Paris is one of my favourite cities, the one that made me fall in love with travelling. Paris is romantic, cultured and sophisticated, with so much to see and do. It’s hard to do Paris justice in just four days. I’ve visited twice now and there are still entire sections of the city I’ve yet…
One of my favourite views at the Palace of Versailles, is the one overlooking the Orangerie and Pond of the Swiss. The Orangerie was built by Jules Hardouin-Mansart from 1684 and 1686. The garden is flanked with a grand 100-step staircase and contains over 1,000 trees, some over 200 years old! There are orange trees from…
This is the final post in our series about Versailles. In Part One, we toured the Palace of Versailles and in Part Two we visited the Trianon Palaces. Hands down, our favourite part of Versailles was the Queen’s Hamlet, a rustic retreat built for Marie-Antoinette. The Queen is famed for her desire to escape the…
In December each year, there is a light and fireworks show at the Queen’s Hamlet. It was fantastic! I’ll also always remember our visit because Paris had just had an unusual snow. It was so wet and muddy that the mud ate the heel of my boot. And back in Paris the next day I had an excuse to shop. :)April 2, 2014 – 3:46 amReplyCancel
This is Part Two of a three part series about Versailles. In Part One, we toured the Palace of Versailles and in Part Three we will visit the Queen’s Hamlet. On my first trip to the Palace of Versailles 15 years ago, I didn’t get a chance to explore the property as much as I…
We visited Versailles in winter, so it was still pleasant to see the gardens. But I’d love to go back and see the gardens in bloom and the fountains with water in them. Plus, there was a hot potato cart in the gardens that seriously had the best baked potato I’ve ever had in my life! It’d totally be worth visiting again for that alone.April 2, 2014 – 2:40 amReplyCancel
The first time I visited the Palace of Versailles, I was in the eleventh grade on my first trip to Europe. I still vividly recall how amazed I was by the decadent furnishings, the sparkling hall of mirrors, the grand fountains, and the symmetry and preciseness of the colourful gardens. After that trip, Versailles was…
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Phoebe @ Lou Messugo - What a fabulous itinerary and what lovely photos. You sure did get lucky with the weather in this visit. Having lived in Paris for 10 years I think one area I’d add that you didn’t mention is the Marais and Place des Vosges, but like you said, everyone’s interests are different and there’s so much to see that in 4 days you’ll never see it all! I think your advice of seeing things AND taking time just to watch the world go by from a café terrace is good advice. It’s a very Parisian thing to do after all. Thank you for joining in with #AllAboutFrance Rhonda.March 5, 2015 – 10:54 am
Valerie McDonald - I’m going to France in April. My friend and I are taking a Viking river cruise down the Rhone. We’ll then take the train back up to Paris for 5 days. We are staying in the Latin Quarter. Your post is a big help. We are “art people” and are planning to go to Giverny as well. Thank you.March 5, 2015 – 2:05 pm
Cathy Sweeney - Ah, Paris! I’ve been three times, each for just a few days and in December, and I feel like I’ve just scratched the surface. So much more (including some of the things you mention) that I need to see and do and I’d love to see Paris is season other than winter. :) Your photos are fantastic.March 5, 2015 – 5:32 pm
Esme - Ahh-so you were in Europe in the summer-that explains the colour and light in your photos. I have never seen a rat in Paris-thank goodness. It is a city I never tire off-that said it has been over a year since I was last there. Your honeymoon sounds delightful.
PS I am originally from Canada. My mum was a teacher-I really should have considered it.
thank you for stopping by.March 5, 2015 – 9:46 pm
Sara - Great itinerary! It is so hard to narrow down what to do in 4 days in Paris. There is so much to do, and I think you hit it right – you have to accept that you can’t do everything and allow time too to just wander around and enjoy the city without running from one thing to the next. I love that you included Saint-Étienne-du-Mont! That’s one of my favorite churches in Paris – I just love the interior!March 6, 2015 – 2:31 am
thebeesleybuzz - there are some great tips there – would totally agree about steps on eiffel tower – we got so fed up of the queues and it was a cold and windy night when we went. x #allaboutfranceMarch 9, 2015 – 4:13 pm
Uptourist - I heard that there’s a bar that you can visit that has a beautiful view of the Eiffel tower. They said that it’s even better than visiting the tower itself.March 25, 2015 – 11:38 pm
Marc - Great info and love the pictures. I think its easily can be done. Lived in Paris over 35 years and done all those places but I didn’t know if I could do in 4 days obviously it can be done. great!June 12, 2015 – 3:48 pm
Elsa Myburgh - VERY HELPFUL THANKSOctober 27, 2015 – 8:42 am
Jeevan Gaikwad - I checked a few sites before bumping into this one and this has been the most helpful thus far! Thank you.October 29, 2015 – 9:49 am
Pauline Macapagal - Thanks for this! Out of all 4 day itinerary suggestions I’ve read, this is the most realistic for me and 2 of my friends so far! However, I do see the Orsay Museum is missing in here – where do you suggest we insert this (I am also not much of a museum person)? And we also plan on inserting in a french wine tasting.May 13, 2016 – 2:06 am
Leanne - Great info and pictures. I have visited Paris twice for 4 days each time and there is so much to see. I’ve tried doing The Louvre twice and seem to just see the same two galleries before I leave exhausted.
I did enjoy the Military Museum and Napoleon’s Tomb at Les Invalides. The Musee d’Orsay is much more manageable than the Louvre if you must fit in a museum, but my favourite was the Rodin Museum which is quite close to the Eiffel Tower and Les Invalides – it includes a garden of his sculptures including “The Thinker” and a wonderful collection of his early drawings.
Climb to the top of Sacre Coeur Bascilica – the view is amazing.May 13, 2016 – 6:41 am
Rhonda Krause - You are absolutely right- there is so much to experience in Paris! My two visits weren’t near enough either. I wanted to see “The Thinker”, but didn’t have a chance. Maybe next time!May 18, 2016 – 5:45 pm
Catte Lopez - I’m going in October for the first time for 5 days. I’ve been overwhelmed with the options of what to see, and do, and eat! Your itinerary helped me narrow down some ideas! Thanks!!June 28, 2016 – 3:34 am