Two capitals, seven days, and more history, art, and pasta than you can possibly squeeze into a carry-on. This Paris & Rome itinerary is built for travelers who want a week of icons without the overwhelm.
You’ll climb towers and domes, wander medieval lanes and piazzas, toss coins in fountains, and stare up at ceilings that changed the course of art.
Think Mona Lisa to Michelangelo, croissants to carbonara, Gothic cathedrals to the Colosseum. All in one seamless trip.
Overview Of 1 Week Paris & Rome Itinerary
Here a snapshot of what you can see in 7 days:
Paris
- Eiffel Tower and Seine cruise
- Louvre Museum and Musée d’Orsay
- Sainte-Chapelle and Île de la Cité
- Latin Quarter and Luxembourg Gardens
- Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur
- Champs-Élysées and Arc de Triomphe
Rome
- Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill
- Pantheon and Piazza Navona
- Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps
- Borghese Gallery and Gardens
- Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter’s Basilica
- Trastevere neighborhood
Before You Go: What to Book in Advance
When planning this trip, book tickets to major sights in advance. Paris and Rome draw enormous crowds, and popular spots like the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Colosseum, and Vatican will sell out.
Securing passes and timed entry ahead of time saves you from long lines and last-minute stress, leaving more time to enjoy the journey.
Here’s what you need to pre-book:
Paris:
Rome:
- timed entry Colosseum ticket
- ticket for the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
- Vatican ticket
- Borghese Gallery ticket
- St. Peter’s dome ticket
If you’re a first timer in Rome or simply want to maximize your sightseeing efficiency, you may want to book a couple themed tours:
- tour of Colosseum, Forum, and Palatine Hill
- private imperial ruins tour with PhD
- Vatican Museums tour
- private Vatican tour
- Trastevere food tour
One Week In Paris & Rome: What To Do
Day 1: Arrival and Paris Left Bank
Arrive and settle into your accommodation in Paris. Have some coffee and try to push through without taking a nap. That way, you’ll adjust to the time change more quickly.
Arrive in Paris and start with the Left Bank, where writers, artists, and students have gathered for centuries.
Wander Saint-Germain-des-Prés, once the haunt of Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir. Then stroll through the Luxembourg Gardens, a favorite Parisian retreat.
In the Latin Quarter, visit the Panthéon, the grand neoclassical church that houses the tombs of Voltaire, Rousseau, Hugo, and Marie Curie.
>>> Click here to book a guided Latin Quarter walking tour
If you’re up for more, pop into the Cluny Museum to see medieval treasures, including the famous Lady and the Unicorn tapestries.
In the mid afternoon, head to the Musée d’Orsay for a crash course in mid-19th century through the early 20th century.
You’ll find a spectacular cache of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art, including many works by the movements’ most revered figures, Claude Monet and Vincent Van Gogh.
You’ll definitely need to pre-book a timed entry ticket. You also have skip the line access with the Paris Museum Pass.
To get the full scoop, book a 2 hour guided tour of the Orsay with an expert.
Then end the day at the Eiffel Tower for sunset views. The golden light on Paris is unforgettable.
You can ride to the top for sweeping views (it’s open until 11:45 pm most of the year, with last entry around 10:45 pm). But the experience is just as magical from below.
Each evening after dark, the tower sparkles for five minutes on the hour. It’s a dazzling show you can enjoy from Champ de Mars or the Trocadéro.
Day 2: Paris Icons and the Right Bank
Dedicate your morning to the Louvre with a timed entry ticket. Even if you only focus on highlights—the Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, Venus de Milo—the palace itself is jaw dropping.
After a couple of hours inside, take a break and head to Le Marais. This historic neighborhood is all cobbled lanes, hidden courtyards, and buzzing cafes.
>>> Click here to book a Marais walking tour
While you’re there, carve out time for the Picasso Museum, with its unrivaled collection of the artist’s works.
