4 Days in Paris: How to Plan the Perfect Paris Itinerary

Where to Stay in Paris

Paris is divided into neighborhoods called arrondissements – each area has its unique history and personality. If you view the city map, envision a snail`s shell originating from the heart and spiraling clockwise and you`ll understand the logic behind the numerical order.

If you don`t have time to read the entire guide below, here are a few of our top recommendations in summary form.

Modern at Night: As of mid-2022, Modern had started providing dinner options called Modern at Night. I had the chance to check it out, and while they were still perfecting some things, the food was every bit as delicious as the bagels and meals offered during breakfast and lunch. Two highlights for me were the loaded latke tots (with smoked salmon and dill) and the laffa (a flatbread rolled and filled) with zucchini and pea fritters. They also serve fish and chips, which would be next on my list.

Ben Thai offers quality Thai cuisine on Polk Street. They know how to accommodate people with Celiac Disease and have a separate gluten free menu.

• If financially limited and searching for an inexpensive area: Stay either in Canal St. Martin (a trendier place, but more distant) or the 9th Arrondissement (central and affordable with great nightlife).
• If you’re looking for the coolest neighborhoods: Reside in the Marais (the 3rd Arr.) or Sentier (the 2nd Arr.).

Below, our selections will be provided for lodging in the Marais and Montmartre – two of the most excellent bases for anyone exploring the city during a 4 day trip. You can find the other areas in our guide to where to lodge in Paris.

Le Marais (3rd & 4th Arrondissements) – The Heart of Paris

This is the true heart of the city, with beautiful old apartment buildings with views of the Tour Eiffel and a maze of aged streets with cobblestones and quaint shops.

You’ll be among elegantly dressed business professionals walking home with their baguettes in the evening, but will also get to interact with hipsters frequenting the area’s various bars and cafes. Bakeries can be found on every corner and you’ll be steps from landmarks like the Louvre, Notre-Dame Cathedral and more.

The Marais is also a great place to shop. The Rue de Rivoli is lined with larger brand stores heading towards the Louvre, but if you remain in the area of Rue Vieille du Temple and Rue des Francs Bourgeois you will find some more unique shops, from bespoke perfumeries to quaint fashionable clothing stores.

Places to Stay in Le Marais

The Hotel Les Tournelles, located near the Place des Vosges, is one of our favorite selections for staying in the Marais as it combines a modern, comfortable interior with an outstanding location for your 4 day trip to Paris. Upscale bath products and rainfall showers are a lovely bonus and the room rate covers breakfast.

For a boutique-style hotel, we advise Hotel Georgette, located a brief stroll away from the Centre Georges Pompidou. Prices fall in the mid-range for the quality of accommodations provided, and guests enjoy an exceptional buffet breakfast.

Montmartre (18th Arrondissement) – Where Romance is Always in the Air

Head to the 18th Arrondissement in Paris following in the footsteps of painters and romantics. At the base of the magnificent Sacré-Cœur church, you will discover a maze of cobblestone streets filled with artists ready to portray your likeness for a few euros.

Once home to Degas, Picasso and Renoir, Montmartre continues attracting bohemians and has a jovial, friendly atmosphere with bars serving inexpensive wine and live entertainment and crowds of tourists lining the streets.

If you choose to stay here, be aware you’ll very likely hear the noise of the street until the early hours… unless, of course, you’re out there enjoying the atmosphere!

You cannot be beaten for a romantic sunset vista overlooking Paris from Montmartre and you`ll be just a brief journey on the metro away from the rest of the major tourist destinations.

Places to Stay in Montmartre

The Hotel des Arts is one of the top selections for a romantic escape, situated steps from the Moulin Rouge and a brief walk from Sacré-Cœur. You’ll also be very near Rue des Abbesses and its excellent restaurants and independent shops.

For an even more specialized experience, head to the Mom’Art Hotel on Rue d’Orsel, close to Sacré-Cœur and offering remarkable rooms for the location. It’s family operated, every room is distinct, and even has an on-site bar, restaurant and spa.

Important Tips For Visiting Paris

During your visit to Paris, you’ll come across some of the clichés regarding Parisians, as well as some precise French lifestyle facets worth being aware of.

Set Your Expectations

Here’s the thing about Paris. Paris is very, very polarizing.

Some people rave about it and can’t get enough of it. Some people come back from their first trip to Paris and say it was underwhelming and that French people are surly and mean.

I think it all comes down to expectations. 

Paris is not a city in a fairy tale, which I think is what many first-time visitors build it up to be. They have this romantic ideal in their head, where they’re strolling by the Seine with a red beret on their head, hand in hand with their lover on their way to a cozy bistro for dinner.

While that atmosphere can certainly exist in Paris, it fails to mention the honking vehicles, potentially stepping in canine waste and hurriedly trying to remove it using a leaf or curb, and running late because the metro was delayed.

Much of Rome’s reasonably priced lodging is found in the vicinity of Stazione Termini. This locale is not the most aesthetically pleasing part of town, but nor is it as unpleasant as sometimes portrayed, though its amenities, eateries, and coffee shops are squarely aimed at visitors. There are several exceptional museums nearby, such as the Baths of Diocletian and the Palazzo Massimo alle Terme, as well as remarkable places of worship like Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri and the grand Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore.

However, on the other hand, it is also an amazing city full of world renowned art museums, a fairly great food scene, romantic neighborhoods full of narrow cobbled streets like Montmartre, and lots of history and culture to delve into and learn more about.

If there are two pieces of information I want you to be aware of before you travel to Paris, it’s these two.

Firstly, remember that Paris is truly inhabited, and the individuals living there are real people. There are magnificent aspects about Paris, and there are irritating things about Paris. We’ll do our best to help you see the magnificent aspects and minimize the irritating things. Or at minimum be aware of them going in.

Second, don’t try to cram it all in. Trust me, I’ve done that trip. I’ve run from museum to museum, and seen everything, but absorbed almost none of it. Instead, focus on a couple of major attractions (we think they’re the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the Musée d’Orsay, and the Rodin Museum) and save some time to connect with locals on a walking tour, food tour, or cooking class to learn more about what makes Paris tick.

Learn Some French – A Little Goes a Long Way!

Don’t be discouraged by the mistaken belief that Parisians are rude and unwelcoming to visitors. As long as you greet everyone with a Bonjour and ensure you are polite, most locals we`ve encountered have been completely agreeable. It will assist if you learn a few important French phrases.

In our experience, people are consistently happier when you make an effort to employ their own language. Not just in France, but virtually everywhere around the world.

Presented below are some helpful phrases to learn, including my attempt at phonetic spelling.

• Bonjour (bone – jure) – hello / good day
• Please (seal voo play) – (if you please, literally)
• Merci (mare – see) – thank you 
• Je voudrais (jeuh voo – dray) – I would prefer (this is the polite way of expressing it, I believe)
• Pardon – (par – do) – excuse me
• Excuse me (excuse – ay mwah ) – a different way to say excuse me
• Désolée (dez – oh – lay) – sorry

Here’s a more comprehensive resource highlighting helpful French expressions for visitors, or you could obtain a small French phrasebook to aid your French language learning as you explore.

Other Things to Know About Visiting Paris

Some additional details worth knowing from our latest trip that may enhance your experience are noted below. Some provide useful information, others are amusing, and all aim to help craft a more enjoyable time for you.

• Numerous shops and convenience stores are closed on Sundays so verify hours beforehand. Even grocery stores and other places you’d expect to be open if visiting from the US or Canada.
• Similarly, cultural institutions typically reserve a day each week for closure, though the designated day may differ between locations. Confirm hours in advance.
• Paris is ENORMOUS. In the initial couple of days we tried walking everywhere, and after numerous thirty-thousand step days decided to use public transportation. With limited time, become familiar with the metro and bus network, which will allow you to get around much more effectively. We used this app for navigating the metro. It’s definitely worth investing in a Visite Pass, which provides unlimited bus and metro rides (you simply need zones 1-3, really).
• You’re still going to undertake quite a lot of walking on this itinerary, and you’ll need to watch where you step because .
• Wear comfortable, supportive footwear and leave high heels at home. Uneven surfaces and cobblestones abound in Paris, so feet will appreciate breathable shoes for extensive walking.
• Many residents in Paris smoke tobacco products. Or so it seems to us. It must be at least 50% of adults. Whenever you`re eating or drinking outdoors, there is nearly guaranteed to be somebody smoking nearby. Good to be mindful of going in.
• Leaving gratuities is less of an expectation. Servers in Paris receive wages allowing them to meet their basic living needs – an approach the United States should consider (do not @ me with rebuttals about small companies) – so tipping relies more on rewarding good service than as a requirement for servers to pay rent. It’s still appropriate to give a 5-10% gratuity at sit-down restaurants providing quality service, and you won’t see a tip line on receipts – either tip in cash, or notify them of the exact total you plan to pay before they process your card (e.g. if the bill is 50 Euros and you want to add a 5 Euro gratuity, say “55 Euros, s`il vous plaît”).

Our Version of a Perfect 4 Day Paris Itinerary

Paris truly has something for everyone. From history lovers to art lovers, to technology enthusiasts and those looking for architectural wonders, it’s all there. With so much to experience it’s definitely tempting to try to pack in all the sights, but then you’ll find you don’t have much time to “live like a Parisian”. And that would be a shame.

To make the most of Paris, plan for one or two major sights each day, and dedicate the rest of the time to walking through neighborhoods while leaving energy reserves for an evening drink and some dancing or live entertainment.

For a 4 day trip to Paris, we recommend no more than two or three major museum visits to allow fully experiencing them and retaining the knowledgeable without feeling rushed.

Regardless of your interests, we believe the Louvre will provide the best all-around experience of all the art and history you can absorb over the course of four days. We recently participated in this tour of the Louvre at closing time, and truly enjoyed it. Read more about our experience here.

In addition to the Louvre, we’d advise including the Musée d’Orsay to view arguably the finest collection of impressionist artwork globally, which was highly influential in Paris during the 19th century (here’s a well-written essay on Impressionism and the social context surrounding the movement).

One other personal suggestion would be the Rodin Museum, but we actually decided to exclude it from the 4 day itinerary below because it just doesn’t fit.

There was so much to experience and admire in Paris that despite allocating four complete days, we still failed to suitably fit in what is likely our most favorite museum located in Paris. You will find our thoughts on it in the `More Time` section below should you be interested.

It’s nearly impossible to condense everything Paris has to offer into just a few days of visiting, but the following itinerary attempts to cover as much as feasible without being overwhelming. Adjust the order based on where you’re staying or bookings you’re able to make while there.

What to Schedule in Advance: In general, to help make sure you’re actually able to experience some of the top sights in Paris, we’d advise booking 2-3 months ahead for the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, the Eiffel Tower (if you want to go to the top), and Versailles. This is particularly crucial if you’re visiting over summer, when we’ve observed crazy queue lengths for some of Paris’ top sights, and it’s less imperative in lower season (though we’d still book the Louvre in advance).

Here’s an overview of the proposed 4 day itinerary below:

• Day 1: The Left Bank region, Saint-Germain area, and the Eiffel Tower
• Day 2: Gothic Churches, A Food Tour, and the Louvre
• Day 3: Exploring the Coolest Neighborhoods in Paris (Montmartre, le Marais, Canal St. Martin, and Montorgueil)
• Day 4: A Day Excursion to Versailles

Below the detailed schedule, you’ll find some suggestions about what to do with more or less time on your trip to a certain city, like compressing this schedule into one, two, or three days.

Day 1: The Left Bank, Saint-Germain, and the Eiffel Tower

On your first day, begin with a walking tour to familiarize yourself with the layout and receive tips and suggestions from a local, then make your way to the Left Bank, finishing with sunset and an evening at the Eiffel Tower.

Important Note for the Day Ahead: We think experiencing the Eiffel Tower with a picnic in the Champs de Mars park is ideal. Throughout the day, gather provisions for an end of day picnic – bread, cheese, meats, wine, and other tempting items. Rue Cler, located in the 7th Arrondissement near the tower, offers quality options for assembling a meal.

Start Your Trip with a Walking Tour

We always try to initiate our time in a new city with a walking excursion. It accomplishes a couple things for you that will set the rest of your trip up for amazingness.

1. It commonly includes many main attractions in a city (though Paris is sufficiently large that you can’t potentially see them all in a couple of hours) and provides the historical and cultural context surrounding them. You likely won’t enter, for example, the Louvre, but you’ll walk by and briefly discuss it. That way, you’ll have a nice overview and you’ll be able to decide what you want to return to later.
2. A local tour guide offers an insider`s perspective on matters like recommended dining, navigation options, optimizing time at the Louvre, and other useful tips. Additionally, discussions with residents provide valuable insights into Parisian culture difficult to attain otherwise.
3. If fortunate, your guide may provide a list of dining venues, bars, attractions and more upon tour completion, allowing independent exploration of the locale later. We appreciate acquiring such references and have used them extensively while traveling to discover places otherwise unattainable.

On our most recent trips to Colombia and Europe ( Portugal, France, Spain, and Italy), we’ve come to trust – firmly – that you should pay for a guided tour rather than take one of the numerous complimentary tours accessible in cities around the world.

The reason? The guide. Not to mention the fact that “free tours” aren’t actually free – the guides work for tips, which implies you’ll be paying at the end of the tour one way or another.

