Paris has been reinventing itself for two millennia, from Roman settlement to revolutionary stage and modern capital of art and gastronomy. Today, the city is a tapestry of grand boulevards and tiny passages, royal palaces and contemporary galleries, Michelin temples and pocket-size bistros.

In one week, you can trace masterpieces at the Louvre, float past illuminated bridges on the Seine, and wander cobblestoned Montmartre where artists once traded canvases for cafe tabs. Add a half-day escape to Versailles to breathe in the symmetry of French gardens and gilded salons.

Practical notes: Most museums close one day per week (the Louvre on Tuesday, Orsay on Monday). Book dining and big sights in advance. Use contactless cards/phones on metro gates, and watch for pickpockets around major landmarks. Parisians appreciate a “Bonjour/Bonsoir” before requests—and a simple “Merci, au revoir” as you leave.

Paris

Paris rewards both first-timers and repeat visitors. Iconic sights—the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame’s parvis, the stately Tuileries—sit steps from intimate gardens, covered passages, and bakeries where a still-warm croissant can stop time.

Between Right Bank galleries and Left Bank bookshops, you’ll find a city built for strolling. Dip into neighborhood markets (Marché d’Aligre, Marché des Enfants Rouges), linger at sidewalk terraces, and end days along the Seine when the city slips into gold.

Getting there & around

• Flights: Compare fares via Omio if you’re already in Europe. From outside Europe, check Trip.com or Kiwi.com.
• Trains: For Eurostar/European rail into Paris (e.g., London–Paris ~2h20; Brussels–Paris ~1h25), search Omio. Buses can be cheaper on Omio.
• Airport transfer: CDG–center via RER B (~35–45 min, ~€11–€12) or taxi (flat fare ~€55–€62). Most metro rides cost ~€2.15; contactless is accepted at turnstiles.

Where to stay

• Browse apartments on VRBO Paris or hotels on Hotels.com Paris.
• Iconic splurge: The Ritz Paris (Place Vendôme legend; service and Bar Hemingway lore).
• Classic haute style: Le Meurice (Dalí vibes, Tuileries views) or Hôtel Plaza Athénée (Avenue Montaigne couture address).
• Boutique charmer: Hôtel des Arts Montmartre (village feel near Abbesses) or Hôtel des Grands Boulevards (18th‑century bones, modern polish).
• Excellent mid-range: Hôtel du Champ de Mars (Rue Cler market street, walk to the Tower).
• Design on a budget: Generator Paris (lively, Canal Saint‑Martin edge).

Day 1: Arrival, Le Marais wander, and a luminous Seine

Afternoon: Arrive and drop bags. Shake off jet lag with a stroll through Le Marais: peek into Place des Vosges arcades and stop for a buttery escargot pastry at Du Pain et des Idées or an espresso at Boot Café’s postage‑stamp storefront.

Evening: Celebrate night one with a dinner-and-sights glide past Paris’s icons.

Book: Bateaux Parisiens Seine River Gourmet Dinner & Sightseeing Cruise. Expect glass‑canopy views of the Eiffel Tower, Notre‑Dame’s buttresses, and romantic bridges while a multi‑course French menu arrives at your table.

Pre‑ or post‑cruise, sip a quick apéro at Le Mary Celeste (natural wines, inventive small plates) or stroll Île Saint‑Louis for Berthillon ice cream.

Day 2: Louvre masterpieces, Palais Royal arcades, Left Bank bistro time

Morning: Dive into the world’s most visited museum with a guide who navigates straight to the good stuff—from the Winged Victory to the Mona Lisa.

Book: Louvre Museum Masterpieces Guided Tour with Reserved Access. You’ll bypass long lines and hear stories that bring the collection to life.

Afternoon: Cross the Tuileries to Angelina for a classic Mont‑Blanc and thick hot chocolate, then window‑shop arcades at Palais Royal and Galerie Vivienne. Coffee people: try Télescope or Café Kitsuné in the gardens.

Evening: Dinner in Saint‑Germain. Book Le Comptoir du Relais (modern bistro staples) or Semilla (produce‑driven plates). Nightcap at Prescription Cocktail Club or Bar Hemingway if you’re feeling old‑school.

Day 3: Eiffel Tower ascent, Rue Cler market lunch, Orsay’s Impressionists

Morning: Beat the crowds with timed access to the Iron Lady, then linger across the lawn in the Champ de Mars.

Book: Eiffel Tower Dedicated Reserved Access Top or 2nd floor by lift. Guides share construction lore, and summit views reveal the city’s geometry.

Afternoon: Browse Rue Cler for an impromptu picnic (cheese at La Fromagerie, roast chicken from a rôtisserie, fruit from stalls), then cross to Musée d’Orsay for Monet, Degas, and the clock‑window view. Coffee at Coutume nearby if you need a boost.

Evening: Reserve Bistrot Paul Bert for textbook steak‑frites and pepper sauce, or try Septime for seasonal tasting menus (book well ahead). Drinks after at Le Syndicat (French‑spirit cocktail temple) or Little Red Door (playful menu, intimate vibe).

