Paris is visited by millions of tourists every year for its culture, iconic landmarks, and variety of restaurants and cafes. There are so really many things to see in this city! It’s a place that I dreamed of visiting for years and years! Here is our complete guide for how to spend 4 days in Paris, France day guide to Paris including how to see it all with just a few days!
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As visited as Paris is means that certain places can get very crowded! But don’t let that deter you from seeing a place that you’re really itching to visit! For example, we know the Eiffel Tower is so heavily visited with tourists but we had to see it on our first trip to Paris and we are so glad we did!
- We feel it’s important to note that Paris has some of the most visited landmarks in the world for good reason – they are incredible. So feel free to pick and choose from this guide the things that interest you and skip the ones that don’t!
Day 1: Explore Paris
Take a walk down almost any street in Paris and look at all the places to pop in and get a baguette or cup of coffee. We enjoyed walking through Rue de Buci and other streets within in the Saint Germain neighborhood looking at all the cafes and shops.
If you have a few hours in the afternoon (but not the whole day) consider visiting the Louvre. The Louvre is a very popular attraction in Paris so prepare for a lot of other people to be there during your visit.
- Honestly we visited the Louvre and didn’t love it. We’re not huge art museum people, however, if that’s your thing then you’ll likely enjoy it more than we did! We found it to be a bit expensive, around 15-17 Euros a person depending on your ticket, and very crowded inside.
If you choose not to go inside we would still recommend visiting the surrounding area because the outside is beautiful and also free!
Check out Where to Stay in Paris post for a break down of the Paris arrondissements
Day 2: See the Eiffel Tower & Notre Dame
Start off the day by heading into a patisserie to grab a coffee or croissant. If it’s your first visit to Paris then you will definitely want to check out the Eiffel Tower. Even if it’s not your first time there it’s still really impressive and worth seeing!
If you want to go up the Eiffel Tower make sure to get there early! You will probably have to wait in line no matter what but getting there early can still save you some time.
- We waited in line for about an hour and half because we wanted to take the stairs. You can only buy tickets online for the lift (elevator) access.
There is a large park area in front of the Eiffel Tower that you can visit for free! Bring a towel or blanket (we always bring these packable towels because they’re so small) and lunch or dinner in front of one of the best views in the city!
Read More: First Timers Guide to Visiting the Eiffel Tower
From the Eiffel Tower we walked along the Seine River to see Notre Dame. It’s about a 3 mile walk to Notre Dame from the Eiffel Tower and the entire way we saw people walking, biking and running.
We walked past a few restaurants and places to grab a drink along the river. It was a really nice walk and better than sitting in traffic if you don’t mind the distance. Even if you are not walking all the way to Notre Dame, consider walking along at least part of the River Seine if it’s a nice day!
- Paris is a really walkable city and it’s beautiful to just wander around! But you definitely want to make sure to wear good shoes otherwise you’ll be an unhappy camper. I always wear these Birkenstock sandals and they are so comfortable and supportive that my feet never hurt at the end of the day!
Notre Dame is another popular spot in Paris! These pictures are from before the large fire that destroyed a significant portion of the church in the spring of 2019. It’s currently still closed to visitors while it’s being refurbished after the fire.
Close to Notre Dame is Sainte Chapelle which is known for its remarkable stained glass windows. It’s much smaller than Notre Dame but the sheer size of the stained glass is incredible!
An individual ticket inside Sainte Chapelle costs 11.50 Euros to enter. To see the stained glass was really cool but the church is pretty small. If you enjoy historical churches you will definitely be impressed! However, if you’re on a budget we felt like for how small it was the admission price was a bit high.
Read More: Public Transportation in Paris
Day 3: Day Trip to Versailles
The Gardens and the Park at Versailles are highly impressive in size and attention to detail! It’s an easy day trip from Paris. You can take the train directly to Versailles. Versailles Chateau- Rive Gaucho is the closest train station to the Versailles entrance.
Versailles is known for it’s grandiose Palace as well as extensive property. To tour the inside of the Palace requires a ticket which costs 18-20 Euros depending on what else you want access to.
Read More: Is Versailles Worth It?
- Honestly we wouldn’t recommend the Palace tour. It was so extremely crowded and really not that enjoyable. There simply wasn’t enough room in the narrow walkways for the amount of people that were let in.
Instead of touring the Palace go spend a couple hours getting lost in the pathways of the Gardens, find a shady spot to sit and relax or consider renting bikes to explore a little more! We really enjoyed the the Gardens and the Park of Versailles! The Gardens of Versailles are free to visit so save yourself a little money and enjoy the real beauty of Versailles!
- We brought snacks and water in our daypack and were so glad because there aren’t a lot of food options at Versailles. Plus there are so many good places to sit down and enjoy the beautiful grounds!
After your time in Versailles find a nice spot at an outdoor cafe to end the day. There are so many amazing restaurants in Paris!
Read More: Tips for Visiting Versailles in France
Day 4: Go to Sacre Coeur
In the 18th arrondisement is the Sacre Coeur, a basilica that is easily accessible by public transportation. It’s free to enter the inside and walk around. For a couple of Euros you can pay to climb to the top to get an amazing view of the entire city!
To go up to the top you have to climb up the stairs as there is no lift (elevator). The inside of the basilica will be on your right and the entrance to go to the top towards your left. You can buy a ticket there and then climb the narrow stairs up.
Beware the stairs up are very narrow but once at the top you get a panoramic view of the city! Walk around the top, sit down and relax, and take pictures of the different views. The views from the Sacre Coeur are spectacular because of it’s northern location in the city. You can see the Eiffel Tower in the distance and everything in between!
Read More: 5 Free Things to do in Paris, France
Before leaving Paris walk up to the Arc de Triomphe and see the cars circling around and down the Champs-Elysees. This is another really famous spot in the city!
There is an amazing viewpoint at the top of the Arc de Triomphe. It cost 13 Euros ($14 USD) to visit. It’s an incredible view because the Eiffel Tower looks so close!
- Don’t try to cross the busy street to get to the Arc de Triomphe! The entrance is underground and can be accessed by the subway entrance.
Before you leave Paris check out the Eiffel Tower at sunset. Some of the best pictures we have from Paris are from watching the sunset in front of the Eiffel Tower!
Stop by a shop beforehand and grab a baguette and bottle of wine and make it a picnic! There were so many other groups of people eating and drinking waiting for the views. This was such a nice way to spend our last night in Paris!
Interested in more posts about France? Read here!
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