Providing a walking tour of one`s city from an outsider who has lived there for just a short time can differ vastly than getting a local`s perspective from somebody who grew up in the area. With a free walking tour, there is a higher possibility of getting a student reciting a script instead of hearing viewpoints from somebody genuinely tied to the location.

Exceptions to the guideline that paid tours are preferable to free tours do exist – it truly depends on the guide – but we strongly advise opting for a paid tour.

The experience outlined below is highly recommendedfor visitors to Paris. An electric bike tour allows one to cover extensive ground around the expansive city within a limited timeframe. This tour offers an excellent overview of Paris and positioning for further independent exploration over subsequent days.”

Another approach involves concentrating on a particular locale, such as exploring this tour of Le Marais, or zeroing in on a specific period in history such as this French Revolution tour.

Saint-Germain and the Luxembourg Gardens

• White River Campground: The campsite nearest to Sunrise employs a first come, first served system with no reservations. It reaches full capacity on Fridays through Mondays. For the best chance to secure a spot, aim for Tuesday – Thursday if your schedule allows. Otherwise, arrive as early as possible! More information here.

Here`s a suggested route map for our tour around Saint-Germain. Numerous cafes and eateries line the way – Laduréefor baked goods, Gromfor chilled treats, and La Quincave for fermented grapes, among others.

Head over the 6th Arrondissement directly across the street from the Le Bon Marché department store, a French establishment dating back to the 19th century selling high-end fashion, beauty, and gourmet food.

We really enjoy Les Grand Epiceries de Paris, a really fancy grocery store with all kinds of specialty food items – think a huge selection of artisanal breads, pastries, cheeses, etc – all under one roof.

Grab a coffee at the Ten Belles coffee shop on Rue du Cherche-Midi and then make your way to the Jardin du Luxembourg, where you can sit among the flowers and enjoy the warmth of the sun.

While strolling towards Rue Bonaparte, the current meeting place of the senate will be passed, the Palais du Luxembourg. Upon arriving at the Église Saint-Sulpice, best known today as one setting inThe Da Vinci Code. The church took one hundred and fifty years to build and has some beautiful frescoes inside by Delacroix.

Returning along Rue Bonaparte leads to Saint-Germain-des-Près, Paris’ oldest standing church constructed in the 11^th century. From there, you can see the renowned Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots cafes where artists, writers and high society spent much of their time in the early 20^th century. Sit outside and enjoy a beverage or peek inside at the gorgeous interiors that have remained mostly unchanged for over 100 years.

Continue wandering alongside Boulevard Saint-Germain with an optional brief detour to La Dernière Goutte, where you can browse an excellent selection of wines and pick up a bottle for your evening picnic. Any cheese enthusiast will find something to their liking at Fromagerie Laurent Dubois, after which you’ll finish your self-guided walking excursion at the charming Shakespeare and Company – the iconic used and new bookstore that’s been attracting book lovers since 1951.

From there, walk westward beside the River Seine towards your next destination of the day, home to arguably the finest collection of Impressionist art in the world.

Musée d’Orsay

Since it’s your first day and you’re likely still getting your bearings, we’d recommend saving the Louvre for a different day and doing the Musée d’Orsay instead, which is one of the two museums we’d advise visiting in Paris.

For art enthusiasts, this is the other major museum you must visit in Paris besides the Louvre (we also admire the Rodin Museum, which is worth mentioning, but it is placed in the “more time” section because it is one facility too many for us).

Housed in a beautiful former railway station beside the Seine with magnificent 1800s architecture, the Musée d’Orsay is not only an aesthetically pleasing building but also contains some of the finest impressionist works. Visitors can admire pieces by Cézanne, Degas, Monet, and numerous others.

Your museum map will point out a few highlights, but be sure not to miss the Bal du Moulin de la Galette by Pierre-August Renoir with its energetic, lively atmosphere; Edouard Manet’s quizzical Olympia; Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night and Claude Monet’s Blue Water Lilies.

The Musée d’Orsay is a short walk across the Seine from the Louvre – take the Pont des Arts and check out all the padlocks couples have tied to it. The regular opening hours are 9.30 am to 6:00 pm every day except Monday.

We always propose that an instructed tour at art galleries provides a richer experience. Your guide will help bring the static pieces of art to life through the stories and context they supply, assisting you in deciding what to focus on among so many amazing works of art. More on this in the section below about the Louvre, which we would DEFINITELY advise a tour for.

The following .

While we have not personally participated in this tour ourselves, it appears to satisfy our criteria of being led by an art history expert, providing reserved entrance tickets to bypass lengthy queues at the ticket office (at least during peak season), and earning strong reviews from past participants.

For visitors on a tight budget who can only afford one guided tour, doing the Louvre independently is highly recommended.

Information for Independent Visits: The museum is shut on Mondays, and open from 9:30 am to 6:00 pm Tuesday to Sunday (although it remains available late – until 9:45 pm – on Thursdays). Tickets cost 16 Euros (13 Euros for discounted tickets for students), and you can purchase them in advance here. Which is advisable to do to avoid the lines at the ticket office.

Rue Cler

Ultimately, before the day concludes, wander the mouthwatering Rue Cler and pick up the last items for your picnic. There’s another Amorino, or the Ladurée bakery with its world renowned macarons, as well as a must visit shop for tea lovers: Mariage Frères makes exquisite blends, from the latest harvest of Darjeeling to a host of teas from Japan and beyond. You may need advice from the shop employee.

The Eiffel Tower

One of the most iconic sights you’ll witness during your 4 days in Paris, glimpses of the Eiffel Tower can be seen from all around central Paris, such as beautiful vistas from the bridges crossing the Seine (the Pont d’Iéna links the Jardins du Trocadéro with the Champ de Mars where the tower stands) and from the Hôtel des Invalides (worth checking out during your walks around the city for its golden roofs and imposing stature).

Our preferred way to experience the Eiffel Tower is from the Champs de Mars, the park which is home to the tower. Particularly from the southeastern section of the tower, where there is a pleasant grassy area practically encouraging a picnic.

Fortunately for you, you`ve just come from Rue Cler, an area well-suited for procuring picnic supplies. Gather a variety of French cheeses, bread, and either wine or sparkling water. Then make your way to the Champs de Mars.

Following your picnic, we’d also suggest heading over to the opposite side of the river for spectacular views of the tower. In particular, there’s a great spot at river level with a virtually unbeatable perspective of the tower – it’s approximately here on Google Maps.

On a clear summer evening, it’s worth sitting in the Jardins du Trocadéro to enjoy the light show that takes place at the top of the hour every hour for five minutes.

