10 Days in Europe: Paris, Barcelona & Rome

Arrive at Charles de Gaulle or Orly airport. Take the RER B (€11.45, 35 min) or Roissybus (€16.20) to central Paris. Check into your hotel in the Marais or Saint-Germain-des-Pres neighborhood — both are central and charming. After freshening up, take a gentle orientation walk along the Seine. Cross Pont des Arts, stroll past the Louvre's glass pyramid, and end at the Tuileries Garden. For dinner, find a classic bistro in the 6th arrondissement — try duck confit and a glass of Bordeaux. End the evening at the Eiffel Tower to see the hourly sparkle show (free, every hour on the hour after dark).

Meal Budget: Bistro dinner in Saint-Germain (€25-40/person)

Start early at the Eiffel Tower with pre-booked summit tickets (€35, book 2 months ahead). Descend and walk across Champ de Mars to Les Invalides, where Napoleon's tomb rests under a golden dome. After lunch at a Left Bank cafe, spend the afternoon at the Musee d'Orsay (€18) — the world's finest Impressionist collection in a stunning converted railway station. Monet's water lilies, Renoir's dancers, and Van Gogh's self-portraits will leave you speechless. Cross the river for evening drinks at a Marais wine bar, then wander through the illuminated streets of Ile de la Cite past Notre-Dame (exterior only during reconstruction).

Meal Budget: Left Bank cafe lunch (€15-20) + Marais wine bar (€20-30)

Dedicate the morning to the Louvre (€22). With 35,000 artworks across 72,000 square meters, you cannot see everything — focus on the "Big Three" (Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Winged Victory of Samothrace), then explore the Egyptian antiquities wing and the Napoleon III apartments. Have lunch at a Palais Royal restaurant. In the afternoon, take the Metro to Montmartre. Climb to Sacre-Coeur for panoramic views, explore Place du Tertre where artists still paint outdoors, and wander the cobblestone streets that inspired Picasso, Renoir, and Toulouse-Lautrec. End with dinner at a classic Montmartre restaurant — the pink-shuttered La Maison Rose is as photogenic as the food is honest.

Meal Budget: Palais Royal lunch (€20-30) + Montmartre dinner (€25-40)

Check out of your Paris hotel and head to Paris-Orly or CDG for a morning flight to Barcelona (1h50, budget airlines from €40-80 one-way) or take the scenic TGV + AVE train route (6h30, from €59 on SNCF/Renfe, with a change in Figueres or direct on some routes). The train is more comfortable and drops you at Barcelona Sants station in the city center. Check into your hotel in the Born or Eixample neighborhood. In the late afternoon, walk down Las Ramblas to the harbor, stopping at La Boqueria market for a snack — jamon iberico, fresh fruit juice, and seafood pintxos. Have your first tapas dinner in the Born neighborhood — patatas bravas, pan con tomate, and croquetas with a cold cerveza.

Meal Budget: Boqueria snacks (€10-15) + Born tapas dinner (€20-30)

Book the earliest available slot at Sagrada Familia (€36, book 2-3 weeks ahead). Gaudi's unfinished masterpiece is overwhelming — the forest-like columns, the stained glass that paints rainbow light across the floor, and the sheer ambition of the project are unlike any building on Earth. Walk to nearby Hospital de Sant Pau (another Modernist masterpiece, €15) for a quieter architectural gem. After lunch at a neighborhood restaurant in Gracia, visit Park Guell (€10, timed entry) in the afternoon. The mosaic benches, gingerbread gatehouses, and panoramic views over Barcelona and the Mediterranean are pure Gaudi magic. End the day watching sunset from the Bunkers del Carmel viewpoint (free, locals' secret spot with 360° views).

Meal Budget: Gracia neighborhood lunch (€12-18) + Eixample dinner (€20-35)

Spend the morning exploring the Gothic Quarter — the medieval streets, the Barcelona Cathedral (free), the ancient Roman walls, and the hidden squares like Placa de Sant Felip Neri (scarred by Civil War bombing). Visit the Picasso Museum (€15) in a series of medieval palaces to see the artist's early works and his deep connection to Barcelona. Walk through the Born neighborhood to Barceloneta beach for a late lunch of paella or grilled seafood at a chiringuito (beach restaurant). Spend the afternoon swimming and relaxing on the beach. In the evening, visit Casa Batllo (€35) — Gaudi's most playful building — ideally the night experience with rooftop projections and a drink included.