Day 4: Half‑day Versailles, garden grandeur, Saint‑Germain jazz

Morning: Head to Versailles. The RER C from central Paris takes ~35–40 minutes (about €4–€7 each way). Tour the Hall of Mirrors, the royal apartments, and, if time allows, the Trianon estates and Marie‑Antoinette’s Hamlet. Pick up picnic fixings at Marché Notre‑Dame or pause at Angelina Versailles for pastries.

Afternoon: Return to Paris and stroll Saint‑Germain’s bookstores and galleries (drop by Shakespeare and Company across the river, then the bouquinistes along the Seine). Coffee at Café de Flore or the less‑touristed La Fontaine de Belleville.

Evening: Classic Left Bank dinner at Chez Fernand (Bordeaux wines, boeuf bourguignon) or Aux Prés (Brittany‑leaning dishes). Catch live jazz at Caveau de la Huchette, a vaulted cellar swinging since 1946.

Day 5: Montmartre village day and a gourmet food tour

Morning: Breakfast at Hardware Société (Aussie‑French brunch) before climbing to Sacré‑Cœur for sweeping views. Wander Rue des Abbesses, peek at the tiny vineyard of Clos Montmartre, and slip into the Musée de la Vie Romantique for a quiet garden break.

Afternoon: Eat your way through the hill with a guided tasting—cheeses, charcuterie, pastries, and sips that explain terroir and tradition.

Book: Montmartre or Notre Dame Gourmet Food Tour with 7+ Dishes & Wines. It’s part walking history, part progressive lunch.

Evening: For dinner, choose Bouillon Pigalle (fast‑moving line, classic French at wallet‑friendly prices) or Le Coq & Fils (all‑things‑poultry by chef Antoine Westermann). Nightcap in a hidden garden bar at Le Très Particulier or on the Terrass’’ Hotel rooftop.

Day 6: Markets, covered passages, Canal Saint‑Martin

Morning: Start at Marché d’Aligre (bustling, half‑indoor, half‑open‑air) for oysters with a splash of lemon and a coffee at Café Mericourt. If you’d rather learn by doing, consider a hands‑on croissant or pastry class this morning; spots fill quickly.

Afternoon: Walk the Coulée Verte (Paris’s elevated garden path) for leafy city views, then hop to the 9th for the Belle Époque Grands Boulevards and covered passages (Passage Verdeau, Passage des Panoramas, Galerie Vivienne). Late‑day drift along Canal Saint‑Martin with a sip at Le Barav or natural‑wine haunt La Buvette.

Evening: Seafood at Clamato (no reservations; arrive early for scallops and maple tart), or updated brasserie comfort at Brasserie Dubillot (share the sausage and pommes dauphine). For cocktails, the Experimental Cocktail Club is a short wander away.

Day 7: Île de la Cité glow, last bites, and departure

Morning: Beat the lines at Sainte‑Chapelle (stained‑glass kaleidoscope) and circle Notre‑Dame’s exterior to see restoration progress. Browse English‑language shelves at Shakespeare and Company, then take a final stroll along the Seine for photos.

Afternoon: Brunch or an early lunch at Holybelly 5 (pancakes with salted‑butter caramel) or Breizh Café (buckwheat galettes and cider). Pick up edible souvenirs—salted caramels, Bordier butter, Alain Ducasse chocolate—then head to the airport or station. For intercity trains or buses, compare on Omio; for flights within Europe use Omio, and from outside Europe try Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Optional swaps and add‑ons

• Orsay + Orangerie combo: Monet’s water lilies at the Orangerie pair beautifully with Orsay’s Impressionists.
• Modern art arc: Centre Pompidou’s collection plus rooftop views; add a ramble through the Marais’s galleries.
• Food lovers: Add a cheese tasting at Fromagerie Laurent Dubois or a wine flight at Ô Chateau near the Louvre.

At‑a‑glance dining and coffee favorites by area

• Le Marais: Chez Janou (Provençal, legendary chocolate mousse), Breizh Café (galettes), Boot Café (espresso).
• Saint‑Germain: Le Comptoir du Relais (modern bistro), Semilla (produce‑first), Café de Flore (heritage stop).
• Around the Louvre/Opéra: Bistrot Vivienne (historic setting), Télescope (specialty coffee).
• Montmartre: Bouillon Pigalle (classic dishes), Le Coq & Fils (poultry‑focused), KB Coffee Roasters (flat whites).
• 11th/Canal: Clamato (seafood), Septime (tasting menu), Le Syndicat and Little Red Door (cocktails).

Four curated experiences to pre‑book

• Seine River Gourmet Dinner Cruise (Bateaux Parisiens)
• Louvre Masterpieces Guided Tour (Reserved Access)
• Eiffel Tower Reserved Access
• Montmartre Gourmet Food Tour

In seven days, you’ll have seen Paris from every angle: river‑level at dusk, rooftop‑high at the Tower, salon‑to‑gallery at the museums, and table‑side across its neighborhoods. Keep your notes—you’ll be back for the bakeries you missed and the side streets that still tug at your curiosity.