Paris 4 Day Itinerary: The Core Plus Versailles
Sofia Laurent· Europe Editor
Updated September 8, 2026 · 6 min read
The fourth Paris day has one honest use: Versailles, all day, done properly. The palace is two hours; the gardens and the Trianon estate are the other five. Trying to bolt Versailles onto a three-day trip is how travelers see neither well.
Budget at roughly €150 a day — about €600 for four days excluding flights, plus the ~€32 Versailles passport ticket. The RER C from central Paris takes forty minutes; the first train is the whole strategy.
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Add Versailles to your Paris plan →Days 1–3: The Classic Core
The islands-and-Louvre day, the Montmartre-and-Marais day, and the grand-axis day to the Eiffel Tower — our 3-day itinerary's arc, unchanged and proven.
Day 4: Versailles Without the Misery
First RER C train out, the palace at opening with a passport ticket (all three estates), the Hall of Mirrors before the funnel fills, then the day belongs to the gardens: the Trianon's quiet rooms, the Grand Canal's rowboats, and a picnic bought at the morning market. Return footsore and satisfied.
The 4-Day Shape
Classic core (1–3), Versailles all day (4).
Day 1 · Islands & the Louvre
Louvre's 9am slot, Sainte-Chapelle, Latin Quarter, Saint-Germain dinner.
Day 2 · Montmartre & the Marais
Sacré-Cœur early, the butte's lanes, Place des Vosges, Marais bistro.
Day 3 · The Grand Axis
Tuileries to Trocadéro, Eiffel at golden hour from Champ de Mars.
Day 4 · Versailles, All Day
First RER out, palace at opening, gardens and Trianon until the feet quit.
Practical planning info
Versailles logistics
- Passport ticket online, days or weeks ahead — same-day queues are real.
- Gardens cost extra on fountain-show days; check the calendar.
- Closed Mondays — plan around it.
Budget
- About €600 for four days at planning figures, excluding flights.
- The Versailles ticket (~€32) is the only new line item.
Frequently asked questions
Is Versailles worth a full day?
Yes — the palace is two hours, the gardens and Trianon are the other five. The rushed half-day version is the classic regret.
4 days in Paris or 3 plus another city?
Both work. Four days suits a deeper Paris; three days plus London or Amsterdam suits first-time-Europe trips.
How much does 4 days in Paris cost?
About €600 excluding flights at our €150/day planning estimate, plus the Versailles ticket.
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