Two capital cities, two continents, one unforgettable week. Paris and Algiers share Mediterranean light and layered histories—from Roman outposts and Ottoman empires to revolution and reinvention. In seven days you’ll trace grand boulevards, sail the Seine, step through the old Casbah, and stand amid Roman forums where waves kiss ancient stones.

Paris, once Roman Lutetia, became the City of Light under Haussmann’s 19th‑century redesign, a stage where Impressionists, philosophers, and couturiers remade modern life. Algiers, “El Bahdja,” is a whitewashed amphitheater over the sea—its Casbah a UNESCO‑listed maze of palaces and alleyways; nearby lie Tipaza and Cherchell, glittering with Roman mosaics and sea breezes.

Practical notes: Book museum time slots and Eiffel Tower access in advance, and expect busy weekends. Algeria’s currency is the Algerian dinar; cash remains king and Friday is the main weekly rest day. Many nationalities require an Algerian visa—check requirements early—and dress modestly for the Casbah and religious sites.

Paris

Paris rewards curiosity at every corner: gardens trimmed like embroidery, zinc rooftops that catch sunset, and cafés that turn people‑watching into an art. Highlights include the Louvre’s global trove, the Eiffel Tower’s sweeping views, and neighborhoods like Montmartre and Le Marais where cobbles whisper stories.

• Top sights: Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Notre‑Dame (exterior), Musée d’Orsay, Montmartre, Le Marais, Sainte‑Chapelle, Palais‑Royal, bridges over the Seine.
• Good to know: Reserve dining at popular bistros; many museums close one day a week; metro is the fastest way to cross town.

Where to stay (Hotels.com/VRBO picks):

• Iconic luxury: The Ritz Paris, Le Meurice, Hôtel Plaza Athénée, The Peninsula Paris
• Design/boutique: Hôtel des Grands Boulevards, Hôtel des Arts Montmartre, Hôtel du Temps, Hotel du College de France, Hôtel des Arts Bastille
• Solid mid‑range & budget: Novotel Paris Centre Gare Montparnasse, Generator Paris, Hôtel du Champ de Mars
• Browse more stays: VRBO Paris | Hotels.com Paris

How to get to/around Paris: Book flights to Paris with Omio (flights). Trains within Europe are best on Omio (trains). From CDG, the RER B reaches central Paris in ~35 minutes; a Navigo Easy card simplifies metro/bus rides.

Algiers

Algiers unfolds in tiers: Ottoman palaces and mosques in the upper Casbah, French‑era boulevards below, and the sea at your feet. The city is a living archive—mint tea steam curling past carved cedar doors, vendors frying mahjouba crêpes, and the call to prayer echoing at dusk.

• Top sights: Casbah of Algiers (UNESCO), Palais Mustapha Pacha museums, Notre‑Dame d’Afrique, Jardin d’Essai du Hamma, Martyrs’ Memorial, seaside Sidi Fredj. Day trips: Tipaza & Cherchell Roman sites.
• Food to try: couscous and rechta, chorba, mechoui, brik, makroud dates, mint tea. Friday is the main rest day; many shops close mid‑day.

Where to stay: Target Hydra, El Biar, and Didouche Mourad for cafés and safer evening walks. Browse options on VRBO Algiers and Hotels.com Algiers.

Getting in/out: Paris–Algiers flights take ~2h15 with Air Algérie, Transavia, or Air France; expect ~$120–$250 one‑way. Compare fares on Omio (flights) or Trip.com (flights). Arrange a private arrival/departure transfer: Algiers Airport transfer.

Day 1 — Arrive in Paris, sunset on the Seine

Afternoon: Land in Paris and drop bags at your hotel. Shake off jet lag with a stroll around Île de la Cité—peek at Notre‑Dame’s ongoing restoration from the parvis, then cross Pont Neuf into the Tuileries. Coffee and a first pastry at Café Verlet (heritage roaster near the Louvre) or a scoop at Berthillon on Île Saint‑Louis if the sun’s out.

Evening: Celebrate night one with a glass‑canopy dinner cruise—the monuments glow like a private show. Book the Bateaux Parisiens Seine River Gourmet Dinner & Sightseeing Cruise.

Expect classic French courses, live music, and postcard views of the Louvre, Orsay, and Eiffel Tower. Nightcap at Harry’s New York Bar (home of the French 75) or a calming tea back at the hotel.

Day 2 — Louvre icons and the Iron Lady

Morning: Fuel up with a pistachio escargot and a coffee at Du Pain et des Idées (10th). Then join a focused art walk on the Louvre Museum Masterpieces Guided Tour with Access—see the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and grand galleries without wasting time in lines.

Afterward, wander the Tuileries and the colonnades of Palais‑Royal.

Afternoon: Casual lunch at Bistrot Vivienne (classic onion soup and steak‑frites) or falafel at L’As du Fallafel in Le Marais. Shop covered passages (Galerie Vivienne, Passage des Panoramas), then head to the Champ‑de‑Mars.

Evening: Time your ascent for golden hour with Eiffel Tower Dedicated Reserved Access (Top or 2nd floor).

Dinner nearby at Le Petit Cler (market‑street charm) or the always‑lively Café Constant. Toast the day at Bar Hemingway at The Ritz Paris if you’re feeling fancy.

Day 3 — Montmartre mornings, Marais flavors

Morning: Climb to Sacré‑Cœur for panoramic views, then weave Montmartre’s lanes past La Maison Rose and Place du Tertre. Brunch at La Bossue (homemade brioche and quiche) or cafe crème at Hardware Société (Aussie‑Parisian brunch). Browse tiny ateliers on Rue des Abbesses.

