First visit to Paris in 4 days: organizing the stay

A first visit to Paris in 4 days: organizing the trip is no easy task.

But we’ve already done the work for you!

Here’s what you’ll find in this article:

• 81 Points of interest to see or visit over 4 days, organized geographically to minimize fatigue, by half-day

• A map with daily routes + an overall map for the entire stay

• Free access to our database: with a single click, each point of interest is thoroughly documented

• Reminders of reservations to make at the end of the article

• Day-by-day summary of your stay at the end of the article

Photo gallery of the Points of interest suggested

It’s a ready-to-use pre-organized stay. Plus, the number of Points of interest presented is deliberately greater than what you’ll have time to see. This way, you can choose before your trip—or on the spot, as you explore—what you prefer most.

This typical 4-day stay for a first visit to Paris is primarily designed for a couple with 2 children aged 8 to 12. We also offer other options for romantic getaways, for couples with young children, with teenagers, etc. Finally, we also have stays ranging from 1, 2, 3 up to 10 days.

Note: at the end of the article you will find 1/ All photos related to the article grouped in the Photo Gallery 2/ All the necessary links to make your online reservations directly 3/ Two Bonus to consult, including 4 essential tips to help you organize and make the most of your stay in Paris.

The main "points of interest" to see during a first 4-day visit to Paris

We have divided your 4-day stay into 4 "areas of interest", one per day. Each day, all the important (the "must-sees") and secondary points of interest have been chosen to be geographically close. This means no unnecessary fatigue from running from one side of Paris to the other. We therefore suggest:

Day 1: Area around Place de la Concorde – Champs-Élysées – Place Charles de Gaulle – Arc de Triomphe – Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. As an extra, if you're not tired: Pigalle district – Montmartre Butte

Day 2: Versailles area – the Château – the Versailles Estate

Day 3: Musée d'Orsay area – Tuileries Garden – Louvre Museum. And if you still have time and energy left: Le Marais district – Notre-Dame – Île de la Cité

Day 4: Palais de Chaillot area, esplanade and museums – Eiffel Tower – Les Invalides – Seine River cruises

Here are a few rules we also took into account for organizing your detailed itinerary below:

Time allocation rules

• Allow 2 to 3 hours per museum. The Louvre or Orsay deserve this time. Two hours may be enough for smaller museums.

• We limited time to 1h30 per monument visited. If the Eiffel Tower or the Arc de Triomphe or Notre-Dame are on your itinerary, they can be visited within this time frame if you’ve booked to skip the queues. Morning hours are best.

• A Seine River cruise lasts 2 hours; with lunch or dinner, allow 2h30.

• Visits to the Palace of Versailles and/or Giverny (Monet’s House). Each can be done in half a day (at a brisk pace), but they usually take up a full day. So, we opted for a variation: sacrificing one day in Paris for a day in Versailles.

• Walking between sites takes 20 to 30 minutes. We chose to explore on foot, following the routes of our "self-guided walks" that start right outside museums or monuments and lead to the entrance of the next one you want to visit. It takes about 1h30, but you’ll discover 50 times more than by taking the metro or wandering aimlessly.

• We planned 30-minute breaks every 2 to 3 hours—time for lunch, tea, or pastries.

• Another option was to alternate museums, monuments, and walks whenever possible. The Marais or Montmartre offer unique atmospheres.

• We also scheduled evenings (from 7 or 7:30 PM) for romantic dinners, shows, or even exploring a famous neighborhood. Paris is best enjoyed after dark too.

Your First Visit to Paris in 4 Days: Your Itinerary in 10 Sections

Below, you’ll find a sample 4-day itinerary generated by our Trip Planner. It includes the following 10 sections:

A. Dates of Your Stay: The dates have been arbitrarily set from August 15 to 18 (4 full days, meaning you’ll need to arrive the evening before and depart late on the 4th day or the following morning).

B. Your Interests for Your First Visit to Paris in 4 Days

We’ve selected Museums, Monuments, Parks, nightlife, shopping, history, and culture as your main interests for this stay. These are among the most popular choices for first-time visitors to Paris.

