Our Paris itinerary collects world-class museums, iconic monuments, hidden cocktail bars and the best of the third-wave coffee shops. Here’s how to make the most of 3 days in Paris.
There’s an intoxication that only Paris can deliver.
It’s a city that – like the French – puts its best foot forward. Rambling cobbled laneways meet grand boulevards where triumphant monuments to victories past stand unscathed from the battles that followed. Stunning buildings have swallowed the world’s finest art treasures, and towering basilicas showcase the most impressive stained-glass windows you’re ever likely to lay eyes on.
Eating a pastry from a tiny boulangerie while strolling along the Seine; dipping into quaint atmospheric bistros and trendy hipster cafes; revelling in iconic views and exuberant nightlife; recuperating in serene parks. There’s a host of wonderful experiences to collect on our Paris itinerary.
We’re under no illusion that Paris can be fully explored in 3 or even 4 days. However, we’ve designed this itinerary to put all our favourite top sights (and some lesser-known gems) in the right order so first-time visitors to Paris need waste no time.
You won’t see all of Paris, but it’s a pretty good start.
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IN THIS GUIDE
3-DAY PARIS ITINERARY
DAY 1
Jardin du Palais Royal
Musée Louvre
Latin Quarter & Notre Dame
Le Marais
DAY 2
Musée Rodin
Eiffel Tower
Champs-Élysées
Arc de Triomphe
DAY 3
Musée D’Orsay
Tuileries & Opéra
Sacré-Cœur & Montmartre
DAY TRIPS FROM PARIS
WHERE TO STAY
TIPS FOR PARIS ATTRACTIONS
GETTING AROUND
BEST TIME TO VISIT
HOW TO USE OUR PARIS ITINERARY
Our Paris itinerary has been designed so you can walk between most sights, without needing to catch public transport too often. The walk to Musée Rodin on the 2nd day could be fairly long depending on where you are staying and you’ll most likely need to get the metro to Montmartre on the 3rd day. Other than that, we’ve lined up the attractions based on the proximity to each other.
Simply follow the sights in the order we have them listed below which, in effect, is a wonderful 3-day walking tour of Paris.
You can find all the places we visited on the map below, organised by day. To save the map, make sure you are logged in to your Google account, then click on the star to the right of the title. This will save the map to your Google account.
DAY 1 – IMPRESSIVE ART & HIP NEIGHBOURHOODS
Begin this 3-day Paris itinerary by exploring world-class museums, before continuing on a compact loop that collects many of the cities top sights. End the day in the very cool Le Marais area.
JARDIN DU PALAIS ROYAL
Begin with a stroll through the box hedge symmetry and manicured gardens of the Jardin du Palais Royal. It’s surrounded by some of the most beautiful arcades in Paris including Galerie de Montpensier and Galerie Beaujolais. The palace is closed to the public, however, the polka dot art installation is a popular photo spot in Paris.
MUSÉE LOUVRE
Walk the short distance to the Louvre to immerse yourself in possibly the world’s premier museum and a Paris icon. It’s impossible to see everything in one visit so this guide on what to see in the Louvre is a good starting point. The French & Italian masterpieces are the most popular thanks to a truly world-class collection including the Mona Lisa. Napoleon’s lavish well-preserved apartments are another gem.
Grab a classic lunch at the reasonably priced Au Vieux Comptoir where the service is friendly and the atmosphere trés French.
Musée Louvre / 9:00 – 18:00 Mon, Thu, Sat & Sun; 09:00 – 21:45 Wed & Fri | Price: €17 online; €15 at museum | Location: Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris
SAINTE CHAPPELLE
After lunch take a 15-minute stroll down the Seine to the stunning Sainte Chappelle – easily one of the best places to visit in Paris. Tucked away behind the Palais du Justice, the upstairs chapel – completely adorned with stained glassed windows – is simply breathtaking.
