3 Days in Paris: How to Build the Ultimate Itinerary
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If you’re looking to build an itinerary for 3 days in Paris, these are the must-see places I recommend! You can conquer Paris in three days and visit all of these attractions. Each one was spectacularly beautiful and took my breath away—like literally. And it is a perfect trip for any time of the year.
I spent eight days in Paris, which was a bit much for me. If I were to do it all over again, here’s what I’d recommend seeing in Paris in 3 days, especially if it’s your first trip.
If you’re even looking to dress a little Parisian, check this guide out before you visit Paris.
Paris is always a good idea.
audrey hepburn
⏳ Short on time? My top recommendations for 3 days in Paris include:
💸 Save Money: The Paris Museum Pass grants you free entry into over 50 museums and monuments in and around Paris. It also provides a skip-the-line advantage for some tourist attractions, saving you time and money (review).
🗺️ Tours:
– Seine River Cruise
📍Recommended Day Trips:
– Versailles Palace and Gardens (review)
– Chateau de Pierrefonds (review)
📲 Must-Have Apps to Use:
– Maps.me
– CityMapper
– Currency Exchange
📺 Movies and TV Shows to Watch Before Visiting:
– A Little Chaos
– Julie and Julia
– The Man in the Iron Mask
– The Da Vinci Code
– Emily in Paris
– Versailles
– Funny Face
– Ratatouille
– Midnight in Paris
🗣️ Learn a Language: French is spoken, though English is highly prevalent in tourist areas
🧳 Tips on Packing: For hostels and how to pack light
💡 Feel like you’ve forgotten something? Learn how to plan a trip on Google Docs and discover 37 things to do before an international trip
Building a Paris Travel Itinerary
Is 3 Days in Paris Enough?
When I visited Paris for eight days, it was far too much. I did make some day trips out outside of Paris, such as Versailles Palace and Chateau Pierrefonds, so if you plan on doing that as well, I’d recommend allowing some more days for those.
Given the locations I have listed here, which are somewhat close together, it is entirely possible to have a fun-filled three days in Paris on your first visit.
Is Paris Safe for Solo Travelers?
I visited Paris with my aunt, but I did have some solo time toward the end of the trip. I felt safe in most of Paris; however, the one time I didn’t feel safe was when I wandered outside of the touristy area. No one did or said anything to me, but I did get some stares from people, so I turned around and headed back to where many of the tourists were.
Overall, I would say yes, Paris is safe, but be aware of where you are visiting and staying. A friend also told me the area where Moulin Rouge is located isn’t great.
If you are worried about pickpockets, I strongly suggest an anti-theft purse, as I’ve heard of an uptick in this type of crime, especially around the Eiffel Tower.
How to Get Around Paris + Map
Before we begin, you should know Paris is organized into 20 Arrondissements. But don’t let that scare you. Getting around Paris is pretty easy and everything on this list is basically walking distance.
As usual, I prefer walking rather than taking transport so I can explore the city rather than seeing it whisk by, which can lessen my chance to soak it in.
However, you can also use their excellent transport system, either the Metro or the RER train. The metro station signs are marked with the word ‘Metropolitain’ and are typically within a 5-minute walk from most locations in the city center.
Here’s a complete guide on getting around Paris for more details.
🗺️ How to Use This Map: Get more info about each point of interest by clicking the icons on the map. To save my interactive map, click 3 Days in Paris list, then hit ‘Save.’ It’ll then be accessible via desktop under ‘Saved’ and the Google Maps app under ‘You.’ Sort by ‘Distance’ to quickly see what’s open and nearby while traveling.
Best Things to Do with 3 Days in Paris
Begin visiting Paris on île de la cité; it’s one of two natural islands in the River Seine in central Paris. It’s also where you’ll find the following attractions that are just a short walk from each other.
💡 Travel Tip: If you or someone you are traveling with is under 18 years or under 26 years old and an EU citizen, many of these attractions will be free, so be sure to check before paying for a ticket.
Notre Dame Cathedral
I went on the Notre Dame tower tour and climbed all the way up! I must say climbing their tower was much less scary than the Eiffel Tower. Partly because it is enclosed, so it wasn’t as daunting.