C. Selected Locations for Your First Visit to Paris in 4 Days

We’ve chosen 16 key points of interest ("Must-Sees") that align with your selected themes and the 4-day duration. We’ve also included 66 other important points of interest, for a total of 81 locations to explore during your stay.

This is why the 4-day itinerary below is structured as follows. The day-by-day schedule takes into account the geographic locations of each site to minimize unnecessary and tiring travel.

D. Day 1 Itinerary (Day 1 Map)

E. Day 2 Itinerary (Day 2 Route Map)

F. Day 3 Itinerary (Day 3 Route Map)

G. Day 4 Itinerary (Day 4 Route Map)

H. Map of Places to Visit (Interactive map of sites to see and visit throughout your stay)

I. Reminder of Bookings to Make

It is important to make reservations in advance to avoid waiting at entrances and unnecessary time wasted. This precaution allows you to see as much as possible during your stay.

J. Summary of Your Stay

Finally, a day-by-day summary of your stay to help you easily follow your itinerary.

Important Note: You can also use this for free (tutorial URL + Generator) to adjust and modify the organization of this sample itinerary: see below or by clicking onBonus: Your Customized Paris Itinerary

Sample 3-Day Itinerary for a First Visit



C Selected Places

The places listed below are the ones we have chosen and which we believe are the most relevant for a first visit to Paris over 4 days. Our website www.visitingparisbyyourself.com (VPBY) also offers alternatives for 1, 2, 3, 5 days or more.

By clicking on each of the places listed below, you will get a detailed and well-documented descriptive sheet. This will help you choose what you ultimately want to see and/or visit.

You can then define in advance which ones you want to see or visit if they are open to the public.

Day 1

• Place de la Concorde: Born in blood, a central Parisian landmark — 12 Place De La Concorde, 75008 Paris, France

• The Luxor Obelisk: An Egyptian gift now standing at Place de la Concorde — Obélisque de Louxor, Place de la Concorde, Paris, 75008, France

• Fountains of Place de la Concorde: Indispensable companions to the Obelisk — Place de la Concorde, Place de la Concorde, Paris, 75008, France

• Hôtel de la Marine Museum: A monument, art exhibition, and 200 years of history — 2 Place De La Concorde, 75008 Paris, France

• Musée du Jeu de Paume: Photography, Images, Video Art, and Experimental Cinema — Jeu de Paume, 1 Place de la Concorde, Paris 75001, France

• Musée de l'Orangerie: Must-See Works by Monet and Other Artists — 17 Place de la Concorde, 75001 Paris, France

• Champs-Élysées Gardens: A Vast Green Space Near Place de la Concorde — 14 Avenue Gabriel, 75008 Paris, France

• Luxury Shopping on the Champs-Élysées and Avenue George-V — 55 Avenue George V, 75008 Paris, France

• Place Charles de Gaulle and its star-shaped layout formed by 12 converging avenues — 1 Avenue De Wagram, 75017 Paris, France

• Arc de Triomphe: Austerlitz, World War I, and the Unknown Soldier — Place Charles de Gaulle | Place de l'Étoile, Place Charles de Gaulle, Paris, 75116, France

• Tomb of the Unknown Soldier beneath the Arc de Triomphe in Paris — Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile, Place Charles de Gaulle, Paris, 75008, France

• Museum of Romantics – George Sand, Ary Scheffer, Ernest Renan — 16 Rue Chaptal, 75009 Paris, France

• Pigalle District, a famous area for nightlife and prostitution since 1881 — Saint-Georges, Paris, France

• Moulin Rouge Show, iconic cabaret and French Cancan still on the bill — 82 Boulevard De Clichy, 75018 Paris, France

• Montmartre Little Trains (2), two departures, to discover the Butte while relaxing — Place Blanche, 75009 Paris, France

• The Montmartre Funicular, a must-see practical attraction — 1 Rue Tardieu, 75018 Paris, France

