/ / 8 Common Mistakes Tourists Make When Planning a Paris Itinerary

8 Common Mistakes Tourists Make When Planning a Paris Itinerary

This article will show you the common mistakes tourists make when planning a Paris itinerary and how to avoid them if you want to have a trip of a lifetime.

Creating the perfect Paris itinerary can feel like a puzzle—there’s so much to see and do, and you want to make the most of every moment. But without the right approach, it’s easy to fall into some all-too-common mistakes that can leave you overwhelmed, exhausted, or even regretting missed opportunities.

From trying to cram too much into one day to poorly planning your routes, these mistakes can turn what should be a magical trip into a logistical nightmare. But don’t worry—that’s exactly why we’re here.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the most common mistakes travelers make when planning their Paris itineraries and, more importantly, how to avoid them.

Mistakes tourists make when planning a Paris itinerary

1. Not planning your itinerary by area

people near printemps haussmann

One of the biggest mistakes people make when creating a Paris itinerary is not organizing their days by area. 

While many attractions are relatively close to one another, others are spread out across different neighborhoods, or arrondissements. 

If your itinerary has you bouncing from Montmartre in the north to the Eiffel Tower in the west and then to the Latin Quarter in the south all in one day, you’ll end up spending more time on public transport than actually enjoying the city.

Instead, plan your days to explore one area at a time. For example, dedicate a morning to the Marais followed by an afternoon in the Latin Quarter. 

Grouping nearby attractions saves you time, energy, and transportation costs while allowing you to fully take your time in each neighborhood.

If you’re not sure how to do that, our Paris itineraries can guide you. We’ve carefully planned and tested them several times to help you make the most of your time in Paris.

2. Overpacking Your Itinerary

Arc de triomphe at sunset

It’s tempting to try and cram as much as possible into your Paris itinerary—after all, there’s so much to see!

But overpacking your schedule can leave you feeling rushed, exhausted, and unable to fully enjoy each place. Instead, choose a few attractions you want to see and explore them well.

This will also leave you time to savor the city either by randomly stopping to admire the architecture along the way or chilling at a cafe without rushing from one landmark to another.

3. Focusing Only on Popular Attractions

Passage des Panoramas

Paris is home to some of the most iconic landmarks in the world—the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and Notre Dame Cathedral are at the top of many visitors’ lists. And while these popular attractions are must-sees for good reason, there is so much to see beyond the tourist trail. 

What many visitors don’t realize is that some of Paris’ most magical moments happen away from the crowds.

Wandering through neighborhoods like Le Marais or the Latin Quarter, or visiting less-known gems like the covered passages of Paris can offer a more intimate and authentic experience of the city.

By balancing your itinerary with a mix of famous landmarks and off-the-beaten-path spots, you’ll get a deeper appreciation of what makes Paris so special.

If you’re not sure how to add these hidden gems to your itinerary, our expertly created Paris itineraries can help you. Yes, they have all the popular attractions but they also cover many hidden spots that most tourists miss. 

4. Underestimating time at attractions

The Winged Victory of Samothrace in the louvre museum

Many tourists make the mistake of not accounting for how long they’ll spend at each attraction. While it’s easy to estimate a quick photo stop at a pretty street, places like the Louvre or Versailles need much more time than you may think.

Without proper planning, you’ll find yourself rushing through places, especially if you have a number of attractions planned. Be realistic about how much you can accomplish in a day and leave room for breaks, meals, and unexpected moments.

Luckily, you don’t have to spend hours scouring the internet upside down to find this information. Our itineraries show you exactly how much time you’ll need at each attraction so you can adjust your routes accordingly and have a realistic idea of what you can accomplish in a day.

5. Not Researching Where to Eat in Advance

Magret de canard food at a restaurant

Paris has so many good restaurants, but it’s also filled with tourist traps that overcharge for mediocre food, and if you’re not careful, you might fall for them and join the number of people who say they don’t understand why French food is overhyped, but in reality, they just went to bad restaurants. 

Many visitors make the mistake of entering the first restaurant they see as soon as they finish visiting a popular attraction, only to end up disappointed.

To avoid this, take the time to research restaurants and cafés in advance. Look for spots that locals love, and go to places outside the main tourist hubs for a more authentic dining experience.

We recommend staying away from restaurants just next to the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Orsay Museum, and other popular attractions.

If you have dietary restrictions, you should also research ahead to ensure you find restaurants that cater to your needs.

Our itineraries also come with locally loved restaurants that not only serve good food but are also well-priced. We also included several vegetarian and Gluten-free restaurants so you never have to wonder if you’ll have options in a city like Paris that isn’t known to be vegetarian or Gluten-free friendly. 

6. Not Booking Restaurants in Advance

people seated at a terrace restaurant

While still on the topic of restaurants, you should know that restaurants in Paris book out fast, so it would be a huge mistake not to make reservations ahead of time.

This is especially true for fancy or Michelin-starred restaurants which sometimes book out even months in advance.

While you might be lucky to walk into a bistro or brasserie and find a table, in some cases, you may end up queueing for long, especially on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Booking ahead will also save you from wasting time wandering around in search of an available table. If your heart is set on a specific restaurant, make sure you reserve as soon as possible.

7. Not Checking the Opening Hours and Closing Days of Places

Louvre museum on a Tuesday
The Louvre museum closed on a Tuesday

One of the most common mistakes travelers make when planning a Paris itinerary is not verifying the opening hours or closing days of attractions, museums, and restaurants. 

In Paris, many places have specific hours and may close entirely on certain days—often Mondays or Tuesdays for museums and Sundays or Mondays for restaurants.

Imagine planning to visit the Louvre Museum on a Tuesday, only to arrive and find it closed. Or planning lunch at a local bistro, only to discover it doesn’t open on Mondays. 

To avoid this, always double-check the operating hours and weekly closures of the places you plan to visit. Include this information in your itinerary so you can allocate your time efficiently and avoid disappointment.

You should also note that several restaurants in Paris don’t stay open the whole day. Some just open for lunch (around 12:00 pm – 2:30 pm) and reopen for dinner (around 7:00 pm – 10:30 pm), so take this into account when planning your day.

8. Not Booking Entry Tickets in Advance

Statue of liberty in Orsay museum

Popular landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and the Sainte-Chapelle often sell out days or even weeks in advance, especially during peak seasons.

Without a pre-booked ticket, you’ll likely face long lines or, worse, find that tickets are completely sold out for the day.

To avoid disappointment or even waste hours in queues instead of actually enjoying the city, make sure you purchase your attraction tickets in advance. You can pre-book all your tickets here on our favorite booking platform, Get Your Guide


Final Thoughts on the Mistakes Tourists Make When Planning a Paris Itinerary

If the idea of taking all this into account to create your perfect itinerary feels overwhelming, our Paris itineraries can help you. They solve all the mistakes we’ve looked at above so you can focus your energy on having the absolute best time in Paris. 

We tell you exactly which activities you can do in a day to maximize your time, how much time you’ll need at each attraction, and even pin all these attractions on a Google Map so you know exactly where to go at all times. 

We even go a bit further and show you our favorite local restaurants so you can avoid the social media over-hyped restaurants. With our itineraries, you’re guaranteed to have the time of your life in Paris. You can learn more about our expertly created itineraries by clicking here.

Check out these posts to help you plan your trip to Paris

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