Here’s how to spend an unforgettable four days in Paris, including rooftop dinners, a trip to Disneyland, and river cruises along the Seine.
Paris holds a magic uniquely its own. You feel it in the gentle drift of boats along the Seine, the sun-soaked warmth of an afternoon wandering the Champ de Mars, and the melodic clink of wine glasses under the quiet watch of an illuminated Eiffel Tower.
With centuries of art, culture, and cuisine packed into every corner, it’s incredibly easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of things to see and do. From the Notre-Dame to the Louvre, the streets of Montmarte to the tree-lined Champs-Élysées, it’s tempting to want to see everything, everywhere, all at once.
Recently, I spent a four-day weekend in the City of Love, and found myself in this same predicament. However, with a thoughtful itinerary, we experienced Paris through so many different lenses: the magic of Disneyland, postcard views of Tour d’Eiffel, and chic Parisian evenings.
Here is how to structure four perfect days in Paris, so you can capture that same balance and truly experience la vie parisienne.
Pre-Itinerary Essentials
The one thing I’d recommend preparing for is getting your way around. Paris is huge, and navigating it is relatively easy once you get accustomed to the public transport network.
The city itself is broken down into 20 administrative districts called arrondissements, swirling clockwise like a snail shell outward from the Seine. Each has its own distinct personality, architecture, and rhythmic pace of daily life.
We relied on two main modes of transport during our stay, and I’d highly advise downloading both of these apps before your trip:
The Métro: We downloaded the Île-de-France Mobilités app and bought the Weekly Navigo Pass (costing around €30 per person). It gives you unlimited travel across central Paris and even covers the RER A train line out to Disneyland Paris.
Bolt: For late-night trips headed to/from dinner, we used Bolt, which is similar to Uber. It was super convenient, reasonably priced, and the drivers were always lovely.
If you’re flying into Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Airport like we did, getting into central Paris is super straightforward. Just hop straight onto the RER B train – it takes around 35 to 40 minutes and is completely covered if you have a Navigo Pass.
Where to stay in Paris
There are so many great places to stay in Paris, each with its own distinct character depending on the district. Some notable districts include:
Le Marais (4th): A fashionable district, best for shopping, exploring medieval cobblestone streets, and central walkability.
Saint-Germain-des-Prés (6th): Known for classic Parisian elegance, historic cafés, and local art galleries.
Latin Quarter (5th): Great for lively energy, cozy wine bars, and budget-friendly student cafes.
15th Arrondissement: A quiet residential neighbourhood away from heavy tourist crowds. It's considered one of the safest districts in Paris, and remains close to top city sights.
My friend and I stayed at Nouvel Hôtel Eiffel in the 15th arrondissement, and it was the perfect base for our long weekend. It’s located right next to the Volontaires Metro Station, and is just a 20-minute walk from the Eiffel Tower. It ticked all the boxes: safe, convenient, and reasonably priced, costing €289 each for 3 nights.
Pictured below: The view from our room (left) and a sweet independent bookstore next to our hotel in the 15th arrondissement (right).
Interactive Map
To help you plan your own trip, I’ve pinned every location and sight we visited on the map below.
For all of my café, restaurant, and dining recommendations, you can check out my separate Paris Food Guide.
Day 1: Eiffel Tower Picnic & Evening Cruise
Picnic on Champs de Mars
After landing from an early flight, we headed straight to our hotel to freshen up before heading out to explore. And what better way to dive into local life than with a picnic right under the Eiffel Tower?
To gather our supplies, we headed to Rue Cler in the 7th arrondissement, one of the best market streets in Paris. It’s lined with produce stalls, cheesemongers, butchers, bakeries, chocolatiers, wine merchants, cafés – so, evidently, it’s the ideal place for picnic shopping. We grabbed the essentials: fresh strawberries, macarons, a crusty baguette, pain au chocolat, and the obligatory bottle of wine.
With our picnic spread in tow, we wandered over to the green lawns of the Champs de Mar, a beautiful park stretching between the École Militaire and the Eiffel Tower. We laid out our picnic blanket (I bought this cute one from Amazon), unpacked our market goodies, and spent a lovely afternoon soaking in the sunshine underneath Paris’s signature landmark.
This was actually my first time seeing the Eiffel Tower, and it was incredible. I’m often a little skeptical when it comes to major tourist attractions and the risk of feeling underwhelmed …however, this was not the case. No matter where we were over the next four days, seeing the Iron Lady never lost its magic.
A beautiful flower shop along Rue Cler.
Our picnic underneath the Eiffel Tower.
We sat on the beautiful lawns of the Champs de Mar.
I got this gorgeous photo of the Eiffel Tower from the École Militaire.
Evening dinner & river cruise
In the evening, we got ourselves dolled up for a lovely meal at Gigi, a chic Italian rooftop restaurant in the 8th arrondissement known for good food and incredible views. Perched on Avenue Montaigne, it offers a beautiful, refined space overlooking the Eiffel Tower across the river. (Read more here).
