Base for the path from the garage to the entrance stairs

Hello everyone, I still have some concrete paving left from my driveway and want to pave a path from my garage driveway to the entrance stairs (landing below the stairs). The path should be about 60 cm wide plus 2x6 cm curbstones for edging. I also have some gravel left that I would use as a base for the concrete paving. Is it sufficient to lay the paving on about 5 cm of gravel? Or do I absolutely need to put crushed stone or something similar underneath? Does this path necessarily have to be compacted with a plate compactor, or is it acceptable to tap the paving firmly with a rubber mallet if necessary? Thank you.

still need gravel or something underneath?

It's your path... there is no compulsion.
But reason suggests having at least some gravel underneath.

The vibrating plate then has 2 uses. Once for gravel, once for paving.

Ok thanks for the info. I'm just wondering if it's worth organizing a vibrating plate for a path 5m long and just under 60cm wide (2 paving stones per row, 40cm + 20cm each). I had hoped it would be easier and cheaper. What can happen in the worst case? That the stones settle eventually and I have to redo one or the other, right?

Now we are getting closer to the matter...

Short path.
Slabs instead of paving stones.

Tendency for a bit of gravel underneath remains.
Then just without mechanical compaction.

The stones probably won't break in the next 10 years, rather some unevenness caused by frost pushing up the paving (depending on what lies under your gravel)...

So, it is concrete paving, which is also in my driveway. From the rest, I will make a small path, each time a 40x20cm stone and a 20x20cm stone next to each other. If necessary, I will just have to lift and reset one or the other stone every few years. I wouldn’t find that so bad. Thanks for your information!