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Les Clayes-sous-Bois, France
Base for the entire trip, staying with family at Av. Bosquet. About 30–40 minutes by RER C or car into central Paris. A quiet suburban town — great for rest between busy Paris days.
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Versailles, France
Confirmed for July 14th — the Palace of Versailles is unmissable, but note that July 14th is Bastille Day so expect festive crowds. The gardens and Hall of Mirrors are highlights; arrive early to beat the queues. Fireworks may be visible in the evening — a magical bonus.
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Paris – Right Bank & Palais Royal, France
Home to the Colonnes de Buren in the Palais Royal courtyard, the Bourse de Commerce (Pinault Collection), Galerie Vivienne, and Opéra Garnier. Stroll through the elegant covered passage and catch a coffee nearby. Compact enough to cover on foot in one focused day.
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Paris – BTS Pop-up & Le Marais, France
July 15th: BTS Pop-up store at 11:30 — arrive a bit early as queues can form. Le Marais is right nearby, perfect for afternoon exploring with Maison de Victor Hugo, the National Archives Museum, and the Azzedine Alaïa Foundation. End the evening along the charming streets of the neighbourhood.
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Paris – Louvre & Tuileries Area, France
Dedicate a full day to the Louvre (book tickets in advance!) and wind down with a relaxed walk through the Tuileries Gardens. The Musée des Arts Décoratifs is steps away if time allows. The area connects beautifully to the Champs-Élysées and Arc de Triomphe for a late afternoon stroll.
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Paris – BTS Concert Day, France
July 17th: Keep the daytime light before the evening BTS concert. A relaxed morning at Parc Monceau or a café visit to Smith & Sons or Kanelle Vintage is ideal. Plan transport to the venue in advance and check the RER schedule back to Les Clayes-sous-Bois for the late return.
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Paris – Musée d'Orsay & Left Bank, France
Start with the Musée d'Orsay (Impressionism at its finest — book ahead), then cross to the Latin Quarter for the Panthéon and the Medici Fountain in Luxembourg Garden. Rue Mouffetard is perfect for a cheap, delicious lunch among locals. Wrap up with the Grand Mosque de Paris nearby for mint tea.
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Paris – Thrift & Vintage Shopping Day, France
July sales (soldes d'été) make this the perfect day for bargain hunting. Hit Guerrisol, Kiliwatch, Kilo Shop, The Room, and Bhumi Thrift Store — most are clustered near Châtelet and Pigalle, walkable in one day. Rue des Abbesses in Montmartre also has indie and vintage finds at great prices.
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Paris – Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur, France
Spend a leisurely morning exploring Montmartre's cobbled streets, the Sacré-Cœur basilica, and the artsy Place du Tertre. Moulin Rouge is at the foot of the hill for an iconic photo stop. Rue des Abbesses has charming boutiques, bookshops like Le Singe Qui Lit, and cosy cafés.
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Paris – Eiffel Tower & Trocadéro, France
The Trocadéro Stairs offer the best free view of the Eiffel Tower — iconic and crowd-friendly at sunrise. Nearby is the Petit Palais, Hôtel des Invalides, and the Champ de Mars for a picnic. Close by: La Galerie Dior and the Louis Vuitton flagship on Champs-Élysées for a luxury window-shopping stroll.
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Paris – Seine & Île de la Cité, France
A Seine Cruise (Bateaux Mouches or Vedettes du Pont Neuf) is a wonderful way to see the city from the water. Notre-Dame's exterior restoration is still ongoing but worth visiting; the Conciergerie and Sainte-Chapelle are steps away. End at Café Pli or Maison de Balzac nearby in the early evening.
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Paris – Luxury & Grands Magasins, France
Dedicate a morning to Galeries Lafayette (spectacular Belle Époque dome) and Le Bon Marché on the Left Bank — both stunning even just to browse during the sales. Avenue Montaigne is the couture street for window shopping past Dior, Valentino, and Chanel. Repetto Paris on Rue de la Paix is a must for ballet flat lovers.
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Colmar, France
A fairy-tale day trip from Paris by TGV (about 2.5 hours from Gare de l'Est). The Petite Venise neighbourhood with its half-timbered houses and canal is absolutely magical in summer. Don't miss a tarte flambée and local Alsatian Riesling before hopping the train back to Paris.
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Paris – Catacombs & Rive Gauche, France
Book Catacombs tickets well in advance — timed entry is required and slots sell out fast. The Musée des Arts Forains (fairground museum) requires advance reservation too and is a surreal, delightful experience. YSL Café and the Maison de Balzac round out a cultured Left Bank afternoon. July 20th is ideal as a calm penultimate day before the early flight.