Paris Itinerary: The Best 7-Day Trip
Paris is my favorite city. I love the atmosphere, the je ne sais quoi, the food, the wine, the history. It’s perfection. And I’m so excited to share my complete 7-day Paris itinerary with you so you can experience it first-hand. Not only does this Paris itinerary cover what to see, but also where to eat because food is an integral part of the trip.
A few notes before we dive into the full Paris itinerary:
Note 1
I have specified days of the week instead of listing out Day 1, Day 2, etc. This is because it’s a bit of puzzle fitting together the various museum and restaurant closures. You can move days around but be sure to check my notes and see if any places are closed first. As a rule of thumb, many museums are closed on Mondays and/or Tuesdays and many restaurants are closed on Sundays and/or Mondays.
Note 2
This Paris itinerary assumes you arrive on Friday morning, and as such, keeps Friday as a light activity day with an early dinner. If you aren’t arriving on Friday, make the necessary adjustments to keep your first day manageable. (When I fly to Europe I like to arrive on a Friday and leave on a Friday. That gives me a full weekend in my destination and a full weekend to get back on US time when I get home. It does require taking one extra day of vacation, but it’s worth it.)
Note 3
Some complain that Paris is inhospitable to American tourists. I’ve found that if you are courteous and show your genuine interest in learning more about Paris and France, you won’t have any problems.
Note 4
The one thing my Paris itinerary does not include is where to stay. The last time I visited I stayed at the incomparable Prince de Galles. However, this is a very expensive hotel and unless you have a big budget for the trip, I can’t recommend that you spend this much on lodging. I also hate to recommend a hotel I haven’t personally stayed at, so I’ll send you to Trip Advisor for this one thing.
Note 5
Paris is known as one of the best foodie cities in the world for good reason, but there is one thing I’d avoid, and that’s steak. Paris is amazing at chicken, fish and especially duck but is not great at steak. If you’re craving a filet mignon wait until you get home. We have better steak in the US.
As ‘do corollary’ to this ‘don’t’ make sure you eat many croissants and pain au chocolats as possible. They will never taste as good anywhere else.
Okay, let’s jump into this Paris itinerary!
Friday: Eiffel Tower and the Seine
Rue Cler
Spend your morning exploring Rue Cler, one of the best market streets in Paris. There’s a selection of specialty food stores, pastry shops, butchers, delicatessens, cheese stores, fishmongers, produce shops, chocolate shops and cafés. Enjoy a café au lait and croissant at one of the many cafés and then shop for a picnic lunch.
Stores are open Tuesday to Saturday and Sunday mornings. Most are closed on Mondays.
Eiffel Tower
Once you have the fixings for your picnic, take a short walk to the Champ de Mars park and eat your lunch in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. Then head over to the famed tower itself. I don’t recommend waiting in line to walk up it since I think the best views of Paris include the Eiffel Tower in them, but if you happen to catch a short line day then go for it. (It’s not worth it if you need to wait two hours.)
Cruise along the Seine
Walk over the Seine and catch a boat tour. You can buy tickets online in advance or you can purchase day of. I’ve never had an issue buying day of so that’s what I’d recommend to give you more flexibility on time. Boat tours last an hour and include views of Notre Dame, Musée d’Orsay, the National Assembly and more. Bateaux Parisiens is the closest to the Eiffel Tower, but if you fancy a bit of a walk, you can easily catch one of the Bateaux Mouches tours instead.
Early Dinner
When you check into your hotel in the morning, ask for their recommendation on a good café or brasserie that is close to the hotel. Then swing by for an early dinner before heading to bed so you can get some needed sleep. (Note that most restaurants don’t open until 7pm. That’s where the cafés and brasseries that are open all day come in handy.)
Saturday: Montmartre
Secret Food Tour: Montmartre
This food tour is so much fun. You’ll explore the Montmartre area and visit a series of shops to buy the best cheese, cured meat, wine, pastries and chocolate. All along the way you’ll learn about how Parisians shop and what to look for so you know you’re buying fresh, authentic food. And at the end, you’ll sit down and enjoy the wonderful food your guide purchased. Check out the full write up (and buy tickets) here – I promise your mouth will be watering by the end of it.
