Paris, once the Roman town of Lutetia, grew into a beacon of art, fashion, and ideas. Its 20 arrondissements spiral like a snail shell from the Île de la Cité, where Notre-Dame rose again to welcome visitors in 2024. Today’s Paris marries Gothic buttresses, Haussmannian boulevards, and daring contemporary art with effortless flair.

Beyond icons like the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower, you’ll find neighborhood “villages” of bakeries, wine bars, and markets. Cafés that hosted Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre still bustle, and bridges glow over the Seine at blue hour. With dependable metros, pleasant walks, and late dinners, Paris rewards both planners and wanderers.

Practical notes: major museums use timed tickets; the Louvre closes Tuesdays and Musée d’Orsay closes Mondays. Book popular restaurants (and the Eiffel Tower lifts) ahead. Tipping is modest (service is included), and watch for pickpockets in crowded areas. Consider a Navigo Easy card for simple Metro travel.

Paris

Paris is a city of neighborhoods: the medieval Marais, literary Saint‑Germain, bohemian Montmartre, and the elegant 7th. Each unfolds best on foot with a croissant in hand and a shortlist of “musts” punctuated by detours.

• Top sights: Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Sainte‑Chapelle, Notre‑Dame, Arc de Triomphe, Sacré‑Cœur, the Eiffel Tower, and the Seine.
• Flavors to try: buckwheat galettes, baguette tradition, croissants, steak‑frites, oysters, and seasonal pastries.
• Fun fact: There are 37 bridges in Paris; Pont Neuf (“new bridge”) is actually the oldest, completed in 1607.

Getting to Paris: Fly into CDG or ORY. For flights to or within Europe, compare on Omio Flights. Arriving by train (TGV/Thalys/Eurostar) is easy—search schedules on Omio Trains. From London, the Eurostar reaches Gare du Nord in about 2h15; advance fares often range ~$70–$180.

Airport transfers: CDG–Paris center: RER B (~45 min; ~€11–12) or taxi (~€55 Right Bank/~€62 Left Bank, flat). ORY–Paris: OrlyVal + RER B (~35–45 min; ~€14–15) or taxi (~€35–€42). Buy RER/Metro tickets at station kiosks; consider a Navigo Easy card.

Where to stay: Search apartments and hotels near the Marais (central, lively), Saint‑Germain (classic Left Bank), the 1st (walk to the Louvre), or Canal Saint‑Martin (local vibe). Browse stays on VRBO Paris or compare hotels on Hotels.com Paris. Good areas for first‑timers: near the Louvre/Tuileries (1st), Saint‑Germain (6th), or the Marais (3rd/4th). Stylish names to look for: Relais Christine (6th), Grand Pigalle Hotel (9th), Hôtel des Grands Boulevards (2nd), or budget‑friendly Hotel Henriette (13th).

Day 1: Île de la Cité, Le Marais, and a Seine Spark

Morning: Travel day. Land, drop bags, and get a Navigo Easy card at the nearest Metro station. If you’re peckish, grab a quick baguette tradition and a financier from a neighborhood boulangerie—look for “boulangerie artisanale” signage for on‑site baking.

Afternoon: Start on the Île de la Cité. Step inside the restored Notre‑Dame (free entry; expect a line) and admire the luminous stained glass at Sainte‑Chapelle (timed tickets ~€13). Cross to Île Saint‑Louis for classic ice cream at Berthillon and postcard views along the quays.

Evening: Wander into the Marais. Browse rue des Francs‑Bourgeois and Place des Vosges. Dinner options: Breizh Café (buckwheat galettes with Bordier butter; cider list), Les Philosophes (honest French classics, terrace people‑watching), or L’As du Fallafel if you want casual, cult‑favorite pita. Cap the night with a Seine cruise from Pont Neuf or near the Eiffel Tower (about 1 hour; ~€15–€20). The city lights from the water set the tone for the trip.

Day 2: Louvre, Passages, and Night at the Arc

Morning: Beat the crowds at the Louvre Museum (timed entry ~€22; closed Tuesdays). Target a smart route: start in the Denon Wing for the Italian greats (Mona Lisa, The Wedding at Cana), then the Richelieu Wing for Napoleon III Apartments and sculpture. Coffee before or after at Café Verlet (historic tea and coffee house) or hot chocolate at Angelina across the Tuileries.

Afternoon: Stroll the Tuileries Garden to the Palais Royal courtyard and Buren columns, then dip into the 19th‑century covered passages—Galerie Vivienne and Passage des Panoramas—for boutiques and vintage bookstores. Lunch ideas: Bouillon Chartier Grands Boulevards (brisk, Belle‑Époque room; low‑priced French staples) or Frenchie To Go (casual spin‑offs of the famed restaurant; excellent sandwiches). Coffee break at KB Coffee Roasters in South Pigalle.

