Paris has been recast and reinvented for over 2,000 years—from Roman outpost to royal capital to the creative engine of modernity. Its streets double as a museum, where Gothic spires, Haussmann boulevards, and wrought-iron balconies set a stage for cafés, art, and ideas.

Expect the big icons—Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Notre-Dame (reopened to visitors), Sainte-Chapelle, Musée d’Orsay, Arc de Triomphe, Sacré-Cœur—yet the city’s soul lives in its neighborhoods. Mornings smell of butter and coffee; afternoons drift by along the Seine; evenings glow with bistros and jazz. In between, markets bustle, pâtissiers perfect, and bookstalls invite serendipity.

Practical notes: Museums often require timed entry (the Louvre is closed Tuesdays; Musée d’Orsay is closed Mondays; Versailles Palace is closed Mondays). Keep an eye on local transit updates and watch for pickpockets in crowded areas. For easy transport, load a Navigo Easy card for the métro and buses.

Paris

Paris rewards wanderers. Drift through the arcades of Galerie Vivienne, pause for a macaron on Île Saint-Louis, then climb to Montmartre for sunset over zinc rooftops. Art is a daily ritual here, from masterpieces at the Louvre to the poetry of a perfect baguette.

• Top sights: Louvre Museum, Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame (reopened to visitors), Sainte-Chapelle, Musée d’Orsay, Arc de Triomphe, Sacré-Cœur, the Marais, Latin Quarter, Canal Saint-Martin.
• Essential experiences: sip espresso at a zinc-topped counter; browse a morning market; savor a bistro classic (boeuf bourguignon, steak-frites); watch the city unfurl from a bateau on the Seine.
• Coffee & pastries: Du Pain et Des Idées (the pistachio “escargot” is legend), Boot Café (postcard-sized gem), La Fontaine de Belleville (Parisian counter culture), KB Coffee Roasters (Montmartre fuel).

Where to stay (bookable with our partners):

• Opulent classics: The Ritz Paris, Le Meurice, Hôtel Plaza Athénée, The Peninsula Paris.
• Boutique darlings: Hôtel des Grands Boulevards, Hôtel du Temps, Hôtel des Arts Montmartre, Hotel du College de France.
• Solid value: Novotel Paris Centre Gare Montparnasse, Hôtel des Arts Bastille, Generator Paris, Hôtel du Champ de Mars.
• Browse full inventories: VRBO Paris and Hotels.com Paris.

How to get to Paris: Fly into CDG or ORY. From within Europe, compare fares with Omio flights and trains on Omio trains. Coming from outside Europe, check Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. From CDG, take RER B (~35–45 minutes) into the city; from ORY, Orlyval + RER B or the OrlyBus are straightforward.

Day 1: Arrival, Le Marais wander, and the Iron Lady at night

Afternoon: Land, check in, and freshen up. Shake off jet lag with a gentle stroll through Le Marais: peek into Place des Vosges, browse Rue des Francs-Bourgeois, and detour for a cone at Berthillon on Île Saint-Louis. Coffee ideas: Boot Café for a flat white or Le Peloton for a filter brew.

Evening: Classic first-night dinner at Bouillon République or Bouillon Pigalle (heritage décor, brisk service, trad-French hits at friendly prices). Then head to the Eiffel Tower with Eiffel Tower Dedicated Reserved Access Top or 2nd floor by lift (from around $40–$70 depending on options) to skip queues and watch Paris shimmer from above.

Day 2: Louvre treasures, Tuileries, and Opéra elegance

Morning: Meet an expert for the Louvre Museum Masterpieces Guided Tour with Reserved Access—a streamlined way to see the Venus de Milo, Winged Victory, and Mona Lisa without wandering for hours (often $75–$120). Note: the Louvre is closed Tuesdays.

Afternoon: Picnic in the Tuileries (grab baguette and cheeses from Laurent Dubois or Fromagerie Jouannault), then pop into Musée de l’Orangerie for Monet’s Water Lilies. Continue to Place Vendôme and Palais Garnier—book a self-guided visit to admire the grand staircase and Chagall ceiling.

Evening: Aperitif at Harry’s New York Bar (a century of cocktail lore) or Le Syndicat (French-spirits-forward). Dinner ideas: Bistrot Paul Bert (textbook steak-frites and great cheese trolley), Frenchie Wine Bar (small plates, no-fuss charm), or Chez la Vieille (rustic classics). Nightcap on the rooftop at Le Perchoir Ménilmontant if skies are clear.

Day 3: Île de la Cité glow, Latin Quarter lanes, and a Seine dinner cruise

Morning: Step inside the reborn Notre-Dame (timed entry recommended), then be dazzled by Sainte-Chapelle’s kaleidoscopic stained glass. Coffee and croissant at La Maison d’Isabelle (award-winning butter bombs) before crossing into the Latin Quarter’s bookstores and cloistered courtyards.

Afternoon: Explore the medieval fragments at Musée de Cluny, then linger in the Luxembourg Gardens among chessboards and pétanque. Lunch options: Breizh Café (buckwheat galettes with Bordier butter), L’Avant Comptoir de la Terre (stand-up tapas with a French accent), or Au Petit Suisse (old-school terrace).

