Book the anchors, then arrange the neighbourhoods
This is a route framework, not a promise that tickets will be available. Choose the attraction you most want, select a date and entry slot on its official site, then build a nearby meal and walk around it. Leave a second major museum optional unless you know you enjoy that pace.
| Day cluster | Main visit | Nearby time without a second fixed booking | Calendar constraint |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central river / 1st arrondissement | Louvre | Tuileries, riverside walk and a meal nearby | Louvre closed Tuesday |
| Left Bank / 7th and 6th | Orsay | Walk towards Saint-Germain, stop for lunch and a café | Orsay closed Monday |
| Marais / 3rd and 4th | Carnavalet, if interested in Paris history | Local streets and Place des Vosges | Carnavalet closed Monday |
Montmartre can replace the Marais day if the hill and views matter more to you than another museum. The Eiffel Tower can replace an anchor or take a separate evening only if your ticket and energy allow. It is not close enough to all these clusters to count as an effortless extra.
Day one: the Louvre, then room to slow down
Book a Louvre entry that leaves time for the galleries you actually want to see. For a first visit, make a short personal list and accept that you will not cover the whole museum. After the visit, the Tuileries and nearby river give you an outdoor change of pace without another timed queue.
The Louvre's official visit page, checked 31 October 2026, lists normal closing at 18:00, extended to 21:00 on Wednesday and Friday, and Tuesday closure. Last entry is one hour before closing; galleries begin closing earlier than the building's final closing time. Check dated notices before making an evening plan.
Standard admission is €22 for visitors who are EEA citizens and/or residents and €32 for the other adult category listed by the museum. For two paying adults in the latter category, budget €64 for admission only, not €44. Under-18s and qualifying EEA residents under 26 have free-entry conditions; check the evidence and reservation requirements for each traveller rather than assigning the adult price to everyone.
If the Louvre slot you want is unavailable, move this day or use the river/Tuileries walk as a flexible day and make another museum your booked anchor. Do not buy a much more expensive bundle unless you actually want its included services.
Day two: Orsay to Saint-Germain, staying on the Left Bank
The Musée d'Orsay lists Tuesday–Sunday opening, with Thursday evenings to 21:45 and Monday closure. Its standard full-rate ticket is €16 online or €14 at the museum. The cheaper counter price does not reserve capacity, so weigh the €2 difference against the value of having a confirmed slot.
After Orsay, head east towards Saint-Germain for lunch and a café break. Both are on the Left Bank; there is no need to cross the Seine for this part of the route. Allow roughly 20–30 minutes for an unhurried direct walk as an editorial planning estimate, then add stops and your chosen restaurant's location. Anyone avoiding steps should plan a specific street route rather than following every riverside descent.
This afternoon works well for someone who enjoys browsing and pauses between major sights. If your priority is a second museum, book it as a deliberate choice with enough transfer time, rather than assuming a full Orsay visit leaves the whole morning untouched.
Day three: the Marais, or a deliberate hill day
For a calmer history-focused day, Carnavalet has free permanent collections, normally Tuesday–Sunday 10:00–18:00. Rooms close from 17:45; paid exhibitions are a separate decision. From its Rue de Sévigné location, continue through the Marais towards Place des Vosges and choose a meal in the same area.
Do not use this as a Monday museum plan. If Monday is one of your three days, make it an outdoor neighbourhood day, or move the Louvre to Monday if tickets and notices permit. On Tuesday, swap the Louvre for Orsay or the Marais.
Choose Montmartre instead when you want the hill's streets and viewpoints. Expect slopes and steps to influence the route; for reduced mobility, investigate the actual transport, entrances and surfaces before replacing a level walk with this option. A map's short distance is not an accessibility description.
If the Eiffel Tower is your must-do
Select the level before comparing prices. The official tariff lists adult lift access to the second floor at €23.50 and lift access to the summit at €36.70. For two adults, that is €47 versus €73.40, a €26.40 difference, excluding travel and food. Stairs and stairs-plus-lift are different products; the summit and stairs are not suitable for every mobility need.
Book the desired level and date through the official ticket route. If the summit is unavailable, decide whether the second floor still meets your reason for going. Do not assume a second-floor ticket can be upgraded whenever you arrive. If no suitable slot remains, keep the exterior view as a flexible walk or change the day rather than stacking a last-minute tower visit after two museums.
Adapt the plan to bags, children and departure
With children, keep the meal close to the day's main visit and leave the next stop optional. In rain, extend one indoor visit only if the party is enjoying it; a wet day does not require booking every remaining museum.
On the final day, choose an area that fits your luggage and departure station. The Paris station-storage guide distinguishes Nord's staffed per-item service from Lyon and Montparnasse lockers, including payment and collection limits. Collect bags early enough for your train operator's boarding process, not merely the scheduled departure.
