Paris has a way of welcoming you with a thousand quiet details—the glint of the Seine at dusk, the smell of butter curling off a warm croissant, the hush of a museum corridor just before a masterpiece appears. At its heart rises the Eiffel Tower, a feat of iron and imagination since 1889 that remains the city’s most beloved compass point. This week-long itinerary centers your days around the Tower while giving you time to savor art, neighborhoods, and day trips that reveal the many textures of Paris.

The city’s story stretches from Roman Lutetia to revolutionary boulevards to the ateliers that shaped modern art. You’ll see it in layers: in the medieval lanes of the Latin Quarter, the 19th‑century arcades near Palais Royal, and the grand axis of the Champs-Élysées. Along the way, we’ll pair big-ticket icons like the Louvre and Versailles with smaller pleasures—markets, natural wine bars, and pâtisseries with devoted local followings.

Practical notes: Book timed reservations for the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and Versailles well in advance—peak times fill quickly. Notre‑Dame Cathedral reopened in late 2024 and welcomes visitors again in 2025; expect security lines. Paris is walkable and Metro-rich; carry a contactless card or purchase a Navigo Easy pass. As always in crowded areas, watch for pickpockets, and check for any strike advisories before you go.

Paris

Paris rewards unhurried travelers. Use the Seine as your thread and the Eiffel Tower as your north star; everything else—cafés, bookstores, pocket parks—falls into place. Saint‑Germain tempts with classic cafés, Le Marais mixes galleries with old-world lanes, and Montmartre still holds the bohemian spirit on its steep, café-lined streets.

Top sights orbit your week: the Eiffel Tower (Trocadéro for the postcard view, Champ de Mars for picnics), the Louvre’s encyclopedic collection, the luminous Impressionists at Musée d’Orsay, and the oval rooms of Monet’s Water Lilies at l’Orangerie. Day trips to Versailles and Champagne add royal drama and sparkling terroir.

• Where to stay: For first-timers, the 7th (near the Tower), Saint‑Germain (Left Bank charm), or Le Marais (boutiques and cafés) make excellent bases. Browse stays on VRBO Paris or hotels on Hotels.com Paris.
• How to arrive: Compare flights into CDG or ORY via Omio flights (Europe). From CDG, RER B to central Paris takes ~35 min (~€12) or taxi ~45–60 min (flat-rate zones).

Day 1: Arrival, First Seine Stroll, Tower at Sunset

Morning: Fly or train into Paris. If arriving by rail (Gare du Nord/Est/Lyon), the Metro gets you anywhere in ~20–30 minutes; for long-haul flights, plan an easy morning and hydrate.

Afternoon: Check in and stretch your legs along the Seine from Pont Neuf to Île de la Cité. Step into the reborn Notre‑Dame (allow time for security) and admire the flying buttresses from Square Jean XXIII. Coffee break at Café Kitsuné in the Jardin du Palais Royal (smooth flat whites, serene arcades) or La Fontaine de Belleville for a classic café crème and charcuterie.

Evening: Make your first rendezvous with the Eiffel Tower at Trocadéro for golden-hour photos, then wander down to the fountains. Casual dinner nearby: Le Petit Cler (market-street bistro; roast chicken, steak-frites) or Café Constant (comforting French classics). If you still have energy, a gentle night cruise with Bateaux Parisiens departs by the Tower—watch Paris light up from the water.

Day 2: The Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars Picnic, and the Musée Rodin

Morning: Eiffel Tower visit. Book a timed elevator ticket to the summit on the official site weeks ahead; early slots mean lighter crowds and softer light. Learn why Gustave Eiffel added a tiny apartment at the top and peek at 19th‑century riveted engineering as you ascend. Afterwards, pick up picnic fixings on Rue Cler (fromageries, fruit, a bottle of Alsatian riesling) and relax on the Champ de Mars.

Afternoon: Stroll to the Musée Rodin, a mansion and sculpture garden where The Thinker and The Gates of Hell glow in natural light. Coffee and a pastry at nearby Boulangerie Utopie (inventive viennoiseries) or Poilâne (iconic sourdough and apple tartlets).