Evening: Dress for the river. Board the Bateaux Parisiens Seine River Gourmet Dinner & Sightseeing Cruise, a glass-canopy boat gliding by the city’s illuminated icons with live music (typically $90–$150+ depending on menu and seating). It’s equal parts meal and moving postcard.

Day 4: Royal escape to Versailles

Morning: Travel to Versailles. Easiest is RER C to Versailles Château–Rive Gauche (~35–45 minutes; about €4–€7 each way—compare times and fares on Omio trains). Prefer a guided, all-arranged visit? Book the Versailles Palace and Gardens Tour from Paris to handle logistics, timed entry, and the best routes through the Hall of Mirrors and Royal Apartments.

Afternoon: Stroll André Le Nôtre’s formal gardens and, time permitting, rent a rowboat on the Grand Canal. If the Petit Trianon and Marie Antoinette’s hamlet are open, they’re delightful detours. Note: Versailles Palace is closed Mondays.

Evening: Back in Paris, keep it easy: Bouillon Chartier (Belle Époque bustle, classic escargots), or head to Le Servan (creative market cuisine, great wine list). Finish with a digestif at Le Mary Celeste or Candelaria (tequila speakeasy behind a taqueria door).

Day 5: Montmartre ateliers, Sacré-Cœur views, and a bistro night

Morning: Climb to Sacré-Cœur before the crowds and circle the dome for sweeping city views. Coffee at KB Coffee Roasters or The Beans on Fire, then wander Rue des Abbesses and Place Dalida to find quiet, crooked lanes where Picasso and Utrillo once roamed.

Afternoon: Lunch at Bouillon Pigalle (fast-moving line, hearty plates) or Le Relais de la Butte (terrace with skyline). Explore the Musée de la Vie Romantique or peek at the vineyards of Clos Montmartre. For sweet stops, try La Meringaie or a scoop at Scaramouche.

Evening: Book a neighborhood bistro: Le Bon Georges (beef-forward, terroir wines), Le Mermoz (neo-bistro finesse), or Le Coq Rico’s spiritual successor, Le Coq & Fils (poultry temple). Jazz later at Duc des Lombards near Châtelet—compact room, serious acoustics.

Day 6: Markets, modern art, and canal life

Morning: Browse Marché d’Aligre (produce piled like still lifes) and nibble oysters at a stall with a glass of Muscadet. Alternatively, stroll Rue Cler near the Eiffel Tower for picnic fixings. Coffee at Telescope or Coutume, then continue to Musée d’Orsay for Impressionist icons.

Afternoon: Head to Canal Saint-Martin for a lazy promenade under iron footbridges. Lunch at Holybelly (pancakes and seasonal plates) or Chez Prune (canal staple). Shop independent boutiques along Rue de Marseille and Rue Beaurepaire.

Evening: Explore the Right Bank’s wine bars: La Buvette (pocket-sized natural wine favorite), Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels (snacks worth lingering over), or Le Barav (friendly, convivial). Dinner at Le Servan (Filipino-French sister duo with luminous sauces) or Chateaubriand (tasting menu that helped spark the neo-bistro wave—reserve well ahead).

Day 7: Notre-Dame quarter revisited, covered passages, and farewells

Morning: If you missed anything central—Notre-Dame, Sainte-Chapelle, or the Conciergerie—circle back. Otherwise, take a pastry crawl: Du Pain et Des Idées for that pistachio “escargot,” Stohrer on Rue Montorgueil for rum baba, and an espresso at La Fontaine de Belleville.

Afternoon: Duck into the 19th-century covered passages: Passage des Panoramas, Galerie Vivienne, and Passage Jouffroy. Lunch inside Bistrot Vivienne (classy, wood-paneled comfort) or at Frenchie To Go (casual sibling of Frenchie, if open). Last-minute art? Check the Centre Pompidou collection or photography at the MEP in the Marais.

Evening: A fond farewell on the Seine embankments with a takeaway picnic, or book a final bistro: Josephine Chez Dumonet (boeuf bourguignon time capsule), Le Baratin (chef-beloved address in Belleville), or Breizh Café (buckwheat galettes with cider). Toast with a Kir or Champagne—à bientôt.

Optional Day Trips if you add time or swap a day

Giverny (seasonal: late March–early November): Train from Paris Saint-Lazare to Vernon–Giverny (~45 minutes), then shuttle or bike (~15 minutes). Book via Omio trains. Monet’s gardens feel like stepping into a canvas.

Reims (Champagne): High-speed trains from Paris-Est in ~45 minutes via Omio; tour chalk cellars and sip Grand Cru bubbles.

Insider tips: Consider the Paris Museum Pass if you plan multiple museum days (note some sites still require a timed slot). For airport transfers, RER B is reliable; taxis have flat rates to/from CDG and ORY. Making reservations for dinners saves headaches—especially Thursday to Saturday.

Quick Booking Hub: Stays: VRBO Paris | Hotels.com Paris. Transport: Omio flights (Europe), Omio trains, Omio buses, Trip.com flights, Kiwi.com. Key tours used above: Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Seine dinner, and Versailles (linked on the relevant days).

Seven days in Paris gives you masterpieces and markets, moonlit bridges and bistro laughter. With this itinerary, you’ll touch the icons and taste daily Parisian life—the blend that keeps travelers returning, always finding something new.