If you find yourself lucky enough to have 4 days in Paris and you’re feeling overwhelmed by what to do… don’t be! Planning an itinerary for your first time in Paris can seem very overwhelming, but it does not have to be a daunting task. Let me dispell the first fear most people have… the language barrier. Yes… people in France speak French. Obv. Guess what… they speak English as well! Most Europeans speak multiple languages, English most often as fluently as their native tongue. That being said, will it be harmful to your experience to learn a few key phrases or words? NO! It WILL help you gain some respect and perhaps a friendly (sympathetic) smile for your efforts. Below you will find an example of a pocket-sized card with translated words/phrases that will help you along. Small efforts go a long way. I have explored Paris in depth and I have the advice you need to help you with your planning! Put aside that apprehension… très
Before we take off, I will be quoting prices in Euros. The conversion is practically even, the Euro being slightly stronger. For example 1 Euro = $1.13… so look at it as being even and your life will be much simpler than trying to convert all day long. If you must, add about 10% to match what the cost is in USD. However… 1 Euro = $1.50 Canadian, a little more prudent to compute the exchange rate as to not suffer sticker shock on your visa bill when arriving home!
Let’s Pack For This!
You’ve decided to venture to the City of Light! Great choice! Formidable! Quite a few variables can decide how enjoyable your Parisian experience is. Some of which are weather, safety, the convenience of where you stay, and perhaps most of all… when you go. Weather in Paris ranges between 34F (2c) in winter as the low to 75F (24c) in summer as the high. It doesn’t always get snow but you should prepare for that possibility if you travel mid-winter. Spring is magical with everything in bloom and longer days, and Fall is colorful and full crisp sunny days.
Paris, a city of over 2 million (before you count tourists!) is crowded and can feel chaotic. Although you might feel summertime in Paris would be magical… it is hot, overcrowded, and fuses run short among locals and other tourists. We went at the beginning of March and it was almost too good to be true for how sparse the crowds were, how easy we got into places, and the nominal accommodations and flights. See our post on Top 10 Tips For Traveling On A Budget to master when to travel to beat the crowds and get the most out of your trip!
As far as safety goes, we have never had any issues while traveling in Paris, however, the main concern is pickpocketing. ALWAYS be aware of your belongings when in crowds and check out our Packing Tips post for inexpensive ways to protect your personal items. The most common way for a successful pickpocket is to distract you by luring you into a crowd watching sidewalk entertainers or to bump into you in a crowd.
Wondering what to literally pack for this trip? My first piece of advice is COMFORTABLE footwear. You will be walking! Walking during your first time in Paris will give you a unique experience different from taking the metro or taxis. You will want to bring along a pair of good sturdy closed-toe shoes for those 20,000+ steps a day days you will be getting in.
Also, yes, Paris is one of the fashion capitals of the world… so let’s leave the ripped up jeans and baggy sweatshirts at home and pack layers of decent clothes! A hooded raincoat is always a sure bet no matter what season you go. Ponchos and umbrellas are for sale on every block should you need one in a pinch. You can pick up a beret for under $10 as a souvenir and wear it while there to fit in like the locals! You can also show up prepared and order one here for under $4.
When deciding where to stay in Paris, we recommend centrality to your favorite sites. Picking a Hotel on the outskirts to save a few bucks will only cost you in time and metro tickets. Hotels can be found centrally located for a decent price and you have Paris at your fingertips right out your front door. Neighborhoods/districts are called arrondissements. And there are 20 of them, each with their own unique feel. It is important you decide which one matches up to your goals for your time in Paris.
When we traveled to Paris, we stayed in the 7th district. There’s just something about being close to the Eiffel Tower. We are also very close to all the major Parisian attractions that interest us, like the Louvre Art Museum and Notre Dame Cathedral. Those that are a little further away, like the Champs Elysees, and the Arc de Triomphe, we still walked to, but you could easily take a taxi or the metro if you feel it is too far.
Some of the most convenient locations for accommodations in Paris are:
- 1er – Louvre, Palais Royale.
- 2ème – Bourse. Conveniently located between the Eiffel Tower and The Theater District, close to The Louvre Gallery
- 3ème – Marais. On the edge of the City close to the Picasso Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral
- 4ème – Marais. The lower edge of Marais next to the Seine.
- 5ème – Latin Quarter. Home to the Sorbonne University and student-filled cafes. It’s also famed for its bookshops.