• Montmartre Hill, the Montmartre District, a World Apart — Montmartre, 75018 Paris, France

• Sacré-Cœur Basilica Forecourt, a Breathtaking View of Paris — 5 Parvis Du Sacré-Cœur, 75018 Paris, France

• Sacré-Cœur Basilica, Uninterrupted Vows and Prayers Since 1885 — Basilique du Sacré-Cœur, 35 rue du Chevalier de la Barre, Paris, 75018, France

• Place du Tertre in Montmartre, for Painters and Tourists — Place Du Tertre, 75018 Paris, France

• Saint-Pierre de Montmartre: 900 Years of History Dedicated to Artists — 2 Rue du Mont Cenis, 75018 Paris, France

• Musée de Montmartre: The Life of Artists on the Butte in the 19th Century — 12 Rue Cortot, 75018 Paris, France

• Clos de Montmartre: The Story of a Vineyard in Paris, a Confidential Vintage — 18 Rue des Saules, 75018 Paris, France

Day 2

• The Château de Versailles: Through France’s Chaotic History — Place d'Armes, Place d'Armes, Versailles, Yvelines 78000, France

• Palace of Versailles, Gardens, Park, Trianon, and Queen’s Hamlet — Château de Versailles, France

• Visit Versailles: Plan Your Visit to the Palace of Versailles

Day 3

• Musée d'Orsay and the Impressionist Painters in a Former Railway Station — 1 Rue de la Légion d'Honneur, 75007 Paris, France

• Tuileries Garden: 4 Centuries of History, 80 Master Sculptures to Discover — Jardin des Tuileries, Rue de Rivoli, Paris, 75001, France

• Jardin du Carrousel: 20 sculptures by Maillol between the Louvre and the Tuileries Gardens — Jardin du Carrousel, Jardins du Carrousel, Paris, 75001, France

• Carrousel Triumphal Arch topped with the Horses of Saint Mark from Venice — Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, Place du Carrousel, Paris, 75001, France

• Musée des Arts Décoratifs: furniture, jewelry, fashion, advertising, and unique pieces — 107 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France

• Carrousel du Louvre: a luxury shopping destination next to the Louvre — Carrousel du Louvre, 99 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France

• The Louvre Pyramid: A Controversial Landmark and a Masterpiece of Aesthetic and Engineering — Louvre Pyramid, Cour Napoléon, Paris, 75001, France

• Louvre Museum: 8 Collections and 35,000 Works to Discover — 75001, Paris, Île-de-France, France

• Cartier Foundation for Contemporary Art — 2 Pl. du Palais Royal, 75001 Paris, France

• Paris City Hall: A History of Revolts and Rebuilt After the 1871 Fire — Place de l'Hôtel-de-Ville, 75004 Paris, France

• Le Marais, Paris’s iconic district — Le Marais, Paris, France

• Musée des Arts et Métiers — 60 Rue Réaumur, 75003 Paris, France

• Musée Picasso, home to a world-famous, unique, and personal art collection of 200,000 pieces — Musée Picasso, 5 rue de Thorigny, Paris, 75003, France

• Place des Vosges, the iconic square of Paris’s trendy Le Marais district — Place Des Vosges, 75004 Paris, France

• Victor Hugo House, where he wrote his major works like Les Misérables — 6 Place des Vosges, 75004 Paris, France

• July Column and the July Revolution of 1830 – A memorial and tomb — Place de la Bastille, Paris, 75004, France

• Medieval half-timbered houses of the Marais from the 15th century — 11-13 Rue François Miron, 75004 Paris, France

• Île Saint-Louis, a discreet and refined gem at the heart of Paris — Île Saint-Louis, 75004 Paris, France

• Notre-Dame de Paris: A Martyr Cathedral Set to Rise Again in 2024 — Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris, 6 Parvis Notre-Dame, Paris, 75004, France

• Kilometer Zero of France on the Parvis of Notre-Dame — Parvis Notre-Dame - Place Jean-Paul II

