Watching “Ratatouille” more than 10 times and enjoying golden-crusted croissants from the nearby bakery, I have grown up feeling indirectly intimate with a surface-level European culture throughout the years. Everyone has at least one country that, throughout their life, they have virtually or second-handedly experienced but never visited in person. The entirety of the European world for me existed in forms of desserts I’ve tried, films I’ve watched with Parisian backgrounds and postcards that have helped me picture their architectural landscapes. Apart from European countries, as a travelholic, I have visited multiple states in America and countries, including South Korea and Japan. This year, during March, 2026, I was finally given a chance to go on a one-week compact trip to Europe, visiting three iconic European countries: France, Switzerland and Germany. In this travelogue, I will walk you through the itinerary of each day along with my experience of food, tourist attractions and personal opinions and tips to keep in mind for your future Europe trip!

I kicked off my one-week Europe trip by landing in what’s known as the “most romantic” city in the world: Paris, France. Taking an overnight flight to Paris from Dallas Fort-Worth International Airport, I arrived in Paris in the morning, ready to jump into the scheduled tours of the city’s famous landmarks and tourist attractions.

Day 1: On the first day in Paris, I embarked on my trip with a walking tour of Paris in the Latin Quarter, a must-visit neighborhood if you want to experience the most Parisian atmosphere by strolling its quaint historic streets and taking a sip of rich hot chocolate in sidewalk cafes.

Amongst countless stores and restaurants, Shakespeare and Company is well known among tourists as the world famous English-language bookstore and cafe. While the bookstore was packed with travelers and local visitors hoping to purchase a book with an official bookstore logo stamped on it, Shakespeare and Company hosts a cafe right next to the bookstore that is less crowded and offers a relaxing, cozy vibe for reading.

My personal tip is to purchase a Shakespeare and Company signature tote bag from the cafe if you are looking for a souvenir. In the Latin Quarter, you will spend more time deciding on which restaurant to go to than walking through the streets, because for every footstep, you are bound to encounter a new meal spot. For my first meal in Paris, I bravely and curiously tried classic French dishes–escargots and beef bourguignon–for the first time in my life. I absolutely loved the buttery, garlic-flavored escargots, and the beef bourguignon tasted similar to a Korean traditional dish called Galbi-jim that my grandma used to cook for me growing up. Even if you are not someone who grabs dessert after every meal, you must not skip your chance to enjoy a dessert in Paris. My choice was none other than a marron (chestnut-flavored) crepe. What I loved the most about this crepe was that the marron jam didn’t feel too sugary but had a rich nutty flavor inside a velvety crepe. That marked the beginning of my trip in Paris, and I would suggest also taking a quick visit to Notre-Dame Cathedral if you are in the Latin Quarter, as it is right across the street from the Shakespeare and Company bookstore.

Day 2: The second day in Paris brought the most hectic schedule of the one-week trip, as it was the day I had planned to experience as many tourist attractions as possible. For my entire life, I had seen the Eiffel Tower through movies, postcards and random wallpapers on the internet, but never once imagined I would be able to see it in person one day. With the rare sunny weather Paris was having, I walked around the park below the Eiffel Tower and spent a good amount of time taking pictures at multiple angles.

No matter how many pictures I took, I realized it is impossible to capture the entirety of the Eiffel Tower and its deep sense of elegance in two-dimensional form. Though I could have spent the entire day appreciating the structural details of the Eiffel Tower, I moved onto the next part of the itinerary: the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Montmartre. Montmartre is a hilltop district in Paris with a breathtaking panoramic view from the very top.

It is filled with cobblestoned streets and charming stores, and it feels like the whole city of Paris has been compressed into a tiny village.

After spending the afternoon at Montmartre, I ended the day with a Seine River cruise–the best way to have a spectacular view of the Eiffel Tower at night. Plus, it sparkles for five minutes at the start of every hour after sunset, so you must book a cruise tour strategically at the start of the hour in the evening.

Day 3: The third day of my one-week Europe trip was the last day in Paris, and at that moment, I still hadn’t paid a visit to one of the most iconic destinations in the city, perhaps the world: The Louvre museum.

