7-Day Cultural Parisian Itinerary

Paname, La Ville Lumière, La Ville L'Amour...the reputation of the capital of France precedes itself. Paris is well known for its landmarks, exquisite cuisine, artistic masterpieces and rich culture. If you're planning to visit this world-famous destination and want to learn more about Parisian culture, here is a 7-day itinerary you can add to your plans.

Day 1: Take a Tour of Paris

Get to know city and its famous landmarks with a Parisian city tour. Some popular spots include:

• Arc de Triomphe

• Notre-Dame

• Eiffel Tower

• Palais Garnier

• Moulin Rouge

• Panthéon

• Louvre Museum

• Musée d'Orsay

• Place Vendôme

• Grand Palais

• Place des Vosges

• Père Lachaise Cemetery

• Catacombs of Paris

• Statue of Liberty in Paris

• Montparnasse Tower

There are several options to tour the city including:

• Private Tour

• Group Tours

• Hop On Hop Off Tours

• Sidecar Tours

• Walking Tours

Tours range from half-day to full day tours. View available tours on sites such as Viator, Get Your Guide and Trip Advisor.

Day 2: Go on the Eiffel Tower and Take a Seine River Cruise

No trip to Paname is complete without visiting the Iron Lady and a cruise along the Seine River. Built in the 1800s, it was designed by Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 World Fair. Initially, the Eiffel Tower was controversial among Parisians and considered radical when it was finished. It was intended for temporary purposes and to be dismantled after 20 years upon completion. Today, the Eiffel Tower still remains as an iconic symbol of France with many replicas throughout the world. Get tickets here.

Day 3: Go Musée Hopping

Explore French culture and history by visiting the musées of Paris. The most well-known museum in Paris is Musée du Louvre, which is the most visited museum in the world with another site in Abu Dhabi. As a former residence of French royal family, it's one of the largest museums in the world measuring over 210,000 square meters with approximately 35,000 art pieces displayed. For art lovers, it would take several days to explore all of its artwork. It's recommended to spend at least 3-4 hours to explore some of its most famous pieces including the Winged Victory of Samothrace, Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo.

Paris has many other musées including:

• Jeu de Paume

• Palais de Tokyo

• Palais Galliera

• MAC VAL

• Le Bal des Débutantes

• Musée Carnavalet

• Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris

• Le Centquatre-Paris 104

• Lafayette Anticipations

• Musée de l'Orangerie

• Maison Européenne de la Photographie

• Musée des Arts Décoratifs

• Petit Palais

• Musée d'Orsay

• Fondation Louis Vuitton

• Bourse de Commerce

One of the best ways to explore Paris' museums is by getting a museum pass, which provides access to over 50 museums and monuments. Find out more here.

Day 4: Visit La Défense

Explore contemporary art at La Défense, a district in Paris where many businesses are located at. La Défense is more than a business district. There are several entertainment and cultural experiences visitors can explore including:

• Open air museum with contemporary sculptures such as "The Red Spider," "The Fantastic Characters," "The Thumb" and "Grande Arche"

• Visit the largest shopping mall in France Les Quatre Temps

• Enjoy French cuisine and beverages at restaurants and food trucks such as Cabane Cape Cod food truck, Bistro d'Edouard restaurants, DS Café and Pif à Papa

• Cultural entertainment activities such as watching a film at Cinéma CGR, engage in a virtual reality experience of Notre-Dame at Eternelle Notre-Dame, indoor contemporary art at La Terrasse

• Enjoy various cultural events at Paris La Défense Arena, where visitors can get tickets to music concerts, sport events such as rugby and race car driving, equestrian riding, comedy shows

La Défense provides several hotel and aparthotel accommodations and is easily accessible to various modes of transportation.

Day 5: Versailles Day Trip

Feel like royalty and learn more about French history with a day trip to the Palace of Versailles. Less than 20 km from Paris, the Palace of Versailles was originally a hunting lodge for King Louis XIII then expanded by his successor King Louis XIV as a residence for the royal family and centre of government.

Today, many people enjoy visiting the palace to explore its artistic brilliance and breathtakingly beautiful gardens. Visitors are welcome to book a guided private or group tour from Paris or visit on your own. To book a tour, visit sites such as Trip Advisor. If you want to visit on your own from Paris, tickets can be purchased here. Transportation options include taxi, train, bus, car or ride share.

Day 6: Take a Cooking or Fashion Class

Enhance your skills and create your own artistic masterpiece in Paris. There are several workshops and classes you can participate in such as:

• Painting

• Perfume

• Jewelry

• Clothes

• Handbags

• Makeup

• Drawing

• Writing

• Hats

• Language

• Pottery

• Photography

• Shoes

• Tablewear

• Leather

• Street Art

• Flower Arrangements

• Phone Clips

• Haircombs

• Candles

• Soap

Viator has several art and culture classes to choose from where you create your own couture.

Day 7: Explore Le Marais and Montmarte

Really get to know Parisian culture by visiting fashionable, historic neighborhood Le Marais. As you explore Le Marais, you'll find stunning architecture, lovely gardens, fashion shops as well as bars and cafés. Add to your itinerary

• Hotel de Ville

• Musée Carnavalet

• Place des Vosges

• Saint-Jacques

• Rue des Barres

• Musée des Arts et Métiers

• Rue des Rosiers

Montmarte is a cool, quirky artistic hill in Paris where you can find amazing views of the city as well as beautiful cobblestone grounds, cafés and galleries. It's one of the most well-known neighborhoods with amazing places to visit such as:

• Basilica Sacre Coeur

• Montmartre Cemetery

• Le Mur de Je T’aime

• Musée de Montmartre

• Street Artists

• Moulin Rouge

• Clos Montmartre

• La Maison Rose

• Passe Muraille

• Place Du Tertre

• Dalí Museum