Eiffel Tower sparkles for five minutes at the start of every hour.
- Montmartre is a separate half-day: the Itinerarly Montmartre Artists tour covers it in about 1 h 40.
Do it with a story at every stop
This route is the Complete Paris tour in the free Itinerarly app. It walks you from stop to stop and plays a short narrated story when you arrive, in English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese. See all the audio tours of Paris.
Frequently asked questions
- Can you see Paris in one day?
- You can see the main sights from the outside and visit one or two of them inside. This route links 7 of them in an order that avoids backtracking.
- What is the best order to visit Paris's main sights?
- One efficient order is: Les Invalides → Musée d'Orsay → National Assembly → Trocadéro Sunset → Eiffel Tower → Pont Alexandre III → Orangerie Museum. It is the order used by the Itinerarly Complete Paris audio tour.
- Is there a free audio guide for Paris?
- Yes. The Itinerarly app has 4 free self-guided audio tours of Paris, narrated in English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese.