Perfect Paris itinerary & the Heart of France-
Prepare to be swept away as you embark on a journey through the heart of France. This itinerary takes you to top Parisian attractions, and fairy-tale castles in the Loire Valley. Visit Versailles, and step into the living canvas of Giverny, where Monet’s garden invites you to wander through the brushstrokes of artistic enchantment. .
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Overview of the Itinerary-
Day 1: Arrive, Relax, Eiffel Tower
Day 2: Montmartre, Covered Passages of Paris, Sainte Chapelle
Day 3: Tour two Chateau’s in the Loire Valley
Day 4: Bike Tour, lunch in front of the Eiffel Tower, Rodin Museum, Eiffel Tower
Day 5: Half-day tour to Giverny to see Claude Monet’s home & garden, Musee d'Orsay
Day 6: Catacombs of Paris, picnic in Luxembourg Gardens, Pantheon, Latin Quarter
Day 7: Versailles
Day 8: Louvre, Champs Elysees, Arc De Triomphe, Seine River Cruise
Day 9: Depart
Itinerary🇫🇷
Day 1:
•Arrive in Paris
•We stayed in an Airbnb that wasn't too far from the Eiffel Tower. We slept for a few hours then walked to the Eiffel Tower and spent time oohing & aahing, then saw the Statue of Liberty, Pont de Grenelle.
Sacre-Coeur
Day 2:
•Montmartre- We started our morning in one of our favorite neighborhoods in Paris, Montmartre! Try to get an early start so you can beat the crowds. The Basicila of the Sacred Heart, Sacre-Coeur is the most popular attraction in Montmartre. It’s located at the summit of Montmartre, the highest point of Paris. Take the metro to Anvers then it’s a quick walk to Sacre-Coeur. If you don’t want to climb the steps take the funicular (use your metro ticket for the funicular). The inside of the church is unique, but the view is easily the best part! When you arrive, head to the left of the entrance and purchase a ticket for six euros to access 300 steps that lead to the best view of Paris. A walking tour of Montmartre is the best way to see the historic neighborhood. Montmartre is such an intimate corner of Paris, rich in history, and more than a few surprises. We loved our walking tour we learned so much and saw the most important sites.
Click here for a Montmartre walking tour:
•Square Marcel Bleustein-Blanchet- Of all the different places to catch a glimpse of the Sacre-Coeur in Paris, the pretty square of Marcel Bleustein-Blanchet may be the best. It's behind the church, away from the crowds of Place du Tertre and Sacre Coeur.
Place du Tertre
•Place du Tertre- I think this is the most charming square in all of Montmartre. It truly embodies the spirit of this neighborhood…We saw artists painting and selling their artwork. They have plenty of open-air restaurants with seating outside.
Montmartre
•Bateau Lavoir- Don’t miss Bateau Lavoir (3 Rue de Ravignan). For years, this building was a run-down residence and studio for artists like Picasso, Modigliani, Renoir, and Andre Derain.
•La Maison Rose- One of the prettiest pink cafes in Paris.
•Wall of Love- located in Jehan Rictus Garden Square in Montmartre, Paris. This wall has the word "love" written 311 times in 250 different languages.
•Cafe des Deux Moulins- became famous after it starred in the 2001 award-winning Movie Amelie, you can even order a creme brulee d’Amelie.
•Moulin Rouge- 82 Boulevard de Clichy. The Moulin Rouge is a world-famous cabaret. It's located right in Montmartre at the bottom of the hill from Sacre Coeur. There are shows every day, but they fill up so book in advance.
Covered Passages
•It will take about 20 minutes to walk from Montmartre to the Covered Passages of Paris. It is a beautiful walk with a gradual descent. The covered Passages of Paris date back to the 18th and 19th centuries. We loved exploring the different passageways in the Grand Boulevards district. We visited: Passage Jouffroy, Passage Verdeau & Passage des Panoramas.