Eat a very light breakfast and book the 10am or 11am tour. Their guidance is the tour lasts 3 to 3.5 hours. I think ours lasted closer to 4.5 hours, so plan for this to be your main activity of the day.
Cost: €89 and completely worth it for the experience and the amount of food you get.
Place du Tertre
After the food tour, walk over to the Place du Tertre. It is a small square filled with local artisans. I always find something to buy here. I have two small paintings (purchased on two different trips) that I absolutely love. You can also have your portrait done, or more uniquely (if this vendor happens to be working) you can get a paper cutout of your face in profile. As pictured above, I still have the cutout I got back in 1999 and I love it.
Sacre Couer
You can’t go to Montmartre without going to Sacre Couer. The church is beautiful and fully functional. Spend some time winding your way through it and pause for a few minutes in one of the many seats. Even though you’ll be surrounded by other people walking through, you’ll feel a moment of serenity. When you exit, take in the postcard-perfect view of Paris below you.
35 Rue du Chevalier de la Barre │ Website │Free │ Open daily 6am to 10:30pm
Dinner: Le Vin de Bellechasse
If you have any room after your big lunch, enjoy a relaxing dinner at this lovely brasserie.
20 Rue de Bellechasse │ Open for dinner daily 7pm to 11pm
Sunday: Ile St. Louis and Canal Saint Martin
Brunch: Café Saint Regis
Head to the tiny Ile St. Louis and enjoy Sunday brunch at the Saint Regis. It’s a classic café with a cozy atmosphere.
6 Rue Jean de Bellay │ Website │ Open daily 7am to 2am
Ile St. Louis
Before and/or after brunch, explore this small island. It’s not very touristy and feels like a small 17th century French village in the heart of Paris. Stroll the streets to see markets, bakeries, cafés and boutique shops. If you have any room left after brunch, stop by Berthillion ice cream parlor for a delicious treat.
Berthillion: 29-31 rue saint Louis en l’ile │ Website │ Open Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 8pm
Cruise the Canal Saint Martin
Catch the 2:30 Canauxrama cruise (€18/person) from Port de l’Arsenal to Bassin de la Vilette. The cruise lasts 2.5 hours and shares the history of the area as you cruise along the canal, which is lined with hundred-year-old trees and spanned by elegant footbridges.
Dinner: Ober Mamma
It may seem counterintuitive to eat Italian food in Paris, but I promise you’ll be happy if you do. Enjoy wood-fired oven Neapolitan pizzas and delicious pasta.
107 Boulevard Richard Lenoir │ Website │ Open for dinner daily 6:45pm to 10:45pm
Cocktails: Experimental Cocktail Club
What better day to relax with a cocktail after dinner than Sunday? After all, you don’t have work on Monday morning. Experimental Cocktail Club is a tiny, dimly lit space that makes excellent cocktails. You may have to wait for a spot, but Sundays are a good bet for a short (or no) wait.
37 rue Saint-Sauveur │ Website │ Open daily from 7pm (8pm on Sundays)
Monday: Giverny
Take the train to Giverny (catch the SNCF from the Saint-Lazare Paris train station to Vernon on the Paris-Rouen-Le Havre line) or arrange for a car service or a day trip excursion because you can’t go to Paris without taking a day in Giverny. If you do take the train, make sure you have transportation organized once you get to Giverny. The first time I went we didn’t, and we ended up walking the 3.3 miles from the train station to Claude Monet’s House & Gardens. It is a pretty walk but probably not how you want to spend your day. (This was also way before Lyft and Uber so I’m sure it is easier to get transportation from the train station these days.)
