7 Days in Paris with Day Trips to Versailles, Giverny and Reims

Get ready for a week that mixes the big Paris icons with three very different escapes: the gilded halls of Versailles, Monet’s flower-filled garden in Giverny and the cathedral and Champagne cellars of Reims. This plan suits first-timers who want the classics without rushing, and returning visitors who finally want to get out of the city for a day or three.

The pace is relaxed but joyfully full. Paris days are grouped by neighbourhood so you walk more and ride less, and each day trip gets a whole day. We’d suggest starting on a Monday: the order below then dodges every major closing day, and a single weekly transport pass covers your whole stay.

At a glance

Day	Area	Highlights
1 (Mon)	Île de la Cité, Latin Quarter	Notre-Dame, Sainte-Chapelle, Seine walk
2 (Tue)	Versailles	Palace, Hall of Mirrors, Trianon, gardens
3 (Wed)	Louvre, Tuileries	Louvre, Tuileries Garden, Orangerie
4 (Thu)	Eiffel Tower, 7th arrondissement	Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars, Orsay late opening
5 (Fri)	Giverny (Normandy)	Monet’s house and gardens
6 (Sat)	Reims (Champagne)	Cathedral tower tour, Champagne cellars
7 (Sun)	Montmartre, Le Marais	Sacré-Cœur, Place des Vosges, farewell dinner

Day 1: Islands, Gothic glass and the Latin Quarter

Morning

Get ready to fall for Paris! Start where the city began, on the Île de la Cité. Visit Notre-Dame de Paris first, ideally early before the crowds build. Check opening times and any time-slot reservation on the official site, notredamedeparis.fr.

From the cathedral it is a short walk across the island to Sainte-Chapelle, famous for its walls of stained glass. Book a timed ticket on the official Sainte-Chapelle site and check the current price there. Those soaring windows are worth every minute.

Afternoon

Cross the little bridge to the Île Saint-Louis for a slow wander, then head over to the Left Bank and lose yourself in the Latin Quarter: bookshops, narrow lanes and student cafés. Continue south on foot to the Luxembourg Garden for a rest by the fountains.

Evening

Walk back to the Seine for sunset along the quays. The riverside between the islands and the Louvre is one of the loveliest strolls in the city and costs nothing.

Day 2: Versailles, the Sun King’s palace

Today is pure royal splendour. Versailles is closed on Mondays, which is why it sits on Tuesday here.

Morning

Take RER C to Versailles Château Rive Gauche, about 10 minutes on foot from the palace. Alternatives are SNCF trains from Gare Montparnasse to Versailles Chantiers (about 18 minutes’ walk) or from Gare Saint-Lazare to Versailles Rive Droite. A standard Metro-Train-RER ticket covers the ride, as it is a flat fare anywhere in the Île-de-France region.

The palace opens at 9:00. Buy the Passport ticket online in advance: it is the only ticket with a fixed time slot for the palace, and it includes the Trianon estate and the gardens.

• Low season (1 November to 31 March): €25, or €22 for EEA nationals and residents.
• High season (1 April to 31 October): €35, or €32 for EEA visitors.
• Visitors under 18 are admitted free to the palace and Trianon.

Choose an early slot, see the State Apartments and the Hall of Mirrors, and expect security checks at the entrance.

Afternoon

The Estate of Trianon (Grand Trianon, Petit Trianon and the Queen’s Hamlet) opens at 12:00, so have lunch first, then walk through the gardens to Marie-Antoinette’s world. In low season the gardens are free for everyone. In high season there is an admission charge on Musical Fountains and Musical Gardens days, which the Passport includes.

Evening

Head back to Paris and keep it easy: you will have walked a lot. Short on time? Versailles sells a discounted late-admission Passport for palace entry from 15:00 in low season (€18) or 16:00 in high season (€28).

Day 3: The Louvre and the Tuileries

Save your energy for art heaven! The Louvre is closed on Tuesdays, so Wednesday works perfectly. It is also a late-opening day.

Morning

Arrive for the 9:00 opening. Tickets are €22 for EEA residents and citizens and €32 for everyone else, with free entry for under-18s and EEA residents under 26. Book a timed ticket on the official Louvre website. The Pyramid is the main entrance, and at peak times the Carrousel or Porte des Lions entrances may also be used. Pick two or three wings rather than trying to see everything.

Afternoon

Step out into the Tuileries Garden (open 7:00 to 21:00 in April, May, September and October, 7:30 to 19:30 from November to March, and until 23:00 in summer). At the far end sits the Musée de l’Orangerie, home of Monet’s Water Lilies, a lovely preview of Friday. Check hours and prices on its official site.

Evening

The Louvre stays open until 21:00 on Wednesdays and Fridays, so if you prefer, swap the order and see the galleries in the quieter evening. Otherwise stroll the arcades of the Palais-Royal gardens nearby.

