What to See in Paris in 4 Days - Travel Guide

If your stay will last less than a week, it will be impossible to explore the entire French capital from top to bottom. For this reason, we have created a 4-day itinerary designed to allow you to visit the main attractions of Paris and the most characteristic neighborhoods.

In this travel program, we have taken into account the distance between the various attractions to avoid a journey that is too exhausting (after all, it is a vacation!) and the duration of the various visits.

We can start our day by visiting the Cathedral of Notre Dame, located on Île de la Cité. The Cathedral is situated at Place du Parvis - Notre Dame, and to get there, simply take Metro Line 4 or the RER to the Saint Michel - Notre Dame stop.

After visiting the Cathedral of Notre Dame, continue your stroll towards the Centre Pompidou, the most important national museum of modern art in Europe, currently closed for major renovations, with reopening expected in 2030. From Tour Saint Jacques, you can easily walk there via Rue de Renard.

For lunch, we suggest stopping by Flam's restaurant, about 650 meters from the Centre Pompidou. It is located at Rue des Lombards, and getting there on foot is quite simple. The house specialty is Flammekueche, the Alsatian pizza; thinner than classic Italian pizza and different in topping, but still worth trying. With the Paris Pass, you will receive a 15% discount on your bill.

After lunch, we head back to the Notre Dame area and make our way to the Latin Quarter to immerse ourselves in the bohemian spirit of one of the most authentic Parisian neighborhoods. To get there from the Cathedral, simply cross either Pont Au Double, Petit Pont, or Pont Saint Michel, or take the metro, getting off at Cluny-Sorbonne. The main monument to visit is undoubtedly the Pantheon, the mausoleum that houses the remains of illustrious French figures, but don't miss visiting other points of interest in the neighborhood, like the Sorbonne University, Shakespeare & Company bookstore, Boulevard Saint-Michel, and the charming market on Rue Mouffetard.

If you are traveling with children, make sure to include a stop at Jardin des Plantes, a green oasis where even the little ones can have fun outdoors.

Just a stone's throw from the Pantheon, on Rue de Vaugirard, you will find the Luxembourg Palace and Gardens (the meeting place between Marius Pontmercy and Cosette in Victor Hugo's novel Les Misérables). It is worth making a small stop at the Gardens, rich in statues and monuments, including the Medici Fountain.

After a moment of relaxation, head towards Avenue du Maine for a visit to Tour Montparnasse. If you wish to continue your stroll, continue along Rue du Montparnasse (the tower is about 1 km from the gardens) or, if you're particularly tired, take the Metro and get off at Gare Montparnasse.

The tower offers one of the most breathtaking views of Paris. Take the elevator that takes you to the 56th floor and enjoy the stunning panorama!

It's now dinner time, and your stomach is starting to rumble. For dinner, we suggest three ideas. Right inside Tour Montparnasse is the restaurant Ciel de Paris, where you can dine with Paris as your backdrop. Alternatively, just a few minutes from the tower is "Le Duc," one of the best seafood restaurants in the capital, and a typical spot to try Parisian cuisine. Finally, about 500 meters from the tower, you'll find the Chez Clement Restaurant, located on Boulevard du Montparnasse. The place is nice, characteristic, and not too expensive. Here, the specialty is French cuisine and delicious desserts. Chez Clement is on the list of restaurants selected by Ideal Gourmet that allows you to enjoy a €10 discount by showing your Paris Pass card.

The second day of our itinerary begins with a visit to Palais Garnier, the historic theater of Paris where "The Phantom of the Opera" is set, the novel partly inspired by real events (legend has it that the skeleton of a ballerina was discovered within the Palace).

To reach Palais Garnier, you can take the Metro and get off at the Opéra stop or take the RER and stop at Auber station. The interior of the theater will astonish you with its beauty, and among the things not to miss is the large fresco by Marc Chagall that extends from the theater's dome to the Grand Staircase.

After the visit, continue your morning in the Parisian district of the Grand Boulevards, known for its museums and shopping stores. In the area, you will find the Grévin Wax Museum, the Church of the Madeleine, Place Vendôme, and the characteristic passages, the covered galleries of Paris. A few steps from Opéra Garnier are the Printemps department stores, icons of luxury and high fashion. The structure is easily reachable on foot in a few minutes. If you're eager to shop and take advantage of the discounts with the Paris Pass among various stores like Fendi, Prada, and Dior, you are in the right place; even if you don't need to shop, it's definitely worth stopping by Printemps to go up to the rooftop terrace and enjoy a spectacular view of Paris.

