Last updated on December 21st, 2024
Paris is one of our favorite cities in Europe and we have a wonderful time here. During our trip, we visited Paris’s famous sights like the Eiffel Tower and The Louvre; explored the great Paris neighborhoods, and sampled some great French food. Paris is a city that has it all.
Paris itself can be an overwhelming city. There are so many things to do and see in Paris and you need to make sure you take advantage of all the time-saving ideas you can. The diversity of attractions can easily spend you days exploring this wonderful city. It can be very exhausting if you are rushing from one attraction to the next. So, when planning for a Paris itinerary, make sure to build in variety and spend considerable time for the sights.
In our opinion, 3 to 4 days in Paris gives you ample time to sample all the highlights of the city. We have spent considerable time in Paris and enjoy the wonderful atmosphere of the Parisian streets.
To help on your coming Paris trip, we put together this Paris itinerary to help you visit the most attractions and have the best experience possible. It included all the highlights of my 4 days in Paris when experiencing the magic of this city.
This Paris itinerary travel blog will give you some tiny ideas to plan for your trip to Paris, especially for first-time visitors. For your convenience, I’ve compiled links to hotels, tours, and other services here. You’ll be sure to get a great all-around in this amazing city. Let’s check it out.
Pre-Trip Essential
When considering how many days to spend in Paris, remember that you won’t see absolutely everything the city has to offer in just one trip. Paris is huge with so many world-class attractions to visit. It’s nearly impossible to distill everything that Paris has to offer into just a few days of visiting. Make sure to have enough time to relax and soak up the Parisian atmosphere without rushing from one point to another attraction.
We recommend spending at least four days in Paris so that you can hit many of the city’s major sights and attractions. Three days should be enough if you’re just looking to see the main tourist attractions. If time is allowed, plan for a day trip outside of the city to see more of the French countryside.
In general, we recommended booking the admission ticket or skip-the-line ticket for 2-3 months in advance if you’re planning to visit the popular Louvre Museum, Musee d’Orsay, the Eiffel Tower (to the top), and Versailles before your trip. The queuing time is crazy on those famous spots. By taking advantage of Skip the Line tickets and easily accessible transit, you can explore Paris in a shorter waiting time.
Where To Stay
This is the one thing you don’t want to get wrong on your Parisian trip! From the best district to stay in Paris to the perfect kind of accommodation for you, find our best tips and some great proposals, for all budgets.
If you haven’t decided where to stay for your trip to Paris yet, check out our suggestions below:
Luxury: If you have the budget, look for a hotel with Eiffel Tower views. There is nothing like an amazing view of the Eiffel Tower to say you’rein the City of Lights! The Le Damantin Hotel & Spa is a family-owned 5-star hotel that featured fabulous Seine River and Eiffel Tower views. There are 44 rooms and suites in a luxurious mansion with featured with indoor pool, sauna, spa, and wellness center. Certain rooms come with the perfect Eiffel Tower View. Everything in the hotel in the smallest detail is perfect.
Mid-Range: Novotel Paris Les Halles, a 4-star hotel featured 285 guestrooms with comfy beds. The location was perfect to explore Paris for a short city break. It is near with metro and RER station, with a lot of restaurants and stores nearby.
Mid-Budget: Hotel Choiseul Opera is an upscale 3-star hotel that is ideally located in central Paris. The location is excellent, walking distance to the Louvre and bus/Metro stops right in front. Clean and comfortable room which made coming back to the room pleasant after a long day of walking.
More Paris accommodation? Read more on Where To Stay in Paris: The Best Areas and Hotels.
4-Days in Paris
If you’re visiting Paris for the first time, then this comprehensive Paris travel guide will tell you all you need to know to plan your trip.
Below is my travel itinerary for four days in Paris. This itinerary includes some of the recommended sights to visit in Paris. I encourage you to make it your own and tailor it to the type of experience you want to have. I hope this helps you plan your trip to Paris!
- Day 1: Arrived in Paris. Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars, Palais de Chaillot.
- Day 2: Louvre Museum, Tuileries Garden, Place de La Concorde, Champs D’Elysees, Arc de Triomphe.
- Day 3: Notre Dame, Montmartre, Place du Tertre, Sacre Coeur, Moulin Rouge.
- Day 4: Day trip to Versailles Palace.
Apart from our own DIY Paris itinerary, we also recommended some of the walking tours covering the specific attractions. These self-guided walking tours usually last a few hours and detailed explanations of the history and hidden gems. Gets your favorite Paris walking tour from below great picks!
