Paris isn’t just a city; it’s a collage of eras. Roman roots and medieval streets cradle Renaissance palaces and cutting-edge galleries. From Notre-Dame’s rebirth to the glassy sweep of the Louvre’s pyramid, you’ll move through centuries in a single stroll.

Food fuels it all. Buttery croissants at daybreak, a marché picnic at noon, and an artful bistro by night—each neighborhood offers a new set of flavors, from time-honored bouillons to natural-wine bars. Coffee culture thrives too, with third-wave roasters alongside historic cafés.

Practical notes: Paris is walkable, with the Métro and RER covering nearly every corner. Book major sights in advance (Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Catacombs), and consider a Navigo week pass for Zones 1–5 if you’ll ride often and visit Versailles. Tipping is modest; service is included—round up or add a euro or two for excellent service.

Paris

Paris rewards unhurried curiosity. Start with the islands on the Seine—Île de la Cité for Notre-Dame—and expand outward to the Right Bank’s grand axes and the Left Bank’s literary lanes. Set aside time for neighborhood flâneuring: the lanes of Montmartre, the galleries of Saint‑Germain, and the vintage boutiques near Canal Saint‑Martin.

Top sights marry art and architecture: the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay; Sainte‑Chapelle’s stained glass; Rodin’s sculptures; the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe; the newly reopened Notre‑Dame Cathedral. Balance these with market streets (Rue Cler, Rue des Martyrs), gardens (Luxembourg, Tuileries), and covered passages (Galerie Vivienne).

Where to stay (central, well-connected):

• Search a wide range of apartments: VRBO Paris
• Browse hotels by neighborhood and budget: Hotels.com Paris
• High-end classics: The Ritz Paris, Le Meurice, Hôtel Plaza Athénée, The Peninsula Paris
• Boutique favorites: Hôtel des Grands Boulevards, Hôtel des Arts Montmartre, Hotel du College de France, Hôtel du Temps
• Good value: Novotel Paris Centre Gare Montparnasse, Generator Paris, Hôtel des Arts Bastille, The Ritz Paris
• Charming 7th for first-timers: Hôtel du Champ de Mars

How to get to Paris and around:

• Compare flights to Paris (within or from Europe): Omio Flights. From outside Europe, compare long-haul options on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.
• If you’re already in Europe, trains to Paris are frequent—check schedules and fares on Omio Trains or buses on Omio Buses.
• CDG to center: RER B ~35–45 minutes (about €12). Or use a taxi/ride-hail (45–70 minutes depending on traffic). A weekly Navigo pass (Zones 1–5) is cost-effective if you’ll ride often and visit Versailles.

Day 1: Arrival, Île de la Cité, and Saint‑Germain

Morning: Fly or train into Paris. If you arrive early, drop your bags at your hotel and reset with a classic espresso and croissant near your stay—bakeries like Poilâne or Du Pain et des Idées are beloved for flaky, deeply flavored viennoiseries.

Afternoon: Begin on Île de la Cité. Step inside the restored Notre‑Dame Cathedral to admire its renewed vaults and luminous nave, then circle the exterior to see flying buttresses up close. Wander to Sainte‑Chapelle to stand beneath a kaleidoscope of 13th‑century stained glass; time your visit for late light to see the windows at their richest.

Evening: Cross the Pont Neuf for a Saint‑Germain dinner. Try Bouillon Racine for ornate Art Nouveau surrounds and hearty classics, or Le Comptoir du Relais for a terroir‑driven, modern bistro plate. Nightcap at Little Red Door (inventive cocktails) or a simple café crème at Café de Flore if you prefer people-watching to mixology.

Day 2: Louvre, Tuileries, and the Grands Boulevards

Morning: Reserve the Louvre early to beat the rush. For context and efficient routing through the highlights, join the Louvre Museum Masterpieces Guided Tour with Reserved Access (about 2.5–3 hours; typically from around $60–$90, depending on group size and season).