To continue the morning of shopping in the capital, you can stop by Fragonard Parfumerie, one of the most recognized boutiques in the world. Walk down rue de Caumartin and enjoy the discounts and offers with the Paris Pass at the Perfume Museum, where you can purchase Fragonard oils, essences, and creams at great prices.

A stone's throw from Fragonard Parfumerie is Le Petit Vendôme, stop in for a tasty break and try the best ham and butter sandwich in the capital.

To top it off, a must-see in Paris: the Galeries Lafayette. Feast your eyes in the temple of Parisian shopping! For lunch, being in the area, we can't recommend anything other than the famous Hard Rock Café and its incredible mega-burgers that are absolutely a must-try (they also offer sandwiches, salads, and other options if you're not a fan of burgers). You can easily reach it on foot in 10 minutes via Bd des Capucines and Bd des Italiens or take the Metro, getting off at Grands Boulevards or Richelieu-Druot.

Book a table for free with the Paris Pass and take advantage of the offers with your city pass. It's noteworthy that it is possible to purchase limited edition Paris t-shirts in the shop attached to the restaurant.

If you're feeling nostalgic for local dishes, here's a tasty alternative: at the Galeries Vivienne, you'll find Daroco Bourse, one of the chicest Italian restaurants in Paris.

In the afternoon, we have chosen to visit one of the most important attractions of Paris, a must-see if you are staying in the French capital: the Louvre Museum. When planning the itinerary, we believe that the whole afternoon should be dedicated to visiting the Museum, knowing that probably even a full day would not be enough to admire all the artworks.

The Hard Rock Café is about 1.5 km from the Louvre, so you can reach the museum on foot via Rue de Richelieu or take the Metro, getting off at Palais Royal - Musée du Louvre station. Any comment is redundant to describe the beauty of this attraction: unmissable! The entrance ticket price for the Louvre is €17, but keep in mind that you will inevitably encounter long queues at the entrance. You can save a lot of time if you purchase a skip-the-line ticket in advance for a small surcharge for the pre-sale, or alternatively, if you have the Paris Pass which includes admission to the museum.

Visiting an internationally renowned museum like the Louvre needs to be organized well, and nothing should be left to chance. In half a day, you won't be able to see everything, but there are some masterpieces that you should not miss for the world.

Behind the Louvre is the sumptuous and lush Tuileries Garden, a meeting place for Parisians with ponds, allegorical statues by Maillol, and fountains surrounded by seating where you can rest your eyes and mind. If you have a little time left, stop in this public garden, ideal for those who want to relax a bit before or after visiting the museum.

We can only conclude such a special day with a good dinner at O'Chateau, the Parisian excellence in dining. The venue is no more than a 10-minute walk from the Louvre, on Rue Jean Jacques Rousseau, and is easily accessible via Rue Saint-Honoré. The fabulous tasting of exquisite wines (the selection of 40 wines by the glass changes weekly) paired with a delicious dinner will not disappoint your expectations. The cherry on top is the €10 discount that you can take advantage of by showing your Paris Pass card.

Our third day in Paris is one of the richest and most interesting of the trip: on the agenda we have the Eiffel Tower, Musée d'Orsay, Champs Elysées, and the wonderful neighborhood of Montmartre.

At this point, we propose two alternatives:

Travel by metro to reach the various attractions using the unlimited trips with the Paris Pass.

Take part in a Paris Bus Tour and hop on the charming double-decker red buses that will take you around the city. The sightseeing tour includes 9 stops near the main Parisian monuments and is free with the Paris Pass; within 24 hours you will be free to get on and off the bus whenever and wherever you like at the scheduled stops.

You can start the tour from the Champ de Mars - Eiffel Tower stop (you can easily get there by metro), but first, it's almost a must to visit the symbol of Paris and all of France, the Eiffel Tower. Inside the tower, there's plenty to enjoy with digital displays, video projections, panoramic views, and quick service: climb to the highest point of the tower for a breathtaking panorama, as the city begins to shrink below your eyes.

We remind you that the entrance to the Eiffel Tower is NOT included in the Paris Pass. Given that it is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the world, buying tickets on-site can be a nightmare, so we suggest you arrive already armed with a skip-the-line ticket. A great experience to better discover the inside of the monument is to climb the various floors on foot; Gustave Eiffel climbed all 1710 steps of the tower to raise the French flag at the top on the inauguration day!

After finishing at the Eiffel Tower, if we've chosen the bus journey, we can start our sightseeing tour. The classic Red route includes a stop at the most important points of interest in Paris: Champ de Mars, Opéra Garnier, Louvre, Pont des Arts; we can decide whether to get off for a quick visit or enjoy the view comfortably seated on the bus. Our must-stop is at Musée d'Orsay, which houses the largest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art in the world.

