Paris has been inspiring artists and travelers for centuries—its grand boulevards, hidden passages, and riverside promenades are a museum without walls. From revolutionary salons to Impressionist breakthroughs, the city’s culture has always been on the move, evolving without losing its romance.

Today, you’ll find an easy blend of big icons and intimate pleasures: Louvre masterpieces before lunch in the Tuileries, third-wave coffee in the Marais, and vintage browsing by Canal Saint‑Martin. With a mid‑range budget, you can eat very well—classic bouillons, modern bistros, and street‑market picnics.

Practical notes: book top sights in advance (Eiffel Tower, Louvre). Pickpockets operate in crowded areas—keep bags zipped. The metro is fast and affordable, and Vélib’ bikes make riverside rides a joy. Many museums close Monday or Tuesday; check hours as you go.

Paris

City of Light, capital of style—Paris is as good for people‑watching from a café stool as it is for standing awestruck before a Monet. Neighborhoods shift mood in minutes: refined Saint‑Germain, edgy Belleville, storied Montmartre, and boutique‑rich Le Marais.

• Top sights: Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, the Orangerie (Monet’s Water Lilies), Notre‑Dame (interior reopened), Sainte‑Chapelle, the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Sacré‑Cœur, Canal Saint‑Martin.
• For foodies: Bouillon Pigalle or Chartier for budget classics, Breizh Café for buckwheat galettes, Mokonuts for seasonal lunches, Clamato for seafood, Frenchie Bar à Vins for small plates.
• Coffee culture: Telescope (1st), KB Coffee Roasters (9th), Fragments (Marais), La Fontaine de Belleville (10th), Coutume (7th), Matamata (2nd).
• Shopping: Le Marais (Merci, The Broken Arm), Saint‑Germain (bookshops, linen, artisan chocolate), Galeries Lafayette & Printemps (rooftops and gourmet halls), Marché aux Puces de Saint‑Ouen (weekends).
• Biking: Car‑free Seine quays, Canal Saint‑Martin to Parc de la Villette, Coulée Verte René‑Dumont (the original elevated park).

Where to stay (mid‑range friendly, with options):

• Hotel du College de France (Latin Quarter; simple, walkable, great value).
• Novotel Paris Centre Gare Montparnasse (modern rooms, excellent transport links).
• Hôtel des Arts Montmartre (boutique on a quiet Montmartre street; artful rooms).
• Hôtel du Temps (stylish, intimate, near the Grands Boulevards).
• Generator Paris (design‑forward hostel with private rooms; good for budgets).
• Browse more stays: Hotels.com: Paris or apartment stays on VRBO: Paris.
• Splurge options if you decide to treat yourself: The Ritz Paris, Le Meurice, Hôtel Plaza Athénée, The Peninsula Paris, or a Left‑Bank favorite Hôtel du Champ de Mars.

How to get to Paris: For flights within Europe, compare fares on Omio (flights). From outside Europe, search global options on Trip.com (flights) or Kiwi.com.

Getting in from the airport: CDG to central Paris: RER B (~35 min; ~€11.50–€12.50) or taxi flat fares (~€55 Right Bank/€62 Left Bank). Orly to central Paris: OrlyBus (~€11; ~30–40 min) or taxi flat fares (~€41 Right Bank/€35 Left Bank).

Trains to Paris: Use Omio (trains) for Eurostar and TGV: London–Paris ~2h20; Brussels–Paris ~1h22; Amsterdam–Paris ~3h20; Lyon–Paris ~2h. Advance fares can be €29–€120. Buses are often cheaper via Omio (buses).

Day 1 — Arrival, Le Marais stroll, and a Seine dinner cruise

Afternoon: Check in, freshen up, and set out for Le Marais. Grab an espresso and a canelé at Fragments (sleek, tiny, excellent espresso) or a flat white at Matamata (2nd). Browse Merci’s homeware and The Broken Arm’s curated fashion. Snack on a buckwheat galette to-go at Breizh Café Comptoir (try the complète: ham, egg, Comté).

Evening: Celebrate night one with a glass‑canopy dinner cruise—Paris’s monuments glow best from the water. Book the Bateaux Parisiens Seine River Gourmet Dinner & Sightseeing Cruise. Expect 3 courses, live music, and great Eiffel Tower views.

Prefer to keep it simple on night one? Try Bouillon Pigalle for fast, affordable French comfort (oeufs mayonnaise, boeuf bourguignon, île flottante), then an after‑dinner stroll to Place du Trocadéro for a sparkly Eiffel Tower view on the hour.

Day 2 — Louvre, Tuileries, Orangerie, and Eiffel Tower at sunset

Morning: Dive into the Louvre with a guide to save time and context. Book the Louvre Museum Masterpieces Guided Tour with Access to hit essentials like the Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, and Venus de Milo efficiently.

Refuel nearby: grab coffee at Telescope, then lunch under the arcades of Palais‑Royal (try a bistro salad or steak‑frites; Colette‑style sandwiches from a local traiteur make a good picnic in the Tuileries).

