Things to Do in Paris in 4 Days

Whatever your version of Paris, a 4-day travel itinerary is enough time to experience all that the City of Light has to offer: art, monuments, gastronomy, culture... Follow this itinerary, and you' ll fall in love with the French capital.

On the first day of your travel itinerary I recommend you focus your efforts on getting to know the most charming spots in the 7th and 8th arrondissements. You can do most of the route on foot, although booking a seat on the Big Bus in Paris is always an excellent option for a first approach to the city, especially if it's your first time visiting it.

Coffee and morning stroll along the Champs Elysées

Start your first day in Paris with a morning st roll along Les Champs Elysées, the most beautiful shopping avenue in the city. On your stroll down the avenue you will find some of the best cafes, restaurants, fashion houses and major shops in Paris. If you like shopping, make the most of this moment!

You will also be able to see some of the most representative Parisian monuments, such as the Arc de Triomphe. Take photos, stop to admire the giant statues that make up its walls and the structure of the arch, and if you want to go inside to see the panoramic view or visit the exhibition it houses, don't forget to book your tickets in advance.

Finally, you'll arrive at Place de la Concorde, the largest square in Paris and the place where French nobles, including King Louis XVI, were executed during the Revolution. Take a moment to observe the Obelisk and the two marvellous fountains at either end.

Book a lunch at the Eiffel Tower

From your location at Le Place de la Concorde it's easy to get to the Eiffel Tower, just take the Pont de la Concorde, cross the Seine and go right up the promenades along the Seine. It's a 30-minute walk where you can enjoy the attractive scenery.

Once there, you have several options:

• You can book skip-the-line tickets for the Eiffel Tower, which also include optional access to the top.
• You can also take a guided tour of the Eiffel Tower to discover all its secrets.
• Or, if you're feeling peckish, you can book a lunch at the Madame Brasserie at the Eiffel Tower for a unique experience!

Visit the Rue Cler market

Just a 10-minute walk from the gardens bordering the Eiffel Tower you'll come across La Rue Cler market, an authentic Parisian-style shopping street where locals gather to buy their favourite foods and sit down with friends for a coffee and enjoy the company.

Highly recommended for a few hours of a quiet first day in Paris and especially if you want to visit a somewhat unique and uncrowded destination.

Visit the Jardin du Trocadero and Place de Trocadero

After a coffee in the Rue Cler market, head to the Trocadero Square and Gardens to watch the sun set over the Eiffel Tower. Have you got your camera with you? Now is the time to take it out!

The most characteristic feature of the Trocadero Garden is its giant water mirror with numerous fountains surrounding it that provide an amazing spectacle. At certain times of the day, such as sunset or sunrise, the effect of the mirror-like fountain is truly beautiful.

Located right in front of the gardens, the Place du Trocadéro is the best place in Paris to take pictures of the Eiffel Tower. You don't have to be an expert photographer, the view is so perfect that all you need to do is clean your camera lens and focus properly.

End the day with a dinner cruise

I can't think of a better way to end your first day in Paris than with a Seine River cruise including gourmet dinner and live music.

It will be an unforgettable evening!

Take a half-day tour of the Latin Quarter

The Latin Quarter of Paris is an area known for its student life, lively atmosphere and delicious food bistros.

On your second day in Paris, I recommend joining a tour of the Latin Quarter to get to know the attractions and curiosities of this corner of Paris.

Among the points of interest you will visit are :

• The Pantheon of Paris, where the remains of Victor Hugo and Voltaire lie and which you can also visit by buying tickets to go on your own.
• The Luxembourg Gardens.
• The Sorbonne University.
• Shakespeare & Co.

Visit the Cathedral of Notre Dame and Sainte-Chapelle

In a short 5-minute walk from the Latin Quarter (5th arrondissement) to the Île de la Cité (4th arrondissement) to visit Notre Dame and the Sainte-Chapelle, both jewels of French Gothic architecture, admired the world over. Both jewels of French Gothic architecture, admired the world over.

Notre Dame is an architectural jewel of the Middle Ages which, unfortunately, has been closed to the public since the devastating fire in 2019 that brought down the roof and the central spire. However, access to the Place Frontal is permitted and you can also take a tour of the exterior of Notre Dame with entrance to the crypt that will leave you spellbound.

For its part, Sainte-Chapelle is considered one of the greatest works of Gothic architecture as a result of its rich interior decoration and dreamlike stained glass windows. If you want to visit the inside, I recommend you to book your tickets for Sainte-Chapelle in advance.

