Paris wears its history in its streets: Roman-era roots, medieval islands, and grand 19th‑century boulevards, all crowned by world-class art and café culture. From the Gothic splendor of Notre‑Dame to the glass pyramid of the Louvre and the iron lacework of the Eiffel Tower, the City of Light has been setting style and ideas for centuries.

Beyond the icons, Paris is a tapestry of neighborhoods—each with its own flavor. Montmartre keeps village vibes and painterly views from the Sacré‑Cœur. The Left Bank whispers philosophy in Saint‑Germain, while the Marais mixes medieval lanes, falafel stands, galleries, and designer boutiques. Food is a daily adventure: buttery croissants, buckwheat galettes, natural wine bars, and venerable brasseries.

Practical notes: the Metro is fast and safe (a single ticket is about €2.15). Book timed entries for major museums and the Eiffel Tower. Parisians dine a bit later (many restaurants seat from 7:30 pm), and reservations are smart for popular spots. This 7‑day itinerary balances headline attractions with unhurried hours in parks, cafés, and along the Seine.

Paris

Paris is best savored block by block—stop for an espresso, peek into a covered passage, wander a market street, then turn a corner and stare down a masterpiece. Expect days that weave grand museums with simple neighborhood pleasures.

• Top sights: Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Sainte‑Chapelle, Notre‑Dame (exterior viewing), Arc de Triomphe, Montmartre & Sacré‑Cœur, the Marais, Luxembourg Gardens, and Versailles (day trip).
• What to eat: Morning croissants, crêpes & galettes, steak‑frites, roast chicken, oysters, and classic desserts like Paris‑Brest and mille‑feuille—paired with excellent French wines.
• Fun facts: The Seine has 37 bridges in Paris; the oldest, Pont Neuf, is ironically named “new bridge.” Paris has more than 130 museums, and its Metro, opened in 1900, remains the city’s everyday heartbeat.

Where to stay (affiliate picks): Browse broad options on VRBO Paris or Hotels.com Paris. For splurge stays: The Ritz Paris, Le Meurice, Hôtel Plaza Athénée, and The Peninsula Paris. Great boutiques: Hotel du College de France, Hôtel des Grands Boulevards, and Hôtel du Temps. Midrange/budget: Novotel Paris Centre Gare Montparnasse, Hôtel des Arts Montmartre, Hôtel des Arts Bastille, Generator Paris, and the family‑run Hôtel du Champ de Mars.

Getting to/around Paris: Compare flights and trains to Paris on Omio (flights) and Omio (trains). Typical times: London–Paris on Eurostar ~2h20; Amsterdam–Paris ~3h20; Brussels–Paris ~1h25. From CDG airport, RER B to central Paris ~35 minutes; taxis to the Right Bank ~€55. Within the city, the Metro and buses are efficient; a 10‑trip carnet on a Navigo Easy card offers value.

Day 1: Arrival, Île St‑Louis Stroll, and a Seine Dinner Cruise

Morning: Fly or train into Paris. If arriving early, drop your bags and stretch your legs along the Seine between Pont Neuf and Île Saint‑Louis. Shake off jet lag with a café crème at Le Saint‑Régis or a hot chocolate at the historic Angelina (rich, velvety, and beloved since 1903).

Afternoon: Ramble Île de la Cité for first views of Notre‑Dame (facade and towers under restoration; still impressive) and the Conciergerie’s austere Gothic walls. Window‑shop along Rue de Rivoli and pause in the Tuileries Garden for your first Louvre pyramid photo.

Evening: Celebrate night one with a glass‑canopy river cruise—dinner, views, and live music as monuments glide by. Book the Bateaux Parisiens Seine River Gourmet Dinner & Sightseeing Cruise (about 2–2.5 hours; typically $110–$150 depending on menu and window seating).

If you prefer a land dinner later, reserve classic steak‑frites at Le Relais de l’Entrecôte (decades‑old formula: salad, walnut dressing, secret‑sauce steak, fries) or split a buckwheat galette and a sweet crêpe with cider at Breizh Café (breton ingredients, impeccable technique).