Day 4: Eiffel Tower and an evening at Orsay

Morning

This is the day for the icon of icons. Book your Eiffel Tower ticket on the official site, toureiffel.paris, as early as you can. Adult tickets range from €14.80 (stairs to the second floor) up to a maximum of €36.70 (lift to the summit). Stair tickets go on sale online 60 days ahead and are also sold on site, where there is usually little or no wait. Yes, it is 674 steps to the second floor, and every one is worth it. The tower opens every day, into the late evening.

Afternoon

Picnic on the Champ de Mars, then wander east through the elegant 7th arrondissement towards Les Invalides and the Seine.

Evening

The Musée d’Orsay is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30 to 18:00 and until 21:45 on Thursdays, with last access at 21:00. A special late-opening rate applies to Thursday visits starting at 18:00: €12 online or €10 at the museum. Standard daytime entry is €16 online or €14 at the museum. Impressionists after dark: a perfect end to the day.

Day 5: Giverny, Monet’s garden

Prepare to be dazzled by flowers today.

Season alert: Monet’s House and Gardens open every day from 1 April to 1 November 2026, 10:00 to 18:00 (last admission 17:30). Outside that window, swap this day for Monet in Paris: the Musée Marmottan Monet (2 rue Louis Boilly) and a second look at the Orangerie.

Morning

Take the train from Gare Saint-Lazare to Vernon-Giverny. Check timetables and fares on SNCF Connect before you book entry tickets, as engineering works can affect services. From Vernon, the Vernon-Giverny shuttle costs €5 one way or €10 return. You can also rent a bike at the station exit and follow the Seine à Vélo cycle route.

Online booking for the gardens is highly recommended: adults €13, children 7 to 17 €7, under-7s free. Only cabin-size bags (maximum 55 x 35 x 20 cm) are allowed, and there is no luggage storage.

Afternoon

Allow 1.5 to 2 hours for the house, the flower-packed Clos Normand and the famous water-lily pond with its Japanese bridge. Then visit the Musée des impressionnismes Giverny in the village. A combined ticket with Monet’s house (€25 adult) is sold on site only.

Evening

Back in Paris, have a relaxed dinner near Saint-Lazare or Opéra.

Day 6: Reims, cathedral and Champagne

Morning

Gothic grandeur and Champagne bubbles await! High-speed trains to Reims leave from Paris Gare de l’Est. Check times and fares on SNCF Connect and book ahead for the best price.

Start at Reims Cathedral, the coronation church of the French kings. To climb the towers, book the guided tour online (booking is mandatory): €9 per adult, free for under-18s. From 9 September to 15 November, tours run Tuesday to Saturday at 10:00, 11:00, 14:00, 15:00 and 16:00, and Sundays at 14:00, 15:00 and 16:00. From 6 May to 8 September there is an extra 17:00 tour. Tower tours pause from 16 November to 14 February.

Afternoon

Time for bubbles. Several famous Champagne houses in Reims run cellar tours through chalk galleries deep underground. Book directly on the house’s own website, ideally weeks ahead for weekends, and check age rules and prices there.

Evening

Catch an evening train back to Paris. Sparkling memories included.

Day 7: Montmartre and Le Marais

Morning

Save the most charming day for last. Ride the metro up to Montmartre and climb to the Sacré-Cœur for wide views over the rooftops. Wander the village-like lanes behind it before the day-trippers arrive.

Afternoon

Head to Le Marais: medieval streets, hidden courtyards, falafel stands and the perfect symmetry of the Place des Vosges. Browse independent boutiques and galleries at your own pace.

Evening

Celebrate your week with a farewell dinner along the Canal Saint-Martin or back in the Marais. You did it: seven days, three regions, zero rush.

Getting there and getting around

Visas and entry. France is part of the Schengen area, and entry rules depend on your nationality. Check whether you need a visa, and apply if you do, on the French government’s official portal, France-Visas: https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en/

From Charles de Gaulle (CDG): take RER B into the city with a Paris Région <> Airports ticket (€14 full fare, €7 reduced). It is valid for two hours on metro, RER, suburban trains and Orlyval, and you can change lines. The old RoissyBus to Opéra closed permanently in February 2026.

From Orly (ORY): Metro line 14 links Orly to Châtelet-Les-Halles in about 25 minutes, using the same €14 airport ticket.

By taxi: Paris taxis charge regulated flat fares between the airports and the city: CDG to the Right Bank €56, CDG to the Left Bank €65, Orly to the Right Bank €45, Orly to the Left Bank €36. If you book a taxi by phone or app, an approach fee is added (€4 for an immediate booking, €7 for an advance booking).

In the city: a Metro-Train-RER ticket costs €2.55 and is valid for two hours on metro, RER and suburban trains anywhere in Île-de-France, including Versailles. Load it on a Navigo Easy pass or your phone.

Best value for this plan: the weekly Navigo pass, all zones, €32.40. It is valid from 00:00 Monday to 23:59 Sunday (on sale from the previous Friday) and loads onto a Navigo Découverte pass or a smartphone. All zones covers RER B to CDG, metro 14 to Orly and your Versailles trip, but not Orlyval. Trains to Vernon and Reims are outside the region, so buy those separately.

