An Awesome Paris 4 Day Itinerary With A Map & A Guide To Download

There is nothing like enjoying 4 days in Paris by having picnics in front of the Eiffel Tower, sipping on French wine, eating some stinky cheeses, and people-watching from Parisian cafes. The second you enter this absolutely charming city, you’ll understand what the hype is all about.

Believe it or not, I had absolutely no interest in seeing Paris. The idea of endless tourists, landmarks seen in every other cheesy movie, and some sketchy things happening in the streets, had absolutely no appeal to me. But I got sucked into seeing it by my travel buddy at the time and let me tell you… I first stepped foot in Paris in 2016 and have been back 5 times since.

This guide is simple, I’ll tell you what you need to know before visiting the city, then I’ll go into which places you should see on your trip, and lastly, I’ll give you a plan to download for your 4-day Paris getaway.

Let’s get to some Paris logistics

Before we get into an awesome 4-day Paris itinerary, let’s go over some logistics of visiting this city. Paris is really big and it’s divided into 20 Arrondissements or districts. Most places are not within walking distance so you’ll need to know how to navigate the metro. Although I tried to capture a lot in this plan, a Paris 4 day itinerary is merely an introduction to the city and there is absolutely no way that you will be able to see everything during that time.

Brutal truth first

Before we take a deep dive into the logistics, let’s get some things out of the way first. Paris is just like another large metropolitan city. It’s filled with tourists, it’s stinky and sometimes dirty, it has questionable characters in dark alleyways, the streets smell like cigarettes, oh, and don’t even get me started on the metro thieves. So whatever image you have of Paris, whether it’s a land of romance, beret-wearing humans, and everyone being happy in the streets because it’s Paris, get it out of your head.

Paris is indeed awesome and in no way am I trying to discourage you from going, but have a realistic expectations before you step foot in it.

Best time to visit Paris

While some will argue that Paris is great to visit all year round, I will politely disagree. Having visited during the early tourist season (June), peak tourist season (July and August), and also the fall (October), I will say that early summer is ideal. And yes, there will be tourists around but it is a good time to visit simply due to the weather. Fall in my opinion was a little too chilly and the constant rain didn’t make it too pleasant either but it was significantly less crowded.

Navigating Paris

Paris airports

Paris is served by a couple of popular airports all accessible from the city center: 

• Charles de Gaulle: if you’re flying internationally, most likely this will be your airport. It’s a large busy airport but everything is labeled very nicely so you should not have a problem finding gates, transport or information. To get to the city center you have a couple of options. Use the RER-B train for €11.40 each way to get to the city in about 30 mins. There is also a Roissy bus that runs from the city center but it’s a much longer journey. Lastly, you will always find taxis and Ubers at a rate of about €50.00 or more. This option makes the most sense to groups large enough to even out the cost of the train. 
• Orly: international and domestic, this is the second busiest airport. I’d recommend taking the Orlybus there because it is quick, cheap (under €10), and direct from the Paris Denfert-Rocheau stop. You can also take RER-B train to get there and then take a transfer shuttle called Orlyval at the Antony station. NOTE: RER-B north takes you to CDG and RER-B south takes you to Orly. Don’t mess this up. There is also RER-C that has a similar shuttle at Pont de Rugis. The cost is around €12. Taxi and Uber are easier options and run at about €35 each way. Point is, that the bus is the most straightforward option here. 
• Beauvais-Tillé Airport: for budget airlines. If you’re flying somewhere within Europe and you paid €15 for your flight, this is your hub. Take the shuttle from the city center stop Porte Maillot called the Beauvais shuttle for €15.90 (costing as much as your flight heheh). 

Metro & trains within the city

The Paris Metro is relatively cheap, at just €1.90 per trip. If you buy 10 tickets it will be even cheaper for a set. It runs very frequently between 5:30 am and 12:40 am and a little later (1:40 am) on the weekends. Note the difference between Paris Metro and Paris RER. RER is a train network connecting the suburbs but the city center is often connected to Metro stations. When traveling outside of certain zones out of the city center, you will need a separate ticket. Gare du Nord is the main metro/train station in the city and your hub for everything.

Navigating the Paris Metro

Having grown up in the NYC area with its infamous subway system, I always love navigating trains in new cities. Paris has an insane metro system that will get you literally anywhere you possibly want to go. Nonetheless, it can be overwhelming when you first look at it. The direction of the train is designated by the last stops so you will know easily know which side of the track you should be on. The transfers between the trains are included in your ticket so even if the closest line doesn’t go to your stop, there sure is a combination of them that will get you there.

