2 Days in Paris: Eiffel Tower & Disneyland

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Paris was on my list for years, and I finally did it in just 2 days — one day for the famous city sights and one full day at Disneyland. I stayed in one Airbnb, cooked my own food to save money, took the Metro everywhere, and happily skipped the expensive things I did not think were worth it. Here is exactly what I did, what everything cost, and my honest tips.

Important Trip Info

Getting around: The Metro is your best friend in Paris. For a 2-day trip you don’t need any special pass — just buy single tickets as you go. Since 2025 there is one simple flat ticket, the Metro-Train-RER ticket at €2.55 per ride, and the same ticket works on both the Metro in the city and the RER train out to Disneyland. I bought each ride on the official Île-de-France Mobilités app on my phone (you can also load tickets onto a Navigo Easy card). Skip the taxis.
Where I stayed: I booked this Airbnb for 1 night — ₹5,867. I cooked my own meals here, which saved me a lot (eating out in Paris is pricey). A stay near a Metro station saves you so much time.

Trip Cost Breakdown (1 person, 2 days)

These are the actual numbers I spent, not counting international flights.

Item	Cost	Notes
Airbnb — 1 night	₹5,867	I cooked my own meals here to save money.
Disneyland ticket — 1 day, 1 park	€89 (~₹8,200)	Disneyland Park only, not Walt Disney Studios. Book online in advance.
Food — groceries + eating out	€30 (~₹2,800)	I cooked most meals in the Airbnb; ate out only a little.
Metro + RER	~€13 (~₹1,200)	About 5 single tickets over the 2 days at €2.55 each — city Metro plus the RER to Disneyland and back.
Eiffel Tower	€0	I didn’t go up — the free views were enough for me.
Approximate total (excluding flights)	~₹18,000	One person, 2 days.

Day 1: Classic Paris — Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe & the Louvre

A full day of the Paris everyone dreams about, all joined up by the Metro.

Traveler Jyoti in a red dress standing in front of the full Eiffel Tower in Paris — The Eiffel Tower — even bigger in person than you imagine.

Eiffel Tower: Take the Metro to Trocadéro (line 6 or 9) — step out and the tower is right in front of you across the river. This is the classic postcard view, and it is completely free. My honest tip: I did not go up. The views from the ground were more than enough for me, and the summit lift (about €36.70) did not feel worth the money. If you do want to go up, the 2nd floor is cheaper (€14.80 by stairs, €23.50 by lift). Go early morning or near sunset for the best light and smaller crowds. (A fun surprise on my trip — I met Bollywood actor Boman Irani right there at the tower!)

Traveler Jyoti at the Trocadéro viewpoint with the Eiffel Tower behind her — The Trocadéro terrace — the best free photo spot for the tower.

Best free photo spot: Walk up to the Trocadéro terrace, just across the river from the tower. This is where you get the full, unblocked postcard shot — the whole Eiffel Tower in one frame — and it costs nothing. Come early to beat the crowds and the photographers. This one spot is the reason I never felt the need to pay to go up.

Traveler Jyoti holding a pink French macaron outside a Paris patisserie — A real French macaron from a patisserie — worth trying once.

French macarons: Between the big sights, do try a real French macaron — about €2–3 each from a proper patisserie (I got mine at Maison Pradier). They are light, colourful and a lovely little pick-me-up while you walk. A small box also makes an easy gift to carry home.

Traveler Jyoti in a red dress in front of the Arc de Triomphe with the French flag — The Arc de Triomphe — free to admire from the street.

Arc de Triomphe: A short Metro ride away, standing at the top of the famous Champs-Élysées avenue. It is free to admire from the street, and the view from the ground is grand enough on its own. If you want the rooftop city view — a great spot to photograph the Eiffel Tower from — there is a separate ticket for the climb up the stairs inside.

Traveler Jyoti in front of the glass pyramid at the Louvre in Paris — The Louvre's glass pyramid — free to walk around the courtyard.

Louvre glass pyramid: End your day at the Louvre to see the famous glass pyramid. The whole courtyard is free to walk around and photograph, and it looks stunning in the evening light. Going inside the museum is a separate ticket (about €22) and needs a half-day of its own, so I saved that for next time and just enjoyed the pyramid from outside.

Veg food: Paris is easy for vegetarians — falafel, crêpes, pasta and fresh bakery items are everywhere. To keep my budget low, I cooked most of my meals back at the Airbnb.

Day 2: Disneyland Paris — one full magical day

Disneyland is an easy day trip from central Paris — no car needed.

Traveler Jyoti making a heart with her hands in front of the Sleeping Beauty castle at Disneyland Paris — The Sleeping Beauty castle — the heart of Disneyland Paris.

Getting there: Take the RER A to Marne-la-Vallée / Chessy, the Disneyland stop — just €2.55 each way, bought on the Île-de-France Mobilités app.

