Paris
Photo: Chris Karidis / Unsplash
Key Facts
Best Time to Visit
April to June and September to October (mild, fewer crowds, 15-25°C)
Language
French (English widely understood in tourist areas)
Currency
Euro (EUR)
Time Zone
CET (UTC+1), CEST (UTC+2) in summer
Airport
Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Orly (ORY)
Population
2.1 million (city proper), 12.3 million (metro area)
Climate
Oceanic, mild summers (20-25°C), cool winters (3-7°C), rain spread throughout the year
Safety Rating
Generally Safe (Level 1) — watch for pickpockets at tourist sites
UNESCO Sites
Banks of the Seine UNESCO World Heritage Site (including Notre-Dame, Louvre, Eiffel Tower area)
Top Highlights
Eiffel Tower
Paris's 330-meter iron icon with three observation levels. Tickets: 29.40 EUR (~$32) for summit by elevator, 11.80 EUR for stairs to 2nd floor. Book online at tour-eiffel.fr weeks ahead — walk-up lines can exceed 2 hours. Open 9:30AM-11:45PM (summer), 9:30AM-10:30PM (winter). Best at sunset or when lit at night (sparkles on the hour).
Louvre Museum
World's largest art museum with 380,000 objects including the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and Winged Victory. Entry: 22 EUR (~$24), free first Saturday evenings and under-26 EU residents. Open 9AM-6PM (closed Tuesdays). Allow minimum 3 hours. Book timed entry online. Enter via the less crowded Passage Richelieu or Carrousel du Louvre entrances.
Montmartre & Sacre-Coeur
Bohemian hilltop village with the white-domed Sacre-Coeur basilica offering the best free panoramic view of Paris. Basilica: free entry, dome climb 7 EUR. Open 6:30AM-10:30PM. Wander Place du Tertre (artist square), visit Moulin Rouge from the outside, and explore the vine-covered backstreets. Allow 3-4 hours.
Musee d'Orsay
Impressionist masterpiece collection in a stunning converted railway station. Monet, Renoir, Degas, Van Gogh, and Cezanne all under one roof. Entry: 16 EUR (~$17). Open 9:30AM-6PM (Thursdays until 9:45PM), closed Mondays. Less crowded than the Louvre with a more focused collection. Allow 2-3 hours. The clock-face windows offer unique city views.
Le Marais Quarter
A hidden gem neighborhood — Paris's trendiest district with medieval architecture, independent boutiques, Jewish bakeries on Rue des Rosiers (try L'As du Fallafel, ~8 EUR), and the free Place des Vosges (Paris's oldest planned square). Also home to the Musee Carnavalet (free, Paris history museum). Best on Sundays when shops stay open. Allow half a day.
Seine River Cruise
See Paris from the water on a 1-hour cruise past Notre-Dame, the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, and Musee d'Orsay. Bateaux Mouches: 16 EUR (~$17). Departures every 30 minutes from Pont de l'Alma. Evening cruises with dinner from 75 EUR. Alternatively, the Batobus water taxi (19 EUR day pass) is a hop-on-hop-off option hitting 9 stops.
Sainte-Chapelle
A lesser-known Gothic chapel with 15 floor-to-ceiling stained glass windows (the finest medieval glass in the world). Entry: 11.50 EUR (~$12.50). Open 9AM-5PM (winter), 9AM-7PM (summer). Much less crowded than Notre-Dame. On a sunny day, the light through 1,113 glass panels is transcendent. Allow 45 minutes. Combo ticket with Conciergerie available.
Planned Itinerary
7-Day Paris Itinerary
Arrival & Montmartre Evening
Arrive at CDG or Orly airport. Take the RER B from CDG (11.45 EUR, 35 min) or Orlyval + RER B from Orly (14.10 EUR). Stay in the Marais, Saint-Germain, or Montmartre for the best Parisian experience.
RER B from CDG to central Paris(45 minutes)
11.45 EUR. Buy a carnet of 10 Metro tickets (16.90 EUR) at any station for the week. Or get a Navigo Easy card
Montmartre evening walk(2.5 hours)
Metro to Anvers. Walk up to Sacre-Coeur (free entry) for the best sunset panorama of Paris. Wander Place du Tertre artist square, peek at Moulin Rouge from outside, and explore the vine-covered backstreets. The view from the basilica steps at golden hour is unforgettable
Dinner at Le Bouillon Chartier(1 hour)
A Belle Epoque dining hall serving classic French dishes at unbelievably low prices since 1896. Steak frites 12 EUR, entrecote 14 EUR. No reservations — queue outside but it moves fast. Near Grands Boulevards Metro
Louvre & Seine River Cruise
The world's greatest art museum in the morning, then see Paris from the water in the evening.