However, their tower has a spiral staircase, so those were a bit tricky (I have no idea how the girl in a dress before me did it). There is an excellent view of Paris from up here. Really worth it! So it should be at the top of your what to do in 3 days in Paris itinerary!
Interestingly, all the gargoyles are different, and there are thousands of them. They are so well crafted and have unbelievably stood the test of time. They impressed the heck out of me.
I don’t remember being too thrilled with the church’s interior, but that’s worth a look while you’re there. You don’t have to pay for the Cathedral if you’ve got the Paris Museum Pass. You can also go underneath and see some of the city ruins with the Paris Museum Pass.
Sainte Chapelle’s Incredible Stained Glass
After seeing so many churches while in Europe, I didn’t think anything could surprise me. However, Sainte Chapelle did! It is honestly the most beautiful church I have ever seen. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone.
The stained glass surrounding the Sainte Chapelle church tells one of the Bible stories. It’s hard to see in the picture, but each section has an image representing part of the story.
They have been restoring it by cleaning the stained glass with Q-tips! I wouldn’t want to have that job. Try to go on a sunny day to get the full effect.
You don’t have to pay the Sainte Chapelle entrance fee if you have the Paris Museum Pass. The church is super close to Notre Dame, making it easy to reach when adventuring for 3 days in Paris!
Book Activities & Tours:
Conciergerie
In the 14th century, the Palace lost its initial residential function and instead became a concierge, as ordered by the king, transforming part of the premises into a prison.
From the 15th century until the Revolution, the Conciergerie was one of the most important prisons in Paris.
Famous prisoners of this period are the Count of Montgomery (1574), Ravaillac (1610), the Marquise of Brinvilliers (1676), the legendary brigand Cartouche (1721), the regicide Damiens (1757), and the Countess of La Motte (1786). Her most famous prisoner was Marie Antoinette.
Book Activities & Tours:
Napoleon Apartments at the Louvre
Head to the Louvre first thing in the morning on your second day in Paris to avoid the long line.
Before I visited, everyone told me to get there early, and they were right. I got there just after opening and hardly anyone was there.
💡 Travel Tip: Head straight to Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, then to Venus de Milo. I recommend doing that first since everyone is there to see it, and it can get rather crowded. Don’t forget to get a map at the front; otherwise, you’ll get lost, as I did (whomp whomp).
I have to say I wasn’t impressed by Mona or Venus, probably because I’ve seen them in so many textbooks and across the interwebs. Jaded, I know.
I should note that I didn’t get the Louvre audio guide, which may have improved the experience. If you’re invested in art, get the audio guide to complete your visit.
However, I was seriously impressed with the Napoleon Apartments. You could throw one heck of a party in there! They were absolutely gorgeous! Overall, the Louvre is a must on my list of what to see in Paris in 3 days.
The Louvre was also on the Paris Museum Pass. You could spend a fair amount of time here if you’re really interested in art. I only went for the famous pieces. If you’ve got more than a long weekend to spend in Paris, you could spend at least a full day here.
Book Activities & Tours:
Arc de Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe memorial honors those who fought and died in the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars.
It’s beautiful but a bit tricky to get to. You have to find the underground tunnel to get close to it. Please do not try to run across the traffic; it’s way too dangerous. You can access the monument via the Passage du Souvenir.
When I was there, they had a ceremony for the veterans. I didn’t get too much info since it was hard to hear and all in French.
You can go to the top of the Arc for a fantastic view, but it’s another set of spiral stairs. Tired of stairs, my Aunt and I opted to enjoy it from the ground. The Arc looks bigger in person, which kind of shocked me. The architectural design on it alone is worth the stop and a must to add to your 3 days in Paris itinerary. There is so much detail!
Book Activities & Tours:
The Eiffel Tower
I had a wonderful, though partly traumatizing, afternoon at the Eiffel Tower. Let me start by saying that I’m afraid of falling. I’m not scared of heights like most people will tell you because I do just fine in an airplane.
