France is a tapestry of art, empire, and everyday pleasures—from Roman roads and Gothic cathedrals to corner cafés where time lingers over a perfect croissant. In one week, you’ll savor Paris’s icons, glide along the Seine at twilight, and step into the gilded age at Versailles.

Beyond the capital, the Loire Valley invites you into Renaissance fantasies of turrets, tapestries, and mirror-still moats. It’s where royal intrigue met river life and where today’s travelers pair château walks with Sancerre and chèvre. Think grand history, gentle countryside, and truly delicious lunches.

Practical notes: museums often close one day a week (the Louvre on Tuesdays; Versailles Mondays), restaurants book up fast, and the Métro is your best friend. Tipping is modest (service is included), and a few French phrases go a long way. Pack comfortable shoes—you’ll happily earn every pastry.

Paris

Paris rewards curiosity: a luminous city where ironwork meets Impressionism and where each neighborhood feels like a village with its own rituals. Spend your days tracing the Seine’s curve, slipping into hushed museums, and claiming sunny café chairs for people-watching par excellence.

Top sights orbit the river—the Louvre, Île de la Cité, the Eiffel Tower—yet the city’s soul lives in bakeries at dawn, market streets by noon, and wine bars after dark. Eat broadly: buttery viennoiserie, buckwheat galettes, steak-frites, and modern bistros pushing French cooking forward.

• Where to stay (Paris): - Iconic: The Ritz Paris, Le Meurice, The Peninsula Paris - Boutique/value: Hotel du College de France (Latin Quarter), Hôtel des Arts Montmartre, Hôtel du Temps, Generator Paris (stylish hostel) - Browse more: Hotels.com Paris | VRBO Paris
• Getting there and around: Fly into Paris (CDG/ORY); compare routes on Omio flights. In-city, ride the Métro and buses (consider a Navigo Easy card). Intercity trains (for day trips) on Omio trains; buses on Omio buses.

Day 1: Arrival, Île de la Cité Stroll, and Classic Bistro Comforts

Afternoon: Land in Paris, check in, and stretch your legs along the Seine. Circle Île de la Cité to see Notre-Dame’s restored façade and newly reopened nave, then slip to Place Dauphine—one of Paris’s quietest squares—for a gentle first impression.

Evening: Go casual with a “bouillon” (Belle Époque dining rooms, hearty French classics at friendly prices). Try Bouillon Pigalle or Bouillon Julien for onion soup, boeuf bourguignon, and île flottante. Finish with ice cream at Berthillon on Île Saint-Louis—caramel beurre salé is a local favorite.

Day 2: Marais Morning and the Louvre’s Masterpieces

Morning: Start with croissants at Du Pain et des Idées (pistachio–chocolate escargot is beloved) then wander the Marais: Place des Vosges arcades, small galleries, and vintage boutiques. For lunch, go classic—falafel at L’As du Fallafel or crêpes at Breizh Café (pair buckwheat galettes with dry cider).

Afternoon: Dive into the Louvre with a focused, expert-led visit. This guided tour streamlines the world’s largest museum so you meet the greats—Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo—without losing the thread.

Louvre Museum Masterpieces Guided Tour with Access

Evening: Sip a glass at Septime La Cave or Le Baron Rouge, then dinner at Frenchie Bar à Vins (no-fuss small plates) or Bistrot Paul Bert (benchmark steak au poivre and Parisian buzz). Bookings recommended; arrive early for counter spots.

Day 3: Eiffel Tower Views and a Candlelit Seine Dinner Cruise

Morning: Beat the crowds with timed entry and a host to the Eiffel Tower’s 2nd floor or summit. Hearing the tower’s backstory—from 1889 World’s Fair skepticism to global icon—adds fun texture to the panorama.

Eiffel Tower Dedicated Reserved Access Top or 2nd floor by lift

Afternoon: Cross to Trocadéro for the classic postcard view, then metro to Montmartre. Climb to Sacré-Cœur for sweeping cityscapes; meander Rue de l’Abreuvoir and Place du Tertre’s artists’ square. Coffee at KB CaféShop; consider a pâté en croûte snack at Le Coq Rico’s epicerie next door.

Evening: Celebrate with a glass-canopy dinner cruise—Paris’s bridges, the Louvre’s riverfront, and the glittering Iron Lady drift by as you dine.

Bateaux Parisiens Seine River Gourmet Dinner & Sightseeing Cruise

Day 4: Royal Half-Day at Versailles

Morning: Head out for a guided Palace of Versailles visit that makes the Hall of Mirrors, Royal Apartments, and André Le Nôtre’s gardens come alive. You’ll understand not just Louis XIV’s excess, but how etiquette ran the Sun King’s court.

Versailles Palace and Gardens Tour from Paris

Afternoon: Return to Paris and stroll Saint‑Germain-des-Prés bookshops and cafés. Pop into the 6th‑arrondissement’s covered Marché Saint‑Germain for oysters or cheese to nibble.

Evening: Choose a neighborhood classic: Allard for duck with olives; Huguette for seafood platters; or Le Relais de l’Entrecôte for the cult steak‑frites with secret sauce (no reservations—queue moves quickly).

