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4 Days in Paris Seeing the Best Sites

A trip to Paris seems to be on everyone’s bucket list and it is easy to see why. With so many things to do and see you may be trying to figure out how long you need in order to do it all. 4 days in Paris is enough time to experience the best the city of lights has to offer as long as you plan appropriately.

Traveling to Paris

The key to having a successful trip to Paris is breaking your trip into sections of the city that allow you to see sites that are near each other.

Use this four-day Paris Itinerary to make the most of your short visit.

4 Days in Paris Itinerary

4 Days in Paris Itinerary

  • Notre Dame (Currently under renovation)
  • Archeological Crypt Walk
  • Conciergerie & Sainte Chapelle
  • Montmartre
  • Louvre
  • Tuileries Garden
  • Orangiere
  • Arc de Triomphe
  • Orsay
  • Napoleon’s Tomb
  • Eiffel Tower
  • Versailles

Get The Paris Go City Pass

If you plan on using our four-day Paris itinerary, invest in the 4 Day Paris Pass.

This is the best way to save money when you are planning to see several things in Paris.

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The Paris Go City Pass will not only get you to bypass the lines for more than 60 museums & attractions, it also will get your access to public transportation which is crucial to being able to get from one side of Paris to the other!

You will get to see a lot of great places and the Paris Go City Pass will help you keep costs low.

Day 1 in Paris: Central Paris & Montmarte

  • Notre Dame (Currently under renovation)
  • Paris Catacombs
  • Conciergerie & Sainte Chapelle
  • Montmartre
Notre Dame Spire

Notre Dame (Closed for Inside Tour)

Notre Dame Cathedral was recently destroyed in a fire in the spring of 2019.

Although it will be under reconstruction for the next several years, it is still a beautiful example of a French Gothic Cathedral and worth seeing even if it is from the outside.

Notre Dame Stained Glass Rose Window

While much of the interior of the cathedral was destroyed in the fire, the original pipe organ and the largest of the three Rose windows remain undamaged.

Exterior figures on the walls of Notre Dame prior to fire

Because the exterior of Notre Dame is made of stone, much of it survived the fire.

That is wonderful because it is a work of art. On the facade, you will find with 28 statues representing the monarchs of Judea and Israel, along with various gargoyles which are typical of the French Gothic period.

There are twin towers at Notre Dame and once they reopen, you should be able to climb up for beautiful views of Paris.

Paris Catacombs Entrance Sign

Paris Catacombs

The Paris catacombs are an extensive underground network of tunnels underneath the streets of Paris.

The tunnels were once limestone quarries. Once the limestone was removed, the tunnels remained.

When cemeteries became overcrowded in the late 18th century, the bones of the deceased were moved into the tunnels or catacombs.

When we think of burying the dead, we often think of elaborate ceremonies with the bodies being laid in one grave.

This is not the case in the catacombs. There is no organization when it comes to the bodies.

You may see skulls stacked or bones placed in a artistic way, but the full bodies are not intact.

You can access the Catacombs at 1 av. du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy 75014 Paris

It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. except Mondays and certain holidays. The ticket window closes at 7:30 p.m.

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The ticket line can take 3 hours to get through so you should consider getting your Paris Catacomb tickets in advance.

Conciergerie in Paris

The Conciergerie

Once a Roman fortress, a palace, and then used as a prison during the French Revolution, it is where Marie Antoinette was imprisoned during the French Revolution.

When you take a tour of the Conciergerie, you will even get to see her cell among other belongings.

Conciergerie in Paris France

The Conciergerie is on the Paris Pass or you can buy your tickets online.

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Sainte Chapelle Stained Glass in Paris France

Sainte Chapelle

This cathedral was constructed in the 13th century at the time of King Louis IX to serve as a chapel for the royal palace and was meant to hold precious religious relics.

Like Notre Dame, it too is French Gothic. You will find that Sainte Chapelle has one of the most extensive 13th-century stained glass collections anywhere and this is why it has become one of my favorite chapels in the world!

Sainte Chapelle is on the Paris Pass

Montmartre Paris Streets

Montmartre

Montmartre is everything you want in Paris~ artistic, charming, and romantic. And while quite hilly, it is best to tackle the streets by foot.

If you are going to take a guided tour in Paris, this is the place to do it so that you can see it from the eyes of a local who knows where things are off the beaten path.

It will make you look at Paris in an entirely different way! These some of the more popular walking tours of  Montmarte:

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Montmartre Paris France

Basilique du Sacré Cœur

Sitting on top of the hill, the Basilica of the Sacré Cœur. You can’t help but be awed by the Roman architecture and its perfect white domed roofs.

And while the outside of this Basilica is awe-inspiring, the inside is no less magnificent.

You will find France’s largest mosaic depicting Jesus rising alongside the Virgin Mary and Joan of Arc painted on the ceiling.

It is no wonder it took 40 years for this place to be built.

Before you leave, make sure you spend time taking in the view. Since the Basilica sits up on a hill, it offers one of the most amazing news of Paris.

Admission is FREE.

Moulin Rouge

Moulin Rouge

Even if you don’t have time to see a cabaret show while in Paris, you still should take the time to see the historic landmark!

While the original building burned to the ground in the early 1900’s, the facade is exactly as it once was!

Ever wonder why there is a windmill atop Moulin Rouge, the most famous cabaret in the world? Montmartre was once in abundance of windmills and used them to harness energy.