Evening: Dinner in the 7th or Saint‑Germain: Le Comptoir du Relais (bistro fare; book ahead) or Huguette (seafood platters, lively terrace). For a nightcap, slip into Le Bar du Henri IV on Place Dauphine for a glass of Bordeaux in a timeless square.

Day 3: Louvre, Palais Royal, Covered Passages, Rooftop Views

Morning: Timed entry to the Louvre. Aim for a focused route—Denon Wing for Mona Lisa and the Italian masters; Richelieu for Vermeer and Napoleon III’s gilded apartments. Use short breaks in the Cour Carrée and the glass Pyramid to reset your senses.

Afternoon: Cross to the Jardin du Palais Royal; its black‑and‑white Colonnes de Buren are a beloved photo stop. Continue through 19th‑century passages (Galerie Vivienne and Passage des Panoramas) for bookshops and stamps of Belle Époque Paris. Lunch at Juveniles (market cooking, great by-the-glass list) or Frenchie Bar à Vins (walk-in small plates: duck confit, burrata with seasonal produce).

Evening: Head to the Opéra district. Catch sunset from the Galeries Lafayette rooftop terrace (free) with a panorama of the city’s slate rooftops. Dinner at Bouillon Chartier (historic dining hall, fast-moving, affordable French staples) or Canard & Champagne in Passage des Panoramas (as the name promises). Cocktails at Le Syndicat (French-spirits‑only bar; try a Cognac twist) if you’re in the mood.

Day 4: Left Bank Art, Saint‑Germain Cafés, Latin Quarter Evenings

Morning: Musée d’Orsay serves an irresistible survey from Realism to Impressionism—seek out Monet’s cathedrals, Manet’s Olympia, and the clock window’s city view. Coffee at KB Coffee Roasters (specialty beans, pastries) or Coutume (precise pours).

Afternoon: Wander Saint‑Germain: browse Rue Bonaparte’s boutiques, step into Église Saint‑Sulpice, and pause at Café de Flore or Les Deux Magots (yes, touristy; yes, historic). Cross to the Latin Quarter for Shakespeare & Company’s book maze, then amble the river quays for secondhand art prints.

Evening: Dinner options: Le Servan (seasonal French with Asian accents; sisters Tatiana & Katia Levha), Clamato (seafood small plates; no reservations), or Breizh Café Odéon (buckwheat galettes, farm butter). Consider an evening concert at Sainte‑Chapelle—stained glass comes alive in music.

Day 5: Day Trip to Versailles (Palace, Gardens, and the Queen’s Hamlet)

Morning: Depart after breakfast. Trains run frequently: RER C to “Versailles Château–Rive Gauche” (~35–45 min; ~€4 one-way) or SNCF from Montparnasse to “Versailles Chantiers.” Compare times and tickets on Omio trains (Europe). Arrive for opening if you can; the Hall of Mirrors is sublime when quiet. Book a Passport ticket to include gardens and Trianon domains.

Afternoon: Picnic by the Grand Canal (rent a rowboat if skies are friendly) and continue to the Petit Trianon and Marie‑Antoinette’s rustic Hamlet. For a sit-down lunch, La Petite Venise does reliable risotti and salads between the groves.

Evening: Return to Paris. Casual dinner near Bastille/Aligre: Septime La Cave (natural wines, charcuterie) or Le Baron Rouge (old-school barrel wine bar; oysters in season). If you want a sweet finish: Stohrer in Rue Montorgueil (Paris’s oldest pâtisserie—baba au rhum is the move).

Day 6: Champagne Day Trip (Reims or Épernay)

Morning: TGV from Paris Est to Reims (~45 min; from ~€20–45 each way) or to Épernay (~1h10). Check routes and fares on Omio trains (Europe). In Reims, visit the Gothic cathedral where French kings were crowned, then book tastings with a contrast—one grande maison (e.g., Taittinger or Veuve Clicquot) and one grower-producer (e.g., smaller houses in the Montagne de Reims). In Épernay, the Avenue de Champagne lines up legendary cellars—Moët & Chandon, Perrier‑Jouët, and artisan domaines.