Alternatively, if you’re a history buff, the Carnavalet Museum, traces the story of Paris itself. Both close around 6 pm, so aim to arrive by mid-afternoon at the latest.
Afterward, wander Le Marais a bit more.
Grab a falafel on Rue de Rossiers, top in Place des Vosges, browse boutiques, or linger over a coffee. From there, loop back toward the center.
Walk through the elegant Palais-Royal and the Tuileries Gardens, then swing past Place Vendôme, with its luxury shops and Napoleon’s column. Continue strolling up the Champs-Élysées.
Finish your day at the Arc de Triomphe. You’ll need a timed entry ticket to climb to the rooftop to watch the sun set over Paris as the Eiffel Tower begins to sparkle.
Day 3: Île de la Cité & Montmartre
Today, begin in the heart of medieval Paris at Île de la Cité with a visit to Sainte-Chapelle. It’s truly one of the city’s great showstoppers.
It’s a Gothic jewel box, built as a reliquary. Light pours through a kaleidoscope of jewel-toned stained glass, creating the feeling of standing inside a glowing crystal cage.
Stroll past the Conciergerie, once a royal palace turned prison. If you’re an aficionado of the French Revolution, you’ll want to pop in. You can actually buy a combined ticket for both the chapel and the Conciergerie.
Then cross over to Île Saint-Louis, a quieter island lined with 17th century mansions. Pause for a cone from Berthillon, the city’s most famous ice cream shop.
From here, make your way north toward the Grands Boulevards.
Stop at the Palais Garnier, the lavish 19th century opera house dripping in marble, gold, and chandeliers. You’ll definitely need a pre-booked ticket to visit.
A short detour brings you to the Musée Gustave Moreau, the eccentric home-studio of the Symbolist painter.
Then, walk along Rue des Martyrs. It’s a lively street packed with food shops, cafes, and a market feel that still feels very Parisian.
By late afternoon, continue up the hill into Montmartre. This former bohemian district has a very different vibe—romantic, scrappy, and atmospheric.
>>> Click here to book a Montmartre walking tour
Visit Sacré-Cœur, the white basilica crowning the skyline. The interior is nothing to write home about, but the views from the dome are fantastic.
Or, for a bit of history, pop into the Musee Montmartre, where Renoir once lived.
Wander Place du Tertre where artists still set up easels. Then get lost in the winding lanes where Picasso, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Modigliani once lived and worked.
Stay for dinner here to soak in Montmartre after the day-trippers leave. Or go on a food and wine tour.
Day 4: Travel to Rome
Day 4 is mostly a transition day, though you can still plan a light activity in Rome once you’ve settled in.
In the morning, check out of your Paris hotel and get to the airport or train station. Flights between Paris and Rome are about 2 hours in the air.
But once you add transfers, security, and waiting around, you’re looking at 5–6 hours total door to door. That gives you time to check in, have a stroll.
Focus your walk on central Rome. Start in Piazza Navona, once a Roman racetrack and now one of the city’s most beautiful squares.
Three Baroque fountains anchor the space, including Bernini’s famous Fountain of the Four Rivers. Cafes spill onto the piazza make it perfect for an afternoon espresso break.
Just a few minutes away is the Pantheon, Rome’s best-preserved ancient monument. Step inside to marvel at its soaring dome and the oculus that pours light onto the marble floor. The engineering is still jaw-dropping two thousand years later.
>>> Click here to book a Pantheon ticket
From there, wander toward Campo de’ Fiori. By day, the square brims with market stalls. By night, it’s buzzing with wine bars and trattorias.
For dinner, cross over to the Jewish Quarter, one of Rome’s most atmospheric neighborhoods. Its narrow streets are packed with restaurants serving classic Roman-Jewish specialties like fried artichokes, pasta with chickpeas, and rich stews.
Have dinner at Ba’ghetto. This neighborhood is also an excellent place to go on a guided food and wine tour.
Day 5: Ancient Rome
Dedicate day 5 to Rome’s incredible imperial core. Begin at the Colosseum, Italy’s most iconic monument.
