4-Day Paris Icons & Left Bank City Break

The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and cafe terraces: the classic first (or fifth) Paris trip.

Day-by-day plan

Day 1: Arrive and the Seine

Stay in the Marais, Latin Quarter or Saint-Germain for walkability.

Morning: RER B from CDG or metro into the centre.

Afternoon: Seine walk: Notre-Dame exterior, Pont Neuf and the Louvre courtyard.

Evening: Sunset at Trocadero as the Eiffel Tower sparkles on the hour.

Day 2: Eiffel and the Champs-Elysees

Timed Eiffel summit slot for late morning.

Morning: Eiffel Tower ascent and Champ de Mars.

Afternoon: Arc de Triomphe and a Champs-Elysees stroll.

Evening: Dinner in the 7th arrondissement.

Day 3: Louvre and Montmartre

Louvre timed entry at opening for the shortest queues.

Morning: Louvre highlights: Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, Egyptian wing.

Afternoon: Montmartre: Sacre-Coeur, Place du Tertre and vineyard lanes.

Evening: Cafe creme and people-watching in Saint-Germain.

Day 4: Market Morning

RER B to CDG takes about 35 minutes from Chatelet.

Morning: Rue Cler or Rue Mouffetard market street for a picnic breakfast.

Afternoon: Souvenir macarons and airport transfer.

Evening: Flight or Eurostar home.

Budget

  • Flights — Return fare anchor: lastminute.com's London-Paris route page lists return flights from £73 per person (one-way from £41); Eurostar is the low-stress alternative from St Pancras (lastminute.com/flights/r_london--paris, checked 30 Oct 2026); 'from' fares are lead-in prices including taxes and do not guarantee availability on specific dates. — 73 GBP
  • Accommodation — 3 nights sole occupancy at about £148 a night. Anchor: budgetyourtrip.com's Paris page puts the average hotel at about USD197 (~£148) a night (budgetyourtrip.com/hotels/france/paris-2988507 , checked 30 Oct 2026). — 444 GBP
  • Food & drink — Croissants, prix-fixe bistro lunches, crepes and one blowout dinner. — 130 GBP
  • Activities — Eiffel Tower summit, Louvre entry and a Seine cruise. — 60 GBP
  • Local transport — RER/metro carnet including airport transfers. — 25 GBP

Tips

  • Eiffel Tower: Book the summit lift online; the Trocadero esplanade is the classic viewpoint.
  • The Louvre: The Mona Lisa and 35,000 more works; enter via the Carrousel to dodge pyramid queues.
  • Montmartre & Sacre-Coeur: Hilltop basilica, artists' square and village lanes.
  • Seine & Left Bank: River walk from Notre-Dame to the Musee d'Orsay.