4 day Paris itinerary – The PERFECT way to spend 4 days in Paris

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Are you planning a trip to France and want the perfect 4 day Paris itinerary?

We have visited Paris several times in recent years and the one thing that is key to your experience is planning out your itinerary.

Some people hate itineraries and we definitely like to just experience a place for what it is without an agenda as well but with so much to see and do in Paris, not having some sort of plan often means you spend time running from one part of the city to the next and don’t allow yourself enough time at key locations.

In this 4 day Paris itinerary, we dedicate one day to each of the key areas of the city to allow you time to enjoy the main attractions without doing 40,000 steps in the process.

We will also provide you with the best hotels in Paris for every budget, as well as food & drink recommendations throughout each day.

How to get around in Paris

Public Transport

If you are planning to spend at least one week in the city the Paris City Pass – “Navigo Decouverte” allows you to travel throughout zones 1-5 using public transport for around €30 per week. This can be purchased at the majority of metro or train stations.

You can also get a Navigo day pass covering zones 1-3 for €11.60 per day.

Alternatively, the Paris Visite package allows access to all transport networks: metro, tram, bus, RER and train (SNCF Transilien).  This package, valid for 1, 2, 3 or 5 consecutive days, allows unlimited travel in Paris (zones 1 to 3) or Paris and the Île-de-France region (all zones, with access to airports including Orlyval, Disneyland Paris and Château de Versailles). The visite pass also provides discounted prices for numerous attractions around the city.

Duration	Adult	Child (4-11)
1 Day	€13.95 (Zone 1-3) €29.25 (1-5)	€6.95 (Zone 1-3) €14.60 (1-5)
2 Days	€22.65 (Zone 1-3) €44.45 (1-5)	€11.30 (Zone 1-3) €22.20 (1-5)
3 Days	€30.90 (Zone 1-3) €62.30 (1-5)	€15.45 (Zone 1-3) €31.15 (1-5)
5 Days	€44.45 (Zone 1-3) €76.25 (1-5)	€22.20 (Zone 1-3) €38 (1-5)

This can be purchased in any station or else online at https://parisjetaime.com/eng/tickets

Taxi

The main apps used for taxi services around the city are Bolt or FreeNow – it is beneficial to download each of these apps if you need to grab a taxi but we would suggest using public transport wherever possible.

Hop On/Hop Off Tour

If it is your first time visiting the city, one of the best ways to get a feel for the city and to see all of the major sites is to take the hop/hop off bus tours. This allows you the flexibility to pick and choose where and when you want to go somewhere, without having to worry about how to get there. You can continue to use our guide to plan out your time and use the bus to move between each of the recommended locations.

How many days do you need in Paris?

Ideally, you should spend 4 days in Paris to allow sufficient time to explore the sites and potentially take a day trip. You will need a minimum of 2 days in Paris to see the major sites but will have to prioritize some places over others within that time.

The key things to maximising your time in Paris is to have a clear plan. Paris is a very big city and it is spread out, the major sights are not very close together so you need to focus on one area at a time.

If you do have 3-4 days in Paris and would like to take a day trip, we would highly recommend this Palace of Versailles Tour which will take you into the world of French royalty. The tour includes skip the line access and a guided tour of this incredible palace, really worth adding to a longer Paris itinerary.

Alternatively, we would also suggest taking a trip to Disneyland Paris if you have time available, particularly if you are visiting Paris with kids..

Map of Paris with key locations

Best Areas to stay in Paris

Paris is broken up into 20 arrondissements (neighbourhoods) each with advantages and disadvantages for a stay in the city.

Generally speaking, if it is your first time in Paris, we would recommend choosing a hotel in one of the lower numbered arrondissements as these will be closest to the major attractions.

Day 1

Morning – Eiffel Tower walking tour

Day 1 in Paris is all about its most iconic landmark – the Eiffel Tower. This day is going to be filled with experiencing the Eiffel Tower from every perspective – so much so in fact that you won’t want to look at it again for the remaining 3 days.

To truly experience the Eiffel Tower in all its glory day 1 is going to involve some walking, some climbing (steps not mountains) and finally, some relaxing with a glass of champagne (non alcoholic options are available) as it sparkles in the background while you cruise the River Seine.

To start your day off we would suggest going to the Arc de Triomphe before taking the line 6 metro to Trocadero.

Once you get here go inside the building to the right of the main square at Place du Trocadero where you will find Cafe Lucy and with it, unobscured views of the Eiffel Tower.

