Europe rewards the curious. In one week, pairing Paris and Amsterdam offers a rich blend of history, art, design, and unforgettable food. You’ll stroll medieval islands and 19th-century boulevards, then trade them for Golden Age canals, innovative galleries, and the comforting aroma of stroopwafels.

Paris dazzles with icons—the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay—yet its soul is in its cafés, markets, and pocket-sized squares. Amsterdam charms in motion: bikes humming by gabled houses, boats gliding under stone bridges, and world-class museums set beside leafy parks.

Practical notes: Book timed-entry tickets for major museums (Louvre, Van Gogh, Anne Frank House). Keep an eye on your belongings in crowded areas. Tap-to-pay works almost everywhere; local city taxes apply at hotels. For flights to/from Europe and trains within Europe, compare options on Omio (flights) and Omio (trains); open-jaw tickets (into Paris, out of Amsterdam) save time.

Paris

The City of Light is equal parts elegance and everyday ritual—morning espresso at the zinc counter, a flaky croissant under Haussmann facades, sunset along the Seine. Its museums hold millennia of beauty, but the neighborhoods—Marais, Saint‑Germain, Montmartre—make the magic tangible.

• Top sights: Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Notre‑Dame (reopened), Sainte‑Chapelle, Eiffel Tower, Montmartre & Sacré‑Cœur, Tuileries & Luxembourg Gardens.
• Neighborhoods to wander: Le Marais (historic mansions and boutiques), Canal Saint‑Martin (creative cafés), Saint‑Germain (literary cafés), Latin Quarter (bookshops).
• Eat & drink highlights: market lunches at Marché des Enfants Rouges, crêpes at Breizh Café, bistros like Le Comptoir du Relais, modern French at Clamato or Le Servan.
• Getting around: Metro and buses are frequent; a contactless card works for single rides. RER B connects CDG to the center in ~35–45 minutes.

Where to stay: For easy sightseeing, look in the 1st–7th arrondissements; for nightlife and food, consider the Marais (3rd–4th) or Canal Saint‑Martin (10th). Browse stays on VRBO Paris or compare hotels on Hotels.com Paris.

Day 1: Arrival, Île de la Cité, and the Latin Quarter

Morning: Fly into Paris (CDG or ORY). Compare fares and multi‑city options on Omio (flights). From CDG, take RER B (~35–45 min, ~€11–€12) to central Paris; from ORY, Orlyval + RER B or Tram T7 + Metro (~40–50 min). Drop bags and freshen up.

Afternoon: Start where Paris began: Île de la Cité. Admire Notre‑Dame’s restored interior (reopened) and the kaleidoscopic stained glass at Sainte‑Chapelle. Pause for choux at Odette or a scoop from Berthillon on nearby Île Saint‑Louis. Stroll the Seine quays to the Pont Neuf and into the Latin Quarter’s bookshops.

Evening: Classic bistro dinner at Le Comptoir du Relais (Saint‑Germain; walk‑ins possible at the wine bar next door, L’Avant‑Comptoir) or try Bouillon Racine for Belle Époque ambiance and hearty French staples at friendly prices. If you still have energy, take a twilight Seine cruise from the Pont Neuf—Paris’s monuments shimmer after dark.

Day 2: Louvre, Palais Royal, and Montmartre at Sunset

Morning: Coffee and a hot chocolate at Angelina (near the Tuileries) or an espresso at Café Verlet (heritage roaster). Explore the Louvre with a targeted plan—Winged Victory, Mona Lisa, and the French Crown Jewels—then decompress with a stroll in the Tuileries Garden.

Afternoon: Cross to Palais Royal’s arcades and the striped Colonnes de Buren; pop into Café Kitsuné for matcha or a flat white. Meander the covered passages (Galerie Vivienne, Passage des Panoramas) and tour the Opéra Garnier’s grand staircase and Chagall ceiling.

