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An Incredible 4 Day Paris Itinerary for Couples

An Incredible 4 Day Paris Itinerary for Couples

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Ah, Paris!  Just saying the word conjures up images of romance, beauty, and intrigue.  I remember reading some Paris books and getting so excited about visiting the city one day. 

I will tell you though, you have to be careful or Paris can overwhelm you, and you definitely don’t want to waste any of your valuable vacation time being overwhelmed!  To help you not succumb to this, we have created our incredible 4 day Paris itinerary

Our 4 day Paris itinerary for couples outlines Paris airport transfers, which arrondissement to stay in Paris, and what to see and do while spending 4 days in Paris

So grab your loved one and head for one of the most romantic cities on Earth.

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To help save time and money while in Paris, you may want to consider purchasing the Paris Pass.

This pass will give you access to a lot of Paris’ top attractions and allow you to skip the line!  Skipping the line privileges alone is worth the money.  It also includes free access to the entire public transportation system and a 48-hour Hop on Hop off bus ticket.

Get Your Paris Pass Here 

bridge in Paris-4 day Paris itinerary

4 Day Paris Itinerary

I will say that this itinerary is by no means inclusive of all of the fabulous places in Paris.  In order to do Paris justice, you have to visit several times. 

You have to pause long enough to take in the city.  You know, don’t rush through everything just to get to the next tourist attractions, I mean, Paris is one of the tops cities in Europe to visit, so take your time. 

Hopefully, you are reading this and considering Paris as part of a larger itinerary for 2 weeks in Europe.  Either way, whether you have a few days in Paris, or a few weeks, you are going to love it!

With that in mind, we have only included a few attractions each day in our 4 day Paris itinerary.  For the rest of the time, stop and smell the roses, hang out in cafes, enjoy a beautiful park. 

Trust us, you’ll be glad you did because spending only 4 days in Paris is just a taste of this fabulous city!

Getting from Paris Airport to the City

First things first, you have to get from the Paris airport to the city before you can get started on our 4 day Paris itinerary.  In order to accomplish this, you have three options for Paris airport transfers, the train, a bus, or a hired car. 

Which option you choose to get from Paris airport to the city is a personal preference and will probably be contingent upon budget and time.

The RER train is a cheap Paris airport transfer costing around 10 euros, but it takes 30-50 minutes to get to the city center (depending on the stop you choose) and is not a good option if you are traveling with a lot of luggage.

Another cheap option is to take the bus.  Bus tickets cost about 12 euros but take a whopping 70 minutes to get you into the city.  The exception to this is the Le Bus Direct which offers faster service but is a bit more expensive costing 17 euros.

Of course, the fastest way to get to the city center is to hire a car.  Whether you choose a shuttle, a taxi, or a rental car, all of these will cost more than the previous options, but you will have the ease of someone taking care of everything for you.

For more detailed information about each of these options, check out our post dedicated to Paris airport transfers.

Find Paris airport cars for hire here.

4 Day Paris Itinerary for Couples-Day 1:

If you are traveling from the United States, then your flight will probably be an overnight flight, meaning you will arrive in Paris early in the morning.  I know you will be tired and jet-lagged, but you can’t afford to waste a single day of your 4 days in Paris. 

Besides, hitting the ground running and acclimating to the local time as quickly as possible is the best way to recover from jet lag.

So…..let’s get going!  (Don’t worry, we are going to take it a little easy today)

If you’re like Marty and like to “get your bearings” for a city, then you will first want to grab tickets for a hop-on, hop-off bus tour

As you might have read in our 3 Days in Paris post, we did not choose Big Bus Tours and totally regretted it!  Learn from our mistakes and pick a different company for your 4 day Paris itinerary! 

If you would prefer a more personal tour of the city, there are several walking tours including the Paris Greeters Walking Tour.

Explore Montmartre

Montmarte-4 day Paris itinerary

This bohemian Parisian neighborhood is a must do, even for a 4 day Paris itinerary!

Stroll along the beautiful cobblestone streets and pop into one of the quaint cafes for breakfast (you need your stamina).  After breakfast, head to Place du Tertre to watch the street artists perform they talent for the curious visitors.

