Paris—born on an island in the Seine—grew from a Roman river outpost into a capital of art, fashion, gastronomy, and ideas. Today, its historic core is ringed by grand boulevards, leafy parks, and villages-turned-neighborhoods like Montmartre and Belleville. Within an hour, the Île-de-France fans out to royal residences, medieval towns, and painterly forests.

Over 22 days, you’ll savor world-class museums, café culture, and markets, then wander beyond the périphérique to Versailles and Fontainebleau. This slow-travel plan balances essential sights with time to linger—morning croissants, late-afternoon apéro, and blue-hour strolls when the city glows.

Practical notes for 2025: Notre-Dame Cathedral reopened to visitors in late 2024, while the Louvre is closed Tuesdays and Musée d’Orsay closes Mondays. For transit, load a Navigo Easy or Navigo Découverte pass for metro/RER/bus travel (weekly pass runs Monday–Sunday). Reserve top restaurants and timed-entry sights in advance.

Paris

The city of light rewards curiosity: covered passages with 19th-century glass roofs, sculptors’ studios tucked off rue de Belleville, and tiny wine bars pouring natural cuvées. Start central with the Louvre, Notre-Dame, and the Tuileries, then branch into the Left Bank’s literary haunts, the Marais’ medieval lanes, and the Canal Saint-Martin’s waterside promenades.

Arrival logistics and getting around

• Flights into CDG or ORY: compare options on Omio (flights in Europe). Typical intra‑Europe fares run ~$60–$200; long-haul varies by season.
• Intercity trains (e.g., London–Paris via Eurostar, Brussels–Paris via Thalys/ICE): check times and prices on Omio (trains in Europe). Eurostar London–Paris is ~2h20, often $70–$180 if booked early.
• Local transport: metro/RER/bus are frequent; allow ~35–45 minutes from CDG to central Paris via RER B. Use a Navigo pass; taxis to central Paris are flat‑fare (right bank/left bank) and take ~45–60 minutes depending on traffic.

Where to stay in Paris

• Browse apartments on VRBO Paris or hotels on Hotels.com Paris.
• Classic icons: The Ritz Paris, Le Meurice, Hôtel Plaza Athénée, The Peninsula Paris.
• Stylish boutiques: Hôtel des Grands Boulevards, Hôtel des Arts Montmartre, Hôtel du Temps, Hôtel des Arts Bastille, Hotel du College de France, Generator Paris (design hostel).
• Good value for families: Novotel Paris Centre Gare Montparnasse, or the friendly Hôtel du Champ de Mars steps from rue Cler market.

Paris essentials: bookable experiences

• Louvre Museum Masterpieces Guided Tour with Access — See the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and the museum’s grand galleries with context only a specialist can provide.

  

• Eiffel Tower Dedicated Reserved Access (Top or 2nd Floor) — Timed entry and hosting streamline your ascent to Paris’s iron icon—and the views are sublime at sunset.

  

• Bateaux Parisiens Seine River Gourmet Dinner & Sightseeing Cruise — Glass‑canopy boats, live music, and floodlit monuments drifting by as you dine.

  

• Authentic Parisian Gourmet Food Tour (Montmartre) — Cheeses, charcuterie, pastries, and wine while learning the neighborhood’s bohemian backstory.

  

Days 1–4: Right Bank icons and the Seine

• Louvre, Tuileries & Palais-Royal: Enter via the Carrousel or Porte des Lions to dodge crowds; after your tour, stroll the Tuileries to the Musée de l’Orangerie for Monet’s Nymphéas. Peek into Palais‑Royal’s gardens and the Colonnes de Buren.
• Covered passages: Wander Passage des Panoramas, Galerie Vivienne, and Passage Jouffroy—perfect on a rainy afternoon and a window into 19th‑century shopping culture.
• Opéra & rooftop views: Admire Palais Garnier’s grand staircase; for a free panorama, head to Galeries Lafayette’s rooftop terrace.
• Evening on the river: Time your Seine dinner cruise for blue hour; bridges and facades ignite as the city lights up.
• Breakfast & coffee near the Louvre: Du Pain et des Idées (legendary escargot pastries), Telescope (minimalist specialty coffee), and Carette (butter‑rich croissants and macarons) fuel early museum starts.
• Lunch & dinner: Bouillon Chartier or Bouillon Pigalle for classic French at wallet‑friendly prices; Bistrot Paul Bert for steak‑frites and Paris‑Brest; Frenchie Bar à Vins for small plates and a terrific by‑the‑glass list.