Louvre Museum(3.5 hours)
22 EUR, book timed entry at louvre.fr weeks ahead. Enter via Passage Richelieu (less crowded than the pyramid). See the Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, and Venus de Milo. Don't try to see everything — focus on 2-3 wings. Open 9AM-6PM, closed Tuesdays
Lunch at a boulangerie near Palais Royal(45 minutes)
Grab a jambon-beurre sandwich (4-6 EUR) and eat in the Jardin du Palais Royal — a hidden oasis of calm. The black-and-white striped Buren Columns in the courtyard are fun photo spots
Walk through the Tuileries Garden to Place de la Concorde(45 minutes)
Free. The formal garden connects the Louvre to the Champs-Elysees. The octagonal fountain and avenue of chestnut trees are classic Paris
Seine River cruise at sunset(1 hour)
Bateaux Mouches from Pont de l'Alma, 16 EUR. Pass Notre-Dame, the Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, and the Eiffel Tower. Evening departures offer the most magical light as monuments illuminate
Eiffel Tower, Musee d'Orsay & Left Bank
Paris's most iconic landmark, the world's best Impressionist collection, and the literary Left Bank.
Eiffel Tower(2 hours)
Book at tour-eiffel.fr weeks ahead — walk-up lines exceed 2 hours. Summit by elevator: 29.40 EUR. Stairs to 2nd floor: 11.80 EUR. Best at sunset or when it sparkles on the hour after dark. Alternatively, go to the Trocadero esplanade across the river for the best free photo viewpoint
Walk along Rue Cler(45 minutes)
The most Parisian market street — fromagers, boulangeries, patisseries, and flower shops. Pick up a baguette, cheese, and wine for a picnic on the Champ de Mars
Musee d'Orsay(2.5 hours)
16 EUR. Monet, Renoir, Degas, Van Gogh, Cezanne in a stunning converted railway station. Open 9:30AM-6PM (Thursdays to 9:45PM), closed Mondays. The clock-face windows offer unique city views. Less crowded than the Louvre
Evening stroll through Saint-Germain-des-Pres(1.5 hours)
The literary Left Bank. Browse the legendary Shakespeare & Company bookshop near Notre-Dame (free), sit at Cafe de Flore where Sartre and de Beauvoir debated (espresso 5.50 EUR, worth it for the atmosphere), and walk the narrow streets of the 6th arrondissement
Le Marais, Sainte-Chapelle & Ile de la Cite
Paris's trendiest neighborhood and the island where it all began 2,000 years ago.
Sainte-Chapelle(45 minutes)
11.50 EUR. 15 floor-to-ceiling stained glass windows — the finest medieval glass in the world. On a sunny day, the light through 1,113 panels is transcendent. Open 9AM-5PM. Much less crowded than Notre-Dame
Notre-Dame exterior and Ile de la Cite walk(45 minutes)
The cathedral is still under restoration after the 2019 fire but the exterior, Square Jean XXIII garden behind it, and the Ile de la Cite atmosphere are still beautiful. Free to walk around
Le Marais exploration(3 hours)
Paris's trendiest district. Walk Place des Vosges (Paris's oldest planned square, free), browse independent boutiques, and eat at L'As du Fallafel on Rue des Rosiers (~8 EUR for the best falafel in Paris). Visit Musee Carnavalet (free, Paris history museum)
Dinner at Breizh Cafe in Le Marais(1.5 hours)
The best crepes and galettes in Paris — buckwheat galettes with artisanal fillings (12-16 EUR) and proper Breton cider. Reserve ahead
Rest Morning & Day Trip to Versailles
Sleep in, then take the RER C to the Palace of Versailles for an afternoon of royal excess.
Leisurely morning and cafe breakfast(2 hours)
Find a neighborhood cafe, order a cafe creme and croissant (5-7 EUR total), and watch Parisians. This IS the activity
RER C to Versailles(40 minutes)
4.60 EUR each way from central Paris. Get off at Versailles Chateau Rive Gauche
Palace of Versailles(4 hours)
21 EUR with Paris Museum Pass, or 21 EUR standalone. Book timed entry online. The Hall of Mirrors, Marie Antoinette's Hamlet, and the gardens (free except on fountain show days) are the highlights. Allow at least 3 hours for palace + gardens. Fountain shows April-October cost 10 EUR extra and are spectacular
Return to Paris for dinner(1 hour)
Eat near your hotel. Try a classic bistro — Le Comptoir du Pantheon in the Latin Quarter does an excellent set menu (25 EUR for 3 courses at lunch, dinner more)
Hidden Paris — Canal Saint-Martin & Belleville
Beyond the tourist trail — Paris's hippest neighborhoods with street art, craft coffee, and multicultural energy.