I fear falling from a great height, so the impending trip to the Eiffel Tower wasn’t my favorite thing on the list. Sure, when you’re in Paris, you have to go to the Eiffel Tower, and I knew I would; I just wasn’t going to be thrilled about it.
Before I made the long walk up, my Aunt and I stopped for some Parisian food and a drink. I’ll be frank about it. I needed the liquid courage. I had never tried Lillet before, nor had I ever heard of it. But we saw a poster at the restaurant of a cold glass of Lillet with some fruit, and I decided to try it.
It was wonderful, especially since it had been so hot that day! In the States, you can buy this at BevMo if you’re not spending 3 days in Paris imminently but want to try Lillet. In Paris, many of the restaurants serve it.
For those of you who hate heights, like myself, I say suck it up and climb the Eiffel Tower anyway. It’s a must on my 3 days in Paris itinerary.
And this way, you won’t ever have to do it again! Also, take the stairs. The line is so much shorter! The Eiffel Tower is stunning, though I didn’t think it was brown since every image I’ve seen makes it look black.
View From the 2nd Floor
The Paris Museum Pass does not cover the Eiffel Tower, so I had to pay to visit. The cheapest Eiffel Tower admission was a ticket with stair access to the second floor. You have to pay more to use the elevator and more to get to the very top.
I only went to the second-floor landing, which was enough for me. I asked a lady who had just gone if it was worth it. She said no, that it was the same view, so I’ll let you decide if you want to add the top floor to your what to see in Paris in 3 days list.
However, when I asked my aunt about it, she said it was worth it. Make this decision for yourself. I don’t regret going to the top. I would have had to be airlifted out of there from the massive panic attack it would have caused, and that wouldn’t have done well for the rest of my 3 days in Paris.
See the Eiffel Tower at Night
I recommend visiting the Eiffel Tower in the evening to see it in daylight. Then, shortly after the sun sets, it lights up. Seeing the Eiffel Tower at night is a magical experience, making it a must for first time visitors.
It lights up every half hour, and you can sit on the grass at the Champ de Mars with a nice snack while waiting. There are loads of guys walking around selling alcohol and snacks, so don’t worry if you didn’t bring any.
Book Activities & Tours:
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Take a Seine River Cruise
Going on a Seine River cruise was something my Aunt had requested. I say this as I’m not a big cruise person. However, I did wind up having a lovely time just sitting and relaxing as we passed some of Paris’ most notable sites.
Taking a Seine River Cruise is a low-stress way of seeing a lot while conquering your 3 days in Paris itinerary! Most cruises also have commentary to accompany the tour and last about an hour. I hope you have a more beautiful day than we had; it was gloomy!
Book Activities & Tours:
Strol Down the Champs Elysees
Of course, we stopped by arguably the most famous street in Paris, the Champs Elysees! It’s akin to Los Angeles’ Rodeo Drive, so if you’re not into luxury shopping, you may want to stick to just strolling by rather than actual shopping. Saving our travel budget, we stopped for a quick dessert nearby instead.
I’d say you can skip this on your what to see in Paris in 3 days if you want to, as it wasn’t a favorite of mine. However, if you are looking for other free things to do, there are many free museums in Paris!
Pont des Arts, Paris’ Love Lock Bridge
Update 2024: Back in 2015, the weight of these thousands of metal locks took a toll on the Pont des Arts, and unfortunately, a section of the bridge came down.
Glass panels have replaced the fence, so if you go, you can see the locks through the glass panel. Even with the paneling, the Pont des Arts remains one of the most popular sites in Paris.
It is illegal to put padlocks on the bridge; however, that hasn’t stopped anyone. So add this to your what to see in Paris in 3 days list at will.
Shakespeare and Company
Bookworms, add this to your what to see in Paris in 3 days list! Make sure to check out Shakespeare and Company in Paris’ Latin Quarter. It’s an English-language bookstore that opened in 1951. American George Whitman opened it in 1951.
It was initially called “Le Mistral” but was renamed “Shakespeare and Company” on the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare‘s birth. Today, it serves as a purveyor of new and second-hand books, an antiquarian bookseller, and a free reading library open to the public.