Climbing the Eiffel Tower

If you desire to obtain a postcard perfect perspective of Paris, we actually suggest going to the top of the Arc de Triomphe or the Tour Montparnasse, as the Eiffel Tower will then be included in the view. The problem with the view from the highest point of the Eiffel Tower is that, well, you can’t see the Eiffel Tower from there.

But, of course, the attraction of climbing it is irresistible. You have a few options to get to the top – you can take elevators to the second or third floor viewing decks, or tackle it on foot up to the second floor platform, involving more than 1,500 steps in total.

You’ll need to get tickets in either case and we suggest booking skip-the-line tickets online to avoid large crowds.

Day 2: Gothic Churches, A Food Tour, and the Louvre

On your second day in Paris, start by visiting two of the most impressive Gothic churches worldwide before immersing in the food culture of Paris with either a cooking/baking class, or a culinary walking tour to sample some of Paris’ best eats according to locals.

Then, once you’re suitably fuelled, spend the afternoon and early evening at the Louvre, exploring one of the greatest art collections in the world. Ideally, with a guided tour.

Notre Dame and Sainte-Chappelle

Begin your day relatively early to visit two excellent examples of Gothic architecture in Paris. Both happen to be churches.

For those with an interest in medieval art or desiring a stroll through some of Europe`s most romantic church interiors, a visit to Notre Dame Cathedral is a must. One can walk through its gothic archways and take in the beautiful stained glass relatively quickly depending on how closely one wishes to examine the details. Climbing the tower rewards with lovely panoramas.

Important Update: Regrettably, the cathedral is presently closed after a fire broke out in April 2019, but you can still admire it as you pass by.

If you’re in Paris on a sunny day with a couple hours to spare admiring some of the finest stained glass windows globally, then we wholly recommend Sainte-Chappelle.

You can find this small gem of a church within the Palais de Justice, just a few blocks away. It’s a compact, perhaps not particularly imposing structure from outside, but the real spectacle can be found inside the chapel. It is considered Paris’ most exquisite Gothic monument and certainly worth a detour.

Choose Your Own Foodie Adventure

Immersing ourselves in the cuisine of places we visit is one of our favorite aspects of travel, and we aim to include a food tour, cooking class or market walkthrough in most locations.

Regrettably, the reality is that because Matt has Celiac Disease and can’t ingest even a trace of gluten without being ill for days, a food tour or cooking class wasn’t feasible for us in Paris.

HOWEVER. That does NOT mean it shouldn’t be considered! We would highly recommend it because it provides a local perspective on the city`s food scene – what and where to eat and drink – and allows connecting with other travelers while sampling amazing cuisine.

Here are some alternatives for you, split between food trips and cooking classes. Our preference is to do a cooking class, because we ENJOY cooking, but we also appreciate a good food trip.

Option 1: Dive Into French Cuisine in a Cooking Class

We’ve participated in various cooking classes around the world (read about our experience in Mexico City here), and while most French cuisine contains gluten which makes group participation nearly impossible, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t explore options.

After all, haven’t you always wondered how to create the perfect croissant? You may find that you only want to do so one time.

Here are a few culinary classes that would definitely be on our list if, you know, Matt could eat gluten. All three of them are baking classes – because Paris is known for pastries – with Matthieu, a French chef who has a nice space in the heart of Saint-Germain (the 6th Arrondissement).

Gain Instruction in Macaron Production: Precisely as the title implies – learn how to bake macarons from initiation to conclusion, and depart with your very own box of 15-18 to savor later.

Training on Developing Croissants: Croissants might be the most recognizable French pastry… and also the biggest challenge to produce. Where better to receive hands-on instruction in creating croissants than with the guidance of a skilled chef?

Acquire Skills in Baguette Crafting: The iconic French bread form that you are likely to observe numerous Parisians transporting to and fro using as you explore Paris. Learn to skillfully shape a perfect baguette then savor the rewards of your work by enjoying it alongside various local products.

Option 2: Learn About Food Culture Through a Food Tour

Here are some food tours that caught our eye though, sadly, we also skipped these because of the whole gluten and cross-contact issue.

Experience the Market – Sample Paris: This is partially a market tour, partially a tasting. You’ll meet at a neighborhood market over in the 11th Arrondissement and learn about Parisian food culture through exploring the market and sampling an assortment of foods at different stalls. The small group has a maximum of six guests, so you’ll have ample time and space to ask questions and really understand Paris through the eyes of Natasha, the host, and her team.

NO DIET CLUB” – Firstly, this company`s website begins with “Bye Boring Food Visits” and uses a funny logo of a woman riding a hotdog on a bike with a beer stein and her middle finger raised. But what about their tours? They offer multiple trips in Paris where they take visitors around their favorite spots in a certain neighborhood, which is the style we`d propose. The tours last between three to four hours, so you need to arrive hungry or you`ll lose enthusiasm halfway through. They have lunchtime trips in the Marais area and along the Canal St. Martin, and an evening trip in Montmartre. If we had to opt for one, Canal St. Martin would be our selection

The Louvre

At the Louvre, you`ll encounter the most diverse and unique art collection of your trip. Spending at least three hours there is worthwhile even if only checking off a few highlights. The vast palace originally began as a stronghold in the early 13th century, becoming a national museum in 1793.

The exquisite array was accumulated by subsequent French administrations, sometimes controversially, incorporating art from throughout Europe as well as Assyrian, Etruscan, Greek, Coptic and Islamic art and relics.

Be sure to view the Mona Lisa, Victory of Samothrace (or Winged Victory), Venus de Milo and the emotionally evocative paintings The Raft of the Medusa by Théodore Géricault and Liberty Leading the People by Eugène Delacroix (the famous depiction you`ve likely seen of the symbol of the Republic, Marianne).

Just about anyone asked to name the premier art gallery globally will, if they`ve had the chance to visit Paris, cite the Louvre without hesitation. While we`re also quite partial to the Prado in Madrid and the Uffizi in Florence, in my view the Louvre`s collection of works is unparalleled in its magnitude and diversity, at least of all I`ve personally experienced.

The expansive collections housed within the Louvre present both opportunity and challenge for visitors to navigate. Spanning thousands of years of artistic progression, the museum protects countless works that could occupy multiple days to fully appreciate. Successfully choosing a focused path requires planning amid such abundance.

A Notice on timing: The afternoon is usually the best time for visiting the Louvre for somewhat more workable crowds. The late afternoon / early night will give you a marginally more peaceful experience, which explains why we`ve organized the itinerary in this specific manner.

Invest in a Guided Tour of the Louvre

During our three month European adventure that took us to Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Paris, we had the chance to view multiple renowned art galleries.

We swiftly recognized that we’re just not really museum of art people. But after a tour of the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, I had an epiphany regarding why.

Exploring an art museum and viewing lovely paintings is nice, but truly experiencing each work involves comprehending their histories and roles in artistic progression. As ordinary people, we don`t normally have that background.