- 6ème – Saint Germain. Conveniently located across the Seine from the Louvre, near the Pont Neuf (Lover’s Bridge) and sandwiched between the Eifel Tower and the Cathedral Notre-Dame.
- 7ème – Eiffel Tower. Close to the Tower, cafés, shops, Hop On Hop Off Bus starting point.
- 8ème – Champs-Elysées. Close to The Arc de Triomphe, high-end shopping on the Champs and the surrounding area.
DAY 1 of 4 days in Paris
Champs-De-Mars, Pont-Des-Arts, Notre Dame Cathedral, Catacombs
You have arrived!! Chances are you will probably be flying into one of Paris’ larger airports, either Charles de Gaulle International Airport or Paris-Orly International Airport. You will want to budget one hour to get to the hotel or Airbnb where you will be staying once you leave the airport. We chose to use the metro, however, taxis and Uber are a convenient yet more expensive way to go. The metro is so slick that both take the same amount of time (Taxi and Uber from CDG to the city center are VERY EXPENSIVE costing an average of between 40€ and 50€. The metro was a much better deal. Take the RER B (blue line on RER maps) at a cost of 10.30€ buying your ticket at the kiosk or walk up counter upon arrival)
Drop your bags at the hotel and hit the ground running! Take a stroll to acquaint yourselves with your surrounds. Perhaps dive in right away and grab a bite to eat at a café, practicing the little bit of French you have studied! They will appreciate the attempt. Nothing like starting your Paris experience straight away with a nice charcuterie and a glass of wine! After you have indulged in your first of many charcuteries… time to beat feet and get out there and explore!
I know you are itching to lay eyes on the Eifel Tower (if you haven’t already) so let’s take a stroll over to the Champs-De-Mars and take in this majestic giant. Standing over 1000 feet tall, this iron beauty will take your breath away the first time you lay eyes on it. You can walk around the base of it or sit and admire it from a distance, sipping a glass of warm mulled wine (for sale from numerous vendors). We joined many other tourists and brought a bottle of champagne and a couple of classy plastic cups and sat in the sun, admiring the artistic beauty of the tower while savoring the taste of France. Drinking wine or champagne around the Eifel Tower… legal? Technically no, discreetly yes 🙂 Cliché maybe… romantic DEFINITELY. The worst that could happen is they confiscate it… and they won’t. Look around. Everyone is doing it! Time to move on…
Let’s take a walk over to the Pont Des Arts, shall we? A stroll alongside the Seine River is so much fun! Little kiosks of booksellers and postcards and art dot the sidewalks lining the river and the 45-minute walk will take longer as you stop to browse the picture perfect postcard scene along the way.
Eventually, you will get to the Pont-Des-Arts. You’ve heard of the Lover’s Bridge where romantics from around the world stroll onto the bridge and clasp a lock to it symbolizing their bond. Tying a “love lock” on to the Pont des Arts before throwing the key into the River Seine beneath has become a tourist tradition in recent years.
Well… not to take away from those sentiments… Paris city officials have started to remove the locks symbolically fastened to one of the French capital’s main bridges due to the sheer weight of them. The bridge became endangered of toppling from the weight however you can find PLENTY of locks on fences leading up to the bridge and it is still a beautiful sight!
*It is with a heavy heart that we add this exclusion to the Notre Dame portion of this itinerary. On April 15th, 2019 tragedy struck Notre-Dame Cathedral as fire erupted and destroyed a large portion of the Church. Though it is closed to the public for the foreseeable future, they are rebuilding and their efforts will hopefully be swift. We left this portion of our article in so that you may look forward to one day experiencing this incredible sight.* Now let’s walk (15 min) over to the Notre Dame Cathedral. Notre-Dame de Paris, also known as Notre-Dame Cathedral or simply Notre-Dame, is a medieval Catholic cathedral on the Île de la Cité. Raking in the sight of it will take your breath away…it is considered to be one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture. The entrance is free and you obtain your ticket at the side of the building where you will see the lineup along the sidewalk
The lineup out the front of the Cathedral is for people who already have their ticket. Over 12 million people visit Notre-Dame yearly, proving to be the most visited monument in Paris. You will want an hour to take it in once you are inside. You may light a candle for 2 Euros, but this will be the only cost should you choose to do it. There is a free audio guide you can pick up upon entering. This is a working cathedral so please be respectful and know that services are often going on while you are inside.
