Paris is a palimpsest of revolutions, romances, and reinventions. From Roman Lutetia to the Belle Époque, the city wove its skyline from stone, iron, and light—Notre-Dame’s Gothic ribs, the Louvre’s Renaissance courtyards, and the Eiffel Tower’s audacious lattice. Today, the reopened cathedral, bustling riverbanks, and ever-evolving galleries keep Paris at the forefront of art and ideas.

Beyond its famous postcards, Paris rewards curiosity: markets perfumed with cheese and flowers, tiny ateliers behind unmarked doors, and neighborhood bistros plating modern riffs on grand-mère’s recipes. Drift from Left Bank salons to Right Bank passages, then out to Versailles where mirrors, music, and meticulously clipped parterres narrate royal ambition.

Practicalities: purchase a rechargeable Navigo Easy card for metro/bus, beware pickpockets around major sights, and reserve popular entries (Eiffel Tower, Louvre) well in advance. Museum closures matter: the Louvre is closed Tuesdays; Musée d’Orsay is closed Mondays. Build in café time—here, slowing down is part of the itinerary.

Paris

Paris concentrates centuries of culture into walkable neighborhoods: the medieval Île de la Cité, literary Saint‑Germain, stately avenues near the Louvre and Opéra, and the village-on-a-hill mood of Montmartre. Expect world-class museums, patisseries that double as temples, and riverbanks that turn golden at dusk.

• Top sights: Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Sainte‑Chapelle, Notre‑Dame (reopened), Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Montmartre’s Sacré‑Cœur, and day trips to Versailles.
• Food & drink: From flaky morning croissants and buckwheat galettes to natural-wine bars and classic brasseries, Paris rewards both planners and flâneurs. Book hotspots early; keep a few “bouillons” in your back pocket for no-fuss French comfort.
• Fun fact: The Pont Neuf—“New Bridge”—is the oldest bridge in Paris. The irony is part of the charm.

Where to stay (partner links):

• Search everything: Apartments and homes on VRBO Paris; hotels on Hotels.com Paris.
• Luxury icons: The Ritz Paris (dreamy Place Vendôme, storied Bar Hemingway); Le Meurice (Dalí flourishes facing the Tuileries); Hôtel Plaza Athénée (Avenue Montaigne fashion address); The Peninsula Paris (rooftop views, serene spa).
• Stylish midrange: Hôtel des Grands Boulevards (hidden courtyard, neo-baroque rooms); Novotel Paris Centre Gare Montparnasse (easy train connections); Hôtel des Arts Montmartre (romantic hilltop base); Hotel du College de France (Latin Quarter value); Hôtel du Temps (boutique, 9th).
• Budget & boutique: Generator Paris (design hostel, Canal Saint‑Martin); Hôtel des Arts Bastille (creative, great for foodies); Hôtel du Champ de Mars (cozy near Rue Cler).

Getting to Paris (partner links): Within Europe, compare flights and trains on Omio (flights) and Omio (trains). Examples: London–Paris on Eurostar ~2h20 (often $80–$180), Brussels–Paris ~1h25, Amsterdam–Paris ~3h20. From Barcelona, flights ~1h45 (many from $50–$150).

Intercontinental routes: find deals via Trip.com (long‑haul flights) or Kiwi.com (global flights). Airport transfers: RER B to CDG takes ~35–45 minutes (~€11–12); Orlyval + RER B to Orly ~35–40 minutes (~€12). Taxis to central Paris are flat‑fare (~€55 from CDG right bank/~€62 left bank; ~€35–€41 from Orly).

Day 1: Arrival, Île de la Cité, and a Seine Welcome

Morning: Travel to Paris. Pick up a Navigo Easy card at the airport RER station and load 10 rides to save time in the week ahead.

Afternoon: Check in and stretch your legs on Île de la Cité. Admire the restored façade of Notre‑Dame and step into the jewel‑box stained glass at Sainte‑Chapelle (time slots recommended). Coffee at Au Vieux Paris d’Arcole for ambience or a precise espresso at Telescope near the Palais Royal.

Evening: Toast your first night with a glass‑canopy dinner cruise—fine views and classic dishes as you glide past the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre.

Bateaux Parisiens Seine River Gourmet Dinner & Sightseeing Cruise (from central docks; typically 2–2.5 hours).

After, wander the lit quays or grab a nightcap at Le Mary Celeste (briny oysters, creative cocktails) in the Marais.

Day 2: Louvre, Tuileries, and the Covered Passages

Morning: Fuel up with croissants at Du Pain et des Idées (try the “escargot” pastry) or a sit‑down brunch at Holybelly (Australian‑French comfort). Then meet your guide for a highlights tour of the world’s largest museum—stories bring the Venus de Milo, Winged Victory, and Mona Lisa to life while you navigate efficiently.

Louvre Museum Masterpieces Guided Tour with Access (small group options).

Afternoon: Stroll the Tuileries Garden, then duck into Palais‑Royal arcades and the 19th‑century Passages Vivienne and Jouffroy for mosaic floors, bookshops, and tea salons. Lunch at Bistrot Victoires (steak‑frites, bargain prix‑fixe) or a buckwheat galette at Breizh Café (classic “complète” with farm egg, ham, Comté).