Claude Monet’s House & Gardens
I dream about how beautiful the gardens here are. You walk in and you never want to leave, especially if you’re a big Monet fan like me. Excuse my old photos that don’t do the place justice and do a quick Google image search to see what I mean. It’s a riot of colors everywhere you look, and there’s the famous waterlily pond and green bridge that I could sit and look at for hours. I’d plan for at least two hours and lots of photos here.
84 Rue Claude Monet, Giverny │Website │ €9.50 │ Open daily April 1st to November 1st 9:30am to 6:00pm
Museum of Impressionism Giverny
While you’re in the area, you should pop down the street to this museum. It focuses on the origins and influence of Impressionism. Each season the museum hosts two temporary exhibitions that focus on artists who left their mark on the art of the late 19th century and early 20th century in France.
99 Rue Claude Monet, Giverny │ Website │ €7.50 │ Open daily March 27th to November 1st 10am to 6pm
Dinner: Firmin le Barbier
Return to Paris and enjoy a delicious dinner in this small restaurant in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. Everything we ordered was fantastic, especially the chicken, which was cooked to perfection.
20 rue de Monttessuy │ Open for dinner Wednesday to Monday 7pm to 10:30pm
Tuesday: The Marais and Notre Dame
Marais Walking Tour
Take a walking tour with Paris Walks and discover the Marais, one of the most historic quarters in Paris. Their Marais Circuit 1 tour is offered every Tuesday at 10:30am. The tour explores the south side of Marais and includes architecture, history, and stories of celebrated inhabitants such as Victor Hugo and Mme de Sevigné. The tour is €20/person and there’s no need to make reservations. We found our guide very knowledgeable and greatly enjoyed learning more about this neighborhood.
Notes: The tour is also offered at 10:30am every Saturday. In addition, their Marais Circuit 2 tour (north side) is offered every Thursday and Sunday at 2:30pm. All Marais tours meet at the Saint Paul metro stop.
Place des Vosges
Your tour may end in this square. If it doesn’t, be sure to head over for a visit. It is the oldest planned square in Paris and is lined with beautiful architecture. If the weather is nice, first grab a falafel at the L’As du Fallafel stand (34 Rue des Rosiers) and then head over to Place des Vosges to enjoy it. If it’s rainy or too cold, head to Le Loir dans la Théière (3 rue des Rosiers, open daily from 9am to 7:30pm, website) for lunch.
Notre Dame
All signs point to the plaza reopening this spring so you will be able to see the exterior of this magnificent cathedral. Hopefully by the time you go, you’ll be able to see the interior as well (which was free prior to the fire and I assume will be free when reopened). Even if you can’t get inside, Notre Dame is worth a visit. In fact, I prefer strolling the grounds and enjoying the exterior architecture to being inside, though the stained glass is something to see on a sunny day.
Bouquinistes
Bouquinistes, riverside booksellers, create an enormous open-air bookshop along the banks of the Seine. They’re located on the Right Bank, from Pont Marie to Quai du Louvre and on the Left Bank, from Quai de la Tournelle to Quai Voltaire in little green booths. You can find books, prints and assorted other potential souvenirs for purchase. It’s great fun to peruse the booths and see what treasures are lurking.
Open daily from morning to dusk.
Pont Neuf
Stroll over to the Pont Neuf, the oldest standing bridge across the Seine.
Dinner: Ellsworth
This was our favorite restaurant on our most recent trip. Everything we ordered was beyond delicious. The dessert was so good we ordered a second serving of it. And we found everyone at the restaurant (host and servers) to be courteous and charming. You absolutely must go here when you visit Paris.
34 rue de Richelieu │ Website │ Open for dinner Tuesday to Saturday 7pm to 10:30pm
Wednesday: Orangerie and Arc de Triomphe
I know this looks like too many stops to fit into a day, but several of the stops are very brief so it all works.
Louvre
Take a stroll past the Louvre to see the beautiful building and the glass pyramid. You can restructure this day so you have time to go in, but I don’t recommend it. The Louvre is very crowded with tourists and it is near impossible to get a good view of the most famous pieces like the Mona Lisa.
