Perfect 7-Day Paris Itinerary – Best Places to Visit, Day-Wise Plan, Tips & Costs (2025 Guide)
If you’ve been dreaming about Paris and wondering how many days are enough to really feel the soul of the city, let me tell you—7 days is the sweet spot. One entire week gives you time to explore the famous landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre but also wander through charming neighborhoods, sip coffee in hidden courtyards, enjoy evening river cruises, and even take a day trip to Versailles or Disneyland without rushing. This guide will walk you through a complete day-by-day plan, with real travel timings, food suggestions, safety tips, the best areas to stay, budget breakdowns, and answers to common questions every traveler asks before booking. Whether you are visiting Paris for the first time or returning to fall in love with the city all over again, consider this your complete travel partner.
Pre-Trip Planning for Paris
Planning well makes the trip peaceful and enjoyable, so before we jump into the day-wise itinerary, here are a few important things you should know. The best time to visit Paris is between March to June (spring) and September to November (autumn) because the weather is pleasant and crowds are moderate. Summer (July–August) is beautiful but crowded and expensive, while winter is magical with Christmas lights but cold and shorter daylight. Where to stay in Paris depends on your travel style—if you want to stay in the heart of the city and walk easily, choose Le Marais or Saint-Germain; if you want artistic vibes and hilltop views, choose Montmartre; if you like nightlife and modern cafés, choose Canal Saint-Martin; if you want luxury shops and grand boulevards, stay near Champs-Élysées. Paris is extremely easy to navigate using public transport, especially the Metro, which is fast and cheap. Buy a Navigo Easy Pass or Paris Visite Travel Card for unlimited rides. Book popular attractions in advance and always choose skip-the-line tickets for places like the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, and Versailles to save hours of waiting. Download useful apps such as CityMapper for navigation, Google Translate for communication, and Uber or Bolt for taxis.
Day-By-Day 7-Day Paris Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival + Eiffel Tower + Seine River Cruise
Welcome to Paris! Once you reach your hotel, take a little time to relax, refresh, and adjust to the time zone. When you’re ready, start your first evening with a visit to the Eiffel Tower, the most iconic symbol of Paris. Watching it shimmer after sunset is an unforgettable moment. You can go up to the second floor for beautiful panoramic views or book the summit access for the highest viewpoint. Right after the Eiffel Tower, walk to the nearby pier and enjoy a Seine River Cruise, which is one of the most relaxing experiences for your first night—floating past magical views of Notre-Dame, Musée d’Orsay, bridges glowing with golden lights, and the Eiffel Tower sparkling at the top of every hour. End the night at Champ de Mars, grab a crepe from a street cart, sit on the grass, and enjoy the Parisian vibe at its best.
Day 2: Louvre Museum + Tuileries Garden + Palais Royal + Seine Walk
Start your second day early because the Louvre Museum is huge and deserves time. It’s home to the world-famous Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Egyptian artifacts, and breathtaking Renaissance art. If you want to save time, enter through the less crowded Carrousel Entrance instead of the glass pyramid. After the museum, take a relaxing walk through the Tuileries Garden, a peaceful green space perfect for resting by the fountains. Continue your walk to Palais Royal, known for its black-and-white striped columns, a great place for photographs. End the day strolling along the Seine River, explore charming book stalls, enjoy a slow riverside evening, and have dinner around the Louvre area—there are many cozy cafés and bakeries nearby.
Day 3: Notre-Dame Cathedral + Sainte-Chapelle + Latin Quarter + Pantheon
Begin your morning with Notre-Dame Cathedral, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. Though the inside is under restoration, the exterior views and surrounding island atmosphere are incredible. Continue to Sainte-Chapelle, famous for having some of the most stunning stained-glass windows in the world. After that, walk to the Latin Quarter, one of the liveliest Parisian neighborhoods filled with cobblestone streets, bookstores, artists, cafés, and student energy. Visit the Pantheon, where great French personalities like Voltaire and Victor Hugo rest. This whole area is a perfect place to try French pastries, local crepes, or sit in a small café and watch street performances.
Day 4: Choose Your Day – Versailles Palace OR Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur
Today you have two great options depending on your preference. If you love history, art, palaces, and grand architecture, choose a day trip to Versailles. The Palace of Versailles is magnificent with its golden gates, Hall of Mirrors, royal apartments, and huge gardens with fountains and lakes. Plan at least half a day here and rent a bicycle or golf cart to explore the gardens comfortably.
