4 Days in Paris: A Perfect Weekend Itinerary

With multiple daily direct flights from Dallas to Paris, we have found ourselves utilizing our long weekends to spend 4 days in Paris.  We can leave on a Thursday evening after work and come back on Tuesday afternoon.  Weekend trips always feel too short; these long weekends are the perfect length to leave us wanting to return.  

Our first trip to Paris together was our honeymoon.  It was a good trip, but it wasn’t a great trip.  Our honeymoon was Tom’s first trip to Europe, and he wasn’t prepared for it at all.  Thankfully, it really opened him up to all the amazing parts of travel, and he has come a long way.  (He’s now the one constantly looking at flights and trying to fit them into our schedule!)  While our travels largely skew towards Italy, the more time we spend in Paris, the more we love it.

Paris is often one of those polarizing places where people either love it or hate it. I wanted to share an itinerary for 4 days in Paris in hopes of making your first (or fifth!) trip as good as possible.        

Disclosure:  This post contains affiliate links for tours and products I love at no additional cost to you.  You can read my full disclosure policy here.

Arriving in Paris

Most flights from the US arrive in Paris in the morning.  Skip the Parisian traffic and the RER into the heart of the city.  Yes, you will have to navigate your luggage, but we do it with our luggage and a wine suitcase.  I promise you’ll be fine!  The hardest part of this journey is the long walk through the crowded hallway of Charles de Gualle.  

Once you arrive at the CDG train station, you’ll head downstairs, buy tickets to central Paris and board the RER B train.  It should cost less than 10 euro per person.  It takes about 45 minutes to get to Châtelet les Halles. From there, you can take the metro to wherever you are staying.  We usually stay in the 1st or the 9th, so it’s only a few more minutes by metro or on foot.  Google maps is the best app to figure out which trains to take and what the schedule is.  

Once we drop our stuff off at our hotel, it’s time to head out!  Getting outside is the best way to beat jet lag and maximize your time.  

Paris Planning Tips

To maximize our time, especially on short trips we divide our days into three parts: morning, rest, and evening.  This means that we get out and sightsee before things get too crowded, take a break during the middle of the day when crowds and temperatures peak, and go out again in the late afternoon and evening.  This is a fool proof plan, I promise.  However, it does require a plan for Paris. 

The best things to do in Paris in 4 days will largely depend on your personal interests.  That being said, I put this itinerary together to cover a little bit of everything: the culinary delights of Paris, the history of Paris, the art and culture in Paris, and of course, all the places to just enjoy the view.  Each time we visit Paris, I go back to my lists to come up with a new itinerary for Paris.  

To facilitate my Paris plan, I make a list of everything we want to do, including tours, restaurants, markets, etc.  I include the dates and times that everything is available.  From there, it becomes a bit of itinerary tetris to figure out what to do in Paris for 4 days.  I start with the thing we are most excited about OR the thing that has limited offerings. I build our our itinerary around those things.

When I talk about resting during the middle of the day, I mean that we are either taking a power nap or I am taking advantage of the hotel spa.  It is truly meant to be a rest time so that we are able to tackle the evening.  Most Paris restaurants don’t open until 7:00 or 7:30, and my favorite restaurants only have two seatings: 7:30 and 9:30.  If we’re going to get out early and stay out late, we need to rest.           

Paris in 4 Days – The Perfect Paris Itinerary

Day One in Paris

Introduction to Paris and French Wine & Cheese

PARIS ITINERARY TIP:  Buy a 4-Day Paris Museum Pass to make the most of your Paris trip. This will allow you to skip the line at most museums.  I love this because it makes it easy to add a few things into our itinerary!  

No matter where we are staying in Paris, we walk to wherever we are going upon arrival.  The sunshine and fresh air will feel rejuvenating, especially in the fall and winter.  Going for a walk will give you a sense of the city.  I love following the river Seine, crossing at Pont Neuf or Pont Notre Dame, and exploring the Left Bank.  We usually pick up some picnic provisions at Maison Bremond in St. Germain while we wait for our room to be ready.  

If it’s a sunny day, I’ll head over to Sainte Chapelle to see the beautiful stained glass windows.  (Entry is included with the Paris Museum Pass and you can skip the line!)  If it’s overcast or gloomy, we’ll slip into our of our favorite museums.  (I love the L’Orangerie because its manageable.)   