Meal Budget: Beach paella lunch (€15-25) + Gothic Quarter dinner (€20-35)

Take a half-day trip to Montserrat (€45 with transport, 1h from Barcelona). The mountain monastery is dramatically perched on serrated rock formations with views stretching to the Pyrenees on clear days. See the Black Madonna, hear the Escolania boys' choir (1pm weekdays), and walk the Sant Joan trail for the best views. Return to Barcelona by mid-afternoon and spend your last hours exploring whatever called to you most — a return to Boqueria, shopping on Passeig de Gracia, or a sunset sailing trip along the coast (€55 with cava and snacks). Farewell dinner at a Michelin-recommended restaurant in Eixample — treat yourself to a Catalan tasting menu.

Meal Budget: Montserrat cafe lunch (€12-15) + Eixample tasting menu dinner (€45-70)

Morning flight from Barcelona El Prat to Rome Fiumicino (2h, budget airlines from €35-70 one-way). From Fiumicino, take the Leonardo Express train to Termini station (€14, 32 min). Check into your hotel in Trastevere or near the Pantheon — both neighborhoods are walkable and atmospheric. After settling in, walk to the Pantheon (free) — the 2,000-year-old dome with its open oculus is one of the most awe-inspiring spaces in the world. Throw a coin in the Trevi Fountain (make a wish), then climb the Spanish Steps for sunset views. Welcome dinner in Trastevere — the neighborhood's family-run trattorias serve some of the best Roman food in the city. Try cacio e pepe and a carafe of house wine.

Meal Budget: Airport snack (€8-12) + Trastevere trattoria dinner (€20-35)

Start early at the Colosseum with pre-booked skip-the-line tickets (€45 combo including Roman Forum and Palatine Hill). Stand on the arena floor where gladiators fought, then walk through the Roman Forum — the political and social center of the ancient world — and up Palatine Hill for sweeping views. Have a late lunch near the Colosseum (avoid the tourist traps on the main road — walk one block inland for better value). In the afternoon, visit the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel (€49, book ahead). Michelangelo's ceiling is a once-in-a-lifetime sight. End by climbing St. Peter's Basilica dome (€8-10, 551 steps) for the best panoramic view in Rome.

Meal Budget: Side-street lunch near Colosseum (€12-18) + Vatican area dinner (€20-35)

Your last morning in Europe. Start with a cappuccino and cornetto at a neighborhood bar (never order cappuccino after 11am in Italy — the locals will judge you). Visit the Borghese Gallery (€15, must pre-book) — Bernini's Apollo and Daphne sculpture is worth the trip alone. Stroll through the Villa Borghese gardens to the Pincian Hill terrace for final panoramic views over Piazza del Popolo and St. Peter's dome. For your farewell lunch, eat in the Jewish Ghetto (one of Rome's best food neighborhoods) — try the fried artichokes (carciofi alla giudia) and supplì at a traditional Roman-Jewish restaurant. Head to Fiumicino for your departure flight, full of memories and ten days wiser about Europe.

Meal Budget: Bar breakfast (€3-5) + Jewish Ghetto lunch (€18-30)

• Comfortable walking shoes (you will average 15,000-20,000 steps daily)
• Light layers — all three cities have variable weather
• A scarf or shawl to cover shoulders for churches (Vatican, Sacre-Coeur, Sagrada Familia)
• Universal power adapter (Type C/F for France, Type C/F for Spain, Type C/F/L for Italy)
• A cross-body bag or money belt (pickpockets target tourists in all three cities)
• Refillable water bottle (free fountains in Paris and Rome)
• Phone charger and portable battery pack
• Copies of your passport and travel insurance documents
• Comfortable daypack for daily sightseeing

• Book Sagrada Familia, the Louvre, Colosseum, and Vatican Museums at least 2 weeks in advance — they sell out.
• Get a Navigo card in Paris, T-Casual in Barcelona, and buy Roma 72h pass in Rome for public transit savings.
• Eat lunch as your main meal in all three cities — prix-fixe lunch menus are half the price of dinner.
• Carry cash in Rome — many trattorias and gelaterias are cash-only.
• In Paris, always greet shopkeepers with "Bonjour" before asking anything. In Rome, "Buongiorno." Small courtesies go far.
• Avoid restaurants directly facing major landmarks — walk one block off the main square for better food at lower prices.
• Download offline Google Maps for all three cities — saves data roaming and works in the Metro.
• Travel insurance is essential — EU healthcare is not free for non-EU visitors.