Sainte Chapelle / 9:00 – 17:00 (1 Oct-31 Mar); 09:00 – 19:00 (1 Apr-30 Sep) | Price: €10 | Location: 8 Boulevard du Palais, 75001 Paris
LATIN QUARTER
Next, head back onto the left bank of the Seine to the Latin Quarter stopping at Shakespeare & Company bookstore. It’s a small but rambling store with old books crammed into every nook and definitely worth a visit as you’re walking past.
Shakespeare & Company Bookstore / 10:00 – 22:00 | Price: Free | Location: 37 Rue de la Bûcherie, 75005 Paris
NOTRE DAME
Exiting the bookstore, Notre Dame rises up in front of you. It’s been closed since the tragic fire in April 2019, and it’s not expected to reopen for another 5 years. You can visit the nearby tourist office and pay your respects or leave a donation for the rebuild. Stop for an excellent ice cream at Berthillon – one of the best ice cream shops in Paris, then head over the river to the impressive Hotel du Ville.
LE MARAIS
Now in cool Le Marais, explore the shopping, drinking and eating opportunities in this vibrant part of Paris. Mustering the last pieces of tourist energy, potter around the modern art collection at the Pompidou Centre, which stays open until 9 pm.
Pompidou Centre / 11:00 – 22:00 (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun); 11:00 – 23:00 (Thu); Closed: Tue & 1 May | Price: €14 | Location: Place Georges-Pompidou, 75004 Paris
DAY 2 – THIRD-WAVE PARIS COFFEE & ICONIC VIEWS
Day 2 of our Paris itinerary visits one of our favourite museums, Musée Rodin before trying out some of the best coffee in Paris on the way to the most iconic sights in the city.
MUSÉE RODIN
Start today at Musée Rodin. One of the most unique galleries in Paris, it has an excellent collection of Rodin’s sculptures both inside the museum and in the formal gardens. Works by Van Gogh and Monet – two of the most famous painters in the world – are an added bonus.
Head to Coutume Café for brunch and one of the best coffees in Paris. They roast their own beans and work them into a dense velvety coffee, which goes perfectly with their small selection of seasonal brunch items.
Musée Rodin / 10:00 – 17:45 Tue-Sun; Closed Mon | Price: €12 | Location: 77 Rue de Varenne, 75007 Paris
EIFFEL TOWER
Recharged, walk to Champ de Mars for a magnificent vista over the iconic Eiffel Tower – a view that rivals some of the best hotels in Paris with a view.
Personally, we think the views from other monuments are easier and better. However, if you decide to go up the Eiffel Tower, we strongly recommend booking tickets in advance to reduce the queue. You can either take the lift all the way to the summit, or the stairs to the second floor, which is around 1600 steps. Book tickets here.
Eiffel Tower / 9:00 – 22:30 for the top; until 23:00 late Jun to early Sep | Price: Multiple prices, book online here | LocationChamp de Mars, 5 Avenue, 75007 Paris
CHAMPS-ÉLYSÉES
Cross the river to the Jardins de Trocadero and collect some photos from one of the best vantage points of the Eiffel Tower. Then, stroll along the river to the glorious Pont Alexander III and the nearby stunning Petit & Grand Palais.
LADURÉE
Walk along the Champs-Élysées and stop at Ladurée for a delicious macaroon. Avoid the takeaway line by queueing up for the restaurant. Efficient servers whisk macaroon-only patrons past the gorgeous restaurant and up to the eccentric bar where it’s perfectly acceptable to lunch on macaroons and a cup of tea.
ARC DE TRIOMPHE
As the afternoon wanes, head to the Arc de Triomphe; one of the most famous landmarks in the world. Today the tomb of the unknown soldier sits at its base and the eternal flame commemorating those that died in war is re-lit every day at 18:30.
After admiring the decorative pylons from below, climb up to the viewing platform to enjoy one of the best views in town as the sun sets over the second of your Paris itinerary.
Arc de Triomphe / 10:00 – 22:30 | Price: €8 | Location: Place Charles de Gaulle, 75008 Paris
DAY 3 – BEAUTIFUL ARCADES & GOING LOCAL IN MONTMATRE
On day 3, explore the beautiful covered arcades before heading out to Montmartre to start a classic Paris evening to finish this 3-day itinerary.