• Archaeological Crypt of the Île de la Cité — 7 Parvis Notre-Dame - Pl. Jean-Paul II, 75004 Paris, France

• Sainte-Chapelle, a Masterpiece Touched by Grace, Once Threatened with Disappearance — 8 Boulevard Du Palais, 75001 Paris, France

• Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis, where it all began — Île de la Cité, Paris, France

• Île de la Cité, the cradle of Paris, 1,000 years of history on 22 hectares — 1 Boulevard du Palais, 75004 Paris, France

• Clock Tower of the Palais de la Cité, Paris’s oldest clock — 1 Quai de l’Horloge, 75001 Paris, France

• Pont au Change, a link between the Pompidou Center and the Latin Quarter — Pont au Change, Paris, 75001, France

• Conciergerie, Gothic monument, royal palace, courthouse and prison — Musée de la Conciergerie, 2 Boulevard du Palais, 75001 Paris, France

• Pont Neuf, Paris’s oldest bridge still in use — Pont Neuf, Pont Neuf, Paris, 75001, France

• Vedettes du Pont-Neuf, romantic and historic Paris from the Seine — Les Vedettes du Pont Neuf, Square du Vert-Galant, Paris, 75001, France

• Equestrian statue of King Henry IV on Pont Neuf, the third of his name — Statue Équestre d'Henri IV, Place du Pont Neuf, Paris, 75001, France

• Romantic Square-du-Vert-Galant in the Heart of Paris: The Legend of the Templars — Square du Vert-Galant, Square du Vert Galant, Paris, 75001, France

Day 4

• Trocadéro Esplanade, a Balcony Overlooking the Eiffel Tower — Square Du Trocadéro, 75016 Paris, France

• Musée de l'Homme: A Research Center on the Past and Future — 17 Place Du Trocadéro Et Du 11 Novembre 1918, 75116 Paris, France

• Marine Museum: A New Perspective – Collections Since Louis XV — 17 Place Du Trocadéro Et Du 11 Novembre 1918, 75116 Paris, France

• Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine Museum: 15 Centuries of Scale Models, Paintings and Casts — 1 Place Du Trocadéro Et Du 11 Novembre 1918, 75016 Paris, France

• Palais de Chaillot and Trocadéro Gardens: Temporary Seat of the United Nations — 1 Place Du Trocadéro Et Du 11 Novembre 1918, 75116 Paris, France

• Trocadéro Fountain in the Palais de Chaillot Gardens — Place De Varsovie, 75016 Paris, France

• Aquarium de Paris: A Unique Collection of Fish and Biodiversity — 5 Av. Albert de Mun, 75016 Paris, France

• Musée des Arts asiatiques Guimet, world-renowned and its Buddhist Pantheon — 6 Place D'iéna, 75116 Paris, France

• Place Diana in Paris, a site of two commemorations — Place Diana, 75016 Paris, France

• National Museum of Modern Art – Center for Industrial Creation, from Fauvism onwards — 13 Avenue Du Président Wilson, 75116 Paris, France

• Pont de l'Alma and its Zouave — Place De L'alma, 75008 Paris, France

• Seine River Cruises with Bateaux-Mouches — Pont de l'Alma, Port de la Conférence, 75008 Paris, France

• Paris Sewers and Their Museum: The Sewers in Action — Esplanade Habib Bourguiba, Pont de l'Alma, 75007 Paris

• Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac Museum, Museum of Arts and Civilizations of Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas — Musée du Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac, 37 quai Branly, Paris, 75007, France

• Bateaux Parisiens Cruises — Port de la Bourdonnais, 75007 Paris, France

• Pont d'Iéna: Majestic Architecture Between Trocadéro and the Eiffel Tower — Pont d'Iéna, Paris, France

• Batobus Shuttles: A Hop-on Hop-off Service on the Seine — Port de la Bourdonnais, 75007 Paris, France

• Pont Bir-Hakeim: Exceptional Views and a WWII Reminder — 2 Pont De Bir Hakeim, 75015 Paris, France

