Quick answer
Spend five nights in Paris: the Eiffel Tower and a Seine cruise on Day 1, the Louvre and Champs-Élysées on Day 2, Versailles and Montmartre on Day 3, a day trip to Mont-Saint-Michel or Giverny on Day 4 and Notre-Dame and Le Marais on Day 5. Or swap Days 4–5 for Nice and Monaco. Mid-range land cost starts at about ₹80,000 per person.
The route
- Paris
- Versailles
- Paris
- Mont-Saint-Michel or Giverny
- Paris
Day-by-day plan
- 1
Day 1
Arrive in Paris, Eiffel Tower at sunset
Morning: Land at Charles de Gaulle; RER B or a pre-booked transfer to your hotel (45–75 minutes).
Afternoon: Rest, then walk the Champ de Mars and across to Trocadéro for the classic tower view.
Evening: Eiffel Tower summit slot near sunset, then a one-hour Seine cruise from the foot of the tower.
Stay: Paris — 7th arrondissement or Le Marais
- 2
Day 2
Louvre, Tuileries and the Champs-Élysées
Morning: Louvre at opening with a timed ticket. Mona Lisa first, then the Greek and Egyptian galleries.
Afternoon: Walk through the Tuileries to Place de la Concorde and up the Champs-Élysées.
Evening: Arc de Triomphe rooftop at dusk.
Stay: Paris
The Louvre is closed on Tuesdays; swap with Day 5 if needed.
- 3
Day 3
Versailles and Montmartre
Morning: RER C to Versailles for a 9 am palace slot: the Hall of Mirrors and royal apartments.
Afternoon: The gardens and the Trianon estate. Hire a golf buggy if you're travelling with parents.
Evening: Back to Paris for sunset at Sacré-Cœur and dinner in Montmartre.
Stay: Paris
Versailles is closed on Mondays and busiest on Tuesdays.
- 4
Day 4
Day trip: Mont-Saint-Michel or Giverny
Morning: Either an early coach to Mont-Saint-Michel (about 4 hours each way) or a gentler train-and-shuttle trip to Monet's garden at Giverny (April to October).
Afternoon: Climb the abbey and ramparts, or continue from Giverny to Rouen's cathedral and half-timbered old town.
Evening: Late return to Paris.
Stay: Paris
Riviera option: instead, take the morning TGV to Nice (about 5h40) or a 1h25 flight, and walk the Promenade des Anglais and the old town in the evening.
- 5
Day 5
Notre-Dame, Sainte-Chapelle and Le Marais
Morning: Notre-Dame and Sainte-Chapelle on the Île de la Cité.
Afternoon: Musée d'Orsay, or the Latin Quarter and Luxembourg Gardens.
Evening: Falafel on Rue des Rosiers, then Place des Vosges and an evening walk through Le Marais.
Stay: Paris
Riviera option: take the coastal bus or train from Nice to the hilltop village of Èze and on to Monaco, back by evening.
- 6
Day 6
Shopping and departure
Morning: Galeries Lafayette's free rooftop terrace and shopping on Boulevard Haussmann.
Afternoon: Transfer to Charles de Gaulle, allowing three hours before an international flight.
Evening: Fly home.
Spend over €100 in one shop on one day and you can claim a VAT refund. Get the form in the shop and validate it at the airport before check-in.
How this itinerary is built
Six days is the sweet spot for a first trip to France: enough for Paris's big sights without rushing, plus one excursion out of the city. We've kept the Louvre and Versailles on separate days because each needs a full morning, and put the long day trip on Day 4 so you're over jet lag before a 12–14 hour coach day.
Mont-Saint-Michel, Giverny or the Riviera?
- Mont-Saint-Michel: the most dramatic, and the longest day. Best for couples and groups of friends.
- Giverny and Rouen: gentle, flower-filled and good with parents. April to October only.
- Nice and Monaco (Days 4–5): sea, sun and a change of scene. Fly home from Nice via a Gulf hub, or fly back to Paris on Day 6 — check which is cheaper when you book.
Getting around
Buy a weekly Navigo Découverte pass if your trip runs Monday to Sunday; otherwise use single tickets or a contactless card. The pass covers the RER to Versailles and Charles de Gaulle.
Book Eiffel Tower, Louvre and Versailles slots as soon as your dates are fixed. Summit slots near sunset go first.
For budgets see France trip cost; for hotel areas see where to stay in Paris; and for more ideas see things to do in France. You'll need a Schengen visa — start with our France visa guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is 6 days enough for Paris?
Can I do Paris and the French Riviera in 6 days?
Is Mont-Saint-Michel worth a day trip from Paris?
How we checked this page
Last reviewed
Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.