Plan an afternoon discovering a labyrinth in the heart of underground Paris as you’ve never imagined. The Catacombs of Paris is the largest ossuary (vault of bones) in the world and is home to the remains of millions of Parisians as the cemeteries of Paris closed. You will head 243 steps (20 m) underground below the streets of Paris. You will learn about the history of the Catacombs which dates back to the late eighteenth century when major health problems related to the cemeteries of the city lead to the decision to transfer their contents underground.
Learn how the 200 miles of tunnels which were mined to build Paris became the answer to the problems created by overcrowded cemeteries above. Over the years, more and more remains were brought here from overcrowded cemeteries to make room for the city’s development, up until 1860. You really won’t believe your eyes when you see the bones, how they are artfully displayed, and the sheer number of them! A guided tour is a fantastic way to explore this underground wonder. Tickets start at 85 Euros for skip the line privileges and a 2 hr tour.
Depending on what time your flight has landed you in Paris, you are most likely a little tired so we will conclude Day 1 suggesting a quiet dinner close to your hotel and perhaps picking up a bottle of wine to take back tot he room to settle in for some much-needed rest. Strolling to local pastry shops for macarons or macaroons, or eclairs is a delightful way to end your first of 4 days in Paris. There are numerous bakeries around the city so perhaps you might like to have the forethought to grab some delicious pastries for the room to indulge in while you get ready the next morning. I don’t think a day went by during my lengthy stay where I didn’t start my day off without something flaky and delicious!
Day 2 of 4 days in Paris
The Louvre Museum, Eiffel Tower, Moulin Rouge
Before you get to Paris, book your tickets online to The Louvre and aim to grab a morning time slot (earliest possible entrance time is 9 am, if you get there early you will beat the crowds). You can book Louvre tickets in advance and pick them up at an easy-to-find office only 5 minutes from the museum. Having them in hand lets you skip the lines at the ticket booth however you will still need to stand in the security lineup so again, get there early! With only 4 days in Paris, you want to be sure to not spend precious time in line ups!
Plan to spend most of the morning exploring and being awed at the Louvre, a must-see for anyone visiting Paris. The building started out
The Louvre is divided into eight departments, so there is a lot to see but the museum is totally doable even if you just spend a few hrs. The entrance in itself is stunning. The iconic Louvre Pyramid, one of Paris’ landmarks, which you will most likely snag the typical tourist (and that’s ok! I did it!) photograph standing on one of the offered towers poising your fingers just so… so that it looks like you are holding the pyramid. Purchasing entry tickets online well in advance is highly recommended, I wouldn’t do it any other way. Doesn’t save you money but it DEFINITELY saves you time during your 4 days in Paris! It gets nearly 10 million visitors every year, so you know there is always going to be a line to contend with.
From Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa to the Venus de Milo, the Louvre Museum in Paris has the most extensive art collection in the world. My next piece of advice is pre-plan your visit by figuring out what pieces of art you want to see the most and make a break to get to those first before the crowds gather. We got to stroll right up to the Mona Lisa… again, we were there in the shoulder season. This won’t happen during the high season no matter what time of day you get to the Louvre! Before you leave the Louvre Art Museum, there is a restaurant at the Louvre, with a wonderful outside terrace, for you to have a quick lunch, and a rest looking out over the pyramid before you head to the next monument in your 4 Days in Paris itinerary.
After lunch, you will head over to the iconic Eiffel Tower, arguably one of the most popular of all Paris’ attractions. The tower was originally built for the World’s Fair in 1889, held in Paris. This iron structure stands over 1,000 feet high and has 3 different levels for visitors, with restaurants on the first and second levels. Plan to spend 2-3 hours of your afternoon here, as even with tickets in hand, crowds sometimes dictate how quickly you get through this.
Buy your tickets from the online ticket office and beat the queues, especially if you’re heading to the top of the Tower. The online ticket office is where you can find the best prices for e-tickets for lifts to the top or the 2nd floor. By buying time-stamped e-tickets, you’ll save time at the Tower! You can book your visit up to two months in advance: and it is definitely recommend booking for the summer months (July and August
For visits on a whim, their online ticket office sells e-tickets until 3 three hours before your visit time, that same day (while stocks last)! If a bird’s eye view of the city of Paris and the River Seine interests you, are you up for climbing the 1,665 steps all the way to the top of the Eiffel Tower (20 Euros)? If so, you will be rewarded with wonderful panoramic and spectacular vistas of the city of Paris for your troubles. Shut up legs! You can do this!