As an art enthusiast, visiting the Louvre was a must while in Paris. Before visiting the Louvre, I had commonly heard about the overwhelmingly ginormous size of the museum and how it’s impossible to view all of it in one day. My goal was to at least view the Mona Lisa, the Nike of Samothrace, and Liberty Leading the People, which, in my opinion, are the textbook-famous pieces to see in person. The experience of viewing the Mona Lisa was perhaps the most exhausting part of my entire trip, primarily because it is most tourists’ top priority as well. More than the pieces themselves, what I unexpectedly appreciated the most were the meticulous, extravagant architectural details of the building. Even if you are not invested in the arts, merely walking around the Louvre will make your visit entirely worthwhile.

Another museum I decided to visit was a museum of perfumes, with an approximately 20-minute guided tour, where I got to learn about the intricate research and process of producing a perfume. The tour guide pointed out a fascinating fact that perfume makers in France are called “the nose” in French. Finally, the last part of my stay in Paris was none other than hours-long shopping at the Galeries Lafayette–a perfect way to cap off my Paris trip with its massive gourmet hall and souvenir stores.

Before getting enticed by the smell of melt-in-the-mouth eclairs and caramelized bread, I first went to the 8th floor rooftop to enjoy the best panoramic Paris skyline view. There are three different buildings in the Galeries Lafayette, and the main souvenir floor is located in the Coupole building, where the rooftop view can also be found. From desserts to magnets and keychains, you have countless items to choose from for souvenir gifts for your friends and family.

Based on my prior research, I knew it’s a must to buy a Saint-Michel pure butter cookie set, Gavottes crepe cookies, truffle potato chips and so much more. The Galeries Lafayette is also a feast for the eyes for those thrilled about shopping for famous clothing and accessories brands. You might want to reserve an entire day exclusively for the Galeries Lafayette!

With that, my trip in Paris came to an end: bittersweet to leave my buttery croissants behind but ready to embark on my next stop to a charming, tranquil country of Europe, Switzerland!

Day 4: Once you’ve flown into one European country, moving around to visit others is relatively easy thanks to the flexible transportation options available. For my transition to Switzerland, I took a five-hour train ride from the Paris train station.

Before getting on the train, I had plenty of downtime for last-minute Paris souvenir shopping, and I highly recommend stopping by a small grocery store in the station to purchase popular French dessert products, such as Petit Écolier (chocolate biscuits), Bonne Maman madeleines and financiers. The fourth day of my Europe trip was spent mostly on this transition. While I could have spent more time in Paris, taking a relaxing train ride and giving myself a break from nonstop traveling is actually what allowed me to make the most out of the rest of the trip in Switzerland and Germany. During the train ride, I enjoyed a continuous stream of picturesque scenes that resembled the setting I always imagined for the story of Heidi. I arrived in Lucerne, the city I stayed in Switzerland, around late afternoon with enough time for a Lion Monument visit.

The Lion Monument is a rock relief sculpture that commemorates the Swiss guards who were killed during the French Revolution. My visit to the monument was particularly memorable because of an accidental bird poop on my hand: a Swiss local nearby told me that a bird poop is a sign of a huge blessing, meaning good luck will soon come my way. (Thank god that happened to me before my college acceptance!) Other than visiting the monument, Lucerne is a highly walkable city filled with street cafes, stores and restaurants, and I ended my day with a visit to Casagrande, a popular Swiss knife and watch brand, and to Lindt and Läderach, famous Swiss chocolate brands, for dessert shopping.

Day 5: The fifth day–my second day in Lucerne–was my favorite day of the entire trip, mainly because I was lucky enough to take in the most glamorous view from the top of Mount Rigi.

Lucerne is usually very foggy, making it hard to have a clear view of the mountains from the top. The day started with a Lake Lucerne cruise ride, and I was able to have a close-up view of the whole city with a mountain background. I’ve been on cruise rides in several places before, including Miami, Hawaii and New York, and my experience on the Lucerne cruise has by far exceeded my expectations, with the most refreshing air and a glass-like river. Then, I got on the railway to reach the top of Mount Rigi. It was surrounded by heaps of snow covering the entire mountaintop, and the view was the most picturesque, postcard-worthy scene with a saturated blue sky and crisp, detailed mountains right in front of me.