Day One in Paris Itinerary
Welcome to Paris! We arrived in Paris in the late morning. After settling into the hotel, we kick-started our Paris itinerary and headed to Paris’ most iconic landmark, Eiffel Tower, and visited its surroundings.
We first visited the Palais de Chaillot to have the perfect photos of the Eiffel Tower, and spend the remaining day at the Champ de Mars while waiting for our time to ascent the Eiffel Tower.
Eiffel Tower
Our Paris itinerary will start by visiting one of the city’s most iconic sights. The Eiffel Tower looms large over the city and forms an inescapable part of the cityscape. No trip to Paris would be complete without seeing this most famous landmark.
If this is your first time in Paris, make sure to experience the Iron Lady of Paris to the summit. It is far more spectacular and overwhelming you won’t be disappointed. There are three levels for visitors to visit the tower, and the second level is probably the best for viewing and picture taking. The top level’s upper platform is 276 m (906ft) above the ground – the highest observation deck accessible to the public in the European Union. Restaurants are on the first and second levels.
Getting up to Eiffel Tower is extremely popular for all travelers to Paris and it can be a difficult experience during the busy season. Visitors need to queue for hours for tickets. The best way is to head there early and book your Eiffel Tower ticket in advance if you want to go up the Eiffel tower. It takes a long time to get to the top but it will greatly reduce your waiting time if you buy your ticket in advance.
You can also close to ascend by stairs or lift to the first and second levels. The climb from one level to the next level is over 300 steps.
Eiffel Tower at night
I love the Eiffel Tower in the daytime but it is even more magical at night. We pre-booked the Eiffel Tower admission ticket before our trip to Paris. We were lucky and able to plan to access the Eiffel Tower in the evening for the best night view in Paris city.
It was truly magical and unbelievable when looking down from the tower when the city lit up at night. One of those experiences in life that you know you will remember forever. I just couldn’t take my eyes off the glittering lights. It was truly a dream to be here.
The Eiffel Tower admission prices can vary, depending on the floor and the stair or elevator access. Entrance tickets currently cost $37.27. A little expensive but the view is worth the trip!
- Opening Hours: The tower opens from 09:30 until 22:30.
- Official Website: https://www.toureiffel.paris/
- Getting there: Get off at Bir-Hakeim stop.
- Book your Skip-the-line Eiffel Tower Ticket here
Champ de Mars
When you’re visiting the Eiffel Tower, for sure you want the perfect photo with the Eiffel Tower in the background. There are two excellent options; the Champ de Mars and Palais de Chaillot. The ideal time to take a photo in front of the Eiffel Tower is in the morning or late afternoon.
Closer to the tower, the Champ de Mars is a huge park just before the Eiffel Tower which stretches to the Ecole Militaire. This 60-acre garden allows tourists to take nice full-height photos of the Eiffel Tower from here. You can also sit down on the grass and have a relaxed picnic in the garden space with Eiffel Tower as your view. A beautiful park to relax and hang out in while admiring the beauty of Paris.
Beware of street vendors come trying to sell you souvenirs, drinks, etc. They can be a bit persistent. But other than that we enjoyed the view here.
Palais de Chaillot
The Palais de Chaillot is located on Chaillot Hill, on the northwest side of the River Seine, and next to the Trocadero gardens. This palace was built for one of the International Exposition in the ’30s. Nowadays, it had been transformed and houses cultural institutions, theatre, architecture, and ethnographic museums. The building is impressive and consists of two neo-classical style architectures, separated by a terrace.
We didn’t go to the museum actually, but for the breathtaking view of the Eiffel tower. This has to be the best place to be in Paris to take photos of the Eiffel Tower. There is a wide space with people singing, and playing music in front of the Eiffel tower.
Day 2 in Paris Itinerary
When spending 3 or 4 days in Paris, you might have time for one big museum in Paris, either the Louvre Museum or Orsay Museum. We recommend the Louvre, the world’s largest art museum and a historic monument in Paris.
Start your day two in Paris with a trip to the Louvre Museum and spend your morning immersing yourself in Paris’s art scene. After a couple of hours, head northwest towards the Champs Elysees from Louvre Museum. Your walking tour is starting at the Tuileries Garden and ends at the Place de la Concorde. This walk takes you through some of the most beautiful gardens in Paris and ends in a place steeped in French history.
