4 days in Paris - Trip Itenirary Suggestions please

I haven't heard of Sandeman's walking tours. I did a tour of Montemarte with Paris Walks and it was excellent.

I'm not much of a shopper, at home or during our travels.I've not been in the Galeries Lafayette, but I've heard its lovely with "high end" shopping. I did walk the Champs-Élysées, from the Arc de Triomphe to the Louvre, it was a pretty walk, but just know many of the shops are mid price range chains, I'm remembering, Disney Store, H & M, sort of places. My recollection was that Marais had many unique and more high end shops.

Galeries Lafayette Is beautiful he worth a visit if only for the architecture.

Rick Steve’s’ Paris guidebook has some delightful self-guided walks, some of which are in areas with nice shops. We’ve enjoyed getting to know Paris by following all of the walks in his book.

I would seriously consider skipping Versailles.

Sacre Bleu, you think. How could I not go there?!

• It will be hot.
• It will be crowded.
• It will take all day.
• It will be exhausting.
• Much of the art is pretty mediocre.
• The gardens are big, but lack real elegance that you will find in other gardens.
• It will be full of tourists.
• EDITED TO ADD just re-read your post: The palace is very much a crowded museum

There are many neighborhoods in Paris to wander. Le Marais, Rue Cler, the Latin Quarter and St. Germain, Montmartre

There are many small, less crowded museums to explore. The Cluny, Rodin, Carnevalet, Musee Orangerie, Marmotten, Jewish History and Art, Petit Palais. EDITED: the nice thing about small, less crowded museums is that you can be in and out quickly and escape the crowds. For this reason, scratch the Orangerie off the list.

Enjoy a cafe, pastries, French and Parisian history as the people of Paris have lived it. Consider a walking tour, a cooking class, a visit to Balzac’s house or Victor Hugo’s house. An organ recital in a church. A jazz club. Escape the heat by walking through some of the Passages Couvertes.

You just have three days in Paris plus your arrival day. Enjoy Paris.

Thank you all- this is helpful. A lot to think about - maybe skip Versailles as you suggested. We were going to the gallerie Lafayette just for Architecture but open to skipping it

We are staying in st germain, doing a tour and evening in Monte marte and def want to get to Rue cler and marais too.

Supiii,
Day I sounds good. We are happy with Vedettes de Pont Neuf for the Seine cruise. About one hour, narrated (live, not a recording), inexpensive, can reserve a time online. Sit up top for best viewing. Get in line a bit early to snag a top deck seat. Bring something for warmth unless it is hot. You can check when sunset is that day and reserve a cruise for then to see the Eiffel Tower get lit up. We have used Vedettes several times and feel it is the best for this type of cruise.

Day 2 Yes to Notre Dame (even earlier time if you can). I don't recommend walking (gradual uphill) the Champs Elysees...too many chain stores and chain restaurants. It is best looking down from the Arc de Triomphe toward the Place de la Concord with the Tuileries beyond. And after the Louvre and the Tuileries, you may want to put your feet up for a while. I am guessing your 3:00 Louvre tour won't end before 5 at the latest. Then a minimum half hour through the Tuileries (at a good clip), and you won't feel like walking the whole length of the Champs Elysees. You might want to rethink this afternoon. (Could you get an earlier tour at the Louvre, say 1:00?) Since you aren't m useum people, I would pick one of the many smaller museums instead of the Louvre. Do you have any particular reason for choosing it? Maybe the Orsay instead?

Day 3 Versailles is truly an all day thing. I like it a lot, but with 4 days I would choose a less demanding side trip. Chartres is lovely and has a magnificent cathedral. Also, Vaux-le-Vicomte or Fontaunebleau are good day trips. You could get back in time for your Montmnartre tour if you left Paris by 8:00 or 9:00 and left these places by 3:00. Each of the three takes about an hour by train, plus or minus 15-20 minutes. (P.S., Go inside the Sacre Coeur cathedral to see the mosaics while you are in Montmartre.)

Day 4 I don't know the Lafayette shopping mall, but I love the beauty of Galeries Lafayette Hausmann, near the Opera Garnier. The Opera building is magnificent, with a wonderful Marc Chagall ceiling. Tours are on offer sometimes. It is a short walk to Galeries Lafayette from there, and Printemps is nearby too. Of course the truly high-end shopping street, IMO is the Rue Du Faubourg-Saint-Honore. I would definitely combine the Opera house visit with a visit to Galeries Lafayette. Look up while in the store and admire the ceiling. Go to its rooftop for a nice view of Paris, including Sacre-Coeur on Montmartre and the Eiffel Tower (in the distance).

Other possibilities which I might consider (leaving out museums, sadly) would be strolling along the left bank across from Notre Dame and checking out the bouquinistes for inexpensive mementoes, going to Ste. Chappelle (wonderful!), resting at a cafe with a coffee or aperitif and watching Paris walk by, sitting on the Champs de Mars and just staring at the Eiffel Tower, going to the Rodin Museum just to relish the sculptures in the gardens (I have been 7 or 8 times now and never tire of it). If a museum were to call to you, I would choose the Cluny or the Orsay. And Paris has many concerts at churches, etc., and Ste Chapelle also.

Hope you and your mother have a great time. Amusez-vous bien!

You have gotten such excellent advice here that I will only add a suggestion for Day 1 lunch: try Au Petite Suisse. It is right by the Luxembourg Gardens, and it is lovely. Delightful interior (stairs up to a cute balcony, which I recommend, if stairs are an option). Traditional bistro menu. Gracious waiters. Delicious food. We’ve been eating here for years and have never had a bad dish. https://aupetitsuisse.fr/fr

Hello!

I would also skip Versailles given your interests. An excellent replacement would be a tour of Palais Garnier, Place de l'Opera. It has the grandeur of architecture that you are looking for. It took my breath away! I suggest the tour at about 5 pm, I think it is called mystery of the Phantom.

The Opera Garnier is an excellent suggestion. If you don't have time, or can't get into a tour, walk around the outside and read the signs. Then go into the gift shop where you can see thru to the opera lobby. You don't see the Chagall ceiling, but you will see some of the lovely opera house.

With only four days for exploring Paris, I also would bypass Versailles. But I take issue with the above description of the Versailles garden. I personally think it's magnificent. The palace was not, for me. Meh.

If you go to Galleries Lafayette, consider including the view from the rooftop terrace. (maybe that's what is meant by wanting to see the architecture)
https://haussmann.galerieslafayette.com/en/the-terrace-at-galeries-lafayette/

-thank you all - this is incredibly helpful

a huga thanks esp to Judy for the very detailed reply adn ideas... i will incorporate your and everyone's suggestions!! thank you so very much