You can almost imagine the Montmartre of the past where Monet, Picasso, Van Gogh, and Renoir just had to be among these great street artists.  I mean we can imagine, right?

Take time to explore some of the jewels of this artistic neighborhood including:

  • Museum of Montmartre- where Renoir lived and painted
  • Lapin Agile- one of the oldest Parisian cabarets
  • Le Bateau-Lavoir- where Picasso lived and worked

If you’re up to it, consider booking a Montmartre walking tour, or better yet, a Montmartre food and wine tour to hear all about this fabulous neighborhood from a local expert.

Admire the Sacre-Coeur

While you’re in the Montmartre area, you have to visit the beautiful Basilica of the Sacre-Coeur.  This gorgeous Catholic Church is one of Paris’ most famous landmarks.  Be sure to pop inside to see the fabulous ceiling mosaic and grand interior architecture.

If you’re feeling up to it, you can climb up the 3000 steps to the top of the dome and admire the scenic views of Paris.

See a Show at the Moulin Rouge

The Moulin Rouge-4 days in Paris

Montmartre is most famous for its nightlife and fabulous cabarets, most notably the Moulin Rouge.

Made famous by songs, movies, books, painting, and photographs, the Moulin Rouge is a cabaret show not to be missed!  Even if you don’t want to see a show, it’s still fun to take a picture of the Moulin Rouge all lit up at night.

Get your tickets to the Moulin Rouge here

4 Days in Paris-Day 2:

Notre Dame

Opening Hours:  Daily 7:45 am- 6:45 pm

Update-Unfortunately, the world experienced a great tragedy in the spring of 2019 when Notre Dame burned.  While they are planning to rebuild the beautiful cathedral, it will not be a part of your 4 day Paris itinerary for a while.

No trip to Paris is complete without a visit to the beautiful Notre Dame cathedral.  One glance at this amazing church allows you to see why it is said to be one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture in the world. 

The gorgeous 12th-century church will have you mesmerized with its flying buttresses, enormous stained glass windows, and incredible rib vault roof.

Keep in mind that Notre Dame is one of the most visited sites in Paris, so plan accordingly!   I’ve made this the first stop of the day so that you might be able to beat some of the crowds.

You can access Notre Dame easily by using your Hop-on, hop-off tour, or taking the purple line to the Saint-Michel stop.  Plan on arriving as close to 8 am as possible so that you can get inside before the crowds get too bad. 

After visiting the inside, head around to the side by 10 am to get in line to go up the bell tower.  It’s worth it for the great views of Paris and to get up close and personal with the gargoyles.

Seine River Cruise

After leaving Notre Dame, now is a great time to take a Seine River Cruise.  A cruise down the Seine River is so relaxing and allows you to see Paris from a whole new perspective.

For a truly romantic experience, opt for a champagne tasting Seine River Cruise

Either way, I’m sure that you and your loved one will love floating down this lovely river with the beauty of Paris surrounding you.

Eiffel Tower

Eiffel tower- 4 day Paris itinerary

OK, we’ve kept you waiting long enough.  It’s time to see one of the most iconic landmarks on Earth, the Eiffel Tower.

I must admit that I dreamed of seeing the Eiffel Tower in person ever since I was a little girl.  Just the thought of standing in front of the Eiffel Tower in all of its French glory and having someone take my photo made me giddy! 

And you know you have to get the perfect photo with the Eiffel Tower, so be sure and make sure you know where to find the best view of the Eiffel Tower!

What I didn’t think of as a little girl is all of the other people who dream of doing this also.  This place was crowded!  LOL!  Despite that, visiting the Eiffel Tower was one of the highlights of my time in Paris and will be a memory I will always cherish.

You will probably find yourself visiting this famous landmark several times.  I know we did.  We went during the day to take photos and then back in the evening to see the tower all lit up.  It was fabulous.

4 Day Paris Itinerary- Day 3

Today we are going to get out of the city, so you have several options.  You can take a day trip to Versailles, Chateau de Fontainebleau, Mont Saint Michel, or visit the Champagne region.

For more information on these day trips and others, be sure and check out our post on day trips from Paris by train.