The Bouquinistes of Paris
•As you walk towards the Seine River you’ll see The Bouquinistes of Paris (booksellers of Paris). We discovered so much by walking in Paris. It was our favorite way to experience what Paris has to offer!
•Sainte-Chapelle- Considered to be among the greatest Gothic masterpieces. The Chapel’s construction took only seven years to complete. The Shrine is famous for housing 13th-century stained glass. Children under 18 are free. Get tickets in advance here. Open until 5 p.m.
Chateau de Chambord
Day 3:
We took the Fairytale Loire Castles Tour from Paris and visited Chateau de Chambord & Chateau de Chenonceau.
Chateau de Chambord is one of the most extravagant castles in the Loire Valley. Chambord was a hunting lodge for King Francis I and was only used for 7 weeks total. There are over 400 rooms, 77 staircases, 280 fireplaces. It’s believed that the double spiral staircase was designed by Leonardo da Vinci. One of the most unique features is the walkways and terraces on the top floors of the castle.
Blois
After visiting Chateau de Chambord we drove past Mick Jaggers Château😎 then had lunch in a town called Blois on the Loire River. Blois is the gateway to the chateaux in the region, a picturesque small city with cobblestone streets, half-timbered homes, a magnificent castle, and an impressive Gothic Cathedral.
Chateau de Chenonceau
Chateau de Chenonceau is one of the most beautiful and best-preserved castles in the Loire Valley. It is famous because it was owned and lived in primarily by women. Chateau de Chenonceau was purchased in 1913 by Henri Menier, whose family still owns it today. This is the second most visited castle in France, after Versailles.
Chateau de Chenonceau
We were impressed with the incredible architecture of these chateaus and yes, we felt like we were in a fairytale✨🧚🏻♀️✨for the day!
Buy your Fairytale Loire Castles Tour from Paris here:
Rue Daguerre- Our tour was dropped off near the catacombs so we had dinner on Rue Daguerre. This is a lively market street with lots of cafes. We had the best lasagna and really the best Italian food we’ve ever had.
Bike Tour
Day 4:
Bike Tour- We started our day with a bike tour around Paris. We stopped at these top landmarks: Napoleon’s Tomb, Les Invalides, the Eiffel Tower, and the Louvre Museum. We cycled along the Seine River and saw the Grand Palais and the Orsay Museum. We also stopped at the Tuileries Gardens. We loved the history and the scenery was amazing!
Reserve your bike tour here: Paris Sightseeing Guided Bike Tour Like a Parisian with a Local Guide.
•After the tour our guide directed us to one of his favorite cafes. We got our food to go and had lunch in front of the Eiffel Tower.
•Rodin Museum- Rodin is considered the father of modern sculpture. I was excited to see two of his most famous sculptures at the Rodin Museum, The Kiss, and The Thinker. The museum is housed in the 18th-century Hotel Biron, a mansion where Rodin created some of his greatest work. This museum is open Tuesday-Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
•Eiffel Tower- You can’t go to Paris and not visit the Eiffel Tower! It’s one of the most iconic landmarks in the world. You’ll need to buy your tickets in advance. I recommend buying them on the official site. This is the official site. Tickets go on sale 60 days prior to your visit at midnight and they sell out quickly. We bought the Second Floor Ticket, but you can also buy a ticket to the Summit. I’ve done this before and both are great options. From the second floor, you get great views of the city and get to look up towards the top of the Eiffel Tower. We visited the Eiffel Tower at night. I wanted to be there when it sparkled… The Eiffel Tower sparkles for 5 minutes every hour on the hour. It was the perfect way to end an amazing day in Paris!
The best place to buy tickets if they are sold out on the official site is a third-party booking site:
Guided Tour of the Eiffel Tower Summit or Second Floor Access
Claude Monet’s Home & Garden
Day 5:
•Awe… Giverny! 💚 We took the Half-day trip to Giverny from Paris. Visiting Giverny felt like we were transported into an Impressionist painting. It was amazing to see Claude Monet’s garden… the inspiration for his paintings. We visited the home he lived in for the last 40 years of his life saw his famous water lilies and visited his grave.