Evening: Head to the Arc de Triomphe terrace for sunset and the nightly sparkle of the Eiffel Tower (sparkles on the hour after dark; rooftop ticket ~€13). Dinner nearby at Bistrot Paul Bert (benchmark steak‑frites, classic cheese trolley; reserve) or in the 10th at Le Servan (market‑driven cooking with subtle Asian notes; sisters Tatiana & Katia Levha). Nightcap at Le Syndicat (French spirits‑focused cocktails) if you’re up for one more stop.

Day 3: Half‑Day Versailles, Saint‑Germain, and Jazz

Morning: Take the RER C to Versailles‑Château Rive Gauche (~35–45 min; ticket ~€4.50 each way). Tour the Palace of Versailles (timed entry; Hall of Mirrors, Royal Apartments) and walk the gardens if fountains are on (weekends, seasonal). Lunch near the estate at La Petite Venise in the park or at the lively Versailles market halls (cheese, charcuterie, and fruit to assemble a picnic).

Afternoon: Return to Paris and explore Saint‑Germain‑des‑Prés. Browse Boulevard Saint‑Germain, peep into the medieval Church of Saint‑Germain, and duck into small galleries on rue de Seine. Coffee at Coutume (serious roasting, light‑filled room) or settle at the storied Les Deux Magots for people‑watching and a tarte fine aux pommes.

Evening: Dinner choices: Le Comptoir du Relais (beloved bistro; plan far ahead), Clamato (seafood small plates; no reservations, go early), or Bouillon Racine (Art Nouveau room, solid classics). For live music, slip into Caveau de la Huchette in the Latin Quarter—swing dancing in a vaulted 16th‑century cellar made famous in “La La Land.”

Day 4: Montmartre Morning, Orsay, and Eiffel Finale (Departure Day)

Morning: Climb to Montmartre for sweeping city views from Sacré‑Cœur. Wander cobbled lanes around Place du Tertre and the quieter vineyard by Clos Montmartre. Breakfast at Hardware Société (Aussie‑French brunch beside the basilica) or pastries at Le Grenier à Pain (award‑winning baguettes). If time allows, pop into the Musée de la Vie Romantique garden for a serene pause.

Afternoon: Check out and store bags if needed. Head to the Musée d’Orsay (closed Mondays; ~€16) to stand eye‑level with Monet, Degas, and Van Gogh inside a Beaux‑Arts railway station. Late lunch nearby: Café de l’Empire (friendly, good‑value set menus) or Breizh Café Odéon for galettes and salted caramel crêpes. If your flight/train is later, savor golden hour at the Trocadéro or Champ de Mars as the Eiffel Tower lights flicker on.

Evening: Departure. If you’re staying one last night, dine near the tower at La Fontaine de Mars (South‑West French comfort; Obama dined here), Chez L’Ami Jean (Basque heartiness, legendary rice pudding), or grab picnic fare on Rue Cler (fromageries, bakeries, and wine shops) for a twilight picnic.

Coffee, Pastry, and Market Shortlist

• Cafés/coffee: KB Coffee Roasters (9th), Belleville Brûlerie (roastery; cafés across the city), Le Peloton Café (Marais/Île Saint‑Louis edge), Café Kitsuné (Palais Royal), Coutume (7th).
• Bakeries/pastry: Du Pain et des Idées (escargot pistache‑chocolat), Stohrer (oldest pâtisserie, 1730, on rue Montorgueil), Des Gâteaux et du Pain (modern pâtisserie), Boulangerie Utopie (creative breads).
• Markets: Marché des Enfants Rouges (oldest covered market, Marais), Rue Montorgueil food street, Marché Bastille (Thu/Sun mornings).

Logistics and Booking Tips

• Transit: Buy a Navigo Easy (one‑time card) and load t+ tickets or day passes. Google/Citymapper work well; Metro runs roughly 5:30 a.m.–12:30 a.m. (later on weekends).
• Tickets: Reserve the Louvre, d’Orsay, Sainte‑Chapelle, Versailles, and Eiffel Tower lifts in advance. Consider a museum pass if you’ll stack several paid sights in 2–3 days.
• Intercity travel: For trains to/from other European cities, compare options on Omio Trains; for flights within/to Europe, use Omio Flights. Buses can be great value—check Omio Buses.
• Stays: Book centrally for short trips. Compare apartments on VRBO and hotels on Hotels.com in the Marais, 1st, or 6th to minimize transit time.

Need to tweak days? If your Day 2 falls on a Tuesday, swap the Louvre with d’Orsay. If Day 4 is a Monday, do d’Orsay earlier in the trip and fit in the Rodin Museum instead.

In four days, you will have explored Paris’s layers—from medieval islands and royal palaces to Belle‑Époque cafés and modern bistros. Keep room for serendipity: a side street accordion, an impromptu apéro, or the perfect éclair. Paris always rewards one more wander.