After dinner, we grabbed a taxi down to the port by the Eiffel Tower to catch the Vedettes de Paris river cruise. Tickets were reasonably priced, at roughly €20 per person for a 1-hour round trip. Our boat set off at 10PM, and despite the weather, we braved the elements at the front of the deck (I was slightly overdressed, and unequipped for the rain, but I totally owned it).
We floated past a star-studded skyline along the Seine, taking in landmarks such as the Notre-Dame, the Louvre, and the Grand Palais. We even saw the tower sparkle on the hour, which is just as stunning as you can imagine. I’d highly recommend seeing Paris from the water if you get the time.
Top tip: If you're hoping for a sunset slot, make sure to book a few weeks ahead since spaces fills up fast!
We had a lovely meal at Gigi in the 8th arrondissement.
The view of the Eiffel Tower from the Seine.
No rain can stop river cruise glam.
Soaking in the river views with my lovely travel partner.
Day 2: Disneyland Paris
The next morning, I woke up beyond excited – we were headed to Disneyland Paris. Better yet, it was my friend’s birthday, so she got to spend it in the best way possible, surrounded by all things Disney.
First things first, getting to the park was super easy. The RER A train line connects central hubs directly to Marne-la-Vallée—Chessy station right outside the gates in under 40 minutes, and is covered by the Weekly Navigo Pass. We chose to spend our day solely in Disneyland Park, with day tickets costing around €60 each. (Next time, I’ll definitely be checking out Walt Disney Studios Park, if only to see Olaf).
Soon enough, we were walking through the gates of Disneyland Paris, our Minnie ears in pride of place. Experiencing Disney for the first time felt like a pretty big occasion, even at 27 years of age. The moment we stepped onto Main Street, surrounded by nostalgic melodies and fairytale architecture, it was hard not to feel giddy.
The beautiful entrance to Disneyland Park.
The iconic Molly Brown riverboat gliding past Big Thunder Mountain
We captured some lovely photos by Sleeping Beauty’s castle.
We captured some lovely photos at Sleeping Beauty’s castle before heading out on a few rides, including ‘Pirates of the Carribean’, ‘It’s a small world’, and my favourite – ‘Big Thunder Mountain’. There’s a distinct novelty in being whipped around tight corners and through complete darkness in a runaway mine train. Despite the 50-minute queue, it was worth every second, and I would've happily hopped back in line five times over.
To top the day off, we managed to secure a front-row seat at the parade, watching Mickey and friends strut their way down Main Street, amongst vibrant floats and incredible dancers. After a magical day of rides, parades, and lots of walking, let’s just say we slept very well that night.
Top tip: I’d recommend downloading the Disneyland Paris app for your visit, as you get a map of the park, live wait times for rides, and schedules for any shows and parades.
For a full breakdown of what I wore for our day at the park, read my Disneyland lookbook here.
Of course, we had to try a Mickey-shaped donut.
Judging by the pure joy on my face, it’s pretty clear which ride was my absolute favourite.
We got a fabulous front-row view of the parade,which makes its way down Main Street.
We couldn’t resist a ride on Le Carrousel de Lancelot.
A pirate's life for me – you can't visit Disney without a trip on Pirates of the Caribbean.
Day 3: Hot Chocolate, Shopping & Paris After Dark
Good food and retail therapy
After a rest-filled night, we kicked off our third day in Paris with a classic French treat. We headed straight to Carette at Place des Vosges for their famous, velvety hot chocolate accompanied by fresh chantilly cream and buttery pastries. (Read more here).
After indulging, we took a lovely detour through Square Louis XIII, a lush park right at the heart of Place des Vosges, framed by grand fountains and elegant 17th-century brick architecture. The weather was gorgeous, so everyone was out socialising and lounging on the lawn. It instantly made me wonder what life would look like if I actually lived here, grabbing morning coffees and spending lazy afternoons in the park.
For lunch, we made our way to Billie, a chic restaurant known for its stylish interior and moody, candlelit atmosphere, where we recharged over a delicious meal. (Read more here). We then popped into Westfield for some long-overdue retail therapy. I picked up a gorgeous cropped trench coat from Stradivarius, which was a very exciting addition to my wardrobe; safe to say the trip was a success.
We tried Carette’s famous, velvety hot chocolate accompanied by fresh chantilly cream and buttery pastries.
People lounging on the lawns in Square Louis XIII.
The square is filled with lime trees, fountains, and an iconic statue of King Louis XIII.
Strolling through sunny Paris.
Café Pli
For a final afternoon stop, we popped into Café Pli, an adorable café known for its unique letter-writing experience. They have two locations – Temple and Parmentier – and we went to the Temple venue tucked away in the 11th arrondissement.
It was such a therapeutic, wholesome pause in our otherwise busy trip. Sometimes, you just need to stop for a well-needed moment of reflection and gratitude, and what better opportunity than this? For €15 each, we enjoyed a drink and wrote letters to be delivered to our future selves in a year’s time (note: sending internationally costs a little extra!).
