The Perfect 4-Day Paris Itinerary

Paris is a city that exists in the imagination long before you actually visit. You’ve seen the Eiffel Tower in movies, read about the jazz age cafes in Hemingway, and scrolled past endless croissants on Instagram.

The reality, thankfully, is even better. But Paris can also be overwhelming. It is dense, busy, and full of "must-see" sites that have 3-hour queues.

This 4-day itinerary is designed to balance the heavy icon-checking with the leisurely flânerie (wandering) that makes Paris special.

---

Trip Overview

• Day 1: The Iron Lady & The River (Eiffel Tower & Seine)
• Day 2: Kings & Queens (Louvre & Tuileries)
• Day 3: The Village on the Hill (Montmartre)
• Day 4: History & Hipsters (Le Marais & Latin Quarter)

---

Day 1: The Icons

Focus: Eiffel Tower, Seine, Arc de Triomphe.

Morning: Trocadéro Sunrise

Start your trip at the Trocadéro metro station.

• The View: As you exit onto the esplanade, you get the view of the Eiffel Tower across the river. Go early (8 am) to have it to yourself.
• The Walk: Walk down through the Jardins du Trocadéro, across the Pont d'Iéna, and stand directly beneath the Iron Lady. The sheer scale of the bolts and girders is impressive.
• Tip: Unless you have pre-booked tickets months in advance, skip going to the top today. The view of the tower is better than the view from it.

Lunch: Picnic or Brasserie

• Option A (Sunny): Buy a baguette, cheese, and wine from Rue Cler (a famous market street nearby) and picnic on the Champ de Mars grass.
• Option B (Rainy): Eat at Café Constant or Les Cocottes on Rue Saint-Dominique.

Afternoon: The Seine & The Arc

Walk along the riverbanks (a UNESCO World Heritage site).

• Boat Tour: Take a Bateau Mouche from the Pont de l’Alma. It’s cheesy, but seeing Notre Dame and the Louvre from the water gives you a great sense of the city’s layout.
• Arc de Triomphe: Walk (or take the metro) to the Arc. Climb the 284 steps to the top. This is the best view in Paris because it includes the Eiffel Tower in the skyline.

Evening: Champs-Élysées

Walk down the famous avenue. It’s mostly global chain stores now, but the sheer width of it is grand.

• Dinner: Avoid the restaurants on the Champs-Élysées (tourist traps). Head to the 8th Arrondissement side streets for a proper meal.

---

Day 2: Royal Paris

Focus: The Louvre, Tuileries, Palais Royal.

Morning: The Louvre

The biggest museum in the world.

• Strategy: Enter via the Carrousel du Louvre (underground shopping mall) to avoid the pyramid (glass) queue.
• Must-Sees: The Mona Lisa (Denon Wing), the Venus de Milo, and Napoleon’s Apartments.
• Tip: Don't try to see everything. Pick one wing and spend 2 hours seeing it well.

Lunch: Udon or Baguette

You are near the Japanese quarter (Rue Sainte-Anne).

• Eat: A steaming bowl of Udon at Kunitoraya or a quick sandwich from a bakery.

Afternoon: Gardens & Columns

• Jardin des Tuileries: Walk from the Louvre through these manicured gardens towards Place de la Concorde (where Marie Antoinette was beheaded).
• Palais Royal: A hidden garden north of the Louvre. It houses the Colonnes de Buren (black and white striped stumps). It’s quiet, chic, and great for photos.
• Hot Chocolate: Stop at Angelina on Rue de Rivoli. The "African Hot Chocolate" is basically melted chocolate bar.

Evening: Saint-Germain

Cross the bridge to the Left Bank.

• Dinner: Le Relais de l'Entrecôte. They only serve one thing: Steak Frites with secret sauce. You can't book, so join the line. It moves fast.

---

Day 3: Bohemian Paris

Focus: Montmartre.

Morning: Sacré-Cœur

Take the metro to Anvers and walk up the hill (or take the funicular).

• The Basilica: The white dome of Sacré-Cœur sits at the highest point in the city. The view from the steps is panoramic.
• Place du Tertre: The square filled with artists painting portraits. It’s incredibly touristy, but historic.

Afternoon: The Hidden Village

Walk behind the basilica to find the real Montmartre.

• Rue de l'Abreuvoir: The prettiest street in Paris. Visit La Maison Rose.
• Vineyard: Yes, there is a working vineyard (Clos Montmartre) in the middle of the city.
• Renoir’s Gardens: Visit the Musée de Montmartre. It has a beautiful, quiet garden with a swing that overlooks the vineyard.

Evening: Pigalle

Walk down the hill to South Pigalle (SoPi). It used to be the red-light district but is now the hipster cocktail capital.

• Drink: Dirty Dick (tiki bar) or Lulu White.
• Dinner: Pink Mamma (Italian). The 4-story restaurant is stunning. Arrive early.

---

Day 4: History & Shopping

Focus: Le Marais & Notre Dame.

Morning: Notre Dame & Ice Cream

• Notre Dame: Even while under repair from the fire, the gothic exterior is majestic.
• Île Saint-Louis: Cross the footbridge to this tiny island. It feels frozen in time.
• Treat: Get a cone from Berthillon. The wild strawberry (fraise des bois) sorbet is legendary.

Afternoon: Le Marais

Cross the river to the Right Bank.

• Place des Vosges: The oldest planned square in Paris. Perfect symmetry. Victor Hugo’s house is in the corner.
• Shopping: Wander Rue des Francs-Bourgeois and Rue Vieille du Temple. It’s full of French fashion brands (Maje, Sandro, APC).
• Culture: Visit the Picasso Museum or the Carnavalet Museum (History of Paris - Free!).

Evening: The Last Supper

For your final night, you have two choices.

• Cheap & Cheerful: L'As du Fallafel on Rue des Rosiers. The best falafel sandwich in Europe. Eat it on the curb.
• Classic French: Robert et Louise. A tiny bistro where they cook ribs and steaks on an open fire in the back of the room.

---

Practical Tips

The "Museum Pass"

If you plan to do the Louvre, Arc de Triomphe, and Orsay, buy the Paris Museum Pass. It saves money and often lets you skip the ticket line (though you still wait for security).

Walking

Paris is a walking city. You will hit 20,000 steps easily. Leave the high heels at home unless you are taking a taxi door-to-door.

Bon Voyage!