If you find yourself dragging, take a 20 minute power nap once your room is ready.  Whatever you do, don’t rest for more than an hour, otherwise you’ll be fighting jet lag the entire time.  I find that a 30 minute nap and a great shower will do the trick. After that, I’ll be good to go for the rest of the afternoon.  

One of my favorite things to do on our first afternoon in Paris is to book a French wine and cheese tasting.  This has been the most delicious way to learn more about French wine and cheese.  Prior to this tasting, I found it completely overwhelming to look at a wine list or even buy wine in the grocery store.  Erwan helped us better understand how it works, and we’ve been able to try various wines from different regions.  It does a great job of setting your palate for the rest of the weekend as well.  I’ve learned so much about French wine from him. You can purchase wine from Erwan for the rest of your trip, too!     

Because our trips typically start on Fridays, we take advantage of the extended evening hours at the the Louvre Museum.  It can be really exhausting, so you have to know what you can handle, but it’s absolutely worth it.  The Louvre is less busy and it feels a bit enchanting to be there after dark.  If you can find a guided tour of the Louvre after dark, I think it’s worth it!  

You’ll want to end your day with a classic French meal and a reasonable bedtime.  I recommend whetting your appetite for traditional French foods with classics from any of these restaurants.  You will want to make reservations in advance to avoid disappointment. 

Classic French Restaurant Recommendations

EAT & DRINK IN PARIS: Le Septième Vin (7th arrondissement, near the wine tasting I recommend)

EAT & DRINK IN PARIS: Le Souffle (1st arrondissement, near the hotels I recommend)

EAT & DRINK IN PARIS: Bistrot Richelieu (1st arrondissement, near the hotels I recommend)

EAT & DRINK IN PARIS: Le Petit Châtelet (5th arrondissment, near Notre Dame)

EAT & DRINK IN PARIS: Chez Fernand Christine (6th arrondissment, near St. Germain des Pres)

Day Two in Paris

Culinary Experiences in Paris

Don’t oversleep on your first “full” day in Paris!  I like to schedule a walking tour or a food tour of a Paris neighborhood at the beginning of my trip.  We try to choose a new neighborhood or tour to try, no matter how many times we visit Paris.  I love finding the hidden gems in each neighborhood, getting local recommendations, and finding a foodie souvenir to take home.

Most food tours include sweet and savory options.  Some of my favorite food tours in Paris have been of the Marais, Latin Quarter, Saint Germain, or Montmartre.  The Paris market scene is also thriving. You can book a tour of the Bastille markets, as well as a bike tour of the Marais markets. 

If food tours aren’t your thing, consider taking a cooking class or pastry class in Paris.  If I am being totally honest, I didn’t like croissants or macarons before trying them in Paris.  It turns out that they are AMAZING… as are all French pastries I’ve tried.  Take a macaron baking class. Learn to make baguettes and croissants at French bakery. Try making Paris brest and other traditional French pastries. Or, level up and take a one day pastry class at the Ritz Paris Escoffier.  (I took a weeklong class at the Ritz Paris last summer!  It was the perfect thing to check off my Paris bucket list. I already want to do it again next summer)  

If this is your first time visiting Paris, the baguette and croissant class is the best way to learn about Viennoiserie and its importance in French pastries.  It significantly improved my ordering experiences at French bakeries and restaurants, too.  TL, DR: I’ll try any pastry that looks tasty.

If pastries aren’t your thing (but try them!), considering booking a cooking class.  I love this because you usually get to learn a traditional recipe with a focus on seasonal ingredients.  My next cooking class in Paris is going to be a French sauce class to level up my cooking skills.    

If you just want to enjoy some delicious pastries, head to Francois Perret’s Le Comptoir at the Ritz Paris, Carton Paris, or Pierre Herme.  (Francois Perret’s Ritz Pastry is the perfect Paris souvenir.)  

Since a culinary experience in Paris will probably take most of your morning, I recommend taking a break in the afternoon before heading out in the evening. 

Nightlife in Paris

I definitely recommend taking a tour of the Paris Opera House, perhaps best known as the setting of The Phantom of the Opera.  I am obsessed with the Marc Chagall ceiling.  (The Chagall Museum in Nice is one of my favorite museums in in the world!)     