Your guide threads together the Venus de Milo, Winged Victory, and Mona Lisa with stories that bring the world’s largest museum to human scale.

Afternoon: Picnic or lunch by the Tuileries: grab baguette sandwiches, cheeses, and fruit from a nearby marché or épicerie. Stroll the Palais‑Royal gardens and its striped Buren Columns, then duck into covered passages like Galerie Vivienne for Belle Époque ambiance and independent boutiques. Coffee stop: Télescope or Fragments for meticulously pulled shots.

Evening: Explore Opéra–Grands Boulevards. Take a self-guided tour of Palais Garnier’s grand staircase and Chagall ceiling if time allows. Dinner ideas: Bistrot Paul Bert (benchmark steak frites and pepper sauce), Bouillon Julien (beautiful, budget-friendly brasserie fare), or Frenchie Bar à Vins (walk‑in friendly small plates). Finish with natural wine at Le Barav in Haut Marais.

Day 3: Left Bank Icons, Orsay, and a Seine Dinner Cruise

Morning: Start with croissants and coffee at La Fontaine de Belleville or a Left Bank roaster like Coutume. Visit the Musée d’Orsay for Impressionism’s greatest hits in a Belle Époque railway station—Monet’s cathedrals, Degas’ dancers, and Van Gogh’s self‑portraits are all here. Then step into the sculpture garden at Musée Rodin to meet The Thinker under chestnut trees.

Afternoon: Wander Saint‑Germain’s streets. Browse independent bookshops, then cross into the Latin Quarter for the Luxembourg Gardens—Paris’s most elegant lawn chairs await. Snack tip: a salted butter crêpe at Breizh Café Odéon, or macarons at Pierre Hermé on Rue Bonaparte.

Evening: Celebrate your first full day afloat with the glass‑canopy Bateaux Parisiens Seine River Gourmet Dinner & Sightseeing Cruise (about 2–2.5 hours; typically from around $95–$150).

Expect illuminated bridges, live music, and postcard views of the Eiffel Tower, Conciergerie, and Musée d’Orsay as courses arrive.

Day 4: Versailles Day Trip and Rue Cler

Morning: Travel to Versailles by RER C (about 35–45 minutes; buy a ticket to Versailles Château–Rive Gauche), or streamline the logistics on the Versailles Palace and Gardens Tour from Paris (half-day, departures in the morning; commonly from around $70–$120 depending on inclusions).

Inside the Hall of Mirrors, look for the sunburst motifs celebrating Louis XIV—the “Sun King.”

Afternoon: Return to Paris and decompress along Rue Cler’s market street near the 7th. Assemble a picnic—Comté slices, rotisserie chicken, ripe berries—and enjoy on the Champ de Mars lawns with Eiffel views. If you’ve energy, pop into the Army Museum at Les Invalides for Napoleon’s tomb.

Evening: Classic brasserie night: Le Suffren or La Fontaine de Mars for warm service and regional dishes; save room for Île flottante. For a digestif, wander to Rue Saint‑Dominique for a glass of Burgundy at a neighborhood wine bar.

Day 5: Montmartre, Sacré‑Cœur, and Artists’ Paris

Morning: Breakfast near the 18th—Hardware Société (Aussie‑style brunch) or Le Pain Retrouvé (excellent viennoiseries). Climb the steps to Sacré‑Cœur for sweeping city views, then explore the quieter lanes behind the basilica—Vineyards of Clos Montmartre, Rue de l’Abreuvoir, and the old cabaret façade of Au Lapin Agile tell the hill’s bohemian story.

Afternoon: Amble down Rue des Martyrs for independent food shops: fromagers, chocolatiers, and pâtisseries. For lunch, consider Le Moulin de la Galette (historic windmill setting) or Coq & Fils (rotisserie chicken elevated to art). Coffee break at KB Coffee Roasters on Avenue Trudaine.

