Paris is one of the most visited cities in the world, and for good reason. It’s aesthetically stunning with its traditional Parisian architecture, has the world’s best croissants, an array of Michelin-star restaurants, and just so much to see and do, including my favorite museum in the world- The Louvre. Even though Paris is highly romanticized, it’s just a big city at the end of the day. I’ve spent a day, a weekend, and even a week in Paris, and I can say 3 days in Paris is the perfect amount of time in this city. If you’ve never been to Paris before or if this is your second or third trip, here’s the only Paris in three days itinerary you need!

Paris in Three Days Itinerary

Is it worth going to Paris for 3 days?

Paris is such a beautiful city, and it is worth visiting even if you only have 3 days. You’ll be able to see a few museums, stroll the wonderful neighborhoods, and eat and drink wonderful French cuisine until your heart’s content. If it’s your first time or you’ve been before, this is the perfect Paris in three days itinerary to get you started.

How many days in Paris is enough?

Paris is a fabulous city where you can spend a weekend or even an entire week. Living in London, I have even gone to Paris for the day! One thing to consider when deciding how many days in Paris is enough is where you stay and base yourself while in Paris. This might help plan your Paris in three days itinerary. Keep reading for the best places to stay in Paris.

Best Time to Visit Paris

The best time to visit Paris is during any season! Paris has beautiful blooms in the spring, an incredible atmosphere in the summer, and colorful fall foliage. Who doesn’t love a European Christmas market?!

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Best Places to Stay in Paris for 3 Days: By Neighborhood

The Louvre & 1st Arrondissement

If you’re spending 3 days in Paris or if it’s your first time in Paris, this would be a great neighborhood for you. This area is centrally located to all the best things to see and do in Paris. Take a morning run in the Jardin des Tuileries, or see the Louvre lit up magically at night. It’s also easy to hop on public transport from here!

Hotel Brighton $$$ • Hotel de l’Abbaye $$$ • Hotel Regina Louvre $$$ • Hôtel D’Aubusson $$$

Champs-Elysees & 8th Arrondissement

When looking for luxury accommodations for your Paris in three days itinerary, you’ll find them in the Champs-Elysees and the 8th arrondissement. You’ll also find the most beautiful architecture and designer stores.

Saint James Paris $$$$ • Prince de Galles $$$$ • Four Season Hotel George V $$$$ • Hotel Plaza Athenee $$$$ • Le 12 Hotel $$

Feeling overwhelmed planning your trip to Paris? Contact me since I am a travel advisor and work with some of the best and most luxurious properties and networks around the world!

Make sure to include on your Paris in three days itinerary a wander down this street Rue des Saules. This cobblestone street also has the famous Le Consulat bright red restaurant with red awnings. It also has a beautiful 16th century house turned restaurant on the corner that of course has tables crowding the sidewalk and traditional Parisian decor.

The idyllic Montmartre

Situated slightly out of the city is Montmartre. Montmartre has an old Parisian village feel, offers beautiful views of the city due to its steep inclines throughout, and is a bit quieter.

Mom’Art Hotel $$ • Hotel Particulier Montmartre $$ • Hotel Des Arts $$ • Hotel Monsieur Aristide $$

The trendy Le Marais neighborhood

One of Paris’s trendiest neighborhoods that’s also in a central location is Le Marais. This area of the city is beautiful and humble. There are great shops and restaurants, and you can find surprisingly affordable accommodations here despite its popularity.

Le Grand Mazarin $$$ • Dandy Hotel and Kitchen $$ • Maison Proust $$$ • La Chambre du Marais $$$

15^th & 16^th Arrondissement

This Parisian neighborhood is perfect for finding a hotel with views of the Eiffel Tower! Here are a few recommendations to get you started!

Pullman Paris Tour $$$ • Hotel Splendid $ • Hotel Plaza Athenee $$$$ • Hotel Raphael $$$ • Le Parisis $$ • Sofitel Paris $$$

Le 12 Hotel $$: The BEST hotel in Paris since it won’t break the bank and has views from the Eiffel Tower. I can highly recommend it from first-hand experience!