What I recommend doing is studying this map for a couple of minutes before you get to Paris. Mark two spots on it and practice navigating from point A to point B.

Where to stay in Paris

You can budget, you can splurge, or something in between.

If you love hostels like I love hostels, I’d recommend St. Christopher’s Inn and Generator Hostel. St. Christopher’s has a fun bar and night parties, walking tours, sweet pod beds, and modern amenities. The Generator has an awesome set-up, good food, and comfy beds, but it doesn’t have the atmosphere that I look for when staying in a hostel.

If you want to splurge on your trip, I recommend doing so on Airbnb with a Parisian view. I stayed in one on my most recent trip. The beautiful courtyard and squeeky wooden doors were worth every penny. Additionally, good old hotels might be worth checking out too depending on your group size.

Wherever you decide to stay, just choose a place based on a location preference. Decide what you’d like to prioritize, a landmark, a metro stop, a social atmosphere, or some peace and quiet somewhere outside the city. Make sure to book in advance in high seasons because prices are not low in this city. If you’re a first-timer in Paris consider staying in the following arrondissements: 7th Eiffel Tower, 18th Montemarte, 5th Latin Quarter, and 1st Louvre as they’re pretty central to the places you want to see.

People & Safety

Before I visited Paris, I often heard of the rude Parisian stereotype encounter. Don’t get me wrong, when you’re being an ass in public or even your own culture’s stereotype, no matter where you go, people will give you looks and most likely judge the shit out of you. So be polite, learn how to say hello, please, thank you, cheers, and goodbye in French (and any other country you plan on traveling to) and you will most likely be treated like a normal human being. Note that greeting the staff in French is actually a must. It is considered very rude not to say hello when you enter a business.

Don’t start with immediately taking photos and making tiktoks either. Sit, enjoy your surroundings for a little and there will be time for a good picture. If you don’t act like a tourist stereotype, you won’t be treated as one.

I personally did not encounter any rude individuals and had a very pleasant experience during all my Paris visits. A Parisian lady even stopped a pickpocketing happening to my mom on a metro by screaming her lungs out at the thief.

Speaking of theft, pickpocketers are everywhere as in any other major tourist hub so don’t be an idiot and keep your valuables close to you. Be super vigilant about your belongings on a train as people will try to distract and pickpocket you. Overall you should be fine, don’t venture into dark corners alone, be careful when traveling at night and be smart.

Backpacking in Paris

While this guide is not necessarily about budgeting in Paris, two of my trips there were indeed backpacker-style ones. I stayed in a 4-bed hostel room, made sure to eat some meals at the less popular places, and visited a mix of paid and free attractions in the city. We didn’t splurge on a nice Airbnb and you’re damn right that we took at metro everywhere we went. All in all, while backpacking in Paris is certainly not backpacking in South America, it can be done and you won’t necessarily sacrifice things to do because of it.

Paris could be expensive or it could be cheap depending on your expectations. If you share an Airbnb and take public transport, you won’t spend as much as you think. For example, eating a Parisian breakfast by standing up in a cafe with a croissant and a coffee will cost you under 5 euros. Sitting down at an insta cafe for breakfast will cost you 20. Grabbing dinner at the top of the Eiffel Tower will set you back a couple of hundred euros vs having a picnic in front of it will cost you 15 euros including alcohol.

Food in Paris

In Paris, you could either have the best or the worst food you’ve ever had in your life. Seriously, there are so many restaurants and cafes that you can easily fall victim to the tourist trap of yesterday’s-reheated-leftovers-spot. Be very careful when choosing a place. The general rule of thumb is to never ever eat near the main attraction but rather walk a couple of streets away to find a little gem. In Paris, I would always deeply investigate using multiple sources the restaurant I was about to enter. Google it, Yelp it, Facebook it, and read travel blogs to find some hidden gems. Don’t wing it in a city full of tourists when it comes to your main meals. 

One thing you have to try there is the bread. I promise that after one bite of that heavenly carb stick you will never look at bread the same again. Simply find the closest boulangerie (bakery) near your stay, venture there in the morning and get yourself a nice hot french baguette. Most bakeries make their own bread and pastries, serving you some quality products. Don’t settle on afternoon supermarket bread, find the real deal. 

If you’re looking for specifics here, I am not a great resource for spots however, there are other awesome people that did their homework on this topic:

• Paris By Mouth: They offer their restaurant recommendations along with some amazing food tours. If you read my other posts you know that it’s one of my favorite activities to do in any city.
• My Travel Buzzg: A good list of dishes you simply must try.
• Untold Morcels: Great guide for all sorts of restaurants.

