4 Days in Paris - Itinerary and Tips on Where to Stay and Eat

Paris, the Ville Lumière, is one of those cities I will never stop visiting. I first went there as a child with my parents, then in high school, with friends, alone, just with my mum, then with Fabio… in short, I just can’t stay away.

That’s also why in this article you’ll find very old photos alongside more recent ones! 🙂

People often ask me: “Why do you always go back to Paris? With all the places you could explore!” The answer for me is simple: Paris has that something, as if every corner holds a story that is just waiting to be discovered. So, visit after visit, I have collected little pieces of this city, until I created an itinerary that in 4 days captures the essence of Paris, between iconic places and lesser-known corners.

FLIGHTS AND AIRPORTS

If you decide to fly, Orly airport is definitely the most convenient: it is located just 14 km from the heart of Paris and with the new metro line 14 you can get directly to the city centre with no changes. The cost (August 2025) is €13 and tickets can be purchased at the machines in the station or online. A very handy alternative is the IDF Mobilités app, where you can also find other travel passes. If you have an iPhone, you just need to open Wallet, add a transport card, select “France” and buy your tickets directly there. I used this option myself and it was super practical.

If you just want comfort and zero hassle, you can also go for Uber, which will cost you between €30 and €40 depending on where you are staying.

If you land at Charles de Gaulle, you can take the RER B train, which connects several Paris stations to the airport, or the Roissy Bus, which stops right in front of the Opéra.

What I would advise against is Beauvais, because it is quite far from the city centre. The official shuttle takes you to Paris-Porte Maillot (near the Arc de Triomphe) or to Saint-Denis Université, but the journey takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes and depends a lot on traffic… so think carefully about whether it is worth it.

HOTEL – Where to stay in Paris?

Let’s be honest: accommodation in Paris is probably the most expensive part of the trip. As in all major European capitals, finding something affordable and well located is a real challenge. My advice is to book well in advance, so that you have more options and less prohibitive prices.

My absolute favourite area is Le Marais: well connected, full of shops, restaurants and life at any hour of the day. But there are also other convenient and strategic areas worth considering.

Here is a selection of hotels with a good price-to-quality ratio:

Moris Grands Boulevards – [Link Booking]
A 15-minute walk from the Centre Pompidou and 750 metres from Canal Saint-Martin.

Hotel Paix Republique – [Link Booking]
Near Place de la République, perfect if you want to be immersed in the Parisian atmosphere.

Hotel Des Arenes – [Link Booking]
In the Latin Quarter, excellent location 10 minutes from Notre-Dame and just a few steps from the Seine.

ibis Paris Bastille Opera – [Link Booking]
Just 550 metres from Place de la Bastille. A great price/location compromise, with the typical ibis quality.

Hôtel de Genève – [Link Booking]
300 metres from Saint-Lazare station and close to the Galeries Lafayette. A simple three-star hotel but with great reviews and a very central location.

4-star hotels, for those who want more comfort, between €250 and €400 per night:

Hotel L de Lutece – Notre-Dame – [Link Booking]
In a 17th-century building on Île Saint-Louis, a 10-minute walk from the Panthéon and the Pompidou. 100% Parisian atmosphere.

Le Mathurin Hotel & Spa: [Link Booking]
8 minutes from the La Madeleine church and the Opéra Garnier, it features a Nuxe wellness centre with a jacuzzi, hammam, steam room and massage service. This one is truly for a pampering trip 🙂

Joro Living: [Link Booking]
As of today I can see around €200 per night for these accommodations, just 400 metres from the Opéra, with a Booking score of 9.3 — excellent!

ITINERARY

First day

After arriving at the hotel, rush to see the queen of Paris: the magnificent Eiffel Tower. Take a moment to look at it from every angle: from the Champ de Mars park, from the Pont d’Iéna which crosses the Seine to connect to the Trocadéro, from where you can enjoy another incredible view of the Tower. You can grab a baguette from the kiosks on the steps of the Trocadéro gardens, or a crêpe in true Parisian style.

