Things to Do in Paris in 7 Days

Paris is a magnificent, gigantic city and one of the most visited destinations in Europe and the world, which is why the range of tourist and cultural attractions can be overwhelming. If you don't know where to start planning your trip to Paris, here is a detailed guide with an itinerary covering seven full days. It will serve as a starting point for knowing what to see and do in Paris and planning the perfect vacation in the French capital.

During a week-long trip to Paris, you will have the opportunity to visit the city's main tourist attractions and the surrounding area; you will also be able to discover the most charming neighborhoods.

Morning walk and shopping on the Champs-Élysées

Start your first day of sightseeing in Paris with a walk along what is considered one of the most beautiful avenues in the world: Les Champs Elysees. With a length of 1.9 kilometers, it is considered one of the most important avenues in Paris and is home to some of the most prestigious establishments in all of France.

It is the perfect place for a morning walk, window shopping, and enjoying a delicious snack. Some points of interest include:

• Parisian restaurants and cafés: Café Di Roma, Fouquet's, Ladurée.
• Boutiques and fashion brands: Boutique Lancôme, Sephora Paris, L'Occitane, Petit Bateau, Zara, DIOR Paris, Louis Vuitton, and BOSS Store.
• Art and entertainment: Cinéma Pathé, L'Atelier Renault, and Galeries Lafayette on the Champs-Elysées.

Visit the Arc de Triomphe

The Champs-Élysées is also the connecting element between two important Parisian monuments, the Arc de Triomphe and the Place de la Concorde, so at some point along the route you will have to reach this destination.

The Arc de Triomphe is a small museum in itself. Access to the interior and the opportunity to climb to the top of the arch cost approximately €15 if you buy your tickets in advance. From the top, you get a magnificent view of Paris, but mainly of the Champs-Élysées.

If you don't want to go to the top of the Arch, take a moment to appreciate the exterior walls, which feature four large sculptures. At the foot of the monument, you will find the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

• Opening hours: from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Admission price: free access to the square. Admission to the museum costs approximately €15.
• Duration of the visit: approximately 45 to 1 hour 30 minutes.

Lunch at the Eiffel Tower

Time to visit the quintessential Parisian icon. With this tour, you'll arrive at the Eiffel Tower at lunchtime, and if you book at the luxurious Eiffel Tower restaurant, not only will you enjoy an authentic Parisian gourmet meal, but you'll also be able to access the Eiffel Tower without having to wait in long lines. Needless to say, the view from this spot is absolutely spectacular, so don't leave without taking some beautiful photos of the city!

• Hours: from 9:30 a.m. to 11:45 p.m.
• Ticket price: starting at €10.70, the price increases if you want to go to the top and if you want to use the elevators.
• Duration of visit: allow approximately 1.5 hours to visit the second floor and 2.5 hours if you want to go to the top.

Visit the Trocadero Square and Gardens

Just opposite the Eiffel Tower, across the Seine via the Pont d'léna, you will find yourself at the entrance to the Trocadero Gardens and Trocadero Square, where you can visit the Warsaw Fountain. The main attraction is its gigantic fountain, consisting of a reflecting pool and 12 sculptural fountains that shoot jets of water up to 164 feet high.

I also recommend stopping at the Trocadero Square, considered the best spot in all of Paris to take pictures of the Eiffel Tower due to its strategic location. The effect with the sunset at the end of the day is truly dramatic, making for some really beautiful photographs.

• Hours: open 24 hours
• Admission price: free
• Duration of visit: 20 to 30 minutes will be enough to walk around the garden and take photographs.

Tango Night on the Seine

If you visit Paris during the summer, every Friday is tango night on the Seine. The impromptu dance party starts at 7 p.m. and lasts until nightfall. Experienced dancers show off their talent to anyone who wants to watch, while promoting dance classes at Parisian schools throughout the city.

