Our Paris & London Christmas Itinerary: A Slow Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

This wasn’t a “see everything” kind of trip — and that was intentional. I traveled with my mom and cousin, and we wanted to experience Paris and London without sprinting from one attraction to the next. We planned a flexible itinerary with one main activity per day, room to wander, and time to actually enjoy where we were. If you’re the kind of traveler who values slow mornings, long walks, and breathing room, this itinerary is for you.

How We Structured the Trip

We split our time between Paris → London → Paris, which worked perfectly since my mom and cousin flew in and out of Paris.

• 3 days in Paris

• 4 days in London

• 6 days back in Paris

This trip took place over Christmas and New Year’s, so we planned around the holidays and avoided travel on Christmas Day. We also limited how many times we moved accommodations — packing up only three times total kept things relaxed.

Getting between cities:
We took the Eurostar train both ways, which was incredibly easy and comfortable.
👉 Link to Eurostar booking page
👉 Link to similar travel backpack & suitcase I used

Paris: Part One (3 Days)

Where we stayed: 7th arrondissement, near Hôtel des Invalides
👉 We booked this place through VRBO

This area was one of our favorite places to stay — walkable, safe, and full of amazing restaurants.

Day 1: Arrival + Evening Walk

• Checked into our VRBO

• Walked to Arc de Triomphe

• Browsed Galeries Lafayette

• Dinner on Rue du Champ de Mars (we ate here almost every night)

Day 2: Museums & Christmas Atmosphere

• Breakfast near Trocadéro

• Christmas decorations at Galeries Lafayette

• Rodin Museum + Musée de l’Armée (combo ticket)

• Dinner nearby (Tribeca — highly recommend)

Day 3: Classic Paris

• Hot chocolate at Carette

• Walked through Petit Palais & Grand Palais

• Tuileries Garden Christmas Market + Ferris wheel

• Louvre Museum (2:30 pm entry)
  👉 Link to Louvre tickets

London (4 Days)

Where we stayed: South Kensington
👉 Link to neighborhood guide

Day 4: Travel Day + Lights

• Eurostar to London

• Trafalgar Square walk

• Italian dinner in the Theatre District

• Piccadilly Circus Christmas lights

Day 5: London Classics

• London Eye

• Walked through Westminster

• Buckingham Palace

• Pub lunch

• St. Paul’s Cathedral Christmas Eve service

• Dinner at The Ivy Asia (Chelsea)
  👉 Link to The Ivy Asia, Chelsea reservations

Day 6: Christmas Day

• Cooked brunch in our VRBO

• Walked through Kensington Gardens

• Notting Hill stroll

• Cozy night in (highly recommend planning this!)

Day 7: Gardens, Tea & Shopping

• Kew Gardens

• Afternoon tea at The Stafford

• Shopping at Harrods

• Pub night at The Churchill Arms

Paris: Part Two (6 Days)

Where we stayed: 10th arrondissement (near Gare de l’Est)
👉 We booked this place through Airbnb

Day 8: Return to Paris

• Eurostar back

• Dinner near our Airbnb (so many options — wander!)

Day 9: Champagne Day Trip

• Early train to Reims

• Veuve Clicquot tour

• Ruinart tour

• Late train back to Paris
  👉 Link to Veuve Clicquot & Ruinart

Day 10: Art & Wandering

• Musée de l’Orangerie

• Vintage shopping near Hôtel de Ville

• Notre Dame exterior

• Dinner by wandering (always the best choice)

Day 11: Versailles

• Versailles Palace (1:30 pm entry)
  👉 Link to Versailles tickets

• Early dinner in Versailles village

Day 12: Pastries + New Year’s Eve

• Pastry-making class in the morning
  👉 We booked this through Airbnb Experiences

• Walk to Sacré-Cœur

• Dinner at Bianca

• New Year’s Eve cabaret show

Day 13: New Year’s Day

• Musée d’Orsay

• Eiffel Tower

• Final dinner on Rue du Champ de Mars

• Sparkle show at the Eiffel Tower

Day 14: Departure

• Flight back home

Final Thoughts

This trip was exactly what we needed — slow, intentional, and full of moments we actually remember. We didn’t see everything, and that’s what made it so special. There was room for rest, wandering, and just being together, which is something I’ll always value more than checking off landmarks.

If you’re planning your first Paris and London trip, this itinerary gives you a realistic structure without the burnout — and I’ll be sharing more in-depth itineraries for Paris and London next.

If you enjoyed this, check out my other posts and my socials for some fun highlights!

👉 What I Pack for a Weekend Trip in Europe
👉 Travel Essentials I Swear By
👉 Instagram link for trip highlights