Itinerary Paris – 4/5/6 days

The BEST Itinerary – Paris, the City of Light, in 4, 5, or 6 days!

What to see in Paris on your next vacation. THE itinerary Paris for families or people who don’t want to run themselves ragged. Enjoy all the city has to offer – the famous, the culture, the food, the art and more!

Paris is the trip of a lifetime. Paris is such a part of literature and movie culture. Iconic photos of the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame have been a part of our life. Seeing it in person is a dream vacation!

We’ve visited many times and there is still so much to see. Paris has so many layers and so much culture and ambiance and it super family friendly. Travelers of all ages can enjoy Paris.

Here you’ll find an itinerary for Paris that starts on Sunday. After a full week at work, choose a flight that leaves Saturday which has you arriving in Paris early on a Sunday morning.

This itinerary starts on Sunday – that is important to note because it takes into account the most crowded days and when museums and sites are closed. This itinerary has you visiting sites during the LEAST crowded times!

If you have 4 days in Paris or 5 days in Paris or 6 – this is the perfect itinerary for families!

4 days in Paris – What to see!

**If you have 5 days or 6 read to the end for what to do with those extras days**

Itinerary Paris – Sunday Day One

Arrive early from an overnight flight. Most flights arrive from the US between 6 am and 9:30 am. Head to the hotel to leave your bags and head out to explore the city of light!

Eiffel Tower Visit –

This will be high on everyone’s list as it is one of the world’s most iconic spots. The lines can be VERY VERY long so skip them by making a reservation!

Ways to avoid long lines at the Eiffel Tower:

*Make a ticket reservation online

*take a tour

*make a restaurant reservation

Plan a few HOURS to see the Eiffel Tower and the higher up you go for a view the longer your visit will take. This is a must see!

Catacombs –

Super creepy but awesome sight! Tweens and teens are especially interested in this unusual place.

Shortest lines are in the later afternoon so consider arriving about 16:00. It doesn’t close until 20:30 but there is no entry after 19:00 so watch your time.

CLICK HERE – Paris Culture – Just for the Kids!

Floodlit Paris Driving Tour

See “The City of Light” in the best way possible by seeing it all lit up at night! The Eiffel tower twinkles on the hour and is even more magical than it is by day.

**Sunday is the BEST day for this tour because the traffic is the lightest for the entire week.** BUT, if your group is too jet lagged and falling asleep just push this evening adventure to another night.

Paris Itinerary – Monday Day Two

You don’t have to start this day early BUT the earlier you do start, the better you can manage the crowds. Time is really valuable on any trip, but especially in Paris because the crowds here can really suck the joy out of it. Be sure to manage your time as best you can.

St. Chapel 

Be in line to enter by 9:00 for the shortest crowds. Don’t be put off by this plain exterior or the bland bottom floor. The must-see magical spot is upstairs!

(Use the Museum Pass for the shorter line!)

Notre Dame

This spot is FREE to see the interior. If you want to climb to the top to see the gargoyles and the view you’ll wait in line and pay for a ticket.

Latin Quarter

Just across the river from Notre Dame is the Latin Quarter. Allow 2- 3 hours for this short 1 1/2 walk. There is so much to see and enjoy in this small area. This is especially nice in the evening.

Luxembourg Gardens

This is an especially great place for the littles. It gives them a spot to run around and burn off this energy. Kids can rent toy sailboats, watch marionette shows, and ride a carousel.

Tweens and Teens will appreciate that the French Secret Service has its headquarters underground!

Itinerary Paris – Tuesday Day Three

Rodin Museum

This is one of my favorite museums. Use the Museum Pass to skip the line and enjoy this really cool museum where you will see one of the world’s ultimate iconic pieces of art – the Thinker.

This museum can be seen in only an hour. The littles will especially enjoy the outdoor gardens where they are free to run around and be loud. The Thinker sits proudly in the center of the garden.

Worried about taking a kid to an art museum? Don’t be! Kids are curious and love art. Get all the tips on how to manage kids and an art museum!

CLICK HERE – How to Take Kids to an Art Museum and Enjoy it!

Rue Cler

Just a 10 – 15 min walk away from the Rodin Museum is one of the most wonderful streets in all of Paris. Plan on lunch there! Spent an hour or so strolling and enjoying the scene. Choose something to eat from one shop or a few nibbles from a lot of shops.

Army Museum and Napoleon’s Tomb

Another 10 – 15 minute walk away is a grand museum outlining wars in France. Use the museum pass here to skip the line BUT if you have kids, who get in free, you’ll need to stand in a line to collect the free ticket. Highlights of this military museum are Napoleon’s horse and Napoleon’s GRAND tomb.

Paris Itinerary – Wednesday Day Four

AM is free here.

Use it to sleep in, wander or let the family shop for souvenirs. Sometimes a little unscheduled time can really keep everyone’s morale up!

Tuileries Garden

Before or after your trip to the Louvre, enjoy the gardens next door – the Tuileries Garden. Inside the largest, 60 acres, and the oldest French gardens in Paris, you’ll find places to relax and play. Let the kids get the wiggles out and run around. There aare remotecontrol sailboats to rent and places to sit and relax. Enjoy statues by famous sculptors like Aristide Maillol, Auguste Cain, Rodin and Henry Moore. Enjoy the art without worrying about keeping the kids quiet.

The Louvre

Today’s Paris itinerary includes one of the world’s most famous museums – the Louvre! Even if you hate museums or think they are boring you MUST visit the Louvre. If nothing else see the top exhibits like Mona Lisa!

The line to get into the Louvre can be insane. The BEST time to visit the Louvre because of the least amount of people is to see it in the evening.

Beat the crowds!

Arrive at the Louvre about 3:00 pm. Use the museum pass and choose the which entrance you use wisely. While the glass pyramid entrance LOOKS cool it is the WORST place to enter because of the crowds.

Not sure about how your child will do in the Louvre? Plan ahead! The Educational Tourist’s travel activity guides are a life saver. Bring it with you to the museum and the kids will be actively interested in the experience while YOU get to enjoy the famous works of art, too.

CLICK HERE – The Kids’ Travel Activity Guide to the Louvre in Paris

Itinerary Paris – Thursday Day Five

Versaille

This will be a long day, but sooo worth it. Versaille is a palace that is just hard to even explain it is SO grand! Be sure to have snacks on hand and have everyone wearing really good shoes. If you have a little traveler with you, be sure to have that stroller with you.

Travel from Paris to Versaille by train C. Leave Paris by 8:45 so you can arrive at the palace by 9:00 am. You’ll beat the crowds this way. Since it is an early morning, once you get everyone settle on the train those who are not early birds can have a nap. Plan ahead to bring breakfast on board with you.

Plan on 6 – 8 hours for the day.

1 hour – traveling to Versaille

1 – 2 hours seeing the inside of the palace

1 2- hours seeing the gardens

1 hour – traveling back to Paris

If an early start makes you groan consider a later day.

If you leave later in the day, plan on starting with the gardens first. Triaonon Palace and Domaine de Marie- Antoinette open at noon.

Then see the palace interior after. The crowds thin out by 14:00.

Paris Itinerary – Friday Day Six

D- Day Beaches

You can see the D-Day beaches as a LONG day trip from Paris. For the easiest experience choose to join a tour. Let them navigate the transportation to and from while you nap, tend to the kids, and enjoy the landscape. That sort of freedom is worth the extra money to have a guide!

Read before you go on any vacation to keep the kids engaged and interested!

CLICK HERE – Kid’s Books about Paris

Happy Travels,

Natalie, The Educational Tourist