My ticket: I bought a 1-day, 1-park ticket for Disneyland Park (not Walt Disney Studios) — €89. Prices change by date, so book online in advance — it's cheaper than the gate and you skip the queue.

The park: which rides in which land

Disneyland Park is a wheel — you walk up Main Street U.S.A. to the Sleeping Beauty Castle in the middle, and the five lands fan out around it. Here’s the whole park at a glance, with the one ride I’d make sure to catch (★) in each land:

Disneyland Paris at a glance — ★ is my must-do ride in each land. Grab the official map free at City Hall or in the Disneyland Paris app.

Disneyland Paris★ Park map ★

🚋 Main Street U.S.A.
Shops, snacks and churros · the best spot to watch the parade.
🤠 Frontierland
★ Big Thunder Mountain · Phantom Manor
🌴 Adventureland
★ Pirates of the Caribbean · Skull Rock · Aladdin
🏰 Fantasyland (behind the castle)
★ Peter Pan's Flight · It's a Small World · Tea Cups · Alice's Labyrinth · Casey Jr.
🚀 Discoveryland
★ Hyperspace Mountain · Star Tours · Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast

★ = the one ride I'd queue for in each land.

My top Disneyland tips

Book a weekday. Weekend tickets cost more and the park is far busier — book online in advance, not at the gate.

Selfie stick and tripod stay home. Neither is allowed inside (over 20 cm) — security binned mine. There are paid lockers by the Marne-la-Vallée / Chessy station (around €5, coins only), but they close in the evening — before the 10pm night show ends — so just leave them at home.

Arrive for opening (~9:30 AM). Ride the big coasters first — going early, most were only a 15–20 minute wait, so I never paid for Disney Premier Access.

Bring your own food and water. Park food is pricey, and DLP lets you carry food plus non-alcoholic drinks (no glass, alcohol or coolers) — the easiest way to stay 100% veg.

Don't miss the night show. The laser and light show on the castle is the best part of the day — grab a castle-facing spot 20–30 minutes early.

Comfy shoes and a light rain jacket. It's a long day on your feet (it even rained on us — still 100% worth it).

My Disneyland day, in photos

Traveler Jyoti at the Sleeping Beauty castle, Disneyland Paris

Traveler Jyoti on the Mad Hatter's Tea Cups, Disneyland Paris

Traveler Jyoti at Hyperspace Mountain in Discoveryland, Disneyland Paris

Traveler Jyoti at Phantom Manor in Frontierland, Disneyland Paris

Traveler Jyoti at the pirate ship and Skull Rock in Adventureland, Disneyland Paris

Traveler Jyoti at Aladdin's bazaar in Adventureland, Disneyland Paris

Traveler Jyoti at the Casey Jr circus train in Fantasyland, Disneyland Paris

Traveler Jyoti at Alice's Curious Labyrinth in Fantasyland, Disneyland Paris

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 2 days enough for Paris?

For the highlights, yes. One day covers the famous city sights — Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre — and one full day is perfect for Disneyland. If you also want to go inside the Louvre museum properly, add a third day.

How do I get around Paris?

The Metro. Since 2025 Paris uses one simple flat ticket — the Metro-Train-RER ticket at €2.55 per ride — and it even covers the RER train out to Disneyland. For a short trip you just buy single tickets on the Île-de-France Mobilités app or load them on a Navigo Easy card; you don't need a special pass.

Is it worth going up the Eiffel Tower?

Honestly, I didn't go up — and I didn't miss it. The views from the ground, especially from Trocadéro and the bridge, are stunning and completely free. The summit lift ticket is about €36.70 per person, and I would rather spend that money elsewhere. If you do want to go up, the 2nd floor is cheaper.

How much does Disneyland Paris cost?

I paid €89 for a 1-day, 1-park ticket to Disneyland Park (not Walt Disney Studios). Prices change by date, so always book online in advance — it is cheaper than the gate and you skip the ticket queue.

Do Indians need a visa for Paris?

Yes — a France (Schengen) visa. Apply at VFS Global 4–6 weeks before your trip. The same Schengen visa lets you pair Paris with other Schengen countries on one trip.

Can you bring your own food and water into Disneyland Paris?

Yes. Disneyland Paris lets you bring your own food and non-alcoholic drinks in a bag — packed lunches, snacks and a refillable water bottle are all fine, with no glass bottles, no alcohol and no large cooler boxes. Food inside the park is expensive, so this is the easiest way to save money and to eat 100% vegetarian.

Are selfie sticks and tripods allowed at Disneyland Paris?

No. Selfie sticks, tripods and monopods that extend beyond about 20 cm are not allowed inside the parks, and security will stop you at the entrance (they binned mine). Your phone and a normal camera are fine. If you do bring one, there are paid lockers by the Marne-la-Vallée / Chessy station (around €5, coins only) — but they close in the evening, before the 10pm night show ends, so you could be collecting your gear the next day. Easiest is to leave selfie sticks and tripods at home.

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