10-Day Paris Itinerary from Mumbai

Arrival and Check-in

After your overnight Mumbai–Paris flight, allow roughly 45–75 minutes from Charles de Gaulle Airport to central Paris, depending on immigration and traffic. The RER B is usually the most predictable option—about 35–50 minutes to Denfert-Rochereau, followed by a short walk or taxi to Hôtel Le Six—while a pre-booked taxi is easier with luggage and typically costs €55–€70. Check-in at this comfortable Montparnasse boutique hotel, generally around €220–€350 per night, then keep the afternoon deliberately quiet: shower, nap briefly, and drink water rather than trying to power through the jet lag.

Late Afternoon in Luxembourg Gardens

Walk or take a short taxi from Hôtel Le Six to Luxembourg Gardens for an easy first taste of Paris. Spend about an hour around the central fountain, tree-lined promenades, and the Medici Fountain; in late August, the gardens are usually open until around 8:30–9:30 PM, with the exact closing time varying by sunset. This is a good low-energy reset after the flight—bring a light layer, and avoid settling too deeply if you want to stay awake until dinner.

Early Evening at Café de Flore and Rue de Buci

Continue northwest on foot toward Café de Flore in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, roughly 15–20 minutes from the gardens. Take a slow coffee, pastry, or light meal rather than committing to a long dinner; expect about €10–€30 per person, and remember that historic cafés charge more for their location and terrace seating. Afterwards, wander along Rue de Buci, where food shops, small bars, and evening shoppers give you lively atmosphere without requiring a fixed plan. Keep the stroll to about an hour, then return to Hôtel Le Six by walking or taking Metro Line 4 from Saint-Germain-des-Prés toward Montparnasse–Bienvenüe; aim for an early night so tomorrow’s sightseeing feels enjoyable rather than exhausting.

Morning

Start at Arc de Triomphe around 9:30, when the area is lively but not yet at its busiest. Take Metro Line 1 or 6 to Charles de Gaulle–Étoile; the monument generally opens from 10:00, with admission around €16. The climb is via stairs, so allow about 1½ hours and wear comfortable shoes. From the terrace, you get one of Paris’s clearest panoramas, with the twelve avenues radiating outward and the Eiffel Tower framed beautifully to the southwest. Keep bags small, as security and the spiral staircase are easier that way.

After descending, walk along the Champs-Élysées toward the Seine, taking roughly an hour at an easy pace. This is more enjoyable if you stay on the tree-lined side streets and pause around the Grand Palais area rather than treating the avenue as one long shopping strip. Continue toward the Musée de l’Orangerie, allowing 20–25 minutes on foot; a coffee and pastry at a café near Avenue Montaigne makes a convenient pause if you need one.

Afternoon and Evening

Spend about 1½ hours inside the Musée de l’Orangerie, ideally with a timed ticket, usually around €12. Its oval rooms of Monet’s Water Lilies are the highlight, and the museum is compact enough not to become tiring after the morning’s walking. From there, stroll through the Tuileries Garden to Place de la Concorde, about 10 minutes. Allow 30 minutes to admire the Luxor Obelisk and the broad views toward the gardens and Champs-Élysées; this is a good low-energy stop before your evening cruise. Have a light snack or early drink nearby rather than sitting down for a full meal.

Reach Bateaux Mouches at Pont de l’Alma by taxi or Metro Line 1 from Concorde to Franklin D. Roosevelt, then Line 9 to Alma–Marceau, followed by a short walk. The cruise lasts about 1¼ hours and typically costs €16–€20; check the evening departure timetable and arrive 20 minutes early, especially for a sunset or illuminated sailing. Finish with dinner at Le Grand Café Capucines near Opéra, a classic brasserie open late, where allow €35–€60 per person for dishes such as steak-frites, seafood, or onion soup. From Pont de l’Alma, a taxi is simplest after dark; otherwise take Metro Line 9 toward Havre–Caumartin and walk a few minutes.