Tour of the Latin Quarter

The Latin Quarter is known for its student life, lively atmosphere, and fabulous bistros. It is home to a number of higher education establishments, such as the University of Paris and the Sorbonne University.

You can book a half-day guided tour of the Latin Quarter. These usually include visits to important tourist attractions such as the Pantheon, the Luxembourg Gardens, Shakespeare & Co, the Sorbonne, and much more.

Musée d'Orsay

If you are an art and painting lover or are interested in expanding your knowledge, a visit to the Musée d'Orsay is a must on your week-long trip to Paris. You can spend the afternoon of your second day admiring some of the most important works of Impressionism and early modern art. At the Orsay, you will find original frescoes by Matisse, Van Gogh, Claude Monet, and Edgar Degas.

• Opening hours: From 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Admission price: approximately €16
• Duration of visit: Allow between 2 and 4 hours.

Cruise on the Seine at dusk

End your second night in Paris with a cruise on the Seine aboard a splendid boat. At night, the city's most important tourist attractions offer a dramatic light show that can be enjoyed on a tour of the Seine; you can see the lights of the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and more. You can also book dinner on the Seine cruise and enjoy the show while savoring a delicious Parisian meal.

Enjoy an excursion to the Palace of Versailles

Versailles is a city located on the outskirts of Paris, known worldwide for its Palace of Versailles and fabulous gardens The trip from the French capital takes just one hour, so you can spend the rest of the day exploring the beauty of the Palace of Versailles and its surroundings.

The Palace of Versailles was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 and is one of the most popular attractions in Europe. It was built in 1623 and transformed and enlarged by Louis XIV. Until the fall of the monarchy during the French Revolution, the palace was the King's main residence.

Its richly decorated interiors in the purest Rococo style, its perfectly preserved structure despite the passing of time, and the majesty of its outdoor gardens covering an area of 2,000 acres are truly astonishing. A day trip to Versailles from Paris is the best way to get to know the Palace.

On day four of your seven-day itinerary in the French capital, you can spend the day exploring the Le Marais neighborhood, located in the city's 3rd and 4th arrondissements.

Discover Place de la Bastille

After having a coffee in one of the many establishments you'll find on your tour of Le Marais, I recommend taking a moment to visit one of the oldest squares in the city: Place de la Bastille.

For centuries, this place symbolized the power of the French monarchy and, for this reason, it was taken over by an armed mob of Parisians during the early days of the Revolution.

Discover the Place des Vosges and Victor Hugo's house

Place des Vosges is another of the oldest squares in Paris, as well as one of the most beautiful and a favorite of Parisians living in Le Marais.

Located just 5 minutes from Place de la Bastille, visitors stroll under the arches and paths and sunbathe in the gardens on spring days. The red brick shops, stores, and cafés contribute to the vitality of the place with their beautiful facades. Le Maison de Victor Hugo, located right next to the square, was converted into a museum after the writer's death in 1885.

• Opening hours: The Victor Hugo Museum is open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Admission price: the museum's permanent collection is free for all visitors. There is a charge for access to the temporary collections.
• Duration of the visit: one hour or less is sufficient to tour the different areas of the house.

Visit the Picasso Museum in Paris

The National Picasso Museum in Paris showcases the work of Spanish artist Pablo Picasso and houses his personal collection of sculptures. Today, it is also an important center for research on the life and work of the Spanish artist. A tour of the museum usually takes about 2 hours in total.

• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, admission is from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Admission price: adult tickets start at €40.
• Duration of the visit: approximately one hour for the indoor tour.

Half-day excursion to Giverny and Monet's House

Giverny is a small French town located 1.5 hours from Paris in picturesque Normandy. It was here that Monet and other 20th-century Impressionist artists set up their homes and art studios. Claude Monet's residence reflects his love of natural beauty, with a lush garden covered in purple irises beneath large shade trees.

• Opening hours: from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Admission price: Adult admission tickets start at €9.50.
• Duration of the visit: a tour from Paris will take at least 5 hours including the round trip.

