7-Day Europe Trip from Ottawa

Morning — Ottawa to London and into the city

Take an overnight flight from Ottawa International Airport to London Heathrow, allowing roughly eight hours in the air plus immigration and baggage collection. After arriving, follow signs for the Heathrow Express; trains reach Paddington Station in about 15 minutes and run frequently, though the Tube is cheaper if you are travelling light. From Paddington, take the Circle or Hammersmith & City line toward the City, or leave luggage at your hotel before continuing. With the overnight flight and airport formalities, keep the morning easy and expect to reach central London around midday or early afternoon.

Afternoon — St Paul’s and the Thames

Head first to St Paul’s Cathedral in the City of London, ideally after a quick coffee and something substantial to eat. Allow about 1½ hours to see the nave, dome and crypt; general admission is usually around £25–£30 when booked online, and opening hours commonly run from late morning into the afternoon on sightseeing days, so check the official calendar before travelling. From there, walk down through Paternoster Square and across Millennium Bridge—a particularly good first London panorama, with St Paul’s Cathedral behind you and Tate Modern and the Thames ahead. The crossing takes only 10–15 minutes, but linger for photographs and the changing river views.

Late Afternoon and Evening — Borough Market and Tate Modern

Continue along the south bank to Borough Market, roughly a 15-minute walk from Millennium Bridge. It is an ideal arrival-day meal stop: browse slowly and choose from excellent stalls rather than committing to a formal restaurant, budgeting about £15–£30 per person. Market hours vary by day and individual trader, and stalls generally wind down by early evening, so do not leave this too late. Finish at Tate Modern, immediately beside the river, for about 1½ hours among its modern-art collections. The main collection is free, while special exhibitions cost extra; check closing time for your date, as galleries often stay open later on Friday and Saturday than on other evenings. Afterward, take the Jubilee line from Southwark or a Thameslink service from Blackfriars, or simply return by taxi if jet lag has caught up with you.

Morning

Start at Westminster Abbey when it opens—typically around 9:30 a.m. on weekdays, though hours and services can change—so you have about 90 minutes inside before the crowds build. Allow roughly £30–£35 for adult admission, and check the official calendar because the abbey occasionally closes for ceremonies. From Westminster Station, it is an easy walk; once inside, focus on the Coronation Chair, Poets’ Corner, and the medieval chapels rather than trying to see every memorial.

Walk north through Parliament Square and along Whitehall toward Buckingham Palace, taking in the ceremonial sweep of The Mall. The palace exterior is free to view, while the State Rooms are generally open only during the summer season and require advance tickets; for this visit, 45 minutes is enough to see the forecourt, gates, and nearby avenues. Continue into St James’s Park for a gentler midday walk around the lake—look for the pelicans near the eastern end and the classic view toward the palace from the Blue Bridge.

Lunch and Afternoon

Take the Tube from St James’s Park or walk toward South Kensington for lunch at Dishoom Kensington, near Derry Street. Expect about £25–£40 per person, and arrive before noon or after 1:30 p.m. if possible, since queues are common and reservations are limited. Order a few dishes to share—black daal, biryani, or a bacon naan roll—and allow about an hour. From there, walk roughly 10 minutes to the Natural History Museum; entry to the permanent galleries is free, although timed tickets are sensible and special exhibitions cost extra. Spend two hours with the dinosaur displays, Hintze Hall, and the Earth galleries. The museum usually closes around 5:50 p.m., with last entry earlier, so do not leave it too late.

Early Evening

Finish in Notting Hill, reached from South Kensington by the District or Circle line to Notting Hill Gate in about 10–15 minutes. Wander west toward Portobello Road, then turn onto the quieter residential streets around Lancaster Road and Elgin Crescent for the colorful façades and independent shops. The famous market is liveliest on Saturdays, so on this Wednesday evening the neighborhood is better for a relaxed stroll than browsing stalls. Keep dinner flexible here: The Ledbury is a destination for a reservation, while The Churchill Arms is a lively pub option nearby, though it can be busy. Expect London’s central transit fares to be covered easily with contactless payment or an Oyster card; comfortable shoes matter, as much of today works best on foot.

Early Afternoon — Anne Frank House

After arriving at Amsterdam Centraal, take tram 13 or 17 toward Westermarkt, or walk west for about 25 minutes along the canals. Head straight to the Anne Frank House in the Jordaan for your timed entry—tickets are online-only and usually sell out well in advance. Allow about 1½ hours for the cramped hiding place and moving exhibition; it is a quiet, emotionally heavy visit, so avoid planning anything too tightly afterward. Bags larger than a small purse generally cannot enter, and the steep stairs make the museum unsuitable for wheeled luggage.