Take a guided tour of the Louvre

Leave the Île de la Cité behind by taking the Pont au Change to cross the Seine, on the left take the Boulevard Georges Pompidou on your way to the Louvre. This will take you about 13 minutes on foot as you look out over the banks of the Seine.

The Louvre is a museum of gigantic size and the pieces of art that compose it are almost infinite. For a well spent visit to the Louvre I recommend you to buy tickets for the Louvre without queuing in advance and, if you are really interested in art, book a guided tour in which in 2 hours and a half you can enjoy the most emblematic works of the museum.

Have an aperitif in a Parisian wine bar

In French, an aperitif is an aperitif taken before dinner and is a traditional French ritual.

In Paris you will find many bars that offer this type of gastronomic experience, along with a relaxed atmosphere that will help you end your second night on a high note.

Half day tour of Versailles

Versailles is a French community on the outskirts of Paris, known worldwide as the site of the Palace and gardens of Versailles, one of the greatest expressions of French Baroque art.

In addition to the impressive amount of detail inside its extravagant halls, it is surprising how well preserved the entire structure is despite its age.

Versailles has been declared a Unesco World Heritage Site and is open to the public every day. From Paris you can book an excursion to Versailles to visit the interior of the palace and the gardens outside.

Tour of the Musée d'Orsay

On your return from Versailles, I recommend you set aside a few hours of your afternoon to visit the Musée d'Orsay. Considered one of the most important museums in Paris and the world, it is a must-see for anyone who enjoys art and history.

On its premises you can find one of the largest collections of modern and impressionist art with works by artists such as:

• Monet.
• Degas.
• Van Gogh.
• Rodin.

Two tips that will allow you to get the most out of your visit to the Musée d'Orsay:

• If you are going on your own, book your tickets for the Musée d'Orsay in advance to avoid queues.
• If you want to make the most of your visit, consider booking a guided tour of the Musée d'Orsay lasting an hour and a half.

On your last day in Paris, wake up early to see three important historical monuments located close to each other in the 3rd arrondissement and then several alternative Paris museums.

Place de la Bastille

During the French Revolution, the Bastille, then a symbol of the frivolity and despotic power of the King of France, was seized by an armed mob of Parisians in the early days of the revolt, setting the stage for the political movement that would culminate in the abolition of the monarchy and the execution of the kings.

Place des Vosges

As one of the oldest squares in Paris, it is also one of the most beautiful. Take a moment to stroll under its arches, walk along the garden paths and admire the beautiful red brick facades of its shops. You are allowed to stop for a coffee!

Next, visit the Victor Hugo Maison, home of the famous French writer, poet and politician, which became a museum some time after his death. It is located near the Place des Vosges.

Tour of the Picasso Museum

At the Musée National Picasso in Paris you will find a large collection of sculptures by the artist, as well as thousands of documents and photographs that belonged to this important figure in the history of art. The museum itself is a research centre on the life and work of Picasso, so if you feel admiration or curiosity for his work, you can't miss it.

From Place des Vosges to the Picasso Museum in Paris is a short 8-minute walk through the streets of Le Marais. As always, I recommend you to buy your tickets for the Picasso Museum in advance to save time and unnecessary queues.

Sacre Coeur

From the Picasso Museum you can reach Sacre Coeur by metro. Take line 8 at Saint-Sébastien - Froissart station and then change to line 4 to get off at Barbès-Rochechouart station. Finally, you will have to walk up the hill in 15 minutes.

You can also invest a few euros and take a 25 or 30 minute taxi ride through the important Parisian neighbourhoods in the north of the city.

However, my favourite option is to take a private tour of the Sacre Couer, which will take you from the heart of the Montmartre district to the basilica, while a guide tells you all the secrets of the artists who lived there.

Dali Museum Paris

Down the Sacre-Coeur hills just 5 minutes from the basilica you will find the Dali Museum or Espace Dali.

Here you will find a permanent exhibition of the master of surrealism, with a collection of 300 works available. Touring the entire museum usually takes no more than 1 hour.

Tour of the Place de Montmartre

Just minutes away from the Dalí Museum you will find one of Montmartre's favourite entertainment options.

This square, located at the top of the hill, is famous throughout Paris for the painters who have always exhibited their best work there.

In former times important historical figures such as Monet or Picasso were part of the vibrant locality of Montmartre as their careers took off and their work gained fame and recognition.