Paris Itinerary: How to Spend 4 Days

Four days gives you enough time to balance Paris's famous landmarks with quieter, local neighborhoods. This plan keeps walking sensible and groups sights by area.

Day 1: Louvre and the Tuileries

Start early at the Louvre before the crowds build; pick two or three wings rather than trying to see everything. By late morning, stroll out into the Tuileries Garden, grab a bench, and watch the city wake up. In the afternoon, walk to Place de la Concorde and along the Seine. For lunch, try a classic croque-monsieur or quiche lorraine at a corner café. In the evening, settle into a bistro for steak frites and a glass of house red. Menus here are often printed only in French, so photographing one to translate makes ordering far easier.

Day 2: Eiffel Tower and the Champs-Élysées

Head to the Eiffel Tower first thing for shorter lines, then cross to the Trocadéro for the best photos. After lunch, walk the Champs-Élysées up to the Arc de Triomphe. Refuel with a jambon-beurre baguette from a bakery. In the evening, return to the tower to watch it sparkle on the hour. Use the Metro liberally; a multi-day pass saves money and time.

Day 3: Le Marais and Montmartre

Spend the morning wandering Le Marais, with its medieval lanes, boutiques, and falafel stands on Rue des Rosiers. Try a warm pain au chocolat with coffee. In the afternoon, take the Metro north to Montmartre, climb to Sacré-Cœur, and explore the artists' square at Place du Tertre. End the day with coq au vin or boeuf bourguignon at a hillside restaurant as the sun sets over the rooftops.

Day 4: Versailles Day Trip

Catch the RER C train to Versailles early to beat the queues at the Palace. Tour the gilded State Apartments and Hall of Mirrors, then spend the afternoon in the vast gardens; renting a bike makes the grounds easy to cover. Pack a picnic or eat at a café near the estate. Return to Paris by evening for a final dinner: order moules-frites or a cheese plate, and toast to a great trip.

A little planning around transit and meals goes a long way in Paris, leaving you free to enjoy the city's slower pleasures.