Day 2: Marais, Île de la Cité, and Eiffel Tower by Night

Morning: Breakfast on crunchy‑laminated croissants and pain au chocolat at Du Pain et des Idées near Canal Saint‑Martin (arrive early; it sells out). Metro to Le Marais: explore Rue des Rosiers for bakeries and vintage boutiques, peek into Place des Vosges’ arcades, and step into small galleries along Rue Vieille du Temple.

Afternoon: Cross to Île de la Cité for stained‑glass fireworks at Sainte‑Chapelle (midday light is dazzling). Lunch ideas: L’As du Fallafel for overstuffed, saucy pita; Chez Marianne for mezze; or Robert et Louise for wood‑fired côte de boeuf. Amble the river quais and bookshop stalls toward the Champ de Mars.

Evening: Take the stress out of lines with Eiffel Tower Dedicated Reserved Access Top or 2nd floor by lift (about 1.5–2 hours; typically $50–$80 depending on level and season). Time your slot for blue hour as Paris lights up.

Nearby dinner: Café Constant for unfussy bistro classics; Le Violon d’Ingres for refined French cuisine; or Rue Cler’s Le Petit Cler for neighborhood warmth and fair prices.

Day 3: Masterpieces at the Louvre, Tuileries, and Opéra

Morning: Join a small‑group Louvre Museum Masterpieces Guided Tour with Reserved Access to cover the hits—Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, Venus de Milo—and learn clever shortcuts and context (2–3 hours; typically $70–$120).

Tip: The museum is closed Tuesdays; plan accordingly.

Afternoon: Picnic in the Tuileries (grab baguette, cheese, and fruit from a nearby marché). Then wander Palais‑Royal’s striped Colonnes de Buren and browse the historic covered passages—Galerie Vivienne and Passage des Panoramas—lined with antiquarian bookshops and stamp dealers.

Evening: Go Belle Époque at Palais Garnier with a self‑guided visit or catch a performance if schedules align. For dinner, Bouillon Chartier serves classic French dishes at turn‑of‑the‑century prices (expect a lively, no‑frills scene). Post‑dinner, sip a French 75 at Harry’s New York Bar, a 1911 institution and cocktail history lesson.

Day 4: Montmartre Views, Artists’ Lanes, and Jazz

Morning: Start at Abbesses for a café crème and flaky pastry at Pain Pain or The Hardware Société (Australian‑Parisian brunch favorite). Climb to Sacré‑Cœur for panoramic city views; then circle back through Rue de l'Abreuvoir past La Maison Rose and the Vigne du Clos Montmartre (the city’s tiny vineyard).

Afternoon: Visit the Musée de Montmartre & Renoir Gardens to see the neighborhood’s bohemian past. Lunch at Le Coq & Fils (roast chicken elevated to art) or Le Relais Gascon (hearty salads under a crown of crispy potatoes). Browse fabric shops around Marché Saint‑Pierre, then descend through Pigalle’s indie boutiques and guitar stores.

Evening: Seek live music: New Morning leans jazz and eclectic; Le Caveau de la Huchette (a vaulted 16th‑century cellar) swings for dancers. Dinner options: Le Bon Georges (market‑driven bistro, strong wine list), Clamato (seafood small plates; go early), or Bistrot Paul Bert (a benchmark for steak au poivre and Paris‑Brest).

Day 5: Versailles Palace & Gardens Day Trip

Morning–Afternoon: Trade boulevards for baroque splendor on a guided half‑day to the Sun King’s court. The Versailles Palace and Gardens Tour from Paris streamlines transport and tickets (typically 4–5 hours; $70–$110). Expect the Hall of Mirrors, Grands Appartements, André Le Nôtre’s gardens, and, on select days, musical fountain shows.

