7-Day Paris Itinerary: City Highlights & Day Trips to Versailles, Giverny & Mont‑Saint‑Michel

Drift through Montmartre’s cobbled lanes from the painters’ square at Place du Tertre to quieter backstreets where Toulouse‑Lautrec and Picasso lived and worked. Start near Sacré‑Cœur so most of your walk is downhill, wear good shoes for steps and uneven stones, and pause for a café crème or crêpe on Rue Norvins or Rue des Saules between photo stops.

Step into Sacré‑Cœur’s bright white basilica, then circle the hilltop terrace for one of the widest open views over Paris. Come just after opening or around sunset for softer light and fewer crowds, bring a scarf or shawl to cover shoulders if needed, and consider the paid dome climb for a quieter 360° lookout above the city noise.

Pause at the Moulin Rouge on Boulevard de Clichy to photograph its red windmill façade and neon lights. Swing by in the evening if you want the full cabaret glow without committing to a show, and keep an eye on your belongings in the busy Pigalle crossroads while you set up your shot.

Walk the Seine riverfront to frame Notre‑Dame from the bridges and quays, then browse the bouquinistes’ green stalls near Pont Saint‑Michel. Use this loop for relaxed photos of the cathedral’s façade and flying buttresses, and take a few minutes to flip through vintage posters and well‑worn paperbacks along the way.

Glide along the Seine at dusk to watch the Eiffel Tower, Musée d'Orsay and Île de la Cité switch on their lights from the water. Book a timed departure around sunset, sit on the open deck for the clearest photos, and bring a light layer—breezes on the river feel cooler than the temperature suggests.

Cut through the Louvre efficiently with a guide who links Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Winged Victory and other icons into one clear storyline. Use the tour to learn shortcuts between wings, note your favorite sections to revisit later, and focus on a handful of masterpieces instead of trying to see the entire museum in one go.

Cross the Tuileries on its wide gravel paths between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde, pausing at fountains, statues and long sightlines. Claim one of the green chairs around the basins for a short rest, then use the garden’s central axis for quick, symmetrical photos toward the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre and the Obelisk of Luxor.

Climb into Sainte‑Chapelle’s upper chapel and let your eyes adjust before circling the 15‑meter walls of stained glass. Book a timed ticket to shorten security waits, aim for late morning or early afternoon when the sun lights up the panels, and do a full lap close to the windows to spot tiny narrative details in the glass.

Explore La Conciergerie, the former royal palace turned Revolutionary prison on the Île de la Cité, walking through vaulted Gothic halls that once housed law courts and cells. Pair your visit with Sainte‑Chapelle next door to save walking time, and use the exhibits on Marie Antoinette to anchor dates and events from the French Revolution in your mind.

Spend the evening in a Saint‑Germain wine bar tasting a curated flight of French wines paired with small plates. Use the sommelier’s tips to decode wine labels and regions, and note your favorites so you can spot them again on Parisian wine lists or in shops before you leave.

Join a pre‑booked guided tour of the Palace of Versailles to access the Hall of Mirrors and Royal Apartments with less waiting. Let the guide handle the route through the crowds, focus on standout rooms and anecdotes, and note spots you’d like to revisit later in the gardens or on your own.

Stroll Versailles’ formal terraces and tree‑lined paths down toward the Grand Canal, pausing at fountains and side groves. Check the schedule for musical fountain days if you enjoy Baroque soundtracks, and consider renting a small rowboat on the canal for a different angle on the palace façade.

Visit Claude Monet’s house in Giverny with a guide, wandering through the flower gardens, water‑lily ponds and the Japanese bridge you’ve seen in his paintings. Book tickets ahead for popular spring and summer slots, and leave extra time after the tour to sit by the pond or revisit favorite viewpoints with your camera.

Explore the Musée des Impressionnismes in Giverny to see rotating exhibitions on Impressionist painters and Monet’s influence in the region. Combine it with a walk through the village for context on the landscapes that inspired so many canvases.

Visit the Eiffel Tower with pre‑booked access to the summit or second floor and swap long lines for extra time in the views. Arrive 15–20 minutes before your time slot for security, bring a light layer for the wind at the top, and keep your camera ready as the elevators open straight onto the panorama over Paris.

Walk the length of the Champ de Mars with the Eiffel Tower rising above you, stopping at different points on the lawns and paths for varied perspectives. Aim for late afternoon into sunset for flattering light, stick to the park edges if you prefer fewer vendors, and pack a simple picnic to enjoy while the tower lights up and sparkles after dark.

Visit the Musée de l’Armée at Les Invalides, home to Napoleon’s Tomb and one of France’s most important military collections. Start with the golden‑domed Dôme des Invalides, then move through centuries of armor, uniforms and maps, using the museum to give context to battles you’ve heard about in French history.

Join an afternoon pastry class in the Marais to learn croissant, éclair or tart techniques with a local chef. Work through each step by hand, ask all your kitchen questions, and leave with recipes plus confidence to recreate the flavors back home.

Spend the evening in a Saint‑Germain wine bar tasting a curated flight of French wines paired with small plates. Use the sommelier’s tips to decode wine labels and regions, and note your favorites so you can spot them again on Parisian wine lists or in shops before you leave.

Follow a guide through the abbey and cloisters of Mont‑Saint‑Michel to understand how the island evolved from medieval pilgrimage site to symbol of Normandy. Check tide times before you go—the approach to the mount changes mood dramatically with high or low water—and bring a light jacket for the windy ramparts.

Walk across Mont‑Saint‑Michel’s tidal flats with a certified guide who knows the currents and quicksand spots. Go barefoot or wear shoes you don’t mind getting muddy, follow safety instructions closely, and keep your camera ready—the changing light over the bay is part of the experience.

Beat the crowds with a morning guided visit to the Musée d’Orsay, focusing on Monet, Degas, Van Gogh and the main Impressionist rooms. Let the guide’s stories orient you in the former railway station, then stay on after the tour to revisit favorite works or step onto the upper‑level terraces for views over the Seine and the Louvre.

Walk up the Champs‑Élysées for a mix of flagship stores, cafés and classic Parisian vistas, then climb the Arc de Triomphe’s terrace for a 360° view over the city. Time your visit for late afternoon so you can watch the lights come on along the avenue and see the Eiffel Tower from above.

Step inside the neoclassical Madeleine Church, ringed with Corinthian columns between major boulevards and shopping streets. Take a few minutes in the calm interior—if you’re lucky, during an organ rehearsal—and then combine the stop with a walk toward Boulevard Haussmann or Rue Saint‑Honoré for department stores and boutiques.