Paris in 5 days - Part 1

It seems like a long way to go for a 5-day trip, but Paris is worth it. You can explore the city and hit the main tourist attractions and still have time to people watch in a cafe. You can't see it all in 5 days, but that just gives you a reason to go back!

We had a couples trip planned to celebrate our oldest kids going away to college for the first time, as well as 3 big birthdays. Our group of 6 adults planned a 5 day itinerary with 1 tour or activity each day leaving plenty of time to eat, relax, and people watch from a cafe.

We stayed at the Hotel Regina in the 2nd Arrondissement right near the Louvre. It was a great location that allowed us to easily walk to museums, gardens, and restaurants. It was easy to get around and the neighborhood is lively day and night. The hotel provided a beautiful breakfast each morning and had a beautiful cocktail lounge.

Here's what we did in 5 days:

Day 1: We checked into our hotel, walked around the Champs Elysees and Arc de Triomphe, and had dinner at a local bistro, Cafe Carrousel, right across from our hotel.

Day 2: Morning tour of the Eiffel Tower - make sure to purchase tickets to the top so you can view the city from all sides and don't forget to visit the champagne bar! We had a private tour of the Louvre with a tour guide named Helga (Helga in Paris) so we skipped the lines and learned so much from her - she is a gem! We also walked past Notre Dame (it was still under construction due to the fire).

Day 3: We had a morning tour of Versailles (just 45 min drive from Paris) with Helga (can't recommend her enough) and then walked around the Rue Montorgueil market street in the 2nd Arrondissement. This street is filled with shops, restaurants, and small hotels.

Day 4: Relaxed in the morning with a walk through the Tuileries Garden. Then visited the Montmarte neighborhood in the evening before seeing a show at the Moulin Rouge.

Day 5: Morning visit to Sainte Chapelle and then off to the airport for our afternoon flight home.