Planning a trip to Paris

Paris is one of the world’s most popular group trip destinations: iconic sights, distinct neighborhoods, and a compact center that rewards a clear day-by-day plan. This guide helps you structure days, choose areas, and keep everyone aligned using a shared itinerary.

Paris at a glance

Paris is the capital of France and a major European hub. Charles de Gaulle and Orly are the main airports; Eurostar connects from London. The Paris Metro and RER trains make it easy to move between neighborhoods. For first-time visitors, a Paris Visite or Navigo pass can simplify transport for the whole group.

• Best time to visit: Spring (April–May) or autumn (September–October) for mild weather and fewer crowds. Summer is busy and can be hot; winter is cold but quieter.
• Visa: Check France’s official visa information for your nationality. EU citizens do not need a visa for short stays.
• Language: French is the main language; English is spoken in tourist areas but not everywhere. A few basic phrases and a translation app help.
• Currency: Euro (EUR). Credit cards are widely accepted; keep some cash for small shops and markets.

A simple structure for a short trip

For a long weekend or a three- to five-day trip, a common pattern works well:

• Day 1: Arrival and one neighborhood. Land, get to your hotel, and explore the area around your accommodation. Keep the first day light: a walk, a café, and an early dinner. Use Journii to note your flight and hotel so the group sees the same timeline.
• Day 2: Core Paris. Pick one or two iconic areas—e.g. the Eiffel Tower and Champ de Mars in the morning, then the Louvre or Tuileries in the afternoon. Add key spots to your shared itinerary so everyone knows the plan.
• Day 3: Another district. Visit Montmartre (Sacré-Cœur, artists’ square) or the Marais (museums, shops, food). This gives the group a mix of views, culture, and local atmosphere.
• Day 4 (optional): A day trip—e.g. Versailles or a deeper dive into a neighborhood you liked. Coordinate with your crew so everyone agrees on the day’s focus.
• Day 5 (optional): Last sights or shopping, then travel to the airport. Keep the itinerary updated so no one misses transport or check-out times.

In Journii, you create a trip, add days, and assign activities and notes to each day. Everyone sees the same plan and can suggest changes without losing the overall structure.

Neighborhoods worth grouping by day

Paris is easier to enjoy when you group sights by area rather than zigzagging. Here are areas that work well as day blocks:

• Eiffel Tower & Champ de Mars: The tower, Trocadéro, and river walks. Good for a half-day or morning; pair with a museum or another district.
• Louvre & Tuileries: The Louvre, Tuileries Garden, Place de la Concorde. Allow a full day if the group wants to spend time in the museum.
• Montmartre: Sacré-Cœur, artists’ square, and village-like streets. Strong option for a full day or half-day.
• Marais: Museums, boutiques, and food. Good for a full day of walking and culture.
• Île de la Cité & Notre-Dame: Notre-Dame (exterior and square), Sainte-Chapelle, and the Conciergerie. Combine with the Left Bank or Marais.
• Left Bank (Saint-Germain & Latin Quarter): Cafés, bookshops, and the Panthéon. Good for a half-day or a relaxed morning.

Add these as day themes in your Journii trip so the group knows which area each day focuses on. Paris’s Metro is efficient but can be crowded; allow extra time for travel between distant neighborhoods so the group doesn’t feel rushed.

Practical tips for group travel in Paris

• Accommodation: Stay near a Metro line (e.g. central arrondissements) so the whole group can get around easily. Book well in advance for peak seasons.
• Museums: Many museums require advance booking (e.g. Louvre). Add reservation links and times to your shared plan so no one misses a slot.
• Restaurants: Popular spots can have long waits. Add backup options and meal times to your shared plan so the group isn’t stuck hungry.
• Safety: Pickpockets can be active in busy areas. Remind your crew to keep valuables secure; a shared plan helps everyone know where to meet if someone gets separated.

For more on coordinating flights, hotels, and activities as a group, see How to plan a group trip in 7 steps and Best free trip planner.

Planning Paris with Journii

Using a shared itinerary keeps everyone aligned and makes it easy to adjust as you go:

• One timeline: Create a Paris trip in Journii, add your dates and days, then attach flights, hotels, and activities to the right days. Everyone sees the same plan.
• Collaboration: Invite your crew as editors or viewers. Editors can add or move activities; viewers can comment. No more scattered chats or duplicate spreadsheets.
• Confirmations: Connect your email so flight and hotel confirmations appear on the right days. The group can check times and bookings in one place.
• Notes and backups: Use notes for museum booking links, backup restaurants, and meeting points. If one area is too crowded, the group can switch to the backup without losing the rest of the plan.

Paris rewards a bit of structure—grouping by neighborhood and day—while leaving room for spontaneity. A tool like Journii helps you keep that balance with your whole crew. If you are combining Paris with other cities (e.g. London or Lyon), use the same shared itinerary so trains, hotels, and day blocks stay in one place and everyone can see the full trip at a glance. Many groups find that four or five days in Paris is enough for a first visit; add a day trip to Versailles or the Loire Valley if you have more time. Museum passes (e.g. Paris Museum Pass) can save time and money for groups; add reservation links to your shared plan so everyone knows when and where to meet. A shared plan makes it easy to adjust as you go without ever losing track of the big picture.

Next steps

• Create a free trip in Journii and add Paris as a destination.
• Read How to plan a group trip in 7 steps for a full workflow.
• Compare Best travel planner apps if you want to see how Journii fits with other options.
• Add your flights and hotels to the right days so your group sees one shared timeline. You can also import reservations from confirmation emails if your planner supports it. Once the skeleton is in place, invite your crew and start filling in neighborhoods and activities together. A shared plan makes it easy to adjust as you go without ever losing track of the big picture.