France Itinerary with Paris, Versailles & Colmar Tour for First-Timers

When we were planning our first trip to Europe, France was not included in the itinerary I initially had in mind.

Yes, I was in love with the thought of visiting France for the first time, but I wasn’t sure if it was a good choice considering: (1) We were starting/ending our trip in Greece; (2) We only had three weeks for our Euro trip; and (3) There were a lot of other equally compelling places we wanted to see that were closer to our starting/end destinations.

In the end, we somehow managed to fit a quick trip to France after realizing it won’t be a proper 1st Eurotrip without stopping by Paris. Visiting a lot of places in Europe in a short time is easy to do thanks to the region’s well-connected flight and high-speed train network.

I’m am relieved that we did not skip Paris! I got emotional many times during the trip, especially with the experience of seeing the Eiffel Tower sparkle at night, getting close to Mona Lisa, watching Moulin Rouge live etc. Clichéd and touristic as it may seem, these are still very worthy travel goals to achieve.

Wanting to see a bit of France outside of Paris, we found ourselves in Colmar, a charming fairytale-esque city near the Swiss-French border.

How to spend 5 days in France? Check out my recommended France itinerary below. The sample itinerary is easy to follow or customize in case you plan to go for 4 days, 6 days or more. Scroll down to see the detailed do-it-yourself (DIY) itinerary blog, followed by a budget/expenses breakdown and lots of extra travel tips.

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Trip Checklist

Before we go on with the actual itinerary, here are things you might need to prepare and bring for a hassle-free trip.

I’ve posted a lot of discounts on this guide. Make sure to check them out and pre-book online to save money, time & avoid the hassles of bringing/exchanging cash during your trip.

France Itinerary Blog Contents

France Trip Checklist

France Itinerary

France Budget

Where to Stay in Paris

Where to Stay in Colmar

France Travel Tips

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France Itinerary

This sample 5 days and 4 nights (5D4N) France itinerary will take you to many of the top attractions in Paris, including the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral, Montmartre, Arc de Triomphe & more. It also includes a day tour to the Palace of Versailles from Paris and a 1-night side trip to Colmar Old Town.

Three days in Paris should be enough to cover the main tourist spots. Add more days if you want to enjoy the trip at a relaxed pace, experience more of Paris, or extend to see more places in France.

Me and my travel buddy, Gael, actually went to all three places (Paris, Versailles & Colmar) in just 4 days. The trip was doable but the pace was a bit rushed.

We chose Colmar because it was one of Gael’s top travel goals, and it was conveniently located near Zurich (Switzerland), our next destination. You can replace Colmar with any of the myriads of beautiful places to visit near Paris.

Feel free to tweak the activities & timings based on your traveling style, schedule, & attractions that interest you the most.

5 Days France Itinerary – Paris, Versailles & Colmar

Day 1: Eiffel Tower & Paris tourist spots

Flight to Paris

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Take the earliest flight to Paris to maximize your first day in France.

1000 am: Paris airport arrival

There are three main airports serving Paris:

In our case, we arrived at Charles de Gaulle Airport.

1030 am: Airport to hotel / Paris city center transfer

We used Uber during our trip but I also recommend pre-booking hassle-free private transfers online or going by train.

Getting to Paris city center by train from the airport

The RER B (blue) train line connects Charles de Gaulle Airport to the city center of Paris. This is a good option if you’re looking for a quick and cheap way of getting to your hotel in Paris. Travel time by train takes up to 50 minutes.

Navigo Découverte Card

Get a “Navigo Découverte Card” at the airport train station. This contactless smart card offers unlimited rides in Paris RER/Metro trains & buses. It can be used for train rides in Paris’ public transport zones 1 to 5. A weekly pass costs EUR 22.80 + EUR 5 one-time fee for the card.

Here’s a summary of public transport zones in Paris:

Paris Airport-hotel private car transfers — Enjoy easy transfers to your hotel from the airport (or vice-versa). Travel time by car should take around 40 minutes.

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Paris Visite Card

Designed for tourists, this smart card offers unlimited travel on Paris’ public transport network, including the metro, buses, and trams. The Paris Visite Card is more expensive compared to the Navigo Card. However, the Navigo Card has timing considerations you need to know when buying. I’ll post more about this in detail later.

The conventional way of taking the train is using single-use tickets. The one-way fare from Charles de Gaulle Airport to the stations in Paris city center costs EUR 10.30.

