One week is enough to see Paris plus one region — and doing it that way costs far less than a week in the capital alone. Here are three budget itineraries with day-by-day breakdowns and real costs (excluding international flights).
🗼 Itinerary 1: Paris + Loire Valley (Classic)
| Day | Where | Highlights | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Paris | Louvre, Eiffel, Montmartre, Seine | €85/day |
| 4 | Train to Amboise | Château, old town | €60 |
| 5 | Loire châteaux | Chenonceau, Chambord | €55 |
| 6–7 | Back to Paris | Versailles day trip, markets | €75/day |
Week total: ~€560–650 (budget style, excluding flights).
🍷 Itinerary 2: Paris + Lyon (Food & Value)
| Day | Where | Highlights | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Paris | Major sights, free museum Sunday | €85/day |
| 4 | TGV to Lyon (2h) | Vieux Lyon, traboules | €45 (train) + €60 |
| 5–6 | Lyon | Bouchon dining, markets, parks | €65/day |
| 7 | Day trip / return | Beaujolais or Pérouges | €55 |
Week total: ~€520–600. The best-value option — Lyon's food scene is unbeatable for the price.
🏖️ Itinerary 3: Paris + Provence (South)
| Day | Where | Highlights | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Paris | Highlights sprint | €85/day |
| 3 | TGV to Avignon (2.5h) | Palais des Papes, old town | €55 (train) + €60 |
| 4–5 | Provence | Arles, Pont du Gard, villages | €70/day |
| 6–7 | Marseille | Calanques, Vieux-Port, seafood | €65/day |
Week total: ~€600–720. Best for warm weather and coast.
💡 Itinerary Tips
- Book TGV trains early — Paris–Lyon €25 booked ahead vs €90+ walk-up
- Base in fewer places — 2 cities in a week beats 4 (less transport, less stress)
- Open-jaw flights — fly into Paris, out of Nice/Marseille to avoid backtracking
- Free museum Sunday — time your Paris days around the first Sunday
- Eat the lunch formule — your biggest daily saving