The shop also houses aspiring writers and artists in exchange for helping around the bookstore. Since the shop opened, more than 30,000 people have slept in beds tucked between bookshelves. The shop’s motto, “Be Not Inhospitable to Strangers Lest They Be Angels in Disguise,” is written above the entrance to the reading library.
Suggested 3 Day Paris Itinerary
Day 1
Notre Dame Cathedral, Sainte Chapelle’s Incredible Stained Glass, Conciergerie
Day 2
Napoleon Apartments at the Louvre, Arc de Triomphe, The Eiffel Tower
Day 3
Take a Seine River Cruise, Stroll Down the Champs Elysees, Pont des Arts (Paris’ Love Lock Bridge), Shakespeare and Company
Should You Get the Paris Museum Pass or the Paris Pass?
The Paris Museum Pass grants you free entry into over 50 museums and monuments in and around Paris. It also provides a skip-the-line advantage for some attractions.
You pick how many days you want to use it (2, 4, or 6 days), which will dictate how much the pass costs. You save money the more you visit, as there’s no limit to the number of attractions, just a limit on time!
With the Paris Museum Pass, you can see all these attractions for a fraction of the cost (especially if you’re quick), saving you time and money.
The Paris Pass, created by Go City, offers two different passes: the Explorer Pass and the All-Inclusive Pass. Both are geared more toward experiences and include some popular attractions.
With the Explorer Pass, you can choose from a list of 47 experiences and attractions and then pick which pass based on the number of experiences or attractions you’d like to do.
The All-Inclusive Pass is based on the number of days you want to use it.
However, with both of these passes, there is a maximum amount you can ‘spend’ using your pass. If the value of your pass is €180, the total entry prices for the attractions you choose can not exceed €180.
My Pick: The Paris Museum Pass, as it’s the cheapest way to visit Paris. Based on the Paris itinerary you’ve created, it’ll be far easier to determine what you’ll save or not.
I have a whole review of why I loved the Paris Museum Pass for even more details.
Book Activities & Tours:
Where to Stay in Paris
If you’ve read my blog post on the difference between a hostel and a hotel, you’ll know just how awful a time I had at my Parisian hostel. This was a few years back, and it seems they have remodeled it a bit, but there are SO many more options these days that I saw explore ’em!
This convenient widget will help you see what’s available. I highly recommend staying near Notre Dame, as it’s a central arrondissement to other sites such as Sainte Chapelle and the Conciergerie. Perfect for first-time visitors.
If that area isn’t to your liking, staying nearer to the Eiffel Tower is also wonderful, though it may be more expensive. If you’re looking for a hostel, I highly recommend checking out Hostelworld, which aggregates hostels worldwide.
Where to Eat and Drink in Paris
It’s been over a year since I was in Paris, but I still remember how amazing the food was. Once you’ve tasted Parisian food, nothing will taste as good again—trust me! Between French restaurants and places for Paris desserts, there is something for everyone!
Who doesn’t want to start with desserts from Paris? No one? That’s what I thought! I’m sure you’ve already heard about how amazing the patisseries are in France. It. Is. ALL true!
The thought of such delectables conjures up images of Marie Antoinette eating little cakes. Let me tell you, I could have eaten my way through these places and been perfectly happy about the 8,000 pounds I would have gained, though that would have made completing the rest of my 3 days in Paris itinerary difficult.
Angelina
Angelina may look like any old Parisian patisserie from the outside, but inside, it’s akin to walking into Willy Wonka’s classy pastry department. I consider it the best bakery in Paris, though it is much more than that!
The place is filled with the fantastic, mouth-watering smells of chocolate, sugar, and cream. There’s usually a line out the door, but there is a separate entrance for pickup orders. If you’re just dropping by for some desserts, you can go to that entrance. Your other choice is to go to the tearoom.
Now, aside from all the amazing pastries, you can gawk at for hours, there is what I came for—the hot chocolate. When my friend recommended it, I thought, how good can it actually be? It’s hot chocolate, for goodness sake! Boy, was I wrong! It is amazing! I don’t know what they put in it, but it’s like tasting heaven. No chocolate bar or hot cocoa will ever taste as good!