Morning

Start around 8:30 at Montmartre Cemetery, one of the neighborhood’s quieter corners and a welcome contrast to the crowded hilltop. Allow about an hour to wander its tree-lined paths and look for the graves of artists and writers; it usually opens from around 8:00 on weekdays, though hours can vary. From the cemetery, walk roughly 10 minutes downhill toward Pigalle to see the exterior of the Moulin Rouge. Thirty minutes is enough for photographs—this is best treated as a quick landmark stop rather than a full visit, since daytime access is generally limited to ticketed evening shows.

Continue uphill along Rue des Abbesses, where independent clothing shops, bakeries, and small food stores make for pleasant browsing. Stop for a coffee or pastry if needed, but keep some appetite for lunch at Le Consulat, the historic red-painted bistro on Rue Norvins. The walk takes about 15–20 minutes, with a few steep stretches. Expect roughly €25–€45 per person for a main meal; arrive before 12:30 or reserve if possible, as this photogenic spot fills quickly.

Afternoon and Evening

After lunch, take the gradual climb to Sacré-Cœur Basilica, allowing around 15 minutes from Le Consulat. The basilica is free to enter and generally open from early morning until evening; keep shoulders covered and speak quietly inside. Spend about 45 minutes in the church, then climb the dome only if you still have energy—the narrow staircase and 300 steps are demanding, but the rooftop panorama is excellent. Otherwise, relax on the steps below and enjoy the view across Paris.

Finish at nearby Place du Tertre, a five-minute walk away. Give yourself an hour to watch portrait artists at work and have a drink on the square, though prices are higher than on the surrounding streets. For a calmer return, descend via Rue des Saules and Rue de l’Abreuvoir rather than taking the busiest stairs; the walk back toward Abbesses takes about 15–20 minutes, where Metro Line 12 provides an easy ride back. Keep valuables secure around Sacré-Cœur and Place du Tertre, particularly in the afternoon crowds.

Morning

Leave Montmartre around 8:00 for your timed entry at the Musée du Louvre: take Metro Line 12 from Abbesses to Concorde, then walk through the Jardin des Tuileries toward the pyramid. The journey takes about 25–35 minutes; use a €2.15 Metro ticket and arrive 20–30 minutes before your reservation for security. Spend roughly 3½ hours inside, concentrating on the Mona Lisa, Winged Victory of Samothrace, Venus de Milo, and a few selected galleries rather than trying to cover everything. Check the official opening hours and reserve ahead—late-August queues can be substantial, and the museum is generally closed on Tuesdays.

Lunch and Afternoon

Take a proper break at Café Mollien, inside the Louvre, for a convenient lunch of around €25–€45 per person; it is an easy place to sit down without losing time to another neighborhood. Afterward, walk through the Cour Carrée, the palace’s elegant inner courtyard, where the architecture is often more enjoyable than the busy pyramid area—allow about 30 minutes for photographs and a breather. Then stroll west into the Jardin des Tuileries for around 1½ hours. Find one of the green chairs beside the fountains, wander beneath the chestnut-lined paths, and resist the urge to fill the afternoon with another museum.

Late Afternoon and Evening

Finish at Angelina Paris on Rue de Rivoli, a five- to ten-minute walk from the garden, for its famously thick hot chocolate and a pastry—budget roughly €15–€30 per person. It can be crowded, so a little patience is worthwhile; if the dining room is full, take your order to go and enjoy it on a bench in the Jardin des Tuileries. Keep the evening gentle after a long museum day: browse the arcades along Rue de Rivoli or return to your hotel by Metro from Concorde, rather than adding another major sight.

Morning

From the Louvre–Tuileries area, make your way to the meeting point for Paris Rando Vélo by walking along the Seine toward Châtelet—roughly 15–25 minutes—or take Metro Line 4 from Châtelet to Saint-Michel if the group meets nearer the Latin Quarter. Allow extra time to check in, adjust the bike, and carry water; the three-hour guided ride is the day’s high-energy stretch, usually combining grand boulevards, river paths, and quieter streets. Wear comfortable shoes and avoid carrying a large backpack. Confirm the exact meeting point and start time with the operator, since guided tours commonly begin between 9:30 and 10:00.

