Dates are flexible. This day-by-day plan is provisional until you choose exact travel dates.
After checking in and dropping your bags, head to Hôtel des Invalides for a first taste of Paris at an unhurried pace. Allow about 1.5 hours for Napoleon’s monumental tomb and the Army Museum; galleries typically close in the early evening, so check the day’s hours before setting out. Admission is roughly €15, with concessions and ticket options varying. From central Paris, the easiest approach is Métro line 8 to La Tour-Maubourg or line 13 to Invalides.
Walk toward the Seine and take around 30 minutes to cross Pont Alexandre III, pausing for the gilded details and broad river views. It’s especially lovely as the light softens; keep an eye out for cyclists and traffic at the bridge approaches. Continue west along the river toward Café de l’Alma for dinner near the Eiffel Tower. Budget about €50–80 per person, and reserve if you can—especially if you’re hoping for a relaxed table at a popular time.
Finish at the Eiffel Tower and enjoy its sparkle from the Champ de Mars, or take a timed-ticket ascent if you’ve booked ahead. Allow 1.5–2 hours; summit and lift tickets vary by access and age, and evening slots can sell out, so reserve directly in advance. From dinner, it’s a pleasant walk of roughly 15–20 minutes. If you’re tired after travelling, admire the tower from the grounds and save the climb for another day.
Set aside about three hours for the Musée du Louvre—and choose a few highlights rather than trying to conquer the whole collection. Reserve a timed-entry ticket in advance; admission is roughly €22–32, depending on the applicable rate. The museum is generally open 9am–6pm and closed on Tuesdays, with some later evening openings; check the official schedule before you go. Once inside, follow your chosen route between galleries and leave time for the building itself: the grand rooms are part of the experience.
For lunch, take a break at Le Café Marly, tucked beneath the Louvre’s arcades beside the pyramid. Expect around €35–60 per person; ask for a terrace table if the weather’s kind, though the prime views can make it busy. Afterwards, stroll through the Jardin des Tuileries for about an hour, following its sculpture-lined paths west toward Place de la Concorde. Allow roughly 30 minutes to take in the square and its broad views along the historic axis; the whole Louvre-to-Concorde walk is easy on foot, with plenty of benches for a pause.
Continue west along the Champs-Élysées to Ladurée Champs-Élysées for macarons, tea or a light supper (about €25–50 per person). It’s roughly a 15-minute walk from Place de la Concorde; if your feet need a rest, take Metro line 1 from Concorde to Franklin D. Roosevelt. Salons and kitchen hours can vary, so check before settling in—especially if you’re planning supper rather than just a sweet stop.
Start at Basilique du Sacré-Cœur, which usually opens daily from early morning until late evening; entry to the basilica is free, while climbing the dome costs extra. Give yourself about 1.5 hours to admire the mosaics and take in the view over Paris. The climb up Montmartre is steep, so wear comfortable shoes; the funicular from Place Saint-Pierre is a handy alternative to the steps. Continue on foot to Place du Tertre—allow around 45 minutes to browse the artists’ square and its surrounding lanes. It’s liveliest in the morning, when you can watch painters at work before the crowds thicken.
Settle in at Le Consulat for a classic Montmartre bistro lunch; budget roughly €25–45 per person, and expect a wait at busy times. After lunch, walk to Musée de Montmartre, a quieter look at the neighborhood’s artistic past in a former artists’ residence. Plan about 1.5 hours, including the gardens. Opening days and hours can vary, so check ahead before setting out; admission is typically around €15–20.
For a glamorous finish, head downhill toward Moulin Rouge in Pigalle for a reserved cabaret performance. Shows are usually around 9pm and 11pm, with the experience taking roughly 2–3 hours; tickets can range from about €100 to well over €200 depending on seating and whether dinner is included. Book ahead, check the dress guidance on your ticket, and take the Metro or a taxi back afterward if you’re tired—the venue is close to Blanche Metro station.
Once you’ve checked in and dropped your bags, make Kapellbrücke your easy first stop: it’s right by the station and a lovely 30-minute introduction to Lucerne, especially when the light catches the painted panels and the water below. Then cross into the Old Town and take an unhurried loop around Weinmarkt, where painted façades and narrow lanes reward a little wandering. Allow about an hour; both areas are compact and best explored on foot.
Walk or take a short taxi ride to Wirtshaus Galliker, a much-loved family-run spot near the Old Town, for traditional Swiss cooking—budget around CHF 35–60 per person. Try a local speciality such as Luzerner Chügelipastete if it’s on the menu. Dinner hours and opening days can vary, so check ahead and reserve, particularly if you arrive later in the afternoon.
Head to the pier beside Luzern Bahnhof for a Lake Lucerne cruise. Choose a sailing toward Vitznau so the boat journey leads naturally to your next stop; allow roughly 2–3 hours on the water, depending on the service. Swiss boat schedules vary by season, so check the timetable before setting out and coordinate it with the mountain railway. A one-way boat-and-rail route is often more rewarding than doubling back, but confirm your ticket covers each leg; fares vary by route and pass eligibility.
At Vitznau, board the historic cogwheel railway up Mount Rigi to Rigi Kulm. The full outing, including transfers and time at the summit, can take 3–5 hours, so check the final descent and return connections before you go. At the top, take an easy wander along the marked paths for wide Alpine and lake views; bring a warm layer, since it can feel much cooler and windier above the lake. If you’d like more time on the summit, keep the cruise route and departure time flexible.
