You’ve booked your stay in Paris and you’re ready to spend a week living like a Parisian, exploring the very best of the City of Light. One of the world’s most alluring cities is right at your front doorstep with exquisite art, fascinating culture and that famous gastronomy to discover. There’s just one problem. It’s your very first visit to Paris and you don’t know whether to go à gauche or à droite. (That’s left or right in French – see, you’re learning already!)
To help you plan your perfect week in Paris, we’ve handpicked our favorite things to do, museums to visit and the very best tours. These are our Paris Perfect must see and tried and true experiences. We hope these suggestions and Paris travel tips will help you start organizing your itinerary, but feel free to swap around days and ideas to create your perfect Paris experience.
If you’d like more personalized assistance planning your itinerary to maximize your time in Paris, we invite you to read more about our Concierge Services or email Natalie at [email protected] to book any of the tours included in our Paris Itineraries.
After arriving in Paris and settling in, you’ll be eager to start living like a Parisian while discovering your neighborhood. There’s no better way to feel like a local than to enjoy a Guided Neighborhood Walk through the quartier where you’ll find out the very best shopping spots, hours for the local open-air markets, be introduced to the supermarkets, bus routes and even learn a little history along the way. Have fun putting together the first meal in Paris as you stop in the local cheese shop, are tempted by delicious aromas, look over the rows of French wines at the local supermarket and, best of all, choose dessert from the luscious displays at the local pâtisserie.
If you’re tired after a long flight, we suggest take a relaxing Seine River Cruise and enjoy watching the landmarks of Paris float by. You can choose between a sightseeing cruise, a daytime cruise with champagne, a romantic dinner cruise or many more. It’s a wonderful way to get your bearings and get excited about everything you’ll see in the week ahead!
Paris Perfect Tips & Ideas:
While exploring your new Paris neighborhood, find two bakeries closest to your apartment and have a croissant or baguette challenge to choose your favorite. This is a favorite with kids!
If you arrive in Paris early, simply leave your luggage in our office and enjoy a Seine River Cruise or Neighborhood Walk while waiting to check into your Paris Perfect vacation rental.
DAY 2: 2CV Classic Car Tour & Visiting the Eiffel Tower
Your first morning in Paris, it’s what you’ve been dreaming about. Start your day with café au lait and croissants in your apartment or stop by that cute corner café you spotted during your walk yesterday. Perhaps you’re feeling a little groggy after your travels, but we’ve got a cure for that!
There’s a fun and oh so French way to see Paris – while being driven around on a classic Citroën 2CV Tour! These iconic little cars are guided by masterful drivers who will show you the city on more than a dozen themed tours. Zip along the Champs-Élysées, take a twirl around the Arc de Triomphe, meander through a rabbit warren of tiny streets in the Marais and see the best of the Latin Quarter. These personal tours are a blast and allow you to stop for photo opts in places that bus tours only pass by.
You didn’t think we forgot about the Eiffel Tower, did you? It wouldn’t be a trip to Paris if you didn’t go up the Eiffel Tower. However, the lines can be daunting. We recommend you book a Skip the Line Sunset Eiffel Tower Tour to enjoy an awesome small group tour where you’ll learn about the history of this remarkable building and gain immediate access. Spend as long as you would like after the tour watching the sun set over Paris. Spots fill up quickly, so reserve yours in advance! Book your Eiffel Tower Skip the Line Tour here.
Paris Perfect Tips & Ideas:
Another fun way to see Paris is by bike. Strap on a helmet and let an expert guides lead you through the city on Paris Bike Tour. A fabulous daytime bike tour begins and ends at the Eiffel Tower and will take you past some of the most important attractions in Paris, including Les Invalides, the Louvre Museum, Tuileries Gardens and more. Burn the calories from that extra dessert and see Paris in a fun and unforgettable way. Book your Paris Bike Tour here.
DAY 3: Mastering the Louvre & Paris Shopping in Style
Today is the day you’re finally going to see the masterpieces of the Louvre Museum in person. While you can explore the cavernous museum and wander in search of the Mona Lisa, we might suggest you book a Skip the Line Louvre Museum Tour. Forget the long lines and spend time seeing the key works and most famous features of the Louvre on a guided tour. Book your Skip the Line Louvre Museum Tour here.
After your artistic morning it’s time for discovering another one of Paris’ treasures – shopping! Hit the elegant grand magasins Galeries Lafayette or Printemps for a bit of solo shopping or book a personalized Paris Shopping Tour. Let a local expert take you to emerging designer boutiques or perhaps vintage design hunting in the Marais. Whether it’s a personal shopper for a shopping tour, we can help you customize just the right shopping experience in Paris for you!
Paris Perfect Tips & Ideas:
If your tastes are more of the gastronomic variety, then you’ll want to make sure to experience a Paris Chocolate Tour to discover the finest chocolatiers, unique flavors and best addresses from a local expert.
DAY 4: French Cooking Lessons & Exploring the 7th Arrondissement
You’ve been in Paris for a few days and you’re already starting to feel like a Parisian. Now it’s time to learn how to cook like one! Enhance your time in Paris with French Cooking Lessons. Learn how to make delicious recipes using fresh seasonal ingredients, enjoy a market tour and cooking class, book private lessons or join a small group and then enjoy the meal with wine together after the class. Contact us and we’ll help you choose just the right cooking class in Paris!
After your class, stroll down the lovely rue Cler market street nearby. You might be inspired to prepare something in your Paris apartment after your cooking class! Why not stroll over to the beautiful little Musée Rodin to admire masterpieces by the artist in the gorgeous Hôtel Biron and dotted throughout the romantic gardens.
