Planning a visit to Paris in 4 days or 5 days? Follow our guide to get the most out of your time in the French capital. Our local guides have selected the best activities, museums, landmarks, and off the beaten track spots to see if you stay 4 or 5 days in Paris. It is the perfect time needed to discover the City of light for the first time.
What to see in Paris in 4 days or 5 days
Find out must do’s for 4 days in Paris.
- Enjoy the view on the Eiffel Tower from Trocadero
- Climb to the top of the Arc de Triomphe
- Enjoy a boat tour on the Seine River with dinner
- Have a Bateaux Mouches boat tour .
- Have a romantic stroll on the Seine banks
- Enjoy the romantic atmosphere of Montmartre
- Visit an art gallery or a concept store in the trendy Marais Neighborhood
- Have a shopping session in Opera district
- Have a guided visit to the Louvre Museum.
- Visit the Orsay Museum with an audio guide.
If you stay one day more, you can add:
- An excursion to the Chateau de Versailles.
- Or a half-day trip to Giverny and the Monet Garden
Top activities for 4 days in Paris:
4 Days in Paris: itinerary
Day 1 : Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Arc de Triomphe
Begin your discovery of Paris by paying a visit to the Eiffel Tower! Get to this landmark via the Trocadéro. On the esplanade, you will have a wonderful view of this iconic monument. Get to the tower by crossing the Iéna bridge (pont Iéna).
To avoid waiting a long time in the queue, book a ticket online.
>> book now q-jump ticket for the Eiffel Tower
Next, head to the Louvre Museum where you can admire the masterpieces of the Romanticism era, the Renaissance as well as World History (the Middle Ages, Egyptology, and ancient relics). The visit lasts at least 2 hours.
It’s nearly lunchtime, and there is many places where you can have a good lunch in the area of Montorgueil and Palais Royal.
In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to stroll in the picturesque Jardin des Tuileries.This is without a doubt one of the most flowery gardens in the city. You will arrive at the spectacular Place de la Concorde. If you are at a loose end and enjoy museums, you can go to the Musée de l’Orangerie or Jeu de Paume (for photography). Once you arrive on the Place de la Concorde, you will see the Arc de Triomphe .
Before arriving there, you will pass through the ‘most beautiful avenue in the world’, the Champs-Élysees. While you are in the area, you have a good opportunity to have a shopping spree. You could take a small detour through the rue Montaigne.
Once you arrive at the Arc de Triomphe, you must go to the top of the monument to see the splendid view. Of course, it is at its best at sunset.
Next, you can go to the banks of the Seine for a trip on the bateau-mouche (a tourist riverboat).
You will have the choice of a short tour of the Seine, offering a one-hour-long trip with beautiful views of Paris’ most spectacular landmarks – or a dinner cruise along the main stretch of the City of Light.
Day 2: Notre Dame, Islands & Montmartre
Spend your second morning on the ‘Ile de la Cité‘ (the city’s island) – the heart of Paris. First, visit the square of Notre-Dame, and visit the splendid Cathedral. While you are there, go to the Sainte-Chapelle (its stained-glass windows are definitely worth the detour).
The picturesque square of Vert-Galant will not be too far away either. You can also easily reach the Latin quarter to visit the Musée Cluny, the Museum of the Middle Ages.
End your morning on the Ile Saint-Louis where you can taste the Berthillon ice cream – one of the best in Paris.
For your second afternoon, you can discover one of the best-known quarters of the capital: Montmartre. You will pass by the Place du Tertre, and then you will arrive at the top of the hill where the Sacré Coeur stands. The view over the rooftops of Paris from here is breathtaking. Enjoy your afternoon stroll in the neighborhood of Les Abbesses, where you can walk through the narrow streets and visit the museums (such as Espace Dali, Halle Saint-Pierre, and Musée de Montmartre).
Among the fairytale places of the city are the Moulin de Galette and the Lapin Agile, two former cabarets popular with Paris’ famous artists, as well at the Bateau Lavoir (Picasso’s shop).
You can also pay a visit to the Moulin Rouge.
You can spend the evening in one of the quarter’s restaurants. Avoid the Place du Tertre – it’s far too busy with tourists – opt for a trendy bistros around Lamarck-Caulaincourt metro which are popular with the locals.
The place is also ideal for a post-dinner drink to end the evening.
> Read our guide to Fun Activities in Paris.
If you have decided to spend 4 days in Paris, you will now be halfway through your trip.
Day 3: Orsay Museum, Luxembourg Garden & Latin quarter
The third day will be focused on the left-bank. Begin the day with a visit of the Musée d’Orsay. This is one of the holy grails of Impressionism and for art lovers. You can admire the masterpieces of Monet, Van Gogh, and Renoir. The architecture of the building, a former train station, it in itself worth the visit.
Make sure you set aside at least 2 hours for this museum. The queue can be very long.
A pre-booked ticket for the Musée d’Orsay will be helpful if you want to make the most of your time.
Once you have finished this visit, you can take a walk in Saint-Germain des Près Area. This district was the artistic soul of Paris in the mid 20th century. You can dive into the Musée Rodin if you would like to see more art. Its garden is one of the most romantic places in the French capital.
If you’re looking for more shopping, Saint Germain is the perfect place. The shopping streets like rue de Rennes, rue de Sèvre and the Boulevard Saint-Germain propose many shops. The Bon Marché and the Grande Épicerie are worth the walk. If you are more interested in home design, the Conran Shop will surely be the place for you.