Etiquette

• Tips are not necessary in Paris. If you really want you can leave a euro or two.
• Do not as for any substitutions. That’s an American thing and you will piss off your server.
• Speaking of being American, you are not right. The restaurant is, the waiter is, you are not.
• Ask for the bill when you’re ready because the waiter most likely won’t ask you.

Random Advice for Paris Travel

• Pickpocketters are real! If you’re a tourist, or especially a tourist with luggage, you’re a prime target. A real-case scenario that happened to me: you’ll get on a metro and a group of ladies will gather around you pretending to look lost and asking questions you can’t understand. As you’re being a confused deer in headlights, one of her friends will open your bag and steal your belongings. They will get off at the next stop and you won’t even know when you were robbed.
  • If you’re approached by some gypsy women that are asking you to sign their petition, hold your pockets and walk away asap.
• Carry change: When you go to the market, for a croissant or a bottle of water.
• Nannybag/Luggage Hero are genius services and I highly recommend them. It’s like a little Airbnb for your bags if you want to leave your luggage in a better location. Consider using luggage storage at the busier train/metro stations if that’s pricey.
• French wine and cheese are truly awesome. 
• Paris is a great hub to go Europe hopping. Consider visiting some of my favorite places like Santorini and Mykonos, Budapest or Lisbon!

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Paris 4-day Itinerary

Let’s just say it can be extremely overwhelming to see all of Paris. There are so many things to see, so much history to learn and so many selfies to take. Be ok with not seeing everything. Seriously, it will make your trip much more memorable to quality-see a couple of important landmarks than to quantity-see everything. Below you will find a suggested guide to seeing Paris in 4 days.

Day 1

Let’s start your 4-day Paris itinerary at a Boulangerie.

If your accommodation is not ready for check-in, ask to store your luggage before going out to explore. You can also use lockers at the major metro stations.

Make sure to load up on some carbs and coffee for energy before a long day ahead. I suggest this for your first stop because the earlier you get to a boulangerie, the fresher your baguette will be! And there is no complete trip to Paris without having a truly fresh, still hot, perfect french baguette. So whichever part of the city you’re stationed in, please find an authentic french bakery (ask the hotel staff, search the internet, or simply ask a local in the street) and go for some morning goodies.

When you find that bakery, you’ll experience something amazing: the initial overwhelming scent of freshly baked bits of heaven, locals buying their breakfast pastries, tourists being confused by all the options, and friendly staff trying to please everyone in the store. It will be an experience within itself, but it will all get even better when you take that first bite of your baguette or pastry. 

Now let’s see what the Louvre is all about.

Why not jump right into the highlights of Paris and start your 4-day itinerary by seeing the Lourve! Well kinda because we won’t go inside just yet 🙂 Take the metro from your morning stop to Musee du Louvre station. It will drop you off at the museum grounds. I personally wouldn’t go right into a tour but rather we will save this for later in your itinerary. The museum itself goes on for (literal) miles and with its overwhelming interior, it’s a lot to take in on your first day. It will also exhaust you before you see any Paris.

Here me out why you’re here though. The outside of the Louvre is a whole artwork within itself, and I strongly recommend taking some time there to soak it all in rather than rush to get inside. There is a little (overpriced) cafe with prime views of the plaza with the famous pyramid. This area is also a good start to your Paris exploration as well.

Visiting the Louvre

I’ll save the visit for the inside for either the last day or an evening tour later in the day. As mentioned, the inside is insanely big and you won’t be able to cover it all in a couple of days let alone a couple of hours. The Mona Lisa you ask? Super overrated and super tiny so the chances of you enjoying the painting are non-existent. Going in there just to say you’ve been to the Louvre is a waste of your time and money due to how large this place is. If you enjoy art, make sure to plan what you want to see rather than blindly going inside.

If you go inside during the day here is a little hack: you can buy the tickets in a gift shop downstairs in the Louvre and enter through the underground entrance. The line is usually a lot shorter than the outside, sometimes even nonexistent. Another cool option is an after-hours tour which is much much pricier yet something worth splurging on.

Small pause at Jardin Dus Tuilries

These gardens are directly across from the museum so just continue walking in a straight direction through them. The gardens have many small ponds with chairs where you can find a ton of locals catching some sun. Wander around for a bit, grab some ice cream and take a small pause. 

Next, a shopping stop at Champs Elysee.

Once you reach the end of the park, explore the famous Champs Elysees shopping street. It is a very long avenue with many stores ranging from Zara to some high-end spots. If shopping streets give you anxiety, you can skip this part by jumping onto the Franklin D. Roosevelt metro stop to continue your journey. However, if you always wanted to see what the hype is about, continue walking and admiring all the fancy shops. This is a prime spot to get pickpocketed so be cautious my fellow explorer.

