3 or 4 days in Paris – An itinerary for first time visitors

After lunch take a 15-minute stroll down the Seine to the stunning Sainte Chappelle – easily one of the best places to visit in Paris. Tucked away behind the Palais du Justice, the upstairs chapel – completely adorned with stained glassed windows – is simply breath-taking.

Next, head back onto the left bank of the Seine to the Latin Quarter stopping at Shakespeare & Company bookstore. It’s a small but rambling store with old books crammed into every nook.

Exiting the bookstore, Notre Dame rises up in front of you. It’s been closed since the tragic fire in April 2019, and it’s not expected to reopen for another 5 years. You can visit the nearby tourist office and pay your respects or leave a donation for the rebuild.

Stop for an excellent ice cream at Berthillon – a local Paris institution, then head over the river to the impressive Hotel du Ville.

Now in the cool Le Marais, explore the shopping, drinking and eating opportunities in this vibrant part of Paris. Mustering the last pieces of tourist energy, potter around the modern art collection at the Pompidou Centre, which stays open until 9 pm.

Sainte Chapelle / 9:00 – 17:00 (1 Oct-31 Mar); 09:00 – 19:00 (1 Apr-30 Sep) | Price: €10 | Location: 8 Boulevard du Palais, 75001 Paris

Shakespeare & Company Bookstore / 10:00 – 22:00 | Price: Free | Location: 37 Rue de la Bûcherie, 75005 Paris

Pompidou Centre / 11:00 – 22:00 (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun); 11:00 – 23:00 (Thu); Closed: Tue & 1 May | Price: €14 | Location: Place Georges-Pompidou, 75004 Paris

Start the second day of your 4 days in Paris at the Musée Rodin. One of the most unique galleries in Paris, it has an excellent collection of Rodin’s sculptures both inside the museum and in the formal gardens. Works by Van Gogh and Monet are an added bonus.

Head to Coutume Café for brunch and one of the best coffees in Paris. They roast their own beans and work them into a dense velvety coffee, which goes perfectly with their small selection of seasonal brunch items.

Recharged, walk to Champ de Mars for a magnificent vista over the iconic Eiffel Tower – a view that rivals some of the best hotels in Paris with a view.

Personally, we think the views from other monuments are easier and better, but if you want to take the lift to the summit, make sure you buy tickets in advance to skip the queue.

Musée Rodin / 10:00 – 17:45 Tue-Sun; Closed Mon | Price: €12 | Location: 77 Rue de Varenne, 75007 Paris

Eiffel Tower / 9:00 – 22:30 for the top; until 23:00 late Jun to early Sep | Price: Multiple prices, book online here | Location: Champ de Mars, 5 Avenue, 75007 Paris

Cross the river to the Jardins de Trocadero and collect some photos from one of the best vantage points of the Eifel Tower. Then, stroll along the river to the glorious Pont Alexander III and the nearby stunning Petit & Grand Palais.

Walk along the Champs-Élysées and stop at Ladurée for a delicious macaroon. Avoid the take away line by queueing up for the restaurant. Efficient servers whisk macaroon-only patrons past the gorgeous restaurant and up to the eccentric bar where it’s perfectly acceptable to lunch on macaroons and a cup of tea.

As the afternoon wanes, head to the Arc de Triomphe; a monumental arch built by Napoleon to honour his army. Today the tomb of the unknown soldier sits at its base and the eternal flame commemorating those that died in war is re-lit every day at 18:30. After admiring the decorative pylons from below, climb up to the viewing platform to enjoy one of the best views in town as the sun sets over the second of your 4 days in Paris.

Arc de Triomphe / 10:00 – 22:30 | Price: €8 | Location: Place Charles de Gaulle, 75008 Paris

Start today at the Musée d’Orsay. Housed in a magnificent railway station, it has the world’s largest collection of impressionist and post-impressionist masterpieces in the world.

Cross over the Seine and explore the Tuileries. For a unique art experience, pop into Musée de l’Orangerie which houses Monet’s Water Lillies in a purpose-built modern room. The only place in the world you can see this creation.

Stroll past the Place de la Concorde, l’Eglise de Madeleine and the rather impressive Palais Garnier, before grabbing lunch in the covered shopping arcades. Passage des Panoramas is full of enticing food shops and quirky merchandise, the ideal place to grab some Paris souvenirs. Passage Jouffroy is packed full of quaint boutiques and cute bookshops.

Musée d’Orsay / 9:30 – 18:00 (Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun); 9:30 – 21:45 Thur; Closed Mon | Price: €14 | Location: 1 Rue de la Légion d’Honneur, 75007 Paris

Musée de l’Orangerie / 9:00 – 18:00 Wed – Mon; Closed Tue | Price: €9 | Location: Jardin Tuileries, 75001 Paris

In the afternoon hop on metro 12 at Notre-Dame-de-Lorette to Abbesses. Stroll up the hill and around the delightful squares of Montmartre, before popping into Espace Dalí. It’s a fantastic collection of Dalí’s work and one of the many cool things to do in Paris. The gallery has insightful information to help interpret his more inaccessible pieces.

As the light wanes head to Sacré Cœur. This dome basilica offers a picture postcard Paris moment. Climb the 300 stairs to the top of the basilica for unrivalled views of the city in the fading light.

For dinner, head to Le Grand 8 for a modern casual good value French bistro with a short menu that changes every day – one of the great food experiences in Paris. As the evening rolls in stroll down to Pigalle to explore the area around Moulin Rouge and enjoy a proper Parisian cocktail in one of the many places packed into Rue Frochot.

Dirty Dick gets our pick for the weird cocktails and friendly staff. But if you’re more sophisticated than us, you might enjoy Glass. Either way, it’s a great way to end your 4 days in Paris.

Sacré Cœur / 6:30 – 22:30 (Basilica); 8:30 – 20:00 (Dome) May – Sep; 9:00 – 17:00 Oct – Apr | Price: Basilica free; Dome: €5 | Location: 1 Parvis du Sacré-Cœur, 75018 Paris

Espace Dalí / 10:00 – 18:00 | Price: €9 – €12 | Location: 11 Rue Poulbot, 75018 Paris

If you have time to extend your Paris itinerary to 4 days, spend today on one of the many interesting day trips from Paris.  

Soak up the lavish surroundings of Versailles and learn about the chequered history of the palace since the time of Marie Antoinette. Perhaps you have a thirst that you just couldn’t quench in Paris. If so, head to Reims– the heart of the champagne region. A champagne tasting tour is a great way to explore this beautiful area.  

For something far more sobering, visit the Somme Battlefields to see where the horrors of the First World War took place. There are memorials from each country impacted in the battle and the trench system where much of the conflict took place is still intact. 

At just 50 minutes from Paris, a day trip to the Monet Garden at Giverny is a stunning way to submerge yourself in the inspiration of one of France’s most celebrated artists.

Wrap up your 4 days in Paris with a back in the city with a late coffee. We’ve done extensive research to find the best of the thriving coffee scene in Paris. There’s no cutesy cafes on this list, just the best cafes serving Australian-quality coffee in Paris.

Why not follow us on Instagram, so you can fill us in on your 4 days in Paris while you’re enjoying that excellent coffee.

Otherwise, read on for our other tips including where to stay, attractions to book in advance and costs.