DIY option: RER C from central Paris to Versailles‑Château‑Rive‑Gauche (~35 minutes; ~€4–€5 each way) via Omio (trains).

Evening: Back in Paris, unwind in Saint‑Germain. Apertif at Prescription Cocktail Club or a glass of Muscadet with oysters at Le Bar à Huîtres. Dine at Le Comptoir du Relais (neo‑bistro legend; arrive early for a walk‑in) or Brasserie Lipp for timeless Alsatian and brasserie classics under Belle Époque mirrors.

Day 6: Left Bank Museums, Latin Quarter, and Wine Bars

Morning: Musée d’Orsay pairs Impressionism and a striking Beaux‑Arts train station setting—Monet, Degas, Van Gogh, and a clock‑face city view. Coffee at Coutume or Café de Flore, where Sartre and de Beauvoir once held court.

Afternoon: Stroll Luxembourg Gardens (Medici Fountain and gravel promenades), then weave the Latin Quarter’s streets around the Sorbonne and Panthéon. Lunch at Breizh Café Odéon (buttery galettes and house‑fermented cider) or Crêperie Little Breizh for a lighter queue.

Evening: Make it a Left Bank to Right Bank tasting crawl. Start with natural wines at La Buvette (tiny, atmospheric) or Septime La Cave (standing room, thoughtful pours), then dinner at Robert et Louise (steak grilled over oak) or Le Servan (market‑led cooking with Asian notes). For something romantic to close the loop, another nighttime glide is lovely: Paris by water never gets old, but you’ve already cruised—treat yourself instead to Berthillon ice cream on Île Saint‑Louis and a moonlit walk.

Day 7: Canal Mornings, Last Bites, and Departure

Morning: Brunch at Holybelly 5 (pancakes with house‑made butter and maple; excellent coffee) near Canal Saint‑Martin. Browse indie shops and bookstores along Quai de Jemmapes, then meander the green promenade of the Coulée Verte René‑Dumont (Paris’s original elevated park).

Afternoon: Final souvenirs in the Marais along Rue des Francs‑Bourgeois. Quick lunch at Miznon (veggie‑forward pita, whole roasted cauliflower) or a classic jambon‑beurre from a quality boulangerie. Head to your airport or station—RER B to CDG (~35 minutes) or a taxi/Uber (~45–60 minutes). Compare routes and times on Omio (trains) and Omio (buses).

Evening: If your flight is late, squeeze in a final museum hour or a sunset from the Arc de Triomphe’s terrace before you go. Then it’s au revoir—for now.

Optional Add‑Ons if You Have Extra Energy

• Normandy day trip to the D‑Day beaches and American Cemetery (long but moving; best with an organized tour).
• Food focus: a guided tasting through Montmartre or the Notre‑Dame area, or a hands‑on croissant class, if you want to bring a new skill home.

Included Viator Activities (for easy booking)

• Bateaux Parisiens Seine River Gourmet Dinner & Sightseeing Cruise — elegant first‑night glow on the Seine.

  

• Louvre Museum Masterpieces Guided Tour with Reserved Access — hit the highlights with expert context.

  

• Eiffel Tower Dedicated Reserved Access Top or 2nd floor by lift — timed entry, fewer lines, better evening views.

  

• Versailles Palace and Gardens Tour from Paris — logistics handled, with gardens and the Hall of Mirrors.

  

Eating & drinking cheat sheet: Morning coffee at Telescope, Boot Café, or Café Kitsuné (Jardin du Palais Royal). Budget‑friendly “bouillons” for French staples (Bouillon Chartier, Bouillon République). Oysters in season at Le Mary Celeste or Huguette. For dessert, seek out Pierre Hermé macarons or a slice of lemon tart at Stohrer (Paris’s oldest pâtisserie, founded 1730).

Seven days in Paris lets you meet the icons without rushing—and still find your personal corner café, your favorite bridge, your best‑ever pastry. From luminous stained glass to sunset river light, you’ll carry the city’s textures home and know exactly why people keep coming back.