Louvre Museum
Firstly, make your way to Paris’s second most popular landmark, Louvre Museum (Musée du Louvre). The Louvre, or the Louvre Museum, is an iconic museum that holds about 38,000 pieces of artwork, sculptures, paintings, and the home of the most famous Mona Lisa and other famous art pieces.
The building itself is exquisite, and of course, the general collection is spectacular. There is so much to see and you can easily spend a day or two here and still not manage to see everything. Plan your time exploring the museum and getting lost among some of the world’s highest-profile works. We recommend spending at least 3 hours at the Louvre to admire its top artworks.
LEARN MORE: How to Visit the Louvre Museum – A Ultimate Travel Guide Blog
When you’re ready to leave, take some time to explore the architecture of the Louvre itself and the pyramids in the Louvre’s courtyard. The Glass Pyramid was built by I.M. Pei and is a great compliment to the original architecture of the Louvre.
Being the largest art museum in the world, The Louvre is extremely busy and crowded. We recommend purchasing priority access tickets to Louvre Museum to avoid the long line at the entrance.
Alternatively, you can buy the Louvre Museum skip-the-line guided tour from Klook and visit the museum hassle-free. The ticket includes an English/French/Spanish speaking guide who will bring you through the important rooms and explain some of the important paintings in the Louvre.
- Opening Hours: Daily from 9:00 to 18:00. Closed on Tuesday.
- Admission Fee: €17
- Official Website: https://www.louvre.fr/en
- Getting there: The Palais Royal – Musée du Louvre station is the nearest metro stop to Museum Louvre in Paris.
- Optional: Book Your Priority Access Tickets to Louvre Museum here
Jardin des Tuileries
After the museum visit, walk down to the Jardin des Tuileries for some fresh air. Originally commissioned by Catherine de Medici in 1564, this French-formal style garden became a public park following the French Revolution. It is strategically located between the Louvre and the Place de la Concorde.
Take a short stroll through the well-maintained Tuileries Gardens. With the Seine on one side and several fine water features and monuments to walk past, many people were gathering to enjoy the fine weather. The garden space has stayed public and is free to enter.
- Opening Hour: Daily from 7:00 to 21:00.
- Admission Fee: Free!
- Getting there: 5 minutes from Louvre Museum.
Place de La Concorde
Created between 1755 and 1775 by the architect of King Louis XV, Place de la Concorde is one of the most beautiful squares in Paris. At its center, there is a magnificent fountain with statues and a giant Egyptian-style Obelisk with a golden tip that can be seen glinting under the sun.
This impressive octagonal square is strategically located, right in the heart of Paris, between the Louvre Museum and the wonderful gardens of Tuileries and the elegant Avenue Champs Elysée.
This is a great way to walk to the Champs Elysees from the Louvre, or in opposite direction, follow your Paris itinerary. A nice little stop-gap between the Champs Elysses and the Louvre.
Paris travel tips: Place de la Concorde is the busiest square with huge traffic lines, so please be careful with pedestrians when crossing the road.
Champs Elysees
Located in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, Champs D’Elysees runs between the Place de la Concorde and the Place Charles de Gaulle, with the most famous landmark, the Arc de Triomphe at the end.
This world-famous street is the most beautiful avenue in the world. Wide streets and sidewalks are lined with trees and top-notch boutiques on both sides. There are also restaurants, cafes, cinemas, theatres, and many others along the street.
From Place de la Concorde, we took a long walk to arrive at the Champs Elysees. Alternatively, you can also jump on the Metro at Place de la Concorde and get off at George V to the main street. It is a wonderful stroll along this fantastic street for window shopping and enjoying the atmosphere.
Getting there: Get off from the metro at the Concorde stop or George V stop to the Champs Elysees.
Stop for macarons
If you don’t eat macarons in Paris, you’re missing out on one of my favorite Parisian desserts. During your stroll along the Champs Elysees, don’t forget to stop by Ladurée for a box once you reach the Arc de Triomphe.
Ladurée is known for its macarons and it has arguably the best macarons in Paris! There are multiple locations so there are no excuses for not trying it. We bought the macaron from the Ladurée on Champs de Elyse.
Arc de Triomphe
At the end of the Champs Elysees, you’ll find is the famous Arc de Triomphe. It forms a huge, but convenient traffic roundabout at one of the busiest intersections of Paris.