Evening: Head to Montmartre. Watch the city turn gold from the steps of Sacré‑Cœur, then weave past artists’ studios to dinner. Pick Bouillon Pigalle (fast-moving line; classic dishes, low prices), Le Refuge des Fondus (fondue fun, convivial), or La Boîte aux Lettres (cozy modern French). Nightcap at Le Syndicat (craft cocktails made with French spirits).

Day 3: Left Bank Icons, Musée d’Orsay, and the Eiffel Tower

Morning: Breakfast at Saint‑Germain’s Café de Flore (for the scene) or Coutume (serious coffee). Cross the river to Musée d’Orsay—set in a Beaux‑Arts railway station—to marvel at Monet, Degas, and Van Gogh beneath the famous clock.

Afternoon: Wander the Luxembourg Gardens, then browse Saint‑Germain’s galleries and independent bookshops (peek at Shakespeare & Company by Notre‑Dame). Treat yourself to Pierre Hermé macarons or a classic crêpe at Breizh Café (book if possible).

Evening: Time your Eiffel Tower visit for sunset; even if you skip the summit, views from Trocadéro are superb. Dinner options: Le Servan (inventive, season-led), Clamato (seafood small plates; no reservations), or Pink Mamma (Tuscan‑leaning, lively; reserve). For a rooftop view, try Le Perchoir Marais.

Day 4: Le Marais, Markets, and Modern Art

Morning: Coffee and a pastry at Du Pain et des Idées (legendary escargot pastries) or Tout Autour du Pain. Dive into Le Marais: Place des Vosges, the Picasso Museum, and boutique-lined streets. Snack your way through Marché des Enfants Rouges—try a buckwheat galette, North African merguez, or Japanese bento stalls.

Afternoon: Explore Centre Pompidou’s exterior escalators and contemporary collections, then amble along Canal Saint‑Martin for indie shops and cafés. Pause at Ten Belles or Café Lomi for a light roast and a quiet moment by the water.

Evening: Book ahead for Frenchie (refined, seasonal) or Septime (Michelin-starred, hard to snag—set reminders). A more spontaneous option is Chez Janou (Provençal, famous chocolate mousse). Cap the night with jazz at Caveau de la Huchette (swing dancing in a 16th‑century cellar) or New Morning (modern jazz).

Getting to Amsterdam (tomorrow morning): Reserve the high‑speed Eurostar from Paris Gare du Nord to Amsterdam Centraal on Omio (trains). Journey time ~3h20; advance fares often €45–€120. Aim for an early departure to maximize your first Dutch afternoon.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is a city of rhythm: spoked bike wheels, rippling canals, the soft creak of bridges. Its Golden Age merchants left canal houses with neck gables and ornate facades; today, the city blends heritage with cutting‑edge design and a famously warm café culture.

• Top sights: Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank House (timed tickets essential), Canal Belt (UNESCO), Jordaan, Vondelpark, A’DAM Lookout.
• Eat & drink highlights: Dutch pancakes, herring stands, Indonesian rijsttafel, brown cafés, craft breweries like Brouwerij ’t IJ by a windmill.
• Getting around: Walk, tram, or bike. GVB day tickets are convenient; trains from Schiphol to Centraal take ~15–20 minutes.

Where to stay: For postcard canals, look in the Canal Belt or Jordaan; for museums, base in Oud‑Zuid; for nightlife and dining, De Pijp or Amsterdam West. Browse VRBO Amsterdam or compare on Hotels.com Amsterdam.

Day 5: Eurostar to Amsterdam, Canal Belt, and Jordaan

Morning: Grab a croissant and filter at Ten Belles or KB Coffee Roasters, then board the Eurostar to Amsterdam. Book tickets on Omio (trains)—~3h20 city center to center. Expect €45–€140 depending on time and advance purchase.

Afternoon: Check in and orient along the Grachtengordel (canal belt): Herengracht, Keizersgracht, Prinsengracht. Step into the serene Begijnhof courtyard near Spui. Lunch ideas: Pancakes Amsterdam (fluffy Dutch and poffertjes), or the tiny hole‑in‑the‑wall Singel 404 for sandwiches on warm bread.