Evening: If you’re curious about cabaret heritage, the Moulin Rouge is showy, while smaller venues like Madame Arthur lean intimate and musical. Dinner options range from Bouillon Pigalle (great value, no‑frills classics) to Le Richer (neo‑bistro with a short, seasonal menu). Finish with a night stroll along Canal Saint‑Martin’s iron footbridges.

Day 6: Le Marais, Markets, and Canal Saint‑Martin

Morning: Start early at Du Pain et des Idées for the famed escargot pastries (pistachio‑chocolate is a local favorite). Head into the Marais for the Musée Picasso or the free Musée Carnavalet (Paris history in a sequence of period rooms). Window‑shop along Rue des Francs‑Bourgeois and at concept stores around the Carreau du Temple.

Afternoon: Lunch at L’As du Fallafel for overflowing pita (queues move quickly), or Miznon for roasted cauliflower and stuffed pitas. Detour to Place des Vosges to lounge under arcades, then follow the Canal Saint‑Martin north for street art, indie boutiques, and a late‑day apéro. Wine bar pick: Le Barav; oysters and small plates: Clamato.

Evening: Choose a destination dinner: Le Servan (Filipino‑French influences and precise sauces), Parcelles (tiny, heartfelt bistro), or Bofinger (Alsatian brasserie since 1864). Cocktail trail: Candelaria (speakeasy behind a taqueria) or Le Syndicat (French spirits only).

Day 7: Eiffel Tower Morning, Catacombs or Père Lachaise, Departure

Morning: Make your final morning count with priority entry to the Iron Lady on the Eiffel Tower Dedicated Reserved Access Top or 2nd floor by lift (guided entry; typically 1.5–2 hours; from about $40–$80, options vary).

Views span from the golden dome of Les Invalides to La Défense’s modern skyline—great for farewell photos.

Afternoon: Flight or train departure. If time remains, choose one last stop: the Paris Catacombs for subterranean history or a serene walk through Père Lachaise to pay respects at Chopin, Edith Piaf, and Jim Morrison. Grab a final baguette sandwich for the journey and head to your station or airport.

Evening: Departure day—no evening plans.

Where to eat and drink by theme (save for your map)

• Breakfast and coffee: Fragments (precision espresso), KB Coffee Roasters (Montmartre edge), Télescope (Right Bank purist), La Fontaine de Belleville (classic café fare).
• Easy lunches: Breizh Café (buckwheat galettes), Marché des Enfants Rouges (multi‑stall market; great for a casual bite), L’As du Fallafel (Marais staple).
• Bistros and brasseries: Bistrot Paul Bert (steak frites), Le Comptoir du Relais (modern bistro), Bouillon Julien or Bouillon Pigalle (historic settings, great value), Bofinger (Alsatian classics).
• Seafood and wine: Clamato (no reservations; arrive early), Frenchie Bar à Vins (small plates, deep list), Le Barav (relaxed wine bar with shop).
• Dessert: Pierre Hermé (creative pâtisserie), Berthillon on Île Saint‑Louis (sorbet institution, check opening days).

Practical tips

• Reservations: Book high‑demand restaurants 2–3 weeks ahead. For no‑res spots, arrive before opening.
• Métro: Single rides are around €2–€2.30; a Navigo week pass (Zones 1–5) can pay off if you’re riding daily and visiting Versailles/airports.
• Timing: Many museums close one day a week; verify hours. The Centre Pompidou is undergoing long-term renovations—check status if it’s on your list.
• Payments: Cards widely accepted; carry a little cash for markets and smaller cafés.

Optional swaps and add‑ons: If weather is bright, trade a museum block for a picnic in Parc des Buttes‑Chaumont or a sunset walk from the Louvre to Concorde and up the Champs‑Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe. Foodies can swap in a hands‑on baking class or a guided market tour on another morning.

In a single week, you’ll trace Paris from Gothic spires to Impressionist light, from market stalls to river reflections. Keep this plan handy, but leave space for serendipity—that irresistible café terrace or a street musician on a bridge might become your most Parisian memory.