• Vedettes de Paris Cruises — 2 Port de Suffren, 75007 Paris, France

• Eiffel Tower, a technical and commercial feat, symbol of France — 5 Avenue Anatole France, 75007 Paris, France

• Champ de Mars, an idyllic setting and a break at the foot of the Eiffel Tower — Champ de Mars, 75007 Paris, France

• Marcel the Duck amphibious bus, for a mixed land and Seine cruise — Pl. Jacques Rueff, 75007 Paris, France

• Hôtel des Invalides in Paris: hospital, cathedral, military pantheon, museums — Hôtel des Invalides, Esplanade des Invalides, Paris, 75007, France

• Napoleon I’s Tomb under the Dome of the Invalides — 2 Place Vauban, 75007 Paris, France

• Musée Rodin, masterpieces by Auguste Rodin and Camille Claudel — 77 Rue De Varenne, 75007 Paris, France

Below in section D is your itinerary for your first day in Paris. Of course, you can swap day 2 with day 1, and so on. However, we advise against "mixing" parts of one day with parts of another, as this could disrupt the geographical optimization that helps you avoid unnecessary and tiring travel.

Note that you won’t be able to see everything on the proposed list. This is intentional. It allows you to skip certain points of interest in favor of others that seem more important to you. Ultimately, the choice is yours.

H Interactive map of all Points of Interest to see or visit

By hovering over the map, you can see the names of the places marked on it. By clicking on each marker, a window opens with details about the location, and by clicking on “View the place,” you can access the detailed article about it.

I Reminder of reservations to make

The list below is a reminder of all the sites and attractions mentioned in the 4-day Paris itinerary. They require a ticket if you wish to visit them. Simply click on the “Book now...” link for direct online booking. The price is the same as on the official site. We earn a small commission from the site itself, not an extra charge on your ticket.

It’s important to book in advance to avoid queuing at the entrance. This precaution helps you see as much as possible during your stay.

• Moulin Rouge Cabaret - Book Moulin Rouge Cabaret Tickets

• Montmartre Museum - Book Montmartre Museum Tickets

• Palace of Versailles and Versailles Estate as well as Visit Versailles: plan your visit to the Versailles Estate

  • Book Gardens of the Palace of Versailles

  • Book Palace of Versailles: Entry Ticket + Access to the Gardens + Trianon Estate

  • Book Versailles Castle: Round-trip transport only

  • Book a guided tour of Versailles Castle: Hall of Mirrors tour and stroll through the vast gardens

  • Book Versailles Castle: Entry ticket + round-trip transport

  • Musée d'Orsay - Book Musée d'Orsay tickets

  • Louvre Museum - Book Louvre Museum tickets

  • Picasso Museum - Book Musée National Picasso tickets

  • Sainte-Chapelle - Book Sainte-Chapelle tickets

  • Conciergerie - Book Conciergerie tickets (Sainte-Chapelle combo)

  • Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac Museum – Book tickets for the Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac Museum

  • Eiffel Tower – Book Eiffel Tower tickets

  • Hôtel des Invalides – Book tickets for the Hôtel des Invalides

  • Napoleon’s Tomb – Book tickets for Les Invalides

  • Musée Rodin – Book tickets for Musée Rodin Paris

  • Batobus shuttles, a Seine River Hop-on Hop-off service – Book Batobus river taxi tickets (9 stops)

  • Amphibious Bus - Amphibious Bus Booking – Departure from the Eiffel Tower

  • Vedettes de Paris – Eiffel Tower - Night cruise booking – Vedettes de Paris – Departure from the Eiffel Tower – 2 Port de Suffren 75007

  • Bateaux Parisiens - Eiffel Tower - Book a Seine River cruise with “Bateaux Parisiens” – Departure from Musée des Arts Premiers-Jacques Chirac – Eiffel Tower – Port de la Bourdonnais 75007

  • Bateaux-Mouches Cruises - Pont de l'Alma - Book a Seine River cruise – Departure from Pont de l’Alma 75008 – Port de la Conférence – Bateaux-Mouches

  
  
  

  Bonus #1: Customize your Paris stay

  The standard itinerary you just reviewed can be further tailored to better match your preferences and travel choices.