Afternoon: Lunch ideas: In Reims, head to Brasserie du Boulingrin (Art‑Deco room, regional dishes) or in Épernay, La Table d’Oscar (seasonal, champagne-friendly plates). Consider a vineyard tour to learn about chalk cellars and riddling racks before a final tasting.

Evening: Back in Paris, unwind at Le Mary Celeste (Marais; oysters, small plates, inventive cocktails) or Bistrot Paul Bert (Right Bank classic; pepper steak and a fine cheese trolley—reserve ahead). Night stroll along Canal Saint‑Martin for a local vibe.

Day 7: Montmartre Morning, Last Bites, Departure

Morning: Montmartre before the crowds. Climb to Sacré‑Cœur for a hazy city panorama, then trace artists’ steps through Place du Tertre and Rue de l’Abreuvoir toward the photogenic La Maison Rose. Brunch or coffee at Hardware Société (Aussie‑French plates, baked eggs) or at The French Bastards (decadent pastries and sandwiches). If you prefer markets, browse Marché des Enfants Rouges (open daily except some Mondays) in the Marais for last tastes.

Afternoon: Last-minute shopping in the Marais (Merci concept store, indie boutiques) or Saint‑Germain (heritage brands and bookstores). Depart for the airport or rail station—plan ~1 hour to CDG by RER B from central Paris. For trains within Europe, compare departures on Omio trains; for flights within or into Europe, use Omio flights.

Evening: If your flight is later, an early dinner at Bouillon Pigalle (efficient, affordable Parisian classics) or Le Bon Georges (beef-focused bistro with a serious wine list) bids the city a delicious au revoir.

Where to Stay: Curated Picks by Neighborhood

• Near the Eiffel Tower (7th): Quiet, elegant streets and quick walks to the Tower and Musée Rodin. Browse VRBO Paris apartments with balconies facing the Champ de Mars, or check boutique hotels on Hotels.com Paris.
• Saint‑Germain (6th): Classic cafés, galleries, and quick access to the Left Bank museums; perfect for evening strolls and old‑world ambiance.
• Le Marais (3rd/4th): Trendy, central, and lively on weekends; great for shoppers, food lovers, and easy Metro links.

Eating & Drinking: Local Favorites to Bookmark

• Breakfast & coffee: KB Coffee Roasters (precision pours), Coutume (third‑wave pioneer), Carette (buttery croissants near Place des Vosges), The French Bastards (creative viennoiseries).
• Lunch: L’As du Fallafel (bustling Marais pita stuffed with crispy falafel), Mokonuts (tiny, soulful lunch; book ahead, weekdays), Breizh Café (stellar buckwheat galettes).
• Dinner: Bistrot Paul Bert (benchmark bistro), Le Servan (seasonal finesse), Bouillon Pigalle or Chartier (fast, classic, budget‑friendly), Frenchie Bar à Vins (walk‑in small plates).
• Wine & cocktails: Septime La Cave (natural-leaning), Le Mary Celeste (cocktails and oysters), Le Syndicat (French spirits with flair).
• Sweets: Stohrer (historic pastries), Sébastien Gaudard (Mont Blanc, éclairs), Boulangerie Utopie (inventive bakes).

Transport Notes & Booking Tips

• Flights: Compare fares and routes into Paris (CDG/ORY) on Omio flights, especially for intra‑Europe hops.
• Trains (Paris–Versailles–Reims): Check schedules and prices on Omio trains. Paris–Reims TGV ~45 minutes; reserve for best fares.
• Metro & passes: Buy a reloadable Navigo Easy card; tap contactless for simple pay‑as‑you‑go. Most sights are an easy mix of Metro and walking.
• Tickets: Book timed entries for the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, and Versailles well ahead; consider midweek slots and earliest entries for thinner crowds.
• Seasonal swap: If visiting April–November, consider swapping Day 6 for Giverny (Monet’s house and gardens). Trains to Vernon‑Giverny ~45–55 minutes from Saint‑Lazare via Omio trains, then a shuttle or bike to the village.

In a week, you’ll have stood beneath the Eiffel Tower’s lattice, lingered with Monet and Rodin, and tasted Champagne where it’s born. The city’s grand avenues and tiny pleasures now belong to your memory—ready to be revisited on your next return. Until then: keep a little Paris in your pocket.