Step inside the massive amphitheater. Picture the crowd roaring, gladiators clashing on the arena floor, and the labyrinth of underground tunnels where animals and fighters waited to be released. Even in ruins, it’s staggering in scale and imagination.
Buy a ticket 30 days in advance on the official Colosseum website. If they are sold out, pre-book a ticket on Tiqets or GetYour Guide. If those are sold out, book a guided tour.
From there, continue into the Roman Forum, once the bustling center of political, religious, and civic life.
Walk the Via Sacre past the Arch of Titus, the Temple of Saturn, and the Curia, where senators debated the fate of the empire. It’s an extraordinary open-air museum of power and ambition.
You can pay homage at the grave of Julius Caesar. Or pop into the Santa Maria Antiqua to admire rare early Christian frescos.
Next, climb up to Palatine Hill, the legendary birthplace of Rome. You’ll find the remains of imperial palaces, shady gardens, and sweeping views across the Forum and Circus Maximus.
New openings add even more reasons to linger. The Domus Tiberiana opened in 2023, offering a glimpse into one of the first great imperial residences.
The Palatine Museum gives context with artifacts excavated from the hill. If you plan ahead, you can also book the fabulous multimedia show inside the House of Augustus.
Frescoes flicker back to life and you get a rare sense of how the emperor actually lived. You can even peak into his study!
Break for lunch, then head to the Capitoline Museums on the hill above Piazza Venezia.
These are the oldest public museums in the world and house treasures like the bronze She-Wolf of Rome, Caravaggio’s Fortune Teller, and grand ancient statues of the emperors.
Even the piazza itself, designed by Michelangelo, is worth the climb.
Round out the day with a wander through Monti, a neighborhood that feels worlds away from the grandeur of the ruins.
Its cobbled lanes, vintage boutiques, and cozy trattorias are perfect for an aperitivo or relaxed dinner.
Before dinner, be sure to visit Santa Maria Maggiore. It’s the oldest standing Christian church in Rome and one of Italy’s most stunning basilicas.
With its marble columns, glittering mosaics, and grand statues, it rivals St. Peter’s in beauty but comes without the heavy crowds.
Day 6: Baroque and Renaissance Splendor
One day 6, begin at the Trevi Fountain, the most famous Baroque fountain in the world. Toss a coin to guarantee your return to Rome, then linger a bit to admire the theatrics of Oceanus and his sea horses.
From here, walk to the Church of St. Louis of the French. Inside are Caravaggio’s dramatic canvases of St. Matthew, masterpieces of raw realism and chiaroscuro.
Just a few streets away is the Church of St. Ignatius, where Andrea Pozzo’s ceiling fresco plays tricks on your eyes. It’s an optical illusion of a vast dome and heavenly figures spilling into the nave.
After lunch, make your way to the Borghese Gallery. This villa-turned-museum houses one of the world’s finest art collections, and is my personal favorite.
You’ll see everything from Bernini’s swooning marble sculptures like Apollo and Daphne to Caravaggio’s moody canvases and Raphael’s luminous portraits. And the Venetian Room is to die for!
Admission is strictly timed, so be sure to book your 2 hour time slot or guided tour well in advance.
After your visit, stroll the Borghese Gardens for a breather before heading back into the city for dinner.
Day 7: Vatican City
Devote your final day to Vatican City, where you’ll find one of the world’s richest concentrations of art and history.
Begin with the Vatican Museums, a labyrinth of galleries packed with treasures from antiquity to the Renaissance. Highlights include the Gallery of Maps with its frescoed ceilings and the Raphael Rooms with their luminous frescoes.
The Sistine Chapel, of course, is where Michelangelo’s ceiling and The Last Judgment remain among the most famous works of art ever created. The sheer scale and detail can feel overwhelming, so allow yourself at least three hours here.
From the museums, step into St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest church in Christendom and a masterpiece of Renaissance and Baroque architecture.