Canal Saint-Martin morning walk(1.5 hours)
The photogenic canal with iron footbridges and tree-lined banks. Start at Republique Metro and walk north. Stop at Ten Belles coffee (3.50 EUR espresso) or Du Pain et des Idees bakery (the pain des amis is legendary, 5.50 EUR)
Marche d'Aligre(1 hour)
The most authentic Parisian market — less tourist-focused than Rue Mouffetard. Open daily except Monday. Covered market + outdoor stalls. Cheese, produce, and a great atmosphere near Ledru-Rollin Metro
Lunch at Le Servan in the 11th(1.5 hours)
Modern French-Filipino bistro. Set lunch 22 EUR. Michelinplated flavors at bistro prices. Reserve ahead
Belleville and Pere Lachaise Cemetery(2.5 hours)
Belleville is Paris's most multicultural neighborhood — Chinese, North African, and hipster all blended. Walk up to Parc de Belleville for a panoramic view rivaling Sacre-Coeur but with zero tourists. Then to Pere Lachaise (free) to find the graves of Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf, and Chopin
Farewell dinner in Le Marais(1.5 hours)
End at Chez Janou for the legendary chocolate mousse (served from a massive bowl, help yourself). Main courses 18-26 EUR. The terrace is charming. Reserve ahead
Departure Day — Croissant & Au Revoir
Final morning for last-minute souvenirs and one more perfect croissant.
Best-croissant mission(1 hour)
Du Pain et des Idees (Canal Saint-Martin) or Cedric Grolet Operaion (Grands Boulevards) for a world-class viennoiserie. A pain au chocolat (2.50-3.50 EUR) from a proper boulangerie is the ideal Paris farewell
Last-minute souvenir shopping(1 hour)
Merci concept store in Le Marais for curated French design. Le Bon Marche for gourmet food gifts. Paris print shops along the Seine bouquinistes (book stalls) for vintage posters
RER B to CDG or Orlyval to Orly(45-60 minutes)
CDG: RER B, 11.45 EUR, 35 min. Orly: Orlyval + RER B, 14.10 EUR. Allow 3 hours before international flights
14-Day Paris Itinerary
Arrival & Montmartre Evening
Arrive at CDG or Orly. RER B from CDG (11.45 EUR, 35 min).
RER B to central Paris(45 minutes)
Buy carnet of 10 Metro tickets (16.90 EUR) or Navigo Easy card
Montmartre: Sacre-Coeur, Place du Tertre(2.5 hours)
Free. Best sunset panorama of Paris
Dinner at Le Bouillon Chartier(1 hour)
Belle Epoque hall. Steak frites 12 EUR. Since 1896
Louvre & Seine Cruise
World's greatest museum, then Paris from the river.
Louvre Museum(3.5 hours)
22 EUR. Enter via Passage Richelieu. Closed Tuesdays
Lunch at Palais Royal garden(45 minutes)
Jambon-beurre 4-6 EUR from a boulangerie
Seine River cruise at sunset(1 hour)
Bateaux Mouches, 16 EUR. Pass all major monuments
Eiffel Tower & Musee d'Orsay
The icon and the Impressionists.
Eiffel Tower(2 hours)
Summit 29.40 EUR. Book weeks ahead at tour-eiffel.fr
Musee d'Orsay(2.5 hours)
16 EUR. Monet, Van Gogh. Closed Mondays. Thursday late opening
Saint-Germain evening(1.5 hours)
Shakespeare & Company, Cafe de Flore
Sainte-Chapelle, Le Marais & Ile de la Cite
Medieval glass, the hippest district, and Paris's birthplace.
Sainte-Chapelle(45 minutes)
11.50 EUR. 1,113 stained glass panels
Dinner at Breizh Cafe(1.5 hours)
Best galettes. 12-16 EUR. Reserve ahead
Versailles Day Trip
Royal excess at its finest, 40 minutes by RER C.
RER C to Versailles(40 minutes)
4.60 EUR each way
Palace of Versailles(4 hours)
21 EUR. Hall of Mirrors, gardens, Hamlet
Canal Saint-Martin & Hidden Paris
Beyond the tourist trail.
Canal Saint-Martin walk(1.5 hours)
Du Pain et des Idees bakery, Ten Belles coffee
Marche d'Aligre(1 hour)
Most authentic Parisian market
Lunch at Le Servan(1.5 hours)
French-Filipino bistro. Set lunch 22 EUR
Pere Lachaise Cemetery(1.5 hours)
Free. Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf
Belleville panoramic viewpoint(45 minutes)
Parc de Belleville. Free. Zero tourists
Rest Day & Paris at Your Pace
Slow down after an intense first week.