Need a break from the business of the city? So, the Jardin du Luxembourg is the ideal place for this. This beautiful park ornamented with spectacular fountains. Ernest Hemingway used to enjoy have a stroll here.
If you are staying in Paris for five days, you are now halfway through your visit.
Spend your afternoon in the Latin quarter. There are plenty of attractions: begin your visit of the quarter at Saint-Michel and its fountain. This is a popular meeting point for the locals.
Neighboring Sorbonne is one of the world’s oldest universities, and namesake of the quarter: the students and professors spoke Latin in this area until the Revolution.
You can visit the Cluny thermal baths before heading to the Pantheon. This is the burial site of many great men and women in the country’s history. You are now at the top of the Saint-Geneviève des Bois hill.
Next, you can walk back down the hill and head toward the Jardin des Plantes. If you are visiting with your family, the menagerie will delight your children. The Arab World Insitute and its beautiful exhibitions are sure to please. You can also walk along the quays of the Seine.
In the late afternoon, head in the direction of Place Monge and rue Mouffetard. This is one of the most lively areas in the city. Many students meet here for a drink. You can also have a meal at one of the good-value restaurants.
Day 4 in Paris: Opera, shopping, Centre Pompidou & the Marais
Your fourth day in Paris will be a ‘sporty’ one. You will start at the holy grail of Parisian shopping: the Haussmann-Opéra quarter. It is here that you will find the huge department stores such as Galeries Lafayette and Le Printemps.
You will find many stores like Citadium (urban fashion) and the Apple Store. On Saturdays, it can become very crowded, so take your time and be patient. during the end-of-year celebrations, the window displays attract many curious shoppers.
You must not miss the Palais Garnier (Opéra Garnier) – a true masterpiece of architecture of the Belle Epoque.
Benefit from breezeways in bad weather: Passage des Panoramas, the Galerie Vivienne and the Passage Choiseul. Use these to reach Place de la Madeleine and Place Vendôme .
In the afternoon, for a change of mood visit the incredibly trendy Marais quarter.
If you are only visiting Paris for four days, your vacation is coming to an end! Make the most of your last few hours in Paris.
You can begin the last day with a museum: the Centre Pompidou for contemporary art, the Musée Carnavalet for the history of Paris, or the Picasso Museum.
Take a walk through the ancient narrow passages of the quarter – some of these dates from the 13th century. Some hotels are also very old. Don’t miss the beautiful Place des Vosges and the Marché des Enfants Rouges, the city’s oldest indoor market.
>Please find our selection of affordable best hotels in Paris
You can also do your shopping in Marais’ many trendy boutiques and designers’ shops. Stay in the quarter for your evening meal and a drink afterward.
It’s worth knowing that a 4-day stay will allow you enough time for an excursion to the Palace of Versailles.
Alternative 4 day itinerary in Paris
You can find below another 4 day itinerary for your first time in Paris.
You can start with the Eiffel Tower , the Invalides and Seine banks for the 1st day.
And continue for the 2nd day with the Louvre, the Champs Elysées and the Arc de Triomphe.
For the 3rd day, discover the Latin quarter and Montmartre, 2 iconic neighborhoods in Paris.
For the last day, start from the Latin Quarter, go to the Island and finish in the Marais Neighborhood.
What more for 5 days in Paris?
Would you like to spend your last day outside of the city walls? If you have chosen to stay 5-days in Paris, now is the time to visit the Palace of Versailles.
Dedicate half-a-day to this excursion. You can, of course, admire the Palace and the Galeries des Glaces but that’s not all. A good section of your visit should be spent in the gardens, the royal stables, and the Grand Trianon.
You can have lunch in the center of Versailles which is very quaint and has lots of good-quality restaurants. Return to Paris for the afternoon. An alternative would be to visit the Château de Fontainebleau. It is a bit further away but is in a beautiful place. If you are spending 5 days in Paris, this favorite residence of Napoleon and François 1st is worth seeing.
For your last afternoon, start at the Place de République and make your way to the banks of the Saint-Martin Canal.
You can go up the canal to reach the lively Bassin de la Villette.
Then, you can make this journey on foot, by bike, or by boat thanks to Canauxrama which offers one of the most beautiful boat trips in Paris with an impressive tunnel. This is the ideal way to end your 5-day visit to the French capital.
Once in la Villette, you can visit the Cité des Sciences (Science City) which will be enjoyable for both young and old. In Summer, you can end the evening at the Villette lakeside.
You can also decide to go outside Paris Area at Giverny to visit the wonderful gardens of Claude Monet. This small is easily accessible from Paris (1 hour by car or train). Many excursions to Giverny are possible.
A stay of 5 days in Paris is the perfect duration for a first visit of the French capital. 4 days is ok even if it can be light. Of course, 4 or 5 days in Paris is not enough time to uncover all the secrets of the city, but it is a good amount to get to know the capital and see the sights.
Of course, you can visit Paris with kids. Firstly, it is a safe city and secondly, their are many attractions kid-friendly like boat or bus tours
Of course, 4 or 5 days in Paris is not enough time to uncover all the secrets of the city, but it is a good amount to get to know the capital and see the sights.
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2 comments
We are visiting Paris for 4 days on June and we are considering the visit of the chateau de Versailles . Will we have enough time for this ? Or do you recommend us to stay only in Paris .
Visiting the chateau de Versailles is worth a trip during a stay in Paris. And you can do it during a 4 day trip in the French capital.