Paris is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and for good reason! Here's one of the best views of the Eiffel Tower in Paris at Rue de l'Universite. This street will end up in a dead end with four to five story Parisian buildings on either side and the Eiffel Tower right in the middle, surrounded by lovely foliage.

Paris in three days Itinerary Overview

Day 1: The Louvre & 1st Arrondissement

Day 2: Explore Le Marais & the Louvre

Day 3: See the city like a local in Montmartre

Day 1: Marvel at the Eiffel Tower, Champs-Elysees, and see the opera!

Start your day at the Eiffel Tower

You can’t visit Paris without visiting the Eiffel Tower. Some of the best places for views of the Eiffel Tower include Avenue de Camoen, Rue de l’Universite, Square Rapp, Rue Saint-Dominiqu, and L’Howea.

Have lunch with views of the Eiffel Tower

Make a reservation for Le Recrutement, Au Bon Accueil, or Linette. All of these spots have views of the Eiffel Tower from the sidewalk! There are also cafes and restaurants in the 7^th Arrondissement, but some may be less authentic than others, as it is a popular place in Paris!

Continue to the free Petit Palais

Stroll across Pont Alexandre III on the way to Petit Palais. This is probably one of the best-hidden gems in Paris! If you’re worried about trying to see it all when planning your three days in Paris itinerary, you don’t have to spend too much time here. This museum is completely free to visit and is so lovely. They even have a beautiful outdoor cafe with a terrace, and public bathrooms in the basement for use!

Enjoy the opera at Palais Garnier

One of the most beautiful places in Paris is Palais Garnier. The opera house is only open during the day for visitors, and you can book a self-guided tour or a guided tour.

If you’re interested in a one-hour Seine River cruise before entry to the Palais Garnier! This is one of the best things to do in Paris!

Here is the most dramatic museum entrance, the entrance to the Louvre when you're taking the escalator under the massive glass pyramid. Since the glass pyramid roof is glass, you can see the surrounding part of the museum outside with it's traditional Parisian decor, the building in a cream, stone color with a gray roof. The massive atrium that the escalator takes you down into has a cafe and different areas to enter the museum through.

Day 2: Explore Le Marais & the Louvre

Start your day at Cafe de Flore

This is one of the most iconic cafes in Paris, thanks to social media. You can easily see why, as it is just so Parisian! We enjoyed breakfast here one morning, and it wasn’t too busy.

Here are some of the other most instagrammable places in Paris!

Wander through the Tuileries Gardens

When planning your Paris in three days itinerary, take a stroll through these gardens before or after visiting the Louvre. You can visit different sections of the gardens or watch children race boats in the fountain.

Book tickets in advance for the Louvre

One of the best things to do in Paris is to visit the Louvre. This is one of my favorite museums in the entire world. My best advice when visiting the Louvre is to have a game plan. There’s SO much to see, but some of my highlights include The Mona Lisa, the Marley and Puget courtyard sculptures, and even Napoleon’s apartments. One of the most unique experiences is taking the escalator down the famous glass prism! I always love doing this and just think it’s so iconic! Keep reading below for a few recommendations for guided tours of the Louvre.

With over 4,000 encouraging reviews, this ticket grants a Louvre unique reserved access tour to the museum. This is another option that offers the perfect Louvre tour. This tour will only take about two hours and offers all the best Louvre highlights!

Paris is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and for good reason! Here's one of the best restaurants in Paris, Le Train Bleu! The inside decor is simply stunning, in a Parisian Rococo aesthetic the ceiling is a mix of lovely paintings and ornate gold carvings and statues. There are a few massive crystal chandeliers hanging, and the walkways are paved with blue runners that match the satin blue seating. Some of the seating is old school booths, in an art deco style.