Days 5–8: Left Bank, Notre‑Dame, and the Eiffel Tower

• Île de la Cité: Visit Notre‑Dame (reopened) and nearby Sainte‑Chapelle’s kaleidoscopic stained glass. Explore the flower market and the Conciergerie’s Revolution‑era cells.
• Latin Quarter & Luxembourg: Shakespeare & Company bookshop, Sorbonne lanes, and Luxembourg Gardens’ lime‑tree alleys—mute the city for an hour on a green chair.
• Museums in context: Musée d’Orsay (Impressionism), Rodin Museum’s sculpture garden, and the Army Museum at Les Invalides (Napoleon’s tomb).
• Eiffel Tower evening: Reserve a timed ascent; pair with a Champ de Mars picnic from rue Cler market (fromager, boulanger, caviste all in a row).
• Eat & drink: Le Comptoir du Relais (bistro classics; line up early), Le Servan (bright, contemporary French with Asian notes), Septime La Cave (natural wine bar) and Le Barav (Belgo‑French wines by the glass).

Days 9–12: Montmartre, Marais, and the northeast

• Montmartre morning: Climb the quiet stairs behind Sacré‑Cœur at sunrise; seek out vineyard Clos Montmartre and the windmills on rue Lepic. For brunch, Holybelly 5 is beloved for pancakes and eggs.
• Le Marais layers: The Musée Carnavalet (free city history) and the Picasso Museum pair well with falafel from L’As du Fallafel on rue des Rosiers. Finish at Place des Vosges, Paris’s oldest planned square.
• Canal Saint‑Martin & Belleville: Walk iron footbridges and watch locks in action; street art and indie ateliers dot the side streets. Parc des Buttes‑Chaumont is a dramatic 19th‑century fantasy landscape.
• Evening ideas: Clamato (seafood small plates; no reservations), Chez Janou (Provençal, famed chocolate mousse), and La Buvette (tiny wine bar with snacks) are convivial without being fussy.
• Pastry crawl: Stohrer (since 1730, birthplace of baba au rhum), Pierre Hermé (seasonal macarons), and Jacques Genin (silky caramels and chocolate.)

Days 13–15: Easy day trips from Paris

• Provins (UNESCO medieval town): From Gare de l’Est (Transilien P), ~1h25, ~$12–15; ramparts, towers, and rose confections recall its Champagne Fairs past. Check schedules via Omio (trains).
• Vaux‑le‑Vicomte: Château and formal gardens that inspired Versailles; weekends often feature candlelit evenings in season. Reach via train to Verneuil‑l’Étang + shuttle (~1h15 total).
• Saint‑Denis Basilica: French royal necropolis just 10 minutes beyond Paris on metro line 13; a Gothic masterclass.
• Disneyland Paris (Marne‑la‑Vallée–Chessy): RER A from central Paris ~40 minutes; a fun palate cleanser if traveling with kids.
• Baker for a day: Back in the city, consider a hands‑on bake: Paris Croissant Small‑Group Baking Class.

  

Versailles

Built to dazzle Europe, Versailles was Louis XIV’s stage—mirrored halls, geometric parterres, and a courtly ballet of etiquette. Beyond the palace gates lies a friendly town with a stellar market, shaded squares, and bike paths looping the Grand Canal.

Give yourself time: the main château, the Hall of Mirrors, and the Chapel impress, but the Trianon Palaces and Marie‑Antoinette’s Hamlet are the tender notes that complete the symphony.

Travel to Versailles (morning departure)

• Paris → Versailles (Rive Gauche/RER C): ~35–45 minutes, about €4–€7. Or take SNCF from Montparnasse to Versailles‑Chantiers (~12–20 minutes) or from Saint‑Lazare to Versailles‑Rive Droite (~35 minutes). Check routes and times on Omio (trains).

Where to stay in Versailles

• Search VRBO Versailles or Hotels.com Versailles for stays steps from the château or near Marché Notre‑Dame.

Versailles highlights and experiences

• Versailles Palace and Gardens Tour from Paris — Skip the guesswork and let a guide unlock courtly intrigues while you cover more in less time.

  

• Gardens & fountains: On musical fountain days, jets dance to Baroque scores; rent a rowboat on the Grand Canal for a serene hour.
• Trianons & the Hamlet: A more intimate Versailles—pink marble colonnades, a neoclassical music room, and a pastoral model village beloved by Marie‑Antoinette.

Versailles eats and market finds

• Breakfast & coffee: Kaffeehaus (Austro‑French pastries near the market) and Pâtisserie C. Guinon for praline feuilletés and fruit tarts.
• Lunch: Ore — Ducasse au Château (elegant lunch within the palace complex) or La Petite Venise by the Grand Canal.
• Dinner: La Table du 11 (Michelin‑star modern French) or its sibling Le Bistrot du 11 for a refined bistro menu. For something theatrical, ReminiSens offers costumed, candlelit dinners with historical menus.
• Marché Notre‑Dame: Four halls around a lively square—assemble a picnic with aged Comté, Bayonne ham, Poilâne bread, and Île‑de‑France cider.