MUSEÉ D’ORSAY
Start today at the Musée d’Orsay. Housed in a magnificent railway station, it has the world’s largest collection of impressionist and post-impressionist masterpieces in the world. If the impressive collection of art isn’t enough, the building itself is stunning. It’s one of our favourite galleries in Paris.
Musée d’Orsay / 9:30 – 18:00 (Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun); 9:30 – 21:45 Thur; Closed Mon | Price: €14 | Location: 1 Rue de la Légion d’Honneur, 75007 Paris
TUILERIES
Cross over the Seine and explore the Tuileries. For a unique art experience, pop into Musée de l’Orangerie which houses Monet’s Water Lillies in a purpose-built modern room. The only place in the world you can see this creation.
Musée de l’Orangerie / 9:00 – 18:00 Wed – Mon; Closed Tue | Price: €9 | Location: Jardin Tuileries, 75001 Paris
COVERED ARCADES
Stroll past the Place de la Concorde, l’Eglise de Madeleine and the rather impressive Palais Garnier, before grabbing lunch in the covered shopping arcades. Passage des Panoramas is full of enticing food shops and quirky merchandise, the ideal place to grab some Paris souvenirs. Passage Jouffroy is packed full of quaint boutiques and cute bookshops.
MONTMARTRE ESPACE DALÌ
In the afternoon hop on metro 12 at Notre-Dame-de-Lorette to Abbesses. Stroll up the hill and around the delightful squares of Montmartre, before popping into Espace Dalí. It’s a fantastic collection of Dalí’s work and one of the many cool things to do in Paris. The gallery has insightful information to help interpret his more inaccessible pieces.
Espace Dalí / 10:00 – 18:00 | Price: €9 – €12 | Location: 11 Rue Poulbot, 75018 Paris
SACRÉ-CŒUR
As the light wanes head to Sacré Cœur. This dome basilica offers a picture-postcard Paris moment. Climb the 300 stairs to the top of the basilica for unrivalled views of the city in the fading light.
For dinner, head to one of the many french bistros that line roads of Montmartre – one of the great food experiences in Paris.
Sacré Cœur / 6:30 – 22:30 (Basilica); 8:30 – 20:00 (Dome) May – Sep; 9:00 – 17:00 Oct – Apr | Price: Basilica free; Dome: €5 | Location: 1 Parvis du Sacré-Cœur, 75018 Paris
PIGALLE
As the evening rolls in stroll down to Pigalle to explore the area around Moulin Rouge and enjoy a proper Parisian cocktail in one of the many places packed into Rue Frochot.
Dirty Dick gets our pick for the weird cocktails and friendly staff. But if you’re more sophisticated than us, you might enjoy Glass. Either way, it’s a great way to end your 3 day Paris itinerary.
DAY 4 – DAY TRIP FROM PARIS
If you have time to extend your Paris itinerary to 4 days, spend it on one of the many interesting day trips from Paris.
VERSAILLES DAY TRIP
Soak up the lavish surroundings of Versailles and learn about the chequered history of the palace since the time of Marie Antoinette. Perhaps you have a thirst that you just couldn’t quench in Paris. If so, head to Reims– the heart of the champagne region. A champagne tasting tour is a great way to explore this beautiful area.
SOMME BATTLEFIELDS DAY TRIP
For something far more sobering, visit the Somme Battlefields to see where the horrors of the First World War took place. There are memorials from each country impacted in the battle and the trench system where much of the conflict took place is still intact.
GIVERNY DAY TRIP
At just 50 minutes from Paris, a day trip to the Monet Garden at Giverny is a stunning way to submerge yourself in the inspiration of one of France’s most celebrated artists.
WHERE TO STAY IN PARIS
We recommend staying in Le Marais 4th arrondissement. It has a cool vibe and a wide range of cafes, bars and restaurants that span the spectrum from cheap eats to fine dining. Le Marais is very central with many of the best sights nearby. Close proximity to a number of metro stations gives you access to easy transport links to other parts of the city.