Sleep in and long brunch(2.5 hours)
Holybelly in the 10th (brunch plates 14-18 EUR, superb pancakes) or Ob-La-Di in Le Marais
Luxembourg Gardens afternoon(2 hours)
Free. Parisian green perfection. Rent a toy sailboat for the basin (5 EUR). Watch old men play boules. Read on a metal chair
Rodin Museum(1.5 hours)
13 EUR. The Thinker in the garden. Intimate and beautiful. 4 EUR for garden only. Near Les Invalides
Evening at a neighborhood wine bar(2 hours)
Le Barav in Le Marais for natural wines by the glass (6-10 EUR) and charcuterie boards (14-18 EUR). Where Parisians actually drink
Day Trip to Giverny — Monet's Garden
The house and gardens that inspired Impressionism. 75 minutes from Paris.
Train to Vernon + shuttle to Giverny(1.5 hours)
Train from Gare Saint-Lazare to Vernon (15 EUR), then shuttle bus to Giverny (10 EUR return)
Monet's Garden and water lily pond(3 hours)
13 EUR. Open April-October. The water lily pond with Japanese bridge is exactly like the paintings. The flower garden explodes with color. Best in May-June. Arrive at opening to beat tour groups. Closed Mondays
Lunch at Restaurant Baudy in Giverny(1 hour)
The cafe where American Impressionists gathered. Garden terrace. Formule lunch 22-28 EUR
Evening at Marche des Enfants Rouges(1.5 hours)
Paris's oldest covered market (1615) in the upper Marais. Moroccan couscous, Japanese bento, Italian pasta — all from small stalls. Most dishes 10-15 EUR. Open lunch and dinner, closed Mondays
Cooking Class & Parisian Markets
Learn to cook French classics and explore the market culture.
French cooking class(3 hours)
La Cuisine Paris (from 99 EUR) on Ile de la Cite. Learn croissant-making, classic sauces, or a full French meal. Market visit included
Rue Mouffetard market walk(1.5 hours)
One of Paris's oldest streets. Open daily market with cheese shops, bakeries, and produce. Try a crepe from a street vendor (4-6 EUR). The Latin Quarter atmosphere around the Pantheon is charming
Pantheon(1 hour)
11.50 EUR. Neoclassical monument housing the tombs of Voltaire, Rousseau, Victor Hugo, and Marie Curie. The Foucault pendulum demonstrating Earth's rotation is mesmerizing
Evening at Le Comptoir de la Gastronomie(1.5 hours)
Foie gras specialist near Les Halles. Duck foie gras terrine (16 EUR), cassoulet (22 EUR). Old-school French gastronomy
Orangerie, Palais Royal & Opera District
Monet's Water Lilies up close and the grandeur of Second Empire Paris.
Musee de l'Orangerie(1.5 hours)
12.50 EUR. Two oval rooms designed specifically for Monet's massive Water Lilies murals. The light changes throughout the day. Also has excellent Renoir and Cezanne. In the Tuileries near Place de la Concorde
Palais Royal gardens and arcades(1 hour)
Free. The covered arcades around the garden have boutiques and cafes. Lunch at Le Grand Vefour (splurge: 3-course lunch from 120 EUR in a breathtaking 18th-century dining room) or casually in the garden
Galeries Lafayette and Opera Garnier exterior(2 hours)
The Art Nouveau dome of Galeries Lafayette is free to admire (take the escalator to the top floor for the view inside). Opera Garnier (14 EUR for self-guided tour) inspired Phantom of the Opera — the grand staircase and Chagall ceiling are breathtaking
Passages Couverts walk(1 hour)
Free. Paris's covered passages from the 1800s — glass-roofed shopping arcades. Galerie Vivienne (the most beautiful), Passage des Panoramas (oldest), and Passage Jouffroy. Hidden gems of 19th-century Paris
Day Trip to Fontainebleau or Champagne
Choose: the Renaissance palace surrounded by forest (1 hour) or the champagne cellars of Reims (45 minutes by TGV).
Train to Fontainebleau(1 hour)
Transilien from Gare de Lyon (9 EUR), then bus to the palace
Chateau de Fontainebleau(3 hours)
14 EUR. Napoleon's favorite residence. Far less crowded than Versailles with equally impressive interiors (the Throne Room and Gallery of Francis I). The horseshoe staircase is where Napoleon bid farewell to his troops
Forest of Fontainebleau walk(1.5 hours)
Free. The forest that inspired the Barbizon School painters. Well-marked trails from the town. Sandstone boulders make it popular for bouldering
Lunch in Fontainebleau town(1 hour)
La Petite Alsace for tarte flambee (12 EUR) and choucroute. Charming small-town France
Art & Food in the 11th & 20th
Deep into the neighborhoods where young Parisians actually live, eat, and create.