Musee d’ Orsay
•Musee d’Orsay- When we arrived back in Paris we went to Musee d’Orsay and saw some of Monet’s paintings including Water Lilies. The Musee d’Orsay is one of Paris’ true treasures. The Museum is housed in a beautiful converted Beaux-Arts railway station. There are thousands of famous paintings and sculptures that are so important and beautiful. We LOVED this museum, the building is as incredible as the art!
Open every day except Mondays, from 9:30 to 6 p.m. Musee d’Orsay is free if you are under the age of 18. During your visit enjoy one of the dining areas. Their tea time is 2:45-5:30.
Catacombs of Paris
Day 6:
•Start your morning with a unique & spooky experience at the Catacombs of Paris. The Catacombs are a mile-long underground necropolis with more than 6 million artfully arranged skeletons. Be sure to get the audio guide, the history is fascinating. This is one of the top tourist attractions in Paris, you’ll need to get reservations in advance. The Catacombs are closed on Mondays.
Buy your skip-the-ticket-line Catacombs Ticket & Audio Guide here.
Luxembourg Gardens
•Luxembourg Gardens- Next walk to the Luxembourg Gardens (20 min walk or take the metro from Denfert-Rochereau to Luxembourg). Grab food for a picnic on the way and spend time relaxing and enjoying the charming gardens. The centerpiece of the gardens is a real palace. Luxembourg Gardens and the palace date back to 1612. The palace is now used by the French Senate. You will find a small-scale replica of the American Statue of Liberty (one of six in Paris).
Luxembourg Gardens
•Pantheon- Visit the Pantheon to see the magnificent architecture, art, crypt, pendulum, and views. Construction started in 1758 as a church dedicated to Saint Genevieve, Paris’ patron saint. The Pantheon went back and forth between being a church and a temple. Don’t forget to spend time in the crypt. You can also climb up 206 steps to the top of the dome for breathtaking views of Paris… you will need to pay an extra 3.50 Euros to see the views.
•Shakespeare & Company Bookstore- This is one of the most famous bookstores in the world. It opened in 1951 and is located across from Notre Dame. We found the resident cat Agatha, and we both fell in love.🐾 When you purchase a book they’ll stamp it, the perfect souvenir for a book lover! This was one of Charlotte’s favorite stops. Just know it can get crowded.
•Notre Dame Cathedral- Make a quick stop to appreciate the intricate artwork and details of this gorgeous Cathedral. Due to a fire in 2019, the interior of Notre Dame is closed temporarily.
•Spend time wandering in the Latin Quarter
•We went to Creperie for dinner and had crepes. .
•We went across the street for gelato & macaroons from Amorino… so good!
Versailles Hall Of Mirrors
Day 7:
•Versailles- Versailles was built as a hunting lodge in 1623 by Louis XIII. It has 2,300 rooms. The most famous room is the Hall Of Mirrors, It has 357 mirrors. Venetian artists were lured to France to make mirrors. After the mirror-making secrets were revealed, The Venetians ordered the assassination of the mirror-makers. Versailles was turned into a museum in the 1930’s. Versailles is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Take the RER Line C to the Versailles Rive Gauche stop. From there, it is a short 10-minute walk to the palace. We made our Versailles reservation for 10:00 a.m. Plan to come on a weekday and arrive early to avoid the crowds.
Versailles Gardens
•Don't miss the Gardens, they’re free unless there is a special event. They are massive, consider renting a bike or golf cart.
•You can also rent a rowboat in the Grand Canal.
•We had lunch at a cafe along the canal.
Grand Trianon
•Next we walked to Grand Trianon which is a small residence near the main palace. This was commissioned by Louis XIV in 1670 to get away from life in the court and pursue his affair with Madame De Montespan.
