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Paris
Photo: Benh LIEU SONG · CC BY-SA 4.0

7 Days · in Paris

7 Days in Paris: The Complete City

A week is the luxury of doing Paris properly. The first five days trace the Eiffel Tower and Orsay, the Louvre and Tuileries, the islands and Latin Quarter, Montmartre and the opera, and a day at Versailles. The last two turn to the parts visitors often miss, the Marais and the canal-side east, and a gentle Saint-Germain farewell of gardens, bakeries, and Left-Bank cafes. Spread across seven days, the city stops being a run of monuments and becomes a place with a rhythm you can actually settle into.

7 days
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Day 01

The 7th: Eiffel Tower, Orsay & the Seine

The postcard Paris of the Left Bank riverfront.

  1. Morning

    Trocadero

    Open at the Trocadero gardens for the definitive Eiffel Tower view, best in the soft morning light.

  2. Late Morning

    Eiffel Tower

    Ascend the tower or linger on the Champ de Mars beneath it; either way, book a time slot in advance.

  3. Midday

    Pont Alexandre III

    Walk the Seine to the city's most ornate bridge, gilded with cherubs and lamps, for a slower riverside stretch.

  4. Lunch

    Chez L'Ami Jean

    Squeeze into the boisterous Basque-leaning bistro near the Invalides for one of the Left Bank's great meals.

  5. Afternoon

    Musee d Orsay

    Give the afternoon to the Impressionists, Van Gogh, and Degas in the luminous old station hall.

  6. Evening

    The Seine and its bridges

    Take an evening Bateaux-Mouches cruise to see the monuments lit and the tower sparkle on the hour.

Day 02

The 1st: Louvre, Tuileries & Palais Royal

The Right Bank's royal core of museums and gardens.

  1. Morning

    Louvre Museum

    Arrive at opening to see the headline works before the crush; a planned route through a wing or two is plenty.

  2. Late Morning

    Jardin des Tuileries

    Decompress in the formal gardens between the Louvre and Concorde, past fountains and Maillol bronzes.

  3. Lunch

    Verjus

    Book the intimate wine bar and dining room tucked near the Palais Royal for inventive small plates.

  4. Afternoon

    Jardin du Palais Royal

    Slip into the serene arcaded garden and Buren's striped columns, one of central Paris's quietest surprises.

  5. Late Afternoon

    Place de la Concorde

    Take in the obelisk and fountains where the city's grandest axis meets the Seine at golden hour.

  6. Evening

    Frenchie

    Dine at Gregory Marchand's bistro on the pedestrian Rue du Nil, a fixture of modern Paris cooking.

Day 03

The Islands & the Latin Quarter

Medieval Paris on the Seine's two islands and the Left Bank around them.

  1. Morning

    Sainte-Chapelle

    Enter early, before the tour groups, to have the upper chapel's wall of stained glass nearly to yourself.

  2. Late Morning

    Notre-Dame Cathedral

    Admire the restored Gothic facade and gargoyles from Square Jean XXIII, the best angle on the Ile de la Cite.

  3. Lunch

    Ile Saint-Louis

    Cross to the smaller island for lunch on the quays and a walk past its 17th-century mansions.

  4. Afternoon

    Latin Quarter

    Explore the 5th's Roman lanes, Shakespeare and Company, and the market street of Rue Mouffetard.

  5. Late Afternoon

    Pantheon

    Finish atop the great dome for a sweeping view over the Left Bank rooftops toward the tower.

  6. Evening

    Bistrot Paul Bert

    Head east for a quintessential bistro dinner of steak-frites and a chalkboard of natural wines.

Day 04

Montmartre & the Grands Boulevards

The artists' hill and the elegant department-store district below it.

  1. Morning

    Sacre-Coeur and Montmartre

    Ride the funicular up to the white basilica, then wander to Place du Tertre and the vineyard beyond the crowds.

  2. Late Morning

    Rue de l'Abreuvoir

    Photograph Montmartre's prettiest lane and La Maison Rose before descending the village stairs.

  3. Lunch

    Cedric Grolet Opera

    Queue for the pastry chef's trompe-l'oeil fruit creations near the Opera, a sweet Parisian ritual.

  4. Afternoon

    Palais Garnier

    Tour the gilded opera house, its grand staircase and Chagall ceiling, an icon of Second Empire Paris.

  5. Late Afternoon

    Galeries Lafayette Haussmann

    End under the stained-glass dome and on the free rooftop terrace as the light fades over the city.

  6. Evening

    Bouillon Chartier

    Round off with hearty, affordable classics in the landmarked 1896 dining hall.

Day 05

A Day at Versailles

The Sun King's palace and gardens, an easy train ride from the city.

  1. Morning

    Palace of Versailles

    Take the RER C early and enter the State Apartments before midday; the Hall of Mirrors is the unmissable centrepiece.

  2. Late Morning

    Hall of Mirrors

    Walk the 73-metre gallery where seventeen mirrored arches face the garden windows, dazzling on a bright day.

  3. Lunch

    Gardens of Versailles

    Picnic or grab a bite by the Grand Canal, then explore Le Notre's endless geometric parterres and fountains.

  4. Afternoon

    Estate of Trianon

    Escape the crowds at the Grand and Petit Trianon and Marie-Antoinette's storybook hamlet.

  5. Evening

    Arc de Triomphe

    Back in Paris, climb the arch at dusk and stroll the Champs-Elysees before a relaxed dinner nearby.

Day 06

Le Marais & Eastern Paris

Old mansions, modern art, and the canal-side east.

  1. Morning

    Le Marais

    Start at Place des Vosges, the city's oldest planned square, then browse the 3rd's galleries and design shops.

  2. Late Morning

    Centre Pompidou

    Take in the modern-art collection and the escalator views over the rooftops from the colourful high-tech landmark.

  3. Lunch

    Breizh Cafe

    Sit down for Brittany-style buckwheat galettes and cider, a Marais favourite worth the wait.

  4. Afternoon

    Rue Cremieux

    Detour to the pastel-painted cobbled street near the Gare de Lyon, one of Paris's most charming photo stops.

  5. Late Afternoon

    Canal Saint-Martin

    Join Parisians along the tree-lined canal's iron footbridges and cafe terraces as the day winds down.

  6. Evening

    Le Chateaubriand

    Book the influential neo-bistro in the 11th for a lively, market-driven tasting of the new Paris cooking.

Day 07

Saint-Germain & the Left-Bank Gardens

A gentler farewell day of gardens, bakeries, and Left-Bank cafes.

  1. Morning

    Musee Rodin

    Begin in the 7th with The Thinker among the roses, a calm counterpoint to the big museums.

  2. Late Morning

    Luxembourg Gardens

    Drift through the 6th's grand gardens, from the palace and pond to the shaded chess tables.

  3. Lunch

    Poilane

    Pick up the famous sourdough and pastries at the historic bakery, then eat in a nearby square.

  4. Afternoon

    Latin Quarter

    Wander Saint-Germain-des-Pres and its literary cafes, bookshops, and the abbey church itself.

  5. Evening

    L'Arpege

    Splurge on Alain Passard's vegetable-driven three-star for a memorable last dinner, or a simpler local bistro.