Where to stay

• Le Marais (3rd and 4th): central, walkable and lively in the evenings. Great for first-timers who want to step out the door into history.
• Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the Latin Quarter (5th and 6th): classic Left Bank charm, cafés and bookshops, close to Orsay and the islands.
• Around Opéra and Saint-Lazare (9th): practical rather than romantic, but trains to Giverny leave from Saint-Lazare and the area has good connections to everywhere else.
• Near Gare de l’Est (10th): handy for the Reims day, close to Canal Saint-Martin, and often better value. Stay alert around big stations, as advised below.

Budget

Item	Typical cost
Airport ticket, CDG or Orly (each way)	€14
Metro-Train-RER single ticket	€2.55
Weekly Navigo, all zones (Mon to Sun)	€32.40
Louvre	€32 (non-EEA), €22 (EEA)
Versailles Passport	€25 low season, €35 high season (EEA €3 less)
Musée d’Orsay	€14 to €16; Thursday evening €10 to €12
Eiffel Tower, adult	€14.80 to €36.70
Monet’s House and Gardens, adult	€13, plus €10 return shuttle
Reims Cathedral tower tour	€9
Taxi CDG to central Paris	€56 to €65 flat
Taxi Orly to central Paris	€36 to €45 flat

A non-EEA adult doing the core sights above in high season, with a weekly Navigo and the Orsay evening rate, spends roughly €180 for the week, or about €25 to €30 a day. Not included: accommodation, meals, train tickets to Vernon and Reims (prices vary by date, check SNCF Connect), Sainte-Chapelle, the Orangerie and Champagne tours. Under-18s get in free at the Louvre, the Versailles palace and the Reims towers.

Practical tips

• Closing days: the Louvre closes on Tuesdays, the Musée d’Orsay on Mondays, and the Versailles palace and Trianon on Mondays. The Louvre and Orsay both close on 1 May and 25 December.
• Seasonal closures: Giverny closes after 1 November until spring, and Reims tower tours stop from 16 November to 14 February.
• First Sunday: the Musée d’Orsay is free for everyone on the first Sunday of the month, but you must book online.
• Paris Museum Pass: holders still need a free timed Passport ticket for Versailles. Before buying, compare the pass price with your actual plan on its official site.
• Security checks are standard at major museums and monuments, so travel light and allow extra time.
• Dress: churches are active places of worship, so dress respectfully and keep voices low.
• SIM and eSIM: an eSIM bought before you fly or a prepaid SIM from a French operator keeps maps and tickets on your phone. Compare plans on the operators’ own sites.
• Money: cards are widely used, but carry a little cash for small purchases.

Heads-up

Paris is a joy, and a few sensible habits keep it that way. These points come from official sources.

• Pickpockets: the UK government warns that thieves work on the Métro, RER lines and at mainline stations, often in teams where one distracts you. Carry your bag across your body, keep your cards and passport in separate places, and stay focused around attractions and cash machines.
• RER B and D: the same advice notes serious assaults reported on RER B (which serves both airports and Gare du Nord) and RER D. Stay alert, especially late at night, or take a flat-fare taxi.
• Fake tickets: the Eiffel Tower warns of fraudulent ticket websites and ads. The Louvre says never to buy tickets from street vendors, as you may be refused entry. Buy only on official sites.
• Strikes and demonstrations can happen with little warning and disrupt transport. Check your operator’s updates on travel days.
• Face coverings: covering your face in public places is illegal in France, including full veils, with fines of up to €150. This applies to tourists.
• Carry ID: you must be able to prove your identity when asked, for example with your passport.
• Drinks: buy your own and keep them in sight.
• Weather closures: strong winds can close parts of the Versailles estate at short notice, as happened on 23 October 2026. Check the official site on the morning of your visit.

FAQ

Is seven days too long for Paris?

Not at all. With three day trips you get four full Paris days. That is enough for the icons plus time to wander without a checklist.

Which day trip should I drop if I only have six days?

That depends on the season. Between April and 1 November, Giverny is a highlight. In winter it is closed, so Versailles and Reims are the natural pair.

Do I need to book Versailles and the Louvre in advance?

Yes, we strongly suggest it. The Versailles Passport is the only ticket with a fixed palace time slot, and a timed Louvre ticket from the official website saves you queueing time.

What is the cheapest way from the airport to the city?

Public transport: RER B from CDG or metro 14 from Orly with a €14 airport ticket. If you already hold an all-zones weekly Navigo, the ride is included.

Can I see Monet’s Water Lilies in winter?

Yes. Giverny’s gardens close after 1 November, but in Paris you can still see Monet’s work at the Musée de l’Orangerie in the Tuileries and at the Musée Marmottan Monet.

Is Reims doable in a day?

Easily. Fast trains leave from Gare de l’Est, so you can fit in a cathedral tower tour and a Champagne cellar visit and still be back in Paris for dinner.