They have a few locations, so check the website for your closest location. It is one of the best places to eat desserts in Paris, so please, oh please, add to your what to see in Paris in 3 days list!
Macarons at Laduree
Anyone who has watched Gossip Girl already knows what Laduree is (if you haven’t, you should.) Laduree is the best place for macarons, so the perfect Paris itinerary would be remiss without including them.
Trust me, I’ve tried the American macarons around Los Angeles, and they don’t match up! The Laduree store is gorgeous and a must-visit to add to your 3 days in Paris itinerary! Think Sophia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette scene with the desserts. Yep, it’s that good!
A friend told me the Tea Salon serves fantastic food. I’ll take his word for that since their macarons were terrific! I got the pistachio and salted caramel and thoroughly enjoyed snacking on them while walking around the right bank.
They have locations in New York City, Los Angeles, and Miami for those who won’t be skipping across the pond anytime soon for some Parisian desserts.
L’Imperial
I stumbled across L’Imperial while looking for a place to eat that wouldn’t drain my bank account. Some places in Paris are costly, some have tiny portions, and some don’t taste that great. L’Imperial is none of the above and is an excellent place for budget travelers looking for food in Paris.
They were well-priced, with hefty portions, and had pasta to die for! I was literally stuffed, but because it was my second-to-last day in Paris and I knew I wouldn’t be back anytime soon, I scarfed down the whole plate of pasta—and it was a big one!
A nap followed it in a park, the only way to digest pasta properly in Paris, in my opinion. The interior design is too mod for my taste, but the servers were very nice and prompt with the food.
If I could ship their pasta to my door right now, I would. That’s how good it was! It was my favorite of all the food in Paris I tried! If it’s unclear, I highly recommend eating here, so add it to your what to see in Paris in 3 days list.
And these are just the tip of the iceberg! There are so many restaurants in Paris you shouldn’t miss!
Final Thoughts on this Paris Itinerary
Want even MORE things to do in Paris?:
- Versailles Palace – Built by King Louis XIV, a lovely day trip from the French capital
- Place de la Concorde – beautiful plaza in Paris
- Sacre-Coeur Basilica – offers stunning views of the Paris skyline
- Catacombs of Paris – sad I didn’t know about his macabre place when I visited Paris
- Luxembourg Gardens – gorgeous to stroll around
- Musée d’Orsay – holds mainly French art dating from 1848 to 1914 (Monet, Manet, Degas, Renoir, van Gogh, amongst others)
- …and here’s an additonal Perfect Paris trip itinerary
If you have any questions, please feel free to comment below or email me, and I’ll do my best to answer them as quickly as possible.
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Elle so nice to hear that you felt the same way about Paris as me. We too visited at the end of our vacation, after 6 full days in the UK. I was exhausted by then as well. I tried to enjoy it as much as possible, but the food was bleh and I guess it was just too much hype. Of course it was gorgeous, but I was still in wonderlust with England! xo
I actually spoke to an Englishman the other day and he was on the same page as us! I was surprised, thinking they’d be more compatible since they’re closer. I had some great pasta and macaroons! The bread products there are amazing! I think I put too much hype into it as well. I’d like to go to Italy next, but I’d like to go with someone this time. England is the best! I hope I get to work there one day!
Do you have a recommendation of hotels? Also would Tuesday morning to Thursday night be enough time to explore a few major sights? Taking eurostar from london and wanted to cut paris visit short by a day. Thanks!
Monica
Hey Monica! Unfortunately, I did not stay in a hotel while in Paris. I stayed at a hostel that I would not recommend. I don’t want to steer you wrong, so I’ll refrain from recommending hotels since I have no experience with them in Paris. I think if you’re quick, yes! The busiest places I went to were the Louvre and Versailles, so if either of those is on your itinerary, I highly recommend heading to them in the morning to avoid crowds (though I’ve heard the afternoon in Versailles can sometimes be a bit less busy as well if you want to organize that way.) Let me know if you have any other questions, and I’ll do my best to answer them.