While in Paris, you can enjoy the Paris Opera Ballet, the Paris National Opera, or the Paris Philharmonic Opera.  Not all of these companies perform at the Palais Garnier, but it’s worth booking tickets in advance if you want to see them.  The Paris Opera Ballet School also performs twice a year, if you don’t want to see a full-length ballet.  If you want to experience part of Montmartre’s vibrant cabaret history, book dinner at the Moulin Rouge Cabaret Show or another one the famous cabaret venues in Paris.    

If you need a more low-key evening, take a Seine river cruise or use your Paris Museum Pass to head to the top of the Arc de Triomphe rooftop.  Both of these options will offer you unparalleled views over Paris and the Eiffel Tower.  (I prefer this view, rather than visiting the Eiffel Tower viewing decks.)  The Arc de Triomphe especially provides wonderful views over the Champs Elysees, especially at Christmastime when its all lit up.  I also love heading to the Galeries Lafayette rooftop for spectacular views of the Opera Garnier and the Eiffel Tower.  (This is a free view of Paris!)  During Christmas, the store is absolutely magical and has a rooftop ice skating rink, too!  

Day Three in Paris

Experiencing the Royal History of Paris

If you only have four days in Paris, you have a choice to make.  You can stay in Paris or you can take a day trip to Versailles.  If this is your second trip to Paris and you haven’t made it to Versailles, I strongly recommend going.    

There are two ways to get to Versailles. One, book a bus tour from central Paris (which makes for a very long day). OR, two, grab the RER C for less than 5 euros/person and meet your guide at the Chateau.  I strongly recommend booking a guide, as parts of the Palace are under restoration. What you are able to see may be different than what you expect to see.  Our guided tour of Château de Versailles included Louis’s apartments, the famous Hall of Mirrors, and a brief overview of the gardens.  It was very helpful to have context to better understand what we were seeing.  However, if you want to just visit on your own, Versailles and its gardens are included with the Paris Museum Pass. 

On our next trip to Versailles, we are hoping to rent bikes and head out to the Trianon Palace, which includes a theater where Queen Marie Antoinette would perform and host guests.  I’ve been told that the grounds are quite gorgeous and it’s worth seeing, but it does take some time to get there.  The grounds of Versailles are vast; wear your walking shoes!     

EXPERIENCING ROYAL HISTORY IN PARIS:  If you don’t think 4 days in Paris is long enough to take a day trip to Versailles, there are a few ways to learn more about the royal history of Paris and experience the grandeur of Versailles. 

The first thing I would do is book a walking tour on the history of the French Revolution.  (Paris-Walks also offers a great tour on the French Revolution; we really loved their Bastille Day tour, too.)  This will give you a framework of what was going on in France and provide more context on how and why the movement to abolish the monarchy started, what life in Paris during the Reign of terror was like, and how all of this contributed to the rise of Napoleon.

To see the grandeur of Versailles and the gilding of the 18th century, you should head to the Richelieu wing of the Louvre or visit Hotel de la Marine on the Place de la Concorde.  Nothing compares with Versailles, of course, but the the Richelieu is filled with beautiful textiles, huge chandeliers, and plenty of gold.  (Most tours of the Louvre focus on the Denon wing, as it’s where the most famous art is housed.)  

PARIS ITINERARY TIP:  If you are planning a trip to Paris in the summer (June – September) and will be in town for a Saturday night, I would book an evening ticket for the Versailles fountains and fireworks experience.  They reopen the gardens after hours, and the fountains are on, triumphant music echos through the gardens, and there are fireworks at the end of the evening!  You won’t have access to the Chateau, so you will have to plan that visit separately, but if you’re looking to do something unique, this is a great option.

Explore Paris through the Impressionists

The first museum I visited in Paris was the Musee d’Orsay.  As a ballet dancer myself, I longed to see the work of Edgar Degas.  Replicas of his paintings had lined the walls of my dressing rooms for years, were printed on my stationary, and, in college, a friend gave me a replica of one of his sculptures after taking me to see it at The Art Institute of Chicago.  (Love you, Kristin.)  I wasn’t disappointed by Degas, and Van Gogh’s Starry Night series (unexpectedly) took my breath away the first time I aw it in person.  It never gets old.  