Mid-Afternoon — Jordaan

You are already in the best part of Jordaan, so spend the next 90 minutes wandering without a checklist. Follow Prinsengracht and Egelantiersgracht, ducking into small galleries, design shops, and brown cafés around Westerstraat and Noordermarkt. For a coffee break, Café ’t Smalle on Egelantiersgracht is a classic canal-side stop; alternatively, Winkel 43 near Noordermarkt is famous for apple pie. Keep some flexibility here—the charm is in the quiet side streets rather than racing between landmarks.

Evening — Dutch Dinner and Rijksmuseum

For dinner, walk or take tram 2, 12, or 17 toward Leidseplein and settle into The Pantry, a reliable introduction to Dutch comfort food. Expect roughly €25–€40 per person; try stamppot, hachee, or bitterballen, and reserve if possible because the compact dining room fills quickly. Afterward, continue by tram 2 or 12, or walk about 20 minutes through Vondelpark, to the Rijksmuseum in the Museum Quarter. Check the dated timetable before relying on an evening visit—last entry is commonly around 4:30 p.m., although special late-opening events can vary. If your ticket is available, allow two hours for the Gallery of Honour and highlights such as Rembrandt and Vermeer; if not, enjoy the lit exterior and save the museum for another Amsterdam visit rather than forcing an overcrowded schedule.

Morning — Canal lanes and a hidden courtyard

Begin around 9:00 a.m. in De Negen Straatjes, the compact “Nine Streets” district between the main canals. Wander along Wolvenstraat, Oude Spiegelstraat, and Hartenstraat, where independent fashion, vintage, design, and specialty shops generally open from about 10:00 a.m. The best pleasure here is unhurried: cross the bridges, look back along the canal houses, and stop for coffee at Pluk if you want something light. From the district, walk about 10 minutes to Begijnhof, entering through the discreet passage near Spui. This peaceful former beguinage is free and usually open from roughly 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; keep voices low, since it remains a residential courtyard. Allow about 30 minutes, including a look at the wooden Houten Huys and the English Reformed church.

Lunch and afternoon

Walk 15–20 minutes east toward Café de Jaren on the Amstel, or take tram 4 from Rokin toward Waterlooplein and walk the final few minutes. Its large, airy dining room and broad waterside terrace make it a good midday pause; expect approximately €20–35 per person for lunch, and ask for a canal-facing table if the terrace is open. After lunch, continue about 10 minutes on foot to the Rembrandt House Museum in the Jodenbuurt. The house and studio are typically open around 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.; admission is usually about €20–25, with timed tickets recommended. Give yourself 90 minutes to see the reconstructed interiors, etchings, and working spaces rather than rushing through the collection.

Late afternoon and evening

From Rembrandt House Museum, walk roughly 20 minutes along the waterfront to NEMO Science Museum in Oosterdok. The rooftop is free to enter even if you do not visit the galleries, though the museum itself generally charges around €18–20 and is usually open until about 5:30 p.m.; check the date-specific hours before relying on a late visit. The sloping roof gives one of the city’s best open views over the harbor and historic center, so allow 45–90 minutes here. Finish with an evening Amsterdam canal cruise, departing from the central waterfront or nearby canal docks. Cruises last about 1.5 hours and commonly cost €20–35; book a departure around 7:00–8:00 p.m. so you see the city shift from daylight to illuminated bridges. Bring a light layer—even summer evenings on the water can feel cool—and choose a covered boat if rain is forecast.

Late Morning — Galeries Lafayette Haussmann

After arriving at Paris Gare du Nord, take Metro line 4 to Châtelet, change to line 8 or 9, and get off at Opéra—allow about 20–25 minutes—or take a taxi if you have luggage. Head first to Galeries Lafayette Haussmann, where the Belle Époque glass dome and upper-floor terraces are worth seeing even if you are not shopping. The main store generally opens around 10:00 a.m.; allow an hour to browse and visit the rooftop panorama, which is usually free and offers a fine first look across the Paris rooftops. Keep valuables secure in this busy area, particularly around the metro and department-store entrances.

Midday — Palais Garnier and lunch at Bouillon Chartier

Walk a few minutes along Rue Scribe to the Palais Garnier, Paris’s lavish 19th-century opera house. A self-guided visit takes roughly 1–1½ hours and includes the Grand Foyer, grand staircase, and ornate salons; opening times vary with performances, so reserve an official timed ticket in advance, typically around €15–€20. From there, stroll north through the Grands Boulevards to Bouillon Chartier, a historic dining room known for fast, inexpensive traditional food such as steak-frites, eggs mayonnaise, and profiteroles. Expect approximately €15–€30 per person; queues are common, but the restaurant moves quickly and does not usually take reservations.