After that, take some photos outside at Place du Trocadero before taking the 8 minute walk to viewpoint number 2 (or 3 if you include the views from the metro) – Avenue de Camoens.

The last time we were here, a fashion magazine was doing a photoshoot using this views as the backdrop so if it’s good enough for them it will hopefully be worth adding to your route too.

Once you’ve grabbed a few photos here, it’s just a 10 minute walk to get up close and personal with the tower at Pont d’Lena, which runs right through the iconic landmark.

Optional Extra – Climb the Eiffel Tower

One thing we would also recommend doing is to take the Eiffel Tower entry ticket which provides you with optional summit access as well. This will give you another unique perspective of the tower, as well as offering great views of the city from above.

Naturally, this is one of the most popular things to do in Paris, so it will get crowded at times and tickets do sell out quite early in advance.

Afternoon – Picnic at Champs des Mars

All that walking will work up an appetite so we would suggest spending the afternoon relaxing with a picnic at Champ de Mars – a beautiful public park set against the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower.

If picnics aren’t your thing then after relaxing here for a while grab some lunch at Linette, a traditional French bistro serving up lots of local classics or if you want to play it safe, grab a pizza at Sonata.

From there make your way along two of our favourite places to see the Eiffel Tower – l’Howea and Rue de l’Universite. For us, even if you only had time to see the Eiffel Tower from two locations, these are the streets we would choose.

Around the corner along Rue Saint Dominique you will also find a place that will often pop up on the Instagram snaps of top influencers – Le Recrutement.

Evening – River Seine Cruise

Okay you have done your 10,000 steps for the day (twice-over at least), covered the views from every angle, so now it’s time to sit back and relax. And the best way to do that is by taking a lazy river cruise filled with food and wine along the Seine.

The River Seine cruise that we would recommend is provided by Bateaux Parisien and lasts around 2.5 hours.

Along the cruise you will be able to enjoy a 3 course meal before watching the Eiffel Tower light up the Parisian night sky, which happens on the hour every hour after dusk for around 5 minutes each time.

To us, this is the perfect way to end the first of your 4 days in Paris.

Best views of the Eiffel Tower

• L’Howea
• Rue L’Universite
• Avenue Camoens
• Pont d’Lena
• Pont d’Alma
• Galeries Lafayette Hausmann Rooftop
• Arc de Triomphe rooftop
• Avenue Buenos Ayres
• Place du Trocadero
• No. 06 Metro

Day 2 – Montmartre

Morning – Place du Tertre

Okay, so now you have explored the Eiffel Tower from every angle, it is time to experience Paris from a completely different perspective. For day 2 in Paris, you are going to spend it in our favourite part of the city – Montmartre.

Montmartre is renowned for being home to the artists of the city and loads of great sites like the Sacré-Cœur; Maison Rose; Sinking House of Montmartre and the Moulin Rouge.

Montmartre has a totally different feel to the rest of Paris; feeling like a village extended on to the city rather than part of the city itself.

While Montmartre does attract a huge number of tourists, it still has a slower feel than the centre and once you get there, you can walk around it at your own pace rather than needing metros etc.

With that in mind we would encourage you to spend your morning with a coffee in hand from Noir, getting to know the streets or simply sitting out along Place du Tertre to watch the street artists before exploring the sights in the afternoon.

Afternoon – See the sights: Sacré-Cœur, Maison Rose & Sinking House of Montmartre

The thing we love about Montmartre is its character – the area feels like a vintage throwback and the style of some of its most renowned sights reflect that as well.

Before starting your walking tour, you could head to Boris Lume to grab a quick lunch, a traditional bakery with lots of pastries, baguettes etc. (If you want something more substantial, try Tonton de la Butte). Then make your way along our favourite place in Montmartre, Rue de l’Abreuvoir, which is one of the most picturesque streets in Paris.

Along here you will find La Maison Rose, a restaurant with a striking pink facade and a popular photo spot in Montmartre. From there, we would suggest visiting the sinking house of Montmartre, a popular optical illusion location, which looks like a house sinking into the grass when you tilt your camera sideways along the line of the slope.

Finally, take a walk around possibly the areas most renowned location, the Sacré-Cœur. The unique design of building perched on the hill overlooking the city stands out from the moment you reach Montmartre. You can climb the steps of the dome for a small contribution to get incredible panoramic views of the city below.