We sincerely recommend investing in a guided sightseeing tour of the Louvre (we enjoyed multiple tours with them in Europe – read about our experience with their Colosseum Tour in Rome, which was excellent). If you only have time or funds for a single guided tour in Paris, this should be your selection.

We`ve each independently explored these spaces multiple times – Matt on several occasions – coming to realize that without art historical expertise, wandering immense collections solo often results in superficial impressions like `that was appealing` or `how plentiful the works`.

An expert in the field of art history accompanying visitors on a guided tour will provide meaningful context and anecdotes related to each work, offering insights that truly bring the museum experience to life. Moreover, the tour guide can assist in identifying and prioritizing the most pivotal pieces and influential historic periods.

We opted to skip the Louvre on our most recent trip, but we absolutely would have participated in a guided tour if we were planning on visiting it. Here are three tour options we’d recommend (they were on our list until we decided to skip it).

We are fond of the “ Closing Time at the Louvre” by Take Walks, which aims to guide you through the prime attractions during the least congested hours. Beginning at 6:45 pm, this ensures the most serene way to tour the museum, though it means adjusting your itinerary accordingly.

Another exceptional option for touring is the Semi-Private Highlights Tour of the Louvre, which will include visits to the Mona Lisa, artworks from the French Romantic movement, renowned Italian masterworks and the Crown Jewels. It only takes two hours yet you won`t need to wait in lines or wander halls searching for your favorite painting. Once complete, you can spend the next couple hours exploring areas that caught your attention.

Visiting the Louvre Independently

If planning to go independently, the Louvre is open daily except Tuesday, from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, with exceptions for January 1, May 1 and December 25.

We recommend reserving tickets online in advance, costing 17 Euros, as walk-in availability might be limited (although on-site tickets will be a tad cheaper at 15 Euros).

If you’re not participating in a guided tour, it is worthwhile to invest in the audio guide to provide you with at least a bit more context surrounding each art piece. While not as informative as a live guide, it offers more information than encountering the exhibits without guidance.

Rive Droite: A Walk on Paris’ Right Bank

As the River Seine divides Paris down the middle into two halves, it segments the city into the Rive Gauche (Left Bank) and Rive Droite (Right Bank). Continue exploring on the latter if you have energy remaining after time at the Louvre, and we’d suggest walking from there to the Arc de Triomphe landmark.

• The Jardin du Palais Royal – A beautiful garden in the heart of the city, built around the royal palace from the 17^th century. A great place to pause and smell the roses (literally!).
• Head onto the Tuileries Gardens, where Parisians appreciate sitting on the lounge chairs by the fountains or taking walks with their friends. Cross it from the Louvre to the Place de la Concorde to end up in the wide square with the Obelisk (it is 3,300 years old and engraved with Egyptian hieroglyphics).
• Continuing along the Seine river you’ll find the Grand Palais – constructed for the 1900 World’s Fair, it houses numerous exhibitions. Be sure to check out the amazing 8.5-ton art nouveau glass ceiling!
• Finish your walk on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, strolling towards the Arc de Triomphe.

The Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Élysées

Spend your final moments in Paris seeing views of the city from the highest point of the Arc de Triomphe, which was constructed by Napoleon in the early nineteenth century in remembrance of a victory at Austerlitz. Napoleon was quite fond of triumphal arches.

A quick note regarding Napoleonic history: At the beginning of our latest three month trip to Europe that took us to Spain,Portugal, and Italy, we often heard mention of Napoleon, and honestly, the sole things I really knew about him before then were that he was rather short in stature and spoke French in an peculiar manner (as it was not his native language – he was Corsican).

So, to gain understanding about the man who significantly shaped modern Europe, I began this podcast focused on Napoleon, and am finding it rewarding. It provides an in-depth exploration into Napoleon’s life and impact on Europe during his relatively brief time atop the leadership.

Now resuming your regularly scheduled programming.

The Champs-Élysées lacks character or interest for us – it features the identical shops and stores you’d find almost anywhere else globally, without noteworthy charm.

Continue all the way up to the Place de l’Étoile, where you’ll be gazing up at the Arc from beneath.

From the Place de l’Étoile (now known more commonly as Place Charles de Gaulle), looking upward, you’re certain to be captivated by the Arc de Triomphe. The epitome of Hausmannian architecture and urban planning is on display here: from the star-like arrangement of tree-lined avenues to the elegant constructions.

We recommend crossing the busy roundabout to have a look at the monument and climb the 284 steps to the viewing platform at the top, from where you can see the avenues in their full splendor.

Viewing the city from the summit provides a rewarding experience through the effort required to reach the top. The perspectives attained are among the finest in Paris, incorporating smiles sweeping over the widespread metropolis. We consider the vistas superior to those from the Eiffel Tower as it comprises the Eiffel Tower within its frame. Visiting around dusk optimizes viewing the delicate golden illumination washing throughout the sprawling city, and lingering allows witnessing the illuminations switching on and understanding how Paris obtained the moniker “City of Lights.”

The Arc de Triomphe can be reached through an underground passage on the northern side of the Champs-Élysées, bringing you to just below the arch. You can purchase tickets to the observation deck in the tunnel (though you should buy them ahead of time to bypass the sometimes long queues at the ticket office).

Costs and Operation Hours: Advanced tickets can be purchased on the official website, which is advised to avoid long waits. Admission is 13 Euros for adults, though several groups have free access including those under 18 and E.U. citizens aged 18-25 (proof required). More data about hours, pricing, and additional details available here.

Day 3: Explore the Coolest Neighborhoods in Paris

Today, there are no visitor destinations (in the conventional sense) on the schedule. Instead, we’d recommend a lengthy self-guided walk from west to east (approximately) through the Rive Droite and some of Paris’ most interesting neighborhoods.

Some neighborhoods we`d recommend exploring include Montmartre, perched atop its hill where you`ll find Sacré-Cœur and charming cobbled lanes, Le Marais,Canal St. Martin, and Montorgueil. The latter two became new favorite areas after our recent Paris trip.

A Morning in Montmartre

Many guides – both books and travel blogs – will recommend Montmartre as an afternoon/evening destination. It is easy to comprehend why – the view at sunset is sublime (at sunrise, you’re looking into the sun from Sacré-Cœur), the romantic vibes come out after dark, and the neighborhood comes alive with people.

We actually preferred Montmartre in the morning, before crowds of people appeared. Which is why we have you here at the beginning of the day instead of the end.

Start your day at the KB Coffee Roasters with pleasant patio seating complete with a carousel, capturing the essence of Paris atop Montmartre. In addition to the ideal atmosphere, their coffee meets high standards.

