Paris needs little introduction: a city shaped by Roman founders, medieval merchants, revolutionary thinkers, and avant‑garde artists. The Île-de-France region cradles it all—royal palaces at Versailles, vast gardens, and fairy‑tale theme parks a short train ride away. Landing at Orly puts you close to the action in the city’s south, with easy metro and RER links into central neighborhoods.

You’ll wander museum halls that changed art history, stand under Gustave Eiffel’s iron lattice, and float past golden bridges on the Seine. Between marquee sights, the pleasure is in the details: a perfect galette and cider, a tart from a century‑old boulangerie, a quiet square in the Marais. This itinerary balances headliners with local haunts, plus day trips that are effortless to reach.

Practical notes: Orlyval + RER B reaches central Paris in about 30 minutes; tram T7 + metro is a budget‑friendly alternative. A Navigo weekly pass (Mon–Sun) is often the best value if you’ll ride daily. Many museums close one day a week (the Louvre is closed Tuesday); reserve timed entries for popular sites. Pack comfortable shoes and a light scarf—Paris does smart casual beautifully.

Paris

Paris is a patchwork of villages: the grand axis from the Louvre to the Arc de Triomphe, the Left Bank’s bookish cafés, and Montmartre’s hillside ateliers. Spend mornings in museums and markets, afternoons in gardens, and evenings over bistro classics or contemporary tasting menus.

• Top sights: Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame (reopened), Sainte-Chapelle, Montmartre & Sacré‑Cœur, Le Marais, Canal Saint‑Martin.
• Neighborhood flavor: browse Rue Cler food shops, sip natural wine around Oberkampf, and hunt vintage finds in the Marais’ backstreets.
• Dining snapshot: from bouillons (affordable Belle Époque brasseries) to destination tables like Septime and Clamato—book ahead for the latter.

Where to stay: Search central stays near the Seine, the Marais, or Saint‑Germain for easy walks to major sights.

• Vacation rentals: Find Paris apartments on VRBO
• Hotels: Browse Paris hotels on Hotels.com

How to get here: Fly into Orly (ORY). For Europe‑origin flights use Omio Flights. From beyond Europe compare on Trip.com Flights and Kiwi.com. Trains from European cities bookable on Omio Trains.

Featured experiences (book early):

• Louvre Highlights & Mona Lisa Guided Tour

  

• Eiffel Tower Dedicated Reserved Access Top or 2nd floor by lift

  

• Bateaux Parisiens Seine River Gourmet Dinner & Sightseeing Cruise

  

• Paris Croissant Small-Group Baking Class with a Chef

  

Versailles

Once the epicenter of French royal power, Versailles dazzles with mirror‑lined halls, gilt apartments, and formal gardens engineered for spectacle. It’s a quick RER/Transilien ride from Paris—ideal for a half‑ or full‑day escape.

• Don’t miss: the Hall of Mirrors, King’s Apartments, the Musical Fountains (select days), and the Trianon Estate with Marie‑Antoinette’s Hamlet.
• Eat nearby: La Petite Venise in the gardens (Italian‑leaning), Angelina (famed hot chocolate), or picnic by the Grand Canal.

Where to stay (optional if you want a night away):

• Vacation rentals: Find Versailles stays on VRBO
• Hotels: Browse Versailles hotels on Hotels.com

Getting there from Paris: RER C from central Paris to Versailles‑Château–Rive Gauche (~35–45 minutes, ~€4–€7 one way). Compare and plan on Omio Trains.

Featured experience:

• Versailles Palace Guided Tour with Reserved Entry

  

Day 1: Arrival at Orly, Paris by Night on the Seine

Afternoon: Land at Orly. Take Orlyval to Antony, then RER B to central Paris (~30 minutes). Budget option: tram T7 to Villejuif–Louis Aragon, then metro (~50–60 minutes). Check in and refresh. Coffee fix near your hotel: Fragments (buttery kouign‑amann) or KB Coffee Roasters (seasonal filter and flat whites).