Spend the evening in Le Marais

Once the Jewish Quarter, Le Marais is filled with beautiful architecture, boutique shops and galleries, and plenty of cafes. If you’re hungry and like falafel, this area is famous for it! When planning your Paris in three days itinerary, here are a few recommendations with incredible Parisian architecture. Many of these were once 17th-century mansions and are some of the most beautiful places in Paris. They include Hotel de Soubise, Musee Carnavalet, and Court ed Jardin de l’Hotel de Sully.

If you’ve found a delicious falafel or lunch to-go, take it to Place des Vosges to enjoy. This is a lovely courtyard to sit in, have a picnic, and people-watch!

Admire Notre Dame

This day will be quite busy, and Notre Dame isn’t too far from Le Marais. Of course, it’s beautiful on the inside and out, but it is a Parisian icon so I recommend you at least have a quick visit!

Dinner at Le Train Bleu

Let’s talk about one of the best restaurants in Paris, this one lives up to the social media hype. On our last trip to Paris, we booked a reservation for an early lunch shortly after they opened so it wouldn’t be too busy. I was shocked at its beauty, and it is one of the most beautiful places in Paris. It also has some of the most delicious food and some of the best food we ate on this trip to Paris.

If you can’t get a reservation, I believe they do accept walk-ins and have a small sitting area. It is in a train station, and I noticed plenty of people with luggage enjoying the sitting area. It is one of the most beautiful restaurants in Paris and worth seeing when planning 3 days in Paris!

Walk the cobblestone streets of Rue de l'Abreuvoir and admire the beautiful Parisian architecture. I love the area near Le Moulin de la Galette, it feels like you've stepped back in time to Paris circa the 1920s. It is such a beautiful area of Paris to make time for. If you go at sunset and walk to the end of the street, the street does slope upwards and the charming Parisian buildings, some with foliage cascading down as well as the neighborhood foliage and cobblestone street make for such a charming photo.

Day 3: See the city like a local in Montmartre

Visit Musee de l’Orangerie

The Musee de l’Orangerie is one of the most beautiful museums in Paris. It’s my second favorite to the Louvre, and even though it isn’t in Montmartre, it’s worth a visit. It’s a museum you can spend as little or as long as you’d like. It’s not as big as the Louvre, but still a nice size.

Stroll around Montmartre

If you’re heading to this adorable area in Paris via metro, check out the Abbesses station and the Carrousel de Saint-Pierre nearby. Walk the cobblestone streets of Rue de l’Abreuvoir and admire the beautiful Parisian architecture. I love the area near Le Moulin de la Galette, it feels like you’ve stepped back in time to Paris circa the 1920s. It is such a beautiful area of Paris to make time for.

Watch the sunset from Sacre Coeur

This is a popular spot to watch the sunset, and it’s easy to see why. Pack a picnic or bring a bottle of wine and enjoy these views of Paris on your last day!

I will say I’ve been to Paris a few times and have never actually gone into Sacre Coeur, just saying it’s not a must-do! Here are some of the other best things to do in Paris!

When planning your Paris in three days itinerary it's essential to visit a traditional Parisian cafe like this one. This cafe is called Cafe de Flore and it's been made very popular on Instagram, and for good reason. You can see this cafe protrudes from the traditional Parisian facades with floral and foliage hanging down the entrance way. The cream awnings cover the large amount of two person tables crowding and spilling into the sidewalk.

Must Eat Paris: Best Restaurants in Paris

La Maison d’Isabelle: This bakery is said to have the best croissants in Paris!

Poulette: Admire the classic art nouveau Parisian decor in this insanely beautiful restaurant.

Angelina: This is a Parisian icon, a tea room serving tea and pastries since 1903. They do not accept reservations, and there’s usually a long queue to enter.

Chez Eugene: This spot has a lovely outdoor seating area in the most scenic square of Montmartre.

Le Train Bleu: Even though this location is all over social media, it lives up to the hype. This location is simply stunning and the food is incredibly delicious as well!

