Trying to do Paris in 4 days doesn’t have to feel like ordering a cheese plate and being told you can only have brie. No, you won’t see the city front to back, but even a decade wouldn’t allow that. Four days in Paris gives you space to explore the icons, eat well, and actually enjoy the city. This itinerary is paced for real travelers—not checklisters. Expect skip-the-line tours, epic meals, and the stories that make Paris worth remembering.
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All Paris Itineraries
🧭 Day 1 – Eiffel Tower, Seine Cruise, Saint-Germain, Le Marais Food Tour
There’s no rule that says you have to start slow. Seeing the Eiffel Tower first isn’t about getting it out of the way—it’s about starting your trip with something unforgettable. The views, the scale, the engineering—no photo does it justice. From there, a cruise down the Seine sets the tone for how this city should be experienced: at a glide, one grand monument at a time.
The rest of the day unfolds in classic Parisian rhythm. Oysters in Saint-Germain. Wine in the Marais. By nightfall, you’ll feel like you’ve lived here forever—and eaten better than you have all year.
🕐 8:30 AM – Skip the Lines at the Eiffel Tower
👉 Book our Summit Eiffel Tower Tour with Skip the Line Tickets
You’ll reach the summit before the crowds and hear the wild history of how Parisians initially hated their now-beloved Iron Lady.
💡 The champagne bar at the top opens at 10:30. It’s overpriced and so worth it.
Interessante Fact: When the Eiffel Tower was unveiled in 1889, it wasn’t adored. Many Parisians and artists criticized its design, calling it an eyesore. Gustave Eiffel responded by highlighting its engineering marvels and even installed a meteorology lab at the top. Over time, the tower transformed from a controversial structure to the beloved symbol of Paris we know today.
🕐 10:30 AM – Cruise the Seine
See Notre-Dame, the Louvre, and Musée d’Orsay from the water.
Boats leave every 30 minutes from Port de la Bourdonnais, or make things easy on yourself by joining our combo Eiffel Tower and Seine River Cruise Tour.
🍽️ 12:30 PM – Lunch at Les Marches
📍5 Rue de la Manutention, 75116
This spot serves simple, classic French food just steps from the tower. Get the duck confit.
Want more bistro picks near the Eiffel Tower? Explore Where to Eat Near the Eiffel Tower »
🕐 2:00 PM – Stroll Saint-Germain
Pop into Marché Saint-Germain or sip wine at Avant Comptoir de la Mer. Don’t miss the oysters.
🍷 6:30 PM – Food Tour in Le Marais
👉 Book our Le Marais Paris Food Tour with Authentic Sit-Down Dinner
Taste oysters, Boeuf Bourguignon, falafel, sweet crêpes, and four French wines with a local guide. Small groups, big flavors.
Or, book yourself in at one of our favorite places to eat in Le Marais.
🧭 Day 2 – The Louvre, Montmartre, Sacré-Cœur, Paris Catacombs
If day one hits you with postcard Paris, today goes deeper. The Louvre is massive, yes, but with the right guide it becomes surprisingly personal. You’re not just staring at art—you’re seeing what power looked like, what rebellion looked like, and what genius still feels like.
Montmartre offers a different kind of intensity: color, chaos, cobblestones. And then the Catacombs flip the entire idea of “sightseeing” on its head. This day doesn’t play it safe, and that’s exactly why you’ll remember it.
🕐 9:00 AM – Louvre Museum Tour
👉 Secrets of the Louvre Museum Tour with Mona Lisa
With a guide, you’ll avoid dead zones and go straight to masterpieces like the Mona Lisa and Winged Victory.
💡 If you skip the guided tour, be sure to use the Carrousel du Louvre entrance to avoid long lines.
INTERESSANTE Fact: The Louvre Museum, once a royal palace, became a public museum during the French Revolution in 1793. It now houses over 35,000 works of art, including the Mona Lisa, and is the world’s most visited museum.
🍽️ 12:00 PM – Lunch at Café Lapérouse Concorde
📍12 Place de la Concorde, 75008
It feels fancy but is friendly. Try the truffle pasta and fresh juice.
More cafés near the museum? Discover Where to Eat Near the Louvre »
🕐 2:00 PM – Montmartre + Sacré-Cœur
Walk Rue des Abbesses, snap photos in Place du Tertre, and enjoy views from Sacré-Cœur. You can also consider swapping a visit to Montmartre for the end of the day to catch the sunset. Monmartre is the highest point in Paris and a lovely place to finish off a great day.
🍷 Optional Stop: The hidden vineyard, Clos Montmartre, still produces 1,500 bottles per year.
Here are some restaurant recs in case you make changes to your schedule: Where to Eat Near Sacré-Cœur »
🕐 4:30 PM – Explore the Paris Catacombs
👉 Paris Catacombs Tour with Secret Rooms & Privileged Access
You’ll descend into the world’s largest underground ossuary and see restricted areas most visitors miss.
