A 7 Day Parisian Holiday Itinerary for Solo, Couples, or Families

You will likely land in the early to mid-morning. Make your way to your chosen accommodation and rest up. For a first day afternoon activity, I would recommend a Paris City Tour and Seine River Cruise. This is about 3 hours, departing at various times in the afternoon and evening. This is a laid-back tour and a great way to get a feel for the layout of the city via a panoramic bus and a Seine River Cruise. For dinner, head to Le Tout-Paris for some beautiful Seine River views with gourmet French cuisine.

Head out on a Versailles Palace and Garden Tour with skip the line tickets. You will meet at a designated pick-up location. Grab your morning coffee and pastry on the way. The Palace of Versailles is a UNESCO World Heritage site and definitely one that you don't want to miss.

Explore the gorgeous Royal Gardens and famous palace rooms at your own pace. Grab some lunch at the Giraffe Restaurant, which is located near your tour endpoint with gourmet seafood and a terrace with Eiffel Tower views. After lunch, it's Eiffel Tower time. I would recommend purchasing an Eiffel Tower Tour with summit access during the 3:15pm entry time. I can arrange this for you! You will be able to climb the 674 steps to the tower's second floor. After, you will take the elevator up to the top for some remarkable views of Paris. When finished, I would highly encourage you to go sit in the Champs de Mars park and wait for the sun to set. I got some of my best Eiffel Tower photos at dusk sitting on a bench in this park. The Eiffel Tower is even more beautiful all lit up! For dinner, head to Au bon Accueil, which is a stylish bistro nearby with sidewalk tables and views of the Eiffel Tower.

Spend the morning relaxing and doing some shopping in the famous Champs-Élysées, a full mile of the most famous shopping in Paris. The avenue is filled with theaters, cute cafes and luxury shops. Treat yourself to a fancy lunch with stunning views of the Eiffel Tower and a tasting menu at L'Oiseau Blanc. Afterward, walk down to see the Arc de Triomphe in the nearby vicinity. In the late afternoon, make your way to the meeting point in Montmartre for a guided, small-group walking tour at 5:00pm (around 2 hours). You'll pass by the homes of famous artists such as Van Gogh and Picasso, Moulin Rouge, The Artists' Square, etc. You might get lucky and catch a beautiful sunset over the city. Afterward, enjoy a delicious French dinner at L'Arcane in Montmarte.

Head to the Louvre, the world's largest museum. You can choose to take the Complete Louvre Tour: Mona Lisa & Beyond with pre-reserved entrance tickets or explore the museum on your own. When in Paris, you can't miss the Mona Lisa and this enormous museum. For lunch, try the upscale French restaurant La Dame de Pic with their beautifully presented tasting menu. Another choice is Le Louvre Ripaille for a more casual bistro option. Both restaurants are within walking distance of the Louvre. For an afternoon activity, I would recommend checking out The Centre Pompideau, a modern art museum. As someone who is not traditionally a museum person, this one kept my attention and had some wonderful views of the city. Alternatively, you could take a bike tour of Paris or head to Rue du Commerce, another great shopping area with one-of-a-kind boutiques and affordable fashions (this is where the locals go). For dinner, head to Restaurant Kei for some delicious Japanese/French fusion and a tasting menu.

Take a morning tour of Pere Lachaise Cemetery, the Famous Graves Tour (10:00am). This is a hidden gem, and the resting place of many famous artists, musicians and writers. Afterwards, grab a casual lunch at Le Piston Pelican, an old-world bar with globally inspired bites near your tour endpoint. Spend some time relaxing in the afternoon or exploring at your own pace before your Private Classic French Cooking Class with a local expert (5:30pm). As one of the best food cities in the world, you can't leave Paris without trying a cooking class. On this tour, you'll learn how to prepare a classic French main dish and a traditional French dessert with the help of your local host.

On your final full day in Paris, I would recommend your choice of the following excursions: A Day in Champagne from Paris (wine tasting), Normandy D-Day Beaches & American Cemetery Day Trip (a good option for the history buffs with stories and historical facts about WWII) or a Loire Valley 3 Best Castles & Wine Tasting Small-Group Day Trip (a UNESCO listed region of central France). All are great options and a way to really maximize your time on location and see a bit more outside of Paris!

So long Paris! Grab a coffee and a pastry or croissant before making your way to the airport for your flight home.