Day 5: Markets, Modern Art, and Wine Bars

Morning: Browse Marché d’Aligre (open most days except Monday) for fruit, cheese, and flea‑market treasures. Brunch at Holybelly for pancakes and filter coffee, or go traditional with a jambon‑beurre from a nearby bakery.

Afternoon: Pick an art fix: Musée d’Orsay (Impressionists beneath a Beaux-Arts clock) or Centre Pompidou (modern and contemporary heavy hitters). Shop the Marais again for independent fashion and perfume ateliers.

Evening: Progressive bites in the 11th: natural wines at Le Verre Volé; seafood small plates at Clamato; then dessert at Bontemps (sablé pastry sandwiches) if you catch them before close. Nightcap at the Experimental Cocktail Club in Montorgueil.

Loire Valley (Amboise & Chenonceau)

Two hours from Paris, the Loire Valley stretches with vine-laced hills and riverside towns that once hosted kings. Amboise is a perfect gateway, with a hilltop château and lanes that still feel Renaissance—but with excellent coffee and bakeries.

Nearby Chenonceau floats across the Cher River on graceful arches; it’s one of Europe’s most photogenic palaces, shaped by powerful women from Diane de Poitiers to Catherine de’ Medici. Between château tours, taste goat cheese, rillettes, and crisp Sauvignon Blancs.

• Where to stay (if you extend overnight): - Amboise/Tours countryside classics: Château de Noizay, Les Hauts de Loire, Domaine de la Tortinière - In Amboise: Château de Pray, Hotel Bellevue, Novotel Amboise - Browse more: Hotels.com Amboise | Hotels.com Tours | VRBO Loire Valley
• Getting there: Morning trains from Paris Montparnasse to St‑Pierre‑des‑Corps (Tours) in ~1h10, then a 20‑minute TER to Amboise. Door‑to‑door Paris–Amboise ~1h40–2h. Typical fares €25–€55 each way when booked on Omio trains.

Day 6: Loire Valley Day Trip — Amboise and Château de Chenonceau

Morning: Depart Paris around 7:30–8:00 a.m. by TGV to St‑Pierre‑des‑Corps; connect to Amboise (total ~1h50). Start at Pâtisserie Bigot by the château for coffee and a tarte Tatin slice, then tour Château Royal d’Amboise for river views and the (contested) burial site of Leonardo da Vinci.

Afternoon: Lunch in Amboise—Les Arpents (seasonal bistro) or La Fourchette (cozy, local menu). Continue to Château de Chenonceau (15–25 minutes by taxi or regional train + shuttle). Walk the gallery bridge spanning the river, the formal gardens (Catherine vs. Diane), and the flower workshop that refreshes interiors weekly.

Evening: Train back to Paris in ~1h50–2h. If you arrive via Montparnasse, celebrate a Parisian brasserie rite at La Coupole (seafood platters, art‑deco murals). Early nightcap near your hotel or a leisurely stroll along the illuminated bridges.

Day 7: Paris Passages, Last Bites, and Departure

Morning: Glide through the 19th‑century covered passages near the Palais Royal (Passage des Panoramas and Galerie Vivienne). Coffee or hot chocolate at Angelina by the Tuileries, or a matcha and madeleine at Café Kitsuné in the garden arcades.

Afternoon: Pick up picnic staples on rue Cler (cheese, baguette, macarons) or grab a quick galette at Breizh Café Odéon before you head to the airport. Plan for airport transport ~1–1.5 hours. Compare flight options on Omio flights; RER B + airport bus or taxi are reliable exits.

Evening: Departure day—carry a little Paris with you: a pocket notebook from a Marais stationer, or simply the habit of lingering over coffee.

Practical Logistics at a Glance

• Transport: Paris–Versailles by RER C (~35–45 minutes) if going independently; otherwise use the guided tour above. Paris–Amboise day trip ~1h40–2h via Omio trains (book in advance for best fares).
• Museum days: Louvre closed Tuesday; Orsay closed Monday; Versailles closed Monday. Many restaurants close Sunday night or Monday—always check hours.
• Dining tips: Reserve for popular spots (1–2 weeks out for top tables). “Service compris” means tip is included—round up a euro or two for good service.

Optional/Alternate Ideas (If You Want to Swap a Day)

• Notre‑Dame and Île Saint‑Louis deep dive: Now reopened, combine a guided visit with Berthillon ice cream and a walk to Place des Vosges.
• Normandy history day trip: D‑Day beaches and the American Cemetery are profound if you’re a history buff (full‑day coach tours from Paris on Omio buses or by train + local tour).

Viator activities used in this itinerary:

• Louvre Museum Masterpieces Guided Tour with Access
• Eiffel Tower Dedicated Reserved Access Top or 2nd floor by lift
• Bateaux Parisiens Seine River Gourmet Dinner & Sightseeing Cruise
• Versailles Palace and Gardens Tour from Paris

Seven days in France will fly, but they’ll be rich: Paris’s masterpieces and neighborhoods by day, bridges and bistros by night, with a royal interlude at Versailles and a romantic Loire Valley escape. You’ll return with new favorites—and an appetite to come back for Lyon, Burgundy, or the Riviera.