What to see in Paris in 4 days

Reviewed regularly · 8 min read

Paris is enormous and the metro map deceives: what looks close on the plan can be half an hour. Organising by area is what makes four days count.

Day 1: Île de la Cité and the Latin Quarter

The historic centre, the cathedral, Sainte-Chapelle and the Latin Quarter bookshops. A walking day, good for the first because it orients you. Sainte-Chapelle has capped entry: get a timed ticket.

Day 2: Louvre and Tuileries

The Louvre needs a full morning at minimum, and even then you won't see it. Pick two or three wings before entering rather than attempting everything. In the afternoon, the Tuileries gardens and the Opera. Louvre ticket booked with a time slot, without exception.

Day 3: Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars and Le Marais

Morning around the tower, afternoon in Le Marais, the most pleasant district for wandering without a plan. Tower ascents sell out weeks ahead; without one, the views from Montparnasse Tower are better and queue-free.

Day 4: Montmartre or Versailles

Montmartre if you want to stay in the city: it's a world of its own and fills a day. Versailles if you'd rather get out, though it's a full day and involves queues even with a booking.

What to book

Louvre, Sainte-Chapelle, Eiffel Tower and Versailles. All four timed, weeks ahead in season. The rest can be improvised.

Getting around

The metro is dense and efficient, and a multi-day pass pays off from day two. But Paris also walks far better than it looks: between adjacent districts it's usually quicker on foot than going down, waiting and coming up.

Budget

One of Europe's expensive capitals: 90 to 140 euros per person per day with simple accommodation. Accommodation is what drives the total. Set lunch menus and a light dinner bring it down considerably.

When to go

April, May, September and October. In August many neighbourhood businesses close for holidays and the city loses part of its life. December is cold but attractive and has shorter queues.

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