Book an early morning guided tour of the Musee d’Orsay before heading to Montmartre in the afternoon.  You may recognize a lot of the Impressionist works because of the unique techniques and the seemingly familiar scenes, but a chronological journey through the museum with a knowledgable guide will better help you understand why the Impressionists were also revolutionists in France in 1920s.  You’ll also learn how so many famous pieces by Van Gogh, Renoir, Monet, Degas, and so many others, came to be housed in an old railway station.

Later that afternoon, wander up to Montmartre to see where the Impressionists lived and worked.  It’s hard to imagine that this was a field on the outskirts of Paris.  You can see today’s artists at work at the Place du Tertre, which is an extremely coveted position in Paris.  All work here must be original, and artists must agree to certain mediums and conform to standards of work.  All aspiring artists must apply for a space here; the waiting list is years long! 

If you need a sugar break, grab a chou with Chantilly cream from Les Choupettes de ChouChou or macarons from Carette. 

Whether you’ve taken the stairs or the funicular up to Montmartre, it’s worth visiting Sacre Coeur.  There is great people watching on the stairs in front of the cathedral, but I will admit that it is not my favorite view of Paris.  Before making your way down, consider having dinner at one of my favorite places in Montmartre.    

EAT & DRINK IN PARIS: Sacree Fleur (my very favorite French steakhouse)

EAT & DRINK IN PARIS: La Boite aux Lettres (great wine list)

Day Four in Paris

Now that you’ve spent 3 days in Paris, you should have a better idea of what you want to see or do you with your remaining time in the city.  I always love to have time in my itinerary to choose my own adventure.  With your Paris Museum Pass, you’ll have the ultimate flexibility to explore or check more things off your Paris itinerary.     

Post-Revolution Paris History

One of my favorite tours we took last summer was through Paris Walks about the occupation and liberation of Paris during World War II.  Ever since I visited Nuremberg when I studied abroad, I have been interested in learning more about the role of people and their response to what was happening.  People extends to government (as it is run by people), and I think France is extremely interesting in this regard.  While the Germans occupied Paris for strategic purposes, other parts of France maintained an “independent” government during the period of occupation.  This tour does a great job of answering the questions of what, how, and why this happened, as well as providing a framework for what the Resistance looked like in France.  I was particularly moved by the things that “ordinary” Parisians, at great personal risk and defiance of the government, to protect others and preserve art, culture, and history.   

The Musee de l’Armee at Hotel des Invalides is former military hospital and provides an in-depth look at French military history.  You’ll find a vast collection of French artillery and weapons, armor, and uniforms (my favorite).  It covers the rise of Napoleon (you can visit his tomb as well), both World Wars, and hosts limited exhibitions on special topics of interest. As with most Paris museums, you can also use your Paris Museum Pass for general admission.

I love the streets between Invalides and the Eiffel Tower.  On Rue Cler, one of Paris’s most famous pedestrian streets, you’ll find everything you need for a picnic with an Eiffel Tower view on the Champ de Mars.  My personal favorite shop on Rue Cler is Davoli.  (I always pick up a truffle sausage for the flight home.)        

Visit More of the Paris Museums

If museum hopping is your thing or you want to maximize the value of your Museum Pass, today is a great day to visit some of the museums of the artists that inspired you most during your trip to Paris.  Some of my favorite “smaller” museums are the L’Orangerie, Picasso Museum, and the Rodin Museum.  All of these museums offer rotating special exhibitions, so even if you’ve been there before, there’s always something new to see.  

If you’re not sure where to start, here are the reasons I love each of these museums. 

• To me, there is nothing more incredible than seeing the original waterlilies in L’Orangerie.  They are VAST and the complexity of how the brush strokes capture the light is incredible.  As you move through the museum, you move through the day and how the light changes.  It’s just mesmerizing.  I like to be there when it opens or right before it closes so it’s not too crowded to sit and enjoy the pieces.  
• The Picasso Museum changes their permanent collection regularly.  If you’ve visited the museum in Barcelona, it’s unlikely you will see the same pieces. One of the coolest things I’ve seen so far was a special exhibition on pieces he created for Vogue Magazine. 
• The Rodin Museum is perfect for appreciating sculpture.  Rodin is best known for his piece “The Thinker”, and I assumed that everything he did would be large-scale sculpture.  The museum covers the evolution of his work at all sizes and scales.  It was fascinating to see his work in different sizes and mediums.  I also love the sculpture garden within the grounds of the museum.   

