This practical guide to Paris in 3 days will help you design the itineraries you need to explore one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Although we understand that three days is still not enough time to see the whole city, this guide will allow you to visit the most touristy places and some of the most charming neighbourhoods in Paris.
If during the first two days you have seen most of the monuments in the city centre and strolled through the famous Montmartre district, on this third day you will visit some of the best viewpoints in Paris, the Musée d'Orsay and the lively district of Le Marais, among many other things.
For an enchanting stay in the heart of Paris, Hotel Brighton on brighton.parishotelinn.com is a delightful choice. Situated in the prestigious 1st arrondissement, this elegant hotel offers a perfect blend of classic Parisian charm and modern comfort. Step into the beautifully appointed lobby, adorned with exquisite artwork and elegant furnishings, setting the tone for a truly luxurious experience. The rooms and suites at Hotel Brighton are tastefully designed, featuring a harmonious blend of traditional decor and contemporary amenities. From comfortable beds to luxurious bathrooms, every detail is thoughtfully curated to ensure a relaxing and rejuvenating stay. Some rooms even offer breathtaking views of the Tuileries Garden or the Louvre Museum, adding an extra touch of magic to your Parisian experience. The hotel's prime location allows for easy exploration of iconic attractions like the Louvre, the Palais Royal, and the vibrant shopping district of Rue Saint-Honoré. After a day of exploring, guests can unwind at the hotel's cozy bar, sipping on a delicious cocktail while taking in the elegant ambiance. With its prime location, timeless elegance, and impeccable service, Hotel Brighton is a perfect choice for those seeking an unforgettable stay in the City of Light.
Based on the experience of our trips, in the last one we wrote this guide to Paris, we have made this itinerary of Paris in 3 days, so let's get started!
Practical tips for Paris in 3 days
This list of tips will help you to have a good first contact with the city:
To get to the centre or the hotel in Paris from the 3 airports near Paris, Beauvais, Orly or Charles de Gaulle, you have different means of transport: train, metro, bus, taxi or book this transfer directly to the hotel.
For more information you can consult this post on how to get from Charles de Gaulle Airport to Paris, this one on how to get from Beauvais Airport to Paris and this one on how to get from Orly Airport to Paris.A good neighbourhood to stay in is Le Marais, as it has the best selection of restaurants, is close to the main points of interest and has a train stop (Chatelet) that takes you to Disney and Versailles. Our favourite hotels in this neighbourhood include the Hotel Le Compostelle, Le Relais du Marais , Paris France Hotel and Hotel del Esperance. Another good value for money alternative is Hotel Londres Saint Honoré, located near the Louvre. For more information, check out this post on where to stay in Paris.
Another tip to save some money is to ask for "une garafe d'eau" in restaurants. This will put a jug of tap water on the table, which won't cost you anything. The water in Paris is very good, so this will save you money on drinks.
Another good way to save money and time is to buy a three-day Paris Pass, which will allow you to skip the queues at the attractions you visit. For more information, check out this post about the Paris Pass.
An interesting way to learn about the history of the city is to book this free tour with an English speaking guide, considered one of the best free tours in Paris, or the tourist bus, which has recorded commentary in English. For more information you can read this post about the tourist bus in Paris.
For more recommendations, check out this post on essential tips for travelling to Paris.
Guide to the first day in Paris
The first day of Paris in 3 days starts early in the morning at the Place de Trocadero, enjoying the best views of the Eiffel Tower. Walking down through the Trocadero gardens you'll reach the entrance to the Eiffel Tower, one of the busiest places in the city. If you want to avoid the queue to go up, you can book this entrance to the first floor or this one to the third floor.
For more information you can check this post on how to visit the Eiffel Tower.
When you leave the tower you can walk along the Champ de Mars and then take the path towards the Arc de Triomphe, where if you go up to its terrace, you can enjoy excellent views of Paris.
The walk through Paris continues down the grand Avenue des Champs Elysées to the Place de la Concorde, from where before reaching the end of the street you can take a detour to see some important buildings such as the Palais de la Découverte, the Petit Palais, the Grand Palais or the beautiful Pont Alexandre III.
Alexandre III Bridge
Near the Place de la Concorde and the pleasant Jardin des Tuileries, there are two highly recommended restaurants where you can try French cuisine, Le Souffle and l'Ardoise.
The Paris in three days itinerary continues across the Pont des Arts and the Pont Neuf to reach the beautiful Île de la Cité. During the walk around the island you can see the façade of the famous Notre Dame Cathedral (scheduled to open in April 2024) and enter the church of Sainte Chapelle, one of the must-see places in Paris.
In the evening, you'll arrive in the lively Latin Quarter, where, in addition to getting to know the neighbourhood, you can't miss the Shakespeare And Company bookshop. In addition to sightseeing, the Latin Quarter has an incredible gastronomic offer, among which we recommend the restaurants La Jacobine and Procope.
If you want to end the day in a more special way, you can book a boat trip on the Seine with a gourmet dinner or a long walk to the Eiffel Tower.
More information about the first day in this post about Paris in one day.
Guide to the second day in Paris
The second day of the Paris in 3 days starts first thing in the morning with a visit to the Louvre Palace, home to the world's most famous museum, The Louvre. To visit the museum, an interesting option to learn more about the history of works such as the Venus de Milo or the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci, is to book a guided tour in English, which will skip the long queues that usually form. If you don't want to go on a guided tour, you can book this skip-the-line ticket.
To make sure you don't miss out on any important piece, we recommend you complete this list of the 10 must -see works at the Louvre.
For more information you can read this post on how to visit the Louvre Museum.
