Two grand capitals, two distinct personalities. Paris seduces with boulevards, patisserie, and its temple to art at the Louvre; London thrills with history on every corner, lively markets, and world-class theatre. In just six days, you’ll trace centuries of European history while tasting your way through cafés, bistros, pubs, and modern kitchens.

Paris began as a Roman settlement on the Île de la Cité; today it shelters masterpieces from Delacroix to Da Vinci and monuments from Napoleon’s arch to Gustave Eiffel’s iron lace. London grew from a Roman river port into a global capital where medieval towers face shimmering glass, and curry houses share streets with old-school pie and mash shops. The Eurostar stitches them together in a swift 2.5-hour train ride.

Practical notes: Book popular tickets in advance and carry a contactless card for metro and Tube. For flights into Europe, compare on Omio (Europe) or Trip.com (long-haul). Expect plenty of walking; pack comfortable shoes and a compact umbrella. Cuisine runs from buttery croissants and buckwheat galettes in Paris to salt beef bagels, tikka masala, and Sunday roast in London.

Paris

The City of Light rewards lingering: a second espresso at a zinc-topped bar, a longer look at a Rodin bronze, a sunset pause on the Pont des Arts. Pair marquee sights—the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre-Dame—with easy neighborhood wandering in the Marais and Montmartre.

• Top sights: Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Île de la Cité, Sainte-Chapelle, Musée d’Orsay, Montmartre.
• Food to try: croissants, crêpes, steak-frites, duck confit, macarons, natural wine by the glass.
• Coffee breaks: Café de Flore for history, KB Coffee Roasters for specialty beans, Boot Café for cozy vibes.

Where to stay (curated picks near transit):

• The Ritz Paris (palatial landmark on Place Vendôme; Michelin-star dining and storied Bar Hemingway).
• Hôtel des Arts Montmartre (boutique charm steps from Sacré-Cœur and café-lined streets).
• Hotel du College de France (Left Bank value near the Sorbonne and the Seine).
• Novotel Paris Centre Gare Montparnasse (modern rooms, great transport links).
• Browse more stays on Hotels.com or apartments on VRBO.

Getting there and around:

• Flights: Compare into CDG/ORY on Omio (Europe) or Trip.com (intercontinental).
• CDG–Paris center: RER B train ~35–45 minutes, about €11–€12; taxis take ~45–60 minutes depending on traffic.

Day 1: Arrival, Île de la Cité, and the Seine

Morning: In transit.

Afternoon: Check in and shake off jet lag with a gentle walk around Île de la Cité. Peek at Notre-Dame’s renewed façade, then step into the flower market and along the Quai de la Mégisserie. Coffee at Shakespeare & Company Café or La Cafeothèque sets the tone.

Evening: Join a guided stroll to learn how Paris began on this island core.
Paris Notre Dame Cathedral & Île de la Cité Walking Tour

Afterward, dine at Chez Janou (Provençal pastis, truffle ravioli) or Breizh Café (buttery buckwheat galettes and cider) in the Marais. Nightcap along the Seine at Le Bar du Caveau near Place Dauphine.

Day 2: Louvre, Tuileries, and the Eiffel Tower

Morning: Start with croissants and café crème at Du Pain et des Idées, then head to the Louvre with timed-entry to skip long queues. Focus on the Denon Wing (Mona Lisa, Winged Victory) and Richelieu Courtyards’ sculpture gardens.
Louvre Museum Timed Entry Ticket

Afternoon: Picnic in the Tuileries (grab baguette, cheese, fruit from nearby Rue Montorgueil). Stroll to Place Vendôme’s jewelry arcades and the covered passages near Palais Royal. Coffee at Café Kitsuné and a peek into Galerie Vivienne’s mosaics.

Evening: Time your Eiffel Tower visit for golden hour. Reserved access makes it smoother, and the summit at dusk is magic.
Eiffel Tower Dedicated Reserved Access (2nd Floor or Summit)

Dinner nearby: Le Violon d’Ingres (classic French, rich sauces) or Chez l’Ami Jean (Basque bistronomy, lively room). For a lighter bite, walk to Rue Cler for rotisserie chicken and salads.

Day 3: Versailles in the Morning, Dinner on the Seine

Morning: Head out early for gilded grandeur at Versailles—Hall of Mirrors, King’s Apartments, and Le Nôtre’s geometric gardens. Choose a live tour with garden access and separate entrance from a central Paris meeting point.
From Paris: Versailles Palace Live Tour with Gardens Access

Afternoon: Return to Paris and wander Montmartre’s lanes—artists at Place du Tertre, Sacré-Cœur views, and backstreets like Rue de l’Abreuvoir. Snack on choux pastries from Odette or a cone from Scaramouche Glacier.