Cafe Laperouse Concorde: This is another social media favorite and was featured in Emily in Paris. Even though the Google reviews are just ok, my husband and I thought the food was delicious.

Cafe de Flore: One of the cutest Parisian cafes, according to Google, this is the longest-running coffeehouse! It is also known for its delicious hot chocolate.

How to Get Around Paris

Even though I’ve been to Paris a few times, I usually don’t use the subway. I usually choose to walk everywhere, occasionally take a taxi, or use public electric bikes. The Paris Metro can be a bit difficult to navigate, so I always use Google Maps for help.

Another inside tip about the metro is that it’s popular with pickpockets. Always keep your bag in front of you, or if you don’t want to worry, use a lock on your bag! Pickpocketing is sadly the norm in large European cities. Read about my experience getting pickpocketed in Rome here.

This is one of the free views of Paris from the rooftop of Galeries Lafayette. You can see the city extending all the way to the Eiffel Tower!

A few other Paris itinerary ideas!

Four Days in Paris Itinerary

Here are a few of the best things to see in Paris to add to a four days in Paris itinerary: Hotel de la Marine, Satint ChaArc du Triomphe, Rodin Museum, Musee d’Orsay, Les bouquinistes de la Seine, National Archives Museum – Hôtel de Soubise, Musée Carnavalet, Cour et Jardin de l’Hôtel de Sully, Jardin du Palais Royal, and Museum of Romantic Life.

Things to Do in Paris at Night

Besides seeing the Eiffel Tower sparkle, here’s a great list of all the best things to do in Paris at night!

Best day trips from Paris

Even though squeezing a day trip into your 3-day in Paris itinerary might be a bit too ambitious, here are some options for your next trip, including some information about visiting Disneyland below!

Disneyland Paris: Who doesn’t want to visit one of the most magical places on earth, especially when it’s less than an hour’s ride from Paris.

The Palace of Versailles: One of my favorite places in the world, this is well worth a visit if you have enough time to see it. The palace is stunning, have you heard of the famous Hall of Mirrors? Make sure to make time to visit the extensive grounds as well as the unique Marie Antoinette village!

Loire Valley: This area of France, with majestic castles and wine country, is easily accessible from Paris by train. Two of the more popular castles to visit are Chateau de Chambord and Chenonceau Castle.

Gardens of Marqueyssac: See the famous European boxwoods in this special garden, which houses around 150,000! This spot will require an overnight stay as it’s quite a way from Paris, but the well-preserved town of Sarlat and the stunning Dordogne Valley may be well worth the visit!

Giverny Monet’s Studio: A gem to visit, really, during any season, you can tour the studio of Claude Monet. You can easily reach this destination from Paris.

Feeling overwhelmed planning your trip to Paris? Contact me since I am a travel advisor and work with some of the best and most luxurious properties and networks around the world!

The Luxembourg Gardens are so beautiful in the summer with traditional French topiaries sprinkled with white, purple, and pink flowers. The pathways are made of a fine, light colored gravel stone that makes you feel like you're walking around an expensive estate's garden.

3 days in Paris on a Budget

If you want to spend 3 days in Paris on a budget, there is plenty to see in Paris for free. My favorite free things to do in Paris include the Petit Palais, Luxembourg Gardens, Sacre Coeur in Montmartre, Jardin des Tuileries, and the Carnavalet Museum. There are a few hotels below if you’re looking to stay in Paris on a budget. If you’re not willing to sacrifice quality, you may have to sacrifice a central location and vice versa!

Hotel de La Boetie: This hotel you’ll find is less than $150 a night, and is actually in a central location next to the Arc du Triomphe.

Hotel Bienvenue: Even though this spot isn’t in central Paris, it’s only a ten-minute walk from Gare du Nord train station. It’s in a great location in the 10^th arrondissement, and not far from the Galeries Lafayette department store and the Opera Garnier.

Mije Marais Hostel: This hostel is in an incredible location even though the reviews are just ok. You can get a single bed for less than $50 a night!