Afternoon: Stroll the Tuileries to the Musée de l’Orangerie for Monet’s immersive Water Lilies. If shopping calls, continue to Galeries Lafayette; head to the rooftop terrace for a free panoramic view and browse the gourmet hall for edible souvenirs (salted caramels, Bordier butter, teas).

Evening: Time your Eiffel Tower visit for golden hour into night. Skip long queues with Eiffel Tower Dedicated Reserved Access Top or 2nd floor by lift; it’s the smoothest way up, with a guide’s stories en route.

Post‑view, dine in the 7th: Le Petit Cler (classic bistro), Café Constant (roasted chicken, crème caramel), or grab picnic fixings on Rue Cler (cheese, fruit, a baguette) if you’d like a budget‑friendly feast.

Day 3 — Croissant class, canalside biking, and a bistronomy dinner

Morning: Become a Parisian baker for a day with the Paris Croissant Small-Group Baking Class with a Chef. You’ll laminate dough, shape pains au chocolat, and leave with warm pastries and new skills.

Follow with a coffee at KB Coffee Roasters (airy, lively) or La Fontaine de Belleville (retro Parisian café with quality roasts and croque‑monsieurs).

Afternoon (biking): Rent a Vélib’ (buy a 24‑hour pass ~€5; first 30 minutes on standard bikes are included per ride; small fees after—e‑bikes cost extra). Cruise the pedestrian Seine quays from the Louvre to Île de la Cité, then continue along Canal Saint‑Martin to Parc de la Villette. Pause for a pastry at Du Pain et des Idées (praline escargot if available) or an iced latte at Fragments. Street‑art detour: Belleville’s Rue Denoyez and surrounding lanes.

Evening: Modern bistro night in the 11th. Consider Le Servan (Filipino‑French accents, superb desserts), Clamato (no‑reservations seafood—razor clams, maple‑syrup tart), or Bistrot Paul Bert (old‑school steak‑frites, pepper sauce). For wine bars, Frenchie Bar à Vins (small plates and terrific pours) or Le Baron Rouge (standing bar with oysters in season). Nightcap at Le Perchoir rooftop if the weather’s kind.

Day 4 — Notre‑Dame, Île Saint‑Louis, Latin Quarter brunch, and departure

Morning: Start at Notre‑Dame—its interior reopened, and the sculpted portals repay a close look. Cross to Île Saint‑Louis for a quiet stroll and a morning espresso at Saint‑Louis–en‑l’Île’s cafés. If you have time for a jewel box of stained glass, Sainte‑Chapelle rewards early arrivals.

Late Morning/Lunch: Wander the Latin Quarter’s bookshops and the Sorbonne’s lanes. Brunch ideas: Holybelly (savory pancakes, hash), Café de Flore (classic Parisian scene), or a crêpe stop at Breizh Café Odéon. Pick up edible souvenirs: Bordier butter at a fromagerie, Alain Milliat jams, Michel Cluizel chocolate.

Afternoon (departure): Collect bags and head out. If leaving by train or plane, check real‑time options on Omio (trains) or Omio (flights); for long‑haul, compare on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Leave 60–90 minutes for airport transit depending on your mode.

Optional adds if you extend your stay

• Left Bank museum circuit: Musée d’Orsay (closed Monday) + Rodin Museum gardens + Luxembourg Gardens.
• Versailles half‑day: RER C from central Paris (~35–45 min) to Versailles Château Rive Gauche; explore the Hall of Mirrors and garden groves. If you prefer a guided experience with logistics handled, swap in a tour on your free day.
• Hop‑on hop‑off overview: For a relaxed city orientation, consider a loop and optional cruise with a HOHO bus tour.

Handy tips for a smooth (and budget‑savvy) Paris

• Transport: Buy a Navigo Easy card (~€2) and load trips; a 10‑ride pack is roughly €17–19. Metro is fastest; buses are scenic.
• Dining budget: Bouillons are great value (€12–€20 mains). Modern bistros run €25–€40 for mains; lunch menus can be bargains. Coffee drinks ~€3–€6.
• Shopping: Claim VAT refunds on eligible purchases; bring your passport details and allow time at departure.
• Closures: Many major museums close Monday or Tuesday; check hours. Centre Pompidou may have phased renovations—verify current exhibits before you go.

Bookable experiences featured in this itinerary

• Bateaux Parisiens Seine River Gourmet Dinner & Sightseeing Cruise

  

• Louvre Museum Masterpieces Guided Tour with Access

  

• Eiffel Tower Dedicated Reserved Access Top or 2nd floor by lift

  

• Paris Croissant Small-Group Baking Class with a Chef

  

With four days in Paris, you’ll savor museum icons, sip excellent coffee, bike along the river, browse boutiques, and cap nights with memorable meals and views. This plan balances high culture with neighborhood discoveries—enough structure to see the greats, and enough freedom to feel like a local.