Paris is a beast. You’ve probably seen the photos of the Mona Lisa surrounded by five hundred selfie sticks or heard the horror stories about three-hour lines for a croissant that tastes like cardboard. Most people land at Charles de Gaulle with a vague plan and end up exhausted, broke, and wondering why they didn't just stay home and watch a French movie on Netflix. That’s where the Rick Steves Paris itinerary comes in.
Honestly, the "Rick Steves way" isn't just about a list of museums. It’s a philosophy. It’s the idea that you shouldn't spend your life savings to feel like a tourist on a conveyor belt. You’ve got to be smart. You’ve got to zig when the crowds zag.
The Core 7-Day Strategy
If you have a week, you can actually see the city without losing your mind. Rick’s classic approach basically splits the city into bite-sized chunks so you aren't crisscrossing the Seine ten times a day.
Day 1: The Arrival and The Stroll
Don't do a museum. Just don't. You're jet-lagged. Your brain is mush. Rick suggests a "Welcome to Paris" orientation. Find your hotel, drop your bags, and hit a local street market like Rue Cler. It’s car-free, smells like rotisserie chicken and expensive cheese, and it’s the perfect place to grab a bottle of wine and sit in the Champ de Mars. You see the Eiffel Tower, you breathe the air, you realize you're actually in France.
Day 2: The Historic Heart
This is the day for the big hitters on the Île de la Cité. Start at Sainte-Chapelle. It’s a jewelry box of stained glass. Rick’s big tip? Go early. Like, "be there before the doors open" early. Then, check out the exterior of Notre-Dame. Since it reopened in late 2024, the energy there is electric, but the lines are brutal. You need to book your entry online exactly three days out. No excuses. Finish the day in the Latin Quarter. It's touristy, sure, but if you duck into the side streets, you’ll find the medieval Paris that didn't get bulldozed in the 19th century.
Day 3: Art and Atmosphere
Morning: The Louvre. But not "The Louvre" where you wander aimlessly for six hours. Use the Rick Steves Audio Europe app. It’s free. It tells you exactly where to turn so you see the Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory without getting lost in the basement.
Evening: Montmartre. Hike up to the Sacré-Cœur for the view. It’s strenuous. Your calves will burn. But watching the sun go down over the zinc rooftops? Unbeatable.
The Secret Weapon: The Museum Pass
You’ve probably heard people debating if the Paris Museum Pass is worth it. For a Rick Steves Paris itinerary, it’s not just worth it—it’s the backbone. In 2026, a 4-day pass is about €105.
If you just go to the Louvre, the Orsay, and Versailles, you’ve almost paid for it. But the real value isn't the money. It’s the "skip the ticket line" privilege. You still have to do security—nobody gets past that—but you aren't standing in the hour-long line just to buy the piece of paper.
Pro Tip: Activate your pass on a Wednesday. Why? Because the Louvre and the Orsay often have late hours on Wednesdays or Fridays. Fewer kids, less heat, and more "I'm a sophisticated European" vibes.
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Versailles: The All-Day Commitment
You can’t "do" Versailles in two hours. It’s a 30-minute RER train ride each way, and the palace itself is a maze of gold leaf and ego. Rick’s advice is to treat it like a day trip.
- Take the RER C.
- Get there 20 minutes before it opens.
- See the Hall of Mirrors first.
- Escape to the gardens immediately after.
The gardens are actually the best part. Most people skip Marie Antoinette’s Hamlet because it's a long walk, but it’s where the "peasant chic" fantasy happened. It’s weirdly peaceful compared to the main palace.
Why Most People Fail at the Orsay
The Musée d'Orsay is inside an old train station. It’s beautiful. It also has the world's best Impressionist collection. Most people make the mistake of starting at the bottom and working up. Rick’s strategy? Take the escalator straight to the top floor. That’s where the Manet, Monet, and Renoir masterpieces live. Work your way down. By the time you get to the ground floor and you're tired, you've already seen the "good stuff."
Living Like a Parisian (Sorta)
Rick always talks about "becoming a temporary local." That means learning three words: Bonjour, S’il vous plaît, and Merci. If you walk into a shop and don't say Bonjour, the shopkeeper will think you’re a jerk. It’s just the rules.
Also, skip the "dinner cruises." They’re expensive and the food is usually mediocre. Instead, take a basic Vedettes du Pont Neuf boat ride at night. It’s cheaper, you get the same view of the sparkling Eiffel Tower, and you can spend the saved cash on a real meal at a bistro in the Marais.
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Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- The "Monday/Tuesday" Trap: Many museums close on one of these days. The Louvre is closed Tuesdays; the Orsay is closed Mondays. If you don't check, you’ll spend your morning staring at a locked gate.
- The "Bus 69" Legend: Rick used to rave about Bus 69 as a cheap sightseeing tour. It’s still okay, but with 2026 traffic, it can be a slow crawl. Only do it if you really need to sit down.
- Over-planning: If your itinerary has ten things on it, you’ll fail. Pick two "must-sees" and let the rest of the day happen. Paris is meant for wandering.
Actionable Steps for Your Trip
- Download the App: Get the Rick Steves Audio Europe app now and download the Paris tours while you have Wi-Fi.
- Book Your Slots: Even with a Museum Pass, the Louvre and Versailles require a timed entry reservation. Do this weeks in advance.
- Buy a Navigo Easy: Don't mess with paper tickets. Get the plastic Navigo Easy card at any Metro station and load it with 10-packs of rides (carnets).
- Pick a "Home Base": Rick loves the Rue Cler area (7th Arrondissement) for its village feel, but the Marais (4th) is better if you want nightlife and boutiques.
- Pack Light: You’ll be hauling your bag up five flights of stairs in a building built in 1750. You don't need three pairs of shoes. One pair of sturdy walkers is plenty.
The real magic of a Rick Steves Paris itinerary isn't about checking boxes. It’s about that moment when you’re sitting at a sidewalk café, drinking a €5 glass of red wine, and realizing that the city is exactly as beautiful as everyone said it would be. Just make sure you've already booked your tickets for tomorrow.