Evening: Ease into Paris with a candlelit cruise. Bateaux Parisiens Seine River Gourmet Dinner & Sightseeing Cruise pairs a multicourse dinner with views of the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and Notre Dame glowing after dusk.

Late: If you’re up for a stroll, cross the Pont Alexandre III for postcard‑worthy photos, then end with a nightcap at Le Mary Celeste (briny oysters and clever cocktails) or Little Red Door (award‑winning mixology) in the Marais.

Day 2: Île de la Cité, the Louvre, and Left Bank Classics

Morning: Start on Île de la Cité. Step inside the restored Notre Dame (reopened) and admire the flying buttresses from the riverside. Warm up at Café Saint‑Régis (buttery omelets) or grab a quick croissant from Du Pain et des Idées if you’re nearby. If you prefer a structured experience on another morning, book an expert‑led Notre Dame/Ile de la Cité walk.

Afternoon: Meet your guide for the Louvre Highlights & Mona Lisa Guided Tour to navigate masterpieces without guesswork; you’ll see the Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, and Venus de Milo with context that sticks. Refuel at Tuileries’ Café des Marronniers or head to Breizh Café for buckwheat galettes and Breton cider.

Evening: Wander Saint‑Germain’s bookshops and brasseries. Dinner picks: Le Comptoir du Relais (bistro classics; walk‑in line moves quickly), Le Servan (French with Southeast Asian notes), or Bouillon Racine (Art Nouveau room, budget‑friendly onion soup and boeuf bourguignon). Nightcap at Bar Hemingway if you fancy old‑school glamour.

Note: If today falls on a Tuesday (Louvre closure), swap Day 2 and Day 3 afternoon plans.

Day 3: Eiffel Tower, Champs‑Élysées, and Montmartre Sunset

Morning: Beat the crowds with Eiffel Tower Dedicated Reserved Access. A guided escort smooths security and the lifts; views sweep from Les Invalides to La Défense. Coffee beforehand at % Arabica Beaugrenelle or Terres de Café.

Afternoon: Walk the Champs‑Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe (climb for another panorama if you like), then slip into Parc Monceau or the Jacquemart‑André Museum for a quieter art fix. Lunch options: L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon Étoile (counter dining), or lighter crêpes at Framboise.

Evening: Head to Montmartre. See Sacré‑Cœur at golden hour, then explore Rue des Abbesses. Dinner at Bistrot Paul Bert (steak frites, pepper sauce), Le Refuge des Fondus (kitschy fun), or try seafood small plates at Clamato. For a speakeasy vibe, duck into Lulu White in South Pigalle.

Day 4: Morning Train to Versailles + Palace and Gardens

Morning (travel between cities): Depart Paris after breakfast for Versailles on RER C or Transilien (~35–45 minutes; plan routes and times via Omio Trains). Arrive early to enjoy the gardens while they’re quiet.

Midday experience: Join a reserved‑entry tour to skip lines and get the stories behind the mirrors: Versailles Palace Guided Tour with Reserved Entry. Stroll the Orangerie and, if fountains are running, linger for the baroque soundscape.

Afternoon: Lunch at La Petite Venise (pizza, salads) or Angelina by the palace. Rent a rowboat on the Grand Canal if weather cooperates, then return to Paris.

Evening: Back in the city, keep it casual: Bouillon Pigalle (brisk service, comforting mains) or Le Grand Colbert (Belle Époque room, roast chicken and frites). Gelato at Berthillon if you wander back toward Île Saint‑Louis.

Day 5: Disneyland Paris Day (Family Fun or Pure Nostalgia)

All day: Take RER A to Marne‑la‑Vallée–Chessy (~40 minutes) for a full theme‑park day. Book ahead with Disneyland® Paris 1 Day Ticket with Transport from Paris or, if you’re handling trains yourself, choose dated entry for one or both parks. Don’t miss Big Thunder Mountain, Phantom Manor, and Avengers Campus in Walt Disney Studios Park.