If you prefer artistic vibes, choose Montmartre, the bohemian hilltop village famous for painters, cobbled lanes, and the stunning Sacré-Cœur Basilica with a beautiful view of Paris from the top. Explore charming corners like Place du Tertre where artists paint portraits, tiny cafés, vintage shops, and pretty staircases. Montmartre is one of the most photogenic places in Paris. End the day watching the sunset from the Sacré-Cœur steps.
Day 5: Musée d’Orsay + Champs-Élysées + Arc de Triomphe
Start day 5 with the Musée d’Orsay, an incredible art museum located inside a converted train station. It has one of the world’s best collections of Impressionist art, featuring Monet, Van Gogh, Renoir, and Degas. After finishing the museum, head to Champs-Élysées, the most famous shopping avenue in Paris. Walk all the way to the Arc de Triomphe and climb to the top for stunning city views and the best perspective of the Eiffel Tower from a distance. Evening here feels vibrant with street artists, luxury shops, and cafés where you can enjoy French desserts like macarons or hot chocolate.
Day 6: Le Marais + Canal Saint-Martin + Hidden Passages
On your sixth day, slow down a little and enjoy true local Parisian charm. Explore Le Marais, a trendy neighborhood full of boutique shops, old buildings, Jewish bakeries, rooftop gardens, and amazing street food spots like falafel. Then head to Canal Saint-Martin, a calm waterfront area perfect for relaxing moments, picnics, and coffee by the water. After that, discover Paris’ secret covered passages, hidden glass-roofed arcades from the 18th century filled with tiny shops and vintage beauty. You can also visit Mouzaïa Village, a peaceful residential neighborhood with colorful houses that feels like a secret village inside Paris.
Day 7: Modern Paris – La Défense OR Disneyland Paris
For your final day, choose between Modern Paris and a fun day at Disneyland. If you prefer architecture, business towers, giant sculptures, shopping malls, and futuristic designs, spend the day at La Défense, which feels completely different from historic Paris. However, if you’re traveling with kids or want a fun break, go to Disneyland Paris for a joyful experience full of rides, parades, characters, and fireworks. End the day by returning to the city center for a final dinner—try a traditional French meal with cheese, pastry, wine, or hot chocolate.
Paris Food & Dining Guide
Paris is heaven for food lovers, but you don’t need expensive restaurants to enjoy great meals. Try delicious street foods like crepes, baguettes, croissants, macarons, falafel, and French pastries. For cafés and bakeries, Rue Cler, Le Marais, and Saint-Germain are amazing choices. If you’re vegetarian or vegan, don’t worry—Paris has endless options, especially around Canal Saint-Martin and Montmartre. For a romantic dinner, choose a riverside café or a place with Eiffel Tower views. And never forget to try French desserts—they taste different than anywhere else in the world.
Paris Budget & Travel Cost
Paris can be as affordable or as expensive as you choose. On average, a comfortable 7-day trip costs:
Accommodation €70–€150 per night for budget/mid-range hotels, food around €20–€40 per day depending on where you eat, attractions €15–€30 each, and metro passes around €25 per week. Total estimated budget ranges from €850-€1,600 per person without flights. You can reduce costs by walking more, choosing hostels or Airbnb, cooking occasionally, and buying combo museum passes.
Safety Tips & Useful Apps
Paris is generally safe, but be alert around crowded tourist areas like Eiffel Tower, Metro stations, and Louvre because pickpocketing can happen. Keep your bag zipped, avoid expensive items on display, and stay aware. For easy travel, use apps like CityMapper for metro routes, Google Translate, Uber, Bolt, and Louvre or Eiffel Tower official apps for digital entry.
Packing List for Paris
Pack comfortable shoes because Paris involves a lot of walking. Carry layered clothing, a rain jacket, power adaptor, small umbrella, sling bag, water bottle, sunglasses, and printed or mobile copies of all tickets and reservations. Avoid carrying heavy luggage because hotels may not have large elevators.
FAQ – Answering Questions Most Travelers Ask
Is 7 days enough for Paris? Yes, one week is the perfect time to explore Paris comfortably without rushing and still enjoy hidden gems and a day trip.
How much money do I need for 7 days in Paris? Around €850–€1,600 depending on travel style.
What is the best month to visit Paris? March–June and September–November.
Should I buy the Paris Museum Pass? Yes, if you plan to visit multiple museums and want skip-the-line access.
Can I visit Paris without speaking French? Yes. Basic English works fine in most tourist areas