Evening – Cabaret Show at Moulin Rouge

To finish your evening on day 2 in Paris, we’re going to take in a show at another of the areas famous locations – the Moulin Rouge.

Taking in a show here is one those bucket list opportunities to see something unique that you will rarely have an opportunity to do elsewhere so it is a great way to experience Parisien culture during your stay.

Before heading to the show, go for some dinner at Pink Mamma if you are a pizza lover or else Bouillon if you would like a more French Brasserie style meal.

The show at Moulin Rouge lasts for around 2 hours and features over 100 artists and you will receive a half bottle of champagne as part of this ticket to add to the occasion.

Day 3 – Le Marais & The Latin Quarter

On day 3, you’re going to focus your time on another of the cities most popular areas, Le Marais and the Latin Quarter. These two areas encompass the 3rd-5th arrondissements of the city and are popular both during the day and at night, with lots of great bars and restaurants nearby.

Morning – Le Marais

Start your day off at Place des Vosges, one of Paris’ oldest squares and a beautiful place to start the day before making your way around Le Marais to grab a coffee and croissant at Sevenly Heart.

There is a Carette cafe at Place des Vosges which is very popular with tourists for pancakes and hot chocolate but we personally found them to be overpriced for what you get.

After Place des Vosges, explore some of the boutique shops before making your way to Marche des Enfant Rouges, the oldest food market in Paris.

Note: If you’re a foodie then you should definitely check out this food and wine tasting tour of Le Marais. This tour will take you around local bakeries, cheese factories and you will get to sample all the best Parisien cuisine and some wine to go along with it too.

Afternoon – Notre Dame and Le Louvre

Start your afternoon off by visiting one of the cities most revered locations, the Notre Dame Cathedral. For lunch, we would recommend Loulou if you want a brunch style meal or else right beside it you will find Pepita, which does some really good Italian dishes and great focaccia sandwiches.

In this area you will also find the Shakespeare & Co bookshop, Ralph’s Coffee, Saint Chapelle and the Pantheon is also nearby.

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After visiting Notre Dame, take a walk along the River Seine towards Pont des Arts and across the bridge where you will find The Louvre.

To make the most of your time, we would definitely recommend getting timed entry tickets to the Louvre. The crowds here can get quite big so having a designated time slot will save you a lot of time and energy.

If you would prefer not to go into the gallery itself, it is still a lovely place to explore from the outside. There are also some nice cafes lining the courtyard centred by the iconic pyramid.

Jardin Tulleries

If you are visiting with young children and want to give them some time to play etc. there is a large playground at Jardin Tulleries, just a short walk from the Louvre. Across the road you will also find the Angelina cafe, renowned for its hot chocolate and the gardens themselves are a beautiful place to relax.

At these gardens you will also find Petit Palais and a gorgeous cafe called Cafe 1902 that we would recommend visiting as a nice place to relax mid way through your day. From there, you will see Place de la Concorde and Pont Alexandre III, before getting ready for dinner.

Evening – Dinner by Le Louvre

If you are in this area for dinner you could also check out Terrasse de L’alcazar, a really aesthetic restaurant that looks like a garden inside. Alternatively, we would also recommend going to Freddy’s for tapas as well. We also love Le Wok Saint Germain but we are big fans of Thai food so this is more of a niche pick depending on your taste.

Nearby you could go for a drink afterwards along the Seine. We would recommend trying out the Prescription Cocktail club or else Chez Nous, a beautiful wine bar serving some nice small plates as well.

Day 4 – Day trip to Disneyland Paris

Now that you’ve explored much of what the city has to offer, you can add in a day trip to your 4 days in Paris.

For day trips from Paris, there are two main (and quite contrasting) options – Disneyland Paris or the Palace of Versailles. If you were feeling very ambitious you could also take a day trip to London by hopping on the Eurostar but that is subject to entry requirements into the UK etc.

The day trip you choose will largely depend on your personality but as we have two young children, we naturally found it easy to choose Versailles (I joke of course). We took a day trip to Disneyland but we would highly recommend a trip to Versailles as well.

How to get from Paris centre to Disneyland

The easiest way to get from Paris city centre to Disneyland is to take the train. Once you get to the station, look for the RER A line towards Marne la Vallee /Chessey and the journey will take around 40 minutes. Tickets for the train cost around €5 each way and it runs several times an hour.

We’ve put together a guide to visiting Disneyland Paris with kids so you can get more detailed advice on how to plan out your day at Disneyland.