Shopping for Souvenirs in Paris

We don’t do a lot of souvenir shopping, but if we decide to buy anything, we generally wait until the last day to buy anything.  Paris is a big city and you’ll find a lot of stores that sell exactly what you can get at home.  (Yes, there might be better pricing and a VAT refund.  Do your research ahead of time though.)  I do recommend marking stores in Google maps if you want to go back to certain places.  No matter how good I think my memory is, I can rarely find somewhere if I don’t mark it on the map.  My souvenir shopping is generally limited to wine and food products, art, and Christmas ornaments for our travel tree.  

If you are looking for original art and in Paris on a Sunday, it’s worth heading to Montparnasse for the Marche de la Creation in Montparnasse, which is an art market where you can meet the artists.  I love visiting the various locations of Carre d’artistes, a collection of galleries throughout France that house original art by various artists.  The inventory and artists vary by store.  Patrick Rousseau is one of my favorite artists carried by Carre d’artistes.  I feel certain we will own one of his pieces soon.  

I love the stroll the streets of St. Germain des Pres, the Marais, and the Latin Quarter for shopping inspiration in Paris.  If you love paper products and stationary, head to L’Ecritoire in the Marais. If you want to take home edible souvenirs, Edwart has creative chocolates that are works of art, and I love Maison Bremond 1830 for Provencal olive oils, vinegars, pestos, spreads, and so much more.

If you are visiting Paris at Christmas (one of my favorite times to be in Paris), don’t forget to check out the Christmas markets.  I love the Notre Dame Cathedral Marche de Noel (located just across the Seine from the cathedral for now) and the Tuileries Marche de Noel (especially for dinner and evening ambiance).  

Finally, there are wineries in France, especially in the Alsace wine region, that do not export to the United States.  They, however, will ship to hotels in France.  We bring a wine suitcase and bring our wines home.  They are a fraction of the cost and better than anything we can buy at home.  Highly, highly recommend bringing wine home. (I also highly recommend adding a few days in Alsace to your France itinerary!)      

Where to Stay in Paris

If you are planning a 4 day trip to Paris, where you stay will be very important.  Again, I like to maximize my time in a city.  I like to stay out late, enjoy the ambiance, and be centrally located so that I don’t waste valuable time in transit.  As a result, we usually stay in the 1st and 2nd arrondissements, which also back up to the 8th and 9th arrondissements.  All of these are very centrally located for walking around Paris and have easy access to several metro lines.  We stayed in the 17th arrondissement on our honeymoon, and I didn’t love the location.      

A few things to know about Paris hotel rooms, especially if this is your first trip to Europe.  Paris hotel rooms are small.  Space is at a premium.  Generally, I’ve found that rooms are very well designed, but if you travel with A LOT of luggage, you may find it hard to get around your room.  Govern your packing accordingly!  

Paris can be super expensive at certain times of the year.  If you are a member of a hotel loyalty program, this might be a great place for you to use points.  I LOVE using Hyatt points in Paris.  I’ve stayed at 4 Hyatts and had excellent experiences at all of them.  Choose the one that fits your trip.  (We used Marriott points on our honeymoon.  It was a great redemption and a good-enough experience.  In retrospect, I would have chosen Hyatt but we weren’t Hyatt people then.)

Hotels with spas are underrated in Paris.  We frequently walk more than 15 miles a day in Paris.  Being able to take advantage of the spa to rest our feet and recharge is definitely a luxury that I enjoy splurging on, if I can find one.  Don’t count on the fact that every hotel room will have a bathtub.  This is an amenity that you will need to ask about and ask for before you check in, otherwise you might find yourself disappointed.    

Hotel Dress Code (9th Arrondissement)

Hotel Dress Code is my newest and favorite hotel discovery in Paris.  We stayed here for a week in June 2022 while I was taking a weeklong pastry class at the Ritz Paris.  I chose it because it was a 5 minute walk away from the Ritz, and we were very familiar with the neighborhood.  I loved the location of this hotel.  It is on a quiet street, and there are some truly beautiful squares tucked into some of the surrounding side streets.  With three stays under our belt, I’ve shared more all about all of our rooms at the Hotel Dress Code in Paris on the blog.

