5-Day Paris, London, Rome Trip
Three European capitals in five fast days. Arrive Paris, take Eurostar to London midway, fly down to Rome for the finish. Short but dense.
Build this tripAt a glance
- Duration
- 5 days
- Cities
- 3
- Flight legs
- 2
- Budget/day
- $220
Cities
- Paris
- London
- Rome
The plan
This is a classic first-time European itinerary compressed into a long weekend. Day 1-2 in Paris covers the Louvre and a sunset walk along the Seine. Day 3 you take the Eurostar through the Channel Tunnel to London -- quicker than flying and you arrive in the city center. One full day for Westminster, Trafalgar, the Tube culture. Day 4 morning flight British Airways or Ryanair to Rome Fiumicino. Two days in Rome for the Colosseum, Vatican, Trastevere dinner.
Day-by-day
- Day 1
Paris arrival, Louvre preview
Land CDG in the morning, RER B to the city (35 min, faster and cheaper than a taxi). Drop bags at your hotel in the Marais or Saint-Germain. Afternoon at the Louvre with a pre-booked timed entry — go for the 3-hour highlights route (Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Winged Victory) rather than trying to see everything. Evening wine and dinner at a Rue Montorgueil bistro.
- Day 2
Paris landmarks + Seine at dusk
Morning at the Eiffel Tower (book the lift; the stairs to the second floor are the underrated cheap alternative). Lunch in the 7th arrondissement, afternoon at Musee d'Orsay — smaller and more focused than the Louvre, easier to digest. Walk the Seine from Pont Alexandre III to Notre-Dame at sunset. Late dinner at a Montmartre brasserie.
- Day 3
Eurostar to London, Westminster
Morning Eurostar Gare du Nord to St Pancras (2h20m, book in advance for £60-100 fares). Check into a central hotel — Covent Garden, Bloomsbury, or Southwark. Afternoon walk from Westminster Abbey past Big Ben, across the Thames to the London Eye and Southbank. Evening theater in the West End if tickets are available.
- Day 4
London morning, flight to Rome
Morning at the British Museum (free, spend 2-3 hours) and a Borough Market lunch. Heathrow Express to LHR (15 min from Paddington) for an afternoon British Airways or Ryanair flight to Rome Fiumicino. Leonardo Express train into central Rome (32 min, €14). Late dinner in Trastevere.
- Day 5
Rome highlights sprint
Colosseum and Roman Forum with a combined ticket — book for the 8:30am opening to beat the crowds. Late lunch near Piazza Navona. Afternoon Pantheon and Trevi Fountain. If time permits, Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel (last entry around 4pm) — or save them for the return flight morning. Dinner and a final gelato.
When to go
April-June and September-October are the sweet spots. Temperatures are mild across all three cities, tourist numbers are high but not peak, and the long daylight makes evening sightseeing easy. July-August is hot and crowded (Paris and Rome can hit 95F+), with locals on holiday and many restaurants closed. November-March is wet in London and chilly in Paris and Rome, but museums and restaurants are empty and fares drop 30-40%.
Budget tips
Eurostar fares are 50% cheaper booked 60+ days out than buying within a week. Ryanair LHR/Stansted-Rome flights can hit £30 one-way if you pack carry-on only. In Paris, lunch prix-fixe menus run €18-25 for the same food that's €45+ at dinner. In London, skip the West End restaurants and eat at Borough Market or the Bloomsbury Indian spots. Rome's Centro Storico is tourist-priced; walk 10 minutes into Trastevere or Testaccio for 30% cheaper trattorias.
Getting around
Paris: Metro + RER system. Get a Navigo Easy card at the airport for contactless pay-per-ride. London: the Tube and buses on a contactless credit card or Oyster — daily caps around £8. Rome: the Metro is limited but Bus/Tram covers most tourist zones; walking is the best way to see the Centro Storico. Between cities: Eurostar Paris-London (2h20m, city center to city center — don't fly this leg, the airport transfers double the time). London-Rome by air (2h30m).
What to pack
Comfortable walking shoes are non-negotiable — all three cities have dense cobblestone districts. A light layer for evenings (even summer Paris cools to 60F). Universal EU adapter (Paris, Rome) plus a UK 3-pin adapter (London). A small crossbody bag for pickpocket-heavy Metro lines (Paris Line 1, Rome Line A). Portable charger and a refillable water bottle — fountains in Rome and London are free and drinkable.