Morning at Marche Bastille(1.5 hours)
Paris's largest open-air market. Thursday and Sunday mornings. Cheeses, rotisserie chickens, oyster shuckers, and gorgeous produce. Near Bastille Metro
Musee Picasso(2 hours)
14 EUR. In a 17th-century mansion in Le Marais. 5,000 works spanning Picasso's entire career. The building itself is beautiful
Lunch at Clamato (no reservations)(1 hour)
Seafood small plates from the team behind Septime (Paris's hottest restaurant). Oysters from 4 EUR each, ceviche 14 EUR. Queue from 7PM for dinner or arrive at noon for lunch
Afternoon at Coulée verte (Promenade plantée)(1 hour)
Free. The original elevated park that inspired New York's High Line. 4.7km of gardens along a former railway viaduct. Start at Bastille and walk east. The artisan workshops under the viaduct (Viaduc des Arts) sell crafts
Pre-farewell dinner at Chez Janou(1.5 hours)
The legendary chocolate mousse served from a massive bowl (help yourself). Mains 18-26 EUR. Reserve
Free Day — Your Paris
Return to favorites or discover what you missed.
Morning activity of choice(2 hours)
Revisit the Louvre (you barely scratched the surface), return to your favorite cafe, or visit the Catacombs (29 EUR, book online, 2 million skeletons arranged in artistic patterns under the city)
Afternoon at Fondation Louis Vuitton or Centre Pompidou(2 hours)
FLV (16 EUR) — Frank Gehry's glass sails in the Bois de Boulogne with rotating contemporary art. Or Centre Pompidou (15 EUR) — modern art (Kandinsky, Matisse, Duchamp) with the best rooftop view of Paris from the 6th floor
Farewell dinner at Le Petit Cler(2 hours)
Neighborhood bistro on Rue Cler near the Eiffel Tower. 3-course menu du jour 27 EUR. Classic French cooking, warm service, and the knowledge that you've truly lived in Paris for two weeks
Departure Day — Last Croissant & Au Revoir
Final morning in the City of Light.
Last croissant from your favorite boulangerie(45 minutes)
Pain au chocolat 2.50-3.50 EUR. Savor every flaky layer
Seine bouquinistes browse for a last souvenir(45 minutes)
The green bookstalls along the Seine sell vintage prints, postcards, and old books. A Paris institution since the 16th century
RER B to CDG(45 minutes)
11.45 EUR. Allow 3 hours before international flights. Au revoir, Paris
21-Day Paris Itinerary
Arrival & Montmartre Evening
Arrive at CDG or Orly. RER B from CDG (11.45 EUR, 35 min).
RER B to central Paris(45 minutes)
Buy Navigo Easy card or carnet of 10 tickets (16.90 EUR)
Montmartre: Sacre-Coeur, Place du Tertre(2.5 hours)
Free. Best sunset panorama of Paris
Dinner at Le Bouillon Chartier(1 hour)
Belle Epoque hall. Steak frites 12 EUR. Since 1896
Louvre & Seine Cruise
World's greatest museum, then Paris from the river.
Louvre Museum(3.5 hours)
22 EUR. Enter via Passage Richelieu. Closed Tuesdays
Lunch at Palais Royal garden(45 minutes)
Jambon-beurre 4-6 EUR
Seine River cruise at sunset(1 hour)
Bateaux Mouches, 16 EUR
Eiffel Tower & Musee d'Orsay
The icon and the Impressionists.
Eiffel Tower(2 hours)
Summit 29.40 EUR. Book at tour-eiffel.fr
Musee d'Orsay(2.5 hours)
16 EUR. Monet, Van Gogh. Thursday late opening
Saint-Germain evening(1.5 hours)
Shakespeare & Company, Cafe de Flore
Sainte-Chapelle, Le Marais & Ile de la Cite
Medieval glass, hippest district, and Paris's birthplace.
Sainte-Chapelle(45 minutes)
11.50 EUR. 1,113 stained glass panels
Dinner at Breizh Cafe(1.5 hours)
Best galettes. 12-16 EUR
Versailles Day Trip
Royal excess, 40 minutes by RER C.
RER C to Versailles(40 minutes)
4.60 EUR
Palace of Versailles(4 hours)
21 EUR. Hall of Mirrors, gardens, Hamlet
Canal Saint-Martin & Hidden Paris
Beyond the tourist trail.
