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 focusing your efforts on getting to know the most charming spots in the 7th and 8th arrondissement. Much of the tour can be done 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 is the first time you visit it.

Coffee and morning stroll along the Champs Elysees

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

In addition, you will already be able to contemplate some of the most representative Parisian monuments, such as the Arc de Triomphe. Take pictures, 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, do not forget to book your tickets in advance.

Finally, you will arrive at the 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 wonderful fountains located at its ends.

Book a lunch at the Eiffel Tower

From your location at Le Place de la Concorde it is easy to get to the Eiffel Tower, you just need to take the Pont de la Concorde, cross the Seine and go right up the walkways that border the Seine area. It is 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 that 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 get hungry, you can book a lunch at the Madame Brasserie at the Eiffel Tower for a unique experience!

Visit the Rue Cler market

Just 10 minutes walk from the gardens bordering the Eiffel Tower you will find the Rue Cler market, an authentic Parisian-style shopping street where locals gather to buy their favorite foods and sit with friends for a coffee and enjoy the company.

Totally recommended to spend a few hours of a quiet first day in Paris and especially if you want to visit a destination somewhat unique and not crowded with tourists.

Visit the Jardin and Place de Trocadero

After a coffee at 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? This is the time to take it out!

The most characteristic feature of the Trocadero Garden is its giant mirror of water with numerous fountains around it that provide an amazing spectacle. At certain times of the day, such as sunset or sunrise, the effect of the water mirror fountain is really 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 plan to end your first day in Paris than a Seine River cruise that includes 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 learn about the attractions and curiosities of this corner of Paris.

Among the points of interest you will tour are :

• The Pantheon of Paris, where the remains of Victor Hugo and Voltaire are located and that you can also get to know by purchasing tickets to go on your own.
• The Luxembourg Gardens.
• The Sorbonne University.
• Shakespeare & Co.

Visit Notre Dame Cathedral and Sainte-Chapelle

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

Notre Dame is an architectural jewel of the Middle Ages that unfortunately remains closed to the public since the devastating fire that 2019 that brought down the roof and the central spire. However, access to the Front Square is permitted and you can also take a tour of the exterior of Notre Dame with entrance to the crypt that will leave you fascinated.

For its part, Sainte-Chapelle is considered one of the greatest works of Gothic architecture as a result of its rich interior decoration and its dreamy stained glass windows. If you want to visit it 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 tour will take you about 13 minutes on foot while overlooking 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 buying tickets for the Louvre without queues in advance and, if you are really interested in art, hire 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 close your second night on a high note.

Half day tour of Versailles

Versailles is a French community located just outside of Paris, known worldwide for being 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 that you can find 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 exterior gardens.

Tour of the Musée d'Orsay

Upon 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 an obligatory stop for all those who enjoy art and history.

In its facilities it is possible to 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 third 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, heating up the atmosphere of the political movement that would culminate in the abolition of the monarchy and the execution of the kings.

Place des Vosges

Being one of the oldest squares in Paris 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 stores. 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 National Picasso Museum 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 center on the life and work of Picasso, so if you feel admiration or curiosity for his work, you can not miss it.

From the Place des Vosges to the Picasso museum in Paris you will have a short walk through the streets of Le Marais neighborhood of only 8 minutes. As always, I recommend buying tickets for the Picasso museum in advance to save time and unnecessary queues.

Sacre Coeur

Starting from the Picasso Museum you can reach Sacre Coeur by metro. You will have to 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 cab ride through the important Parisian neighborhoods located in the north of the city.

However, my favorite 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 hills of Sacre-Coeur, just 5 minutes from the basilica, you will find the Dali Museum or Espace Dali.

In this space 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 Montmartre Square

Just minutes away from the Dali Museum you will find one of the favorite entertainment options for the inhabitants of Montmartre.

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

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