Marie-Antoinette’s Hamlet
•From here we walked to Petit Trianon… Queen Marie Antoinette’s home. The gardens surrounding Petit Trianon were amazing! Charlotte’s favorite part of Versailles was Marie Antoinette's Hamlet. She was in Hamlet Heaven and so was I. 🥰
•Versailles had a musical fountains show the day we visited. You will need to buy tickets to see it.
•Not too far from Versaille is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Paris Temple. They have a small visitor center near the Temple. If you go don’t miss seeing the Christus statue outside.
Angelina Paris
Day 8:
•Brunch at Angelina Paris- Charlotte's French teacher lived in Paris and recommended the hot chocolate here… We loved it! A vacation to Paris isn’t complete without a trip to Angelina’s, it’s such a lovely cafe. Their hot chocolate was delicious. It was rich and sweet, but surprisingly not too much. And the chocolate croissants were so good! We had a reservation at 10:00 a.m.
•Louvre- The Louvre is across the street from Angelina’s. We made reservations for noon. Besides seeing amazing paintings (Mona Lisa), we learned the Louvre was once a fortress. Thanks to archaeological excavations in the mid-1980s visitors can now explore the ruins of the castle that existed from 1190 AD until the early 16th century. The Louvre is open 9-6 Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday & Sunday. Friday: 9-9:45. It’s closed on Tuesdays. Free for those under 18, but time-slot bookings are needed, including for free-admission visitors.
Louvre skip-the-line tickets: Official site.
•Champs Elysees- This is one of my favorite streets in Paris for people-watching, window shopping, and delicious French macarons. I recommend starting at the Palace de la Concorde and ending at the Arc de Triomphe. Take time to window shop (or shop). During your stroll, stop by Laduree for a box of macarons.
•Arc De Triomphe- At the end of Champs-Elysées, you'll find the Arc De Triomphe. It was commissioned in 1806 by Napoleon to honor those who fought and died during the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars. You can take an underground pedestrian tunnel to get to the base of the Arc de Triomphe. It's on the Avenue de la Grande Armee side of the circle. You can access this tunnel from the Wagram exit of the Metro. Once you are in the tunnel, you will see a line forming. This is to pay to go to the top of the Arc de Triomphe. For eight euros, you can climb to the top and see a gorgeous view of Paris down the Champs-Elysées and the Eiffel Tower.
•We took a River Seine Cruise at 8:00 p.m. To our surprise, we saw Sarah Jessica Parker and Mr. Big filming the Sex and the City movie. They leaned over the bridge and waved to us. It was the perfect ending to a perfect week in France! So grateful to spend it with Charlotte!❤️
Get your River Seine Cruise tickets here.
Day 9: Flight home
France Travel Tips:
Skip long lines by getting tickets in advance for the Eiffel Tower, Catacombs, museums, and tours. Museums & catacombs are free if you are under 18.🙌 Make restaurant reservations in advance.
Apps:
•Paris Metro- Couldn’t have survived the metros without this app. It showed me the closest metro stations and helped me find the fastest route from A to B. Save your routes to my favourites and I was able to reverse the direction when I needed to. Make sure to screenshot your route in case you lose service.
•Google Maps- This is my favorite app when I’m walking.
•Flush App- Finding a bathroom in Paris can be challenging. This app will give you all nearby options.
•Uber- Uber works in Paris and is one of the most popular ride-share apps used by tourists and locals.
•Translation Apps- I had one but never used it. Lots of people speak a little English so I was able to get by. The French people were so friendly and helpful if I ever had a question or needed help… I think they enjoyed practising their English.
•Rome2Rio- It will help you figure out your options to get between two points, with an estimated price and time for each option. One of my favorite apps!
Transportation to Paris from CDG airport:
We took the train from the airport to our Airbnb
•It costs $20.00 for two people
•It took about 15-20 minutes to walk to the train from customs.
•Two sections of our route were closed and you’ll need to carry your bags up and downstairs when you change lines. Take Uber!
•We took Uber from our Airbnb back to CDG airport and it cost about $60.00 dollars.