Do you want to go up the Eiffel Tower? Remember to buy your ticket online on the official website, which I’m leaving here with the prices: toureiffel.paris/

Now that you have admired the Eiffel Tower, you can head towards the Champs-Élysées. You can take Avenue Montaigne (beautiful and full of luxury shops) or Avenue George V (a wonderful historic street). Both are a joy to look at, with their amazing luxury shops.
Both streets will bring you back to the main avenue: the Avenue des Champs-Élysées. Get lost among the shops of one of the most famous boulevards in the world, and remember to also make a quick stop at the brand new Galeries Lafayette, which since March 2019, with its 6,500 square metres, has become the largest store on the avenue! A must-see.

When you reach the Arc de Triomphe, you already know what to do: climb its 280 steps and enjoy the view of Paris from above. The view will make the effort worthwhile.

Now you can head back, maybe take the opposite route from the one you took before, and treat yourself to a couple of macarons. Where? If you are looking for wow photos, go to Ladurée — although honestly I’m not a big fan, because my favourite macarons are the ones from Pierre Hermé. You’ll find one of their shops right on the Champs-Élysées boulevard.

Now make your way on foot to Place de la Concorde, one of the most striking and largest squares in all of France. Just think — this is where Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were executed!

If you keep walking, you will find the wonderful Tuileries Garden.
Since it will be dinner time, you can head to the nearby Le Florentin. A really lovely place — we had a great meal! 🙂

To see my personal list of places to have breakfast, lunch, an aperitif, and dinner, check out my dedicated article HERE.

Second day

Today the day is dedicated to my favourite place: Montmartre. You can take the metro and get off at the Anvers stop or the Abbesses stop.

Both will drop you off near Montmartre. My favourite is definitely Anvers, because it lets you walk along Rue de Steinkerque, full of little shops with all kinds of souvenirs that will make you stop every few metres. You can also treat yourself to one of the wonderful crêpes you will see everywhere. When the street ends, you find yourself right in front of her: majestic, imposing, wonderful.

You can take the funicular, but come on, friends — you can also climb the steps to get to the front of the Sacré-Cœur Basilica. As soon as you arrive (out of breath), turn around and take a photo of the spectacular view in front of you: another incredible panorama of Paris from above. If there is no queue, take a look inside the Basilica while you are there (nothing unforgettable in my opinion, so judge based on the queue).

Now it is time to get lost among the narrow streets of Montmartre, to breathe in the magic that this neighbourhood is able to give. Remember to try one of the wonderful savoury and sweet crêpes, or, if you are a fan, don’t miss the famous Montmartre snails!

I usually prefer to eat a savoury crêpe in one of the little restaurants that overlook Place du Tertre, the famous main square of Montmartre where you will find many artists ready to draw your portrait.

Once you are done exploring, remember to stop by the famous café from Amélie: Le Café des 2 Moulins. Order a glass of rosé, a crème brûlée, and pay a visit to the bathroom. If you are an Amélie fan, you will go CRAZY. I’m obviously leaving a photo so you can understand what I mean.

Nearby you will also find the cute “I love you” wall, the restaurant La Maison Rose — a symbol of Montmartre — and Le Lapin Agile, the historic cabaret that has seen the likes of Picasso, Modigliani and many others pass through its doors.

Now you can comfortably make your way to the Moulin Rouge and stroll through the many venues of Paris’s red-light district: Pigalle. Useful tip: right in front of the Moulin Rouge you will find the restaurant Rouge Bis Paris, great for a delicious French onion soup!

From there, head towards the Opéra (please note that opening hours are from 10 in the morning until 5 in the afternoon, so plan whether to visit in the morning or afternoon). You can book your entrance on the official website here: www.operadeparis.fr
The building, inaugurated in 1875, is a true masterpiece: with its marble, gilded stucco and the famous ceiling painted by Chagall, you will feel like you are stepping into a royal palace rather than a theatre.

Just a short walk away, you will find the famous Galeries Lafayette, the most iconic department store in Paris. Don’t limit yourself to shopping: go up to the top floor, specifically to the panoramic terrace of La Coupole, to enjoy one of the most beautiful views of the city — completely free! From up there you will have the rooftops of Paris right in front of you, with the Eiffel Tower and the Opéra as a backdrop.

Third day

Ready? Today we set off to Notre-Dame! You can take the metro and get off at Cité or Saint-Michel. Before you get there, cross the Pont Neuf, the historic bridge that connects the whole of the Île de la Cité: one of the most iconic spots in the city, where over the years I have taken some of my favourite photos.