Did you know that in 2018, the Musée d'Orsay was named the best museum in the world by TripAdvisor users?

The ticket to enter the museum costs €14 (if purchased at the ticket office). Show your Paris Pass at entrance C and you will gain priority access and free admission. The visit won't cost you anything even on the first Sunday of every month.

With only 4 days to visit Paris, the visit to the Musée d'Orsay can also not be too in-depth. To save time once inside, prioritize these masterpieces.

We get back on the bus and resume our sightseeing tour through the streets of Paris. Our last stop of the morning will be at Champs Elysées - Etoile station, for a walk of 2 km along the Champs Elysées. Strolling along the elegant tree-lined avenues, you'll find countless monuments, cafés, and shops, from luxury ones like Cartier, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton to more accessible H&M and Zara. Take this opportunity to pick up a typical Parisian souvenir and finish your walk by climbing up to the top of the Arc de Triomphe.

Two tips for a purely Parisian treat? Definitely Ladurée and Pierre Hermé with their delicious macarons, and the Pavillon Ledoyen, for sipping tea or hot chocolate with some pastries.

In the area, we'll stop for lunch. There are so many restaurants on the Champs Elysées that you will be spoiled for choice. If you are looking for a classy restaurant, a nouvelle cuisine that can boast a Michelin star, choose Laurent on Avenue Gabriel, though its prices might not be suitable for all budgets.

If you seek something more modern and budget-friendly, a good option might be "Le Boeuf sur le Toit," a legendary jazz music temple located along Rue du Colisée. Both of these restaurants also belong to the Ideal Gourmet list, and you will benefit from a 10% discount by showing your Paris Pass card.

If you'd rather save and grab something quickly, there are various fast-food chains at every corner of the Champs Elysées.

You have reached the last day of your experience abroad, and it's time to visit one of the most important attractions in Paris, to which we have decided to dedicate the entire day of our program: the Palace of Versailles.

This time you won't be able to use your Paris Visite card as the Palace is not located in zones 1-3 of Paris; however, the RER ticket will only cost you €3.55. Take Line C, the yellow line, and get off at Versailles - Rive Gauche station.

As we mentioned, you will need an entire day to admire all the structures that make up the palace of Versailles: from the Hall of Mirrors to the Grand and Petit Trianon, passing through the vast and beautiful gardens, the Opera, and the Chapel.

If you are in Versailles from March to the end of October, the Gardens host the Musical Fountains and Musical Gardens, a captivating show.

Between visits, we recommend stopping at the Monument Café, the ideal place to refuel and recharge. Just steps away from the Palace, in the Saint Louis district, the restaurant serves a buffet lunch with choices of starters, main dishes, and desserts, providing visitors with a wide variety of menus to meet varying tastes and preferences.

The food is excellent, and the prices are not exorbitant. Don't miss the mini portions of desserts, especially those with panna cotta and strawberry or filled with chantilly cream... you will want to return to Versailles just for more! And with the Paris Pass, you will receive a 20% discount on everything you eat and beverages at the café.

After an intense and tiring day in Versailles, your feet will definitely need some rest: why not close your Paris trip beautifully with a romantic Seine River cruise? This exciting experience is also included in the tours within the Paris Pass package; head to dock 3, near the Eiffel Tower, and enjoy an hour-long cruise on the Bateaux Parisiens, the boats that will allow you to discover the enchanting beauties of Paris illuminated at night.

To reach the dock, just take the RER C and get off at Champs de Mars - Tour Eiffel. You can take part in the 1-hour cruise included in your tourist package or, alternatively for a more exclusive experience, book a dinner on board the bateaux parisiens.

If you prefer just to admire the spectacle of the Parisian panorama, right after the cruise, you can stop for dinner at one of the restaurants at the Eiffel Tower, with the backdrop of Paris framing your meal. Two options are available: the 58 Tour Eiffel, on the first floor of the tower, or Le Jules Verne, on the second floor.

If you choose this option, we recommend reserving your table well in advance.

Let's do a quick calculation: excluding extra expenses, visiting the attractions that we have pointed out in our 4-day itinerary and adding the cost of a 5-day Paris Visite, you would have spent a total of €208.50.

Considering that the cost of a 4-day Paris Pass is €198, you will have saved around €10 just on attractions, not counting all the discounts in the shops and restaurants we pointed out. And moreover, if you feel like it, you could use your tourist pass to visit many other attractions and monuments scattered throughout the capital, you will realize the significant savings in time and money during your stay!

Will you be stopping in Paris for another 24 hours? No problem, take a look at our guide to visit the French capital in 5 days!