4-Day Paris Itinerary: A Day-by-Day Template
Paris works best at walking pace with one anchor per day. Book the big museums ahead and leave the rest of each day loose for cafes and detours.
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Best time to goMay, June, and September have the best light and terrace weather. August is quiet because Parisians leave, and some restaurants close.
Getting aroundThe Metro covers everything; buy a carnet or use a contactless card. Most days you will walk 15,000 steps without noticing.
The day-by-day plan
Tap a day to expand it. Times are starting points, not homework.
Day 1: Islands and the Marais
9:00 AMNotre-Dame and Ile de la Cite
Walk the island early, then cross to Ile Saint-Louis for Berthillon ice cream.
1:00 PMLe Marais wander
Falafel on Rue des Rosiers, then Place des Vosges under the arcades.
7:30 PMBistro dinner
Book a classic like Chez Janou or take your chances on a side street.
Day 2: Louvre and the Seine
9:00 AMThe Louvre
Enter via the Carrousel entrance with a timed ticket; pick one wing, not all.
2:00 PMTuileries to Concorde
Green chairs by the fountains are free; the ferris wheel view is not.
8:00 PMSeine at night
Walk the banks or take the river boat; the Eiffel Tower sparkles on the hour.
Day 3: Left Bank and Orsay
9:30 AMMusee d’Orsay
The impressionist floor first, before the crowds reach it.
1:00 PMSaint-Germain cafes
Lunch near Rue de Buci; browse the Shakespeare and Company bookshop after.
6:00 PMLuxembourg Gardens
Locals play chess and petanque until the whistle at closing.
Day 4: Montmartre and farewell
9:00 AMSacre-Coeur
Climb via the quiet back streets of Rue des Trois Freres, not the funicular side.
12:30 PMMontmartre lunch
Avoid Place du Tertre menus; two streets away prices drop by half.
4:00 PMGaleries Lafayette rooftop
Free rooftop view of the opera house and the whole city.
Local tip: Reserve the Louvre and Orsay time slots online days ahead, and eat dinner after 7:30 PM when kitchens actually open.
Make this Paris plan yours
Forward your real booking confirmations to Petrel and it builds this exact day-by-day view for you: flights, hotels, reservations, live flight status, and the travel time between stops. Under a minute.
Start your free tripFirst trip free. No account, no credit card.