There are some great hostels in Paris, and Airbnb is always a good. This article has some great suggestions on where to stay in Paris, otherwise, here are some recommendations from us.
ULTRA-MODERN BUDGET
MAMA SHELTER
Mama Shelter is a stylish and modern hotel, nestled among artists studios and cobbled streets in East Paris. They do simple French cooking in the kitchen and exotic cocktails in the trendy bar. The buffet breakfast is very good.
HIP & ELEGANT
THE HOXTON PARIS
Set in an 18th-century mansion, the Hoxton is designed to be relaxed and comfortable without the unnecessary frills. It’s buzzy, it’s cool and the aesthetic is designed for maximum satisfaction. The food is French styled small plates. Delicious.
PERUVIAN BLING
1K PARIS
Set in the bustling Le Marais district, 1K Paris delivers high-tech Peruvian style in an excellent location. The rooms and bright and spacious with excellent amenities. There’s a breakfast buffet but the Peruvian food really shines at dinner.
TIPS FOR VISITING TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN PARIS
Book online for as many of the big attractions as you can so you can spend more time exploring Paris and less time waiting in a queue. If you are after more local discoveries then read our friend Karis post of her favourite less-visited Parisian sights. Also before you go, read this list of what not to do in Paris.
THE PARIS MUSEUM PASS
The Paris Museum Pass provides access to over 50 monuments and museums (permanent collections only) without the need to wait in line. If you see all of the sights in this itinerary, the pass will more than pay for itself.
There is currently a 2-day pass, a 4-day pass and a 6-day pass. We recommend the 4-day pass for this itinerary which you can purchase here.
Please keep in mind, due to COVID restrictions, you will need to pre-book a timeslot for most attractions in Paris, even with the Paris Museum Pass. Face masks are mandatory in all indoor sites in Paris.
OPENING HOURS IN PARIS
Most stores in Paris usually operate from 9:30am to 7:30pm, Monday to Saturday. Most large department stores open late on Thursday evenings, usually until around 9 or 10pm.
Shops in tourist areas will usually be open on Sundays.
The museums and art galleries have different opening times so it’s important to check before you go. As mentioned above, with COVID a timeslot needs to be pre-booked in advance so it’s hard to go wrong.
Please note: Many museums in Paris close on either Monday or Tuesday.
OUR RECOMMENDED PARIS TOURS
We recommended booking the most popular tours in advance, particularly for the Eiffel Tower visit which can have staggeringly long queues.
GETTING AROUND PARIS
Most international flights land at Charles de Gaulle airport. It’s a 40-minute taxi ride to the centre of Paris, but it’s much cheaper to hop on the métro and take RER line B.
The Eurostar arrives at Paris Gare du Nord station, from where it’s easy to catch the metro into central Paris.
By far the best way to get about the city is to walk. Paris is simply a stunning place to amble around. Our Paris itinerary strolls the best parts of the city without doing too much walking on any one day.
PARIS METRO TICKETS
The Paris Visite Travel Pass provides unlimited travel on all public transport in Paris including the metro, tram, bus and train network, covering the airport, Disneyland Paris and Château de Versailles.
The price for 3 days is €26.65 for the Paris area or €53.75 to include day trips from Paris. This is probably excellent value if you were using public transport regularly, however, because we have designed this Paris itinerary to be walkable, the pass is not worth if you intend to follow our guide.
A better option is to purchase a “Carnet” of 10 tickets from the vending machines at the metro station when you arrive which cost 16.90. The vending machines are easy to use, but they only take coins or credit/debit cards.
BEST TIME TO GO TO PARIS
The best time to visit Paris is during the shoulder seasons of April to June and September to November. The crowds are fewer than in summer and the temperature milder than winter. Our personal favourite is May to June when the gardens are green and packed with flowers and the days are long.
But to be honest, any time is a good time to visit Paris.
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WHERE NEXT?
Firstly, if you found this guide useful, follow us on Instagram to stay up to date with our travels.