Evening: Celebrate with a glass-canopy dinner cruise gliding past Notre-Dame, Musée d’Orsay, and the Eiffel Tower twinkling on the hour.
Bateaux Parisiens Seine River Gourmet Dinner & Sightseeing Cruise

London

London is a patchwork of historic villages—Westminster’s abbey and parliament, the City’s Roman roots and finance towers, the East End’s street art and curry houses. The best way to know it is to ride the Tube by day and walk between pubs and theatres by night.

• Top sights: Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament, Tower of London, British Museum, Tate Modern, Greenwich.
• Food to try: Full English breakfast, Scotch eggs, South Asian curries, Sunday roast, flaky sausage rolls, excellent coffee.
• Where to graze: Borough Market for artisanal bites, Maltby Street Market for weekend small-batch producers, Seven Dials for pre-theatre dining.

Where to stay (handpicked for location):

• The Savoy (Edwardian glamour on the Strand; riverside walks and Covent Garden theatre district at your doorstep).
• Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London (large rooms opposite Big Ben and the London Eye; good for families).
• Point A Hotel London Kings Cross – St Pancras (smart budget choice near Eurostar and multiple Tube lines).
• Novotel London Tower Bridge (modern comfort, minutes from the Tower and river).
• See more options on Hotels.com or apartments on VRBO.

Getting there from Paris:

• Train: Eurostar from Paris Gare du Nord to London St Pancras takes ~2h20–2h30. Typical one-way fares range ~€60–€200 when booked early. Compare and book on Omio (Trains).
• Budget alternative: Long-distance bus ~7–9 hours, from ~€25–€50; search on Omio (Buses).

Day 4: Paris to London by Eurostar, South Bank to Covent Garden

Morning: Depart Paris on a mid-morning Eurostar; arrive at St Pancras in time for lunch. Grab a quick bite at Dishoom King’s Cross (bacon naan rolls) or Vinoteca for British cheeses and charcuterie.

Afternoon: Walk the South Bank from the London Eye to Tate Modern: buskers, book stalls, and skyline views. Pop into Tate for the Turbine Hall and top-floor viewing terrace. Coffee at Monmouth near Borough Market, then explore the market’s traders—Kappacasein grilled cheese, Bread Ahead doughnuts, and Brindisa chorizo rolls.

Evening: Pre-theatre dinner at Barrafina (Catalan tapas counter) or The Palomar (modern Jerusalem plates). See a West End show in Covent Garden or Soho. Post-show, toast at the historic Gordon’s Wine Bar (candlelit cellar, fortified wines) or The Harp (award-winning cask ales).

Day 5: Westminster Icons and Museum Mile

Morning: Classic full English at Regency Café (art deco, hearty portions), then take in Westminster Abbey’s royal tombs and Poets’ Corner. Walk by Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament; cross Westminster Bridge for photos back toward Whitehall.

Afternoon: Head to the British Museum (Rosetta Stone, Parthenon marbles) or the National Gallery (Turner, Van Gogh) on Trafalgar Square. Lunch nearby at Flat Iron (affordable steak with dripping chips) or The Wolseley for a grand café experience and perfect schnitzel.

Evening: Explore Soho’s lanes for dinner: Kiln (Thai grill, counter seats) or Hoppers (Sri Lankan hoppers, black pork curry). Cocktails afterward at Swift (pre-dinner aperitivo upstairs) or Nightjar Carnaby for speakeasy-style concoctions.

Day 6: Tower of London, River Crossing, and Departure

Morning: Early to the Tower of London to see the Crown Jewels with minimal line. Walk the riverside to Tower Bridge and continue to St Katharine Docks for coffee by the marina. If time allows, ride a Thames Clipper boat west for a quick waterside city tour.

Afternoon: Last bites: Padella in Shoreditch or Borough for silky hand-rolled pasta, or St. JOHN Bread & Wine in Spitalfields for Welsh rarebit and sticky toffee pudding. Pick up provisions at Liberty or Fortnum & Mason, then head to your airport (Heathrow via the Elizabeth line or Piccadilly line; Gatwick via Thameslink or Gatwick Express). Flights within or from Europe: check Omio (Flights); long-haul options on Trip.com.

Optional Add-Ons if You Have Extra Time

• Paris: Food tour in Montmartre with multiple tastings; patisserie workshop; Musée Rodin sculpture gardens.
• London: Greenwich by boat for the Prime Meridian and the Cutty Sark; Hampstead Heath for panoramic city views; Camden Market’s street food on weekends.

Booking Shortcuts

• Paris hotels: Hotels.com | VRBO
• London hotels: Hotels.com | VRBO
• Trains (Eurostar and more): Omio (Trains)
• Buses in Europe: Omio (Buses)
• Flights within/from Europe: Omio (Flights) | Intercontinental: Trip.com

In six vivid days you’ll collect Parisian golden hours and London blue hours, breakout bistros and classic pubs, river views in both capitals, and a trove of art and history. Keep the core, swap in a museum or market to taste, and this Paris–London itinerary becomes a reliable favorite you’ll happily repeat.