Paris is possibly the city where we have walked the most ever (although I think we said that at the time because we had not set foot in New York OMG). And the fact is that its attractions are so many and the distances so great, that it is almost impossible to see everything in a handful of days. That is why it is very important to plan well, and for this we are going to recommend an itinerary with everything to see in 3 days in Paris , so that you can make the most of your visit to the capital of France.
We believe this tour is the best way to get to know Paris in 3 days, as we will visit the city's most important points of interest, get to know its most notable neighborhoods, and of course, enjoy the Eiffel Tower from different points.
Okay, it's clear that three days aren't enough to see Paris in its entirety, but for a first trip and to see the essentials, it seems like a good amount of time. Are you ready? Let's get started!
Paris in 3 days: day-by-day itinerary
Before you start exploring the city, we are going to give you a few tips for this 3-day route in Paris:
- Buy some tickets in advance: Paris is one of the most visited cities in the world, and the queues to get into places like the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre can be endless. Booking online will save you a lot of time and, in some cases, money. Also remember to book your free tour of Paris online or you risk missing out.
- Of course… comfortable shoes ! You'll be walking a lot, you'll appreciate it.
- Beware of pickpockets : Paris is a safe city, but in crowded places like the metro, the Eiffel Tower or Montmartre, pickpockets are lurking. Keep your backpack or handbag tightly closed and do not leave your belongings unattended.
- Book the boat ride : it's a very nice experience and it's not expensive 🙂
Now, let's see the plans and places to visit during the Paris in 3 days route, with all the details and maps:
– DAY 1/3 days in Paris –
Notre Dame area
We start the day by heading to the Île de la Cité, where a number of interesting places are concentrated. There we first visit the Notre-Dame Cathedral (1), which is being completely rebuilt after the tragic fire. Nearby is the Flower Market (2), one of the few preserved in this style in the whole city. A short distance away is the La Conciergierie palace (3), with its dark history as the city prison. And attached to it, the Sainte Chapelle (4), with its impressive stained glass windows and decoration. On the other side of the Seine we can go to the Hôtel de Ville (5), the city hall.
A good option is to take a small boat and enjoy a cruise along the Seine River, going around the Île de la Cité and reaching the Eiffel Tower, to return again. It is one of the best romantic plans to experience in Paris.
Pantheon and Luxembourg Gardens
Leaving by the Pont Saint-Michel we enter the lively Latin Quarter . Walking along the Boulevard Saint-Michel and turning left on the Rue Soufflot we find the Pantheon (6), another of our essential visits in Paris. If we retrace our steps we reach the Luxembourg Gardens (7), the most beautiful in the city, a good place to take our first break.
Orsay Museum
On the way back to the Seine we will find ourselves in a perfect area for eating, with plenty of options for all palates. Once on the riverbank we head west, and after a 20-minute walk along a beautiful path, we arrive at the Musée d'Orsay (8), in an imposing building, with works by painters such as Van Gogh, Matisse and Monet.
We continue our walk until we reach the Hôtel des Invalides (9) and learn a little more about its history. The remains of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte rest beneath its central dome. Behind this building is the Pont Alexandre III (10), probably the most beautiful bridge in Paris. And if you like museums, nearby are the Musée de l'Armée and the Musée Rodin. These are the 5 best museums in Paris .
Trocadero and Eiffel Tower
In the afternoon, we head towards Trocadero (12), on the other side of the Seine, for which we will have to cross the Pont de l'Alma (11), tragically famous for being next to the tunnel where the accident in which Lady Diana lost her life took place in 1997. On the other side of the bridge, a life-size replica of the flame of the Statue of Liberty has been placed, to remind us that the French were in charge of its restoration. This place has become an improvised altar for Diana's admirers.
From Trocadero we will have the best views of the Eiffel Tower, and it is a good place to relax for a while. We can visit the Palace and the gardens of Trocadero.
As night approaches, we will cross the Seine again via the Pont d'Iéna (13) and, if we have time, we can take a stroll along the Champ de Mars (14). This is also a good place to rest or prepare a picnic with a little wine and cheese, waiting for the best time to go up the Eiffel Tower (15). At the top of the city's emblem, flying over the rooftops, is where we will end the first day of our itinerary through Paris.
– DAY 2/3 days in Paris –
We hope you had a good rest and breakfast gave you a good dose of energy, because you're going to need it today! We start the second of the 3 days in Paris with a main course... the Louvre Museum ! (1). Get up early to be there before 9am and not waste too much time waiting in lines. This visit can take a whole morning, although if you do it quickly you'll surely have time left to enjoy many other things in Paris. Be careful! If it's a Sunday, the first of the month, you should know that entry is free, although the museum will be much more crowded.