Evening: Apéritif at Legrand Filles et Fils (wine bar inside Galerie Vivienne) followed by dinner: try Frenchie Wine Bar (seasonal small plates, no reservations) or head to Bouillon Pigalle for old‑school French dishes—quick, convivial, affordable. Nightview of Opéra Garnier’s façade seals the day.

Day 3: Left Bank Literary Trails and the Eiffel Tower

Morning: Wander Saint‑Germain‑des‑Prés: coffee at Café de Flore or third‑wave brews at Coutume. Browse Shakespeare & Company by Notre‑Dame, then relax in the Luxembourg Gardens. Lunch at Le Comptoir du Relais (bistro classics) or Crêperie Little Breizh for cozy galettes.

Afternoon: Make your way to the Champ de Mars for timed entry to Paris’s “Iron Lady.” Reserved access trims waiting and gets you aloft for sweeping views of the city’s geometry.

Eiffel Tower Dedicated Reserved Access Top or 2nd floor by lift (choose Summit or 2nd floor).

Evening: Sunset from Trocadéro, then dinner on Rue Cler: Le Petit Cler (classic bistro) or Café Constant (comforting rotisserie chicken). For modern seafood, book Clamato near Bastille and finish with natural wine at Septime La Cave.

Day 4: Versailles—Palace, Mirrors, and Gardens

Dedicate today to royal grandeur. A guided tour simplifies logistics and storytelling; otherwise, take RER C from central Paris (~40 minutes) to Versailles Château‑Rive Gauche and rent an audio guide. Don’t miss the Hall of Mirrors and the musical fountain shows on select days.

Versailles Palace and Gardens Tour from Paris (half‑day options; some include transport).

Back in Paris, dine at Robert et Louise (beef grilled over a wood fire) or Le Servan (inventive Franco‑Asian plates). If you have energy, hear live jazz at Duc des Lombards.

Day 5: Montmartre’s Lanes, Art, and City Views

Morning: Climb to Sacré‑Cœur for a panoramic sweep, then meander to the tiny Clos Montmartre vineyard and the pastel‑pink Maison Rose. Breakfast at Hardware Société (Aussie‑French café) or grab a kouign‑amann from Le Grenier à Pain (award‑winning boulanger).

Afternoon: Explore studios around Place du Tertre and Dalí‑adjacent galleries, then ride the funicular down for a canal‑side stroll at Canal Saint‑Martin. Lunch at Le Verre Volé (wine bistro) or Ten Belles (sandwiches, filter coffee).

Evening: Classic fondue fun at Le Refuge des Fondus (communal vibe) or book Septime weeks ahead for a Michelin‑star tasting. Nightcap at Le Syndicat (French‑spirit cocktails) or Bisou (no menu; tell them what you like).

Day 6: Right Bank Markets, Marais Design, and Modern Art

Morning: Start at Marché d’Aligre (covered market plus outdoor flea finds). Snack on oysters at Le Baron Rouge or a warm baguette sandwich from Blé Sucré (don’t skip the madeleines).

Afternoon: Head to the Marais: browse boutiques on Rue des Francs‑Bourgeois, see contemporary art at the Centre Pompidou, and savor falafel at L’As du Fallafel or steak‑frites at Bistrot Paul Bert. Coffee break at pocket‑sized Boot Café.

Evening: Rooftop views from Le Perchoir Marais or the open terrace atop Galeries Lafayette. Dinner at Chez Janou (Provençal, famous chocolate mousse) or Brasserie Dubillot (lively, sausage & purée). Late stroll along the Seine’s pedestrian banks.

Day 7: Flea Market Finds, Final Bites, and Departure

Morning: If it’s the weekend, peruse the Saint‑Ouen Flea Market (vintage treasures; go early). Otherwise, pay respects at Père‑Lachaise Cemetery (Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison) or savor one last museum—Musée de l’Orangerie for Monet’s Nymphéas. Brunch at Fragments (excellent avocado tartine) or La Fontaine de Belleville (Parisian café classics).

Afternoon: Pick up edible souvenirs: caramels at Jacques Genin, macarons at Pierre Hermé, tea from Mariage Frères. Depart for the airport: RER B or taxi flat fare. Au revoir—until next time.

Optional add‑ons if you have extra time or want to swap: Musée d’Orsay’s Impressionists; a pastry workshop; a day trip to Giverny (seasonal gardens). For another river perspective, consider a daytime commentary cruise.

Reserve‑ahead activities featured in this itinerary (partner links):

• Seine Dinner Cruise — glass‑canopy boat, live music.
• Louvre Highlights Guided Tour — masterworks without the maze.
• Eiffel Tower Reserved Access — 2nd floor or Summit by lift.
• Versailles Palace & Gardens Tour — golden salons and grand canals.

Insider tips: Book marquee entries 2–4 weeks ahead (longer in summer). If your Day 2 falls on a Tuesday, swap with Day 3 (the Louvre closes Tuesdays; Musée d’Orsay closes Mondays). For spontaneous dinners, “bouillons” like Pigalle or Chartier keep old‑school dishes moving at friendly prices.

This week in Paris balances icons and neighborhoods, grand museums and small pleasures. You’ll leave with a camera roll of landmarks—and a pocketful of café corners you’ll want to revisit.