option 7 of 10 — the city of love
Paris
France
The city of love — because some clichés are true, and this is the best one.
Estimated Cost
$3,800 – $4,800
Length
7 Days / 6 Nights
Getting There
~8.5 hrs direct from Minneapolis (MSP → CDG)
Best Time to Go
April – June, September – October
The Trip
A full week in Paris, done slowly: morning croissants, museums without rushing, a candlelit dinner cruise on the Seine, a day among the fountains of Versailles, and evenings when the Eiffel Tower sparkles on the hour. The most romantic city on Earth, for the two of us.
The Real Budget
For both of us, flights from Minneapolis included. Prices are realistic planning estimates — exact fares move with the season.
| Item | Details | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Round-trip flights | MSP → Paris CDG, 2 travelers, direct | $1,400 |
| Boutique hotel | 6 nights in the Latin Quarter / Marais (~$180/night) | $1,080 |
| Metro passes & transfers | Navigo week passes + airport train | $120 |
| Food & wine | Boulangerie mornings, bistro dinners, one splurge (~$120/day) | $840 |
| Museums & Versailles | Louvre + Orsay + Versailles day trip, for two | $150 |
| Seine dinner cruise | Candlelit dinner cruise past Notre-Dame, for two | $180 |
| Eiffel Tower summit | Evening summit tickets, for two | $80 |
| Souvenirs & wiggle room | Macarons won't buy themselves | $150 |
| Estimated total for two | $4,000 | |
| Comfortably under our $5,000 budget — $1,000 of breathing room for spontaneous ice cream. | ||
Where We'd Stay
Real places, checked against the budget — tap any of them to look around.
Latin Quarter (5th arr.)
Hôtel Monge
Romantic boutique hotel
A jewel-box boutique steps from Rue Mouffetard's market street and the Seine.
Visit their site ↗Le Marais (4th arr.)
Hôtel Jeanne d'Arc
Classic Marais small hotel
Quiet lane around the corner from Place des Vosges — Paris charm at a sane price.
Visit their site ↗Our Week, Day by Day
Day 1Overnight to Paris
Evening direct flight from MSP. Dinner and a movie at 35,000 feet — the honeymoon starts at the gate, and tomorrow we wake up in France.
Moment of the day: A toast somewhere over the Atlantic
Day 2Bonjour, Montmartre
Land in the morning, drop the bags, and keep moving to beat the jet lag: climb Montmartre to Sacré-Cœur, wander the artists' square, and eat an early bistro dinner before collapsing happily.
Moment of the day: All of Paris at our feet from Sacré-Cœur
Day 3The Louvre & a night on the Seine
Morning with the Mona Lisa and the Winged Victory (and a plan to get lost on purpose), an afternoon nap like civilized people, then a candlelit dinner cruise on the Seine as the city lights up.
Moment of the day: Notre-Dame drifting past over dessert
Day 4Eiffel Tower day
Musée d'Orsay in the morning — the impressionists, in the light they painted — picnic on the Champ de Mars, and evening tickets to the summit of the Eiffel Tower for the hourly sparkle.
Moment of the day: The tower sparkling while we're on top of it
Day 5Versailles
Day trip to the Palace of Versailles — the Hall of Mirrors, the endless gardens, bikes between the fountains — followed by a quiet dinner back in our neighborhood.
Moment of the day: Waltzing (badly) in the Hall of Mirrors
Day 6Le Marais & the last supper
Slow morning in Place des Vosges, falafel in the Marais, shopping for things we don't need, and the anniversary dinner: the one restaurant we booked months ago.
Moment of the day: The dinner we'll compare all dinners to
Day 7Un dernier croissant
One last café breakfast — croissant, café crème, people-watching — a walk along the Seine, and the afternoon flight home, insufferably in love with Paris.
Moment of the day: Deciding out loud we'll be back
is it this one?
Compare them all, or peek at the next option.
Destination photography via Wikimedia Commons — photo credits.