From there, make your way up the hill to the crest of Montmartre. You can either take the steep stairs that will take you straight up the hill, or wander up the winding cobblestone streets. At the top of the hill is the white church on the hill – Sacré-Cœur – which boasts one of my favorite views in Paris

One Thing to Be Aware Of: There will be individuals waiting at the bottom of the hill leading up to the church trying to sell you various goods, but the most typical is a scam where the person places a bracelet on your wrist (without your asking for it) and then asks you to pay for it. A firm no thank you usually handles the situation.

At the top, admire both Sacré-Cœur itself, and the panorama from the platform just below it, which looks back towards the Seine and the center of Paris. You can also climb the tower of Sacré-Cœur for even better views – it’s 200+ steps, and like most church towers, they’re narrow and cramped.

After Sacré-Cœur, make your way back down the slope, taking time at this point to wander a little. Here’s the route we’d advise, which takes you past the only winery in Paris, one of the oldest restaurants in Paris (La Maison Rose), and along some of the most romantic streets in Paris.

End with a stroll along Rue des Abbesses, which is the bustling center of activity in Montmartre. It’s lined with shops and eateries, and is worth exploring.

To reach your subsequent destination – Le Marais – it would be preferable to take the Metro fromPigalle ( here on Google Maps) to Bastille ( here on Google Maps). See the “Getting Around” section below for the optimal way to utilize the Paris Metro, which is highly effective.

Le Marais

Le Marais literally means “marsh” – it was converted to farmland in the 12th century and became a fashionable district in the early 17th century when Henry IV built the Place Royale (now the Place des Vosges).

It is now full of eccentric bars and restaurants, as well as home to many designer boutiques.

The most stylish area is migrating gradually north, with Haut Marais (upper Marais) now commanding attention from emerging talent with vintage fashion and hip places to dine.

A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Le Marais 

Undertake this self-guided walking tour to survey the finest sights of the Marais district.

Begin at the site of Place de la Bastille, which as one might infer is where the storming of the Bastille occurred, igniting the French Revolution in 1789.

From there, make your way through the third arrondissement, which is much busier and commercial than the fourth arrondissement, which is where you’ll conclude your tour. Here are the stops to make along the route.

• Place des Vosges: One of Paris’ best green areas, we visited here in the mid-morning and found it full of school children circling around the fountain in the center, and people absorbing the sun with an interesting book. It’s meticulously maintained, and chances are it`s likely you’ve seen photos of it before. Victor Hugo’s home is at the southeast corner of the square. You can tour to see the reconstruction of his apartment with authentic furniture, and a collection of sketches and other items from his life. More info here.

Afterwards, enjoy lunch in the Centro Storico (we’d recommend Antico Forno Roscioli) and sample gelato from either Fatamorgana or Grom. You could also try experiencing an authentic Italian espresso at the counter at Tazza d’Oro too.

• Along the route, you’ll pass the charming shop of Nature et Découvertes on Rue Sainte-Croix de la Bretonnerie. Browse the shelves for cute items before continuing.
• Travel north along Rue Vieille du Temple, one of the oldest roads in Paris, and see the Jardin des Archives Nationales, another amazing green space in the neighborhood. Follow the cobblestone street north, then turn left to arrive at the famous indoor market, the Marché les Enfants Rouges.

End your brief exploration in the Marais neighborhood at the Marché les Enfants Rouges, a 1615 sheltered marketplace that is the oldest market in the city, filled with any cuisine you might crave for lunch. This covered market provides an excellent place to have lunch.

A suitable alternative could be the Breizh Cafe, known as a place to enjoy crêpes. They offer sweet crêpes and savory galettes traditionally made with buckwheat flour along with French cider, worth sampling. Multiple locations are in Paris, including one a few blocks south of the market on Rue Vieille du Temple ( here on Google Maps).

Around the market, you’ll find the hippest part of Le Marais. This is the 4th Arrondissement, and it’s constantly busy with activity. There are some fantastic green spaces – like the Square du Temple – Elie Wiesel ( here on Google Maps) – and the area directly east of the Marché les Enfants Rouges is a collection of some of the coolest bars, restaurants, stores, and coffee shops in Paris.

We’d recommend Candelaria for plant-based beverages sourced from agave and Mexican cuisine, Fringe Coffeefor a rotating selection of coffee beans from all over Europe, and La Maison de Mochifor treats crafted from mochi (UNFORTUNATELY NOT GLUTEN FREE).

Canal St. Martin

Canal St. Martin is one of our new favorite neighborhoods in Paris, partially because actual Parisians appear to inhabit it. Young families walk along the canal, as do youthful couples.

From the 4th Arrondissement, it’s an easy walk to reach the canal, which is in the 10th Arrondissement, northeast of where you end your tour of Le Marais.

We’d recommend taking a big loop around the canal, stopping along the way for food, drinks, and whatever else grabs your interest. Here are some other places along the canal that we enjoyed.

A location we truly appreciated was La Cidrerie. We have a fondness for hard cider, and La Cidrerie is the place to go to sample different styles of French cider. We arrived around opening time, and chatted with the owner as he poured us a few distinct hard ciders.

They even had one of our favorite American hard ciders on tap – the Chile Guava from Stem Ciders in Denver – which was an unexpected pleasure! If you want to sample French cider along with selections from around the world, we’d highly recommend checking it out.

• At Boulangerie Chambelland, located a short distance south of the canal, visitors will find the premier gluten free bakery in Paris. Their breads and pastries are outstanding options for anyone in the group avoiding gluten. We highly recommend stopping here if you`re looking for the quintessential French bakery experience while accommodating dietary restrictions.
• Paname Brewing Company: An interesting brewery on the canal at the northern end of the neighborhood. One of the initial participants in the craft beer scene in Paris, which was somewhat sluggish to take off.
• El Cártel del Taco: Authentic Mexican tacos! Hooray!
• Breizh Café: If you skipped trying their crepes and galettes earlier, here’s another chance! This location is right along the canal.

An Evening in Montorgueil

Rue Montorgueil runs north to south through the heart of the 2^nd Arrondissement, and is one of the best places for dinner and drinks in the city (in our opinion, anyway). We stayed nearby (in Sentier, another sub-neighborhood in the 2^nd Arrondissement), and fell in love with this area.

Within a compact area, there seems to be an abundance of quintessentially Parisian bistros on every corner, each with outdoor seating where people smoke as they dine and socialize over drinks and meals.

Here are some places we enjoyed, but you should recognize an endless number of alternatives exist here.