Canal Saint-Martin walk(1.5 hours)
Du Pain et des Idees bakery, Ten Belles coffee
Marche d'Aligre(1 hour)
Most authentic Parisian market
Lunch at Le Servan(1.5 hours)
French-Filipino bistro. Set lunch 22 EUR
Pere Lachaise Cemetery(1.5 hours)
Free. Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf
Belleville panoramic viewpoint(45 minutes)
Parc de Belleville. Zero tourists
Rest Day & Paris at Your Pace
Slow down after an intense first week.
Sleep in and long brunch(2.5 hours)
Holybelly in the 10th (brunch 14-18 EUR)
Luxembourg Gardens afternoon(2 hours)
Free. Rent toy sailboat 5 EUR
Rodin Museum(1.5 hours)
13 EUR. The Thinker in the garden
Evening at Le Barav wine bar(2 hours)
Natural wines 6-10 EUR, charcuterie 14-18 EUR
Day Trip to Giverny — Monet's Garden
75 minutes from Paris.
Train to Vernon + shuttle to Giverny(1.5 hours)
Train 15 EUR, shuttle 10 EUR return
Monet's Garden and water lily pond(3 hours)
13 EUR. April-October. Best May-June
Lunch at Restaurant Baudy(1 hour)
Where Impressionists gathered. 22-28 EUR
Marche des Enfants Rouges(1.5 hours)
Paris's oldest covered market (1615)
Cooking Class & Parisian Markets
Learn French classics and explore market culture.
French cooking class(3 hours)
La Cuisine Paris (from 99 EUR). Croissants, sauces, or a full meal
Rue Mouffetard market walk(1.5 hours)
Crepes 4-6 EUR from street vendors
Pantheon(1 hour)
11.50 EUR. Voltaire, Victor Hugo, Marie Curie
Dinner at Le Comptoir de la Gastronomie(1.5 hours)
Foie gras, cassoulet 22 EUR
Orangerie, Palais Royal & Opera District
Monet's Water Lilies and Second Empire grandeur.
Musee de l'Orangerie(1.5 hours)
12.50 EUR. Monet's Water Lilies murals
Galeries Lafayette and Opera Garnier(2 hours)
Opera Garnier 14 EUR self-guided
Passages Couverts walk(1 hour)
Free. 1800s glass-roofed shopping arcades
Day Trip to Fontainebleau
Renaissance palace surrounded by forest.
Train to Fontainebleau(1 hour)
9 EUR Transilien from Gare de Lyon
Chateau de Fontainebleau(3 hours)
14 EUR. Napoleon's favorite residence
Forest of Fontainebleau walk(1.5 hours)
Free. Barbizon School painters' inspiration
Lunch in Fontainebleau town(1 hour)
Tarte flambee 12 EUR at La Petite Alsace
Art & Food in the 11th & 20th
Where young Parisians live, eat, and create.
Marche Bastille(1.5 hours)
Thursday and Sunday. Paris's largest open-air market
Musee Picasso(2 hours)
14 EUR. 5,000 works in a 17th-century mansion
Lunch at Clamato(1 hour)
Seafood small plates. Oysters from 4 EUR each
Coulee verte (Promenade plantee)(1 hour)
Free. Original elevated park inspiring NYC's High Line
Dinner at Chez Janou(1.5 hours)
Legendary chocolate mousse from a massive bowl
3-Night Trip to Loire Valley — Day 1: Royal Chateaux
Take the TGV 1.5 hours south to the Loire Valley — France's 'Garden' region of 300+ chateaux, vineyards, and Renaissance splendor.
TGV from Paris Austerlitz to Tours or Blois(1.5 hours)
From 19 EUR on SNCF Ouigo. Rent a car in Tours (from 35 EUR/day) — essential for chateau-hopping. Or hire a guided tour from Tours
Chateau de Chambord(2 hours)
16 EUR. The grandest of all Loire chateaux — 440 rooms, double-helix staircase attributed to Leonardo da Vinci. The rooftop terrace panorama over 5,440 hectares of parkland is breathtaking
Lunch at a village restaurant in Chambord(1 hour)
La Maison d'a Cote in Montlivault for refined Loire cooking (lunch menu from 38 EUR) or grab a simpler plat du jour at a village cafe (12-15 EUR)
Chateau de Cheverny(1.5 hours)
13 EUR. The inspiration for Captain Haddock's Marlinspike Hall in Tintin. Beautifully furnished interiors and formal gardens. The tintin exhibit is charming
Check-in at a Loire B&B(30 minutes)
Stay in Tours, Amboise, or a chambre d'hote (country B&B from 60 EUR/night). The Loire is magical at twilight
Loire Valley Day 2 — Amboise, Chenonceau & Wine
Leonardo da Vinci's last home, the most elegant chateau, and Loire wines.