Many tourists like to stop in the famous Laduree macaroon shop. While I am the biggest critic of major tourist traps, I did give this place a chance. My judgment? The store interior and the whole experience are worth a stop so when in Paris, why not get a quick sugary snack. At the end of this street, you will reach the famous Arc de Triomphe. There is a nice viewing area on top of it so head up there to admire some city views! 

Early evening picnic at Eiffel Tower. 

The must-do for every Paris trip is a sunset picnic in front of the Eiffel Tower. I would suggest first entering the area through Place du Trocadero (Trocadero Metro Stop). If you followed my route above, you can either walk ~20 min on Ave. Kleber or take a quick (3 stops) M6 ride from Charles de Gaulle – Étoile to Trocadéro.

Once you first see a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower, you’ll fall into grand awe. It is truly a remarkable first sight and trust me, what you’ve seen in the movies doesn’t even begin to do its justice. Walk around a little bit, take your photo, and head towards the other side of the tower to Champ de Mars. There you’ll find a big lawn area where you can find your perfect spot for enjoying your picnic. To get your picnic supplies, venture off a little to the side streets and you should have no problem finding a small neighborhood store. Pick up some bread, cheese, fruit, and bubbly. I recommend waiting until it gets dark and you get to see the tower light up. Some find the lights cheesy and they’re probably right … I think they’re pretty badass 🙂

So there you go my fellow adventurer, your perfect first day in Paris is now done!

Day 2

Your second day in Paris should be a little easier. Hopefully, you got more comfortable with the metro, practiced your Bon Jours and Mercis and now you’re ready to explore more of this beautiful city. 

Let’s get started at a Parisian Cafe.

Yesterday you explored a nice boulangerie so today let’s try something new. Today let’s take a slow morning sitting in a typical Parisian cafe, enjoying our fresh croissants while doing some people-watching. Before I went to Paris, I always pictured wicker chairs with some color accents, small round tables, and people enjoying al fresco dining. And that is exactly what I saw the second I entered the city. Make sure to become the main character for a little and spend some time sitting in this kind of setting. 

Luxembourg Gardens

These gardens are the perfect location to start your day two in Paris. They’re not too big and will become the starting point for exploring this area of town. You can take the train to the Luxembourg stop or even Port Royal. There is a palace in the park as well which you can visit but with limited time in the city, you might want to skip it.

Next, the Latin Quarter

A short walk from the garden, you’ll find the Latin Quarter. This is a cute area of Paris because it’s not as touristy as the more popular areas. The majority of the area is academic so you’ll find a younger vibe here. Find a cute lunch spot near the Pantheon to take a small pause. Some notable landmarks here are the Pantheon, Eglise Saint-Séverin Saint-Nicolas Church, and Eglise Saint-Etienne du Mont Church. Note that the Pantheon has a nice rooftop terrace for 360 views of Paris. I also recommend grabbing lunch in this area.

If you walk down from the Pantheon via the most known street Rue St-Michel towards Rue de la Harpe, you’ll find many cute little streets with small shops here. Get lost here for a little, it’s a small area so you’ll be able to see most of it. Next, the Place Saint Michel, is a very touristy area but hey, we need a dose of that atmosphere as well. There are many shops in that area and often, you’ll find a little outdoorsy artisanal market.

Notre Dame

Following my route above, you’ll quickly notice Notre Dame if you reach the Seine River. Due to the tragic fire of April 2019, as of today, you will not be able to explore the magnificent Cathedral. However, it is still possible to see its beauty from the outside.

Your morning stops were all concentrated within short walks of one another but to this next stop, you’ll need to catch a 25-30 min train. You might want to relax a little after a busy morning but I recommend exploring the next area before sunset. Catching the sunset here is magical on a good weather day so I would make sure not to miss out on this experience.

Explore Montemarte and catch the sunset at Sacre Coeur

Ok, close your eyes and picture Paris. You probably see narrow cobblestone streets, little cafes, painters, and happy people? Well, this is actually Montemarte. Artists like Picasso, Modigliani, Miro, Renoir, and Van Gogh all made that area their home at some point and for a reason.

Take the metro to Anvers stop and make your way up the hill towards Montemarte. After a short walk, the stunning Sacre Couer church will hit you in the face like no other. It is situated on a hill which gives you amazing city views. The locals like to hang out on the stairs of this hill so be sure to give yourself a small pause there too. It offers amazing hill views of the whole city. And you know I am a sucker for a good view.  