Dining inside the parks: Bistrot Chez Rémy (ratatouille‑themed), Agrabah Café (buffet with Middle Eastern dishes), or quick bites at Casey’s Corner. Stay for the evening drone/fireworks if timing fits, then RER A back to Paris.

Day 6: Southern Paris & Orly Side — Parks, Street Art, and Pastry Skills

Morning: Take RER B to Parc de Sceaux (near Orly) for André Le Nôtre’s formal gardens: grand canals, cherry blossoms in spring, and a serene château museum. Coffee and a flaky pastry from a local boulangerie near Sceaux, then picnic on the lawns in good weather.

Afternoon: Head to Vitry‑sur‑Seine (bus or RER) to spot large‑scale street art around MAC VAL—murals by international artists brighten every block. Return central for a hands‑on pastry workshop: Paris Croissant Small-Group Baking Class with a Chef teaches lamination, shaping pains au chocolat, and the science behind that coveted honeycomb crumb.

Evening: Explore the 13th arrondissement for steaming bowls of pho along Avenue de Choisy or Cantonese roasts on Avenue d’Ivry. Alternatively, cross to Butte‑aux‑Cailles for cobbled lanes and wine bars; dinner at Chez Gladines (Basque plates) keeps it convivial and affordable.

Day 7: Last Sips and Souvenirs, Afternoon Departure

Morning: Browse Marché des Enfants Rouges (oldest covered market; try Chez Alain Miam Miam’s legendary sandwiches) or stroll Canal Saint‑Martin for indie boutiques and cafés like Ten Belles Bread. Coffee beans to take home: Coutume or La Caféothèque.

Lunch: Keep it classic at Bouillon Chartier (quick, budget‑friendly) or sit down at Le Train Bleu in Gare de Lyon for a grand finale beneath frescoed ceilings—perfect if you’re catching a later train. Pick up chocolates from Patrick Roger or Alain Ducasse Manufacture.

Afternoon: Depart for Orly. From central Paris, allow 60–90 minutes depending on route and traffic (RER B + Orlyval is the most predictable). If you’re flying within Europe, compare last‑minute options on Omio Flights; long‑haul travelers can double‑check schedules on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Where to eat and drink (handy shortlist by theme):

• Breakfast & coffee: Holybelly (pancakes, specialty coffee), Fragments (tiny, serious espresso), Boot Café (postcard‑sized café), Du Pain et des Idées (escargot pastries).
• Casual lunches: Breizh Café (buckwheat galettes), L’As du Fallafel (overstuffed pita; go off‑peak), Marché des Enfants Rouges (global stalls), Frenchie To Go (Reuben and lobster rolls).
• Dinners worth a reservation: Septime (modern, veg‑forward tasting), Le Servan (inventive, seasonally driven), Chez l’Ami Jean (Basque heartiness), Le Grand Colbert (roast chicken, art‑lined room).
• Sweet stops: Berthillon (Île Saint‑Louis), Stohrer (historic pâtisserie on Rue Montorgueil), Jacques Genin (silky caramels, pâtes de fruits).

Transport cheat sheet:

• Orly to Paris: Orlyval + RER B (~30 min), or Tram T7 + Metro (~50–60 min).
• Paris to Versailles (Day 4): RER C (~35–45 min, ~€4–€7 each way). Plan via Omio Trains.
• Paris to Disneyland (Day 5): RER A (~40 min). If you prefer bundled transport, see the Disneyland ticket with transport above.

In a week you’ll trace the city’s spine from Gothic spires to Belle Époque boulevards, detour through royal gardens, and learn to bake the very pastry that defines France. With Orly as your easy gateway, Paris and the wider Île‑de‑France unfurl at a relaxed, rewarding pace.