1130 am: Paris hotel check-in

Ideally, you’d want to stay in a central location near Paris’ top tourist spots. In case you find a nice place to stay that’s farther afield, make sure it’s located near a metro/train station.

Paris hotels, hostels & guesthouses

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Claim tours + attraction tickets booked online

Carefully read the “activity info” & “how to use” info of attraction tickets & tours that you pre-booked online.

The for activities booked on Klook, the designated claiming area of many activities is PARISCityVISION (2 Rue des Pyramides). Stop by here to confirm your tours and get all the physical tickets. You can find their office near the Louvre Museum, which is a convenient area to start a tour of the city.

0100 pm: Start Paris top attractions half-day tour

Paris Hop-on Hop-off Bus — Book the “Deluxe Tour” with Seine River Cruise, which is inclusive of 2 days HOHO bus pass & Seine River cruise ticket by Bateaux Parisiens. Discount price online is EUR 41.25.

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The discount price of the HOHO bus without the Seine River cruise is EUR 29.70 for the 1-day pass and EUR 33.85 for the 2-day pass.

I highly recommended this easy way of getting around Paris. Drop-off/Pick-up points are strategically located near top tourist spots, which means less walking compared to taking the metro trains. PLUS, you can enjoy views on the open-top bus & an audio guide of famous landmarks.

Paris Museum Pass — This convenient multi-attraction pass offers unlimited access to over 50 museums in Paris and the surrounding region. The 2 days pass costs EUR 48.

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You will save money by getting the Paris Museum Pass compared to buying individual tickets to museums featured in this itinerary. Not to mention, it’s also a huge time saver. The total cost of individual entry tickets to the Louvre Museum, Orsay Museum, Notre Dame Towers & Arch de Triomphe viewpoint already costs over EUR 50.

Louvre Pyramid (Pyramide du Louvre)

Enjoy a quick photo stop at this famous landmark. Remember not to spend too much time here (for now) because we will be visiting again in the next days, including going inside the museum.

Arc de Triomphe

Climb up the tower to see panoramic views of the Paris skyline & cityscape. From the top, don’t miss the view facing the Eiffel Tower, Champs-Élysées shopping street & La Defense skyline.

Access to the Arc de Triomphe rooftop is included in the Paris Museum Pass. Check below if you want to book separately

Arc de Triomphe rooftop access skip-the-line-ticket

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Trocadero

Redeveloped for the Exposition Internationale of 1937, this complex of buildings and gardens is very popular on Instagram because of its beautiful views of the Eiffel Tower.

Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel)

I’m sure this one needs no introduction. While the sun is out, see the panoramic views from the top of the Eiffel Tower.

Eiffel Tower skip-the-line entry ticket — Get this fast-track entry ticket with access to the glass elevator that connects the 2nd-floor view deck to the 276-meter summit.

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Before sunset, you’d want to head out to a good spot where you can enjoy a romantic view of the Eiffel Tower under the golden and twilight hours.

The best views can be seen from Trocadero, on a Seine River Cruise, at the top of Montparnasse Tower, or from Champs de Mars (picnic park/green space).

After sunset, you’ll see the Eiffel Tower sparkle! This spectacular show is scheduled for 5 minutes every hour, on the hour until 1 or 2 am.

0630 pm: Seine River Cruise

Cap your first day with a relaxing cruise along the Seine River. The best time to do this is right before sunset or at night when you can enjoy a (literally) lit view of Paris’ famous buildings.

A Seine River cruise is included in the “Deluxe Tour” of this package. You can also check the links below for more options including drinks, snacks or a dinner cruise.

Seine River sightseeing cruise with optional champagne or snacks

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Seine River dinner cruise

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Day 2: Louvre, Montmartre & Moulin Rouge

0800 am: Notre Dame Cathedral & Sainte-Chapelle

Start early at Notre Dame Cathedral to avoid the bigger crowds later in the day. Explore the interiors of the church and go up the tower of this world’s most famous Gothic cathedral. Nearby, you can find Sainte-Chapelle, especially known for its beautiful stained glass windows.

Access to Sainte-Chapelle and the towers of Notre Dame Cathedral is included in the Paris Museum Pass. Check below if you want to book separately:

Skip-the-Line Notre-Dame Towers & Sainte-Chapelle Tour

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0930 am: Louvre Museum

If you’re an art lover, this is definitely going to be the highlight of your Paris trip!

