One Week in Paris: Classic Highlights - Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Montmartre & Seine Cruise

Skip the ticket lines and head straight up the Eiffel Tower with a guide who keeps you oriented as Paris opens up below. Aim for early morning or late evening for softer light and fewer crowds, bring a light layer for cooler summit winds, and use your guide’s tips to spot landmarks so you know where to go later in the trip.

Cross to the Trocadéro Gardens for that classic full‑frame Eiffel Tower shot across the Seine. Arrive at sunrise for near‑empty steps, or at blue hour when the tower sparkles on the hour; use the fountains and balustrades to frame your photos and keep an eye on your bag in the busiest spots.

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.

Glide past the Louvre, Notre‑Dame and the Eiffel Tower on a one‑hour evening cruise from the Pont Neuf area. Book ahead for a sunset or full‑dark departure, sit on the open deck if the weather allows, and bring a light jacket—the breeze on the river feels cooler than on the quays.

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.

Pause on the Parvis Notre‑Dame to study the cathedral’s restored façade, then wander the surrounding Île de la Cité square and riverside viewpoints. Check current restoration updates before you go, circle behind the apse for quieter photo spots, and combine this stop with a short loop over the neighboring bridges.

Step into Shakespeare and Company, Paris’s iconic English‑language bookstore facing the Seine and Notre‑Dame. Browse slowly through the creaking upstairs rooms, keep voices low for the readers tucked into corners, and time your visit for just after opening or late evening to avoid the biggest queues at the door.

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.

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.

Duck into the Musée de Montmartre to trace the hill’s bohemian past, from cabarets to Renoir. Leave time to sit in the small gardens overlooking the city and vineyards, and use this stop as a calm break from the crowds around Sacré‑Cœur and Place du Tertre.

Spend the night at La Nouvelle Eve in Pigalle, an intimate Belle Époque–style cabaret with feathers, sequins and live singers. Book tickets in advance for better seating, arrive 30 minutes early to settle in with a drink, and check the dress code so you’re comfortably polished without overpacking.

Explore Impressionist and Post‑Impressionist icons inside the former Gare d’Orsay, a Beaux‑Arts train station turned museum. Start on the upper floors for the big names and clock‑window views over the Seine, then work your way down; pre‑book tickets and choose early morning or late afternoon for a calmer visit.

Glide past the Louvre, Notre‑Dame and the Eiffel Tower on a one‑hour evening cruise from the Pont Neuf area. Book ahead for a sunset or full‑dark departure, sit on the open deck if the weather allows, and bring a light jacket—the breeze on the river feels cooler than on the quays.

Climb the Arc de Triomphe for 360° views over the Champs‑Élysées and the city’s radiating boulevards. Time your visit for sunset or blue hour for moody photos, use the underground passage to reach the base safely, and pause at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to catch the eternal flame before heading up.

Take a guided walk through the Palais Garnier, from the grand marble staircase and gilded foyers to the chandeliered auditorium. Book a timed tour to avoid waiting in line, check if the stage is open for viewing that day, and look up to spot Chagall’s painted ceiling before you leave.

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.

Spend an evening at Olympia Bruno Coquatrix, the legendary red‑seated concert hall that has hosted everyone from Edith Piaf to modern headliners. Book tickets as soon as dates open, arrive early to soak up the marquee and crowd energy on Boulevard des Capucines, and check your seat view online if you’re picky about angles.

Join a skip‑the‑line guided tour of the Palace of Versailles, including the Hall of Mirrors, Royal Chapel (when accessible) and State Apartments. Travel early to beat the biggest bus crowds, use your guide’s context to make sense of the royal excess, and leave time after the tour to wander the formal gardens at your own pace.

Capture a professional photo session around Bastille, mixing the modern Opéra Bastille, lively cafés and side streets. Schedule for golden hour if possible, bring one extra layer or accessory to switch up looks, and ask your photographer to finish near a terrace so you can toast the day afterward.

Cross into Place des Vosges, Le Marais’s perfectly symmetrical square lined with brick mansions and arcades. Sit on the lawns if the weather’s good, wander under the arches to spot galleries and cafés, and duck into the small courtyards to see how quiet central Paris can get.

Spend a few hours roaming Le Marais, ducking between independent boutiques, concept stores and small galleries. Work in a loop via Rue des Francs‑Bourgeois and Rue Vieille du Temple to cover a lot on foot, and keep a mental cap on suitcase space so you only bring home pieces you really love.

Use a timed ticket to slip into the Centre Pompidou, starting on the top floors for wide city views and big‑name modern works before walking down through the galleries. Focus on one or two eras so you don’t burn out, and leave a few minutes at the end to photograph the colourful pipes and outdoor escalators from the plaza.

Head to Les Halles, central Paris’s big shopping hub, to tick off fashion basics, sportswear and high‑street brands in one go. Use the underground mall for quick hits in bad weather, then pop back up to street level around the Saint‑Eustache church for cafés and people‑watching breaks between stores.