The staff was very warm, welcoming, and kind.  They were always quick to check if we needed anything or if they could help.  

These rooms are FUN with chic furnishings and splashes of color.  The hotel has several different sized rooms, though most of them are on the smaller side.  For that reason, I booked a superior room, which is classified as a medium room.  It was beautifully decorated with soft pink and gray accents, efficiently designed with a queen bed, a small desk, and a relatively large bathroom with a walk-in shower and chromotherapy.  Our room overlooked an interior courtyard, so it was very quiet in the evenings.

The hotel lobby doubles as the breakfast room, houses an honor bar in the evenings (with very reasonable prices), and provides a great work space during the day.  There is a spa on the lower level with a pool and a sauna.  It is upon reservation only.  We didn’t take advantage of it because I was so busy with pastry school, but it was really nice to know that it was available.  Next time!

The hotel is very convenient to the Madeleine and Opera metro stops.  There is also a small grocery store right next to the hotel. It was easy to pick up water for our room. We’ve also stayed at Hotel de Seze, which is about a block away and offers a similar experience.               

Hyatt Madeline Paris (8th Arrondissement)

We spent one night at the Hyatt Madeline before heading back to the United States in July 2022.  We used points to book a standard room, and as a Hyatt Globalist, I was upgraded to a junior suite.  It was a very pleasant surprise, and we were sad that we weren’t staying longer to enjoy the hotel longer.  We were disappointed to miss the hotel happy hour. We had a dinner reservation at Sacree Fleur that I’m glad we didn’t miss.  (I had apple sorbet and Calvados for the first time. The fact that I’m still thinking about it should say a lot.)     

One of the things that surprised me most about the Hyatt Madeline in Paris was how kind and warm the staff was.  We’ve spent at least 35 nights at the Park Hyatt Paris. Sometimes they are lacking the warmth that we experienced at the Madeline.  From check in until the moment we departed, we felt like we were truly valued guests of the hotel.  This is a “large” American-style hotel, but it felt just as personal as Hotel Dress Code.    

Our junior suite was a large room with a sitting area, a king-sized bed, and a massive bathroom with a soaking tub and a walk-in shower.  Although our room faced Boulevard Malesherbes, one of the more busier streets, the windows were soundproof and the blackout curtains kept our room quiet.  The room was extremely comfortable and the bathroom was pure luxury.      

The Hyatt Madeline is most convenient to the Saint-Augustine and Madeline metro stops.

This is a mid-range point redemption for Hyatt (25,000 points per night).  It doesn’t have as much personality to the rooms as Hotel du Louvre, but I love both options.  If you are traveling with family, the Hyatt Madeline might be the best option for you.  If you’re looking for a special occasion hotel in Paris with a romantic vibe, the Hotel du Louvre or the Park Hyatt Paris might be a better fit.  I think that the Hyatt Madeline staff would go out of their way to make your stay special if they knew you were celebrating with them.  I can’t confirm that with experience, but it’s the feeling I got from our time there.  The Madeline does have a spa and you can schedule treatments. With our limited time, we did not have the opportunity to explore the spa, sadly.    

The most efficient redemption of Hyatt points is the Hyatt Etoile. Its Eiffel Tower view rooms are an extra special way to enjoy Paris.

Hotel du Louvre (1st Arrondissement)

I’ve written a full review on the Hotel du Louvre. We’ve stayed here twice, both when staying in Paris for 4 days.  I love this hotel, and the off-season redemptions with Hyatt points can be an absolute steal (21,000 points per night).  We’ve also used the 3rd night free promotion with Hyatt to book it.  As a Hyatt Globalist, I’ve been upgraded to a junior suite and a suite with a view.    

Like the staff at the Madeline, I find the Hotel du Louvre to be wonderfully accommodating and warm.  On both trips, we arrived well before check-in time. Even if our room wasn’t ready, they did everything they could to make us comfortable while we waited.  They delivered Madelines and a bottle of French lemonade to our room, which I thought was a nice touch.  