Evening: Explore the Jordaan’s narrow lanes and art studios. Dinner at Balthazar’s Keuken (set menu in an old smithy), La Perla (wood‑fired pizza using Slow Food products), or Moeders (Dutch comfort food; walls lined with mothers’ photos). Nightcap picks: Proeflokaal Wynand Fockink (historic genever tasting room) or Brouwerij ’t IJ (windmill brewery; try the Zatte tripel).

Day 6: Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh, Vondelpark, and De Pijp

Morning: Coffee at Back to Black or Scandinavian Embassy, then the Rijksmuseum—Rembrandt’s Night Watch, Vermeer’s quiet interiors, and the delicate Delftware collection. Allow 2–3 hours and a short break in the museum garden if weather allows.

Afternoon: Timed entry at the Van Gogh Museum (book early). Follow his color journey from dark Nuenen works to the blazing Sunflowers and wheat fields. Lunch at Foodhallen (street‑food hall in a former tram depot—try Viet View’s buns or Jabugo’s Iberian ham) or head to Vondelpark for a picnic. Consider a canal cruise for a different perspective (~1 hour, ~€20).

Evening: De Pijp’s dining scene delivers. For Indonesian rijsttafel, go to Restaurant Blauw (festive, spice‑rich) or Puri Mas (more intimate). Cocktail aficionados can slip into Door 74 (speakeasy, reservations recommended) or Hiding in Plain Sight (precise classics and seasonal twists). For a skyline finale, cross the IJ to A’DAM Lookout and the “Over the Edge” swing.

Day 7: Anne Frank House, Nine Streets, and Departure

Morning: Breakfast at Winkel 43 (famous apple pie; go early) or Vinnie’s (fresh, local), then your timed visit to the Anne Frank House—quiet, powerful, and best experienced first thing. Afterwards, browse De Negen Straatjes (Nine Streets) for Dutch design, vintage, and indie makers.

Afternoon: If flying out of Schiphol, the Sprinter/Intercity train from Centraal takes ~15–20 minutes (~€6). Compare flight options on Omio (flights). If you have time for lunch before you go, grab a broodje haring (herring sandwich) at a local stand or a final bowl of erwtensoep (pea soup) on a terrace.

Evening: If your flight leaves later, savor one last canal stroll; otherwise, safe travels and tot ziens!

Practical Transport Notes

• Flights: Open‑jaw (multi‑city) tickets into Paris and out of Amsterdam often price well. Search and compare on Omio (flights).
• Trains: Eurostar Paris–Amsterdam ~3h20; buy in advance on Omio (trains) for best fares.
• Local transit: Paris Metro single rides are a few euros; consider a day pass if you’ll ride often. In Amsterdam, GVB 1‑day tickets cover trams/metros/ferries; bikes are great but watch tram tracks and yield etiquette.
• Buses/Ferries: For alternative routes or budget legs in Europe, compare on Omio (buses) and Omio (ferries).

Dining Shortlist (for backup plans)

• Paris: Breizh Café (crêpes/galettes), L’As du Fallafel (Marais classic), Frenchie Wine Bar (walk‑in small plates), Bouillon Chartier (historic, budget‑friendly), Mokonuts (cult bakery‑café; limited hours).
• Amsterdam: Café de Reiger (Jordaan stalwart), Café Loetje (satisfying steak and satay), Stach (quick quality bites), Bakers & Roasters (Kiwi/Brazilian brunch), Café Hoppe (historic brown café).

Where to book stays: Paris—VRBO | Hotels.com • Amsterdam—VRBO | Hotels.com

Book transport: Flights—Omio • Trains—Omio • Buses—Omio • Ferries—Omio

In seven days you’ll trace Europe’s story from Gothic spires to Impressionist light to modern canalside life. Paris and Amsterdam complement each other—one grand and layered, the other intimate and inventive—leaving you with a reel of skies, flavors, and quiet moments by the water.

Keep this itinerary handy for future trips; both cities reward repeat visits with new corners and tastes every time.