Because why settle for a relaxing holiday when you can fit everything into half the time!
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A Little Context (and a Little Chaos)
My sisters and I all share a passion for travelling—be it to the end of the street or the other side of the globe. One of them casually mentioned she’d love to visit Paris, which was more than enough reason for me to take it upon myself to organise a secret trip. (I love a good excuse to play “trip fairy,” you see.)
So, armed with a credit card and a slightly questionable sense of budgeting, I hopped on Booking.com, secured three Eurostar tickets, and whipped out a bright, shiny present for their birthdays. Voilà, the stage was set for four action-packed days in the City of Light! You can alternatively check a Hostelworld for an alternative accommodation.
Before You Go
- Insurance: You may never need it, but if you do and do not have it, you will be in hot water. Healthcare can be extremely expensive, and you definitely do not want unexpected bills to add even more to your holiday costs. Consider VisitorsCoverage, which provides travel insurance in over 175 countries.
- Staying Connected: Think about how you will stay in touch with friends and family back home. Yesim is a premier eSim provider, offering global solutions to keep you connected wherever you roam.
Alternative Ways to Travel
- Kiwi.com: Offers booking services for flights, trains, and bus tickets with unique “virtual interlining.”
- Rail Europe: Perfect for train travel enthusiasts—it provides routes, inspiration, and tools to help you navigate Europe by rail.
- GetTransfer.com: Ideal for booking transfers, long-distance trips, and taxi rides at attractive prices.
- AutoEurope: For the brave souls who fancy driving in a foreign country—this service compares prices and lets you book cars from various providers.
Bonus Tip: Book Ahead & Research
I highly suggest booking your entry tickets to any major attractions in advance. Paris is such a popular destination that you really do not want to spend half your holiday waiting in queues—you want to explore and, most importantly, have an amazing experience.
- GetYourGuide helps you discover the best things to do, including niche offerings you will not find anywhere else.
- Tiqets lets you book mobile tickets for attractions around the world (no printing required!).
- Viator boasts over 300,000 experiences, ranging from wine tastings and walking tours to cooking classes and catamaran rides.
- GoCity offers multi-attraction passes for top tourist spots worldwide, saving you up to 65% off the usual cost.
And finally, I always suggest doing a bit of pre-travel sleuthing on Tripadvisor. Reading other travellers’ reviews can help you refine your plans and avoid any hidden pitfalls.
Tip: If you fancy less stress, do consider spreading your Parisian joy over 6 or 7 days. But hey, if my sisters are involved, apparently we do everything in four. (No regrets … mostly.)
Where We Rested Our Weary Heads
- Est Hotel: Our actual home base for this trip—just a stone’s throw from Gare de l’Est and Gare du Nord. Couldn’t have been more convenient if we’d asked the city planners ourselves.
- Hôtel Jeanne d’Arc Le Marais: Another fantastic option, striking a wonderful balance between top quality and economical prices. Even if you don’t end up staying there, keep it in mind for your “I want value without living on the outskirts of Paris” mental list.
Day One: Montmartre Marvels
While my sisters love cramming everything in at breakneck speed, I’d recommend taking at least two or three days just for Montmartre. But if you’re feeling bold (or just a little bit mad), here’s what we tackled on Day One:
Bazylika Sacré-Coeur
- Because your legs simply haven’t lived until they’ve ascended all those steps. The view from the top is worth every single breathless gasp.
Place du Tertre (Pop into Le Consulat restaurant)
- Imagine artists everywhere, painting or sketching away, while you nibble on something classically French. It’s as if you stepped into an old French film, minus the black-and-white filter.
Rue de l’Abreuvoir (Check out La Maison Rose café)
- If pastel-pink Instagram opportunities are your thing, this café is your dream. Get those phones out!
Square Jehan Rictus (Behold “The I Love You” wall)
- 250 languages, one big universal message: Je t’aime. (Perfect spot for a romantic photo, though we just told each other how fabulous we were. Sisters, you know.)
Café des 2 Moulins (15 Rue Lepic – aka Amélie’s café)
- If you’re an Amélie fan, prepare to swoon over the film references. If you’re not, order a coffee and pretend you are. Easy.
Moulin Rouge
- We didn’t actually go in (a bit pricey for our last-minute scheme), but we did do the touristy photo thing in front of the iconic red windmill. Ten points for cliché.
Galeries Lafayette (Don’t miss the rooftop terrace & the gorgeous dome – 48 Bd Haussmann)
- If you’ve never experienced French retail therapy, Galeries Lafayette is a baptism by (glamorous) fire. The terrace view is stunning, and the ornate dome inside is jaw-droppingly beautiful.
Opéra Garnier
- Go inside if you can. The architectural grandeur might just tempt you to burst into opera yourself. (You can probably guess which sister tried. Spoiler: it wasn’t me.)