Clos Luce — Leonardo da Vinci's last home in Amboise(1.5 hours)
19 EUR. Leonardo spent his final 3 years here at the invitation of Francis I. Working models of his inventions fill the rooms and gardens. Moving and intimate
Chateau de Chenonceau(2 hours)
18 EUR. The 'Ladies' Chateau' spanning the River Cher. The most elegant of all Loire chateaux. The gallery built across the river was used as a hospital in WWI and an escape route in WWII. The flower gardens by Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medici compete for beauty
Lunch in Chenonceaux village(1 hour)
Auberge du Bon Laboureur for refined French cooking (menu from 35 EUR). Or picnic with cheese and wine from a local fromagerie
Vouvray wine tasting(1.5 hours)
The Loire's famous white wine. Domaine Huet (from 5 EUR for a tasting flight) in Vouvray produces some of France's finest chenin blanc. The caves carved into tufa rock are atmospheric
Loire Valley Day 3 & Return to Paris
Morning at one more chateau, then return to Paris by afternoon.
Chateau de Villandry gardens(1.5 hours)
12 EUR. The most spectacular gardens in the Loire — ornamental vegetable gardens, Renaissance flower gardens, and water gardens. Even non-garden-lovers are amazed
Drive through Loire countryside(1 hour)
Return the car via scenic D-roads. Vineyards, sunflower fields, and tufa-stone villages. Stop at a village boulangerie for a final French countryside croissant
TGV back to Paris(1.5 hours)
Afternoon return. From 19 EUR
Quiet Paris evening(2 hours)
Rest after three days of travel. Neighborhood bistro dinner or pick up supplies from a fromagerie and eat in your apartment
Rest Day — Seine-side & Parisian Life
Recovery day. The gentlest possible Paris.
Late morning at the hotel or apartment(2 hours)
Boulangerie run for croissants and a baguette. Coffee at the nearest cafe
Afternoon along the Seine Rive Gauche(3 hours)
Walk along the left bank from Saint-Michel to the Eiffel Tower. Browse the bouquinistes (green bookstalls), sit on the stone banks with locals, and watch the bateaux pass. Free and perfectly Parisian
Evening at La Recyclerie(2 hours)
Urban farm and cafe in a former train station in the 18th arrondissement. Cocktails (8-12 EUR) in the garden with chickens and beehives. A very modern, very cool Parisian evening
Day Trip to Chartres — Gothic Cathedral
1 hour southwest by train to one of the world's greatest cathedrals.
Train to Chartres from Gare Montparnasse(1 hour)
15-20 EUR. The cathedral spires are visible from the train
Chartres Cathedral(2.5 hours)
Free entry. The stained glass windows (mostly original 12th-13th century) are the finest in the world — 176 windows with 27,000 square feet of glass. The labyrinth in the nave floor is available for walking on Fridays. Crypt tour (4 EUR) reveals the deepest crypt in France
Chartres old town walk(1 hour)
Medieval half-timbered houses along the Eure River. The covered stairways (tertres) connecting upper and lower town are photogenic
Lunch at Le Tripot(1 hour)
Modern French in the old town. Lunch menu from 24 EUR. Their interpretation of Beauce region cooking is refined
Photography Walk & Parisian Neighborhoods
Slow travel day exploring Paris's most photogenic corners beyond the monuments.
Morning in the Batignolles neighborhood (17th)(2 hours)
The 'village within Paris.' Martin Luther King Park (free), organic market on Saturday, and cafes on Rue des Batignolles. Zero tourists, peak Parisian charm
Covered passage crawl(1.5 hours)
Continue through the 19th-century passages you started earlier. Passage Brady (Indian restaurants), Passage du Grand Cerf (artisan shops with stunning glass ceiling). Free
Lunch at Le Bouillon Pigalle(1 hour)
The hip younger sister of Chartier. Stunning Art Nouveau renovation. 3-course meal under 20 EUR. The oeuf mayo is perfect
Afternoon at Centre Pompidou or Fondation Louis Vuitton(2 hours)
Pompidou (15 EUR) for modern art and the best rooftop view of Paris. Or FLV (16 EUR) for Frank Gehry's glass sails with rotating contemporary art in the Bois de Boulogne
French Language & Wine Tasting
Niche experiences — a French crash course and structured wine education.