Afternoon and Evening — Arc de Triomphe and Eiffel Tower

After lunch, take Metro line 9 from Grands Boulevards to Franklin D. Roosevelt, then walk along the Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe—about 20–25 minutes total. Climb to the terrace for the best understanding of Paris’s radiating avenues; admission is generally around €16, and the monument usually stays open into the evening, though the final ascent is earlier. Continue by Metro line 6 from Charles de Gaulle–Étoile to Trocadéro, arriving above the Eiffel Tower for the classic view before crossing to the tower and Champ de Mars. Reserve tower access well ahead, especially for the summit; allow about two hours including security and lifts. Stay for the evening illumination—the tower sparkles for five minutes at the start of each hour after dark—then return from Bir-Hakeim or Trocadéro by Metro, or use a taxi if it is late.

Morning — Musée du Louvre

Start early at the Musée du Louvre, ideally arriving around 9:00 a.m. when it opens; the museum is generally closed on Tuesdays, but check the official calendar and reserve a timed ticket in advance. Allow about three hours, focusing on a manageable route through the Denon wing for the Mona Lisa, Winged Victory of Samothrace, and Venus de Milo, rather than trying to cover the entire museum. Admission is roughly €22, and the nearest Metro stops are Palais Royal–Musée du Louvre and Louvre–Rivoli. Wear comfortable shoes—the distances inside are surprisingly long.

Early Afternoon — Le Marais and lunch at L’As du Fallafel

From the Louvre, take Metro line 1 from Palais Royal–Musée du Louvre to Saint-Paul, or walk east for about 25–30 minutes through the central city. Spend roughly 90 minutes wandering Le Marais, especially Rue des Rosiers, Rue des Francs-Bourgeois, and the quieter lanes around the historic Hôtel de Sully. For lunch, stop at L’As du Fallafel on Rue des Rosiers for its generous pita falafel—expect about €10–20 per person. It is casual and often busy; takeaway is usually faster, and hours can change, so check before setting out.

Afternoon and Evening — Place des Vosges, Sacré-Cœur Basilica, and Montmartre

Walk or take Metro line 8 from Saint-Paul toward Bastille, then continue a few minutes to Place des Vosges, one of Paris’s most beautiful squares. Sit beneath the arcades or on the lawns for about 45 minutes before heading north: from Bastille, Metro line 5 to Gare du Nord followed by line 4 to Barbès–Rochechouart is practical, with a final uphill walk to Sacré-Cœur Basilica. The basilica is free and usually open into the evening; climbing the dome costs extra, but the terrace already gives a memorable city panorama. Afterward, spend about 90 minutes exploring Montmartre around Rue de l’Abreuvoir, Place du Tertre, and Rue des Abbesses. Go beyond the busiest artist square for a more atmospheric feel, and use the funicular if the hill is tiring. For dinner, choose a small bistro around Rue des Abbesses rather than eating directly beside the basilica, where prices and crowds are heavier.

Morning — Musée de l’Orangerie

Start with Musée de l’Orangerie in the Tuileries Garden, ideally around opening time—usually 9:00 a.m., though confirm the September schedule before you go. The museum’s highlight is Claude Monet’s Water Lilies, displayed across two softly lit oval rooms; it is a calm, fitting final Paris stop and needs only about 90 minutes. Admission is generally around €12, with reduced rates or combination tickets sometimes available. Reserve a timed entry if offered, and leave your hotel with luggage arrangements already settled, since large bags are not convenient here.

Late Morning — Café de Flore

Walk or take Metro line 12 from Concorde toward Saint-Germain-des-Prés, allowing roughly 20–25 minutes door to door. Settle at Café de Flore on Boulevard Saint-Germain for a classic Parisian breakfast or early lunch—coffee, tartines, eggs, or a croque monsieur—and expect approximately €20–€40 per person. It is famously polished and busy, so service may be leisurely; sit outside if the weather is good, but keep valuables close on the terrace.

Midday — Luxembourg Gardens

From Café de Flore, walk south through Saint-Germain-des-Prés to Luxembourg Gardens in about 15 minutes. Spend your final hour strolling around the central basin and tree-lined paths, with the Luxembourg Palace as a backdrop. Entry to the gardens is free, but opening and closing times vary by season and weather; allow a little flexibility rather than trying to cover every corner. This is a good place to pause before the airport, especially if your flight is later in the afternoon or evening.

Afternoon/Evening — Paris–Ottawa return flight

From Luxembourg Gardens, collect your bags and leave central Paris about three hours before departure, earlier if checking luggage or travelling during a busy period. The most economical route to Charles de Gaulle Airport is RER B from Luxembourg station, taking roughly 40–50 minutes; allow extra time for stairs, transfers, and occasional service disruptions. A taxi or official airport car service is more comfortable with luggage and usually takes 45–75 minutes depending on traffic—use only the regulated flat-fare taxis from official ranks. Plan for airport check-in, security, and Canadian customs formalities, then allow approximately 7–8 hours for the flight to Ottawa International Airport.