• Kapunka: They offered solid Thai cuisine, which was a welcome change from all the pastries we had been consuming.
• Grom: Our favorite frozen treat shop in the world. No, truly. It’s that good.
• Substance Café: My most memorable coffee experience in all of Paris (read about it in my guide to the best coffee spots in Paris). The barista is an award-winning professional, and their philosophy of slow-paced coffee is a welcome change of pace in a city that is constantly in a hurry!
• Ma Cave Fleury: Two words that describe this location: champagne bar. They produce their own champagne at a vineyard in… Champagne, France. The wine is made using biodynamic methods, and the woman managing the shop was very friendly as she poured samples of the wines for visitors to taste.

Day 4: A Day Trip to Versailles

Absolutely crown your four day trip to Paris with a visit to the home of the Sun King. Louis XIV transformed his father’s hunting lodge on the outskirts of Paris into the monumentally grand Château de Versailles during the 17th century, creating the most renowned and magnificent sight in all of France.

It is immense and splendid simultaneously, with all one might anticipate in terms of lavish ornamentation. Allot time for the impeccably maintained gardens studded with sculptures and several notable spots, too.

Getting There

The easiest way to get to Versailles is on the mainline train from central Paris (make sure to go for the station near the Versailles Château and NOT the one near the Porte de Versailles exhibition center, which is in a different place altogether on the 12 line).

Trains run every 15 minutes from 5:30 am and we advise arriving early (the trip takes around 40 minutes from Invalides, to provide a sense of timing). Tickets cost €3.65 and you can purchase them at the station you’re departing from. You will find helpful signs upon exiting the station.

Visiting Versailles

We advise allocating a full day to maximize your visit to the Palace of Versailles. Reserve your tickets online ahead of time to obtain a scheduled time slot, assisting with planning your day. You can also download a free mobile app in place of an audio guide for navigating around. It includes maps as well as additional information.

A full ticket priced at €20 allows access to the entire estate and is the best choice for touring the palace, gardens, and anything you may have time to see.

Note: The palace opens each morning at 8:00 and is closed on Mondays.

Versaille’s Top Sights

The expansiveness of the Château and grounds necessitates hiring a guide for optimum comprehension of the notable areas. However, here are some mandatory activities:

• Visit the Royal Apartments.
• Walk around the Hall of Mirrors and envision yourself at a ball.
• Ramble through the gardens and pause at Bassin de Neptune with its 99 cascades.

Location: Upmarket is situated upmarket on Brick Lane ( here on Google Maps)

Guided Tours of Versailles

To eliminate stress regarding getting to the palace and wandering throughout the entire property independently, here are our selections for guided excursions:

• Context Travel Versailles Palace and Garden Tour – A four hour experience taking you through key locations while an expert shares the stories behind them.

Procure lunch following the tour – probably in Saint-Germain (we`d advocate LouLoufor brunch fare or Georgettefor French cuisine) – then wander the upscale paradise that is Saint-Germain en route to the Eiffel Tower.

What to Do with More Time in Paris

Here are five potential additions to consider incorporating into your itinerary if you find yourself with more than four days exploring the city of Paris, some of which involve day trips located outside the city limits.

The Rodin Museum: Our newly favorite museum in Paris! The reason we enjoy it is that, rather than being a huge collection of art gathered together by some wealthy family centuries ago, it follows the life path of the renowned sculptor Auguste Rodin, and demonstrates his progression throughout his career from his initial official works to world-famous pieces like the Thinker and the Gates of Hell.The garden (truly, it’s a sculpture garden) is beautiful too, and worth exploring. Obtain the audio guide! It’s in the 7th Arrondissement – more information such as hours and costs here.

Indulge in French Wine and Cheese: Another food-related activity that captivated our interest was this French wine tasting experience led by a specialist in French wines. Oh, and there’s cheese too. You’ll explore the realm of French wines through sampling five distinct varieties, each paired with various French cheeses.

The Catacombs: The Catacombs of Paris are an eerie encounter. Rather than exploring the City of Lights above ground, you’ll descend into the dim underworld that is the series of passages that exists underneath the streets of Paris and investigate a darker facet of the French capital. Here’s a guided tour to include in your itinerary.

Visit the Loire Valley: The Loire Valley lies southwest of Paris, and is filled with fairytale castles – châteaux, such as the one thought to have motivated Beauty and the Beast – and good wine. On this guided day trip incorporating transportation, you’ll go to Chateau de Chambord, do some wine sampling, and explore a smaller town in the Loire Valley.

Full Day Experience of Cooking: We chose not to include this all day cooking class as an option in the above itinerary because it’s a lengthy day – probably too long for a 4 day schedule. But if you have extra time, then it makes for an amazing food experience in Paris. You’ll first do a market tour, which is one of our favorite things to do in cities around the world, and then you’ll delve into a 4.5 hour French cooking experience where you’ll learn things like salmon tartare and coq au vin, the latter is a classic French dish that I made in French class long ago.”

Pizza in the Mission: Alysha enjoys Little Star Pizza, a notable San Francisco establishment, but when we questioned our friends who lived in the Mission about their customary pizza place, they cited Cellarmaker Pizza, which is situated a bit farther south and is a locale to get both pizza and beer (Cellarmaker Brewing owns it). Other excellent choices are Flour + Water Pizzeria and Delfina.

What to Do with Less Time in Paris

With less time available in Paris, trimming the number of planned attractions is advisable. Otherwise, attempting to cram the same amount into a shorter period will result in needing a break from the trip, as speaking from experience.

The initial thing to reduce is the day trip to Versailles. It’s interesting, sure, but ultimately it’s just a rich person’s palace with some beautiful gardens. We love the Jardins du Luxembourg in the 6^th Arrondissement (they’re in the itinerary above), which are a little less manicured, but are a good substitute.

3 Days in Paris

With three days in Paris, omit the day trip to Versailles and follow the itinerary as written above for days 1-3. This is an straightforward one.

2 Days in Paris / A Weekend in Paris

If you’ve only got a couple of days in Paris, focusing your efforts on either the Louvre or Musée d’Orsay may be best. With such a limited time in the city, we don’t think attempting to thoroughly tour both iconic museums, which each require around 3-4 hours to do justice, makes practical sense.

The second thing we’d recommend is to focus your time on two of the neighborhoods on day 3, and we’d suggest choosing Montmartre and Le Marais (apologies, Canal St. Martin!).

Here’s what two days in Paris could look like.

• Day 1: Montmartre, Le Marais, and the Eiffel Tower
• Day 2: Exploring Gothic Cathedrals, a food-focused adventure, the Louvre, and the Arc de Triomphe

You can still use the applicable sections of the detailed 4 day itinerary above to plan out the specifics of your weekend in Paris.

One Day in Paris

Our first tip for spending a day in Paris is to book a second (or third).

Joking aside, trying to see it all in a day just isn’t going to happen, which means you’ll need to prioritize and make some hard choices on what to save for next time.