Also make a note to stop at the Marché aux fleurs et aux oiseaux, which for over two centuries has been charming locals and tourists with its colourful flowers. On Sundays, it comes alive with beautiful birds of every kind.

And finally, here she is — Notre-Dame: despite the fire of 2019, she remains one of the absolute symbols of Paris. Entry is free, but must be booked online on the official website:https://www.notredamedeparis.fr/en/visit/reservation/. Tickets usually appear on the morning of the same day or the day before: check around 8:00 AM straight away — we managed to book at 8:30 AM for a 2 PM entry. Alternatively, you can queue without a reservation: if you go early, before 10, the wait should not be too long.

Nearby you will also find the Palais de Justice and the wonderful Sainte-Chapelle, with its coloured stained-glass windows that will take your breath away. The latter should be booked a few weeks in advance on the official website, which I’m leaving here: https://www.sainte-chapelle.fr

Not far from here, there is the historic bookshop Shakespeare and Company, a meeting place for writers such as Hemingway, Joyce and Fitzgerald. You cannot take photos inside, but I promise you the atmosphere alone is worth the visit.
By this point you will be hungry! If you followed my advice and are already in the Latin Quarter, you are in the perfect spot: full of traditional restaurants, souvenir shops and ethnic eateries of every kind. There are also many crêperies here: my favourite is Chez Suzette (here the menu), where I always order the savoury Kermaria galette with raclette cheese, caramelised onions and tomatoes — and I always add an egg too.

For the afternoon, I recommend my favourite museum: the Musée d’Orsay. Housed in a stunning former railway station, it holds masterpieces of Impressionism and Post-Impressionism. Here you can admire works by Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh and Degas, just to name a few. I recommend booking your entrance in advance on the official website:https://www.musee-orsay.fr/en/visit

Once the visit is over, you can also stop by the nearby Bibliothèque Mazarine, the oldest public library in France (free entry).
And if you still have energy, take a stroll through the beautiful Luxembourg Gardens — they are absolutely stunning!

Fourth day

Early start: today the Louvre awaits you, the most visited museum in the world. I recommend booking your tickets online on the official website: https://www.louvre.fr/en/visit/hours-admission.

The museum is closed every Tuesday, as well as on 1st January, 1st May and 25th December. The full-price ticket costs €22, while entry is free for under-18s and for EU residents under 26 (along with other categories listed on the website).

At the Louvre, everyone wants to see Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, but there are so many works not to be missed, such as the Venus de Milo, The Oath of the Horatii by David, Liberty Leading the People by Delacroix, Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss by Canova (a tearjerker) and many more!

In my opinion, even if you arrive at 9 in the morning, you won’t be out before lunchtime: the museum is enormous and full of masterpieces, so take your time.

The afternoon can be dedicated to my favourite neighbourhood: Le Marais. It is one of the liveliest areas in Paris, with streets full of independent boutiques, cafés and historic pastry shops. Here you will find Stohrer, the oldest pastry shop in Paris (founded in 1730!), famous for its traditional sweets.

Also nearby, don’t miss Place des Vosges, one of the most elegant squares in the city, and Place de la Bastille, a symbol of the French Revolution.

For lunch or dinner, I recommend a classic experience: trying a Bouillon. These are traditional popular restaurants that first appeared in the 19th century and still serve French cuisine at affordable prices today. One of the most well-known is Bouillon République, where you can try escargot, boeuf bourguignon, soupe à l’oignon and many other traditional dishes without spending a fortune. Make sure you book in advance if you don’t want to wait in a long queue! You can find the official website HERE.

Alternatively, I recommend the restaurant Procope, the oldest in Paris! As well as being a real gem aesthetically, the food is truly excellent! More expensive than the Bouillons, but well worth it. You can find the menu and book on the official website here.

And to end the day on a high note, take an evening stroll along Canal Saint-Martin: the atmosphere here is relaxed, with bars and bistros overlooking the water, perfect for experiencing a more authentic side of Paris.

Four days in Paris will never be enough to discover everything, but they are perfect for falling in love with it even more. Every time I come back, I bring with me a new memory, a hidden corner, a different flavour… and that is exactly what makes it special: Paris never stops surprising you.