Paris Itineraries Trip Planning & Itineraries

Day 1: Discovering Gay Paree

Paris is easy to get around, with a very organized layout and distinct neighborhoods (quartiers,), and topnotch metro system. Exploring à pied is truly one of the best ways to get to know the city. (If you simply follow the river, you will hit most of the must-see monuments and museums that dot her path.) But first you may want to get your bearings by taking one of four quick Hop-on Hop-off Bus tours.

For those who want to pack in as much as possible and enjoy sightseeing with a guide, taking the Best of Paris full-day tour is magnifique. Highlights include a visit to the Louvre, an hour lunch cruise on the River Seine, and tours of Notre Dame, the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs-Elysees, the Concorde, the Eiffel Tower and Saint-Germain des Pres.

As one of the most romantic places on earth, l'amour is inescapable in Paris, especially at night. What could be a better way to get in the mood than to dine in the Eiffel Tower, while overlooking the Seine? The only appropriate après dinner option is to take in a review at the storied Moulin Rouge. (Check out the details here: Eiffel Tower Dinner and Moulin Rouge Show.)

Day 2: Get Outta Town

Although one may be inclined to hunker down in Paris (understandably so), make sure to get out of town on at least one day trip. Certainly, Versailles sits atop of that list. From the ghost of Louis XIV to the ghost of Marie Antoinette, roaming around the massive Palace of Versailles is truly like entering a time machine, offering keen insight into French history. The opulence, antiques, statuary, gardens and treasures are mesmerizing. There are various guided tour options most of which include visits to the Great Royal Apartments, Hall of Mirrors, Queen's Bedroom, and more. Let them eat cake, indeed.

Day 3: Finding Fashion

For fashion lovers, Paris is one giant, chic hunting ground--filled with charming boutiques and the crème de la crème of top designers. You know you can't wait to hit the stylish scene; you just need a bit of a push in the right direction.

It would be style blasphemy not to visit high-fashion department stores Galeries Lafayette, Printemps and Le Bon Marche. Whether buying or just browsing, wandering around these chic bastions is a memorable experience and offers up perfect people-watching opportunities.

If home design is your thing, you'll want to head to several quaint neighborhoods where talented craftsmen and hot new designers tend to cluster. You'll find everything from wallpaper to bed throws to artwork. The best part? Prices are 30 percent less than they would be in stores. Sign up for the Paris Best Design Tour.

No doubt, you'll be starving after a full day of shopping. Head to Montparnasse for lively café life. It is the bohemian lifestyle and artistic and intellectual stimulation that made this neighborhood the perennial hangout of ex-pats like Hemingway and Fitzgerald during their heyday. (Head back to Montparnasse on Sunday for the spectacular Paris Art Market at the foot of the tower. Paintings, jewelry, hats and more are displayed in this open-air gallery.)