Afternoon

After returning the bikes, have lunch around Rue de la Huchette or Rue Saint-André des Arts, then walk 10–15 minutes uphill to the Panthéon. Set aside about 1¼ hours for the vast neoclassical interior and the crypt, where figures such as Voltaire, Rousseau, and Marie Curie are buried; admission is generally around €13, with opening hours commonly from 10:00 to 18:00 or later in summer. From there, stroll down Rue Mouffetard, one of the most atmospheric food streets in the neighborhood. Browse its fruit stalls, cheese shops, bakeries, and small cafés for about an hour—late afternoon is ideal, when the street feels lived-in rather than rushed.

Evening

Continue downhill for 15–20 minutes through the Latin Quarter to Shakespeare and Company, opposite Notre-Dame. The famous bookshop is compact and wonderfully cluttered, but queues can form; browse quietly for around 45 minutes and check its current closing time, which is often around 19:30–20:00. A few doors away, take a relaxed break at Odette for its signature cream puffs and coffee—about €8–€15 per person. For dinner, cross the river and walk 10 minutes to Le Procope in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, one of Paris’s oldest restaurants. Reserve ahead, especially in August, and expect roughly €35–€60 per person; the historic dining rooms are part of the experience, so this is a good night to linger rather than add another attraction.

Morning

Leave the Latin Quarter around 8:00–8:30 and take the RER C from Saint-Michel–Notre-Dame to Versailles Château–Rive Gauche; the ride takes about 45 minutes. Check the Île-de-France Mobilités app that morning for engineering works, and buy a dedicated Versailles Château–Rive Gauche ticket rather than a standard Metro ticket—budget roughly €4.50 each way. From the station, it is a 10-minute walk to the Palace of Versailles. Arrive before the main tour groups and keep your timed ticket ready; allow around three hours for the State Apartments and the dazzling Hall of Mirrors. Palace admission varies by ticket, but a full-estate ticket is commonly around €32; security queues can still take 20–40 minutes.

Lunch and Afternoon

Walk through the formal avenues to La Flottille beside the Grand Canal for lunch, roughly 15–20 minutes from the palace depending on how much you pause for photographs. Its terrace is particularly pleasant in August, and mains generally run €25–€45 per person. After lunch, spend about two hours in the Gardens of Versailles, moving through the geometric parterres, fountains, and long tree-lined vistas; fountain and musical-garden schedules may require a small additional charge, so check the day’s programme before entering. The estate is enormous, so use the little train or rent a bicycle if you want to conserve energy—walking the entire grounds can easily add several kilometres.

Continue toward Petit Trianon and the Queen’s Hamlet, allowing another two hours. This quieter section shows a softer, more private side of the estate, with woodland paths, the neoclassical retreat, and rustic cottages around the hamlet. Wear comfortable shoes, carry water, and remember that the walk from the main palace area is substantial; the estate transport pass can be worthwhile on a hot day.

Evening

Head back to Versailles Château–Rive Gauche in the early evening and take the RER C to Saint-Michel–Notre-Dame, usually another 45 minutes. Aim to leave the estate by about 17:30–18:00 so you are back in Paris before dinner crowds and any later service reductions. Keep the evening deliberately light after the long day outdoors: a relaxed meal near the Latin Quarter and an early night will make tomorrow’s cycling day much more enjoyable.

Morning

After returning from Versailles, allow around 55–70 minutes to reach Le Marais via RER C to Saint-Michel–Notre-Dame, then Metro Line 1 to Saint-Paul. Aim to arrive around 10:30–11:00; the covered Marché des Enfants Rouges is a good first stop, with food stalls generally opening from late morning. Spend about 1½ hours grazing on Moroccan, Japanese, French and Mediterranean dishes—budget roughly €12–€25 per person. It is small and can feel crowded, so go straight to a stall with a manageable queue rather than trying to sample everything.