This incredible arch was built to commemorate Napoleon’s triumphs and honor those who sacrificed their lives during the French Revolution and the Napoleonic wars. It is a stunning monument and one of the most recognizable landmarks in Paris.
For €13, you can climb to the top where you will find a forgettable display of military memorabilia, but best of all, incredible 360-degree views of Paris city and many landmarks in all directions.
Paris Travel Tips: If you have a ticket in advance or are using the Skip-the-line ticket from Klook, you can reduce the waiting time and get into a nice security check. If you have the Paris Pass you get free entry and you can skip the line.
- Opening Hours: From 10:00 to 22:30 (October to March) and from 10:00 to 23:00 (April to September).
- Admission Fee: €13; Children under 17 are free. Skip the line and Free entry with the Paris Pass.
- Official Website: http://www.paris-arc-de-triomphe.fr/
- Getting there: Get off from the metro at Charles de Gaulle – Étoile stop.
- Optional: Book your Skip-the-line to Arc de Triomphe here
Day 3 in Paris Itinerary
Starting at Notre Dame on your third day in Paris, take time to appreciate the intricate artwork and details of the gorgeous Cathedral. Next, spend your afternoon time in Montmartre, sit back in one of the adorable restaurants, and soak up the artistic atmosphere here. Visit the Sacre Coeur, Moulin Rouge, and explore the winding streets nearby on your trip to Montmartre.
Notre Dame
The Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris (Our Lady of Paris) is one of the main tourist sights in Paris and a jewel of Gothic Architecture. The construction of Notre Dame started in the 12th century and the works ended in the 15th century. As a big literature and Disney geek, Notre Dame has become the most famous gothic cathedral in the world and attracts 13 million visitors every year!
From the metro station Cité, walk to Notre Dame Cathedral.
Note: Notre Dame was seriously damaged during a terrible fire last April 2019 and left the whole world in breathless mode. Due to the tragic fire, some parts like the roof and the spire were destroyed forever and restoration work is in progress. You can no longer go up, but you can still admire Our Lady of Paris from the outside. Notre Dame will be closed to tourists and reopen in 2024.
Montmartre
Next, headed to the Montmartre located in the 18th Arrondissement for some fresh air and to wander around the iconic neighborhood. Perched on the top of a small hill, Montmartre is where one could catch a glimpse of the city in full view. It is full of charm with its cobbled streets, stunning Basilica, artists, and bistros.
Walking to Montmartre was a great experience and as you ascend the cobble-stoned streets offer lovely vistas back towards the city and cute little houses along the way. This famous district still has a great village atmosphere, which is what attracted so many artists in the 19th and 20th centuries.
There are also some best cafes and restaurants in the area, so be sure not to miss them. We had our leisure late lunch at Le Poulbot and truly enjoyed the classical French food. After lunch, we stroll around and admire all the artists who display their works daily. Next, we made our way to Sacre Coeur, one of the must-visit in Montmartre.
Related Read: Montmartre Travel Guide Blog – How to Plan the Your Itinerary
Place du Tertre
The Place du Tertre (Little Hill) is a charming square a few streets away from Montmartre’s Basilica of the Sacré Cœur.
Since over 200 years ago local artists have been attracted to come here to live, paint, and sell their works – among them Picasso and Renoir. That tradition survives, although the area has become more touristic than bohemian. You’ll still see many local artists setting up their easels, selling their canvases, and offering portrait sessions.
There is also plenty of open-air restaurant seating and an overall festive small-town feel.
Sacré-Coeur Basilica
The crowning glory of Montmartre is the Basilica of the Sacré-Coeur. Take the funicular railway or walk up the hill to reach the Sacre Coeur. The Basilica is located at the peak of Montmartre, the highest point in the city. It is a huge Catholic cathedral with a large dome which you can walk up to get a panoramic view of Paris.
The Basilica is free to enter with no booking required. The interior is just stunning and mesmerizing. Take a silent stroll through the church and admire the stained glass windows.
If you are looking for an even higher view you can climb up the 300 steps to the top of the Dome for a small fee for this. The great dome of the Basilica is the second observation point of Paris after the Eiffel Tower. It is impressive to see the building and the view from the top is fabulous.
Paris Travel Tips: Beware of pickpockets and groups of street vendors in Montmartre, especially around the Sacré Coeur. An anti-theft backpack or an anti-theft crossbody bag is always a good idea in Montmartre.