For those more patient than me, you can also choose to have your letter sent in 5 years (€25) or even 20 years (€45). We also got to custom-decorate our envelopes with stickers and personally seal them with melted wax, which was such a nice touch. If you’re after a moment of quiet mindfulness amidst your travels, then this is the place for you.
Cafe Pli offered a therapeutic, wholesome pause in our otherwise busy trip
We got to custom-decorate our envelopes with stickers and personally seal them with melted wax.
Signed, sealed, and delivered in 1 year’s time!
A Parisian evening
As evening fell, we got glammed up for our final night in Paris.
We started our evening at Au Roi du Café, a traditional brasserie in Saint-Ouen. The cafe itself is so lovely and authentic, and the staff are incredibly welcoming. We sat out front with a bottle of wine, taking in the surroundings of Rue Lecourbe. With my wine glass in hand and my kitten heels on, I truly felt like I was living my dream Parisian life.
Afterward, we headed to Port Debilly to watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle on the hour. Sitting on the opposite side of the Seine, it’s the best photo spot if you want to capture both the tower and the water in a single frame. We snapped some gorgeous nighttime shots here (and, of course, my trench coat officially made its debut). If you’re chasing that It Girl Parisian shot, Port Debilly is a must for your itinerary.
Post photoshoot, we grabbed a drink and quick bite at La Belle Ferronnière, a cozy brasserie tucked away in the 8th arrondissement, before heading off to end the night at Cova Club. In reality, we spent a fleeting half hour here before calling it a night and heading back to the hotel. What can I say? Nightlife hits a little differently at 27.
We started our evening at Au Roi du Café, a traditional brasserie in Saint-Ouen.
With my wine glass in hand and my kitten heels on, I truly felt like I was living my dream Parisian life.
If you’re chasing that It Girl Parisian shot, Port Debilly is the place to go.
A short but sweet visit to Cova Club.
Day 4: Le Louvre & Avenue de Camoëns
And just like that, it was our last day in Paris. Luckily, with a 9 PM flight, we had the whole day left to capture as much of Paris as possible.
People often say Paris feels like a movie set, but for me, it literally was. Thanks to maintenance works shutting down our Metro line, we took to the streets on foot…and accidentally walked right into a live movie set. Wandering past classic vintage cars and actors in period wardrobe, it felt like stepping into a different era entirely.
We stayed to watch a car scene being filmed before heading off for a proper French lunch at Les Antiquaires, a classic Parisian bistro tucked away in the 7th arrondissement. (Read more here).
We found ourselves on a movie set, walking past classic vintage cars and actors in period wardrobe.
We had a proper French lunch at Les Antiquaires, a classic Parisian bistro tucked away in the 7th arrondissement.
The Louvre
Once fully fed, we headed to The Louvre for our final landmark stop. Located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement, it’s home to some of the most definitive works of Western art, and welcomes around 9 million visitors each year. I can see why.
The Louvre is truly incredible; seeing the historic facade juxtaposed against the modern glass pyramid is nothing short of beautiful. I hadn't realised the sheer scale of the architecture and grounds until I was standing within it. Even if you don't go inside, I’d highly recommend a visit just to take in the stunning exterior grounds.
Naturally, we couldn't escape Paris without at least one travel faux pas. We managed to get all the way inside the Louvre and into the Hall Napoléon, only for security to scan our tickets at the gallery gates and let us know we were 24 hours late. As it turns out, I’d mistakenly booked the tickets for the day before…well, I guess the Mona Lisa will just have to wait (if you ask me, that’s the perfect excuse for another trip to Paris).
Top tip: make sure to double-check and triple-check the dates before you book tickets!
In front of the gorgeous glass pyramid of the Louvre.
Inside the Hall Napoléon (blissfully unaware of our out-of-date tickets).
The historic facade juxtaposed against the modern glass pyramid is nothing short of beautiful.
Avenue de Camoëns
Minor Louvre mishap aside, nothing could ruin our mood. We ended the trip on a high note at Avenue du Camoëns, a quiet, tree-lined street in the 16th arrondissement with the most beautiful view of the Eiffel Tower.
It’s actually one of the shortest avenues in Paris, at just 115 metres long, and one of the most picturesque. As it was September, the leaves were just beginning to turn, painted in vibrant shades of amber, crimson, and golden brown.
The entire street had that cosy, autumnal Emily in Paris vibe you only ever see on Pinterest. Soaking in those final views felt like the picture-perfect end to our four dreamy days in Paris – and a sweet reminder that sometimes, real life really does match up to the vision board.
Want to see how I styled my trip? Read my full Paris Lookbook here.
Avenue de Camoëns – a gorgeous, tree-lined street tucked away in the 16th arrondissement with a beautiful backdrop of the Eiffel Tower.
Sometimes, real life really does match up to the vision board.
Bisous, Paris. À très vite!
