Île-de-France, France
Paris Travel Guide
The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Montmartre and Versailles — a 4-day route that pairs the City of Light's classics with its neighbourhood spirit.
Currency
EUR €
Visa
A Schengen visa is required for many non-EU nationalities (ETIAS planned). Check your passport's specific requirements.
Best Season
April–June and September–October
Airport
CDG
How to spend 4 days in Paris
Day 1
The Left Bank & the Eiffel Tower
- 🌅
Eiffel Tower
viewBuy your ticket online; late afternoon is ideal for the sunset illumination and photos from Trocadéro.
- 🌳
Champ de Mars
parkThe lawn at the foot of the tower — the classic picnic spot with a full Eiffel view.
- 🎨
Musée d'Orsay
museumImpressionist masterpieces (Monet, Van Gogh) in a former railway station; less crowded than the Louvre.
- 🏘️
Saint-Germain-des-Prés
neighbourhoodHistoric cafés (Les Deux Magots) and bookshops; bistros for dinner.
Day 2
The Louvre & the historic centre
- 🎨
The Louvre
museumBuy a timed-entry ticket online; seeing it all in one day is impossible, so pick your priorities. Closed Tuesdays.
- 🌳
Tuileries Garden
parkThe classic French garden stretching from the Louvre to Concorde.
- ⛪
Île de la Cité & Notre-Dame
churchThe cathedral reopened in 2024; nearby, the stained glass of Sainte-Chapelle.
- 🏘️
Le Marais
neighbourhoodNarrow streets, boutiques, falafel (Rue des Rosiers) and Place des Vosges.
Day 3
Montmartre & the north
- ⛪
Sacré-Cœur Basilica
churchA free panorama over Paris from the hilltop; go up by funicular or the stairs.
- ⛲
Place du Tertre
squareThe painters' square — touristy, but the soul of Montmartre.
- 🏘️
Montmartre back streets
neighbourhoodQuiet lanes, the vineyard (Clos Montmartre) and the Amélie cafés.
- 🏛️
Opéra Garnier
historyA sumptuous interior and grand staircase; the area around it (the Galeries Lafayette dome) is free.
Day 4
Versailles & the grand boulevards
- 🏛️
Palace of Versailles
history~40 min on the RER C; buy your ticket online for the Hall of Mirrors. Closed Mondays.
- 🌳
Gardens of Versailles
parkVast gardens; musical fountain days, with bikes and boats to rent.
- ⛲
Champs-Élysées & the Arc de Triomphe
squareOn the way back; a boulevard view from the arch's terrace.
- 🌅
Evening walk along the Seine
viewPont Alexandre III and the illuminated Eiffel; an optional boat tour.
This is a sample itinerary. Create a personalized plan around your own dates, budget and interests.
Create my Paris plan→How much does a trip to Paris cost per person?
€55–85/day (hostels outside Paris, boulangerie, free parks)
€100–180/day (3★ hotel, bistro meals, 1–2 museums; ~30% higher in Paris)
€220–450/day (4–5★ hotel, fine dining, private tours; Paris and the palaces at the higher end)
Estimated daily spend (food, local transport, museums — excluding accommodation). Flights and hotels are calculated separately.
Do you need a visa?
France: A Schengen visa is required for many non-EU nationalities (ETIAS planned). Check your passport's specific requirements..
Visa and transit rules can change; confirm the official consulate information before you travel.
When to go?
April–June and September–October (mild weather, fewer crowds).
Regional identity runs deep: bouchons in Lyon (charcuterie boards, quenelle), ratatouille and bouillabaisse in Provence, cassoulet and duck in Bordeaux, Calvados and Camembert in Normandy. Dinner is 7:30–9:30pm, and small restaurants close between 2 and 7pm. Breakfast at the boulangerie (croissant + café) is standard, and apéritif culture starts around 6pm.
France with a Turkish passport: visa & transit status
Visa status
A Schengen visa is required for many non-EU nationalities (ETIAS planned). Check your passport's specific requirements.. Official source for the current visa regime applied to Turkish citizens: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Transit / connection
An airport transit visa (ATV) may be needed via Schengen.
Some Schengen countries (Germany, the Netherlands, France, Spain…) require Turkish citizens to hold an airport transit visa (type A / ATV) when connecting to a destination OUTSIDE Schengen.
Exemption: A valid Schengen visa (in some countries a valid US/Canada visa or residence permit) exempts you from the ATV. If your destination is itself in Schengen you will already hold a Schengen visa, so this connection is not a problem.
Official source: www.schengenvisainfo.com
Last updated: July 2026. Visa and transit rules can change — before you apply or buy a ticket, confirm on mfa.gov.tr and with the relevant consulate.
Create your plan on this route→Airport
CDG
How to get to Paris
International flights typically connect via IST.
The TGV (SNCF) is Europe's best high-speed rail network — Paris–Lyon 2h, Paris–Marseille 3h, Paris–Bordeaux 2h. Within cities, the Paris metro is extensive (zones 1–5, Navigo card). The Côte d'Azur coast is linked by train (Nice–Monaco–Cannes). Renting a car makes sense for the Loire and Provence. The Eurostar runs from London, the Thalys from Brussels/Amsterdam.
Plan your flights and itinerary together→- 01
Book Louvre and Eiffel Tower tickets online at least a month ahead; in summer you'll otherwise queue for hours.
- 02
On the Paris metro use a Navigo Easy card (far cheaper than single tourist tickets).
- 03
Museums are usually closed on Monday or Tuesday (it varies by site).
- 04
If the bill says service compris (service included), tipping isn't required; small rounding is enough.
- 05
Versailles is very crowded in summer — go at the 09:00 opening or after 3pm.
- 06
Check the tide times for Mont Saint-Michel in advance (mont-saint-michel.com).
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