Days 1 & 2 — Depart the U.S. and Arrive Paris

Depart on a transatlantic flight to Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport and transfer to central Paris upon arrival. Check in to your hotel in the historic Marais quarter. This afternoon, gather for a short orientation walking tour of the Marais, once the city’s Jewish quarter and now a trendy neighborhood full of upscale boutiques and gastronomic shops. This evening, meet for a welcome reception and an introductory talk by your Smithsonian Journeys Expert. A welcome dinner will follow at a popular local restaurant. (R,D)

Day 3 — Panoramic Paris

After breakfast at the hotel, set out with a local guide to discover the sites of Paris—and the haunts of the Black Americans who spent time in the city. Travel along fashionable avenues like the Champs-Elysees and up the steep, narrow streets of Lower Montmartre, and visit the Luxembourg Gardens and the Latin Quarter, abuzz with students. Along the way, see locales frequented by notable figures such as W.E.B Du Bois and Sidney Bechet, and the connections between 20th-century African Americans and the Louvre, La Madeleine, and the Paris Opera House.

South of the River Seine, explore the important legacy of Josephine Baker, an entertainer and activist who became the first Black woman to be buried at the Panthéon in 2021. In the city’s northern arrondissements tour memorials and statues that honor three generations of Alexandre Dumas' family—and illustrate France's relationship with slavery and race. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before boarding a riverboat for a cruise on the Seine. Glide through the heart of Paris, viewing famous landmarks such as Notre Dame Cathedral, the Musée d’Orsay, and the Eiffel Tower, as well as elegant bridges like the Pont Neuf. In the early evening, join fellow travelers for a casual discussion of the day’s discoveries in the Smithsonian Journeys Travelers Corner. (B,L)

Day 4 — Paris: Montmartre and the Latin Quarter

Begin the day with an exclusive screening of the film, Paris Noir: African Americans in the City of Light, followed by a question and answer session with the filmmakers.

Then head to Lower Montmartre, where a vibrant community of Black Americans flourished during the 1920s, becoming an enduring part of France’s cultural landscape. Learn about the dawn of the Jazz Age in Paris and history-making Black musicians, including members of the Harlem Hellfighters. See the sites of famous nightclubs run by the singer Ada “Bricktop” Smith; World War I flying ace and drummer Eugene Bullard; and Josephine Baker. After lunch at a neighborhood restaurant, tour the Montmartre Museum, housed in a quaint 17th-century residence near Sacre Coeur. View art collections that depict the history of Montmartre during the 19th and 20th centuries, including pieces by Renoir, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Dufy.

Gather this evening for a visit to St. Germain-des-Prés and the Latin Quarter, where a local guide will point out the iconic clubs and caveaus where young French jazz musicians were cultivated by African-American artists. Enjoy a festive dinner and a live jazz concert tonight.  (B,L,D)

Day 5 — Paris: Cuisine and Cultures

Delve into many delights of French gastronomy on a culinary walking tour this morning. As Ernest Hemingway once wrote, Paris is a “moveable feast,” and your tour will have you sampling a broad array of French specialties and flavors. In the afternoon, take a guided tour of the National Museum of the History of Immigration, devoted to the history of immigration and diversity in France from the early 19th century to the present. Built in 1931 for the Paris Colonial Exposition, the building is covered with bas-relief sculpture that depict scenes of immigration. Discover one of the city’s many dining options during an evening at leisure. (B)

Day 6 — Paris and Versailles

Travel west to the Palace of Versailles, the principal royal residence of France from 1682, during the reign of Louis XIV, until 1789, when Louis XVI was deposed during the French Revolution. In the company of a guide, meander through the Hall of Mirrors, where the Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919 formally ending World War I. Following lunch on your own, enjoy free time to explore the palace and gardens at your own pace. (B)

Day 7 — Paris: The Left Bank

This morning, gather for a presentation by American expatriate Jake Lamar, an award-winning author who hails from the Bronx. Hear his stories and insights on life as a Black American in Paris today. Then set out for the Left Bank, where the African diaspora flourished. On a walking tour, visit iconic symbols of greatness such as the Pantheon and the Sorbonne, and delve into the Négritude Movement, an explosion of Black consciousness and expression led by African and Caribbean students in the 1930s. On the esplanade of the Sorbonne, learn about the far-reaching significance of the First International Congress of Black Writers and Artists held in 1956, which featured such speakers as Richard Wright, Léopold Senghor, Aimé Césaire, and Frantz Fanon. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant and the balance of the day is yours to pursue your own interests. This evening, gather with fellow travelers in the Smithsonian Journeys Travelers Corner for a lively, informal conversation about the places and topics you have encountered. (B,L)

Day 8 — Paris Your Way

Enjoy a full day to follow your own path through Paris, visiting museums or monuments or simply strolling through a quarter that intrigues you. Your local Smithsonian Journeys Travel Director will be on hand to answer questions and help with planning your day. In the evening, gather with fellow travelers for a farewell reception followed by dinner at a local restaurant. (B,R,D)

Day 9 — Depart for the U.S.

After breakfast, transfer to Charles de Gaulle Airport for your onward flight. (B)