Paris for a week without leaving the city

Seven days, one city, and more than enough to fill every hour — this itinerary proves that Paris rewards depth over breadth. The route begins on the Île de la Cité with the soaring vaults of Sainte-Chapelle and the medieval chambers of the Conciergerie, then climbs to Montmartre where the white dome of the Sacré-Cœur rises above a tangle of steep lanes and artist studios. Midweek brings the monumental axis: Napoleon's tomb beneath the gilded dome of Les Invalides, Rodin's Thinker in its garden setting, and the Eiffel Tower seen up close from the Champ de Mars. The Louvre gets a full day — still barely enough for the Grand Gallery alone — before the route shifts west along the Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe and the Impressionist collection at the Musée de l'Orangerie. The final days explore the grand boulevards around the Opéra Garnier and the ornate department stores, then wind down in the Marais with its Renaissance mansions turned into museums like the Picasso and the Carnavalet. The pace is steady but not rushed, with afternoons left open for café terraces and aimless wandering. Many major museums are closed on Tuesdays, so planning around closure days is essential.