Paris was enchanting – equal parts elegance, history, and irresistible indulgence. We wandered through cobbled lanes in the Latin Quarter, raced up the Eiffel Tower for an unforgettable sunset, and soaked in masterpieces (Mona Lisa!) at the Louvre. From sipping wine along the Seine to feasting on crêpes in Montmartre, every moment was divine. After arriving by train from London through the Chunnel, we dined at a historic restaurant where Napoleon allegedly left his hat as an IOU, then walked from the Arc de Triomphe to the Eiffel Tower, fully immersed in the city’s timeless charm. We explored Notre-Dame, Sacré-Cœur, and even visited the café from Amélie. In Montmartre, Sarah boldly tried her first beef tartare – raw 95% lean beef topped with a raw egg. One of the most magical days was a château tour through the Loire Valley, known for its vineyards and fairytale estates – we visited Chambord (the inspiration for Beauty and the Beast’s castle), Nitray, and Chenonceau, the spectacular riverside residence once home to Catherine de Medici. A dreamy excursion that perfectly capped off a city overflowing with romance and refinement.

Three Day Itinerary

This itinerary is based on the France leg of our May 21-23, 2018 Europe trip.

Day 1: Arc de Triomphe + Eiffel Tower

• 🚄 11:31 AM – 2:47 PM: Eurostar via Chunnel – London St. Pancras Int’l > Paris Gare du Nord (🎟️ Pre-purchase recommended, arrive 45-min early, $93 for coach 13, seats 57-58 window/table)
• 🚇 3:00 PM: Metro – Gare du Nord > Odéon (11-min)
• 🏨 3:15 PM: Check-in to Welcome Hotel ($127/night via Orbitz)
  🚶 Walk around Blvd (If time: Musee de Cluny, Luxembourg gardens)
• 🍽️ 5:00 PM: Dinner @ Le Procope (🎟️ Reserved, Napoleon allegedly left his hat here as an IOU)
• 🚶 7:00 PM: Walk (60-min) Champse-Elysees (🎧 73-min Rick Steves’ Audio Tour 📲 download App)
• 👀 8:00 PM: Arc de Triomphe (open until 11 PM, recommended at night)
• 🗼 9:00 PM: Eiffel Tower
  • 🎟️ Purchase tickets in advance to guarantee entry.
  • Recommend taking stairs to 2nd floor to avoid lines and higher costs.
  • Must take elevator to summit which can have lines and costs more. Visit top if time/budget permit.
  • Visit at night to see it light up and sparkle every 5 minutes on the hour from sunset (~9:30 PM in May). Last entry at midnight during peak season.
• 🚇 Metro: Ch.de Mars-Tour-Eiffel > Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame (30-min) to hotel

Day 2: Loire Valley Tour + Crêpes

• 🥐 Breakfast (pastries from Maison Mulot, picked up prior day)
  🚇 Metro: Odeon ➝ Denfert-Rochereau (16-min)
• 🏰 7:30 AM – 7:30 PM: Loire Valley Castles & Wine Tour  
  • 🎟️ Pre-purchase via City Wonders
  • Visit Chambord, Chenonceau & Nitray. Includes wine tasting.
  • Meet at Catacombes de Paris at 7:15 AM
• 🚇 Metro – Denfert-Rochereau > Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame (18-min)
• 🍽️ Dinner @ Crêperie Little Breizh
  🚶 Walk (12-min) to hotel

Day 3: Notre-Dame + Sacré-Cœur + Louvre

• 🥐 Breakfast pastries from Paul
• 🚶 Explore Historic Paris (🎧 84-min Rick Steves’ Audio Tour 📲)
• 🏰 9:00 AM: Explore Notre-Dame (🎟️ Free but reserve ticket to ensure entry & avoid queues)
• 🍽️ Lunch @ La Petite Bouclerie in Latin Quarter
• 🚗 Uber to Montmartre
• 👀 Vignes du Clos – Clos Montmartre (oldest winery in Paris but not open to public)
• ⛪ Admire Sacré-Cœur
• ☕ Coffee/champaign @ Café des Deux Moulins (🎥 Filming location for “Amélie”)
• 🍷 Drinks @ Le Chat Noir
• 🍽️ Dinner @ Le Sancerre (Try beef tartare if you dare!)
• 🚗 Uber to Louvre
• 🎨 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM: Explore the Louvre
  • 🎟️ Pre-purchase recommended.
  • 👉 Visit on a Wednesday or Friday when museum is open late.
  • 🎧 57-min Rick Steves’ Audio Tour 📲)
• 🚶Walk (12-min) to Hotel
• Other Activities (Time Permitting)
  • Palace of Versaille including Trianon & Queen’s Hamlet (🎧 1hr Rick Steves’ Audio Tour). We had to cancel due to a train strike, which are quite common in Europe.
  • Musée d’Orsay – Impressionist art in a converted train station.
  • Catacombs of Paris – Eerie, underground labyrinth.
  • Cabaret Show – Like the iconic Moulin Rouge or the more intimate Crazy Horse.
  • Cooking Class – Learn to make croissants, macarons, crepes or other French specialty
  • Pastry Crawl – Try iconic spots like Pierre Hermé, Du Pain et des Idées, or Stohrer (Paris’ oldest pâtisserie).

The next country on our European trip was Germany. Check out our dedicated Germany Romantic Road blog for a detailed itinerary and insider tips.

Pictures