For all our city-based guides, head over to our city break page where we have a selection of articles from some of the cities we love.
Here are some more of our France guides you might find useful.
The nature-rich charms of Arcachon Bay
Idyllic rural life in the beautiful Dordogne
A guide to visiting Dune du Pilat
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This was an amazing itinerary & you take the most beautiful photos. I love having my days packed with things to do while I’m traveling so this is really just perfect. I can’t wait to go back. Thanks for sharing!
-Dei
Thanks Dei, we love having our days packed with activities as well and Paris is the perfect place to do it. Thanks for stopping by, glad you liked it.
Excellent article with great photos. I wish I had read this prior to visiting Paris this year, it would have given us more of a plan that just wandering around. Also thank you for including your costs, this helps plan our visit next time knowing what we have to budget for. I am certainly going to bookmark this article. Thank you.
You’re welcome, glad you found it useful. There’s always more to do in Paris, so have fun on your next trip.
I visited Paris on multiple occasions and it’s one of my most favorite capitals in Europe. I have to say, I’m impressed how much you covered in just three days. I hope you get the chance to visit again and stay a bit longer though Thank you for this lovely read and keep up the great work
Thank Daniel. We’ve spent much longer in Paris than 3 days, this is just our advice for what to do if you only have 3 days. Still, looking forward to going back again as there’s always so much great stuff to see.
I love the pictures of Paris and how you have arranged them in different forms and sizes on the blog. Went to all these places and this post brings back my fond memories of the city of lights. The Champs-elysses road is so beautiful.
Thanks a lot. When you have a city this beautiful taking photos is not so hard!
Paris is amazing! I believe you can see a lot in three days. Their metro line is very handy, and we were able to tour most of these places in couple days. But… there is always more. After you have seen the most famous places, you will discover more and more places in Paris that you would like to see. It is just such an interesting city I think.
Completely agree. We have been many times and always find something different and interesting to do. A truly great city.
Absolutely beautiful impressions, Paul! You caught Paris from such a lovely perspective, it really amazes me. I absolutely agree, since we also did a 3-days-trip to Paris and this cit simply has so much to offer that you could easily spend 3 weeks there. Plus all these great tips, which helps a lot to plan a trip to the city of love. Overall, one more great article!
Thanks for your lovely comments, Hendrik. We had a great time in Paris on this trip, it’s such a beautiful city. Very easy to photograph. Thanks for stopping by.
You are right. There is just so much to see and do in Paris. It can truly get overwhelming. I have been there twice. Yet, I don’t think I have seen it all. You have put together a wonderful itinerary for three days. A bit of both the famous and not-so-famous. And I truly love your pictures. They do absolute justice to the beauty of Paris.
Thanks, Soumya. We had a great time there this trip, already looking forward to going back.
I loved you itinerary! There is just so much to do in Paris and to packs it all in 3 days is nearly impossible; glad you were able to cover so much! I would also pick walking over metros and cabs if possible, because it feels like there in so much to see there and given staying and visiting places is already so expensive there, walking might just save some bucks. Also, yours pictures and stunning, loved every single one of them!!!
Walking around Paris is always a great idea. The metro is very efficient, but there’s nothing like just strolling around – so many great things to see on your way anywhere in Paris!
You sold it to me within the first few paragraphs! France has never interested me until lately, I’m your typical tourist so for this reason alone I need to go check out pretty much all the above! Have pinned for future reference in case we do decide to book a trip to Paris 🙂
Thanks a lot. Hope you get the chance to go soon. It’s a great city.
I am yet to visit Paris, though my hubby has already been there and stayed there for over a month. But I am sure, he hasn’t seen much in those 30 days. On the other hand, you who have covered a lot in your three-days. What a comprehensive itinerary indeed. I do agree , that one could explore Paris by foot much better than cabs. It is both economical as well the best way to explore the hidden gems!
That doesn’t sound right that your hubby has been and you haven’t! I think you need to start looking into a trip.
Been to Paris twice already and still there is so much to see and do!