Don’t miss these Louvre highlights: Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa (painting), Winged Victory of Samothrace (sculpture), Venus de Milo (sculpture), Eugène Delacroix’s Liberty Leading the People (painting), Michelangelo’s The Dying Slave and The Rebellious Slave (sculpture), Lamassus (Sculpture) & Hammurabi’s Code to name a few.

The Louvre museum is the largest art museum in the World and it takes days to explore all the galleries & exhibits. For a casual visit, however, 2 to 3 hours is recommeneded. This way, you’d have time to fit more museums/attractions in your Paris trip.

Entry to The Louvre Museum is included in the Paris Museum Pass. Check below if you want to book separately:

The Louvre skip-the-Line admission ticket with audio guide

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Louvre district

The area surrounding the Louvre is a good place to wander around on foot. It’s an old part of Paris, so you’re going to find lots of buildings built in different French/European architectural styles, historical sites, as well as shopping and dining spots.

If you’re looking for an affordable French restaurant, we found this place called Bistrot Victoires (6 Rue de la Vrillière). It is one of the top-rated places to eat in the area. The Confit Conard (Duck Confit) is one of their best sellers.

Orsay Museum (Musée d’Orsay)

Cross the Seine River & visit the Orsay Museum. Housed in a stunning (former) railway station building, this museum is where you can find the World’s largest collection of impressionist and post-Impressionist masterpieces.

Entry to Orsay museum is included in the Paris Museum Pass. Check below if you want to book separately:

Orsay museum skip-the-line ticket

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0230 pm: Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur Basilica

Montmartre is primarily known for its history as a haven for artists. The most famous landmark here is the white-domed Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur. Montmartre’s hilly terrain offers nice views overlooking Paris.

Moulin Rouge Show

Before arriving in Paris, the Moulin Rouge show was honestly not in my list of top things to do. While I was watching the show though, I was taken aback with how much I truly appreciated the experience … considering the history and legacy of the Moulin Rouge. If you have the chance, go and watch it. It’s not every day that you get the opportunity to watch this show!

You’ll need to dress up for the Moulin Rouge show. Formal attire is advised but there are also a lot of people in the audience wearing long-sleeved shirts, slacks & smart shoes. I recommend that you enjoy the show with champagne.

Moulin Rouge show with dinner or champagne

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Day 3: Versailles and Paris museums

Free time

The major activity today is a half-day trip to Versailles. You can either pick a morning or afternoon schedule for the tour. If you prefer not to start your day so early, pick the afternoon trip and spend the morning however you like.

Here are a few suggestions on things to do in Paris during your free time:

0130 pm: Arrive at Palace of Versailles tour meeting point

The meeting point of this tour (see link below) is conveniently located near the Louvre. Arrive at least 30 minutes before the departure time at 2 pm.

We thoroughly enjoyed this half-day tour to Versailles, which included roundtrip transfers, a professional guide, and most importantly, skip-the-line access to the Palace of Versailles & gardens. They hand out individual headsets, so you can hear audio commentary from the guide while you’re busy taking Insta snaps.

Palace of Versailles & gardens guided tour + transport from Paris

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0200 pm: Depart from Paris

Palace of Versailles

This was definitely my #1 travel goal in France and it did not disappoint. The royal rooms and halls were impressive! We would have missed a lot of interesting facts & details had we not gone on the guided tour.

Gardens of Versailles

After the guided tour, enjoy some free time to roam around the palace and the gardens on your own.

0600 pm: Arrive back in Paris

Montparnasse Tower

The highlight here is the amazing view of The Eiffel Tower. The best time to go is before, during, and just after sunset. The entrance fee costs EUR 18 per adult.

Montparnasse Tower observation deck admission ticket

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Day 4: Colmar trip from Paris

0720 am: Paris to Colmar Train

Arrive at the train station at least 30 minutes before departure. If it is your first time to travel by train in France, allot a longer allowance, especially if you plan to book your ticket at the station.

Trains to Colmar usually depart from Paris at Gare de l’Est station. Travel time is around 2 hours and 30 minutes on direct high-speed trains. Pre-book your train ticket online (well ahead of your travel date) to grab cheaper fares. The train fare is usually around EUR 50 for tickets booked in advance and could go up to EUR 100+ on the day of departure.

Paris to Colmar train tickets & schedule

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0940 am: Arrive at Colmar Train Station

The main train station in Colmar (Gare de Colmar) is conveniently located just outside the Old Town. Walking distance is around 15 minutes.

1000 am: Colmar hotel check-in

Book a room in Colmar City Center or near the train station. There many places to stay within easy walking distance to the main tourist spots in Colmar Old Town.