  The itinerary above is based on three criteria outlined in the paragraph "Extract from the Stay Organization" above:

  1. A. When are you traveling?

  2. B. Your interests (types of visits)

  3. C. Selected locations

  However, you can easily refine this arbitrary selection to perfectly align with your wishes. Simply click on our Trip Planner and adjust parameters A, B, and C to suit your needs.

  In just 5 minutes and 5 clicks, you’ll get your personalized itinerary tailored to your preferences, half-day by half-day. Plus, all reservations are made online. You can click—if you want, with no obligation—on the links to the sites you’d like to visit.

  Reservations for your transportation (plane, train, or car) and your accommodation are also included. Even suggestions for souvenir gifts for you, your friends, and your family. All at affordable prices but with quality and value. You’ll see they have nothing in common with those cheap snow globes or plastic Eiffel Towers!

  How does it work?
  Click on "Paris Stay Organizer"—completely free. It will save you the hassle of optimizing your stay to see as much as possible. In addition to your travel dates (Point A. – Final or provisional), you’ll need to redefine:

  1/ Point B "choose your interests" by clicking on the list (Museums, Churches, Monuments, Parks, etc.);
  2/ The VPBY Trip Generator then provides you with a set of relevant listings;
  3/ This takes you to point C (Selected Places). You select by clicking on the names of the museums, monuments, parks, or activities you wish to include; The Generator suggests at the top of the screen "Smart Organization" to group visits by location and duration, avoiding unnecessary and tiring travel;
  4/ The Generator returns your itinerary for each day of your stay, broken down by half-days and evenings.

  It takes just 5 clicks and 5 minutes to generate your personalized itinerary. And it’s completely free. To use it, click on "Paris Trip Organizer"

  Note: Want to know what users of the VPBY Trip Generator think about their experience? Click on "They planned their trip with VPBY"

  Bonus #2: 4 key tips to help you organize and make the most of your stay in Paris

  1. Phrasebook Translator for those who don’t speak French fluently

  Struggling to find the right word or phrase in French? Click here on PHRASEBOOK – or in the top right corner of your screen. It’s a lexicon of 100 useful words and/or expressions for a tourist visiting Paris (at restaurants, hotels, shopping, the metro, greetings, asking for directions, etc.). Eight languages are available. And guess what? Each word and phrase can also be heard aloud in French.

  2. List of Reservations to Make

  To avoid wasting time waiting in line, we recommend making your reservations online a few days in advance—or on-site, depending on your preferences. All official reservations are useful and available on our website:

  • Reservations to enter museums, monuments, shows, and Seine river cruises

  • Reservations for your arrival in France: flights, trains, cars

  • Reservations for your accommodation: hotels, apartments, guesthouses—in Paris or nearby

  The links for all these reservations are available directly in the articles about the attractions that interest you or in the self-guided itineraries of our walks. But also, by clicking on "Reservations" in the header bar, you’ll find all the reservations you’ll need during your stay.

  3. Bringing Home a Collection of Parisian Souvenir Photos

  These are high-definition vintage photos available in digital format or as long-lasting prints (75 to 100 years). Their size ranges from postcard to large format (up to 1 m or more). A lifelong keepsake to decorate your home. A quality souvenir (unlike those plastic Eiffel Towers or snow globes). At a very affordable price. Click on:

  • Paris Souvenir Photos

  • Paris Photos, Best HD Collection, Souvenirs & Decor

  4. Bring back a personalized photo report of your stay in Paris

  We recommend a professional photo shoot in Paris at your chosen locations, with you as the star. Perfect for family portraits, weddings, or other events. From 1 hour to a full day. The best quality-to-price ratio. Click on:

  • Our Partner Photographers