If climbing does not interest you, there are elevators for you to take to several observation levels or all the way to the top (25 Euros). The lines for the elevators are very long and you will need an entry ticket specifically for the lifts. It is far better to purchase a ticket online well in advance of your arrival, especially if you just have 4 days in Paris to spend. There are even skip-the-line options available to speed things up for you!
Ticket with access lift 2nd floor : This ticket grants access to the second floor via the lift.
Ticket with access lift top floor : This ticket grants access to the top via two lifts.
Ticket with access stairs 2nd floor : This ticket grants access to the second floor via the stairs. On sale at the Tower only.
Ticket with access stairs 2nd floor +lift top floor : This ticket grants access to the top of the Tower via the stairs up to the second floor, and then in a lift. On sale at the Tower only.
As a real splurge, you could book dinner at the restaurant and your reservation comes with the cost of the ride up the tower. If you choose this, you may not want to do the day trip up the tower (you will still get unbelievable views of Paris tomorrow when you climb the Arc De Triomphe!). This experience is a bit of a splurge with cost starting at 95 Euros/pp stretching to 180 Euros/pp depending on the seat/meal you choose. We went all in. We dressed in our fanciest clothes and dined at a window seat at sunset at Eiffel 58.
The ambiance is warm and welcoming, the atmosphere is elegant, the service impeccable, and the food… oh, the food! We chose a window seat overlooking the Champs Des Mars, sipped a welcome glass of champagne, indulged in a 4-course meal, a bottle of wine, sparkling water, coffee/tea, and dessert. We savored Foie Gras, prawns, beef medallions in a rich roux, chicken prepared and presented as if it were a masterpiece fit for the Louvre, chocolate mousse cake, and a cheese plate. One of the most memorable meals we will ever have. If this is something you are interested in… imagine this as your Grande Finale on your last night of your romantic 4 days in Paris!
Tonight, you will experience an incredible evening in the Theater District! After dressing for dinner, hop in a Taxi and whisk off to the theater district where you will take in a fabulous meal before tonight’s spectacle! As your taxi drops you off (or if you have walked, as you round the corner)… you will see a sight that will forever stick with me. The Moulin Rouge! All lit up with its red windmill turning slowly upon twinkling lights. Let’s start with dinner with a view! Across from the Moulin
The Rouge Bis. Located at 2 Rue de Bruxelles. Reservations are accepted, however as we were traveling in shoulder season (March) when crowds were low, we lucked into a table outside along the sidewalk (yes it was plenty warm) and had the most magical view directly in front of us of the Moulin Rouge. I truly could not believe our luck stumbling upon this place. The meal was outstanding. Starting with Duck confit
For tickets to the Moulin Rouge, you need to be prepared. Again, reserving this long before your arrival in Paris is a good idea to be sure you secure a spot. The Moulin Rouge! 8 Oscar Nominations including Best Picture… you’ve at least HEARD of the story of the Moulin Rouge. Now you will experience it!
The Moulin Rouge, A Bohemium love story for the ages… this evening will transport you back to the time before the wars when the Moulin Rouge was the birthplace of the modern form of the can-can dance (a seductive dance by the courtesans), which then evolved into a form of entertainment of its own and led to the introduction of cabarets across Europe. Today, the Moulin Rouge is a tourist attraction offering an unforgettable night of champagne corks popping (non-stop!) and music and dancing like you’ve never seen before attracting visitors from around the world. “The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return”. Tickets start at 100Euros/pp and you get a bottle of champagne per couple.
Day 3 of 4 days in Paris
Hop On Hop Off Bus/Boat Tour
Time to cover some ground! You’ve already seen many of the icons Paris is famous for, now lets’ see some more! Plus, let’s dive into some of the smaller neighborhoods and take in some fabulous architecture and hear some of the histories. Time for the Hop On Hop Off bus tour! We tend to do this in every city we travel to as it is a rolling tour through the streets allowing you to enjoy fascinating facts and stories as you pass through the city’s most iconic landmarks and attractions. You can hop off at 11+ Big Bus stops to explore as often as you like, rejoining the tour at your leisure. It’s a fantastic way to get around the city, saving your feet countless miles of walking during your 4 days in Paris!
Don’t worry, you will still get in your steps. One stop to be sure to explore is The Arc De Triomphe. This is one of the most beautiful and exhilarating places in Paris! The famed stone arch is ornately carved with so much detail. The roundabout (fed by the 12 Avenues) that surrounds it is dizzying and downright terrifying should YOU be the one driving! Luckily for you, you are just a passenger on this crazy ride! Your bus WILL navigate around the Arc and I recommend you sit up top on the bus to get a real feel for what’s going on around you. Horns honking, scooters dodging and weaving between traffic, more horns honking. It’s utter chaos!