INTERESSANTE FACT: The Paris Catacombs’ entrance was once a secret, with bodies moved under cover of darkness to avoid public outcry. The Catholic Church initially opposed disturbing graves, making the relocation a clandestine operation
🍽️ 7:00 PM – Dinner at La Cantine du Troquet Daguerre
📍89 Rue Daguerre, 75014
Just steps from the Catacombs, this unpretentious bistro serves up high-value French cooking.
🧭 Day 3 – Versailles Day Trip
There’s no such thing as a casual stroll through Versailles. This is spectacle, strategy, and seduction rolled into one marble-floored estate. It’s where kings performed power and courtiers played politics in wigs.
But between the gold and the grandeur, you’ll find quiet moments—walking the gardens, sitting by the fountains, watching rowboats drift by. That balance is what makes this day work so well. It’s not just about looking at beauty. It’s about stepping into it.
🕐 8:15 AM – Palace of Versailles and Gardens
👉 Book the Ultimate Palace of Versailles Tour from Paris
Includes roundtrip transport, skip-the-line access, and a smart route through the palace and gardens.
💡 Stay after: Rent a rowboat or just relax by the fountains. The gardens are free and massive.
Interessante Fact: The Palace of Versailles wasn’t just a royal residence; it was a tool of absolute power. Louis XIV moved his court there to control the nobility, keeping them close under his watchful eye. The opulent Hall of Mirrors wasn’t merely decorative—it was designed to impress and intimidate, showcasing the king’s wealth and authority to all who entered.
🍽️ 1:00 PM – Lunch at Le Bistro du 11
📍10 Rue de Satory, 78000 Versailles
High-end French food just minutes from the palace. Reservation recommended.
🍴 Didn’t book? Try one of these Best Restaurants in Versailles »
🕐 4:30 PM – Return to Paris for shopping + rest
If you’re still energized, walk Rue Saint-Honoré for upscale boutiques.
🍽️ 7:30 PM – Dinner at Chez Fernand
📍13 Rue Guisarde, 75006
Beef bourguignon in a tightly packed, buzzy local favorite.
🍸 Après Dinner: Sip a surprise pour at Chez Nous nearby. Just say what flavors and style you like, and the bartender will do the rest.
🧭 Day 4 – Musée d’Orsay, Notre-Dame, Sainte-Chapelle, Le Marais
Some cities save the best for last. Paris just keeps raising the bar. Musée d’Orsay is a favorite not because it’s packed with masterpieces (it is), but because it lets them breathe. You’ll see works by Monet, Van Gogh, and Degas the way they were meant to be seen.
Then it’s off to Notre-Dame and Sainte-Chapelle, where the past doesn’t just survive—it dazzles. Finish the day wandering the Marais, where every courtyard and crooked street feels like a little secret. Don’t rush. This one’s meant to be savored.
🕐 9:30 AM – Musée d’Orsay Tour
🛎️ See it with an expert on our Musée d’Orsay Guided Tour.
This museum hits different with Van Gogh, Monet, and Degas in a stunning Beaux-Arts train station.
🍽️ 12:00 PM – Lunch at Baieta
📍5 Rue de Pontoise, 75005
Michelin-starred southern French food. Intimate, light, and well-paced for lunch.
Browse more picks: Best Restaurants Near Musée d’Orsay »
🕐 1:30 PM – Notre-Dame + Sainte-Chapelle
Meander around Île de la Cité, check out the newly reopened Notre-Dame, and pop over to Sainte-Chapelle to see its magnificent kaleidoscopic glass.
Interessante Fact: Sainte-Chapelle’s windows tell over 1,100 biblical stories in stained glass. It’s the most complete 13th-century glasswork in the world.
🕐 3:30 PM – Le Marais Stroll
Browse independent shops on Rue des Francs Bourgeois or visit Musée Carnavalet (free).
Want to explore on your own? Read our full guide on Le Marais neighborhood»
🍽️ 6:30 PM – Dinner at Derrière
📍69 Rue des Gravilliers, 75003
Hidden behind a courtyard—half restaurant, half quirky art house. Food’s great too.
🍸 Après Dinner: Grab a Moroccan-style cocktail at Andy Wahloo next door.
Looking for more gems nearby? Best Places to Eat in Le Marais »
Interessante Fact: Underneath Palais Royal lies a long-lost parking garage. When it was scrapped, officials brought in artist Daniel Buren to fill the void—resulting in the 260 black-and-white columns still there today.
✔️ Final Thoughts
Four days in Paris is a local’s pace. You’ll eat well, skip lines, and actually feel the city instead of sprinting through it. This itinerary mixes structure with flexibility, tours with discovery, and enough flavor to remind you why you came in the first place.
Need help picking tours? Talk to our team.
Want to compare to the 3-day version? Read that here.
Where To Stay in Paris
With a city as magnificent as Paris, it can be hard to find the perfect hotel at the perfect price. Explore the best hotels and places to stay in these incredible neighborhoods in Paris.
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