4 Day Paris Itinerary in Winter

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Paris is always a good idea, especially during the magical winter months. The Christmas markets, decorated department stores, and world-famous hot chocolate that fills the city. I planned my first trip to Paris when I was 19 and I’ve been mesmerized by this special city ever since. Now that I’ve visited during Christmas, this place feels even more magical. 

While a 4 day Paris Itinerary in winter might not feel like a lot of time, if you have the right itinerary, it’s enough time to engulf yourself in the city of love. 

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Itinerary Overview

You’ll be staying on the left side of the Seine for two nights, and staying on the right side of the Seine for two nights.  For the Left Bank, you’ll be staying at Hotel Serotel Lutece. On the Right bank, you’ll be staying at Le Petit Beaumarchais Hotel & Spa – which gives you one hour exclusivity to their spa included in your booking!

If you’d like other options, I’ve researched Paris and have created a blog on where to stay in Paris for first-timers that would be helpful. The reason we’re staying in two difference places in just four days is because it will help you understand the city better. Each neighborhood has its own charm and it’s important to feel the difference while you’re in Paris!

Day One: Cafes, Shops, Macarons, and the Eiffel Tower

Whether you arrive in Paris by plane or train, I recommend taking the metro or Uber to get to your hotel. If you have heavy bags, it may make sense to take an Uber (not taxi) as opposed to the Metro. The Paris Metro is easy to use and budget friendly, but doesn’t always have escalators or elevators. If you don’t take the Metro, don’t worry. You’ll get a chance to use the Metro – it’s something you’ll use quite a bit while in Paris.

Once you arrive in Paris and drop your bags off at your accommodations, it’s time for fresh air and jump right into exploring the city. If you arrive before check in, the hotel will store your bags for you!

Highlights of day one:

• Cafe de Flore 
• Le Labo
• Citypharma
• Pierre Herme
• Marin Montagut
• Luxembourg Gardens
• Eiffel Tower

Coffee, shopping, and macarons

We’re starting our time in Paris with a time honored tradition in Paris: sitting at a Paris Cafe. Over the years, Cafe de Flore has evolved to quite a tourist destination, BUT it still has Parisian charm. Cafe de Flore has some of the best hot chocolate you can find in the city, and I find that I love sitting outside, people-watching.

If Cafe de Flore is full or there’s a long line, Les Deux Magots next door is another great spot for breakfast and coffee. Next on our list is Le Labo.

Le Labo is a brief walk from Cafe de Flore. It is a high-end fragrance brand known for its “slow perfumery” approach. What I admire about Le Labo is their city-exclusive collection. The city exclusive collection honors selective cities with their own, personal scent. Paris is a part of the collection and has the scent, “Vanille 44”. It smells so dreamy and it’s exactly why you’re going to Le Labo: so you can pick up your own bottle.

When you enter the store and tell them which size bottle you’d like, you can watch the perfumer create the bottle fresh. You can also customize the label and it will include the date it’s made – a perfect souvenir from Paris. Once you have Vanille 44, you can refill it at any Le Labo but your first bottle MUST be purchased in Paris. This is the same for any other cities in the exclusive collection. Next on my list is Kyoto’s signature scent!

Full list of shops to check out in the neighborhood:

• Le Labo
• Marin Montagut – An eclectic shop with glassware, porcelain, and art.
• Citypharma – Stock up on french skincare when you can. I grabbed a few things!

Now it’s time to have the best macarons in Paris: Pierre Herme. Pierre Herme himself was voted best pastry chef in the world in 2016. His macarons truly are incredible. Go to the storefront on Rue Bonaparte -it’s a short walk from where you are. They always have a different assortment of macaron flavors. If they have pistachio, don’t skip trying that flavor. There’s a little area across the street to sit and enjoy the macrons. It’s a great way to give your feet a break while enjoying delicious macarons!

Take some time to walk through Luxembourg Garden as you head back to the hotel to drop off your shopping bags. Luxembourg Garden, or Jardin du Luxembourg, was commissioned to mimic the Boboli Gardens in Florence. The Medici Fountain is a must see. In the summer,f you can sit by the fountain and read or people-watch. You could also do that in the winter as long as you’re bundled up!

Evening at the Eiffel Tower

On your first day in Paris, seeing the Eiffel Tower up close is a must. No matter how many times you’ve seen a photo of it, it’s so different seeing with your own eyes. Instead of taking an uber from the hotel, take the Metro.

• Take the M10 from Cardinal Lemonine to La Motte-Picquet – this will require a little walking but won’t require a Metro line change.