Paris Street Art: I must mention, if you keep your eyes peeled around the city, you’ll spot countless street art gems. Montmartre’s winding streets are especially laden with them, so have your camera at the ready.
Day Two: The Heart of Paris
Refuel with a croissant (or five) because Day Two is about to get real:
Porte Saint-Martin
- One of the many historic gateways. We took about 300 photos from various angles. Because obviously.
Westfield Forum des Halles
- If you can’t resist a good shopping centre, dive in. Your wallet may not thank you, but your wardrobe will.
59 Rivoli (The Artistic Squat)
- A hidden gem and a must-visit. Home to over 100 artists, it’s bursting with colour, creativity, and possibly the coolest elevator ride you’ll ever take.
Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois
- A beautiful church with a rich history—like stepping back in time, minus the plague and questionable hygiene (thank goodness).
Louvre
- The Mona Lisa. The pyramid. The mass of humanity. It’s iconic, so brace yourself for queues but do it anyway. You are in Paris, after all.
Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel
- Not to be confused with the Arc de Triomphe (that one’s on the Champs-Élysées). This smaller version is located near the Louvre and is still pretty impressive.
Notre-Dame Cathedral
- Recently reopened after that devastating fire. We were overjoyed to see it standing proud again, though it was very crowded.
Deportation Martyrs Memorial
- A poignant, often overlooked site behind Notre-Dame. Worth a reflective moment amidst the city’s hustle.
Panthéon
- Where the remains of many distinguished French citizens lie. It’s grand, it’s majestic, and it makes you feel slightly more intellectual just by standing near it.
Triumphal Arch
- Because Paris can’t have just one Triumphal Arch. This might refer to the big showstopper on the Champs-Élysées (commonly known simply as the Arc de Triomphe). Go up top for a panoramic city view if your legs (and budget) haven’t given up yet.
Pont de Bir-Hakeim
- Famous for that Inception scene. Also a top spot for a dreamy photo with the Eiffel Tower in the background.
Eiffel Tower
- Yes, it’s touristy. Yes, it’s obligatory. Go up, wave at everyone below, and pretend you’re living the Emily in Paris fantasy.
Day Three: The Day I Woke Up Feeling Under the Weather
While I was hugging the hotel pillow (and possibly cursing my luck), my sisters carried on with the itinerary. Later, I managed to drag myself out to join them, but here’s what they accomplished without me:
Rue des Barres
- Charming medieval street near the Seine, overshadowed by my sister’s boisterous excitement. She said it was “cute.” I’ll take her word for it.
Place des Vosges
- The oldest planned square in Paris and one of the prettiest. Good spot for a quick rest—or a final meltdown if you’ve been going non-stop.
Place de la Bastille
- Historically significant, of course, though not much remains of the old prison. My sister was thrilled to see the monument. I was thrilled to eventually catch up with them.
Cimetière Père Lachaise
- Home to the resting places of Chopin, Jim Morrison, and Edith Piaf, amongst others. You’d be surprised at how many people treat this cemetery like a must-see attraction (for good reason). I finally caught up with them here—took me a minute to find them, mind you!
The Centre Pompidou
- Industrial-chic meets modern art. The view from the top is spectacular. If you only do one cultural “must,” this is a strong contender.
Day Four: Modern Paris at La Défense
Our youngest sister had to head home (someone in the group had to pretend to be a responsible adult). So, the remaining two of us ventured to La Défense—the city’s business district:
- It’s all skyscrapers, modern sculptures, and wide plazas. If you squint, you might think you’re in New York. We found it a fascinating contrast to the rest of Paris, and let’s be honest: we felt extremely cosmopolitan strutting around all those glass towers.
Fun Fact: The Grande Arche de la Défense was designed as a 20th-century version of the Arc de Triomphe. This city sure loves its arches.
Final Thoughts
After four whirlwind days, we left Paris with full hearts, overloaded camera rolls, and the sense that we’d just run the world’s largest obstacle course. If you’re planning a trip to Paris—especially one with your overexcited siblings—please heed my advice and give yourself more time to soak it all in. There’s simply too much to see, do, and eat in just four days (though we certainly tried).
There is also an amazing option to visit Paris during a festive season. You can read more about it in my other blog There’s Never Too Much of Paris—Especially at Christmas.
Whether you choose the cosy Est Hotel, the charming Hôtel Jeanne d’Arc Le Marais, or something else entirely, take the time to wander, to pause, and to savour every flaky croissant. And maybe, just maybe, avoid the post-holiday exhaustion that inevitably comes when you sprint through the City of Light like you’re on a mission from the travel gods.
Until the next mad dash … au revoir!
MKS Photography Travel 
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