Sacre Coeur

This jewel of French architecture is built in the Roman-Byzantine style. Standing imposingly on a hill in the Montmartre neighborhood in the 18th arrondissement, the basilica overlooks all of Paris from its privileged location.

Sacre Coeur is considered one of the most beautiful and iconic churches in the city, so I recommend taking the afternoon of your sixth day, after your return from Giverny, to explore Montmartre at your leisure. Its dome stands 83 meters high and can be accessed by climbing a staircase of 300 steps.

• Opening hours: the basilica is open to visitors from 6 a.m. Access to the dome is from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., with variations in certain months.
• Admission price: free access.
• Duration of visit: allow about 45 minutes to visit both the dome and the crypt of Sacré Coeur.

Dalí Museum in Paris

Just 5 minutes from Montmartre is the Dalí Museum or Dalí Space in Paris, a must-see for anyone who admires the work of this eccentric artist or is curious about his work. Some of his best pieces are found in this small museum, which can be explored in just 1.5 hours.

• Opening hours: from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Admission price: tickets start at €13 for adults.
• Duration of visit: it is a small museum, and you can see everything in about an hour or less.

Place du Tertre

Near the Dalí Museum is Place du Tertre, one of the most important meeting places in the 18th arrondissement. Parisians come here to shop, hang out, and have coffee with friends. If you want to experience a bit of authentic Parisian life with a much less touristy feel, you'll love this place!

In the past, this space served as a public area where artists and aspiring artists exhibited their work, so don't be surprised if you come across some real talent with great potential during your stroll.

• Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Admission: free, the square is completely open to the public.
• Duration of visit: you can spend as much time as you like; there are many activities to do and cafés to eat at.

Visit the Île de la Cité

On the morning of your sixth day, head to the 4th arrondissement of Paris and discover the Île de la Cité, a small island in the middle of the Seine where some of the most important examples of Gothic architecture in Paris are located:

• Notre Dame Cathedral: closed to the public since the fire in 2019, it can only be seen from the square
• La Sainte Chapelle: has the largest collection of 13th-century stained glass windows on the planet.
• The Conciergerie: a 14th-century palace later converted into a prison, where Marie Antoinette was held prisoner until her death by guillotine.

The tour to see the interiors will take you about 30 minutes. Admission starts at €11.50 and the Sainte Chapelle is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The tour of the interiors will take you about 30 minutes.

Spend the day at the Louvre

Getting to the Louvre from the Ile de la Cité takes a short 10-minute walk along Boulevard George Pompidou on the banks of the Seine. Considered one of the most famous museums in the world, it was once a palace and home to the royal family until Louis XIV moved to the Palace of Versailles.

One of the best ways to avoid the long lines at the Louvre is to buy your ticket in advance. This will give you more time to enjoy the Louvre's spectacular collection of works, which includes incredible sculptures such as the Venus de Milo and the sculpture of Artemis, famous paintings such as the Mona Lisa, the French Crown Jewels, an average of 2,000 textiles, and almost 3,000 pieces of furniture.

• Opening hours: from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Ticket price: admission is around €15 for adults.
• Duration of the visit: to see the main works, you should allow at least two hours.

Full-day tour of the Loire Castles

Award-winning vineyards, fairytale castles, breathtaking landscapes declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO... The Loire Valley is one of the most charming regions in all of France and a destination you shouldn't miss if you're spending several days in the French capital.

Every day, excursions depart from Paris, taking tourists and locals to the Valley to spend the day exploring the area and returning to the capital at nightfall. However, the itinerary can vary greatly depending on the excursion you choose. The most visited castles on an excursion to the Loire Valley are:

• Chenonceau (Château de Chenonceau)
• Cheverny Castle (Château de Cheverny)
• Chambord Castle (Château de Chambord)

Don't forget to wear comfortable walking shoes, dress for the weather, and charge your camera batteries. But above all, enjoy yourself!