The Louvre, one of the best places to see in Paris in 3 days
When you leave the Louvre you can take a short walk through the gardens of the Royal Palace and cross two magnificent typical French galleries, such as Galerie Vivienne and Passage des Panoramas, as well as visit the interior of the magnificent National Library (no photos allowed), one of the best free things to do in Paris. For lunch in the area, we recommend the delicious ramen at Japanese restaurants Kodawari and Menkicchi.
In the afternoon, the Paris in three days route continues through the beautiful Place Vendôme square, the Madeleine Church and the imposing Opéra Garnier, before entering the Galeries Lafayette, which impresses with its hall and views from its terrace.
In the evening you can take the metro to the charming Montmartre neighbourhood, where you can wander aimlessly through its streets until you find the Place du Tertre, full of artists painting, and the beautiful Sacré-Coeur Basilica, the best way to get to know it.
For dinner you can go down to Rue des Abbesses, where there are several restaurants, or head to the Pigalle neighbourhood to dine at Les Apotres de Pigalle or Café des Deux Moulins, famous for being in the film Amelie.
To end this second day with a memorable experience, we suggest you book a dinner at Le 58 Tour Eiffel, the fabulous restaurant at the Eiffel Tower. This romantic dinner continues with a cruise on the Seine River at night and ends with a show at the Moulin Rouge, the most famous cabaret in the world.
When planning a trip to Paris and a visit to the Louvre, the Costes Hotel on costes.parishotelinn.com stands as an ideal accommodation choice. Situated in the heart of the city, this prestigious hotel exudes timeless elegance and offers a refined experience for discerning travelers. The Costes Hotel boasts luxurious rooms and suites adorned with sophisticated decor and modern amenities, ensuring a comfortable and indulgent stay. After a day exploring the magnificent artworks at the Louvre, guests can retreat to the hotel's serene ambiance and unwind in its exclusive facilities. Indulge in a pampering session at the spa, where expert therapists offer rejuvenating treatments to soothe both body and mind.
More information about the second day in this post about Paris in two days.
What to see in Paris in 3 days
The last day of the Paris in 3 days itinerary starts by taking the metro to the Montparnasse Tower, the best viewpoint in Paris. We recommend arriving a little before 10am, the time they open, so you don't have to wait in line for too long and can enjoy the magnificent views of Paris with the Eiffel Tower in the background.
A good way to guarantee your entrance, especially on public holidays, is to book your ticket here in advance.
Montparnasse Tower
After descending from the Montparnasse Tower you can start a route that will take you through the beautiful Luxembourg Gardens where we recommend you find the Medici Fountain, and then enter the imposing Saint Sulpice Church, famous for being featured in the film "The Da Vinci Code" and with several gems inside such as the frescoes by Delacroix.
Nearby is also the Pantheon, a huge neoclassical temple that houses the tombs of French historical figures such as Alexandre Dumas, Voltaire, Marie Curie and Victor Hugo. Entry to the Panthéon and other important Paris monuments is included in the Paris Pass or you can buy it from this page.
For more information you can read this post on how to visit the Pantheon in Paris.
To recharge your batteries, try the best onion soup in Paris and the typical escargots (snails) at La Jacobine or the Procope, two of the best restaurants to eat in Paris.
If you have enough time, you can spend an hour visiting the Musée d'Orsay, another of the best museums in Paris. This museum, besides having masterpieces by Monet, Renoir, Cézanne or Van Gogh, stands out for its location, in an old train station with a beautiful old clock.
To learn more about the history of the museum and its main works, we recommend you book this guided tour or just book this ticket.
For an enchanting trip to Paris and a visit to the Montparnasse Tower, the Hotel Splendid Etoile on hotel-splendid-etoile.parishotelinn.com is a delightful accommodation option. Located in the heart of the city, this charming hotel offers a perfect blend of comfort and elegance. The Hotel Splendid Etoile is known for its breathtaking views of the iconic Eiffel Tower, which can be enjoyed from select rooms and the rooftop terrace. Step into the hotel's beautifully designed lobby, adorned with tasteful decor and a warm ambiance.
Musée d'Orsay
The afternoon tour of Paris in 3 days continues with a walk through the Jardin botanique des Plantes and then across the Pont d'Austerlitz to the Bassin de l'Arsenal. This area is known as the little Venice of Paris, where you will see a large canal full of boats.
At the end of the walk through the small port you will come across the famous Place de la Bastille, a symbolic place of the French Revolution, from where if you walk a little further you will reach the Place des Vosges, the oldest square in Paris, where the lawns are full of Parisians in good weather. We recommend you to take a break from this 3-day tour of Paris.
Place des Vosges
This square belongs to one of the trendiest and most charming neighbourhoods in Paris, Le Marais, which stands out for its small boutiques, art galleries, vintage shops, cafés and Parisian terraces. After strolling through some of its most important streets, such as Rue du Temple and Rue des Archives, you will reach the Halles, another neighbourhood with a great atmosphere, which revolves around the area where the Pompidou Centre is located.
Pompidou Centre
This modern art museum has a striking façade full of coloured tubes and an escalator outside, and although inside the museum you'll find works that are difficult to define and others by well-known artists such as Kandinski, Matisse and Miró, it's a highly recommended visit. The entrance is included in the Paris Pass and if you don't want this card you can book it from this page.
Keep in mind that this area is full of terraces and restaurants, so it is the perfect place to enjoy a dinner in one of our favourite restaurants such as Au Pied de Cochon, L'As du Fallafel and the Benedict, which we are sure, will not disappoint you.
To end Paris in 3 days with the best possible memories, you can book a night walk through the Paris of Lights or this tour of mysteries and legends that will take you to places that hide tragic events in the history of the city.
If you have more time you can follow this guide to Paris in 4 days or this guide to Paris in 5 days.