Tuileries Garden and Champs Élysées
Near the museum are two of the most beautiful gardens in Paris: the Jardin du Carrousel (2), with its unique triumphal arch and eight pink marble pillars, and the Jardin des Tuileries (3), in French style and with beautiful paths full of sculptures and fountains. They are two good places to rest after an exhausting art session.
From there we arrive directly at the Place de la Concorde (4) and its famous Luxor obelisk, one of the treasures that Napoleon brought back from Egypt . Its fountain is also very photogenic! Before arriving, if the Louvre is not enough for you (how can it be?) you can stop at the Musée de L'Orangerie, where there are works by Manet, Renori, Picasso or Matisse, among others.
Here begins the most important artery of Paris: the Avenue des Champs-Élysées (7), which we will walk towards the Arc de Triomphe, for more than 2 kilometers in length. Are you tired just reading this? Don't worry, along the way you can make some stops at its exclusive shops (or just look at its shop windows...), or take a bus that will save you the whole trip.
Continuing straight ahead, we will pass the Grand Palais (6) and the Petit Palais (5). The latter, with free entrance, has a nice decoration and a rather interesting courtyard.
Arc de Triomphe
You will notice that you are approaching the Arc de Triomphe (8), because 13 major avenues of Paris converge at its roundabout... and you can feel it from a distance! Remember that you cannot cross the road to get to the arch! There are underground entrances scattered around the area. The views from the top of the arch are well worth the entrance fee.
To get to our next destination, you can wander around, leaving the Champs Elysees parallel to your right. It will take you about half an hour to walk until you come across the neoclassical Church of the Madeleine (9). And very close to it is the Place Vendome (10), in the centre of which stands a column in the style of Trajan's Column in Rome , decorated with reliefs and with a statue of Napoleon at the top. In the arcades of this square you will find some of the most exclusive shops in Paris, and the Ritz Hotel where Lady Diana stayed before she died.
Opera and Galeries Lafayette area
From there we can go to Le Palais Royal (11), very close to the Louvre Museum, where we started the tour, in whose café in 1789 Camille Desmoulins announced the fall of the crown. Continuing north we take the Avenue de la Opera (12), built by Napoleon III to connect the Louvre with the Palais Garnier and which today is an important shopping street.
To end the day, what better than to enjoy an opera at the Palais Garnier (13), its interiors are simply impressive. Although if you arrive with time, a little further north, on Boulevard Haussmann, you will find the Galeries Lafayette and Printemps (14), two department stores of the kind that you look at but don't touch... Go into the first one, if only to admire its dome.
– DAY 3/3 days in Paris –
For the last day we reserved some of the most interesting places in Paris. Early in the morning we went to the Palace of Versailles , one of the best excursions from Paris . We could easily spend an entire morning there, visiting its chambers, rooms and salons full of glamour, as well as its enormous gardens.
Montmartre
In the afternoon we recommend you visit the bohemian district par excellence of Paris: Montmartre . To enjoy it to the fullest, the best thing is to get lost in its streets and observe every detail of Parisian life. A good route is to first go to the Basilica of the Sacré Cœur (1), and go down, not forgetting to stop by the Montmartre Museum (2) and the famous Au Lapin Agile inn (3) very close by, where the bohemians of the time met.
Also worth a visit are the Place du Tertre (4), a meeting place for street artists, and the Rue des Trois Fères (5), one of the streets that best expresses the spirit of this district. And not far from there, we can bring out our most romantic side and be moved by the “I love you” Wall (6), in the Place des Abbesses, written in more than 300 languages.
From here, if we have time, we can head towards the Montmartre Cemetery (7), although you may prefer to go directly to the Moulin Rouge walking along the Boulevard de Clichy (8), a bohemian area with a lot of nightlife.
To end the day we can pose in front of the Moulin Rouge (9) and take a photo with its eternal silhouette, or put the finishing touch to the trip to Paris and enjoy a dinner and a show behind its walls. A good plan, don't you think?
Tours and activities for the 3-day itinerary in Paris
The itinerary we have proposed is for visiting Paris on your own in 3 days . However, if you have more time, it is always advisable to include some guided visits and tours with which you will discover the city and its treasures in more depth. These are our favorites:
- Free tour of essential Paris (free!)
- Paris Mysteries and Legends Tour (free)
- Paris by night tour
- Visit Paris in full with tickets (more than 7 hours touring Paris, all included)
- Helicopter tour over Paris
This is our best 3-day itinerary for Paris , with a perfect mix of art, history, gastronomy and charming corners. But every traveler experiences the city in a different way, so if you have any tips, a special place that has won you over or an unmissable foodie recommendation , share it in the comments! We'd love to read your experience and enrich this guide with more ideas.