Afternoon: Head to Le Marais for boutiques and mansions-turned‑museums. Sweet stop at Pastêis de Nata Rua de Bretagne or a cone at Bachir (organic Lebanese ice cream rolled in pistachios). For a delicious hands‑on break, join the Award-Winning Paris French Bakery Experience — Le Marais.

You’ll step behind the counter of a working boulangerie to learn how croissants and baguettes get their alchemy.

Evening: Dinner at Chez Janou (near Place des Vosges; book—pepper steak and a mountain of chocolate mousse) or Le Bon Georges (market‑led bistro). Wine bar options: Le Barav (build your own cheese board) or La Buvette (intimate natural wines). Night stroll along the Seine’s Right Bank quays.

Day 4 — Versailles splendor and Paris by night

Morning: Take RER C (~35–45 minutes; ~€7–€8 one way) to Versailles. You can bundle logistics on the Versailles Palace and Gardens Tour from Paris.

Marvel at the Hall of Mirrors and André Le Nôtre’s fountains. Lunch at La Petite Venise in the park for a tranquil break.

Afternoon: Back in Paris, choose Musée d’Orsay’s Impressionists or a Left Bank flânerie through Saint‑Germain’s bookstores and cafés (Les Deux Magots for people‑watching).

Evening: For a historic Paris night out, book the Moulin Rouge 3‑Course Dinner with Wine and Show.

If you’d rather keep it low‑key, grab comforting classics at Bouillon Pigalle (no‑frills, great value) before a night walk to Place du Tertre under the lamplight.

Day 5 — Fly to Algiers, first look at the Casbah

Morning: Paris → Algiers flight (~2h15). Compare fares and times on Omio (flights) or Trip.com (flights). On arrival, skip taxi haggling with this private airport transfer to your hotel in Hydra or downtown.

Afternoon: Dive into the old city on the Half‑Day Guided Walking Tour in the Kasbah of Algiers.

Wander Ottoman alleys, step into tiled palaces, and pause for mint tea and mahjouba (semolina crêpes) near Place des Martyrs. Dress modestly; ask before photographing people or private courtyards.

Evening: Dinner at Signature (Hydra; modern Algerian tasting menu by Chef Lamine Zeghouane, reserve) or Lalla Mina (Hydra; couscous and tagines in a warm setting). For sweets, seek out Pâtisserie Mado for almond‑honey pastries and Orangina granita. Early night: tomorrow is a Roman epic.

Day 6 — Tipaza & Cherchell: Roman seaside Algeria (full‑day)

Spend the day on the coast among amphitheaters and mosaics with the “Tipaza and Cherchell” Tour by Fancyellow.

Walk colonnaded streets where seagulls now sit on Roman capitals, visit Cherchell’s small museum (superb sculptures), and stop at the Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania (the “Tomb of the Christian”). Lunch on the shore—ask your guide for a table at a local seafood spot in Tipaza such as Le Dauphin for grilled dorade, sardines, and salads. Back in Algiers by early evening for a relaxed tea or seaside stroll at Sidi Fredj marina.

Day 7 — Gardens, basilica views, and departure

Morning: Start at Jardin d’Essai du Hamma, a 19th‑century botanical garden where palms and bamboo tunnels meet neoclassical alleys. Ride the cable car up toward the Martyrs’ Memorial for views across the bay, then head to Notre‑Dame d’Afrique—its hilltop basilica and Arabic‑Latin inscription (“Pray for us and for the Muslims”) speak to Algiers’ cosmopolitan soul.

Afternoon: Classic lunch downtown at historic Brasserie Tantonville (Didouche Mourad; shawarma, grills, fresh juices) or light mezze near the marina. If you need reliable data for the trip home, consider an Algeria Data eSIM for easy connectivity.

Transfer to the airport with your pre‑booked private transfer and depart in the afternoon.

Evening: If your flight is later, squeeze in a final seaside coffee at Sablette Promenade or last‑minute pastry shopping (gazelle horns, makroud). For onward flights beyond Europe, compare options on Kiwi.com or Trip.com; to Europe, also check Omio (flights).

Getting between cities

• Paris → Algiers flight: ~2h15 nonstop; most departures in the morning; fares ~$120–$250. Compare on Omio (flights).
• Versailles RER C from central Paris: ~35–45 minutes each way; trains run every few minutes. For broader rail in Europe, use Omio (trains).

Daily dining snapshot (quick reference)

• Day 1: Café Verlet or Berthillon; Dinner on the Seine (Bateaux Parisiens).
• Day 2: Du Pain et des Idées; L’As du Fallafel or Bistrot Vivienne; Le Petit Cler/Café Constant; drinks at Bar Hemingway.
• Day 3: La Bossue; treats at Bachir; dinner at Chez Janou or Le Bon Georges; wine at Le Barav.
• Day 4: La Petite Venise (Versailles); Bouillon Pigalle; Moulin Rouge dinner‑show.
• Day 5: Tea/mahjouba in the Casbah; dinner at Signature or Lalla Mina; dessert at Mado.
• Day 6: Seafood lunch in Tipaza (e.g., Le Dauphin); light supper back in Algiers.
• Day 7: Brasserie Tantonville; airport snacks or seaside coffee if time allows.

Where to book your stays quickly: Paris — VRBO | Hotels.com | Algiers — VRBO | Hotels.com

This week weaves together Parisian grandeur and Algerian soul: glittering river views, museum icons, old‑world cafés, Ottoman palaces, and Roman ruins over turquoise seas. You’ll leave with a camera full of sunsets and a palate tuned to butter and mint alike—ready to return for the secrets you didn’t yet uncover.