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Want to see the Can Can in person? The Moulin Rouge has two showings every night. One at 9PM and again at 11PM. Shows run every day of the week. Children may attend (6 years+) but be forewarned that there is nudity.

Day 2 in Central Paris

  • Louvre
  • Tuileries Garden
  • Musee l’Orangiere
  • Arc de Triomphe
Louvre Museum in Paris

The Louvre

Sitting along the banks of the Seine is one of the best museums in the world and this is where you should start your second day in Paris.

The Louvre has everything from Egyptian artifacts to Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. This is no ordinary museum. Not only is it one of the largest museums in the world, it houses nearly one half million objects!

The public only gets to see a small fraction of what they have (35,000 pieces on display).

There is no way you can see EVERYTHING in the span of a few hours. In order to make sure you don’t miss your favorites, download a map of the museum to plan your time before you arrive.

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Free Entry with the Paris Pass & Entrance is FREE the first Sunday of the month from October through March.

Paris Tuileries Garden

Tuileries Garden

When you exit the Louvre, spend some time walking the beautiful gardens that are adjacent to it.

These were once the royal gardens and in them, you will find sculptures, ponds, fountains and beautiful flowers.

l'Orangerie in Paris
Courtesy Homonihilis

Musee l’Orangerie

If you are a fan of Monet, this is the one museum in Paris you need to visit is l’Orangerie! This museum is dedicated to Impressionism and features the best collection of such art.

Here you will see Monet’s Water Lilies like you have never seen before along with other masterpieces by such artists as Cézanne, Renoir and Matisse.

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Free Entry with the Paris Pass along with the Paris Museum Pass, otherwise adult tickets to Musee l’Orangerie are relatively cheap, but you will want to purchase them before you go to avoid the line.

Arc de Triomphe

Arc de Triomphe

Built in the early 19th century as a war memorial the Arc de Triomph is one of the most well-known monuments in Paris.

Paris Tomb of Unknown Soldier

Under the Arc is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (from World War I) and an eternal flame lit in memory of the dead who were never identified during both World War I & II.

Standing at the western end of the Champs-Élysées, a climb to the top of the arch will give you a beautiful view of Paris and allow you to even see the Eiffel Tower.

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Day 3 in Central Paris

  • Orsay
  • Napoleon’s Tomb
  • Eiffel Tower
  • Versaille
Museum Orsay in Paris

Orsay Museum

Once a train station, the museum has some of the most important pieces of French impressionism you can find in Paris.

You will find works from such popular artists as Monet, Manet, Degas, Renoir, Cézanne, and Van Gogh.

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The 4 Day Paris Pass gets you into Orsay for Free

Free Admission to everyone the first Sunday of the month

Hôtel National des Invalides

Napoloeon’s Tomb at the Invalides

Les Invalides, more commonly known as Hôtel National des Invalides was commissioned in 1670 by Louis XIV to provide housing and care for wounded soldiers and later it was turned into a French War museum.

The Dôme des Invalides contains the remains of some of France’s most important war heroes, most notably Napoleon Bonapart.

Eiffel Tower Paris France

Eiffel Tower

Your 4 days in Paris itinerary is not complete without seeing the Eiffel Tower. It is after all one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world.

When you visit the Eiffel Tower, you will have some different ticket options. There are three levels for you to go up & each with a different price.

The first two levels have restaurants and the top level has the highest observation deck in Paris.

While you can walk up to the first and second levels, if you plan on going to the top, you are going to want to take the lift!  Even though you can go all the way to the top, views from the second level are amazing and way less expensive.

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Be sure to get your tickets to the Eiffel Tower in advance so you don’t spend ALL DAY waiting in line.

Palace of Versailles

Day 4 in Paris Trip to Palace of Versailles

Spending 4 days in Paris should give you plenty of time to make a day trip to the Palace of Versailles.

While not in Paris, it is not too far away and it is on the Paris Pass!

The Palace of Versailles is a former French royal residence and is designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Stripped of its furnishings after the French Revolution, the palace has been restored and is available to tour.

You will want to give yourself an entire day to fully enjoy going through Versailles.

The Grand Hall of Mirrors is one of the main focal points of the palace.

It features 17 wide arcaded mirrors opposite 17 windows that overlook the gardens. Above are glass chandeliers and beautifully painted ceilings depicting the early years of the reign of Louis XIV.

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Palace of Versailles Gardens

You will also want to venture outside for the beautiful gardens that contain symmetrical flower beds, ornate fountains and groves.

Paris train to Versailles

Getting to Versailles from Paris

Reaching Versailles from Paris is easy to do by train. From Central Paris, the cost of a round trip to the Palace of Versailles is €7.

When you go to the metro station, be sure that you buy tickets for Versailles-Château – Rive Gauche.

You will receive 2 tickets. One is for going & the other for the return trip. Don’t lose the second ticket for your return from Versailles to Paris or you will have to pay for the return fare.

The train ride from Paris to Versailles is usually less than 45 minutes.

Once you get to your stop at Versailles, you will find getting to The Palace of Versailles is only a 13-minute walk. There are signs to show you the way.

Buy Your Ticket to the Palace of Versailles in advance.

We hope that you have a magical time in Paris and are able to get the most out of your time there. Do you have anything you think is missing from this itinerary?

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