Days 16–18: Settle into royal life

• Day 16: Arrive mid‑morning, drop bags, and tour the main château and Hall of Mirrors. Late lunch near Place d’Armes; golden hour in the parterres is camera magic.
• Day 17: Rent bikes to loop the Grand Canal; visit the Grand and Petit Trianon plus the Hamlet. Pause for gelato by the water; sunset row on the canal if weather cooperates.
• Day 18: Town day—Notre‑Dame church, antiques lanes on rue de la Paroisse, and the market. Optional afternoon detour to Rueil‑Malmaison (Napoleon & Joséphine’s residence) via Omio (trains).

Fontainebleau

Older than Versailles and every bit as storied, the Château de Fontainebleau hosted eight centuries of monarchs—from François I (who imported the Italian Renaissance to France) to Napoleon. Surrounding it, one of Europe’s great forests unfurls: sandy trails, gnarled oaks, and world‑class bouldering.

The town itself is genteel and walkable, with cafés near the château gates and markets spilling across Place Napoléon. Artists from the Barbizon School painted these woods long before climbers chalked their hands.

Travel to Fontainebleau (morning departure)

• Versailles → Fontainebleau: Connect via Paris. Take a train from Versailles to central Paris, then Transilien R from Gare de Lyon to Fontainebleau‑Avon (~40 minutes from Paris; ~1h40–2h total; €15–€25). Plan connections on Omio (trains).

Where to stay in Fontainebleau

• Compare cottages and apartments on VRBO Fontainebleau or hotels on Hotels.com Fontainebleau.

Fontainebleau highlights and optional experiences

• Château de Fontainebleau: Don’t miss the François I Gallery’s carved stuccowork, the Trinity Chapel’s painted vaults, and Napoleon’s throne room. The formal gardens segue into English‑style lawns and a carp‑filled canal.
• Forest rambles: Choose color‑marked sentiers in the Franchard and Bas Cuvier sectors; hikers find quiet glades, while climbers test sandstone boulders on circuits of all grades.
• Barbizon village: A short bus or taxi from Fontainebleau, Barbizon’s auberges and ateliers recall Millet and Rousseau; stroll Grande Rue and the small painters’ museum.
• Optional Paris return for a final capstone: If you fancy one last city day, pop back to Paris (~40 minutes from Avon) for an easy cruise: Paris Seine River Sightseeing Cruise with Commentary.

  

Eat & drink around Fontainebleau

• Breakfast & coffee: Start near Place Napoléon with a terrace espresso and a warm croissant from a central boulangerie; pick up picnic fixings for the forest if it’s a hiking day.
• Lunch: In Barbizon, Le Franklin serves seasonal French plates in a cozy dining room; back in town, La Petite Ardoise is a dependable stop for salads, fish, and daily chalkboard specials.
• Dinner: L’Axel (Michelin‑starred) offers a refined tasting menu that blends French technique with Japanese accents—book ahead. For a relaxed evening, the bistro at La Demeure du Parc pairs regional wines with comforting mains.

Days 19–22: Forest air and royal rooms

• Day 19: Arrive and tour the château’s Grands Appartements; linger by the carp pond. Dinner at a town bistro; early night to wake with the birds.
• Day 20: Forest day—choose an easy Franchard loop (waymarked) and carry a picnic. If you climb, try a beginner circuit at Bas Cuvier; climbers often bring a crash pad or rent locally.
• Day 21: Half‑day in Barbizon, then back to town for pâtisserie and a canal‑side stroll. Consider a final toast on a terrace.
• Day 22 departure: Fontainebleau‑Avon → Paris Gare de Lyon (~40 minutes), then RER or taxi to CDG/ORY. Check rail options on Omio (trains) and flights on Omio (flights). Allow 2.5–3 hours door‑to‑gate.

Optional serene base just north of Paris (spa & lake)

• If you crave a spa break between city days, consider Enghien‑les‑Bains (Val‑d’Oise), 15 minutes by train from Paris Saint‑Lazare. Stay lakeside at Hôtel Barrière Le Grand Hôtel Enghien‑les‑Bains (access to thermal spa; on‑site dining at Le 85 and nearby Fouquet’s Enghien), or keep it simple at Campanile Taverny for a budget base near leafy suburban trails.

Bonus Paris experiences to mix in anywhere

• Early Access Paris Notre‑Dame Cathedral Walking Tour — Be among the first inside and circle the island with a guide.

  

• Paris Big Bus Hop‑On Hop‑Off Tour — A low‑effort way to connect sights, with optional river cruise add‑on.

  

• Normandy D‑Day Small‑Group Day Trip — A powerful, full‑day excursion from Paris to Utah/Omaha Beaches, the American Cemetery, and cider tasting.

  

Across 22 days, you’ll live like a local in Paris and roam the royal heartland of Île‑de‑France—palaces, gardens, forests, markets, and riverlight evenings. It’s enough time to see the masterpieces, but also to find your café stool, your bakery, and your favorite bridge at dusk.

Return home with museum stamps on your ticket stubs, butter on your fingers, and a map of the region etched in memories—not just checked boxes.