Day Trip from Paris to Versailles

Located about 45 minutes outside of Paris, Versailles is an easy day trip to get out of the city and a great addition to your 4 days in Paris.  Just know that this is a hugely popular tourist attraction, so plan on it being crowded.

With that being said, you have a couple of options if you are choosing Versailles.  You can take the RER C that leaves from central metro stations in Paris and then walk a few minutes to the castle or you can book a guided tour to the palace.

No matter which one you choose, plan on arriving early.  Versailles opens at 9 am. 

The sooner you get there, the more people you get to avoid.  LOL!  You can purchase your tickets in advance online if you are choosing to go on your own, or you can book a day trip here.

Versailles is a great thing to do on your 4 days in Paris

Day Trip from Paris to Chateau Fountainbleau

If you want to avoid the crowds of Versailles but still see an opulent French chateau, then Chateau Fountainbleau is for you.  Hey, that rhymes.  LOL!

Chateau Fountainbleau is the day trip that Marty and I chose during our time in Paris.

We loved the history connected with this fabulous chateau that includes Napolean and Marie Antoinette.  Wander the gorgeous grounds and tour the beautiful chateau before grabbing lunch in the cute little town of Avon.  Read all about our time at Chateau Fountainbleau here.

Chateau Fontainebleau is one of the many great day trips from Paris by train

Mont Saint Michel Day Trip from Paris

Head to the UNESCO World Heritage Island of Mont Saint Michel.  Here you can learn all about the islands medieval history.  You can tour the famous abbey and then walk the cobblestone streets before grabbing lunch in a romantic little cafe.

I would suggest taking a guided tour for this excursion so that you can just relax and enjoy.

Wine day Trip from Paris to Champagne

Any wine lover would swoon to visit the French Champagne region.  On this guided tour from Paris to Champagne, you will visit three wineries and enjoy tasting at each one.

Learn all about the bubbly drink while touring vineyards, entering cellars, and enjoying lunch at these fabulous estate wineries.

4 Days in Paris- Day 4

Visit the Louvre

Today we are going to spend the majority of our day visiting the Louvre.  T

he Louvre is one of the most famous museums in the world and home to priceless works of art, including the infamous Mona Lisa.  Did you know that the Louvre served as a royal palace until the 17th century?  Just an interesting little fact.

Take the Metro to Palais-Royal-Musee du Louvre, and take the time to enjoy the inside and outside of this beautiful museum.

Keep in mind that the Louvre is a vast museum that is packed with exhibits.  You won’t be able to see everything. 

So research and plan for your visit in advance so that you don’t miss the exhibit that you have your heart set on.

Buy your Louvre tickets in advance as the lines can get long!

4 Days in Paris Itinerary-Louvre

Arc de Triomphe

Just outside of the Louvre, you will find the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, one of three arcs commissioned by Napoleon to celebrate his military accomplishments.

If you want, you can go to the top of the arc.  Whether you go to the top or not, be sure and grab a photo in front of this famous monument.

Champs Elysees

Spend some time during your 4 days in Paris leisurely strolling the Champs Elysees.  This beautiful street is definitely famous for its high-end shops!  Think Rodeo Drive in California!

If these are out of your price point, that’s ok.  It doesn’t cost anything to window shop or browse without buying! 

I mean, this is where the flagship Louis Vuitton store is located.  You have to at least go inside!

Tours in Paris

Final Thoughts: 4 Day Paris Itinerary

As you can see, this 4 day Paris itinerary is packed to the gills. Of course, we want you to customize it and make it your own so that you can have the best 4 days in Paris possible!

What did we miss? Comment below and let us know!

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Michelle Snell-Founder That Texas Couple

About the Author

Michelle Snell is a travel writer, history buff, wine lover, and enthusiast of different cultures.  While she is a professional educator by day, her passion for travel has her jet-setting all over the world during her free time. 

Michelle enjoys bringing places to life through her informative writing style on her blog, That Texas Couple.  Her practical tips and suggestions help make travel dreams a reality while immersing her readers in the history, culture, and food of a region.  She is happiest sipping wine in Italy or chilling on a beach with her husband, Marty.

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