A 10-minute walk through the Haut-Marais, mostly along Rue de Bretagne and Rue Vieille-du-Temple, brings you to the Musée Picasso Paris in the Hôtel Salé. Allow about 1½ hours for Picasso’s paintings, drawings and ceramics, plus the building itself; check the official calendar for the exact 2026 opening hours and reserve a timed ticket if available, with admission commonly around €16. Continue south to Place des Vosges for a slower early afternoon—its arcades and central garden are ideal for a short rest, especially after the Versailles day.

Afternoon and Evening

Inside the arcades of Place des Vosges, visit Maison de Victor Hugo, the writer’s former apartment at No. 6. The collection is compact and atmospheric, usually taking about an hour; entry to the permanent collection is often free, though temporary exhibitions may charge and opening days can vary. From there, take Metro Line 8 from Chemin Vert toward Ledru-Rollin, then walk about 10 minutes to Atelier des Lumières. The immersive exhibitions run on timed slots and last roughly 1¼ hours; book ahead, as late-afternoon sessions can sell out. Expect approximately €18–€20 for admission, and avoid arriving late since entry is controlled by time slot.

Finish around Canal Saint-Martin at Le Comptoir Général, an eclectic venue with a deliberately theatrical, vintage atmosphere. It is a 15-minute walk from Atelier des Lumières, or a short taxi ride if your feet are tired. Reserve dinner for around 19:30–20:00; allow 1½ hours and budget €25–€45 per person before extra drinks. The nearby canal is pleasant for a brief post-dinner stroll, but keep the evening easy—this is already a full cultural day.

Morning

From Le Marais, leave around 9:00 and take Metro Line 1 from Saint-Paul to Concorde, then Line 8 to École Militaire; allow 35–45 minutes, plus a short walk toward the Seine. Begin at Musée du Quai Branly–Jacques Chirac, where the atmospheric garden and Indigenous art collections make for a calmer start than Paris’s major museums. Allow about two hours; it generally opens at 10:30, with admission around €12–€15, and advance tickets are sensible in August. The museum’s elevated garden walkway is worth lingering over before lunch.

Lunch and Afternoon

Walk roughly 10 minutes along Avenue de la Bourdonnais to Rue Cler, a lively market street with bakeries, cheese shops, produce stalls, and small cafés. Pick up a picnic from Boulangerie Tribolet or Davoli and eat on a bench, or settle at Café du Marché; budget €15–€30 per person. After lunch, walk about 15 minutes through the 7th arrondissement to your timed entry at the Eiffel Tower. Allow 2½ hours for security, the lifts, and time on the second floor or summit—bring your booking confirmation and avoid carrying large bags. Once back on the ground, spend about 45 minutes on Champ de Mars, where the best relaxed photographs are usually from the École Militaire end looking toward the tower.

Evening

For dinner, return to Les Ombres, on the rooftop of Musée du Quai Branly, and request a table with a direct view of the tower if possible. Expect roughly €70–€120 per person before drinks; reserve well ahead, and check the dress requirements. After dinner, take a taxi or walk about 25 minutes toward Pont de Bir-Hakeim—the riverside route is pleasant and avoids another Metro transfer. The bridge’s long perspective and steel arches create one of Paris’s most cinematic night views; allow half an hour, then return by Line 6 from Bir-Hakeim or take a taxi back to the hotel.