Entry to the basilica itself is free, though there’s a small fee if you want to climb the dome for sweeping views across the city. Consider a guided tour here, since the symbolism and layers of history are easy to miss without context.
Inside, you’ll find Michelangelo’s Pietà, Bernini’s monumental bronze baldachin rising over the high altar, and mosaics so detailed they’re often mistaken for paintings.
If you have the stamina, climb the dome for unforgettable views across the square and the city beyond.
After lunch, stroll down the wide boulevard to Castel Sant’Angelo. Originally built as Hadrian’s mausoleum, it later became a papal fortress and safe haven. Today, it’s a museum with panoramic terraces overlooking the Tiber.
If you prefer something more intimate, cross the river to see the gorgeous Villa Farnesina in Trastevere. This Renaissance villa is decorated with Raphael’s playful frescoes of Cupid and Psyche, a hidden gem far quieter than the Vatican crowds.
End your trip with a relaxed Roman dinner. A rooftop terrace near Piazza Navona or Trastevere is the perfect place to toast the city as domes and bell towers glow in the evening light.
Tips For Visiting Paris & Rome
Where To Stay
Paris
Ah, there are endless beautiful and romantic places to stay in Paris.
My personal favorite hotel in Paris is a stunning boutique hotel in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, the Relais Christine. The rooms are beautiful appointed and the location is ideal.
If, like me, you like boutique hotels, there are excellent options. You can check out the simply stunning and unique Cour des Vosges, the elgant La Planque Hotel, the Arab-style Maison Souquet, or the La Roch Hotel & Spa.
There are also the classics like the Four Seasons George V, Hotel San Regis, or the fabulous Hotel le Crillon.
Rome
If you’re a first timer in Rome, you may want to stay in the historic center around the Pantheon or Piazza Navona. Some good options are the Liberty Boutique Hotel, the Hotel Maalat, Deco Roma, or Hotel Hassler Roma. The Hassler is a classic!
If you want to stay near the Imperial ruins, Palazzo Manfredi and the Inn at The Roman Forum are good choices.
If you want to stay in the quieter Monti area, check out Villa Spalletti Trivelli (Roman townhouse), and Roma Luxus (former 18th century palace).
One of my personal favorites is the Rome Cavalieri, which has its own art collection. You will also love the J.K. Place Roma, a simply gorgeous boutique hotel.
When To Visit
Skip summer if you can. Both Paris and Rome are sweltering and overcrowded.
Spring (mid-April–early June): Paris blooms, Rome is warm but pleasant, days are long, and crowds fairly manageable.
Fall (mid-Sept–late Oct): Golden Paris, outdoor dining in Rome, fewer tourists, plenty of local life.
Winter (Nov–early March): Cold in Paris, milder in Rome, but cheaper hotels, fewer lines, and cozy indoor dining. Except at Christmas, when both cities are busy.
How To Get Around
Paris
Most of Paris’ top sights are in the city center, so walking between them is easy.
This itinerary groups attractions by neighborhood to cut down travel time. For places farther out, the 14-line metro is fast, simple, and reliable.
As of 2023 you can just tap a contactless credit or debit card (or phone wallet) at the metro gates in Paris. No need to buy paper tickets anymore, unless you want a Navigo Easy card for multiple riders.
It’s also easy and convenient to take the hop on hop off bus.
Rome
Rome is best explored on foot, so pack good shoes for those cobblestones. I often logged 10 miles a day.
The metro has just two lines. It’s crowded, and pickpockets prey on tourists there. I advise steering clear of it.
For longer trips, taxis are easiest. Grab them at stands near major sights. Carry cash since many claim they “don’t take” cards, or just use Uber.
There’s a hop on hop off bus in Rome as well. Or you could go Italian and take a classic vespa tour.
I hope you’ve enjoyed my one week in Paris and Rome itinerary. You may find these related guides useful:
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- 12 ways to spend 1 week in Italy
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- 10 one week in France itineraries
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