Return to Lucerne and settle in for dinner at Old Swiss House, near the Lion Monument. Its historic wood-panelled dining room makes a lovely finale to a day outdoors; budget around CHF 50–90 per person, and reserve ahead, especially for dinner. The restaurant’s opening days and hours can vary, so check when booking—and leave enough time for the trip back from Rigi.
Leave Lucerne early: today’s rail journey takes roughly 6–7.5 hours, so an early departure gives you the best chance of enjoying Venice before dinner. The planned route is via Milan; check the day’s connections and leave a comfortable buffer between trains there. After arriving at Venezia Santa Lucia, continue to your hotel by vaporetto or water taxi, depending on its location, and drop your bags before heading back to the water.
Get your first feel for the city on the Grand Canal: take a vaporetto ride from near the station toward the historic centre, allowing around 45–60 minutes to glide past the palazzi and get your bearings. A standard vaporetto ticket is typically about €9.50 for 75 minutes, though fares can change; check current options before boarding. From there, walk through San Polo to the Rialto Bridge—allow about 45 minutes to cross, take in the canal views and wander the narrow lanes nearby. Venice is easiest on foot, but expect bridges and steps; comfortable shoes will make this first stroll much more enjoyable.
Head into Castello for dinner at Osteria alle Testiere, a small, intimate seafood restaurant where the menu follows the day’s catch. Budget around €60–100 per person and reserve ahead if possible; it’s popular and has limited seating. From the Rialto area, allow roughly 20–25 minutes on foot, or take a vaporetto part of the way and finish with a short walk through the lanes.
Start at Doge’s Palace in Piazza San Marco; allow 2–3 hours for the grand council chambers, courtyards and the route across the Bridge of Sighs. It generally opens daily from around 9am, but hours and ticket arrangements can change—book ahead, especially in busy periods. Tickets are roughly €30–35, with some combined options available. Continue next door to St. Mark’s Basilica for its golden mosaics and Byzantine details; set aside 1–1.5 hours and check current entry rules and timed-entry options before you go. Modest clothing is required, and bags may need to be left at a designated deposit point.
Take a well-earned pause at Caffè Florian, right on the square: the historic rooms and live music are part of the occasion, and coffee typically costs about €15–30 per person. Then walk west along the waterfront and through Dorsoduro to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection—around 20–25 minutes on foot, or take a vaporetto if you’d rather save your legs. Give the palazzo and its modern-art collection 1.5–2 hours; it is generally open Wednesday to Monday, with Tuesday closures, so confirm the schedule before setting out. Admission is usually around €16–18.
Cross toward San Polo for dinner at Cantina Do Spade, a relaxed bacaro for Venetian cicchetti and small plates; budget about €25–45 per person. It’s a good place to order several dishes to share rather than commit to a formal multi-course meal. From Dorsoduro, allow roughly 20–30 minutes on foot, depending on your route and how often Venice persuades you to stop for a view.
After arriving and checking in, take a taxi or prearranged transfer from Roma Termini to your hotel, then leave time to settle in. Aim to reach Piazza Navona in the early afternoon for an easy first stroll around its fountains and Baroque façades; allow about 45 minutes. From the station area, a taxi is usually the simplest option with luggage, while buses can be slower in central traffic.
Walk about 10 minutes through the historic center to the Pantheon. Allow 45–60 minutes to admire its vast dome and the light falling through the oculus; check current opening hours, ticket requirements and entry rules before you go, as these can change. Finish nearby at Armando al Pantheon, a much-loved traditional trattoria for Roman classics such as carbonara and amatriciana. Expect roughly €40–70 per person; book ahead, and leave a little flexibility in your arrival time if the afternoon stroll runs long.
Start at the Colosseum with a timed-entry ticket booked in advance; allow about 1.5–2 hours to explore the arena and its history. Arrive a little before your slot for security checks, and bring water—there’s limited shade inside. Tickets and combined-site options vary by date and access, so check the official booking details before you go.
Continue on foot to the adjoining Roman Forum, the ancient city’s former civic heart, then head up to Palatine Hill for imperial-palace ruins and broad views over the Forum. Give each site roughly 1.5–2 hours and 1–1.5 hours respectively; the terrain is uneven, so comfortable shoes are essential. A combined ticket commonly covers the archaeological area, but inclusions, prices and opening hours can change. Take a relaxed lunch break nearby rather than rushing through the whole complex.
For dinner, reserve ahead at Roscioli Salumeria con Cucina, near Campo de’ Fiori. It’s a fitting final feast in Rome: excellent cured meats and cheeses alongside beautifully made pasta. Budget around €50–90 per person, depending on what you order; confirm the reservation and menu details directly, and consider a taxi if you’re ready to put your feet up after the archaeological sites.
Take a gentle final wander through Campo de’ Fiori. If the market is operating, browse the produce and flower stalls; otherwise, linger over the square’s cafés and watch the neighborhood wake up. Allow about 45 minutes, then stop at Forno Campo de’ Fiori, right by the square, for pastries or pizza bianca—typically around €5–15 per person for a light breakfast.
If your departure time allows, walk to Galleria Doria Pamphilj on Via del Corso for one last dose of Rome’s art and palazzo grandeur. Allow about 1.5 hours; check current opening times, admission prices and any timed-entry requirements before you go, and don’t cut it close if you have a flight to catch.
Arrange a car or taxi from central Rome to Rome Fiumicino Airport; the drive is roughly 45–75 minutes, but traffic can add time. Leave generously for the journey, airline check-in and security—especially during busy periods—and confirm your pickup point and fare with your driver or hotel before setting off.
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