Being an art history major, I’ve deliberately skipped Louvre in both trips.
I would need atleast 2 days just to see Louvre!!! So I chose not to give half a day for it!
So yes, I have to visit Paris again! So, thanks for this awesome itinerary!!!
You’re right, you need to save the Louvre for when you really have time to appreciate it. Being an art major, I would guess that even 2 days probably wouldn’t be enough.
When we had our first trip to Paris, some years ago now, we pretty much covered these sights and we loved every minute of our visit. We returned last summer as part of a Seine river cruise and on the first day we got it all wrong – ended up trudging over too wide an area rather than focus on one or two smaller ones. It’s so important to do some planning and then allow yourself to wander and absorb the atmosphere. Thankfully the second day was far more chilled and we fell in love with the city again.
Excellent post with some great eating and drinking suggestions!
#farawayfiles
It’s easy to do in a city like Paris with so many amazing sights, it’s hard to know which way to go! Thanks for your comments Trish, glad you like it.
Lovely post guys, I sometimes feel that Paris gets a bad rap, but, like you I love it and could visit time and time again. A stroll along the Seine takes some beating. #farawayfiles
Thanks, Janis. I agree it does get a bad rap sometimes. While I can see why, often I think its mostly about your attitude. Thanks for stopping by.
Yes, Paris is simply beautiful! I love your itinerary — you packed in a lot but spread it out comfortably over 3 days. Your photos are lovely, especially of the windows at Saint Chapelle. You did a great job of including practical info, too. I have tickets to Paris this August — can’t wait!
Excellent, you’ll have a great time in summer I’m sure.
You’ve included most of my top Parisien highlights in just 3 days – impressive! We are taking our kids for the first time this summer and I can’t wait. Great tip re the Laduree macaroons. I shall certainly be looking to do that! #farawayfiles
I’m sure the kids will love Paris as much as you have. Looking forward to hearing about your trip.
Beautiful post with beautiful photos. Paris is such a wonderful city, I have visited the city so many times, yet I never feel I have seen it all. I would love to go back again. Your three itinerary covers it so well. My personal favourite from this post is of Sacre-couer. Thank you so much for this post #farawayfiles
Thanks, Usha – glad you liked it. It’s easy to get good photos of a city as beautiful as Paris.
Another great itinerary! It’s been two years since I was last in Paris, and I’m in need of a return trip. I admit it took my three visits before I feel in love, but when I did I fell hard. #farawayfiles
Yes a lot of people say that about Paris, it takes a bit of “working out” i think, but when you do, très magnifique!
Aaaah Paris! Last time I was there was 5 years ago for a friend’s 40th. Having visited a few times before that and seen all of the sites, we decided to have a very “local” visit and pretty much just strolled the neighborhoods, ate good food and drank good wine. One thing I did do that trip which I hadn’t before was visit the L’Orangerie – I agree, what a little gem of a museum. What’s not to love about Monet’s water lillies! This is a fab 3 day itinerary, and great tips too. Thanks for linking up with #farawayfiles
Finding cute little neighbourhoods in Paris to discover is all part of its charm. Good food, lots of wine in Paris – can’t ask for much more than that.
As usual I could just eat your photo’s! I mean, it sounds like you had a great time but I’m just not sold on Paris. I’m sorry! I don’t get the hype, the people are rude and it just seems unchanged and unwilling to move on – that said, I was glad to read that the coffee scene is making amends! Give me London or Rome any day of the week. #farawayflies
I’ve actually never found the people rude, but maybe that’s my Australian upbringing – we just don’t care! I love London and Rome as well, particularly Rome for the historical sights and incredible art scene, but she can also be a bit unwilling to move on.
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Thanks very much. Nice of you to say.
Saint Chapelle…… I’m so glad this made it to your list. For me, it is the most stunning church in all of Paris. Big call I know but from the outside it looks like a run of the mill Parisian church but inside…..I think I didn’t breathe for a few minutes.
Completely agree. It’s a wonderful sea of blue in the midst of the city.