Morning French conversation class(2 hours)
Alliance Francaise offers short courses and workshops (from 50 EUR for a half-day). Or simply commit to ordering everything in French today — even stumbling attempts earn warmth from Parisians
Wine tasting at O Chateau(2 hours)
From 35 EUR for a 1-hour tasting of French wines with an English-speaking sommelier. Learn about terroir, appellations, and how to navigate a French wine list. Located in the 1st arrondissement
Lunch at Le Bouillon Julien(1 hour)
The most beautiful bouillon in Paris — stunning Art Nouveau interior with painted ceilings, ceramic tiles, and mahogany paneling. Blanquette de veau 13 EUR. Near Strasbourg-Saint-Denis
Evening cheese and wine at a fromagerie-bar(1.5 hours)
La Vache dans les Vignes in the 11th. Natural wines (5-8 EUR/glass) paired with a cheese board curated by affineurs (from 12 EUR). The perfect way to put your wine education into practice
Free Day — Your Paris
Return to favorites or discover what you missed.
Morning revisit(2 hours)
Return to the Louvre (you barely scratched the surface), the Catacombs (29 EUR, 2 million skeletons), or simply sit at a cafe in your favorite arrondissement
Afternoon at Musee de l'Armee and Napoleon's Tomb(2 hours)
14 EUR. Inside Les Invalides. Napoleon's tomb under the golden dome is surprisingly moving. The WWI and WWII exhibitions are exceptional
Farewell dinner at Le Petit Cler(2 hours)
Neighborhood bistro on Rue Cler near the Eiffel Tower. 3-course menu du jour 27 EUR. The knowledge that you've truly lived in Paris for three weeks
Departure Day — Last Croissant & Au Revoir
Final morning in the City of Light.
Last croissant from your favorite boulangerie(45 minutes)
Pain au chocolat 2.50-3.50 EUR. Savor every flaky layer
Seine bouquinistes browse(45 minutes)
Vintage prints, postcards, old books. A Paris institution since the 16th century
RER B to CDG(45 minutes)
11.45 EUR. Allow 3 hours before international flights. Au revoir, Paris
Travel Tips
Visa & Entry
Schengen Zone Entry
US, UK, Canadian, and Australian citizens can enter France visa-free for up to 90 days within 180 days (Schengen area). Indian citizens need a Schengen visa — apply through VFS Global or the French consulate (processing: 2-4 weeks, ~80 EUR). Starting 2025, non-EU visitors may need ETIAS authorization (7 EUR, 3-year validity).
transport
Metro Is the Best Way Around
Paris Metro has 16 lines covering the entire city. Single ticket (t+): 2.15 EUR. Buy a carnet of 10 (16.90 EUR) or use the Navigo Easy card. CDG to city center: RER B train (11.45 EUR, 35 minutes). Orly to city center: Orlyval + RER B (14.10 EUR). Avoid taxis from CDG — they charge a flat 55 EUR to Right Bank, 62 EUR to Left Bank.
Budget
Paris Museum Pass Saves Time and Money
The Paris Museum Pass (55 EUR for 2 days, 70 EUR for 4 days) covers 60+ museums including the Louvre, Orsay, Versailles, and Sainte-Chapelle with skip-the-line entry. If you plan to visit 3+ museums, it pays for itself. Buy at any participating museum or online at parismuseumpass.com.
Eat Like a Parisian on a Budget
Skip sit-down lunch (expensive) and do what locals do: grab a jambon-beurre sandwich (4-6 EUR) from a boulangerie and eat in a park. Set lunch menus (formule/menu du jour) at bistros are great value: 15-20 EUR for 2-3 courses. Supermarkets like Monoprix sell excellent prepared food. Avoid restaurants directly facing major monuments — tourist traps with inflated prices.
Local Customs
Always Say Bonjour
The number one mistake tourists make in Paris: not greeting people. Always say 'Bonjour' when entering any shop, cafe, or restaurant, and 'Au revoir' when leaving. Not doing so is considered genuinely rude and will noticeably affect the service you receive. Even a basic 'Bonjour, parlez-vous anglais?' opens doors.
Tipping Is Not Expected but Appreciated
Service is included in French restaurant bills by law (service compris). Tipping is not required but rounding up or leaving 5-10% for excellent service is appreciated. At cafes, leaving small change (50 cents to 1 EUR) on the table is common. Never tip in cash at fancy restaurants — add it to the card payment.
Safety
Pickpocket Hotspots
Professional pickpocket teams operate at the Eiffel Tower, Metro lines 1 and 4, Sacre-Coeur steps, and around the Louvre. Common tactics: clipboard petition distraction, 'gold ring' scam, and crowding at Metro doors. Use a crossbody bag with zippers, keep phones in front pockets, and be extra vigilant on crowded trains.
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