Morning

From the Eiffel Tower area, take Metro Line 6 from Bir-Hakeim to Montparnasse–Bienvenüe, then Line 4 to Saint-Germain-des-Prés—about 25–35 minutes with a €2.15 ticket. Start at the Musée Rodin, ideally around 9:30; it is usually open Tuesday–Sunday from 10:00 to 18:30, with last entry roughly 45 minutes before closing. Allow two hours for the former Hôtel Biron, where Rodin’s sculptures are displayed among works by Camille Claudel, and the garden, which is especially lovely in the morning. A garden-only ticket is cheaper, while the combined museum-and-garden admission is generally around €15–€16. From there, walk about 10 minutes along Rue de Varenne to Les Invalides; reserve about 90 minutes for the Army Museum and Napoleon’s monumental tomb. The dome is striking from inside, but the museum can be information-heavy, so focus on the sections that interest you rather than trying to see everything.

Lunch and Afternoon

Walk or take a short bus ride toward Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche, roughly 15–20 minutes away. Browse its beautifully designed departments for about 90 minutes, then have lunch at La Grande Épicerie de Paris next door or choose a prepared meal to eat nearby. Expect approximately €15–€35 per person; the food hall is ideal for a relaxed, flexible meal rather than a formal restaurant booking. Continue on foot through Saint-Germain-des-Prés to the Abbaye de Saint-Germain-des-Prés, about 10 minutes away. Allow 45 minutes to admire the Romanesque nave, old stonework, and quiet atmosphere; opening hours can vary around services, so check the parish schedule before setting out. Leave the rest of the afternoon deliberately open for browsing small bookshops and galleries along Rue de Buci and Rue Jacob.

Evening

For dinner, arrive at Le Relais de l’Entrecôte in Saint-Germain-des-Prés around 18:30–19:00, before the main dinner queue builds. The restaurant serves a focused steak-frites menu with its signature sauce and typically costs about €30–€45 per person. It generally does not take reservations, so an early arrival is the easiest strategy; expect a wait at peak times. After dinner, take an unhurried walk toward the Seine and enjoy the illuminated façades around Pont des Arts—a gentle ending after a full day, without adding another scheduled attraction.

Morning

Leave your hotel with luggage stored or checked out, ideally by 8:30–9:00, and take Metro Line 8 from Invalides or Bastille toward Ledru-Rollin. Begin at Marché d’Aligre, one of Paris’s most characterful morning markets: the outdoor stalls on Place d’Aligre are best for fruit, cheese, spices, and edible gifts, while the covered market adds a more local, old-fashioned atmosphere. Allow about 1½ hours and €10–€25 per person. Most stalls are busiest before midday; check the opening days before setting out, as the market generally closes on Mondays and some vendors finish early.

From Marché d’Aligre, it is a short walk toward the former railway arches of the Promenade Plantée. Enter near Avenue Daumesnil and stroll west along the elevated gardens toward Bastille for about an hour. It is an easy, shaded final walk through planted terraces, with occasional views over courtyards and rooftops; keep your luggage light, since some entrances and exits involve stairs. Rather than returning to the hotel, arrange for your bags to be collected or use a staffed luggage-storage service near your accommodation before continuing.

Midday and Departure

Take Metro Line 5 from Bastille toward Jaurès, then walk or continue toward La Villette and the Canal de l’Ourcq—allow roughly 25–35 minutes. Settle at a canalside café such as Paname Brewing Company for a final coffee, light lunch, or non-alcoholic drink overlooking the water; budget about €12–€25 per person and allow an hour. This is deliberately low-key, so leave a little buffer for a last sit-down rather than trying to fit in another museum or monument. If you are travelling with checked luggage, avoid carrying valuables openly and keep passports and electronics in your day bag.

For Charles de Gaulle Airport, leave central Paris 3½–4 hours before your Mumbai flight. With luggage, a pre-booked taxi from La Villette is the simplest option and usually takes about 45–75 minutes, costing roughly €55–€70 depending on traffic; ask the driver to confirm the correct terminal for your airline. The cheaper alternative is to reach Châtelet–Les Halles and take RER B directly to the airport, around 35–50 minutes and approximately €13, but allow extra time for the transfer and ticket machines. At the airport, international check-in, security, and immigration can take considerably longer in summer, so head straight to your airline’s terminal rather than lingering in the public area.