After some time in the church area, venture off to the beautiful Montemarte neighborhood. Let yourself be lost for a little in order to soak in the beautifully intertwined narrow Paris streets. Yes I know, it will be touristy near the area but it is an awesome place to be. To catch the sunset, grab a seat on the steps of Sacre Couer. You won’t regret it. Don’t stay too long tho because the drunk locals also love this as their hang-out spot.

Day 3

Chateau du Versailles

On day 3 of the Paris 4 day itinerary, you will explore the Versailles Palace. Before you feel royal for the day you’ll need to take a not-so-royal RER C toward the Versailles Château stop. Once you’re off the train, follow the crowd for about 10 min toward the palace. The earlier you get there, the better as this location is certainly not a hidden gem. When you arrive, you’ll see a huge line of people. Don’t worry, the Iine looks intimidating but it actually passes by quickly. Tip: have some cash on you. When I visited, the card machines were not functioning and they were only accepting cash. Not having enough cash on us was quite a hassle to get back in line. 

When you finally enter the palace, you’ll be confused by the level of “boujee” that this place is. I found it rather hysterical that people associated status and their level of happiness with this structure. However, it is a true masterpiece and you should see it with your own eyes to believe it. Make sure to purchase a ticket for the gardens as well. You can simply take a stroll or better yet, have a picnic there! I’m a huge fan of picnics as they allow you to take a pause and soak in your surroundings. 

After you’re done exploring the palace and the gardens and you still have some energy left over, head over to the little charming town of Versailles. There are some more things to see there as well as some cafes to check out. 

Overall, for most explorers, this will be a full-day trip. Returning to the city center will take anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half and you will probably just want to crash at that point. I hope you enjoyed your day of royalty. 

Day 4

Art in Paris

As promised, today is the day you’ll be returning to explore the Louvre or any other museum of your choice. I saved it for the last day because by now you should have seen the major landmarks of the city. Here are your art options for the morning-afternoon:

• Louvre: If you’re planning a trip to the Louvre, scroll up to day 1 plan for my tips on the visit there.
• Musée de Orsay: Mostly impressionist art and insta known for the big clock.
• Musée de l’Orangerie: More impressionist art but if you like Monet, you’ll find his famous water lily here. It’s a small museum but I really enjoyed it!
• Musée Rodin: If you’re a fan of Rodin or sculptures,  you’ll love this place. It is also an impressive building from the outside.
• Musée Picasso:  A gallery of Picasso’s various art pieces, from paintings, drawings, and sculptures to many more. As a big Picasso fan, I have to confess that I’ve seen more interesting gatherings of his works compared to this place. 
• Espace Dalí: A permanent exhibition of Dali’s works, mostly sculptures. Dali was one interesting human so if you’re a surrealist fan, make sure to stop by this place. I liked it but I also like anything that Dalí does 🙂
• The Centre Pompidou: A more modern structure that’s a library and a museum. 
• And obviously dozens more. So if you’re a fan of a particular genre of art, I’m sure Paris has a museum dedicated to it.

Shopping in Paris

Did you even go to Paris if you didn’t do some shopping damage?

• Well even if you don’t have anything specific in mind, make sure to stop by Galeries Lafayette for the magnificent building alone.
• Next, there is the Champs Elysees but it’s super packed so I wouldn’t recommend going there to shop.
• If you have the budget, for super boujee feels, right off of Champs Elysees, find Avenue Montaigne.
• Need more affordable shops? No worries, head to the Marais Area.
• Another place known for good shops is Rue De Rivoli.

If you’re traveling from abroad and want to splurge on a designer bag, know that this is the place to get one. Why? Well, one because it’s cheaper and two because you can get your tax reimbursed on your way back. Here is a step-by-step process on how to do this.

Cruise on the Seine

Although this can give a hop-on-hop-off bus vibe, I’ve done this twice. Why? Because as cheesy as it is, it’s pretty and the perfect way to end your Paris 4 day itinerary. I recommend doing this early evening so you can get a nice view of the Eiffel Tower again at night. You will probably get a guide that tells you all the history and fun facts but you’re going on this little cruise to see Paris from a different perspective. It’s cute and I strongly recommend it.

Final Thoughts on Paris

Some people find cities like Paris overrated and overdone. And yea sure, you won’t love the number of tourists there and it will be a busy city to travel through but I wouldn’t let that stop you from visiting at least once in your life. I hope that you like my plan for the 4 day Paris itinerary and that I saved you some stress associated with planning your trip.

Map and Itinerary to Download

Download the Paris 4 Day Itinerary

Remember to read the post before you download the guide. It is a very high-level summary of the plan above to grab for the road. Reading both will prepare you the best.

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