Hop off at this stop and give your heart a rest, use the underground passageway to get to the entrance depositing you under the Arc De Triomphe! Look up at this architectural vision. The arch is in honor of those who fought for France, in particular, those who fought during the Napoleonic Wars. Engraved on the inside and at the top of the arch are all of the names of the generals and wars fought. There are inscriptions in the ground underneath the vault of the arch which include the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I where the Memorial Flame burns.
12 Euros is what it costs for your ticket to climb the 284 steps to the top, where you will have, in my opinion, the best view in Paris. In the distance, you can see a gorgeous view of the Eiffel Tower and as you walk around the platform at the top you can look down onto the dozen avenues. Cost 12 Euros.
Leave time to hop off and explore Montmartre, where you’ll find cobblestone streets, musicians, and artist markets. This is, after all, the neighborhood where legends like Hemmingway, Dali, Picasso, and a definite favorite, Renoir, lived and worked.
Bare in mind when using the Hop On Hop Off Bus today there are two routes (Red and Blue) so there is a full day’s worth of exploring the city. Save time to catch a Seine River cruise which is included in your ticket price! This is a narrated cruise lasting about an hour. You catch it close to the Eiffel Tower.
End day 3 of your 4 days in Paris by exploring Rue Cler – Paris’ most well-known street market. Located in the 7th arrondissement, it truly is a paradise to explore. The best part about the Rue Cler Market is that it isn’t overrun by tourists so you will get a glimpse into the Parisian local life. It is open every day but Monday. You will find many restaurants to choose from, along with food markets, bars, pastry shops and more.
DAY 4 of 4 days in Paris
Palace of Versailles
You’ve heard of Versailles... the massive Palace which used to be a hunting lodge, home to Marie Antoinette, Kings and Queens, the famous Hall of Mirrors, the incredible fountains and manicured gardens. It’s time to feast your eyes on it all in person! To say this place is massive, doesn’t really convey its size. The palace area consists of the main palace, a large garden, an extensive park, as well as a number o
You can easily book a guided tour to Versailles from the city, however, it will cost you. Guided tours usually start around 60Euros/pp for a half day tour, although it is convenient as they take care of picking you up and bringing you back. It is still a self-guided (with an audio guide) tour of the Palace. Versailles which is more than 721,000 square feet, and consists of over 700 rooms. The grounds are enormous (800 Hectares) and will take you hours to cover them alongside the Palace itself.
You can even rent a small rowboat, grab a bottle of champagne and glide with your sweetie
You have only one day to spend at Versailles, so make a plan and prioritize what you want to see, and take into account that there are large distances between some of the locations. I couldn’t believe how much walking we did!
If you want to access the Palace on your own and do not want to rent a car and attempt to navigate the roads and highways… fear not! Reaching Versailles by train is easy and by far the cheapest option. From Paris, the total cost of a round trip to Versailles is 7,1€ per person all included. The métro and RER have common ticketing. Just go to your nearest métro station, and buy your tickets to Versailles-Château – Rive Gauche. The cost to enter the Palace is 20Euros.
However, you choose to get there, allow for plenty of time to take in this opulent adventure. Plan on two to three hours for the château, one hour for the gardens (longer if you want to rent a rowboat) and another two hours if you want to include the Domaine de Marie-Antoinette in your visit. Add two hours to cover your round-trip transit time, and it’s a five to seven-hour day trip from Paris depending on how slowly you amble through. Bring comfortable shoes… you will be getting in some serious steps today! Entrance to the Palace and grounds costs 20Euros and it is open from 9am-5:30pm.
Let’s Unpack This!
Paris is a feeling. I get chills thinking about it. You can’t NOT be romantic about Paris. Top that with the to die for cuisine, flutes of bubbles, sophisticated architecture, high fashion, and rich history… and you’ve got a city that will beckon you to return as soon as your wheels have left the runway. Paris can be cold and damp at the height of winter, yet the crowds at the height of summer will almost certainly take away from the splendor of your trip. Spring and Fall are by far the best time to visit, usually beckoning smaller crowds creating friendlier locals, cheaper accommodations and easier to come by tickets for attractions. Whenever the opportunity presents itself for you to spend your 4 days in Paris, remember what Audrey Hepburn said… “Paris is always a good idea…“