One major premise we’re going to adopt here is that you wish to tour the Louvre. If that`s accurate, that will certainly consume a notable portion of time that you`ll need to strategize around. You could smoothly swap the Louvre for the Musée d`Orsay, if you`ve previously visited the Louvre or desire something a bit unconventional.

We’d highly advise investing in a 24 hour Metro Pass to make transport around Paris more convenient.

The things we think you should prioritize with one day in Paris include:

• The Louvre OR the Musée d’Orsay
• The Gothic Cathedrals and Le Marais
• The Eiffel Tower

We could begin our day at the Louvre when it opens (stop at Telescope Coffee, some of th est coffee in Paris, nearby for refreshments beforehand!) and dedicate the morning exploring their extensive collection, ideally on this guided tour, which we recently participated in and enjoyed.

Then, make your way east through Le Marais, stopping at the Marche des Enfants Rouge for lunch and exploring the 3^rd and 4^th Arrondissements on the way to the two Gothic Cathedrals, Notre Dame (the interior and bell tower are indefinitely closed, but worth admiring the twin towering bell towers from outside) and Sainte-Chappelle.

To finish the day, take the metro to the Seventh Arrondissement to end under the shadow of the iconic Eiffel Tower. Stop at Rue Cler for picnic provisions – bread, cheese, cured meats, fruit, and wine if so inclined – and head to the grassy area at the tower`s base.

Relax there for a short time, then proceed underneath the tower (go upwards to the highest point if you want – be sure to reserve tickets ahead of time) and take in the perspective from Trocadéro, which is across the river to the west and contains our favored vistas of the tower.

The Best Time to Visit Paris

As a multicultural European city home to over 2 million inhabitants, Paris has plenty to offer throughout the year, regardless of weather or events. However, there are some particularly notable aspects of each season in the city.

A summer in Paris is hot and bright, and there are plenty of regional activities to enjoy. If you visit in June, you’ll be able to immerse yourself in nightly street entertainment during the Fête de la Musique which takes place on the summer solstice, June 21.

Going in July might coincide with the fireworks of Bastille Day on the 14^th while enjoying a picnic on the Champ de Mars. However, be aware that August is often referred to as a “dead season” as most Parisians take their annual summer vacation then.

Moraine Lake got so famous that they had to close the road to private vehicles year round, and your only option for accessing the lake in July and August is the Parks Canada Shuttle. In September and October, there’s also a bus that runs directly from Banff through Roam Transit, the Moraine Lake Express (Route 10).

Finally, spending winter in Paris can be cold and dreary, without snow but an unpleasant drizzle that penetrates to the bone. However, there are many indoor attractions to warm you up. You can enjoy the open-air ice skating rink at Jardin du Trocadéro or get into the holiday spirit by strolling through the Christmas markets.

How Many Days in Paris?

Paris covers a massive area. This raises the question, how many days should you spend in Paris?

We believe that 4 days represents the bare minimum you should spend. Any less will have you hurriedly touring from sight to sight with inadequate time to unwind and truly experience what makes Paris exceptional. The cobblestone streets in Montmartre. Roaming Le Marais. Relaxing on the banks of the Seine.

That being acknowledged, allocating 4 days allows sufficient time to experience the key sights while still having plenty of opportunities for individual discovery.

This proposed itinerary aims to help you experience the best that the city has to offer without needing additional vacation time to recover from your travels.

If you have additional time available, we have recommendations previously on how to spend it. However, you could also just choose a neighborhood and invest a day exploring from shop to shop, coffee to coffee, wine bar to wine bar.

That sounds like a perfect day in Paris to us. 

Getting to Paris

Traveling into Paris is most practical by air, with arrival typically at Charles de Gaulle International Airport, a short train or taxi ride from the city center.

Flying to Paris

Most international flights arrive at Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). The RER B train is the most convenient manner to reach the city center once you land. It’s a popular means of transportation and you’ll find it really crowded at times, but it’s the most affordable option you’ll discover. Check out all you need to know in this guide.

Another significant airport for Paris air traffic is Orly Airport (ORY), often serving budget airlines and flights within Europe. Travelers can take the RER B rail line directly into central Paris (near the opposite end from Charles de Gaulle) or use a dedicated bus called Orlyval. Here is a comprehensive guide covering each choice of transportation.

The finest coffee in Leavenworth – and it isn`t even a close call – is Argonaut Espresso. They have a small coffee window with a nice outdoor patio on the southwest side of town, and are working on creating a bigger location on the west end of downtown Leavenworth.

Arriving by Train

From within France or neighboring European nations, you can arrive in Paris at several train stations throughout the city. The Gare Du Nord is – as the name suggests – on the northern end of town and in a slightly unsavory neighborhood, so we advise jumping straight onto the metro from there to your lodging.

Other train stations include the Gare de Lyon, Gare d’Austerlitz and Gare de Montparnasse, among others. Where they are in the city reflects which part of the country they’re arriving from. All are well connected to the Metro system that will take you to your accommodation easily.

Getting Around Paris

Paris is renowned for its efficient and artistic Metro system with scenic entrances frequently featured. It provides a practical way to traverse the city`s expanse or reach areas farther from the center. This guide contains helpful Metro details.

Once back at your car, head straight to downtown Leavenworth for lunch at a beer garden serving sausage. You’ve DEFINITELY earned it. We’d recommend Sausage Garten, which has gluten free choices, though München Haus is also very popular (no gluten free options there, though).

If you wish to avoid the hassle of obtaining a travel pass, you can purchase tickets from the machines upon entering a metro station (you can pay by card and they are all labeled in English as well) or from the bus driver for the bus route (you will need cash for that payment method).

Simultaneously, there`s no better way to genuinely get to know the city than on foot. This Paris itinerary has been designed with walking in mind, allowing clustering together various essential aspects of Parisian tourism each day.

Finally, if you plan to use taxis for transportation, our recommendation is to employ a pre-paid app like Uber for set pricing and peace of mind.

Bonus Tip: Like any city with a major river, Paris can be explored via boat! The péniches provide a great method to view the sights from the Seine. Dinner cruises such as this one depart from the center and circulate you around the city at nightfall. You can opt for dinner or drinks while onboard and there’s an app to listen to key information regarding what you’re seeing.

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Additional Paris Travel Guides

Planning a trip to Paris? Matt, who speaks French at a level deemed “really well for an American” by various French individuals – his most prideful accomplishment in life – loves Paris.

As you start planning your trip, some other detailed guides we’ve created about Paris may prove useful for reference.

Gluten Free Dining in Florence

• Planning a Fantastic 4 Day Paris Itinerary
• A complete guide to eating out safely and easily as a celiac in Paris
• A Coffee Connoisseur`s Guide to Excellent Coffee in Paris
• Closing Time at the Louvre: Our Favorite Accompanied Tour of the Louvre