Tuileries Gardens
Walk through the lush Tuileries Gardens on your way to the Orangerie, my favorite museum in Paris.
Musée de l'Orangerie
This museum has special oval rooms that house Monet’s final water lily paintings. If you are a Monet fan, which you’ve clearly noticed I am, give yourself at least 45 minutes for these rooms alone. Then take another hour or so to explore the rest of the museum, which houses an impressive collection of Impressionist and post-Impressionist works. My biggest regret from the last time I visited Paris is that I did not give myself enough time in this museum.
Website │ €9 │ Open Wednesday to Monday 9am to 6pm, closed Tuesdays
Place de la Concorde
When you exit the Orangerie, walk over to the Place de la Concorde, a large public square that houses the Luxor Obelisk, a 3,300-year-old Egyptian obelisk. Note that this is where they housed the guillotine during the French Revolution.
Champs-Élysées
The Place de la Concorde is the start of the famed Champs-Élysées. Meander up the Champs-Élysées taking in the scenery and popping into stores.
Arc de Triomphe
At the end of the Champs-Élysées you’ll find the Arc de Triomphe, perhaps the second most well-known monument in Paris. The arch honors those who fought for France, especially those who fought in the Napoleonic wars. I’ve only ever enjoyed the monument from the outside, but you can go inside and climb to the top for €8. The views are supposed to be wonderful, so you should go up to the top if the line isn’t too long.
Place Charles de Gaulle │ Website │ Open daily 10am to 10:30pm
Parc Monceau
For your last stop of the day, head over to the serene Parc Monceau. This park is not heavily trafficked by tourists, so you’ll get a good sense of daily Parisian life. Enjoy a walk around the park or simply sit on a bench and relax.
Dinner: Roca
This is another stop that’s off the beaten path for tourists. In fact, I think we were the only tourists here. The staff is wonderfully accommodating and the food is delicious.
31 rue Guillaume Tell │ Website │ Open for dinner Monday to Saturday 7:30pm to 10:30pm
Thursday: Saint-Germain-des-Prés and Musée d’Orsay
Saint-Germain-des-Prés Walking Tour
Get to know Saint Germain-des-Prés with another Paris Walks tour. (Offered every Thursday at 10:30am.) The tour captures the essence of Paris on the Left Bank: The old abbey church of St Germain, charming streets lined with bookstores and literary cafés, old squares, artists’ studios, the famous Paris Fine Arts School, the hotel where Oscar Wilde died, Hemingway’s favorite restaurant, and the beautiful St Sulpice church with the mysterious gnomon and rose line, mentioned in the Da Vinci Code.
Meet in front of the Church of St Sulpice (a short walk from metro St Sulpice)
Lunch: Les Deux Magots
Pop into Les Deux Magots brasserie for a light lunch.
6 Place Saint-Germain des Prés │ Website │ Open daily 7:30am to 1am
Luxembourg Gardens
Take a little detour and enjoy these beautiful gardens.
Musée d’Orsay
The Musée d’Orsay holds Europe’s greatest collection of Impressionist art. It is housed in the former Gare d’Orsay, a Beaux-Arts railway station built between 1898 and 1900.
1 Rue de la Légion d’Honneur │ Website │ €14 │ Open 9:30am to 6pm Tuesday to Sunday, closed Mondays, especially crowded on Tuesdays when the Louvre is closed
Dinner: Verjus
Verjus offers a €78 tasting menu, which changes regularly. It is one of the most affordable tasting menus in Paris, and is sure to be one of the best meals you have on the trip. (Same owner as Ellsworth. You can also stop by their Wine Bar at 47 rue de Montpensier if you want a glass of wine before dinner.)
52 Rue de Richelieu │ Website │ Open Monday to Friday 7pm to 11pm
I hope you found this Paris itinerary helpful. I know writing it got me excited for my next trip to Paris!
Feel free to ask me any follow up questions in the comments. And keep me posted on your favorite place when you go.