Colmar hotels & hostels

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1030 am: Start Colmar walking tour

Little Venice (La Petite Venise) & Colmar Canal

Our favorite spot in Colmar! Little Venice (La Petite Venise) is where you can find pretty houses lined on both sides of the canal. We went here early morning on our second day and enjoyed the whole place all to ourselves.

Colmar Old Town

Colmar Old Town was compact and filled with lots of beautiful centuries-old buildings. The place looked like it could pop right off a storybook. It’s not hard to imagine being transported in the charming village location of Beauty and the Beast.

Colmar is a lovely place to get lost in. It’s a small and very walkable. You could see the main highlights in half a day. Make sure to get your fill at the many streetside pastry shops and cafes.

Day 5: Train to Paris or onward destination

You have lots of options on what to do next: (1) Continue your walking tour of Colmar, (2) take the train back to Paris or (3) move on to a huge list of other places to visit in the surrounding region.

France Budget

Where to Stay in Paris

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Click below to compare rates and Paris hotel reviews within your budget.

Where to book

Book your room through these trusted booking sites. I use them frequently to grab rock-bottom prices & enjoy convenient bookings. Click below to confirm the lowest prices:

Booking.comAirbnbAgoda

Book sooner rather than later if you already have your dates set. Cheaper-priced rooms and hotels with high reviews tend to get fully booked faster, especially during busy days like weekends, holidays & peak tourist seasons.

Where to Stay in Colmar

Book a room in Colmar City Center or near the train station. There many places to stay within easy walking distance to the main tourist spots in Colmar Old Town.

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Click below to compare rates and Colmar hotel reviews within your budget.

France Travel Tips Before You Go

How much does the train cost from the airport to Paris city center?

Paris Metro cards and train ticket fares

Paris transport zones

Should I get a Navigo card or a Paris Visite card?

Pre-book your France tours & attraction tickets online

Should I book my France hotel online?

How much does the train cost from the airport to Paris city center?

The one-way fare from Charles de Gaulle Airport to Paris city center costs EUR 10.30 using a single-use ticket. From Orly Airport, the one-way fare is EUR 8.30. There are no direct trains from Beauvais Airport to the city center. The one-way shuttle bus fare from Beauvais Airport to the city center is EUR 17.

Paris Metro cards and train ticket fares

For convenient train rides on the Paris Metro train lines (Central Paris) and the RER train lines (greater Paris/Île-de-France area), consider a “Navigo” or “Paris Visite” metro card instead of buying individual train tickets. These contactless smart cards are time and money savers, especially if you plan to travel often by train.

Here is a summary of Paris metro cards and train ticket fares:

Paris transport zones

Here’s a summary of notable places covered by public transport zones in Paris:

Should I get a Navigo card or a Paris Visite card?

The Navigo card is a much cheaper option compared to the Paris Visite card. The Navigo card, however, has some timing considerations you need to know.

On a 5-day trip to Paris, I recommend that you get a Navigo weekly pass if you arrive in Paris on a Monday up to Thursday. If you are arriving on Friday or on a weekend, I suggest you get the Paris Visite card covering zones 1-3 (for Central Paris) and buy the airport train tickets individually. You can easily get these cards at the airport train stations.

The Navigo weekly pass is sold on a per week basis. Meaning, you can only buy the pass valid for the current week if you arrive in Paris on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. The validity ends on Sunday. If you arrive and purchase the Navigo card on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, it will be valid for the next week (starting next Monday) so, you’ll need to purchase separate passes/tickets to use for the current weekend.

Here’s a comparison of costs for your reference:

Pre-book your France tours & attraction tickets online

I often book online to enjoy discounts and cashless convenience during my actual trip. Always check prices of tours and attraction tickets on these booking sites:

KlookGetYourGuide

If you’re booking tours and you’ve already finalized your travel dates, book early, especially if you are traveling with family/friends to lock-in those open slots for everyone in your group.

Should I book my France hotel online?

Book your stay sooner rather than later if you already have your dates set. Cheaper-priced rooms tend to get fully-booked faster, especially during busy days like weekends, holidays & peak tourist seasons.

I frequently book my stay with the sites below to grab rock-bottom prices & enjoy hassle-free trips. Click below to see today’s lowest prices.

AgodaBooking.com

Having hotel reservations is very important when traveling abroad because immigration officers often require tourists to provide the address of their accommodation. In addition, here top reasons why I prefer to book online & why you should too:

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