What to do in Paris in 12 hours

2 self-guided 12-hour routes through Paris — every stop timed, mapped and in the order that works on the ground.

Notre-Dame and the Sainte-Chapelle at opening, the Louvre, the Tuileries for lunch, the Orsay across the river, Rodin's garden, the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe at dusk.

7.0 km on foot 9 stops 10h 59m total

12h Mid-range

Paris in a day: Versailles and the Seine

The palace at opening, the gardens and the Grand Canal, Marie Antoinette's Trianon and hamlet, then back to Saint-Germain and a boat on the river after dark.

2.9 km on foot 7 stops 8h 43m total

Planning the rest of the trip

These routes cover the walking. The Paris guide has where to stay, what a day costs at each tier, and what to book before you go.