Not only was I able to experience the most dazzling natural view, but it also fulfilled my wish to see the snow, quite a rare occurrence in Texas. After a freezing yet spectacular experience on Mount Rigi, I went back to the shopping area in the city of Lucerne to spend the rest of the day visiting small stores and cafes.

Unexpectedly, I noticed the Jesuit church was open and was able to pop in for a quick visit. I highly recommend tourists visit the Jesuit church, because it presents you the most extravagant, grandiose church view you have ever seen, with meticulous architectural and ornamental details. I also wanted to visit the Zytturm clock tower, known as one of the hidden spots for a skyline photo opportunity, but it was unfortunately temporarily closed. Though I wasn’t able to go into the tower after a 10-minute hilltop walk, I was still able to enjoy a city skyline view right in front of it.

I would say Lucerne, Switzerland has been the best travel destination of my entire life, with its tranquil, refreshing atmosphere, alluring view and no language barrier as a bonus, since they all speak English very well! If I may exaggerate a little, I loved Switzerland so much that I’d want to spend the rest of my life there. My last note about Switzerland: don’t forget to buy your Swiss chocolate as a souvenir! It’s a bit pricey but very presentable and worth it!

Day 6: After my two-day stay in Switzerland, I took a bus ride to Munich, Germany. On the way, I stopped in the tiny country of Lichtenstein, Vaduz. The entire country is roughly the size of Washington D.C., and it took only around 10 minutes to explore the whole country!

Fun fact: Liechtenstein is known for giving out fake passport stamps to tourists. I didn’t get one, but if you enjoy collecting country stamps, it would make an awesome souvenir! After a 2-hour bus ride, I finally arrived in the old downtown area of Munich, Germany, where all the famous clothing and jewelry brands are found along with tons of local restaurants and cafes. What I found the most intriguing about Munich was the heavy community-oriented vibe everywhere I went. For instance, the moment you step into a restaurant, you will likely find local people sitting at the same table as you. People are open to dining with strangers and treat you like a community member even as a tourist trying out an authentic German sausage.

Plus, Germany is known for its deep beer culture, so you will probably find German beer bottles and steins every store you go to! As a souvenir from Munich, I bought a tiny beer bottle ornament and a magnet! Other than bottles, honey and chocolate are must-buy souvenirs as well!

Day 7: I could not believe that it was the last day of my one-week Europe trip. Despite freezing weather in all three countries, I hadn’t gotten sick at all, thanks to all the warm, rich meals and desserts that replenished my traveling energy every day! On my last day in Munich, I visited one of its famous historical landmarks: Munich Residenz.

It is known as the largest city palace in Germany, with royal collections and opulent architecture on display. The palace rooms were vast and immersive, with ornate and extravagant details throughout. Residenz has more than 150 rooms available to visit, but I was only able to see perhaps one-third of the entire palace–personally enough to get a sense of its vastness and opulence! After my visit to Residenz, I went back to the downtown shopping area from the day before to try an authentic German pretzel. In my opinion, the pretzel was unexpectedly stiff and salty, completely different from American pretzels with their satisfactory softness and chewiness. Although most of the stores were closed since it was Sunday, I still had the most relaxing yet thrilling last day in Munich!

With that, my one-week trip to Europe came to an end, leaving me with the most rewarding, worthwhile travel experience! The three countries I visited all had different styles of food, architecture and atmosphere, but they all shared a love for pastries and old ornamental buildings.

Fun fact: the hotels I stayed in across all three countries served high-quality, buttery croissants for breakfast, demonstrating their appreciation for pastries! If I may give a personal summary, I would describe Paris as highly crowded and shopping-heavy, Switzerland as village-like and pure and Germany as a mix of the two with a close-knit community atmosphere. This trip made me more determined to study abroad in one of these European countries during my college career, and I can’t wait to visit other cities and countries in Europe one day! Trust me, even if you can’t maximize your travel itinerary, a golden-crusted croissant alone will make the whole flight worthwhile.