Best photo spots with the Eiffel Tower:

• Aveneu de Cameons
• Rue de l’Université

I love looking back on these photos of my visits to Paris. It may seem silly to some, but capturing these moments allow me to feel the magic again when I’m back home. After you take the photo, find a place to enjoy the view of the Eiffel Tower and stick around until you see the tower sparkle.

Day Two: Versailles, Croissants, and Parisian Cuisine 

Today is another packed day of making the most of your time in Paris. You’ll start the day with going to a boulangerie. A boulangerie is traditional French bakery that usually sells coffee as well. A stop at a boulangerie is a great way to start your morning before hopping on a train to Versailles to see the grand Palace of Versailles.

Highlights of day two:

• Half day to Versailles to visit the Palace of Versailles
• Croissant Baking Class through Get Your Guide
• Dinner at Le Relais de l’Entrecôte
• Notre Dame

Half day in Versailles

If you’re curious about the logistics of Versailles in depth, check out my post on Visiting Versailles. Here are the key tips you need to know before visiting Versailles:

• Versailles Palace is located in Versailles, a town 12 miles outside of Paris
• Versailles can be reached by the RER-C train from Paris in about an hour
• Depending on the time of year you go, you can spend the entire day at Versailles Palace and its grounds. In winter, plan for a half day. 
• Book your tickets in advance – Versailles is a popular destination and tickets sell quick.

After visiting the palace, Versailles itself is beautiful. Grab coffee at a small shop called The Stray Bean – it’s delicious and feels like a local stop. It’s a great way to grab a snack and coffee before heading back to Paris.

Croissant Baking Class

I thoroughly enjoy baking classes when traveling and the Croissant Baking Class in Paris was amazing. I included this croissant baking class on my list of 10 Paris gems you’ll be talking about forever because it’s that good.

What to know about the Croissant Baking Class:

• It’s easy to get your tickets through Get Your Guide, with cancellation up to 24 hours before.
• An easy, centralized location that’s a short walk from Notre Dame.
• The class will be about 2.5 hours but time flies by. A perfect break from the winter cold!
• Each person will be making and given two croissants and two pain au chocolats
• Croissants and pain au chocolate are harder to make than I ever thought possible lol!

We booked our croissant start time for 4:30pm. If you book around this time you won’t feel rushed at Versailles and the sun is already down.

French steakhouse for dinner

For those who want to indulge in French culture but aren’t exotic eaters, a french steakhouse is a perfect solution. Le Relais de l’Entrecôte is a must. If you aren’t in the mood for steak or perhaps you’re a vegetarian, Agata is also close by and that’s a great pizza spot. 

If you’re up for it, the last stop of the day is viewing the Notre Dame Cathedral on the outside at night.

Paris in the day is beautiful, but Paris at night is in its own category. The lights of Paris at night are nearly mesmerizing – if you’re up for it, take an after dinner walk and see Notre Dame at night. Even though you won’t be going outside, the view from outside is breathtaking.

Day Three: Champs-Élysées, Louvre, & Canal Saint-Martin

Today, we’re checking out of of the left bank hotel and headed to the right bank to the Le Petit Beaumarchais Hotel. When you book your stay here, you can reserve a one hour window for spa exclusivity. The spa has a sauna and a Flotarium pool, which you’ll be enjoying later today!

The hotel is in Le Marais neighbohood, a historic and trendy district in Paris. Le Marais was revitalized after the French Revolution and today, it’s a diverse, modern, and bustling neighborhood. You’ll feel a blend of old-world charm and modern feel here.

Highlights of Day 3:

• Carette
• Place des Vosges
• The Louvre or Jardin des Tuileries
• Cafe Kitsune
• Arc de Triomphe
• Champs Elyse
• Laduree 
• Spa 
• Canal Saint-Martin 

Carette and Place des Vosges

Le Petit Beaumarchais Hotel is a short walk to Carette. Carette is a historic Parisian pâtisserie (pasrty shop) renowned for its traditional French pastries, macarons, and thick hot chocolate. Sit down for fabulous breakfast and hot chocolate to see for yourself! There are different locations to visit Carette including near the Eiffel Tower, but I like the location of this one near Place des Vosges.

Place des Vosges is a square in the heart of the Le Marais neighborhood. The square was completed in 1612 and is a beautiful example of French Renaissance architecture. In the summer months, you’ll find locals and visitors having a picnic here, but in winter I think we were the only ones in the park.

For the next stop, you have options.

Option 1: The Louvre

If you’re interested in art, this is the perfect time to visit the Louvre Museum. Book your tickets and don’t be late for your timed entry!

It’s true that you can spend a full day in the Louvre and still not see everything. However, if you’re visiting Paris for only four days but want to go in the Louvre, I’d encourage you to only spend a few efficient hours here with a guided tour. There’s so much to see in Paris and so little time! The guided tour can make sure you’re getting the most out of a short visit inside.

Option 2: The Louvre grounds, Jardin des Tuileries

The outside of the Louvre is worth seeing, even if you don’t plan to go inside. The Louvre is also next to the Jardin des Tuileries. Jardin des Tuileries is the largest and oldest public garden in Paris.

As you’re visiting in winter, the Christmas market here may still be up to visit. This is a great opportunity to grab a snack or indulge in holiday cheer. There will be hot chocolate called chocolate chaud and the french mulled wine called vin chaud.

Whether you pick option one or option two, the stop after is going to Café Kitsuné. Café Kitsuné has one of the best cortados I’ve ever had and you know I love my coffee! There are seats inside the cafe, but I recommend taking it to go so you can head to your next destination.

From Cafe Kitsune, take the metro line 1 from Palais Royal – Musee de Louvre stop and get off at Chateau de Vincennes.

Shopping on the Champs-Élysées and in Le Marais

As you ride the escalator up to ground level, the Arc de Triomphe will slowly come into view. The Arc de Triomphe is larger in person than I ever thought. In my personal opinion, I would opt to see the view from the Arc than the view from the Eiffel Tower. The view from the Arc includes the Eiffel Tower in view which is kind of the whole point (in my opinion!)

Optional: Since you’re already on the Champs-Élysées, it’s worth walking a block or two just to see the iconic shopping street. Whether shopping on the Champs-Élysées is a bucket list activity for you or not, seeing the Champs-Élysées is interesting in itself. 

More importantly, on the Champs-Élysées is where the beautiful Lauduree will be. Lauduree is another popular macaroon shop. In my personal opinion, the macarons from Lauduree aren’t as good as Pierre Herme, but the attention to detail of the storefront is divine.

After you grab macarons, It’s time to head back to Le Marais for lunch and shopping before your spa reservation. Go to the Franklin D. Roosevelt stop on Metro line 1 and get off at Saint-Paul. From here, it’s a short walk to Breizh Cafe. If you don’t have a reservation or it’s too busy to walk in, La Banquet is another great spot for lunch.

Places to check out in Le Marais:

• Breizh cafe – A reservation is recommended to try their delicious crepes
• La Banquet – Breizh was full so we ended up having lunch at La Banquette and it was so good.
• Officine Universelle Buly 1803 – A French company that sells self care items. Think hair brushes, clips, soap, perfume, and more! My french clip that I got engraved here is my favorite souvenir from my recent visit to Paris.

Spa time

I briefly shared that when you book your stay at Le Petit Beaumarchais Hotel & Spa, your booking includes one hour of exclusivity at their spa. Eliminate the toxins from your body with time in the sauna before floating in the Flotarium pool. I’d recommend booking your spa hour for around 4pm. This give you time to fresh up before your night out.

For an added cost, you can book a massage or couple’s massage as well. With the Paris weather in winter being chilly, this was the best break from walking around the city. We felt recharged for the rest of our trip!

A night out in Canal Saint-Martin

It’s time to grab drinks and dinner on the right bank. From Le Petit Beaumarchais Hotel & Spa, take the Metro line 5 from Bastille to Jacques Bonsergent. From Jacques Bonsergent it will be a short, seven minute walk to the Canal and to your first stop!

Main stops on your night out:

• Bisou – A unique cocktail bar on the canal. You tell them what you like and they’ll surprise you with a specialty cocktail.
• Little Red Door – A speakeasy focused on sustainability. There can be a line, even during the week, so make a reservation!
• Calabria – The best tacos I’ve ever had in Europe. When you first walk in, the front of the restaurant can only sit about 10 people and truthfully it looks pretty simple. What’s waiting behind the white door in the back, however, is a speakeasy where you can have a night cap. The speakeasy has an entire different feel than the front of the store and I can’t believe we almost missed it!

We met locals and visitors at each stop on this list. Everyone was so friendly and having a good time – it’s actually how we discovered Calabria. Calabria wasn’t just a great food spot but locals told us about the speakeasy in the back!

Day Four: Montmartre, Sunset views, and River Cruise

On your last full day in Paris, you’ll be exploring the beautiful Montmartre neighborhood, enjoying a sunset on the Seine, and finishing your day with a nighttime river cruise.

Highlights of day four:

• Sacre Coure
• Mamiche
• Exploring Montmartre
• Pink Mamma
• Sunset at Pont Alexandre III
• River Cruise

Exploring the charming Montmartre neighborhood

Montmartre is a historic neighborhood located in the 18th arr. I read A Bakery in Paris: A Novel, and while I know it’s historical fiction, it taught me so much. It sparked an interest in learning about the history of Montmartre and the reason for the construction of the iconic Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre. 

Start your day at sunrise on the steps of the Sacré-Cœur. Take the Metro to Barbès – Rochechouart. From the station, it’s a short walk up to the steps. You’ll pass the Carrousel de Saint-Pierre on the walk.

Other places to explore while you’re in Montmartre:

• Snap a photo of the Sacre Coure from Square Louise Michel
• Climb the steps and see the view from Sacre Coure – no need to go in unless you really want to.
• Looking at the art in Place du Tertre – bring cash if you plan to buy a piece!
• Walk down Rue de l’Abreuvoir
• Walk by the iconic Moulin Rouge 
• The “I love you wall” at Square Jehan Rictus, 14 Pl. des Abbesses, 75018 Paris, France 
• Mamiche Bakery on 45 Rue Condorcet, 75009 Paris, France

Take your time exploring Montmartre because it deserves all the time you can give it. You’ll eventually make your way to your lunch reservation at Pink Mamma. I highly recommend a reservation, because the walk-in lines are far too long. 

I was worried that Pink Mamma took over the social media world by storm and was over hyped. After our visit here in December, I can confidently say I will visit Pink Mamma every visit to Paris. We loved it so much it’s on my list of 10 Paris Gems You’ll be Talking About Forever.

If you aren’t able to grab a reservation at Pink Mamma, don’t worry. Pink Mamma is owned by Big Mamma Group, and they have a other restaurants in Paris.

Sunset at Pont Alexandre III

In the winter months of Paris, sunset can be as early as 4pm and you don’t want to miss golden hour, so we are starting our journey to sunset by 3pm. From the hotel, take the Metro line 1 from Bastille and get off at the Louvre. There’s a carrefour nearby you can buy a cheap bottle of wine before walking towards Pont Alexandre III.

Pont Alexandre III is a bridge on the Seine that’s regarded as the most extravagant bridge in the city. You’ll find gilt-bronze statues along the bridge and the view of the Eiffel tower in the distance.

If you get to the Seine before sunset really begins, walk a little bit. There’s two paths you can take when walking along the Seine. You can walk slightly above the Seine, where you’ll find these green stands. These green stands actually have a name: they’re called bouquinistes. Bouquinistes are historic metal boxes used by street vendors to sell postcards, books, and even rare documents. They are forever a part of Paris and recognized as a UNESCO heritage site.

After you peruse the bouquinistes for a souvenir or two, you can take the second path of walking the Seine. Behind the bouquinistes, you’ll find a flight of stairs that will bring you to the Seine on even level, You’ll find benches along this path and those sitting along the river soaking in the view

Sit on one of the benches, sip your wine and see the Eiffel Tower in the distance. Stay here until you see the Eiffel Tower sparkles.

Nighttime Seine Cruise

For your final evening in Paris, treat yourself to a nighttime cruise on the Seine.

On a Seine river cruise, you can take in the famous Notre Dame and Eiffel Tower from the water without the crowds or being pestered to buy something. There are so many cruises out there to choose from!

Here are a few sunset/night time cruise options to consider:

• Budget: For under $20 USD per person, we booked a happy hour cruise. Drinks are available on board for purchase at the bar! Please note that food isn’t included with this option.
• Mid-range: A cruise with food included – Enjoy traditional french cuisine on this river cruise for reasonable cost.
• Splurge: 3-course dinner river cruise – This is a longer cruise (2.5 hours) but the service, food, and views are worth it.

If you book the budget happy hour cruise that we did, here’s a few things to know:

• The cruise starts at 23 Quai Anatole France, 75007 Paris, France.
• We booked the 6:30pm Cruise and it was until about 8pm.
• The drinks are not included, but there are reasonably priced.
• After, walk the seine to the Eiffel Tower or see the Louvre at night.

Helpful tips for Paris

• Transportation: Public transportation is an easy way to get around. Wherever you stay, stay near a metro stop to make it convenient.
• Language: French is the official language, but English is widely spoken. I always recommend learning a few phrases of the local language.
• Cash: Credit and debit cards are widely accepted, but sometimes cash is nice to have. The currency in Paris is the Euro. If you do carry cash, make sure you keep your wallet in your front pockets or secure in your purse.
• Beware of pickpockets: It’s important to be aware of your surroundings and don’t keep anything in your back pockets. I’ve been to Paris three times now with one of those trips being solo, and I haven’t had problems. Be alert on the metro, don’t hold your wallet out or phone too loosely. Better to not be on your phone at all, but it’s your call.