If you’re more of a war buff, visit Les Invalides where you can see Napoleon’s grand tomb and explore centuries of military might at the National Army Museum. The 7th arrondissement is also home to the Musée du Quai Branly, which showcases a remarkable collection of indigenous art from Africa, Oceania, Asia and the Americas in a modern building designed by French architect Jean Nouvel. Stop by the café for excellent views of the Eiffel Tower!
Paris Perfect Tips & Ideas:
If you’re staying in the 7th arrondissement and have already explored your neighborhood, you may enjoy exploring another popular area of Paris on a Marais Walking Tour. Or find a quaint corner café nearby and simply enjoy soaking up the Parisian atmosphere.
The gleaming white domes of Sacré Couer, the winding streets and artistic heritage of Montmartre continue to capture the romanticism of travelers. Climb the oft-photographed steps, stroll around Place du Tertre to see what modern day artists have on display and enjoy the stunning views over Paris from the steps of Sacré Couer. Discover it all on a Montmartre Walking Tour and then take a look behind the scenes at a very Parisian moment of daily life – the baguette! Step behind the scenes in a small Montmartre bakery with a small, select group to watch a demonstration by a master baker on making the perfect baguette. You’ll feel a little more prepared to do your daily bread shopping in Paris after this remarkable experience!
While the Louvre may get most of the attention, there’s another museum you simply must see in Paris – the Musée d’Orsay. Set in a beautifully restored 19th-century train station, this museum is dedicated to French art from 1848-1915. While that might not sound exciting at first, what we’re talking about here is the finest collection of Impressionist art and masterpieces by great artists such as Monet, Renoir and Van Gogh to name just a few. Lines can go on for ages, but you can skip right past those and enjoy a tour of the highlights of the collection by booking your Skip the Line Musée d’Orsay tour here.
End your day the French way, with a delicious Wine Tasting perfect for all appreciation levels. Sit back and relax as you experience wines from the most famous regions in France.
Paris Perfect Tips & Ideas:
If you chose not to enjoy a sightseeing cruise on the Seine during your first days in Paris, then we highly recommend booking a romantic Seine Dinner Cruise. It’s a magical—and delicious—way to experience the City of Light!
DAY 6: Get the VIP Treatment at Versailles
While there’s enough to see in Paris to keep you busy, there’s one sight so splendid that it’s well worth spending a day outside of Paris. One of the most magnificent buildings in the world, the Palace of Versailles and its carefully curated gardens were once the seat of French royal power. Expect to find crowds, which is why we recommend the VIP Behind-the-Scenes Tour of Versailles. You’ll skip the lines and enjoy small group exclusive access to some of the most restricted parts of the Palace. Spend the morning visiting the stunning gardens, savor lunch (included) at a local restaurant that uses ingredients grown in the Sun King’s original garden. In the afternoon experience the glory of Versailles on your guided tour with rare visits to the King and Queen’s private residences, Louis XVI’s library, the royal dining hall, opera house, and private game room. This exclusive tour has limited spots, so reserve early! Book your VIP Versailles Tour here.
Paris Perfect Tips & Ideas:
If you enjoy bike rides then a Versailles Bike Tour is a marvelous way to experience the grandeur of the royal palace. Shop at a gorgeous market, picnic along the Grand Canal on the Versailles grounds before skipping the line for direct access to the palace. Book your Versailles Bike Tour here.
DAY 7: Notre Dame & The Latin Quarter
Spend your last day in Paris discovering some of the city’s most iconic spots. The Ile de la Cité is the oldest part of Paris and one of its most charming. If you’re interested in climbing the famous Notre Dame Cathedral Towers to say “Bonjour” to the gargoyles, then we recommend starting your day with the Skip the Line Notre Dame Towers and Saint Chapelle Tour. This small group walking tour covers the Ile de la Cité where you’ll learn about the history of Paris, marvel at the stained glass in Sainte Chapelle—called the Jewel Box of Paris—and then enjoy rare skip the line access to climb the Towers of Notre Dame Cathedral. The lines at both sites can be hours, but you’ll breeze right past them on this popular tour. Book your Skip the Line Notre Dame and Sainte Chapelle Tour here.
In the afternoon, cross the Seine to the Latin Quarter to visit the tiny but colorful Shakespeare & Company English language bookstore. Then wander through the cobblestone streets, stop in a little café for lunch or to soak up the Parisian atmosphere. If you’re interested in learning more about this historic neighborhood, the Latin Quarter Walking Tour covers everything from Roman ruins to France’s great intellectuals. Book your Latin Quarter Walking Tour here. It’s a popular tour, so if you miss your chance to reserve a spot just contact us and we’ll be happy to share more excellent Latin Quarter walking tours.
Continue your leisurely walk through the Latin Quarter to the beautiful Luxembourg Gardens in the 6th arrondissement. Stroll along the tree-lined pathways, sail a boat in the central fountain and find a perfect spot outdoors to start contemplating your next trip to Paris!
Paris Perfect Tips & Ideas:
Madelyn, Paris Perfect founder and connoisseur of all things sweet, suggests not missing a chance to visit her favorite ice cream store in the world: Berthillon. Located on picturesque Ile Saint-Louis, you’ll spot it from afar with its lines. Just note that it’s closed on Monday and Tuesday, but is open the rest of the week.
Create Your Own Perfect Week in Paris!
We hope these tour suggestions will help you plan your holiday in Paris. These are some of our favorite Paris experiences, but there are so many more to choose from depending on your interests, length of your visit and if it’s your first trip to Paris or you’re a seasoned Paris traveler. Perhaps you’d like to swap out a day above with a tour to Normandy to see the D-Day beaches or explore the wine country of Champagne or Burgundy or enjoy an artistic outing to Monet’s home and gardens at Giverny. If you’d like to book any of the tours described in this itinerary to find out how we can help you craft the perfect Paris holiday, email Natalie at [email protected].
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