Both of the rooms that we’ve had offered sitting areas, in addition to king beds.  I love the soft gray tones of the rooms, along with the modern artwork.  Our junior suite overlooked an interior courtyard. We could hear live music from Palais Royal if we opened our windows.  When they were closed, it was quiet.  Our second suite overlooked Rue de Rivoli, so it was pretty loud when we opened our windows.  Closing the windows in the evening minimized the street noise. We did hear a little bit more street noise than we normally do in Paris.  Both bathrooms exclusively offered walk-in showers.  

One of the biggest perks of the Hotel du Louvre is the location.  You literally are looking into the Louvre and the Louvre is looking into the hotel, if you’re in the Richelieu wing.  This is really nice on cold and rainy days.  The metro stop for Palais Royal is just steps outside of your hotel. It’s very easy to get up and down the Seine.   

Park Hyatt Paris (2nd Arrondissement)

I’ve lost count of the number of times we’ve stayed at the Park Hyatt Paris since 2019. I think we’re up to six stays now (at least).  I’ve written a full review on the Park Hyatt Paris.  There are a lot of things I really love about the Park Hyatt, but having stayed at several other hotels in Paris, I can also see some of the things it is missing.  Service is polite and professional, but it feels like it lacks warmth sometimes.  The concierge was super helpful in trying to help us find last minute reservations when we stayed in Paris over Bastille Day.

First, if you are worried about the size of your hotel room in Paris, the Park Hyatt offers nicely-sized rooms.  Obviously, you’re going to pay a premium for this.  I love that every single room has a large walk-in shower and a soaking tub.  Our requests for quiet rooms are always honored; our rooms always face interior courtyards.  I love the automatic blackout shades that are activated by a touch of a button. (Can I get this at home?)  The rooms are incredibly comfortable and very luxurious, but they are gilded and gold. That may not be everyone’s cup of tea.     

The Park Hyatt Paris is the most expensive Hyatt point option in Paris coming in at 45,000 points per night.  At 30,000, I thought it was a tremendous deal.  At 45,000, I’m weighing my options.  We did use a suite upgrade at the Park Hyatt Paris in 2021 and 2022. In 2021, we received a very standard king Park Suite, similar to some of the larger rooms we’ve had.  In 2022, we received a deluxe king Park Suite, and it was lovely. (Room 615 is still my favorite room at the Park Hyatt Paris.  I’m not sure of its category, but it’s an incredible room with a lot of character.  I just wish it was a little bit brighter.)  The Park Hyatt is Paris is perfect for a honeymoon or anniversary. If you aren’t going to be in your room a lot, I’d save the money and splurge elsewhere on your trip.      

The other thing I love most about the Park Hyatt Paris is Le Spa. It’s a Le Mer spa located on the lower level of the hotel.  It offers a piping hot jacuzzi, a large sauna and steam room, and array of treatments that I LOVE.  The Le Mer body treatment and and facials are my favorite and the perfect way to fight jet lag.  Access to the spa is included in your room rate.  Their staff is truly superb and they are very good at what they do.  I adore the spa staff!      

Is 4 Days in Paris Enough?

If you ask me?  No.  We spent 10 nights in Paris in summer 2021, and we didn’t run out of things to do.  (We spent about 20 nights in Paris in 2021 and still went back in February 2022.)  Is it possible to visit Paris in 4 days?  Yes.  Paris is incredible and there is always so much to see.  My Paris restaurant list gets longer and longer. I am constantly torn between going back to my favorite restaurants in Paris and trying new places.  (Spoiler alert: I try to do both.)  The more I visit Paris, the more I want to see and do.  There are so many parks and gardens, museums and tours, and things to see that I didn’t mention here.  It’s impossible to fit EVERYTHING into a long weekend in Paris.  

That being said, 4 days in Paris is enough to whet your appetite.  It’s a great jumping off point for further exploring France.  There are fast train connections to get you all over France and the rest of Europe.  We’ve used Paris to get to the Strasbourg Christmas markets, as well as to book end a trip along with Alsace wine route.  In summer 2023, we headed to northern France to visit Mont St Michel and the Normandy countryside for a few weeks. Our 2024 summer in France France travels included Bordeaux and visiting Carcassonne, as well as a couple of other destinations. 

Paris is the perfect place for starting any itinerary in France because of the direct flights from Dallas and the ease of connections.