- Opening Hours: The basilica is open daily from 6:30 to 22:30. While access to the dome is varying and it is open from 10:30 to 22:30 (June to September) and 10:30 to 17:30 (November to May).
- Admission Fee: Free for the Basilica but it requires a fee to access the Dome.
- Official Website: http://www.sacre-coeur-montmartre.com/
Moulin Rouge
When you tire of the crowds on this picturesque hill, take a short stroll to the Moulin Rouge. It is located right in Montmartre at the bottom of the hill from Sacre Coeur.
Moulin Rouge is the birthplace of the modern can-can dance and is known for its world-class cabaret performances. Tickets start at around €99 per person if you want to see a show. The performance is extremely popular and it is always full. You may want to book your tickets well in advance – Click here to buy your tickets to the Moulin Rouge if you are interested.
Day 4: Day trip to Versailles Palace
After three days of exploring Paris, we recommend taking a day trip out of the city to see a little bit more of what the French countryside has to offer. We propose to visit the Palace of Versailles and its Gardens, located only 40 minutes from Paris by train. It is a short day trip from Paris and is very easy to access via public transport.
Versailles Palace is the home to King Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette. It is a splendid baroque palace surrounded by the stunning French-style Versailles Gardens. Make sure you don’t miss the King’s state and private apartments, the Hall of Mirrors, and the Gallery of the Great Battles, in addition to the Trianon Palace and the Queen’s Hamlet.
As with many major attractions in Paris, it’s best to book tickets in advance to avoid the queues and arrive early if you plan to visit in the high season. The Versailles Skip-the-line Ticket is a great option to visit this luxury palace and is highly recommended. (Get the Palace Ticket with Skip-the-line Option from Klook)
- Opening Hours: Palace is open at 9:00 daily and closed Monday. The gardens and the park are open every day and are free to visit.
- Admission Fee: €20 for the palace, gardens, and the Trianon.
- Official Website: https://www.chateauversailles.fr/
Paris Travel Tips: The easiest way to get to Versailles is on the RER C from central Paris to Versailles Château station. Trains run every 15 minutes, starting from 5:30 am. We recommended going there early to beat the crowd. One way tickets cost €3.65 and you can buy the ticket at the station you’re leaving from. The travel journey took around 45-minute for each way.
Read More: Day Trip to Versailles Palace: A Travel Guide Blog
More Travel Tips for Your Paris itinerary
Get the Paris City Pass or The Paris Museum Pass. Both of these allow you to skip the line at the Louvre. But note that you will still have to wait in the security line but this is often much shorter.
Many shops and convenience stores are closed on Sundays so check hours in advance. Similarly, most museums and places are closed Mondays or Tuesdays. Always check their official website for the most up-to-date information.
Paris has a vast and reliable public transportation network consisting of a subway system (Metro), regional trains (RER), and buses. The Paris Metro is affordable and easy to navigate. You can buy individual tickets, packs of ten, unlimited use day tickets (Paris Ticket Mobilis), or an unlimited multi-day Pass (Paris Visite Pass).
Paris is easy to get around so don’t stress too much about choosing a hotel near your favorite monument or museum.
Visiting romantic Paris with the Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tours (Open-Top) – Make sightseeing in Paris with a Big Bus tour Paris by the hop-on-hop-off access at any stop along the route, and soak in the views from an open-top, double-decker bus. The bus stop at popular tourist sites and many buses to pick u up. Besides, Klook offers discounts with big saving on the ticket. Check the Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tours here.
Don’t spend money on bottled water in restaurants and tap water is safe to drink. So fill in the water in your accommodation and carry it with you.
Overview: Visiting Paris for 4 Days
All in all, Paris is a hugely popular tourist destination. Four days in Paris was the perfect amount of time to see many of Paris’ top sights, while still leaving plenty of things to do on a future visit. It’s so uniquely beautiful and perhaps the closest many of us will get to a real-life fairy tale. I hope another trip to Paris is in my future because I’d love to get to know the city on a deeper level.
Lastly, I hope this Paris itinerary offers plenty of suggestions to help you plan your trip. If you have any questions about this Paris itinerary, then feel free to let us know by emailing us and we are ready to help. Thanks for reading and have an amazing time in Paris!
More detail Paris Travel Guide Blog at the attractions:
- A Day With Louvre Museum: Ultimate Travel Guide Blog
- Day Trip to Versailles Palace: A Travel Guide Blog
- Where To Stay in Paris: The Best Areas and Hotels
Related Paris Food Travel Blog:
