paris tour itineraire

The Ultimate 3 Days in Paris Itinerary

When you only have 3 days in Paris, you need to get your Paris itinerary just right.

With a nearly unlimited number of incredible things to do (and eat, and see) in the City of Light, it’s important to plan a short trip carefully.

Sure, y ou want to see as much as you can–but you’ll also want to prevent yourself from burning out and/or wasting too much time in transport bouncing all over the city .

As first-time visitors to Paris quickly learn, the city is enormous and quite spread out, and without a solid plan, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.

That being said, Paris ranks among our absolute favorite cities in the world, and we want you to love it as much as we do !

After roughly 10 trips to Paris (and counting!), we’ve designed this itinerary for Paris in 3 days to cover the best of the city, fast.

Follow this travel itinerary to see a solid chunk of Paris’ best highlights, eat some delicious food, wander stunning neighborhoods, and make sure you travel home with a snapshot of Paris that leaves you dying to plan your next trip to the city.

Here’s exactly how to make the most of a few days in Paris, France!

Table of Contents

The Perfect 3 Days in Paris Itinerary

Where to stay in paris, more than 3 days in paris, france, getting around during your 3 day paris itinerary, the paris pass & paris museum pass: worth the money, when to visit paris for 3 days, staying safe during this itinerary for paris.

• What to Wear in Paris, France

What to Pack for Paris

Your 3 day paris itinerary map.

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Day 1: Classic Paris Highlights

Start your morning on île de la cité near notre dame..

What better way to start 3 days in Paris than to visit one of Paris’ most famous landmarks?

Even after the awful April 2019 fire , Notre Dame’s status as an icon of Paris and its convenient location in the center of the city still make it a great place to kick off your few days in Paris.

While you’re nearby, check out the view from the corner of Rue de la Cite and Quai de Montebello , near the Pont de Coeurs , where you can photograph the tops of the towers and some of the front of the cathedral looking semi-normal.

U nfortunately, though, the damage to the cathedral is extensive, and Notre Dame is not expected to reopen before 2024 .

I’m leaving our photos from the rooftop of Notre Dame in place in this 3 day Paris itinerary out of nostalgia, but scroll down for a look at the current view from the corner mentioned above for a more realistic take at the moment.

Step inside Shakespeare & Company.

5-minute walk from Notre Dame

Paris’ most famous bookstore is known as the former haunt of Lost Generation writers like James Joyce, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and the ever-present Ernest Hemingway (he knew all the good travel destinations before the rest of us).

What some don’t know is that the present Shakespeare & Company is a bit different than the original!

T he original location closed during the Nazi occupation, and this store was opened by new management in 1951, in order to nurture a new generation of writers–think Henry Miller, Ray Bradbury, and Langston Hughes.

I could wax poetic about bookstores forever, but I suggest you check out this great article from Vanity Fair if you’re interested in a thorough history of Shakespeare & Company.

Here’s what you need to know to visit: it’s delightful and beautiful, they’ll stamp any books you buy with their seal on the title page (which make wonderful souvenirs from Paris ), there’s a cat who lives upstairs, and the view from the second-floor window over the Seine and toward Notre Dame is divine.

Photos are forbidden inside, so you’ll just have to step across the Seine from Île de la Cité to see the beautiful interior for yourself!

I will note that we’ve after almost a decade of visiting this bookstore on the majority of our trips to Paris, we skipped it on our July 2022 visit because of the huge line in front–we had never seen one there before.

When we returned in December 2022, we were able to walk right in, but if you are planning to visit Paris during the high season, we recommend visiting as early in the morning as you can (Shakespeare & Company opens at 10:00 AM).

Grab a coffee and pastry from a beautiful Parisian cafe.

Having checked a tiny bit of Paris sightseeing off your list, it’s officially time for a traditional French breakfast of a delicious coffee and pastry.

Here are a few cafes nearby (and by nearby I mean practically hidden in plain sight) that you may want to check out.

Famous for its beautiful building nestled into the corner of a cobblestone street near Notre Dame, Odette is a lovely (and photogenic) choice for grabbing breakfast on your first morning in Paris.

Shakespeare & Co. Cafe

Surprisingly affordable and home to delicious coffee, if you want to keep your 3 days in Paris itinerary simple this morning, head next door to Shakespeare & Company for breakfast at their popular cafe by the same name.

(Odette is mere steps away from here, so if you’re a huge Parisian cafe lover, you could even visit both).

A. Lacroix Patissier

This cafe isn’t famous, but it is delicious, cozy, and boasts views of Notre Dame!

We’ve been eating here for years and can highly recommend it.

Au Vieux Paris d’Arcole

This one is more for the photo snappers and late risers among us, as it doesn’t open until noon, but Au Vieux Paris d’Arcole is worth mentioning as an option here.

Famous for its gorgeous wisteria, this Parisian cafe is practically next door to Notre Dame, is quite well known among places to eat in Paris , and is incredibly charming.

Pay a visit to the oldest clock in Paris.

8-minute walk from Odette or Shakespeare & Company.

En route to Sainte-Chapelle during your 3 days in Paris, be sure to make your way past the Tour de l’Horloge on the side of the Conciergerie.

Here you’ll be able to take a peek at the oldest clock in Paris, which was installed in the 14th century, is still steadily ticking to this day, and also happens to be incredibly gorgeous.

Stroll over to Sainte-Chapelle.

6-minute walk from Shakespeare & Company

Sainte-Chapelle boasts one of my favorite church interiors in the world, but you likely won’t notice when you first enter: the first floor is rather typically decorated and quite dark.

Climb up to the second floor, though, and you’re in for quite a show: nearly every inch of the 50-foot walls (about 15 meters) are covered in elaborate stained glass.

It is colorful, magical, and absolutely beautiful–I haven’t seen anything quite like it anywhere else in the world , and it’s well worth fitting into your itinerary for Paris.

We recommend grabbing a skip-the-line in advance (for no extra fee!) to save time in lines and ensure that this (small and very popular) attraction doesn’t sell out.

Get your ticket for Sainte-Chapelle today to skip the ticket line!

Make your way to the Luxembourg Gardens.

15-minute walk from Sainte-Chapelle

Obviously, the Luxembourg Gardens are most impressive in the spring and summer, but they’re worth visiting regardless of time of year: the gardens feel distinctly Parisian and are a joy to visit.

The Luxembourg Palace sits to one side, and be sure to stop by to admire it.

If you want to take a peek at some of the garden’s hidden treasures, the Medici Fountain and Luxembourg Gardens’ very own beehives are both nearby.

If you’re trying to stay on a budget, this is a great place for a picnic lunch!

S imply pick up some Parisian staples (a baguette with cheese and fruit, perhaps) and bring them into the gardens to eat.

If you’d prefer a restaurant, the area surrounding the park is lousy with them (Le Prince Racine is close by and a favorite of ours, and Restaurant Polidor is both tasty and served as a Midnight in Paris filming location!).

During your 15-minute walk over from Sainte-Chapelle, a slightly longer route will also take you by the Pantheon if you’d like to stop by.

Walk toward the Louvre via St. Germain.

18+ minute walk from the Luxembourg Gardens.

Head to the Louvre through St. Germain, one of the most classically Parisian neighborhoods.

As you explore, you’ll pass by some beautiful boutiques, great restaurants, and gorgeous architecture .

Those classic Paris streets you see in photos? St. Germain is a great place to photograph them!

In addition to the restaurants mentioned above, we’ve also enjoyed eating at Eggs & Co. while here, which specializes in omelets.

The food is tasty, and the decor is adorable.

The walk from the Luxembourg Gardens to the Louvre is technically under 20 minutes, but depending on how much you want to meander around the neighborhood, it could take quite a bit longer!

Pay a visit to the largest art museum in the world.

The Louvre is a hard thing to budget time for–for people who aren’t very into art, an hour or 2 of checking out the most famous works might be enough.

For art and history lovers, weeks would be needed.

With only 3 days in Paris, we’d recommend booking timed entry skip-the-line tickets and spending around 2-3 hours in the Louvre, and doing a bit of research before you go.

If there are particular works you’re dying to see (say, the Venus de Milo or the Mona Lisa), make sure you plan accordingly and head in the right direction.

Alternatively, you can book a tour ( we absolutely loved this one ) to ensure you see the best of the Louvre in an efficient way!

We’ve now visited the Louvre three times and have seen almost none of the same exhibits on any of our visits !

Personally, one of my favorite things I’ve found in the Louvre is the Napoleon III apartments, which are an unexpected surprise amongst all of the paintings, sculptures, and historical artifacts.

It took us a few trips to Paris before we splurged on a Louvre tour, but we’re  so  glad we did.

This tour was amazing and gave us great context for the pieces we saw in the museum, and we can heartily recommend it. For a different take, this tour is also well recommended.

Lines at the Louvre get notoriously long–plan ahead and book your visit to the Louvre today! You can get timed entry skip-the-line tickets here , book the same  amazing tour we took here , or book another  well-reviewed tour of the Louvre here .

Stop by the Colonnes de Buren or grab a hot chocolate at Angelina.

Once you finish exploring the Louvre, it’s time for a quick Paris sightseeing pitstop before heading off to the Eiffel Tower.

If you’re searching for popular Paris photo spots , this is a great time to stop by the Colonnes de Buren in the Palais Royale.

The columns are free to visit and fun to see in the evening, when there will be plenty of people hanging out (and even working out–we’ve seen everything from group lunges to kids playing soccer) nearby.

After you finish at the Colonnes de Buren, the Galerie Vero-Dodat is  just  around the corner and is another one of Paris’ beautiful covered passages, so you can consider swinging by there for a quick look as well.

If you’re done seeing the sights and simply want to sit down and indulge, famous Angelina is a short walk away, ready to serve you a steaming cup of their legendary hot chocolate.

Admire the Eiffel Tower from the Trocadero Gardens.

50-minute walk or 30-minute metro ride from the Louvre.

Are your feet killing you yet?

If so (and depending on the time), you may want to consider a metro ride at this point.

If not, we highly recommend the long walk along the Seine to the Trocadero Gardens, which will take you along some beautiful Paris views and past the famous Pont Alexandre III .

Regardless of how you get there, it’s safe to say that your first day spent visiting Paris isn’t complete without a picture-perfect view of the Eiffel Tower!

Head to the river to take a Seine river cruise before sunset.

To be perfectly honest, it took us many trips to Paris before we signed up for a Seine river cruise … and after taking one, we can’t believe that we waited so long!

Yes, they’re a bit touristy, but there’s nothing quite like admiring Paris and its many gorgeous monuments from the water.

Add in the possibility of a sunset, and the view is even better.

Many Seine river cruises leave from very close to the base of the Eiffel Tower, too, making taking one an easy addition to this 3 day Paris itinerary!

Want to splurge a bit for your first night in Paris?

You can even sign up for a full dinner cruise if a standard one-hour cruise doesn’t sound like quite enough time on the Seine.

Book your Seine river cruise today!

Day 2: The Elegant Side of Paris

Begin your day at the arc de triomphe..

What better way to kick off your second day in the City of Light than by admiring one of the best views in Paris?

Climb (all 284 steps of) the Arc de Triomphe for great views over Paris, including views of the Eiffel Tower, Champs-Élysées, La Defense, Montmartre , and more.

If you would like to zoom in (especially on faraway spots like Montmartre) it would be a great idea to pack travel binoculars so you don’t miss out on the details.

Be sure to stroll under the Arc de Triomphe as well–it is ornate and beautiful in a way that is hard to pick up from a distance.

Like most of Paris’ most famous attractions, the line to climb the Arc de Triomphe gets very long.

We love using skip-the-line tickets to walk right in–and there’s no extra charge for booking ahead!

Buy tickets to climb the Arc de Triomphe today!

Stroll down the Champs-Élysées.

The famous Champs-Élysées dead ends into the Arc de Triomphe, so after snapping photos both from the top of the monument and of the arch itself, continue your morning by heading down one of the most famous shopping streets in the world.

If you have time in your Paris itinerary (ie, depending on how early in the morning you got started!), consider continuing all the way to the Place de la Concorde before heading outside the city to enjoy one of the most iconic day trips from Paris !

Jump on the RER and spend most of the day at Versailles.

A day trip to Versailles is a perfect addition to 3 days in Paris: while some people do spend a whole day there, when trying to see Paris in 3 days, it makes more sense to squeeze in the Arc de Triomphe first.

(If you have no desire to visit the Arc de Triomphe, though, feel free to head right to Versailles after breakfast).

While at Versailles, be sure to tour the palace itself ( be sure to book tickets in advance if you’re not taking a tour ), and then head outside to the gardens for a long stroll.

Bear in mind that the property is the largest royal domain in the world and it is therefore predictably difficult to see absolutely everything !

The gardens alone take up 230 acres, and that’s without even considering attractions like Grand Trianon, Petit Trianon, and the Queen’s Hamlet.

Booking a tour is a great way to get a thorough oversight on your first visit!

After seeing the popular main gardens near the palace, which boast the opulent fountains of Versailles seen in so many photos, consider taking a 25-minute walk through the gardens to visit the other palaces on site (plus Marie Antoinette’s hamlet, of course) .

How to Get to Versailles from Paris

To get to Versailles from Paris, take the RER C line to Versailles.

Transit takes less than an hour, and bear in mind that the RER is separate from the metro.

Y ou’ll need to purchase an RER ticket to head to Versailles.

Be sure to validate your ticket before you travel!

Book your timed entry skip-the-line tickets or guided tour of Versailles today!

Day 3: Parisian Food, Art, and Grit

Start your morning with a parisian food tour..

It’s no secret that French food is some of the most delicious in the world–and before leaving Paris, it’s a great idea to take some time to learn all about it!

We absolutely loved our experience on the Paris Ultimate Food Tour with Devour Tours , which focuses on the trendy La Marais neighborhood.

Taste award-winning pastries and macarons, delectable meats and cheeses, a memorable soup, and much more on this delicious (and extremely filling) food tour.

Devour Tours is one of our favorite food tour companies in Europe, and one of the many reasons for that is the history and culture that is woven into every tour.

The fight for the survival of long-standing traditional markets, the history of the Jewish community in Le Marais, and how French food gets its various designations are just a few details that made their way into our tour, and we walked away very satisfied with the experience.

(As is usual for us, we paid our own way for this tour and told no one we were travel bloggers while there).

Book the Paris food tour we loved today!

Choose Your Own Parisian Adventure: Catacombs vs. the Musée d’Orsay

As your 3 days in Paris rapidly come to a close, it’s incredibly ambitious to try to fit both the catacombs and Musée d’Orsay into the itinerary, especially as they’re quite far apart!

For that reason, I’ll leave your next stop up to you.

Travelers looking for something funky, offbeat, and unusual will love the catacombs.

Art lovers (especially impressionist lovers) will delight in the Musée d’Orsay .

Here’s what to love about each!

Option 1: See a different side of Paris at the Catacombs.

50-minute walk or 25-minute metro ride from the end of the Paris Ultimate Food Tour.

Technically an ossuary and not catacombs, this Paris highlight is a bit spooky and unusual, but a fascinating place to visit while in Paris for 3 days (unless you get freaked out by bones, that is).

Skip-the-line tickets are essential here, or you can even sign up for a guided tour to learn more about the (absolutely wild) history.

Set in Paris’ former quarries, the catacombs hold millions of former Parisians… but they didn’t start their time in the afterlife there.

From the late 18th to the mid-19th century, many of Paris’ cemeteries were emptied out due to health concerns, and the skeletons were relocated to the catacombs.

Artfully arranged and complete with cemetery-appropriate art (Bible verses and such, but also a sign saying “Stop! This is the empire of the dead” over the entrance, so, there’s that), the catacombs are a bizarre mix of fascinating, creepy, historical, and artistic.

The catacombs themselves go on for over 200 miles/320 kilometers, and we have loved each of our visits–and also loved staring down the dark paths that are not intended for tourists to visit.

Fair warning: it’s easy to get lost down there and people have died by breaking in and then getting too lost to find their way out. Stick to the path!

Even during our January visit, the line for the catacombs was still more than 2 hours long! Book your  skip-the-line tickets here or epic in-depth guided tour here !

Option 2: Enjoy Paris’ second-most-famous art museum, the Musée d’Orsay.

40-minute walk or 25-minute metro ride from the end of the Paris Ultimate Food Tour.

Many first-time visitors to Paris walk away saying that the Musée d’Orsay , not the Louvre, is their favorite museum in Paris.

We wouldn’t go quite that far (we love both too much), but it’s easy to see what draws people in.

Not only is the Musée d’Orsay home to some incredible art, including iconic works by Monet and Van Gogh, but the building itself is a bit of an attraction.

The Musée d’Orsay is set in a gorgeous former train station built at the end of the 19th century, complete with the famous clock on the top floor that provides a unique view of Paris.

In addition, the Musée d’Orsay is much smaller than the Louvre, and therefore less overwhelming and easier to visit without getting turned around.

Book your timed entry skip the line ticket for the Musée d’Orsay today!

Spend the rest of the afternoon and evening in Montmartre.

25-minute metro ride from the Paris catacombs or 20-minute metro ride from the Musée d’Orsay .

Your last afternoon and evening in Paris are dedicated to a neighborhood that’s not quite as old or as stately as some Parisian neighborhoods… but it is delightfully fun and very well known.

Montmartre is home to Sacré Coeur, the Moulin Rouge , the famous Place du Tertre, and some incredibly adorable streets, squares, bakeries, cafes, and bars .

Once the haunt of artists and Bohemians, and today the haunt of travelers seeking out some of the prettiest streets and best views in Paris, Montmartre is a beloved favorite among Parisian neighborhoods for good reason.

This area is great for taking iconic Parisian photos, we take our Sony a7R III along with us and end up using it constantly.

While you’re there, be sure to visit Sacré Coeur (the 300 steps to the top of the dome are worth it), see the artists at the Place du Tertre, and duck into the art shops along the nearby side streets .

The steps of Sacré Coeur are one of the most popular sunset spots in Paris, and a wonderful place to watch the light disappear from your last full day in Paris (though the top of the dome is even better–you can see the Eiffel Tower from there!).

If you feel like sticking around for the evening, Montmartre is the perfect place to find nightlife in Paris, too.

W hether you want to go crazy and see a show at the Moulin Rouge (which is just downhill from Montmartre in the Pigalle area) or find a quieter bar to settle down at, you’ll have plenty of options.

Shop tickets to shows at the Moulin Rouge !

Say goodbye to Paris.

Three days in Paris go by so fast: it’s already time to say goodbye.

As you head back to your hotel on your last night in Paris, you may be able to squeeze in one more experience off your Paris wish list.

There are a million worthy options, but one reliably magical one is to grab a warm street crepe and admire the Eiffel Tower twinkling at night.

In our opinion, t here’s no better image to end your trip to Paris with than that one.

In a city as large and dense as Paris, deciding where to stay can be quite daunting!

Paris is famously divided into 20  arrondissements , or neighborhoods, that are named via a number system that starts with 1 in the center of the city (where you’ll find the Louvre) and circles outward like the shell of a snail.

After roughly 10 trips to Paris, we’ve stayed in many neighborhoods spread across the city, from Montmartre ( we loved this aparthotel ) to the Bastille area (an underappreciated place to stay, and this hotel was wonderful ).

And, while everyone has their own opinions about where to stay in Paris (there’s no one right answer) we love and highly recommend Saint-Germain-des-Prés (6th arrondissement ) or the Latin Quarter (5th arrondissement ) to travelers visiting Paris for the first time and frequently choose to stay there ourselves.

In these areas, you’ll be within walking distance of attractions like Île de la Cité (home of Notre Dame and Sainte-Chapelle), the Seine, the Luxembourg Garden, the Louvre, and many more.

And, by choosing a hotel near a metro stop, you’ll also have the rest of Paris at your fingertips!

Here are a few hotels we’ve personally stayed in and loved in the 5th and 6th, arranged more or less from most budget-friendly to most luxurious (though if it’s Parisian charm you’re after, this one is the clear winner).

Hotel Abbatial Saint Germain (Centrally Located & Cozy)

We love this cute boutique hotel in Paris, mostly because of its truly unbeatable location less than a 10-minute walk from Notre Dame and therefore an easy walk away from much of the attractions of Île de la Cité (and a metro stop, of course).

Despite the super central location, the streets outside were still quiet at night, a huge benefit, and the views during the day were lovely.

The customer service was excellent, the bed cozy, and the room, while still very small by global standards, was a bit roomy compared to what we’ve gotten used to in Paris.

We’d be happy to stay again!

Check rates & book your stay at Hotel Abbatial Saint Germain!

Relais Hôtel du Vieux Paris  (Classic Parisian Charm)

Located on a quiet street less than a block from the Seine and Île de la Cité, Relais Hôtel du Vieux Paris  offers all the advantages of a central location while maintaining its peace and quiet.

… and it does all that while still managing to have one of the most charming interiors we’ve experienced in a Paris hotel!

The ceilings, wallpaper, and overall decor never let you forget that you’re in the City of Light, and we loved every second.

The breakfast is also delicious, served at the table, and includes a generous selection of pastries as well as fruit, cheese, orange juice, coffee, and tea.

Check rates & book your stay at Relais Hôtel du Vieux Paris!

Citadines Saint-Germain-des-Prés Paris (Modern Amenities + Kitchens on the Seine)

Located right on the Seine in one of the most convenient locations in Paris, the crisp and modern Citadines Saint-Germain-des-Prés Paris offers ease at every turn.

And, that includes the fact that studios and apartments here include kitchens or kitchenettes!

If you’re looking for a peaceful retreat from sightseeing in Paris, a chance to enjoy an occasional dinner of cheese and baguette you picked up at the market, and a bit more elbow room than is traditional in the City of Light, this is the place for you.

We loved our stay here–and, thanks to the hotel being pet-friendly, so did Ranger.

Check rates & book your stay at Citadines Saint-Germain-des-Prés Paris!

Paris is a city that can occupy a lifetime and still not be fully discovered–no matter how much time you have in Paris, you will never leave feeling that you’ve unturned every stone.

After about 10 trips to Paris and counting, we still find ourselves discovering new gems every time we visit!

A few things to consider adding to your Paris itinerary if you have longer than three days in the city include a visit to the Pere Lachaise Cemetery, or heading to the top of Montparnasse Tower (this tower is generally reviled for disrupting Paris’ beautiful skyline, but it does have quite the view at the top!).

You could also splurge on a Michelin Star meal, take a class on learning how to bake macarons or croissants (we did the macarons and adored it!), tour the Paris Opera House, duck into a smaller museum like the Musée de l’Orangerie (one of our favorites)… you get the picture.

Our gigantic Paris bucket list and/or our guide to the hidden gems of Paris are great blog posts to peruse if you’re looking for fun ideas to round out your itinerary for Paris!

There are plenty of hidden gems in Paris that lurk in plain sight, from the former home of Nicholas Flamel to lesser-known but interesting churches like the Church of Saint Sulpice to fascinating flea markets, all of which are worth seeking out if you have more than a few days in Paris.

If you’re looking to head out of town on one of your additional days in Paris, popular day trips other than Versailles include the town of Rouen, the castle of Fontainebleau, and Giverny to experience the water gardens that inspired Monet.

Paris is a large city, but it is surprisingly easy to get around.

As I mentioned above, the City of Light is made up of 20 arrondissements , or districts, starting with the 1st in the center (this is where you’ll find the Louvre), and spiraling outward from there.

When deciding where to stay in Paris, try not to put too much stock in being near any particular attraction.

Paris’ main sights are spread far and wide in its arrondissements (a few examples: the Eiffel Tower is in the 7th, the Louvre in the 1st, Montmartre in the 18th, and Notre Dame in the 4th), and wherever you end up staying, you’ll be traveling through the city during your stay.

Here’s how to get around during your itinerary for 3 days in Paris!

Paris’ metro system is extremely dense and developed.

O ther than walking, we recommend using it as your main method of transportation while in Paris.

The easiest way to purchase tickets is as a carnet, or group of 10 tickets at a time, and replenish as you run out.

However, if you happen to purchase the Paris Pass , access to the bus, metro, and RER systems are all included, so you won’t need to purchase separate tickets.

Taxis & Uber

Taxis and Uber are both prevalent in the city, though high prices and heavy traffic make them a less attractive option than the metro.

Lyft is not available in Paris.

Walking is our absolute favorite way to get around Paris, which is part of why this 3 days in Paris itinerary includes the option to walk so much.

Not only do you save money and work off the copious amounts of pain au chocolat you’re probably consuming, but you also get to discover Paris at its very best!

Meandering through a dorable side streets, sampling cute cafes, admiring gorgeous buildings, enjoying the enormous dog population, and more, are all part of the essential Parisian walking experience.

Do not rent a car in Paris.

Parking is an expensive nightmare, driving is difficult and traffic-laden, and the metro system is extensive and functional.

R enting a car in Paris is far more trouble than it is worth, and that’s without even including the cost of doing so as a factor. Just don’t do it.

If you follow this 3 days in Paris itinerary, a full Paris Pass likely won’t be worth the money unless you are going to be using a lot of transportation.

If you want access to benefits like a Hop-On-Hop-Off bus tour , you may want to consider it.

The Paris Museum Pass , though a better fit for this 3 day Paris itinerary than the Paris Pass is, still isn’t likely to be worth the money as compared to buying tickets individually.

In 2022, with so many tickets easily available for online purchase in advance, a lot of the convenience of city passes and museum passes has been left behind, leaving only monetary benefit as a reason to buy one.

If you have your heart set on visiting several other small museums in Paris not covered on this itinerary that are included with the pass (check the list carefully, as what is included and excluded can be a bit surprising), you may be able to get a good deal.

Please note that if you do purchase a Paris Museum Pass , you’ll still need to sign up for a timed entry reservation for the Louvre.

There is no bad time of year to spend 3 days in Paris.

In the spring, you’ll see beautiful flowers (and if you’re lucky , even cherry blossoms!), and get to see the city in full bloom.

In the summer, Paris is at its sunniest and warmest, and it’s the perfect time of year for long evenings spent outside of adorable cafes.

In the fall, the autumn foliage is stunning.

In the winter, you can experience Paris at its emptiest and with its lowest prices (but it’s all relative–this is still Paris).

It doesn’t typically snow in Paris, but December does offer the bonus of Christmas decorations and decor!

We’ve now been lucky enough to visit Paris during most months of the year, and haven’t had a bad trip yet.

Whenever you have a chance to visit, go: no matter what time of year it is, it is the perfect time to be in Paris.

Traveling in Paris is generally a very safe activity, but like in all large cities (and especially large cities crawling with tourists), scams and petty crime run rampant.

Beware anyone approaching you asking you to sign a petition, offering you a rose or “friendship bracelet”, or enticing you to buy a “gold” ring that they “found”.

In general, keep an eye on your belongings, watch out for pickpockets (especially in crowds), and avoid getting overly intoxicated  (especially alone or late at night).

In other words: use common sense.

Generally speaking, the riskiest places for encountering potential scams or pickpockets are in the areas most dominated by tourists–near the Eiffel Tower, for example, or in front of the Louvre.

Keep your wits about you, but there’s no reason to be overly worried: millions of people safely visit Paris each year, and we’ve never had any trouble.

An anti-theft purse or backpack can help add a layer of protection from petty theft, though of course you’ll still need to be vigilant.

We’ve happily used this anti-theft backpack for years, and a couple of our friends swear by this one .

If you’re not used to traveling in large cities, you could also consider using a money belt during your Paris vacation.

This is up to you: we no longer use one, and thieves are certainly aware of them, but if you’re more comfortable having your valuables more secure than they are in your pockets while exploring, it’s an option.

What to Wear in Paris , France

Our general rule of traveling is that we never expect to (or try to) pass as locals, but we aim to look like ex-pats or frequent travelers that at least know what we’re doing… and, okay, in Paris, we want to look somewhat good.

It is Paris, after all.

The big key to blending in and looking fashionable in Paris? Less is more.

Think lots of dark colors (I swear, 90% of Parisian women we saw on our most recent winter trip were wearing a black coat), fashionable jeans or pants, and cute dresses.

Flats or boots for women depending on the season and casual loafers or boots for men are just fine–much more important than the exact shoe is that they’re very comfortable and well broken in.

For men, think fitted slacks or jeans, and fitted shirts. Not particularly fancy or dressed up, but not sloppy, either.

We generally consider the whole “Europeans don’t wear jeans!” rule to be either complete fiction or at least wildly outdated, but Parisians certainly don’t tend to wear ill-fitting, or worn-out ones, either.

Bottom line?

Don’t worry too much about what to wear in Paris–we find that people tend to overthink it.

Pack clothes you’re comfortable in, leaning toward classic, basic styles, and dark colors, and you’ll blend right in (as much as any tourist can).

And hey, if you get there and feel completely out of place in your wardrobe, Paris is a pretty fantastic place to shop!

Travel Insurance  — We don’t ever suggest traveling without travel insurance–anything can happen, and this is definitely a case of better safe than sorry.

Travel Adaptors for France — If you’re coming from outside of Europe, you’ll definitely need adaptors for your electronics.

Swiss Army Knife   — AKA, your handy baguette-and-cheese-slicer plus wine bottle opener all in one–it’s a Parisian essential!

Pacsafe    — We bring this with us everywhere these days. Simply place your important belongings inside before you leave for the day, string the safe around the sturdiest thing in the room (the base of the toilet or a pipe under the sink is a good option), and voila! You’re good to go.

Travel Journal — I personally love the One Line a Day Journal that covers 5 years–you write one sentence a day, and every date is on the same page through the years (so, for example, you can easily see what you were doing on all the April 18th’s).

I adore the concept (I’m currently on my second volume), and a quick sentence each day is about all I can commit to in a journal!

Camera — This one comes from personal experience: on our first trip to Paris in late 2013, we took all of our photos on our cell phones, and we definitely regret it.

While phone photography has come a long way in the last decade, if you’re even the tiniest bit into photography as a hobby, definitely bring the camera.

We recently upgraded to our Sony a7R III and absolutely love it, but whatever camera you’re comfortable with works–just make sure you have something with you to preserve your memories! 

They’re incredibly handy and we recommend adding one to your packing list. We’ve been carrying ours for years and it never stops coming in handy!

Reusable Water Bottle  — Even in fashionable cities like Paris, we always prefer to keep water with us—it saves both money and plastic as compared to buying water bottles along the way.

Hand Sanitizer — We’ve never been sorry to have this floating around in our day bag.

Money Belt   — This is up to you: we no longer use one, but if you’re more comfortable having your passports with you at all times in Paris, you can consider bringing one.

We used to use this one   and had no complaints. These days, we prefer just to leave valuables in our Pacsafe during the day.

Take This Map With You! Click each highlight to pull up the name of the destination. To save this map to “Your Places” on Google Maps, click the star to the right of the title. You’ll then be able to find it under the Maps tab of your Google Maps account! To open the map in a new window, click the button on the top right of the map.

About Kate Storm

In May 2016, I left my suburban life in the USA and became a full-time traveler. Since then, I have visited 50+ countries on 5 continents and lived in Portugal, developing a special love of traveling in Europe (especially Italy) along the way. Today, along with my husband Jeremy and dog Ranger, I’m working toward my eventual goal of splitting my life between Europe and the USA.

53 thoughts on “The Ultimate 3 Days in Paris Itinerary”

Your itinerary seems to cover all the major attractions of Paris in a tightly packed schedule. I’m bookmarking this for future reference for whenever I finally manage to make my way down to Paris. Nice photos, I particularly enjoyed the ones taken from the gargoyles’ perch.

Thanks, Denny! We love the gargoyle photos too.

I never say no to a trip to Paris, even though I’ve been many times. Still haven’t seen Saint Chappelle or the Luxembourg Gardens though! Those stained glass windows are stunning. Looks like I have to make it back for trip no. 5!

There’s no such thing as too many trips to Paris! 😉

That’s a great itinerary for a short trip! I loved all the crepe vendors, I ate one too many banana Nutella crepes while there. Did you have a chance to go to Angelina? Best hot chocolate ever!

We did not–something to add to the list for our next trip! We’d love to make it back to Paris again in 2018– we shall see.

Angelina’s is divine. We will be back in Paris in Sept, and getting so excited. Looking for some new neighborhoods to explore off the main attractions path.

September is such a wonderful time to go!

You might like this post on getting off the beaten path in Paris–some of these spots are in quieter neighborhoods, and some are hidden in plain sight: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/secret-paris-off-the-beaten-path/

I have never been to Paris so this guide is just perfect for me! You curated the itinerary very thoughtfully. It has a mix of touristy as well as offbeat things to do! I love walking and public transport, so this guide feels like it is tailor made for me!

Thank you, Abhinav! 🙂

I have been to Paris many many times before so i was curious if your list has something that I havent seen yet and indees there are two things! The galery Lafayette although I knew its existence. However, the catacombs is new to me! But if I am not wrong, they made a horror movie about or inspired about this? The title is “Upside…” something.

Ha, yes there is! It’s called “As Above, So Below”. It came out a year or so after we first visited the catacombs, so of course we had to go see it. It was only an okay movie, but the shots of Paris and the catacombs were more than enough to keep us entertained.

What a fantastic itinerary! I love how you’ve planned each day out. It would be an exhausting three days, but it would be worth it!

When we were in Paris, we never made it over to Versaillas. I hope to do that next time we’re there, plus visit in the spring for those beautiful cherry blossom in front of the Eiffel Tower pics! 🙂

I hear you on the Eiffel Tower pictures!! Both of our visits have been in winter so far (technically this one was at the beginning of spring, but Paris’ flowers hadn’t bloomed yet), and I want those iconic cherry blossom views!!

What a comprehensive itinerary for visiting one of my favorite cities. Love all your suggestions and it makes me yearn to return.

Thanks, Sue! I hear you on wanting to return–I think I said “I miss Paris” out loud at least a dozen times while writing this post. 🙂

This is such a great itinerary for Paris. I made it to several of your suggestions during my visit but missed a few. Seeing you with that crepe made my mouth water. I loved the banana/nutella/strawberry crepes-amazing!!

Haven’t actually tried that combo yet–next time I’ll need to! The one I’m holding is a butter & sugar–so simple and yet so tasty.

I love Paris!! We visited last May and couldn’t wait to go back again! There are a few spots we missed like Musee d’Orsay and Luxembourg Garden. Definitely need to go back when we’re in the city next time. I don’t know about the catacombs though 😛

Ha, you’re not the only one! Some people aren’t into the whole bones thing… we find it completely fascinating, though. 😛

This post is SO thorough! One of the best I have read on Paris.

Thank you, Natalia! That was the goal. 🙂

This is a perfect itinerary for me. I am keeping it for my future visit to Paris. Wow Paris is still a dream. I am sold on the Sainte-Chapelle. Its such a stunning architecture. Someday I will make to to this destination. I loved your guide for the clothing. Great post.

Sainte-Chapelle is amazing–easily one of the most memorable houses of worship we have been in.

We are planning to visit Paris in July. Such a gorgeous place and there is so much to see and do there. can’t wait to explore and take some pretty pictures for sure 🙂

I hope you have an amazing trip! You will definitely come home with pretty pictures. 🙂

Excellent guide, I’ve been to Paris twice, the first time I had about 8 days and the 2nd time was only over a weekend so this itinerary would have been helpful! I was there in the middle of summer though and it was stinking hot. I love the French fashion and style but it was hard to dress in style with such heat! Excellent advice in this piece.

I’ve heard the heat can be killer! Hoping to make it in the summer one of these days to feel it for myself–worth it to see all the beautiful gardens in bloom, hopefully. 🙂

One of the best destination! It’s also known for its French architecture and mouthwatering variety. Thanks for the reminder that it doesn’t matter how long you wait until traveling, just that everybody can start once.

Thanks, Chi! Glad to have you stopping by.

I’ll be in Paris in the next few weeks and this is definitely helpful in planning my trip!

I stumbled on your site while planning a trip to Italy (Florence and Rome), Monte Carlo, Paris and London in July 2019. I loved all of your itineraries for Florence, Rome and Paris. I’ve been to Paris (but that was 30 years ago), and visited all the spots you mention. That being said, I’m eager to see them all again. Thanks for your suggestions on what to see in 2 or 3 days in each of these cities. You definitely helped me plan out our days so they make the most sense. I cannot wait until we get there!

Thank you so much, Melissa! The detailed trip itineraries are honestly some of my favorite things to write, and nothing makes me happier than hearing that other people found them useful.

Your trip sounds fantastic–hope that you have an amazing time in July!

Hi Kate, I, like many others here, stumbled across your site while planning our 1st trip to Paris coming up May 2019. My husband and I will be in Paris for 3.5 days. So this itinerary seems perfect. Since I am a planner and wanting to make sure I can plan and purchase tickets to the museums and such ahead of time, I don’t want to feel so committed as well in case we change our minds or want to see something (like the Eiffel Tower) at night rather than mid day. I certainly do not want to spend hours in lines to purchase tickets and then another hour in line to view the museums. Any suggestions on pre-arrival planning and do some of the tour companies offer cancellations up to a day in advance? Thank you for this great information. I will be using it as a guideline for our trip. We will be headed to Barcelona after… have you been?

We use Get Your Guide for buying all our tickets and tours in Paris–you can buy skip-the-line passes to things like the Arc de Triomphe through them and then just show the ticket on your phone at any time that day (we just did that one personally last August). In Paris, we normally book our tickets for whatever we want to do that morning before heading out for the day and download them to our phones, so we stay pretty flexible while also having our tickets ready to go and avoiding lines during the day.

This is perfect for museum entrances, visiting the Palais Garnier and Versailles, etc. Where it becomes an issue is with the Eiffel Tower (which is a special case requiring a time slot) and guided tours–if you’re looking for a guided tour of the Louvre, for example, that will be time-sensitive and we really recommend booking at least a few days in advance (especially in May, which is a popular time to visit Paris).

What I’d recommend in your case is to book any timed experiences (food tours, Eiffel Tower climb, guided tours) ahead of time and then using those to structure the rest of your trip. Pretty much everything else can be bought day-of, though we definitely still recommend buying skip-the-line tickets online to avoid lines. Cancellation policies will be a company-by-company thing, but I know Get Your Guide usually allows cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.

We have not been to Barcelona yet, but would love to go soon! We thought about going this April, actually, but getting back to Italy again won out (as it so often does with us).

Hope you have an amazing trip!

I am taking my husband and 2 children to Paris in July 2020. We are also going on to Rome and Florence. I have been to Paris for work. My family has never been. We are thinking 3 days in Paris. Should we go for 4 and reduce our time in Italy, or can we see enough in Paris?

I would say it depends on how long you have to spend in Rome and Florence. Ideally, I’d say the minimum number of days to spend in each city is 3 days in Paris, 3 in Rome, and 2 in Florence–though you could easily triple the time in any of them and still leave with lots left to do!

They happen to be 3 of our favorite cities in the entire world–we visit all of them regularly–so in my opinion, you can’t go wrong with extra time in any of them.

Hello, thank you for the comprehensive and interesting itinerary!

However, the day that I’m arriving happens to be on a Tuesday, which I heard that Louvre would be closed. May I know how I can switch my itinerary around?

Sure thing! Of course there are a million ways to do so, but the easiest would be to swap the Louvre and Montmartre on your itinerary–so see Montmartre the afternoon of day one and the Louvre the afternoon of day three. 🙂

Hope you have a great time!

Hi,loved your article. I am an armchair traveller and My son is on his first backpacking trip to Europe ,I read through lot of articles and found yours the best,sent him the links and he followed them almost to the the T, except doing Louvre in the evening as after 6 pm,as it’s open for students. Thanks a lot.

Thanks so much, Asiya! So glad your son had a great time–we love visiting the Louvre at night as well, it has such a nice atmosphere in the evenings.

WOW!! What a great itinerary, practically covered with many, if not all the places you should definitely know if you want to go to Paris, I would love to be able to take my girlfriend for a journey to know Paris, I will definitely take into consideration these places, I would like the idea of being able to visit the catacombs, however she is very scary, so I think she won’t be interested much hehe

Thanks, Mauel! Hope you and your girlfriend have the chance to visit Paris soon. 🙂

This is such detailed guide to Paris and saving it up for next travel to Europe.

Thanks so much, Mayuri! Hope you enjoy your next Europe trip!

Hi Kate, Your itinerary for Paris is as good as it gets. I am planning a trip to Europe in June 2020 with Paris as the first stop. Stay will be for 3 days which is perfect as per the itinerary. However, the only glitch is that our arrival will most probably be at 14:20 LT in Paris. Which means that after checking in at the hotel, we may make it for the evening cruise only. Our arrival will be most probably on 1st June and will leave Paris on 04th June. Will it be enough or should I add one more day?

Thanks, Sanjeev! To do absolutely everything on this Paris itinerary you might need another day, but if it doesn’t fit into your trip, no worries at all! You can still have a great trip and just either hurry through the sights a bit or cut whichever 1-2 things appeal to you the least–whichever fits your travel preferences more.

You mention hiking 3 towers in one day, but did I miss it…I didn’t see anywhere that you reviewed the Eiffel Tower? I only saw Arc De Triomphe and Sacre Coeur? I wanted your input on Eiffel Tower? Heard it’s not worth the amount of time spent to go to top? How about second floor? Worth it?? Thank you.

Apologies, that must be left over from years ago when this itinerary also included climbing Notre Dame. I’ll get it updated.

We’ve never gone to the top of the Eiffel Tower due to the number of friends who have told us it’s not worth it. Personally, it has never appealed to us as much as other monuments–I like having the Eiffel Tower in my Paris skyline photos!

We keep saying we’ll go up one day just so we can offer a first-person review–maybe this will finally be the year we do. 🙂

I would love it if there was a schedule with approximate times for each attraction!! Is there something like that <3 ? Thanks anyways 🙂

We don’t include any specific times since everyone moves at their own pace and starts at different times of the day (some families love to start sightseeing at 7, others at 9–and the itinerary can easily be adapted for both).

Have a wonderful time in Paris!

I really like this article as a fan of literature, I would really like to visit the Shakespeare and company. And the itinerary was so well plan and detailed. I will be bookmarking this for future references. Thank you for this post!

Thanks, John!

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Paris itineraries to help you plan your perfect trip

As one of the world’s most iconic and charming cities, Paris needs little introduction. The city is well-loved for its culture, food, nightlife, and iconic attractions. The Eiffel Tower and Louvre attract the biggest crowds, and Disneyland Paris is a wonder for all ages. And with plenty of hole-in-the-wall spots and characteristic neighborhoods, you’ll never run out of things to explore.

How many days do you need in Paris?

So how many days should you spend in Paris? While you can see the city’s most famous landmarks in a 2-day weekend trip, more time will allow you to veer off the tourist path and even squeeze in a day trip or two. If you’re a first-time visitor, you might want to spend at least four days exploring all the must-see arrondissements. If you’re a repeat visitor and have covered the historical 4th and blockbuster 1st arrondissements , use a second trip to get out to Pigalle or Pere Lachaise Cemetery in the 20th. Paris is a convenient stop on a longer trip to France , or even to other parts of Europe like London.

Our Paris itineraries are broken down by the number of days in the city, ranging from two up to seven. If you’re traveling as a family or as a couple, we have the best Paris itineraries to suit your trip too. Our itinerary for food lovers will also help you make the most of Paris’ culinary scene. The itineraries can be easily tweaked for your own needs and interests, complete with tour and hotel recommendations to help you skip the stress of planning and place you right by Paris’ best attractions .

2-day Paris itinerary

Our 2-day Paris itinerary will take you on a whistle-stop tour of Paris’ most idyllic districts and quintessential cultural landmarks. After all, what’s a trip to Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre ?

This is the best Paris itinerary for those on a weekend trip to Paris , or a longer tour of France. You’ll be able to see the French capital’s main sights and get a great feel for this magical city, all in just two days.

3-day Paris itinerary

Three days in Paris provides an exciting balance between visiting Paris’ most famous landmarks and also discovering some lesser-known attractions and districts. You can get a great overview of Paris, without needing to stay any more than a long weekend. This itinerary affords you enough time to explore the city’s Latin Quarter , one of the oldest parts of the city, and the city’s trendy and youthful Le Marais .

4-day Paris itinerary

Paris is a multifaceted city, with a wide variety of attractions, from architecture to culture to food. Four days gives you the chance to dig into all that the city has to offer, without feeling rushed for time. Highlights of this itinerary include the Musée d’Orsay , which is a must for all art lovers, and the 11th arrondissement , an enclave of gastronomy and history.

The best part of a 4-day trip to Paris is being able to dedicate a whole day to visiting Versailles , located just 9 miles from the city. Famous for its grandeur and beauty, the palace is a must for its culture, history, and stunning gardens.

5-day Paris itinerary

Whether you’re already familiar with Paris’ main sights, or you want to explore some of the city’s more non-touristy spots, this 5-day itinerary will take you off the beaten path to some true Parisian delights. You can experience more of Paris’ varied districts, which are just not possible to see on a weekend trip.

The Opéra, or 9th arrondissement , is a must for admiring typically Parisian Haussmann architecture, while Pigalle provides a look into a more gritty and trendy Paris away from the postcard photos. You can even spend a whole day ambling around Versailles, without feeling like you rushed inner Paris.

7-day Paris itinerary

If you’re not sure about how many days to spend in Paris, a full week in the city will never disappoint. Seven days will afford you plenty of time to immerse yourself in the city, visit some little-known spots, and venture out of the city center. Versailles is a great day trip option, while a visit to Bois de Boulogne will take you off Paris’ central tourist path and into the city’s most beautiful outside space.

Paris itinerary for food lovers

French gastronomy is revered around the world, and where better to sample the best food on offer than in Paris ? Our 3-day food lovers itinerary provides a diverse tour of Parisian cuisine catering to a range of budgets, showing off the best of the city’s culinary culture and food districts. From Michelin-starred fine dining to café-hopping in Le Marais and street food in Little Tokyo, this is a great way to have a taste of Paris’ pleasures.

Paris itinerary for families

Paris is a great destination for a family holiday, with plenty of green spaces, interactive museums, and Europe’s most-visited theme park.

And you’ll just need five days for the family to cover all the main highlights. A visit to the Eiffel Tower and the Tuileries Garden should definitely be on your list and, naturally, a visit to Disneyland Paris is in order to create family memories that will last a lifetime.

Paris itinerary for couples

Paris, the city of love. If you’re looking for a romantic getaway with your partner, where better than this charming and beautiful city? We’ll take you on a meandering tour of Paris’ most dreamy sights and districts, as well as some wonderful restaurants and parks for making memories that will last a lifetime.

The highlights include the Mur des Je t’aime , the glistening Eiffel Tower, and the views from the Pont des Arts .

Ready to start planning your Paris trip?

Ways to tour paris.

Where to stay in Paris

Need more Paris travel tips? Read our guides:

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This is the ULTIMATE Paris Itinerary (2024)

Paris, the City of Lights, art, history and  amour . It has taken center stage in songs, movies and novels across the years, and often graces the top spot on travel wish lists.

I think it’s safe to say that no one can ever be bored in Paris. With the endless museums, cathedrals, lush gardens and Parisian bistros to enjoy, your itinerary will be packed whether you’re spending a week or a weekend in Paris.

While you’re never going to see everything – you can damn well try! This itinerary has the best that Paris has to offer without stretching you and your time too thinly.

Use this Paris itinerary as a jumping off point and explore the world’s most delightful city yourself!

A Little Bit About This 3 Day Paris Itinerary

Where to stay in paris, getting around paris, paris itinerary day 1: the big guns, paris itinerary day 2: cathedrals & catacombs, paris itinerary day 3: montmartre & more, best time to visit paris, how to get around paris, what to prepare before visiting paris, faq on paris itinerary, final thoughts.

Travelling through Paris is like having a treasure box with a secret compartment. Just when you think you’ve seen it all though, you turn down an alley and find another delicious bakery alongside a piece of 20th-century history. Whether you’re walking, cycling, or zipping along on the metro, Paris is your oyster (and there are so many pearls inside).

You’re never going to finish exploring all the epic places to visit in Paris – even if you’re here for a lifetime! And most of us don’t have a lifetime to lounge around in the Louvre or sip wine at sunset. So, where do you go when you’re short on time in a city so full of life?

Well, we’d suggest taking at least two to three days to explore Paris. This itinerary is full of the best Paris has to offer!

But don’t worry, you won’t have to rush from A to B, trying to fit everything in.

We’ve chosen the ideal daily structure, added times, routes to get there and suggestions on how long you should spend at each spot. Of course, you can add your own spots in, swap things around, or even skip some places. Use this itinerary as inspiration instead of a fixed plan to get the most out of your trip!

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3 Day Paris Itinerary Overview

• Day 1 –   Arc D’ Triomphe , Palais Garnier , Musee De La Orangerie , La Louvre , Eiffel Tower
• Day 2 –   Notre Dame , Saint Chapelle , Musee D’Orsay , The Catacombs , Montparnase
• Day 3 – Montmartre , Geore Pompidou , Pere Lachaise Cemetery

With a Paris City Pass , you can experience the best of Paris at the CHEAPEST prices. Discounts, attractions, tickets, and even public transport are all standards in any good city pass – be sure invest now and save them $$$ when you arrive!

No matter how many days in Paris you spend exploring the city holds, you’ll need somewhere fantastic to stay. Because there’s so much to see and do on your vacation in Paris, it’s always a good idea to stay somewhere central and in an area that has what you’re looking for!

Choosing where to stay in Paris is definitely an important consideration. The city has a unique layout, with the city being divided into the North and South Bank on either side of the Seine River. Then, there is the spiral of 20 arrondissements (districts), which start at the Seine and move out in a circular design.

While popular Paris monuments are sprinkled all over the city, the 1st to 7th arrondissements are the most central with the biggest variety of landmarks to enjoy. If you stay in one of these areas, it is also easy to fit more into your day as there is a reasonably short travel time between sightseeing spots. The 7th arrondissement is the most iconic. of the central districts and is home to such attractions as the one and only Eiffel Tower.

The amazing thing about Paris is that it attracts all kinds of people – from lovers to revolutionaries. If you want to stay in a more romantic district, go for Montmartre. And if it’s nightlife and getting a little wild you’re after, then you can’t pass up Oberkampf!

Paris is the old stomping ground of Ernest Hemingway, so why not pay a visit to Hemingway Bar at the Ritz-Carlton, where the atmosphere is warm and the bartenders are well-versed in the Hemingway classics.

Accommodation in Paris ranges from the abysmal to the exquisite. Our guide to the best cheap hostels in Paris is, therefore, a godsend to which you are quite welcome.

Best Hostel in Paris – St Christopher’s Inn

On the edge of the idyllic Canal, St Martin is the award-winning hostel, St Christopher’s Inn.  It has an unbeatable vibe and excellent security to keep your valuables safe. Enjoy breakfast on the waterfront terrace, then head off for the day knowing your belongings are safe.

Just 3 stops away from the Gare du Nord station, St Christopher’s is in a prime location and a perfect home-away-from-home if you’re in Paris on a budget.

Best Airbnb in Paris – Cute Studio Near the Eiffel Tower

You can’t get any closer. This Airbnb is located a few meters from the Eiffel Tower and many other attractions, like the Seine River. Surrounded by fine dining restaurants, cafes and the typical french shops, you will find yourself in the best area to stay in. This studio is great for first time visitors to Paris. You’re also very close to public transport options so you can fully explore the city.

Best Budget Hotel in Paris – Hotel de la Tour

With a prime spot in the 14th arrondissement, this well-priced hotel is possibly just what you’re looking for. The Hotel de la Tour is close to a treasure trove of Paris landmarks including Notre Dame, the Luxembourg Gardens and Palais Garnier. With the metro station only 5 minutes away and free bicycle hire on offer, exploring Paris from your hotel is beyond easy.

Best Luxury Hotel in Paris – Hôtel Napoleon Paris

If you’re looking for the crème de la crème of Paris hotels, the Hôtel Napoleon Paris has it all. Located in the 8th Arrondissement, you can enjoy the stunning views of central Paris from your window as you relax in your plush room.  The Charles-de-Gaulle-Étoile Metro Station is just minutes away so it is easy to explore nearby Paris attractions such as the Arc de Triomphe and Champs Elysées Avenue.

Being the massive and sprawling city it is, Paris can seem intimidating to get around. However, it also provides locals and visitors with a fantastic public transport system. You can take one of the more than 60 busses that run daily! Taking the bus through Paris is a great way to take in some scenery, while also getting from A to B. You could also jump on the Paris metro. This can be a little busier – especially at peak hours – but it’s sure to feel like you’re getting a local’s experience of Paris. It’s very easy to get tickets for any of these modes of transport, just make sure you get your hands on a map so no time is wasted by getting lost! The metro in particular can baffle first time users.

While a lot of Paris is walkable, it doesn’t help with getting the most out of your trip. Perhaps the best thing to do is grab a day pass for either the bus or the metro. This way, you can get to your destination easily and spend more time exploring Paris!

For our first day in Paris, we are going to see some of the big headline sights that probably brought you here in the first place! The Arc De Triomphe, Paris Opera and the mighty Eifel Tower all make an appearance. What a day huh?!

9:00 AM – Arc de Triomphe

Begin your first day backpacking Paris at the Arc de Triomphe, which lies at the center of the Place Charles de Gaulle at the western end of Champs-Élysées.

The monument is a stunning example of sculpture from the first half of the 19th century. It marks the sacrifice of French soldiers, especially those who fought during the Napoleonic Wars. Inside the arch and on top of the storied monument, is carved the names of generals and the wars fought by France.

The striking French landmark is also the home to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, who lies beneath it. With just his date of birth accompanying the gravesite, the Unknown Soldier is an emotional reminder of the sacrifices made during World War I. Every evening at 18h30, the torch of the Eternal Flame is lit to remember the wars France has fought.

There is also the opportunity to walk up the stairs to a 30m-high walkway along the top of the arch, which is the perfect place to get an unbelievable panoramic view of Paris!

The historical sentinel representing the loss and triumph of war is unmissable on your trip to Paris.

Note that the Arc is free to look at and free to walk under. It is only climbing the platform that incurs a fee, and entails a bit of queueing. To complete this itinerary in a single day, you may wish to skip climbing the platform.

• Cost  – $10 to go up inside
• How long should I stay here?  – 60 minutes including queuing
• Getting there  – Get the metro to Charles De Gaulle Etoile

10:30 AM – Palais Garnier

Peek into the immensely challenging and stunningly beautiful world of opera on a visit to the Palais Garnier. As a pillar of the Opera National de Paris, the opera house is a monument of French history and the development of ballet as an art form!

On your visit to the Palais Garnier, you can explore the Opera Library-Museum, where you can view fascinating set models and works of art. You will also be able to see features such as the Rotonde des Abonnés, Bassin de la Pythie, Grand Foyer, Avant-Foyer, Salons de la Lune et du Soleil, Rotonde du Glacier, intricate tapestries, and temporary exhibitions throughout the opera house.

The main auditorium in the opera house is the largest in Europe. With its exquisite design and a spectacular chandelier adorning the ceiling with a crown of light, you’ll wish you were on stage!

The stunningly opulent facade is only the beginning of how amazing the building is, and the historic location has become a major symbol of Paris itself. Just walking up the staircase into the Grand Foyer makes you feel fancy enough to be hanging out with a bunch of aristocrats!

• Cost  – $20
• How long should I stay here?  – 60 minutes
• Getting there – Take the metro to Gare Auber

12:00 PM – Musée de l’Orangerie

Make your thrid stop of the day that much better by skipping the queue Musee de l’Orangerie . It sits on the corner of Jardin des Tuileries in the 1st Arrondissement and was originally built to protect the orange trees belonging to the Tuileries Palace!

In this unique place of French art and history, there are a number of well-known artworks on display. The Orangerie Museum has quite an impressionist and post-impressionist flavor with paintings by Monet, Picasso, Renoir, Cezanne, Matisse and Modigliani.

The museum is particularly famous as the home of the Nymphéas, eight stunning Water Lilies pieces by Monet. You don’t want to miss it!

• Cost  – $8
• How long should I stay here?  – 60 – 90 minutes
• Getting there – It’s 20 minutes on foot from Palais Garnier

1:30 PM – Lunch

Paris is a true foodie’s paradise; there are exquisite food tours and dining options on offer. However, in the interests of keeping to a budget, we are going to satisfy ourselves with a delicious french baguette sandwich from any of the many fine boulangerie’s that line the city.

2:30 PM – Louvre Museum

You could easily spend hours exploring the cultured corridors of the Louvre Museum, which are lined with art from across the ages. The world’s largest museum is in a former royal palace, and it was the French Revolution that it was made into a museum to display the nation’s masterpieces.

The Louvre houses an amazing collection of artworks, which span several thousands of years! They are divided into 8 categories including Egyptian Antiquities, Near Eastern Antiquities, Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities and Islamic Art. Some of the most famous artworks are the Mona Lisa, the Winged Victory of Samothrace and the Venus de Milo!

The building itself is a work of art, with its golden roof created by a web of 9000 steel tubes, which almost appear to float above visitors to the Louvre.

• How long should I stay here? – 120 minutes or more
• Getting there  – Walk here from your lunch stop.

6:00 PM – Eiffel Tower

A trip to Paris is incomplete without a visit to the worldwide symbol for the city of love. It is a site rich in history, as it was built for the world fair in 1889 and to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution!

With three extraordinary levels, and sights to match, the Eiffel Tower has the best view in Paris. Its top level sits at 906 feet high, which gives visitors an unbelievable view of the Paris cityscape, so it’s no surprise that the tower is one of the most visited monuments in the world.

Take in a panoramic view of popular Paris attractions, including Montmartre, Notre Dame, Les Invalides, and the glimmering waterways of the River Seine. There’s no better way to finish off the day than to watch this spectacular tower light up under the Paris sky!

Note that if you are visiting in Autun or Winter, it may get dark a early as 6pm. Your view of Paris will of course be impacted by this so you may wish to get this one out of the way earlier in the day unless you prefer the city at night view. If you are visiting Paris for the first time then you MUST climb the Eiffel Tower – it’s a Parisian rite of passage.

• Cost  – $12 – $30
• How long should I stay here?  –  60+ minutes
• Getting there  – Take the metro to Trocadeor or Passy and walk from there

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Day 2 of this Paris itinerary involves some hefty church-going (don’t worry, even the Atheists amongst you will be astounded!), swings by a lovely art museum and then takes in the macabre Paris catacombs.

9:00 AM – Notre Dame

Begin day 2 of your 3 days in Paris in the best way at Notre Dame as you take in the stunning Gothic architecture. The cathedral is located on the Île de la Cité, or City Island, and has become one of the most iconic monuments in Paris!

Entrance is free but if you would like to venture up to the Trésor de la Cathédrale (Treasure of the Cathedral, where all precious religious items are kept) or the Crypte Archéologique (which houses archaeological remains), you will need to buy tickets, but it’s more than worth it to venture into the top of the cathedral!

You can also see the iconic bell towers, which make a stunning sight! The artwork and atmosphere of reverence are stunning to witness, and it would be a sad day in Paris if you left Notre Dame off your list! Don’t forget to enjoy a stroll around the gardens, while you take a mental picture (or a real one) of the River Seine.

Update for October 2019:  Notre Dame was of course, tragically badly fire damaged earlier this year. At the time of writing it is closed for repair. You can still admire the structure from the outside although of course, the famous turrets are no longer standing.

• Cost – FREE!
• How long should I stay here?  –  30 minutes
• Getting there  – Take the metro to Trocadero or Passy and walk from there

10:00 AM – Sainte-Chapelle

If you thought Notre Dame was special, then wait until you see Sainte-Chapelle!

The cathedral pays homage to the stunning Rayonnant Gothic period of architecture. With its incredible collection of 1113 utterly exquisite stained glass panels that fill the church with beautiful multicolour light, Sainte-Chapelle is unmissable.

If you’re a history buff and a fan of exquisite architecture, you will enjoy Sainte-Chapelle’s legacy as one of the earliest remaining buildings from the  Capetian dynasty .

It is also the home of treasured Christian relics, as well as stunning depictions of the Old and New Testament which line the walls. The cathedral’s walls are also flanked with dignified stone statues representing the 12 apostles.

• Cost  -$10
• Getting there – It’s a 10 minute walk from Notre Dame

11:00 AM – Musee d’Orsay

The Musee d’Orsay is a fantastic museum with an incredible collection of art. The location is the first memorable aspect of the museum as it is found in what used to be the Gare d’Orsay railway station and hotel, giving it a truly unique architecture! A complex design of galleries lies beneath the gleaming iron and glass barrel vault in one of Europe’s largest museums.

The museum is home to some truly iconic art collections including paintings, sculptures, photography and decorative art pieces. Some of the museum’s most famous works include The Artist’s Studio, The Gleaners, Dane at Le Moulin de la Galette, Dinner at the Ball and van Gogh’s renowned Starry Night Over the Rhone.

Visit the Musee d’Orsay to truly get your fill of artworks that will make you wax poetically for the rest of the day!

You should allow 3 hours to  properly  explore the Musee D’Orsay.

• How long should I stay here?  –  120 minutes
• Getting there – Take the RER Line C to Musee D’Orsay

2:00 PM – Paris Catacombs

Experience the Les Catacombs de Paris, for an emotional and historical afternoon in Paris. The Catacombs are a labyrinth of underground quarries, which were created to eliminate the city’s overflowing cemeteries, and became one of the largest ossuaries in the world.

While officially named the Paris Municipal Ossuary, it was nicknamed the Catacombs after the Roman Catacombs created so much public fascination. The Catacombs are a place of great reverence, but also hugely informative!

It was carefully arranged as an underground museum, with monuments such as steles and tombs, as well as ‘cabinets of curiosities’, which offer information on mineralogy and pathology. You can also view plaques with poignant religious and poetic texts, which explore the nature of mortality.

Insider Tip:  You can’t take a large bag or suitcase with you because they can damage the fragile interior. It is also not wheelchair accessible because of the many stairs.

Note that the lines are very long.  We suggest paying to skip the line if you can.

• Cost  – $20 – $35
• Getting there  – RER or Metro to Denfert Rocherou

Dinner in Montparnase

From the Catacombs, you can walk or take a metro to Montparnasse. Known for its large, looming tower, the area is a hub of bars, bistro’s and eateries. Note that the French tend to dine around 7 – 8 pm but if you’re already feeling hungry, you’ll find something open from 5 pm onwards.

Need a place quick? Here’s the best neighborhood in Paris:

Eiffel Tower

Paris’ 7th Arrondissement is one of the most iconic neighbourhoods in the city. Situated on the Left Bank, the 7th Arrondissement is right in the heart of the action, making it the best neighbourhood in Paris to stay in for sightseeing.

• Go for a stroll through the impressive Champs de Mars gardens.
• Marvel at the iconic Eiffel Tower and climb to the top to enjoy panoramic views of Paris.
• Experience a staggering collection of Impressionist art at the incomparable Musee d’Orsay.

The 3rd day of our 3 days in Paris itinerary takes in the artist village of Montmartre. Once home to Dali, Picasso & still home to the fabulous Moulin Rouge club. From there we visit one of Paris’ most bold buildings before paying our respects to the dead.

10:00 AM – Montmartre

This bohemian town in the 18th arrondissement is a surreal place to visit. The timeless village gets its name from the large hill it sits in the shadow of, and is a place with an amazing history.

Don’t miss out on a view of the breathtaking Basilica of the Sacré-Coeur, a sentinel in Montmartre’s landscape. Montmartre is also well-known for its incredible relationship with art and the careers of prominent artists. Many famous painters, including Modigliani, Monet, Renoir, Degas, Picasso and van Gogh lived in the town.

Pay a visit to the Musée de Montmartre, which used to be the home and studio of a number of artists. You could also take a walk through the town and enjoy the idyllic surroundings that once inspired some of France’s greatest painters. Then, get your own portrait painted at the bustling Place du Tertre!

Enjoy a day finding the secret gems in Paris in this artistic hub from days gone by. It was featured in famous poetry, paintings and the hit film, Moulin Rouge. Any Paris itinerary MUST feature a trip to Montmartre.

• Cost  – Depends what you do!
• How long should I stay here?  –  3 hours
• Getting there – Take the Metro to Pigalle and then explore on foot

12:30 PM – Lunch in Montmartre

Montmarte has loads of bistro’s to choose from. There are a few treasures set amidst the streets near the Basicalla although the ones nearer to Pigalle metro tend to be cheaper catering for a daytime, business crowd.

1:30 PM – Geore Pompidou Centre

The Paris Pompidou centre is the cities premier, leading modern art museum. Whilst La Louvre and Musee’ D’Orsay boast some of the finest classical art in the whole world, Pomdidou specialises in 20th-century works. Featuring masterpieces from Picasso, Jackson Pollock and Andy Warhol, the museum is a must for art buffs.

As well as the art, the museum itself is remarkable on account of its bold “inside out” design. The views from the top floors are also pretty sweeping.

• How long should I stay here?  –  90 minutes
• Getting there  – Take the Metro to Hotel Deville

4:00 PM – Pere Lachaise Cemetery

Pere Lachaise Cemetery is the most visited cemetery in the world. This is mostly on account of the sheer abundance of Paris’ good and dead who are laid to rest here. Notable resting Pere Lachaise residents include Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf, Moliere, plus the composers Rossini & Chopin.

Not only is the guest list worthy of any A-list after party, but the monuments themselves are also quite captivating. The cemetery makes an unusual, serene detour and is a wonderful break from Paris’ bustling streets.

• Cost  – Free
• How long should I stay here?  –  60 – 120  minutes
• Getting there  – Ride the metro to Pere Lachaise

Stash your cash safely with this money belt. It will keep your valuables safely concealed, no matter where you go.

It looks exactly like a normal belt  except for a SECRET interior pocket perfectly designed to hide a wad of cash, a passport photocopy or anything else you may wish to hide. Never get caught with your pants down again! (Unless you want to…)

France does have seasons so there’s definitely a time when it’s best to visit Paris . The summers are hot, bringing sweaty days and long evenings. A lot of Parisians head for the coast in August although the influx of tourists make up for this. Winters get chilly and wet but snow is still relatively rare. The shoulder seasons (Spring and Autumn) are possibly the best times to visit.

The time of year you visit will effect what you need to bring. Our Paris packing list will therefore come in useful. The table below will also help you perfectly plan a trip to Paris.

OK so Paris is big and the main attractions are pretty spread out. Walking IS possible but will take considerable exertion and time. Thankfully, the public transport system is pretty robust with reliable efficient Metro, RER and bus networks running across the city.

We suggest buying a book of 10 public transport tickets ($15) which you can use on either trains, busses or RER’s. You need to “stamp” your ticket by feeding it into the machine. Once stamped you can use it to ride unlimited for 1 hour and can even change train/bus. Note that if you are headed to the airport, you need to buy a separate airport RER ticket.

Taxi’s and Uber’s are very expensive in Paris so use them sparingly. There is an automated bike hire service available but personally, I find daytime traffic a bit too intense for this to be enjoyable.

While ol’ Paris is pretty safe , you can never be too cautious. Here are the best tips for keeping your trip problem-free.

• Pickpocketing can be fairly common, especially in large crowded areas such as the metro stations, major tourists attractions, and shopping hubs.
• There are areas that can be unsafe at night or when they are especially empty, including Chatelet, Les Halles, Gare du Nord, Stalingrad, Jaures, Saint-Denis, Aubervilliers, and Saint-Ouen.
• There were of course some high profile terror attacks in Paris over the last few days and it is true that terrorists may try again. However, there is nothing to suggest that Paris is particuarly at risk and no need for fear or any hysteria.

Paris is still one of the safest European metropoles but backpacking through any country needs some safety precautions. It’s always a good idea to keep an eye out for any trouble and try not to go through isolated areas, especially on your own.

Don’t Forget Your Travel Insurance for Paris

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing .

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

Find out what people want to know when planning Paris itinerary.

How many days do you need in Paris?

You can pack a lot into 2-3 days in Paris, especially if you’re interested in hitting all the hotspots.

What should you include on a Paris 3 day itinerary?

You can’t miss these top Paris attractions! – Eiffel Tower – Arc de Triomphe – Museums: Louvre & Musee d’Orsay Montmartre

Where should you stay for a weekend in Paris?

The 1st or 7th Arrondissements are the most central, making them the ideal base for a short Parisian getaway.

When is the best time to visit Paris?

April and October are best you want to avoid tourist crowds and enjoy some decent weather.

For anyone seeking history, fantastic cuisine, sublime scenery and an endless supply of things to be amazed by, Paris is the place to visit! There are boundless opportunities to experience everything from world-renowned French monuments to hidden Parisian gems.

With everything on offer and every possible mode of transport available, Paris is a backpacker’s paradise!

As the queen of class, Audrey Hepburn said, “Paris is always a good idea”. Need I say more?

And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links . That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!

Mathilde Magnier

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Finding the Universe

Travel tales, photography and a dash of humor

3 Days in Paris: The Perfect Paris Itinerary

Last updated: December 16, 2023 . Written by Laurence Norah - 107 Comments

Thinking about spending 3 days in Paris? Great choice! We think that’s the perfect amount of time to spend in one of our favourite European cities, giving you the chance to see many of the top sights and attractions and really get a feel for the city.

Of course, if you have longer, that’s even better, but three days in Paris is certainly enough to see a lot, and works well either as a long weekend, or as part of a longer Europe trip itinerary like this .

To help you with your planning, we’re going to share with you everything we think you need to know to spend three days in Paris. We’re going to give you a suggested itinerary, tips for getting around, advice on where to stay in Paris, our thoughts on when is best to visit and even some suggested ways to save money in Paris.

Let’s get started!

3 Day Paris Itinerary

This three-day Paris itinerary has you hitting all the major sites and attractions in the city. Naturally we suggest you use this as a guide, and add to or remove from it as necessary.

We also suggest you check the opening times and days for each attraction. For example, the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays, so depending on when your trip to Paris is, you might need to re-order the days to get everything in.

Paris Itinerary:  Day 1

Eiffel tower.

What better way to start off your trip to Paris than with a visit to the Eiffel Tower . This is without doubt the most iconic landmark in Paris (if not France!), and a visit here is a must for any visit to Paris. When we visit Paris, we always visit at least once, and every time we are amazed at the sheer scale of this beautiful building.

There are a number of ways to enjoy the Eiffel Tower. First, you can just enjoy the views of the tower, which we think are particularly good from the Trocadero Gardens across the river, or the Champ de Mars gardens behind the Tower.

You can also go up inside the Eiffel Tower to one of the different floors, for expansive views of the city. We do like the experience of going up inside, but we don’t think it offers the best view of the city – because the view from inside the Eiffel Tower is missing the most famous part of the skyline – the Eiffel Tower itself!

Still, if this is your first visit to Paris, we highly recommend the experience. We do suggest that if you want to go up the Eiffel Tower, that you book your tickets in advance from the official website . The queues here for tickets can be very long, and with a pre-booked ticket you can skip the wait.

Alternatively, if you are feeling fit, you can also take the stairs up to the first level. There is not usually a very long queue for the stairs, which have their own ticket line, and it is also slightly cheaper. See our guide to visiting the Eiffel Tower to help you plan your visit.

There are other options for visiting as well. A guided climb of the Eiffel Tower is included on the Paris Pass . This runs in the middle of the day, so if you want to take advantage of this, you will likely want to switch the Eiffel Tower and Seine River Cruise around in this itinerary. It’s also included on the Paris City Card , with a choice of timeslots.

Finally, this tour includes a guided visit (with elevator) to the second floor with the option to visit the summit if you want. It also includes free cancellation, which the official ticket does not.

Seine River Cruise

Another must-do experience in Paris is a river cruise on the Seine. This is a very popular activity, with multiple operators offering cruises up and down the river.

We’ve actually written a post about the various Seine River sightseeing cruise options which goes through the majority of the operators. If you’d prefer a dinner cruise, check out our guide to the best Seine River dinner cruises .

We can definitely recommend the Bateaux Parisiens River Cruise . These depart from just next to the Eiffel Tower, so fit in nicely with this itinerary, and they are included for free if you pick up a Paris Pass or a Paris City Card .

The cruise takes in all the highlights from the Eiffel Tower to Notre Dame, and there’s commentary included. So sit back, relax, and let the scenery roll by.

Hop on Hop off Bus

Talking of sitting back and relaxing, we find that a great way to get oriented in a new city and get an idea of the sights we want to see is to take a Hop On Hop Off (HOHO) bus tour.

Paris is no exception to this rule, and you can pick up a HOHO bus in Paris from right next to the Eiffel Tower, which will then take you around Paris’s key attractions.

There are multiple operators running different routes around the city. If you pick up a Paris Pass, it includes a 1 Day Big Bus Tour . We took this tour and enjoyed it – it’s both an easy way to get around the city, plus you can learn about many of the sights as you go.

However there are a few different HOHO options in Paris, so pick the one that works for you!

Paris Walking Tour

All this sitting around on buses and boats is great for getting oriented, but at some point you’re going to need to put your feet on the pavement! Paris is a wonderful city to explore on foot, and a guided walking tour is an excellent way to do that.

We think that if you are going to do a walking tour in a city, the first day is the best, as you can ask your guide for local recommendations such as their favourite places to eat or get a coffee, as well as get suggestions for hidden gems you might not find in the guidebooks.

There are lots of operators offering tours in Paris. We’ve taken a number of walking tours with Context Travel , and have always loved their detailed tours. They have a number of tours available in Paris, and you get 10% off with this link . We particularly enjoyed their Hemingway themed walking tour of Paris.

We also love Take Walks walking tours, and they have recently launched a number of Paris Tours . For example, they have a full day Paris tour , although this would require you to significantly alter this itinerary.

If you have a Paris Pass, it comes with a choice of free walking tours , which is worth looking into.

Tour Montparnasse

Last on our list for your first day in Paris is a trip up the Tour Montparnasse . I recommend this to everyone going to Paris, as it is, in my opinion at least, the location with the best view of Paris and the Eiffel Tower.

This is particularly the case at sunset, so if you can time your visit for sunset, you will get to witness a wonderful sunset across the Eiffel Tower, and then watch the city lights come to life.

The observation level is across two levels, one is inside and one is outside. The outside area is surrounded by glass, but there are cutouts so you can get reflection-free shots of the view. You can also bring a tripod up here! No wonder therefore that it’s on my list of favourite Paris photography locations .

There’s a fee to go up Tour Montparnasse, but it’s free for holders of the Paris Pass . You can also buy individual tickets online in advance  here .

Paris Itinerary:  Day 2

Our second day in Paris takes in some more iconic sites including some of Paris’s most famous museums and churches. It’s quite a full day, so do feel free to edit the itinerary to suit your particular interests, pace and needs!

Sainte Chapelle

It took me multiple visits to Paris before I finally made it to Sainte Chapelle . Now I urge everyone to make it a priority on their trip to Paris!

This is a relatively small chapel that is not too far from Notre Dame, but the interior, which consists of almost floor to ceiling stained glass, is absolutely outstanding. It will definitely take your breath away.

The 13th century Saint Chapelle is quite popular, and the small size and mandatory security checks mean that the line to get in can be long. This is why I have put it on my list as the first thing for your second day in Paris – you want to get here early, ideally get in line ten – fifteen minutes before the opening time. After all, no-one wants to spend their time standing in lines.

There’s a fee to enter Saint Chapelle, which is free to holders of the Paris Pass and Paris Museum Pass .

You can also buy tickets online in advance here , which is highly recommended as it can get busy here. There’s also a combination ticket for Sainte Chapelle and the nearby Conciergerie here , which is worth visiting.

No more than ten minutes’ walk from Sainte Chapelle is Paris’s most famous religious building, known for her flying buttresses, twin towers and, of course, hunchback resident.

You will definitely see two out of those three when you visit Notre Dame , the major Catholic cathedral in Paris. Construction of this magnificent building took nearly two hundred years, and was completed in 1345.

Unfortunately, on April 15th 2019 a devastating fire seriously damaged Notre Dame. The cathedral will be closed for the foreseeable future as a result of this tragic incident.

We certainly think it is worth visiting the facade, but as you can’t go inside at the moment, you might wish to visit another nearby attraction like the Conciergerie (where Marie Antoinette was imprisoned) as well. You can get a combined ticket for that and Sainte Chapelle here

Musee d’Orsay

If you like museums, Paris has definitely gotten you covered. Our next stop is the Musee d’Orsay , but before you get here, you’re going to take a walk along Paris’s iconic left bank, from Notre Dame to the Musee d’Orsay. This isn’t too far, but you’ll see the booksellers and get a feel for this part of town.

Paris’s museums are quite logically set up, with three main art museums covering three distinct time periods.

The Musee d’Orsay, first on our list, covers art dating from the middle of the 19th century up to the early 20th century, and is home to masterpieces from the likes of Duchamp, Kandinsky and Picasso, to name but a few.

The Louvre (see below), covers the time period before this, whilst the Centre Pompidou covers the time period afterwards, right up to the modern day. The Centre Pompidou isn’t on this itinerary, but you could fit it in if you wanted to of course!

The Musee d’Orsay is absolutely stunning. It’s set in what was once one of Paris’s main train stations, and the grand central atrium is gorgeous – almost worth visiting in of itself.

There’s a fee to get in here, but holders of the Paris Pass and Paris Museum Pass get free entry as well as skip the line privileges.

You can also buy tickets and tours online in advance here or on the official site here .

If you only visit one museum in Paris, I can highly recommend making it the Louvre . This is one of the world’s most famous museums, and is home to an incredible collection of art, including Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo and Michelangelo’s Dying Slave, to name but a few.

Obviously, seeing the Mona Lisa is on the wishlist for many visitors, but this museum, which covers art from ancient times up to the middle of the 19th century, has obviously got a great deal more to offer. True art lovers could lose themselves for days in the vast collection here!

Of course, if that’s you, you are welcome to do the same, although for the purposes of this itinerary we’d probably recommend you try and limit your time to two to three hours so you can fit more of Paris in.

We’d also highly recommend that you pick up either a Paris Pass , Paris City Card or a Paris Museum Pass , which will give you fast-track access to the Louvre.

Note that in the busy times, which tend to be the summer periods especially, the Louvre gets very busy. In summer 2019, there were multiple days when the museum actually sold out, and only holders of advance purchase tickets or timed reservations were able to enter the museum.

If you have a Paris Pass or Paris Museum Pass , you must reserve your entry online on the official website . This is mandatory for holders of these passes in order to guarantee entry, and we highly recommend you do this in advance. If you do not reserve your slot in advance, you are not guaranteed entry even with the pass.

If you have a Paris City Card , you’ll book the timeslot you want when you book the card.

If you do not have a pass, you can buy your ticket and reserve your entry time either on GetYourGuide here (where we normally get our tickets), or online on the official website here . We’ve sometimes found that GetYourGuide has availability even when the official site is out, so it’s always worth checking if you want to visit and can’t find tickets on the official site.

Whichever ticket you buy, you will still have to queue for security, but the line for people with tickets is a lot quicker moving than the general admission line. In addition, when the Louvre sells out on its official website, tickets will usually not be sold on site, so you may not be able to just turn up and queue – only holders of advance tickets will be given entry.

Note the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays. See opening times and more on the official site here .

Wine tasting

When you think of France, a few things likely come to mind, and I suspect that wine is likely one of them. So why not take a break from the sight-seeing and museums, and indulge in a little wine tasting.

Conveniently located just by the Louvre Museum, the Caves du Louvre  is a wine-tasting experience which will guide you through the French wine making process and introduce you to a number of different French wines. Which you get to drink.

The tour is set in an actual 18th century wine cellar which originally housed the wine collection of the French King. Not a bad setting to learn about French wine we think!

There’s a fee for the tour (which includes the wine tasting), and it is included for holders of the Paris Pass. You can also book it separately here .

If you aren’t into wine tasting, there are a number of nearby cafes and restaurants where you can refresh and revive.

We can recommend afternoon tea at Le Meurice , the Ritz or the Hotel de Crillon if you like afternoon tea (see our guide to the best afternoon tea in Paris if so).

For a shorter and less expensive experience, the hot chocolate at Angelina Cafe is also superb.

Arc de Triomphe

We’re going to finish off the second day of our three-day Paris itinerary with a visit to the Arc de Triomphe , another of Paris’s iconic landmarks. From the Louvre you can either take public transport here, or you can walk up the Champs Elysees, Paris’s most famous shopping street.

The Arc de Triomphe, built in memory of those who died in the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars, is wonderfully photogenic.

From the top you get an excellent view of the city, which includes the roads spanning out into the distance and the Eiffel Tower.

As you journey up into the monument, you will also come to a museum which details some of its history. Below the monument, you will also find the tomb of the unknown soldier.

To get to the Arc de Triomphe, don’t try and cross the traffic roundabout. Head to one of the underpasses, and cross in safety.

Going up inside the Arc de Triomphe carries a fee, holders of the Paris Pass and Paris Museum Pass get free access with skip the line privileges.

You can also book a ticket online in advance here , which is worth doing as the lines can get quite long.

Paris Itinerary:  Day 3

On the last day of our 3 day Paris itinerary we’re heading out of the city centre to take in one of Paris’s most famous Royal Palaces. We’re also including some extra sights in the city at the end if you can tear yourself away.

The really nice thing about having 3 days in Paris is that you have the flexibility to go a little further out of the centre. My suggestion for your third day is to visit Versailles , the incredible palace that was the seat of French political power and home to French Royalty, including Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.

To truly appreciate Versailles, I would suggest allocating at least half a day of your third day in Paris, if not more. There is easily enough to see here to fill an entire day, which is why we don’t recommend coming here on our two day Paris itinerary .

We suggest starting off by touring the Palace. You’ll want to get here for opening time, as this is a really popular tourist attraction and it gets busier as the day goes on. Once you have toured the Palace and seen such highlights as the incredible Hall of Mirrors and the Kings Grand Apartments, you can head outside, where there is a great deal more to see.

A walk in the incredible (and vast!) gardens is a must. We particularity enjoyed heading over to Marie Antoinette’s estate, which is a slightly quieter part of the gardens, and home to a small model farm, tucked away temples, and walking paths.

It’s very easy to spend a whole day exploring Versailles and the grounds, and don’t feel bad if you do, it’s totally worth it.

Visiting Versailles is quite easy, you can get a train (RER C) from central Paris to the Gare de Versailles Chateau Rive Gauche, and from the train station to the Palace it is a well sign-posted ten minute walk.

Fast-track entry to the Palace, Gardens and other Versailles attractions is included on the Paris Museum Pass – although you will still need to join the security line. You can also book tickets online here , or book a guided tour online here .

If you manage to tear yourself away from Versailles, my suggestion for finishing off your last day in Paris is to head to the Montmartre region. This is home to a large hill, atop which sits the glorious Sacre Coeur de Montmartre, another of Paris’s iconic buildings.

This area of Paris was particularly famous as being home to artists, and folks like Dali, Picasso and Hemingway all either lived or frequented this area.

It’s still popular with artists, and the Place du Teatre is the place in Montmartre is the place to go to get your portrait or caricature painted. Fans of Dali will also want to visit the Dali Exhibition , home of the largest collection of works by Dali in France.

Montmartre is a maze of cute little streets, cafes and shops. The Basilica is free to visit, if you get here in time, although there is a small fee if you want to climb the tower.

Montmartre is also a popular place to watch the sunset across the city, and what better way to finish your 3 days in Paris than by watching the sun set across this magical city from atop Montmartre?

3 Days in Paris Itinerary Map

To help you visualise our 3-day Paris itinerary we’ve put together this helpful map which shows the attractions for each day. You can access this on Google Maps here .

3 Days in Paris Itinerary Overview

Here’s a quick day by day breakdown of all the sights this itinerary covers:

• Day 1 : Eiffel Tower, Seine River Cruise, Hop on Hop off Bus, Paris Walking Tour, Tour Montparnasse
• Day 2 : Sainte Chapelle, Notre Dame, Musée d’Orsay, The Louvre, Wine tasting, Arc de Triomphe
• Day 3: Versailles, Montmartre

Where to Stay in Paris

As you would expect from a major European capital city, Paris has no shortage of options when it comes to accommodation. We’ve stayed in a variety of places, from hotels to homestays to apartments.

Ideally you want to be fairly central if you can, to minimise your travel time. Our suggestion is to take a look at the listings for Paris on booking.com . They’re our favourite booking engine when we travel, usually giving us the best choice and the best prices. They also have everything from apartments and hostels to high end hotels. Here are some options we suggest, depending on your budget.

• Hotel Dress Code & Spa , a highly reviewed centrally located 4 star hotel right a few hundred yards from the opera house
• Hôtel Eiffel Turenne , a well rated 3* hotel within a ten minute walk of the Eiffel Tower
• Ateliers de Montmartre , an apartment in Montmartre with views of the Sacre Coeur
• The People – Paris Marais , a well-reviewed hostel in the Marais, one of our favourite parts of Paris to stay
• Hotel le Compostelle , a highly rated 3* hotel centrally located near the Louvre Museum

If you prefer an apartment, then we recommend Plum Guide or Vrbo .

Plum Guide carefully curate their listings so their options tend to be of a very high quality whilst still being available at a range of price points. We’ve stayed at a number of their properties around the world, including a beautiful apartment in Paris with spectacular Eiffel Tower views. See their listings for Paris here .

If you can’t find what you want from the above choices, or you want some new options to try out, we wrote a whole post on the  best alternatives to AirBnB  which you should check out!

We also have a page full of travel resources, which includes our tips for getting the best deals on accommodation, which you can find  here .

When to Visit Paris

We’re actually happy to visit Paris at pretty much any time of year, and this Paris itinerary would work at any time of year.

Summer brings sunshine and warmth, although of course the city is a lot busier at this time of year, so if crowds aren’t your thing, you might want to skip the summer months.

We also love Fall and Spring in the city, when the temperatures are a bit cooler and the crowds less. In the run up to Christmas, the city is beautifully decorated and some of the stores in particular are worth visiting just to see the elaborate decorations they put up. After Christmas the city is a lot quieter, and of course temperatures are at their lowest.

Ultimately, we think Paris is worth visiting whenever you can, so just decide how busy you can handle, and if you’d prefer it to be warm or cold, and go from there!

How to Get to and From Paris

As the capital of France, Paris has multiple options for visitors looking to visit. There are three major airports in Paris. Charles de Gaulle is the main airport for international arrivals, with Paris Orly being the second most popular international airport. Both of these airports are easily reachable by public transport from the city centre.

Paris Beauvais-Tille airport is where you will likely arrive if you are flying with a budget airline. This is some way out of the city centre, but regular shuttle buses are available to take you into the city.

Paris is also connected to the high-speed French and European rail network, and there are a number of train stations in central Paris. You can even travel from the UK by train, taking the channel tunnel to do so. See our guide to getting from London to Paris for more suggested options.

Finally, of course, you can reach Paris by car from France and the rest of Europe. Our advice would be to park your car in a secure long stay car-park on the outskirts of Paris and take public transport to the centre.

We recommend against driving in the city centre, as public transport is cheap and fast, and a lot easier than stressing about driving around the crowded city streets, and trying to find a parking space.

How to Get Around Paris

Paris has an excellent public transport network, and in particular the Paris Metro system is really good, getting you around all the major parts of the city at minimum cost. There’s also a good bus network, as well as local trains.

For public transport, you can purchase t+ tickets which allow for one-off travel on the Paris bus, RER trains and metros. These are available at train and metro stations using the ticket machines. These machines accept both credit cards and cash, and can be configured for English language.

Each ticket can be used for a single journey of up to 2 hours on the metro (including transfers) and 90 minutes on buses (including transfers). For more information on these tickets, see the official page .

From 2019, the Paris transport system has introduced the Navigo Easy Card. This is a rechargeable card system which is designed to replace the cardboard T+ tickets. A card costs €2 to buy, but allow you to buy a discounted pack of 10 tickets which will save you money if you do quite a bit of travel.

Other than being electronically stored, the tickets work the same, so we would recommend visitors to Paris using the Navigo Easy system as the most cost-effectivee method of paying for transport as a visitor to Paris.

For more on getting around Paris, see our detailed guide to how to get around Paris , which should help you plan all your transport in the city.

Walking Tours of Paris

If you’d like to take a guided tour of Paris, the two companies we usually use are Take Walks and Context Travel . These both offer small group walking tours in Paris, which are a great way to learn about some of the sights and history of the city. Of course, if you decide to take a walking tour you will have to adjust the itinerary accordingly to suit.

If you were interested in a tour, Take Walks has this  Paris in a Day tour which includes a major Museum, the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre & a Seine River Cruise – an excellent introduction to the city!

Context travel offer a number of very focused tours of Paris , and these offer very specialised insights into particular subjects. We’d suggest maybe taking one of these for a specific area of interest that you really want to learn about, perhaps for Versailles . They also offer an introduction to Paris tour .

There are of course other options for various tours in Paris, including all the tours on this page , which offers a variety of things to do from different providers.

For example, there’s this delicious looking food tour ,  this in-depth tour of Hemingway locations in Paris or this tour of Montmartre .

So definitely check out the options to figure out what is best for you!

How to Save Money in Paris

Being a major European city, Paris is definitely not a budget destination. There are a few ways to save money of course, even on an itinerary as packed with attractions as this one is. Food is one way – rather than eating out for every meal for example, you could stay in an apartment or hostel that lets you cook your own meals.

If that’s not an option, consider having picnic lunches or breakfasts, and eating out in the evenings. Also, keep an eye out for the “menu du jour”, most restaurants offer a fixed lunch or evening menu which includes a number of dishes at a fixed price.

You can usually get a meal for between €12 & €25 which includes two or three courses, bread, and sometimes even wine or coffee. Check out our guide to the best restaurants in Paris for lunch deals.

The cheapest way to get around Paris is to walk of course, followed by the excellent public transport system. We usually walk as much as we can, and then take the metro for the longer trips. Taxis can be convenient, but they will eat into your budget very quickly.

One of our favourite ways to save money when we visit a major city where we want to see a lot of sights is to invest in a city sightseeing pass. In Paris there are three main passes that we recommend, the Paris Pass ( buy yours from the official site here ), the Paris Museum Pass (buy here ) and the Paris City Card .

Calculating if a pass is worth it for you will of course depend on exactly which attractions you want to visit.

From our itinerary, here’s what’s included on which passes, as well the cost of individual tickets as of December 2023 and links to book each attraction directly.

• Eiffel Tower (€38 for guided tour, €11.30 for standard stair access ticket) – tour included on Paris City Card, Go Paris Pass and Paris Pass. Book tickets on the official website here
• Seine River Cruise (€18) – included on Paris City Card, Go Paris Pass and Paris Pass. Book online here .
• Hop on Hop off bus (€45) – included on Paris Pass. Book online here .
• Paris Walking Tour (~€35) – various options included on Paris Pass. Book online here .
• Tour Montparnasse (€19) – included on Paris Pass. Book online here .
• Sainte Chapelle (€11.5) – included on Paris Pass and Paris Museum Pass. Book online here .
• Musee d’Orsay (€16) – included on Paris Pass and Paris Museum Pass. Book online here .
• Louvre Museum (€17) – included on Paris Museum Pass and Paris City Card. Book on GetYourGuide here , or on the official site here .
• Wine Tasting (€35) – included on Go Paris Pass and Paris Pass. Book online here .
• Arc de Triomphe (€13) – included on Paris Pass and Paris Museum Pass. Book online here .
• Versailles (€19.5) – included on Paris Pass and Paris Museum Pass. Book online here .

Adding all the above together and you are looking at around €270 in entry fees.

Our recommendation is to consider a 3-day Paris Pass.

We suggest the 3-day Paris Pass because it actually comes with a 2-day Paris Museum Pass.

With that, you get access to pretty much everything on our itinerary, as well as many more activities and attractions including more museums, walking tours, and even dining activities!

You just have to plan your itinerary so you visit the sites covered by the Paris Museum Pass on two out of your three days in Paris. Hint – we’ve already done that for you in our itinerary!

As of December 2023, a 3 day Paris Pass costs €194 for an adult, saving you around €75 per person if you do everything in our itinerary.

Of course, your individual situation will vary, and you might have different attractions you want to visit. In addition, you should be aware that if you are an EU citizen under the age of 26 that many attractions are free or discounted to visit (you need ID!).

Also, on the first Sunday of every month, many museums are free to visit – although very crowded as a result!

We think the Paris Pass can be good value for money ( click here to buy ), but do feel free to check out our detailed reviews of both the Paris Pass and the Paris Museum Pass , and come to your own decision as to what works for you!

You might also decide that purchasing individual tickets makes more sense. In that case, we highly recommend booking online in advance, especially for major attractions like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, which can get very busy and even sell out a long time in advance.

Finally, we can also suggest checking out the Paris City Card . This includes a guided Eiffel tower ticket, Seine River cruise and access to the Louvre. It also comes with an audioguide to Paris, as well as a further 10% discount on other Paris attractions.

This is a good option if you aren’t planning on visiting everything in our itinerary. It also has the advantage that you book the timeslots for the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower when you book the card, so can be convenient.

Practicalities for visiting Paris

Paris is a safe city in our experience, although it does have a reputation for being home to a number of scams. Most of these are easy to avoid once you know about them (read up on some of the common scams in Paris here ).

As with any major city, of course you need to keep your wits about you – keep your possessions in view all the time, keep your wallet or phone in a front pocket (with a zip if possible), and don’t do anything that you wouldn’t do at home.

We’ve not had any problems in Paris, although there are a few scams to be aware of – check our guide to avoiding common Paris scams so you are prepared in advance.

Electricity in Paris is of the 220v standard, with the 2 pin European style plug. Travellers from countries like the UK and the US will need an adapter like this . See more on travel adapters and how to choose one for your trip in our guide to the best travel adapters .

US travellers need to check their equipment supports the 220v standard – it will be written clearly on the power adapter. As a general rule, we have found that laptops, phone and camera chargers and other small electronics are universal, whilst larger devices like hair dryers and hair straighteners are not.

Paris is part of the Eurozone, so the currency is the Euro. You can get Euros from ATM’s, banks and currency exchanges, although credit cards are of course widely accepted, and there is no need to carry large quantities of currency.

Internet Access

Internet access is widely available in the form of WiFi all around the city and in hotels and coffee shops, so you shouldn’t have any trouble getting online. You can also pick up local SIM cards if you have an unlocked phone. If you are travelling from the USA, consider a Google Fi package which lets you use your data overseas.

Alternatively, consider an eSIM service like Airalo .

For more options on getting online when travelling, check out our guide to getting online when travelling to help you figure out the best options. We also have a guide to picking the best travel router , which can help you extend a weak WiFi network and share it across multiple devices.

Water 

The water in the taps in Paris is safe to drink unless otherwise indicated. If you don’t like the taste, bottled water is widely available. We usually recommend you travel with a re-usable water bottle like one of these  to save on having to buy water bottles.

We love our Klean Kanteen water bottles for travel as they are lightweight, easy to clean and the company is a certified B-Corp.

Eating in Paris

If you want to eat at one of the more popular restaurants in Paris , we recommend that you book in advance. We recommend and use La Fourchette (the fork), which is the most popular online restaurant booking website in France.

It’s easy to use and makes booking restaurants a breeze, especially if you don’t speak French. Check it out here to find reviews, sample menus and book a table.

Further Reading for your 3 Days in Paris

We have visited Paris on a number of occasions, and have written a good deal about our experiences in the city. To help you further plan your stay in Paris, here are some of our favourite posts and external resources.

• A detailed guide to 2 Days in Paris , should you be there for a shorter period or are looking for some alternative options
• We also have a guide to spending a day in Paris , if you’re on a really tight schedule and just want to focus on the highlights
• We have a detailed guide to attending the famous Moulin Rouge show in Paris
• Our guide to the  best photography locations in Paris , to help you get the best shots on your trip
• A guide to  choosing a Seine river cruise , choosing a Seine River dinner cruise , buying Paris opera tickets ,  attending a fashion show in Paris  and our tips for  the best restaurants in Paris for lunch .
• Our  review of the Paris Pass  and the Paris Museum Pass to help you decide if these might save you money during your time in Paris
• Galeries Lafayette is one of the most well known stores in Paris. However, there’s more to do here than shop! See our complete guide to visiting Galeries Lafayette for more information.
• A guide to  Airbnb Alternatives  to help you find the right accommodation
• If you like afternoon tea, check out our definitive guide to the  best afternoon tea locations in Paris
• If you are heading out of town, check out our itinerary for 2 Days visiting Normandy and the D-Day beaches
• We have reviewed many travel related products you might find useful. Check out our guide to the best travel routers , best travel cameras and best travel wraps to get started!
• If you want a book, we always like to recommend the Rick Steves guides – here’s the  Rick Steves Paris  edition

And that’s it for our guide to spending 3 days in Paris! As always if you have any feedback or questions, just let us know in the comments below.

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Deidre Smith says

22nd December 2023 at 6:04 pm

We arrive at the paris airport at 8am on a Sunday, will have to get our luggage and take it to our hotel. I was hoping to be to hotel by 10am. I thought of doing: Eiffel Tower, Seine River Cruise, Hop on Hop off Bus, Notre Dame, Tour Montparnasse.

Monday: Sainte Chapelle, Musée d’Orsay, The Louvre, Catacombs, Arc de Triomphe (do Tour Montparnasse this day if didn’t have time on Sunday)

Tuesday: Versailles in the morning, leave to go get our luggage at hotel at 3pm, get to hotel at 4pm, get to airport by 5pm for 7pm flight to Venice.

I had to move Notre Dame on your days to Sunday, since it’s closed Monday. So my question is, is this doable? Second, I was going to get the Paris Pass but it seems that wouldn’t work on Versailles if I use it on Monday at Notre Dame, so is there a better pass for me to buy. I was worried if I bought the paris pass, and then used it to book Versailles, it might not work since it’s not consecutive days.

Laurence Norah says

22nd December 2023 at 6:47 pm

So, Notre Dame itself is not due to re-open until the end of 2024. The only area you can currently visit is the Crypt, which you are correct, is closed on Mondays. So I just wanted to clarify that that was what you meant.

For the general timing, if you don’t mind having quite a long day on the Monday you should be ok. My main concern would be that the Hop on Hop off bus is likely going to take a while (it’s a sightseeing experience rather than a quick way to get around the city). Also if you plan on using the Paris Pass or similar pass, you should be aware that some attractions are visited with a guided tour, specifically the Eiffel Tower. Those tours only run at specific times.

Given your schedule with Versailles on the Tuesday and the fact that the Paris Pass only comes with a 2 day Paris Museum Pass, you are correct that this might not be the best pass for you as the 2 day Musuem Pass would expire by Tuesday. One option would be to just get a 2 day Paris Museum Pass and use it for the Monday / Tuesday attractions. From your list it should cover everything except the Catacombs I believe. Then you could just book individual tickets for the other sights. There are passes which include some of the sights on your list such as the Go City Explorer Pass . However I honestly don’t think that it is going to offer better value than just booking individual tickets for each attraction.

I hope this helps, have an amazing time in Paris and let me know if I can offer any more help!

Catrina says

24th November 2023 at 3:13 pm

My husband and I will be celebrating our 20 year anniversary in March and are planning a trip to Paris! I love the 3 day itinerary, giving us a couple days to visit Disneyland Paris. I am interested in a budget friendly-ish stay that allows for a gorgeous view of the Eiffel Tower as in your photo above. Any way to narrow down my hotel/apartment search? Any info is greatly appreciated! Thanks for all the info already given. Super excited for our trip 🙂

24th November 2023 at 4:47 pm

Congratulations and your anniversary and what a lovely way to spend it 🙂 So there are definitely quite a few hotels and apartments with views of the Eiffel Tower. The downside is that properties are aware that this is a desirable feature, so these rooms tend to cost a bit more. We actually have a complete guide to the Eiffel Tower which has a section on recommended hotels , with many of them offering views.

We cen definitely personally recommend the Pullman , which has lovely views from many of the rooms.

Otherwise, your best option is going to be to search properties in the region of the Eiffel tower (like this search I’ve set up for you ). Any hotel or apartment with a view of the Eiffel Tower will definitely make that obvious in it’s description. You just want to be sure you book a room with a view of it, which should also be pretty clear in the room description!

I hope you have a wonderful time in Paris and if you have any more questions please let me know 🙂

Catrina Baugus says

28th November 2023 at 9:43 am

Thank you so much! This gives us a great place to start 🙂

G. Heartwell says

20th March 2023 at 4:32 pm

Thank you so much for the details on the 3 day Paris tour. Sounds perfect for starting a 7 day first visit.! My granddaughter and I are planning to go after the end of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris! Any helpful travel do s and don’ts for that time period?

24th March 2023 at 6:29 pm

It’s my pleasure. So the main advice I would give is to book any attractions you want to visit as far in advance as possible. This is especially the case for popular attractions like the Louvre or the Eiffel Tower, which can book out months in advance at busier times of year. I’d also recommend picking a hotel with air-conditioning. It’s not always included, but summer in Paris can be hot so be sure to pick somewhere that specifically states it has A/C for a more comfortable stay.

Otherwise have a great time in Paris!

27th January 2023 at 12:07 am

Hello from snowy Toronto, Canada

My son (almost 18) and I would like to travel to France end of July for perhaps a week or so then on to England. With respect to France he wants to see the Eifel Tower and Louvre and from what I read a sunset river cruise would be great too. We can visit the Notre-Dame and anything else you suggest. I personally would then like to go south to Nice, Cannes etc. If we base ourselves in Paris for sites would you suggest base in Nice and branch from there to surrounding areas? Are Roven, Marselle and Carcassone (sp) worth visiting? Would you suggest other areas? Bordeaux looks beautiful but being that this isn’t a wine tour for myself I don’t want to visit this time. Any suggestions are much appreciated.

29th January 2023 at 9:21 am

It’s great to hear from you. So for Paris I think this guide should cover most of the highlights of what you want to see. For the south of France, it is definitely a good option to pick one or two locations as a base. However, it’s worth pointing out that France is quite a big country, so you will want to plan what you want to see. Carcassone is very pretty and definitely worth visiting, but it’s about 350 miles from Nice for example. So I think you would want to work out exactly what you wanted to see and then decide which location or locations makes the most logical sense. You will also want to figure out how you want to get around. The train network in France is very fast and good value, but it doesn’t go everywhere, so you might also consider hiring a car for example. With only a week total, I’d suggest picking one other location outside of Paris and focusing on that. Bordeaux would actually be a great option as it’s about 3 hours by fast train from Paris and there is plenty to see (lots of which doesn’t involve wine!).

Have a great trip 🙂

jacques Martial says

9th January 2023 at 3:26 am

Interesting site.. we have some friends visiting Paris for 3 days and we found your site.. Being a Parisian myself, I was surprised that you included Versailles and a Wine Tasting visit into your planning. Nothing against Versailles, it is a beautiful place but there is more to see in Paris that spending time in Versailles and tasting wine when you are not a drinker. Suggest that you give these visits as alternate. One suggestion: why don’t you have a Romantic 3 days in Paris planning? Many young couples may appreciate more for honeymoon, wedding anniversary or other. Thank you Jacques from Vancouver in Canada

11th January 2023 at 9:02 am

Hi Jacques,

Thanks for your input! We definitely appreciate that this itinerary will not work for everyone, and of course we always suggest folks adjust for their own personal interests and tastes. Many visitors to France do want to try French wine, hence the wine tasting. We also think Versailles is worth visiting with three days in Paris, but of course, everyone can make their own choice 🙂 Thanks for the idea about the romantic visit to Paris as well, we shall definitely consider that!

Marybeth says

5th January 2023 at 10:00 pm

Your information is fabulous! I will be traveling to France in June for a wedding. The wedding will take place in Provence. I plan on starting in Paris for at least 3 days. Then off to Lyon, Avignon and Provence. I am open to suggestions on what to see between Paris and Provence. Lastly, 3 or 4 days for Paris? My travel dates are a bit flexible. Thank you for any suggestions you may offer.

11th January 2023 at 9:32 am

Thanks Marybeth, and sorry for the slow response, we’re currently traveling in Uganda with limited internet!

Given your planned route from Paris to Avignon with a stop in Lyons, a few suggestions that might work for you are below. However, this depends on if you are driving or traveling by train.

Fontainebleau – most famous for Fontainebleau Palace. A nice quieter alternative to Versailles if you are not already visiting that on this trip.

Guédelon Castle near Treigny, France which is a 13th century castle they are building using traditional materials and methods

Dijon – heart of Burgundy region so lots of vineyards in area, city has a number of attractions like Musée des Beaux-Arts

Beaune – lovely walled town with cobblestones, distinctive tiled roofs and the Hôtel-Dieu Museum

3rd January 2023 at 3:09 am

Hi, Your itinerary is so great! Thank you for doing this as I plan to follow it. I’m going in February. I’d like to see the Eiffel Tower all lit up what’s the best time to get there? Thank you

3rd January 2023 at 4:46 pm

So the Eiffel Tower automatically lights up within 10 minutes of it getting dark. It’s an automated system that is based on the light. In February, the sunset in Paris is normally around 6pm (6.30pm at the end of the month), so anytime around then if you just want to see it lit up. It’s also worth noting that the tower also sparkles for five minutes every hour on the hour once it’s been lit up, so that would likely take place at 7pm when you are there. I’d definitely recommend watching that as well!

Have a great time in Paris, let me know if you have any more questions! We also have a detailed guide to the Eiffel Tower you might find useful 🙂

Andrej ands Heather says

5th July 2022 at 4:58 am

Hi Laurence and Jessica Norah

We were planning the Paris trip, actually a trip to Europe, with the first stop in Paris. We found your web blog, read it carefully and decided to follow your advice in the detail. We stayed for 4 days and used 3 days Paris pass, it is good value for the money we paid for. That was the best decision we made!

We create our own itinerary, we scheduled our trips and we made it even more than we predict. We bought a weekly Navigo on arrival( it is good to have two photos with) and travel all around by public transport, a lot of walking up and downstairs( we are 50 and 51), but we managed. We are extremely grateful for your work and effort. Thank you, guys!

5th July 2022 at 11:12 am

Hi Andrej and Heather,

I am so pleased that you had a good time in Paris (and Europe!) and that you found our sites useful. It is very kind of you to take the time to stop by and let us know, it is very much appreciated. Also for the tip on the Navigo. Here’s to many more years of adventures ahead!

All the best,

6th June 2022 at 11:03 pm

So can I upgrade the Eiffel Tower tour to an elevator one all the way to the summit with the Paris pass? That says guided climbing tour only to the second floor. Thanks

7th June 2022 at 11:45 am

This is a great question! I reached out to Experience First who handle the tour that comes with the Paris Pass, and they responded as follows:

You can First book your tour with Paris pass through: https://www.exp1.com/paris-tours/book-with-pass/

Then, after booking you will receive an email with a Booking reference number which you can use it to upgrade to summit.

To Upgrade after booking : https://upgrade.exp1.com/

So in summary, yes, you can upgrade to the summit access tour with the Paris Pass, although obviously this will be subject to availability.

Have a great time in Paris!

13th November 2021 at 7:57 pm

My husband and I will be visiting Paris in a couple weeks for 4 days (Sun – Wed). This is our first time visiting France and working on a draft itinerary. I plan on getting the Paris Pass for the 1st 2 days so to include all the museum visits. Also your thoughts on doing the river cruise at night (Bateaux Parisiens Seine River) instead of during the day one.

Sunday – Bus hop, Eiffel Tower and late afternoon head to watch the sunset…Arc de Triomphe and do Tour Montparnasse Monday – Sainte Chapelle, Notre Dame, Musée d’Orsay, The Louvre, Wine tasting, River ride at sunset Tuesday – The catacombs or Montmartre then Versaille in the afternoon

Thanks in advance!

14th November 2021 at 11:10 am

Great to hear from you! Your plan sounds great to me. The only thing I’d mention, which might be obvious, is just to remember that in winter the sun sets around 5pm in Paris. I’m sure you factored that in, but just something to remember if you’re wanting to catch the sunset from the Tour Montparnasse.

It definitely sounds like you have arranged everything in a sensible order. I am not sure how busy Versailles is at the moment. In the old times visiting in the afternoon without a guided tour booked was a challenge due to the long ticket lines, but now they have timed tickets I suspect it’s less of an issue – we’ve not been since they introduced the time slots.

For the Seine River Cruise, we’ve done both day time cruises, sunset cruises and an evening dinner cruise. I think sunset is a good time as you get the mix of the city at day and at night, with the potential for a nice sky as well. If it was my first time, I’d probably not do a tour at night, just because it’s obviously dark and so harder to see everything. But that’s just my personal preference. Seeing everything lit up is lovely as well!

Let me know if you have any more questions, I’m happy to help! Have a wonderful trip to Paris – we’re planning to be there at the start of January 😀

amanda Pimm says

31st October 2021 at 4:12 pm

Hi , my husband and I plan to take my daughter and her friend to Paris next may 2022 for her 16th birthday. We have never been before and can’t speak any French, will this be a problem. I also wondered what pass would be good to buy for our 3 day sight seeing please. Would be very great full for any advice.

31st October 2021 at 6:33 pm

Great to hear from you. Let me do my best to answer your two questions.

In terms of not speaking French, this shouldn’t be a major problem, especially in Paris. It’s a popular part of the world with visitors, and English is widely spoken. However, I would say that you will likely have a better experience if you learn a few basic phrases, such as hello (bonjour), thank you (merci) please (s’il vous plait), and do you speak English (parlez vouz anglais). The Parisians have developed a bit of reputation for being rude to foreigners, but in my experience, if you start off with a simple “bonjour”, they will pretty much instantly realise that you are not a native speaker, and nine times out of ten they’ll respond in English. However, if you start in English, they’ll be less receptive. I guess you could imagine the reception if it were reversed, and a French person arriving in the UK or USA and trying to start a conversation in French. So even learning “hello” can be a bit step in getting things off on the right foot!

For city cards, this will very much depend on what you want to see. For most visitors, a trip to the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and a Seine River Cruise are popular, so the Paris City Card is a good starting point as it includes those things. You then get a 10% discount for additional attractions you book through the site. If you plan to see more sights, then you might instead consider the Paris Pass , which includes a lot more attractions and activities, but it will definitely depend on what you plan to do to make sure it is good value. For example, if you plan to do most of the attractions in this itinerary, it will likely offer cost savings.

I hope this helps, have a great trip to Paris and let me know if you have any more questions!

21st April 2020 at 11:55 pm

Exploring the City of Love is such a dream come true! This 3-day Itinerary in Paris is such a great help to those who are planning to discover Paris. Thanks for sharing, nice article.

22nd April 2020 at 10:36 am

Thanks James!

rj digma says

11th February 2020 at 7:08 pm

Great site. Very helpful. One question, if I buy the paris museum pass but want to hire a private guide to take us to the museums and give us art history info, would you know someone.

11th February 2020 at 11:20 pm

Thanks very much! We don’t know any private guides personally, however we have regularly used Context Travel , who do provide private guides, so that would be worth looking into.

Good luck, and have a great time in Paris!

Veronica Webster says

1st February 2020 at 11:36 pm

Hi Laurence, We have already cleared doubts with Jessica about our London trip, and now we’re working on the Paris part. We will be visiting Paris from March 27th to April 1st. Arriving on Friday around 11:00 am. We know that being a weekend everything will be more crowded, but it is what it is. We have made our numbers and we’re thinking that the Museum Pass will work better, given that the Paris Pass 3 days only includes 2 days museums, and we have actually 4.5 days, so not really need to fit all museums in 2 days (and we’re visiting Versailles too) My question is: The delivery options for the Museum pass is pick up at arrival or Fedex (24euros to Canada). If we arrive on a Friday, if I want to reserve time slot for Louvre on Saturday, is there’s a risk I won’t find available the time I’m looking for? Same for Orsay on Sunday morning (we want to be there for both at 9:00 am) Given that we would be already saving time by avoiding lines and buying the tickets, the 24 euros fee to have the pass with us sooner and book weeks ahead sound like a reasonable option. Your thoughts please?

here’s a draft of our trip: Friday after 1 pm: Eiffel Tower, Seine River Cruise (we pay for those 2) Sat: Louvre (9am, museum pass), Hop OnOff (we pay) Champs E./Arc the T (mpass) Sun: Orsay (9am mpass) Montmartre Mo: Saint Chapelle (mpass), Notre Dame (just views), Pantheon (mpass), Invalides (mpass) Tu: Versailles (mpass) – We think Versailles will be less crowded on Tu, but we could switch this to Sunday.

Thank you in advance to you and Jessica! your blog has been very useful to plan this trip!!

2nd February 2020 at 3:32 pm

Hi Veronica,

Thanks for your comment. To answer your question, for the Louvre, it has become very popular, and if you want to guarantee a particular time for your entry, then paying for the delivery of the museum pass is definitely going to be the way to do that. You need the number on the pass in order to make the reservation, which obviously you will need the pass for. If you decide to do this, make sure you bring both the pass and proof of reservation with you, and then join the correct line at the Louvre for those with reservations.

Of course, Paris in March / April is not as busy as it is over the summer months, so it may be that the Louvre has plenty of availability. However, it’s all down to your personal risk preference 😉

For the Musee d’Orsay, as far as we know you can’t book in advance with this museum, you just turn up with your pass. This is the case for most of the museums in Paris, it’s only the Louvre that has the timed requirement due to its popularity.

For Versailles, the weekends are usually very busy, however, bear in mind that many sights in Paris are also closed on Tuesdays (like the Louvre), so this also means more folks head out to Versailles. We would urge you to arrive early at Versailles, as the lines can get very very long for entry. Again, March / April should not be *too* busy, but it is best to err on the side of caution in our experience!

You have done a great job with the itinerary, putting the busiest places first 🙂 Let us know if you have any more questions and we’ll try to help. Have a fantastic trip – do feel free to join our facebook group and share your experiences in our friendly facebook group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/travelloversandphotography/ 🙂

Afitha says

31st August 2019 at 12:47 pm

Hi Laurence, Me and my husband will be going to paris-switzerland-italy for 11 days trip..pls gve me an advise regarding howmany days we will stay per country…eagerly waiting for ur reply..TIA

2nd September 2019 at 6:12 am

It really depends on which cities you want to visit and your personal interests. I haven’t visited Switzerland for a while but I would say if you were to do something like Paris for 3 days, then Switzerland for 3-4 days, then Italy for 4-5 days. I would suggest with that much time that you could visit 2 cities in Italy, so I’d say maybe Rome and Venice. You could also base in Rome and do day trips to places like Florence.

Have a great time!

19th August 2019 at 11:55 am

Hello Laurence and Jessica, I’m planning to go on a solo trip on January 2020 to Paris (and going to Italy). It will be my first time in Europe, and I’m very excited. I know it’s winter and it will be very cold, but I was wondering if you have any tips for a 21 year old solo female traveller? I’m planning to book an AirBnB so I can also cook some meals to be able to save some money. How much do you think I need for the three day sightseeing in Paris alone? I’m hoping to hear from you guys soon. Thank you.

19th August 2019 at 12:01 pm

So I will briefly answer your question on solo female travel. We definitely aren’t experts in that area as we usually travel as a couple, however, Paris is no more or less safe than other major western European cities, so if you practice the same sort of safety precautions that you would in your own home cities, then you shouldn’t have any problems.

For budget, January is not too busy in Paris so you should be able to find an apartment on AirBnb in the region of $60 – $100 a night. The other main costs will be food and sightseeing. For food, lunch is the best time to go out for meals generally as restaurants tend to have fixed price menus. So if you do choose to dine out during your stay, we’d recommend doing so at lunch. Otherwise we suggest croissants from a bakery for breakfast and there are lots of supermarkets for picking up supplies for cooking 🙂

Sightseeing will be your other major costs. The price will obviously vary depending on exactly what you want to do and see. If you plan on going inside many museums and attractions, then we recommend either the Paris Pass or Paris Museum Pass. The best one for you will depend on what you want to see. Note that neither of them includes Eiffel tower access. If you want to go up the Eiffel Tower, the cheapest way is to buy second floor tickets with stair access. You can do this online or in person – see our full Eiffel Tower guide for more on that.

https://independenttravelcats.com/eiffel-tower-paris-france/

Overall, I would say that if you budget $60 – $100 a day for accommodation, $20 – $50 a day for attractions and $15 – $30 a day on food that would be reasonable. Of course, you could go above or below these figures based on your own preference, but that is a ballpark.

Have a great time in Paris, and don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any more questions!

29th July 2019 at 4:15 am

I am looking into going to Paris July 3-5 2020. I have never traveled or anything else like that how would I go about making sure I had enough money. Thank you in advance.

29th July 2019 at 7:42 pm

Well, that’s quite a big question 🙂 It will depend a bit on your travel style (hostel – luxury hotel), what attractions you want to see and what sort of food you want to eat. Also how you get around, from walking -> taxis. The main costs will be your flight to and from Paris, your accommodation, and then your sight-seeing and food costs. It’s hard to give an exact number as everyone will be different, but if you take a look at my guide to the costs for travelling in the UK, this will give you an idea of what to estimate. Paris will be a bit more expensive, as capital cities often are, but you should at least get a rough estimate. You can see that guide here:

https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/cost-travel-uk/

Let me know if you have any more questions!

29th July 2019 at 9:34 pm

Thank u so much I’ll check that link in just a few when I have a bit more time ????????

7th July 2019 at 3:57 am

Hi Laurence!

My husband and I will be going to Paris for six days in October. However, it’s our first time there, and I’m starting to think that we might have too many days in Paris and we might run out of activities.

Any suggestions or thoughts on that based on your experience?

9th July 2019 at 3:42 pm

You definitely won’t run out of things to do. I have just covered the major highlights in this post – there is so much more to the city! We usually visit for 5-7 days at a time, and have done so multiple times, and have never run out of things to do!

9th September 2019 at 11:13 pm

My sister and I who are in our 70 are going on a river cruise with Viking on Oct 6 an want to come in a few days early.. What hotel and tours . Is the show mon la rougue still there as I saw it 20 years and want to see it again.

11th September 2019 at 5:50 pm

Thanks for your e-mail. So the hotel you choose will very much depend on your budget, but we have some suggestions in this post for you to choose from. If you’d like to stay near the Eiffel Tower, we also have a lot of suggestions in our guide to visiting the Eiffel Tower, which you can read here . Of course, you might want to find out where your cruise departs from so you are not too far away.

The Moulin Rouge is still very much in operation, and we visited quite recently. You do need to book in advance, I have a full guide to the Moulin Rouge here which you might find helpful.

Rupali says

25th June 2019 at 2:47 pm

Hi I really like the detailed itinerary. It very good to look if you are planning the trip to Paris in advance. I would like to know if the Paris pass includes guided tours or some discount on guided tours in the museums? Also, if now do you think it is worth to take the guided tours to know about the significance of that place.

25th June 2019 at 3:20 pm

Thanks very much 🙂 So some city passes do include discounts on walking tours. However, the Paris Pass does not include many discounted guided tours. Looking at the inclusions, it includes a Montmartre walking tour, as well as discounts on a Segway tour, cycling tour and Citroen 2CV tour. It also includes the guided Opera Garnier tour. You can see some of the tours it includes on this page – just filter by Paris tours.

So if you want to do a guided tour of the museums, or a guided tour in Paris in general, then you would want to book that separately. I do think that a guided tour is a good way to learn about the city, and I link to some suggested walking tours in the post. It’s really up to you though if you want to do that. If you take a full day walking tour of Paris, then you might not find the Paris Pass offers such good value as most tours include entry to a number of attractions.

Let me know if I can be of any more help!

9th June 2019 at 7:07 pm

Hi Laurence, We stumbled across your blog recently while planning for our trip to Paris in September this fall. We enjoyed reading it. We will be arriving Paris on a Wednesday morning and leaving by plane on a Saturday 5:50pm flight. On Thursday we’ve booked a Versailles morning tour that ends 1:45pm and on Saturday morning we’ve booked the Louvre tour that ends 12:45 pm, then we will retrieve our luggage from hotel and on to the airport. Questions: Should we stay at a hotel that is near the Louvre for our convenience of Saturday’s luggage retrieval before airport Or should we stay at a hotel that is a short walk to the Hop on Hop off bus route so we can visit most of the top attraction via the bus and not to let the luggage retrieval limit the hotel location ? Could you please give us a few hotels suggestions and what top attractions we can fit in our schedule?

9th June 2019 at 8:53 pm

Thanks for your comment!

So, I think it’s up to you in regard to the hotel location. However, as the Louvre is a popular location for visitors, most Hop on Hop off buses will have a stop close by. So you can do both – just pick a hotel close to the Louvre and it will also be close to the Hop on Hop off bus.

In terms of specific hotels, it’s hard to give advice without a budget. I’d suggest using this link to start , and then narrowing your filter by price, date and what type of accommodation you are looking for. I’d generally also suggest looking for properties with a good review score, ideally an 8 or higher 🙂

PS – sorry about the slow response, we’ve been travelling for the past few days with limited internet 😀

Angela B says

9th June 2019 at 3:30 pm

Laurence & Jessica, Such an amazing and thorough explanation. My daughter (13) and I will be arriving into Paris next Sunday (16th) to watch USA play in the World Cup. My husband will be working the Paris Air Show, so my daughter and I have 3 days (17-19) to ourselves, meeting my husband at night for dinner and sightseeing. I think we will do the 3 day tour with Versailles on the last day. Based on this itinerary, does the 3 Day Paris Pass still make the best option? I am guessing it does since it includes travel, entrance, and skipping lines. We are sooooo excited!!!!! Angela

9th June 2019 at 8:57 pm

Thank you so much Angela – sounds like you’ve got a great trip coming up!

So I would say that the Paris Pass would make sense if you intend on using the various additional features it offers like the Seine Cruise, transport and so on. The one thing to be aware of is that whilst the pass is three days, it only includes a 2 day museum pass. And that pass is what you will use for places like the Louvre, Versailles and so on.

I have structured this itinerary to account for that, however, if you want to move things around, it might make less sense, and instead you might consider the 4 day Paris Museum Pass, and then a separate travel card. Of course, it’s up to you.

We have a full review of both types of pass if you would like some further reading to help you decide! They are at the following links:

https://independenttravelcats.com/tips-buying-using-paris-museum-pass/ https://independenttravelcats.com/buying-paris-pass-review-worth-it-tips/

Sumona says

30th May 2019 at 5:31 pm

Thank you so much for writing this. Really helpful and very well written!

30th May 2019 at 5:38 pm

Thank you very much Sumona – have a wonderful trip to Paris and do let us know if you have any questions 🙂

17th May 2019 at 4:52 pm

Hi Laurence and Jessica! I am travelling to Paris soon and your elaborate writing and practical tips is what exactly I was looking for. Brilliant! Thanks : )

17th May 2019 at 5:53 pm

Thank you very much Jasma – have a wonderful time in Paris! Do let us know how you enjoy the city 🙂

17th May 2019 at 7:27 pm

I will sure have a good time in the City of love . Also, Your expert advice on the accommodation pls- the place I am planning to stay is at Courbevoie. Per the owner it says 10 mins to Paris. Do you think during my stay at Paris for 3-4 days this place will be in proximity to the list you had advised in your blog. Thanks Jasma

17th May 2019 at 7:33 pm

It’s hard to tell as Courbevoie is a little bit outside the city centre, and so it will depend on which metro or train station you are near, and how far it is to the metro station. In a best case scenario it will be 10 minutes to the Arc de Triomphe, in a worse case scenario, more like 40 minutes. The Arc de Triomphe is the closest attraction in our itinerary though to Courbevoie, other attractions are further away. So it is definitely not the most convenient location, but it will work. However, if you can find somewhere more central it might work out more easily for you.

18th May 2019 at 3:33 pm

Thanks a million Laurence. You are doing a great job and I truly appreciate it. Regards, Jasma

Godfrey says

29th March 2019 at 8:41 pm

You guys are amazing..just about saved me hours of research into finding things to do in 3 days…This is exactly what fits within our 3 day visit..Keep up the great work!

30th March 2019 at 12:12 am

Thanks Godfrey – we will certainly try! Have a lovely trip to Paris and let us know if we can be of any help!

22nd February 2019 at 5:50 pm

hi! I like your blog,it’s very informative and easy to follow. but can I just know, roughly how much do we need to prepare? I mean if Im a big spender how much money will I probably spend for the tours? excluding the food. I would really appreciate if you could give me the figure so we can save for it. thanks! ☺️

23rd February 2019 at 7:25 am

It’s really hard to give figures as budgets vary greatly between people. So you can see from the tours I have suggested what they cost, and also if you buy one of the passes then many of the attractions will be included. So then your other costs will be accommodation and food. For this itinerary, including food and accommodation, you would probably be looking in the region of €500 – €1000 per person, but that would vary hugely depending on your tastes and accommodation quality.

I hope this helps a bit!

Anjana says

12th February 2019 at 11:17 pm

Hello. I liked the itinerary you suggested. We are planning to be there by mid April. Can you please guide us for weather. Also, I am an artist and wish to visit art gallary, can you please suggest?

13th February 2019 at 9:05 pm

The weather in Paris in April will be fairly warm, like around 17 – 22C. It might be cooler in evenings. Rain is always a possibility, but you would be unlucky if it rained a lot.

If you want to visit an art gallery, I would suggest the Louvre, or the Centre Pompidou if you prefer modern art!

12th February 2019 at 4:52 pm

How to get Paris Pass and the bus passes. Required details about the inclusions and exclusions of the Paris Pass .

12th February 2019 at 5:28 pm

You can buy the Paris Pass with this link .

You can see the inclusions here .

Enjoy your time in Paris!

12th February 2019 at 5:31 pm

Thank you so much.. I will sure be in touch with you if i require any more details .

Regards Shree

13th February 2019 at 7:45 am

Hi Is it mandatory to get the paris pass before hand or the same can be availed after reaching the destination as well..

13th February 2019 at 7:09 pm

You can buy the pass in Paris as well, but they don’t offer sales as they sometimes do online,

Amanda Che says

19th December 2018 at 3:09 am

If I want to visit Montparnasse will I need to purchase tickets if I have the Paris pass? Or do we just show up and they will let us in at whatever time?

19th December 2018 at 8:03 pm

If you have the Paris Pass the Tour Montparnasse is included, so you can just turn up at any time and they will let you in. It’s best at sunset if you can make it them!

Have a great trip

19th December 2018 at 10:02 pm

Thank you for responding!! I’m glad I got he passes! Does this apply to the wine tasting as well?! I’m just not sure about the places that have specific times that need reservations when visiting.

19th December 2018 at 11:10 pm

My pleasure! The wine tasting was the same when we used the Paris Pass – we just turned up and it was fine. However, if you have any doubts you can always reach out to either the attraction or Paris Pass folks to confirm 😀

24th October 2018 at 9:29 pm

Thank you so much for making my life easy!!! You have the best detailed itineraray in Paris. I purchased the 3 day Paris Pass. 🙂 I’m so excited to visit next month!

25th October 2018 at 8:13 pm

Thanks so much! Have an awesome trip 😀

Evelyne says

23rd October 2018 at 10:23 am

Hello, I am a Parisian and I read your post. I think this itinerary is very heavy (espécially days 2) unless you don’t visit the museums and just shoot the buildings. It is just an accumulation of monuments to visit but it does not give the feel of what is Paris. Fortunately, Paris is not just an opan air museum.

23rd October 2018 at 1:03 pm

Hey Evelyne!

Thanks for your feedback. I definitely make that clear at the beginning that this is a very busy itinerary, and people should adjust to suit their own pace 🙂 We usually visit Paris for no less than seven days at a time when putting these posts together, but we know not everyone has that luxury, so we try to fit everything in that people might want to see, based on our conversations with folks planning a trip 🙂

Thanks for stopping by!

kunal gupta says

30th September 2018 at 10:45 am

After having read so many posts, I felt this is the best post. It has all the tips, recommendations and anecdotes that I was looking for to create an itinerary. I am visiting Paris next month and will surely provide you guys my feedback on the experience.

Any tips on finding Indian or vegetarian lunch/dinner will be extremely helpful too !

1st October 2018 at 2:26 pm

Thanks Kunal! I’m not personally an expert on vegetarian dining, but the search engine happycow.net lists vegetarian restaurants around the world, so that would be a good place to look 🙂 Have a great trip!

Kritika says

13th September 2018 at 8:22 am

Hi, Your blog is one simple answer to all the queries I had while planning for my trip. 🙂 We are a couple visiting Paris from 29 Sept to Oct1. We would like to visit a vineyard and taste wine over there. Do you have any information regarding any vineyard nearby and how to commute? Also, We would be going to Lyon for a day. Can you suggest me a short itinerary for the same?

Regards Kritika

13th September 2018 at 11:47 am

Hi Kritika!

Thanks very much, we are happy to have been of help 🙂 We would suggest that the closest wine region to Paris is going to be the Champagne region, and the easiest way to get there would be to take a tour from Paris, which will save you figuring out transport. Plus someone else will drive, leaving you to enjoy the wine 🙂 I found this one which has good reviews so that would be my suggestion, although there are sure to be other options!

For Lyon, we haven’t visited there yet, so I can’t make any recommendations unfortunately 🙁

Have a great trip!

9th September 2018 at 7:25 am

Hi! Just read your wonderful article helps out a lot we are a family of 6..would metro\bus be cheaper or renting a car..staying in a hotel near cdg since all the good/affordable ones are taken near the center….and how I the weather in the end of September? 6 days all Together and Disneyland is included please let me know confused about driving and or bus thanks 🙂

9th September 2018 at 11:38 am

I would recommend against hiring a car as driving in Paris is not so much fun, plus you will have to spend time finding parking and paying for it. Instead I would recommend either taking the metro, or hiring a taxi to take you in. For a group of people, you would have to find the right size of taxi of course, but it should be possible. For Disneyland, the easiest way is the RER from Paris.

The weather in Paris in September should be quite good, not too hot but not too cold, I would say around 12 – 22C, so you will want to have some warmer clothes for the evenings. There is always the possibility of rain as well, so a rain jacket or umbrella would be wise 🙂

Hope this helps!

Susan Morris says

30th August 2018 at 4:14 am

Hi, I have just read your 3-day itinerary for Paris, and I thought it was awesome. Very clear and easy to follow. I look forward to following it when we head to Paris next year! My husband is also keen to visit the area of the D-Day landings at Normandy (Omaha Beach I believe). Do you have any similar itineraries or advice for a 1 or 2 day visit to that area? Many thanks

30th August 2018 at 10:50 am

Thanks very much Susan. We certainly do, we have a two day itinerary which we think you should find useful 🙂

https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/normandy-2-day-itinerary-d-day-beaches-mont-st-michel/

24th August 2018 at 9:15 pm

Hi I am traveling to Paris in second week of oct 18… what would be the climate that time? Do I need to carry a lot of winter clothing?

24th August 2018 at 9:26 pm

October in Europe varies. I’d say the best option is to bring layers, and to have sufficiently warm clothes for cold weather and rain in particualr. The temperature will likely be between 5 degrees C and 15 degrees C, although if it is windy it might feel a lot colder. So it’s not like visiting Iceland or Finland in winter, but you’ll want to be prepared.

I don’t have a guide for Paris, but we do have a packing list for London at any time of year, which should help a bit:

https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/london-packing-list-what-to-pack-for-london-and-the-uk-at-any-time-of-year/

Qinwan says

22nd July 2018 at 1:02 pm

Hi Laurence, I am planning my visit to Paris in Oct 2018, the blog of 3 days itinerary is very much helpful and perfect for my plan. Where do you recommend to proceed after Paris for a 10 day Europe trip?

22nd July 2018 at 9:31 pm

Awesome! Well, if this if your first time in Europe, I’d probably recommend some of the other capital cities, like London or Rome, and then maybe Barcelona, depending on how much time you want to spend in each location. You can easily spend three or four days in both Rome and London. From Paris to London it’s an easy journey, as you can take the train direct. Then there are mutliple flights from London to Rome. If you like the sound of Barcelona, there’s an overnight train from Paris straight to Barcelona. Another idea might be to do Paris – > London, Edinburgh and then a bit of Scotland as well.

I’d definitely suggest not trying to see too much, and spending a bit longer in each location. Three days is a nice amount of time to see a city 🙂

Have an awesome trip!

Elizabeth Higgins says

22nd July 2018 at 5:26 am

This post is just so detail-oriented, Laurence! Any reader would not be having a difficult time browsing because you have also included hyperlinks to the sub-sections. Everything has just been written so wonderfully that I felt spoon-fed with information, in a really great way. I am so glad to find your blog! Thank you so much!

22nd July 2018 at 8:54 pm

Hi Elizabeth – thanks so much! It’s always wonderful to hear that people are finding our posts helpful! Hopefully you have a great trip, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions! Laurence

Tisaygwapa says

9th July 2018 at 9:56 am

Hi, I am a fan of your blog. My planning for my euro trip makes it easier. I have an inquiry though, can you tell me what is the difference between and Paris Pass and a Paris Explorer pass? What airport is near to the attraction on day1?

We will be in Paris for 3 days.

9th July 2018 at 10:03 am

Hi Tisaygwapa 🙂

Thanks very much! The Paris Explorer Pass is a much more limited pass, and instead of giving you free access to all the attractions, it lets you choose from 3, 5 or 7 attractions. For our itinerary, we definitely suggest either the Paris Pass or the Paris Museum Pass for cost saving.

For airports, Paris has three major airports. The two closest to the city and that most people arrive at are Paris Orly and Paris Charles De Gaulle.

From Paris Orly to the Eiffel tower you can take the Ouibus, it only takes around 16 minutes: https://www.ouibus.com/routes/paris-paris-orly-sud-airport

Charles de Gaulle (CDG) is a little further away, you can take the RER train from the airport – it’s probably more like an hour.

Shashank says

20th June 2018 at 5:11 pm

Hi, would like to know if we can walk in directly to Bateux Parisiens any time with the Paris Pass? Do we need to reserve online even if we have the Paris Pass?

20th June 2018 at 7:03 pm

Hi Shashank!

In our experience you can just walk up and show your pass at the ticket booth, no reservation required 🙂

Hope this helps – have a great trip!

18th June 2018 at 9:29 am

I would like to know more details of 3 day Itinerary . In the mentioned Places , how long it will take? that is regarding time span we can spent there comfortably .Can u pls suggest

20th June 2018 at 7:10 pm

IT’s really up to you and your interests as to how long you want to take. The itinerary as laid out is doable, but if you spend four hours at each location, obviously not so much 🙂 So my advice would be to look at each location and decide how much time you would like to spend their. As an example, Sainte Chapelle is quite small, so 15 – 20 minutes would be fine. The Louvre is gigantic, so will take a bit longer! But it’s really up to you 🙂

Karuna says

11th June 2018 at 5:31 pm

Thanks a lot, we are planning to visit Paris, and Italy for 12 days of vacation and this is very helpful for Paris. Can we have an advice on Hotels where we can stay like 4* hotels work walk around to these attractions if possible or nice evening walks?

And can we have an itinerary for Italy for 9-10 days trip,

Thanks a lot

11th June 2018 at 11:29 pm

Thanks very much! In the post I do link to a centrally located 4* hotel, under the accommodation section. The hotel is this one, but I’m sure you can find some other options 🙂

http://www.booking.com/hotel/fr/dress-code-amp-spa.html?aid=385205&no_rooms=1&group_adults=1&label=FTU3DaysinParis

I will update the post in the next few weeks with some more specific recommendations. For the Italy guide, I will add an itinerary to the to do list, you should subscribe to the blog so you get notified of future posts and don’t miss out.

Sunil Chawla says

31st May 2018 at 8:44 am

I will be travelling to Paris with my wife in the month of August. This detailed information will surely be helpful to plan our trip Thank you very much Sunil Chawla India

31st May 2018 at 7:23 pm

Thanks Sunil! Have a great trip 🙂

Chitra Shah says

16th May 2018 at 8:36 pm

I am travelling with my husband and 2 kids ( 7 years and 1 year) to Paris in June. This is exactly what I was looking for, Thanks you. Do you think Paris is stroller – friendly or you recommend a baby carrier.

17th May 2018 at 9:26 am

Thanks Chitra! I must preface my response by saying that we don’t have kids, so haven’t faced this problem 😉 Certainly, part of Paris would be stroller friendly, but things like the metro for example are definitely not easy for stroller access as there are often only stair entrances and exits. So a baby carrier might be easier, depending on how you want to get around the city. I hope this helps a bit – have a great trip!

3rd May 2018 at 7:51 pm

This is one of the best, well elaborated and detailed article. Thank you for putting up so much effort and sharing your experience. It is indeed a great help!

3rd May 2018 at 8:35 pm

Thank you very much 😀

Nitin Bansal says

21st April 2018 at 7:15 pm

That’s a brilliant detailed summary of 3 day Paris itinerary. I am travelling to Paris soon although for a short time and will be looking forward to cover most of the places from your list here.

22nd April 2018 at 10:17 am

Thanks very much Nitin – have a great trip 😀

kristin says

28th March 2018 at 2:25 pm

I envy you guys living in Edi and being able to jet away for so many long weekend trips for cheap! I was pricing Europe from Nashville this summer, and I can’t find anything for under $1000, no matter the hub I fly into =/

29th March 2018 at 9:49 am

We are lucky on that front for sure 😀

Matheresa says

21st March 2018 at 7:49 pm

To go through in u’ll article/blogging i find it very informative and the easiest way for me to make my itinerary,,, specially i saw the Spain article but i didn’t leave a comment there coz of wanted to check for paris too,,, Spain features was fantastic keep it up LOVERS all the best in your Wanderlust started to following u’ll…

22nd March 2018 at 9:19 am

Thanks very much Mathresa 🙂 Have a wonderful trip!

kazim Gurmani says

19th March 2018 at 1:53 pm

The amazing place for the lovers. You guys are so lucky enjoying all this

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Plan unforgettable road trips!

3 days in Paris (France): 10 itineraries + tips

Last updated on January 21, 2023 by Claire Robinson - this article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I get a small commission ( more )

Planning 3 days in Paris, France to explore the romantic city? Wondering what to do? Well that depends on what you like... and there is a lot to do! To help you narrow down your options , I have created 10 suggestions for your 3 day Paris itinerary based on different interests - art, kids, architecture, history... All you need to make the best of your time in Paris over a long weekend!

// In this article, no ads, no sponsored posts. Just some affiliate links. // If you purchase through them, I get a commission at no extra cost to you ( Disclosure ).

7 General Tips for your 3 day trip to Paris, France

You can jump directly to the first itinerary in the next section, but first read this tips to make sure you make the best of your time in Paris:

• TAKE YOUR TIME Be reasonable and don't plan too much to enjoy each place; Even with skip the line tickets, you need to plan time to enter and take your time to stroll the streets of Paris and soak up the atmosphere
• CHOOSE A CENTRAL ACCOMMODATION If you are staying only 3 days, better to stay in the city center to avoid losing time in the public transportation. You can check out my complete guide about where to stay in Paris
• CHOOSE TRANSPORTATION OPTION If you are wondering how to get around, check out my Paris Public Transportation Guide or if it scares you, opt for the hop on hop off bus that will allow you to enjoy fantastic views along the complete route and stop very close to all places of interest

• BE READY Before traveling, read the typical scams you can find in Paris (like in many other big cities) just to be ready. I have listed them at the end of this article. But don't worry, it is quite easy to spot and avoid them!
• PLAN Make sure sure you check opening days and hours for your visits. With only 3 days, you don't want to waste time. Always check the official website for the lastest opening conditions. 
• CALCULATE If you are planning an intense itinerary, visiting as many places as possible over those 3 days, consider the Paris city Pass that will give you a lot of flexibility with a public transport card, museum entrances, access to 60 attractions, hop on hop off bus, river cruise...   Check prices for 2 and 3 day Paris city or museum Passes and what's included

And now my suggested itineraries to spend 3 amazing days in Paris...

I have been both a traveler and a local in Paris. I have lived there for over 2 years. This is my selection of the most scenic and interesting places to see in Paris when you are staying only for a long weekend.

You can jump directly to the tour that interest you or browse all of them:

• Impressionist art
• Art through the ages
• Kings & Queens
• Architecture
• Off the beaten path
• Extra ideas - Food experiences, movies and more

#1 CLASSIC Highlights - 3 days in Paris Itinerary

The is the perfect introduction for a first timer spending three days in Paris.

#1 CLASSIC Day 1 - Heart of Paris

Spend the morning around the Notre-Dame Cathedral

• Admire the magnificent façade, all the details in the sculptures and the famous gargoyles at the top (if you have binoculars, you should use them!) Even thought the wooden roof has been destroyed by a fire, you can still admire its beauty!
• And when it finally reopens, start early, to avoid the big queue to enter. Admire the stained glass, sculptures and size of the building!
• Walk to the Seine River and admire the cathedral from the back!
• Note: the Notre Dame Towers offer splendid views of Paris but the queues are very long and there are no real skip the line tickets

Visit the Sainte Chapelle

It is not a classic but it so should be!!!!! This is such an incredible building ( see my photos ). So if you started early, take the time to walk to Sainte Chapelle (Less than 10min walk) and admire the most impressive stained glass windows you will ever see. It is especially worth it on the sunny day! You can pre-purchase your ticket so that you can skip the line, show your document at the beginning of it and go straight in.

Take the Hop on Hop off - enjoy views along the Seine River, past la Conciergerie and Musee d'Orsay.  Stop at one of the Champs-Elysées stop depending on how much you want to walk.

Walk the Champs-Elysées

Personally I think this avenue is rather boring as only for the tourists, but it is a highlight so I included it. Walk North West towards the Arc de Triomphe

Visit Arc de Triomphe

Enjoy one of the most famous buildings in Paris with the crazy roundabout! Take the underground passage to reach it. Get inside and up for magnificent views of Paris and the Eiffel Tower Pre-purchase your ticket on GetYourGuide to skip the ticket booth line (or get it here if you prefer Viator)

#1 CLASSIC Day 2 - Magnificent Paris

Lots of walking involved today!

Morning at the Louvre You first option is to simply enjoy the garden, the pyramids and the buildings from the outside. The park is big and will keep you occupied. Or visit you could visit one of the most renowned museums in the world! The museum could occupy you for 3 days alone. It is hard to decide where to go and what to see - So I recommend taking a 3h tour with a guide that will allow you to see and learn about the highlights of the Louvres - Check out programs and availabilities

Walk to Palais Garnier (20min walk)

Discover the Garnier Palace Visit the beautiful Opera that is a little like a mini Versailles Castle with beautiful corridors and ornaments. You can buy a ticket and do a self tour of the Opera .

If you like shopping You are very close to the big department stores on Boulevard Haussmann

Take the Hop on Hop Off to get to the Montmartre Sacré-Coeur area.

Sacré-Coeur

Climb to the top of Montmartre or enjoy a funicular ride. Admire the magnificent view and visit the Basilica (no photos allowed inside). Explore the charming hill with its unique artsy atmosphere.

Evening at Moulin Rouge If you are not too tired, finish your day with a representation at the famous cabaret Moulin Rouge

Book your experience at the cabaret on Getyourguide. or book here if you prefer the Viator platform

#1 CLASSIC Day 3 - Paris from Above and Under

Seine River Cruise

Enjoying a Seine River cruise is a must-do in Paris. Many of the most beautiful buildings are along the Seine River and it gives you great perspectives. And it should be quieter in the morning and better to move around to take pictures If you purchased you Hop on Hop off bus ticket for 2 or 3 days, a River cruise may be included depending on your ticket. Otherwise pre-purchase your Bateaux parisiens ticket for a 1h relaxing cruise (or get it here if you prefer the Viator platform)

Or you could combine your cruise with a crepe tasting bear the Eiffel Tower. Oh so French - Check out details

Eiffel Tower

Head to the Eiffel Tower and enjoy the iconic structure.

• Free Walk around on Champs de Mars - admire it from under, from the end of the park and from across the Seine River. You can also walk up to the Trocadero area for a view enjoyed by many tourists (the one where you can seem to hold it in your hand)
• Go up the Eiffel Tower either by the stairs or the lifts. Of course with the lifts, the queues are longer because they can transport only a limited number of passengers. The Eiffel Tower has different levels - each time with a lift and each time with a queue

You can pre-purchase a summit ticket - that means an appointment at a specific time but you skip the bottom queues (but not the ones to the summit) 

Walk to stop 34 and take the Hop on Hop Off or metro and get to Denfert-Rochereau / Catacombs.

Explore the Catacombs

In the afternoon, head to the spooky Catacombs and explore the underground of Paris. it is one of the most appreciated experiences in Paris but it can be disturbing for some considering the underground location and the huge quantities of bones.

• Pre-purchase a skip the line ticket (considering the queues, it is well worth the extra price) - it includes an audio guide
• Book a guided tour with a small group and entrance to special sections you cannot visit otherwise (not always available)
• or see the tour options here if you prefer the Viator platform

But if you prefer nature to dead people, Stop at 36, go admire the Pantheon and explore the Luxembourg Gardens (a favorite for Parisians).

Take the Hop on Hop Off or metro to Montparnasse Place du 18 Juin 1940.

Montparnasse Tower

Get up to the viewing platform of the Montparnasse Tower - appreciate the bird eye views of Paris. Stay there until sunset if you can! You will see the soft lights on the old architecture and then the Eiffel Tower lighting up. You can pre-purchase your Montparnasse tower ticket to avoid the purchasing line but you still have to queue to take the lift.

Need to find your perfect accommodation?

• Check out the best customer-rated 5 stars hotels in Paris
• Check out the best customer-rated 4 star hotels in Paris
• Check out the best customer-rated 3 star hotels in Paris
• Check out the best customer-rated 2 star hotels in Paris
• Check out the best customer-rated rentals in Paris
• or check out my complete guide about  where to stay in Paris

#2 Completely FREE - Itinerary Paris in 3 days

Are you ready to walk a lot during your 3 days in Paris? You can already see so much for free by exploring on foot!

#2 FREE Day 1 - Central West Paris

Around the Eiffel Tower

• Start at the Eiffel Tower - Admire it from Champs de Mars, from all angles 
• Cross the Seine River on Passerelle Debilly (pedestrian bridge)
• Visit the Musee d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris (modern art museum) with free access to the Permanent exhibitions
• Walk the North shore of the Seine River back in the direction of the Eiffel Tower
• Cross the Trocadéro Garden up to the viewing platform with great views of the Tower

Heading North

• Walk North to the Arc de Triomphe
• And then head East on Boulevard Haussmann while enjoying the classic architecture of the renovation during Napoleon's reign
• Stop at Printemps Haussmann Maison and go all the way to the top for a free view of the Paris rooftops
• Tour Palais Garnier from the outside
• Go North towards the area of Montmartre and the Sacré-Coeur - Enjoy walking the neighborhood with its unique atmosphere and visit the basilica (free entrance)

#2 FREE Day 2 - Central North Paris

Around the Louvre

• Start the day at Place de la Concorde with the obelisk and all the power it seems to represent
• Walk through the Tuileries garden towards the Louvre Palace. Enjoy the green, the sculpture and the small arch at the end
• Reach the Carousel roundabout and admire the Louvre Palace with is famous Pyramids
• Walk to the other side of the Palace (East end) and visit the small church of St Germain l'Auxerrois , often overlooked but with a long noble history

Passages Couverts

• Go a little west on Rue de Rivoli and walk North through the Garden of the Royal Palace . This is where canons used to be shot to indicate noon
• Keep going North to discover the " Passages Couverts " - Covered passages - the ancesters of our malls: 18th and 19th century corridors are lined up with shops. This is quite intriguing, stuck between buildings so that people good go shopping and socialize even if it was raining. The most famous are Passage de Panoramas and Passage Jouffroy
• Walk down rue Montmartre towards Châtelet
• Visit the church of  St Eustache - this church has a very unique shape that is quite intriguing. Enjoy a break in the garden to admire its façade a bit more
• Discover center Pompidou from the outside. The famous museum does have a strange architecture contrasting with everything you would have seen so far
• Walk South towards the Seine - Enjoy the building of the Town Hall
• Walk East along the Seine River
• If you are not tired, head East towards Place the la Bastille for a very unusual walk along the Coulee verte - an elevated walk to get another perspective on Paris ( learn more )

#2 FREE Day 3 - Quartier Latin and Beyond

Around Notre Dame

• Start at Notre Dame - Visit the Cathedral for free - enjoy the stained glass windows and many sculptures
• Tour the building to admire it from many angles
• *** Since the fire, the cathedral is under construction. You cannot get inside anymore but you can still walk around and it remains worth it! 

Quartier Latin

• Walk down Boulevard Saint Michel
• Explore all the side streets of this old neighborhood
• To the East is the old University of La Sorbonne and the Pantheon building
• Explore the Luxembourg Gardens - it is a favorite amongst locals - chairs are spreads throughout the park to just seat, relax and read. Many statues can be found, including one of the smaller version of the statue of liberty . In summer, you can have fun navigating miniature boats in the pond in front of the palace
• Exit the parc at the East end and walk North to visit the Saint Sulpice Church - not many people take the time to visit that church and yet it is a beautiful one (the fans of the Da Vinci code might recognize it - see my photos )
• Continue North towards Boulevard Saint-Germain
• Visit the Saint Germain des prés church which is the oldest in Paris
• Explore the famous neighborhood of St Germain des pré s which has long been a cultural center - a lot of famous writers, philosophers and brillant minds have enjoyed theses streets and cafés

Seine River

• Head North to the Seine rive r and enjoy a long walk on the South shore towards the west
• Admire the Louvre Palace from the distance
• Walk by Musée d'Orsay, Palais Bourbon and reach the Pont Alexandre III bridge
• Admire the central location with the Invalides on one side and the Grand Palace on the other

#3 - ROMANTIC - Three Days in Paris

This is a lighter itinerary so that you can just sit, relax, and schmootz.

#3 ROMANTIC Day 1 - Eiffel & Montmartre

• Start at the top of the Trocadero where many ads and kissing scenes have been filmed with the Eiffel Tower in the background
• Make your way down through the gardens and enjoy the old carousel. Maybe enjoy a ride 🙂
• Cross the bridge and visit the Eiffel Tower - You can pre-purchase a summit ticket - that means an appointment at a specific time but you can then skip the bottom queues (but not the one to the summit)

Horse Carriage Ride

Travel back in time? Book a Tour of Paris on a horse carriage to visit Paris like it used to be appreciated. Take the time to enjoy the monuments around you. (or book here if you prefer the Viator platform) It departs near the Eiffel Tower.

Take a cab to Montmartre (15 euros) or Take Metro 6 to Cherles de Gaule Etoile and then Metro 2 towards Nation and stop at Anvers

• Head to Montmartre and climb to the Sacré Coeur - visit the Basilica
• Walk around and discover all the artists who can draw your portraits
• Make your way down through the charming street with the windmills
• Enjoy you diner in front of a Cabaret show at the famous Moulin Rouge - Book now for a night to remember or  book here if you prefer the Viator platform

#3 ROMANTIC Day 2 - Around Ile de la cité

Notre Dame Cathedral

• If you and your other half are not afraid of queueing, go for a tour of the Notre Dame Towers (there is no real skip the line ticket) - Replay some scenes with Esmeralda, Gargoyles and Quasimodo 🙂 ( see my photos )
• Visit the Notre Dame Cathedral (the line move fast for this one, don't worry) - Enjoy the sculptures and size of the cathedral
• Stroll by the scene river to admire this magnificent romantic building from all angles

Afternoon in Sainte Chapelle & Seine River

• Being in the Sainte Chapelle in a sunny day is such a unique experience. Don't miss this lesser known attraction and its huge stained glass windows. Hidden from the main streets, it is like begin surrounded by jewels ( see my photos )
• Pre-purchase your ticket to skip the line - Show your ticket at the beginning of the line to go through directly
• Stroll around the Seine river and île de la cité and cross the famous Ponts de Arts where lovers used to attach their locks (but Paris is removing them for safety purpose)

Diner Cruise

Enjoy a diner cruise along the Seine River. The magnificent buildings are lit up for people to enjoy. This is one of the most romantic experiences to have in the City of Light

Book now your spots on the dinner cruise on GetyourGuide (or book here if you prefer the Viator platform)

#3 ROMANTIC Day 3 

Palais Garnier

Explore the magnificent Place which houses the Opera. This is like a Mini Versailles in the heart of Paris with a corridor full of glass, gold and marble.

You can buy a ticket and do a self tour of the Opera or if your want to learn more,  book a 90min guided visit with an expert   to better understand this architectural masterpiece.

The next trip is complicated by public transport so take a cab (around 11€) or walk to Luxembourg garden (40min)

Luxembourg Garden

Go for a stroll is the very romantic Luxembourg Gardens where local couples like hanging out in the weekend. Discover the numerous statues, spot the Eiffel tower in the distance...

End the day with a ride on the big wheel at Place de la Concorde

Consider also a food or wine experience. Check out my section towards the end of this article - chocolate , wine tasting , macarons...

#4 - WITH KIDS

# with kids day 1 - culture and architecture with fun .

Morning at Pompidou

Visit the Pompidou museum in the heart of Paris. Kids will love the fun architecture and all the activities planned for them inside

Where? In the center of Paris, near Chatelet metro station

Get an overall view of Paris

Enjoy the main streets and building of Paris from the top of the double decker open bus. This is a great way for the whole family to enjoy the city without anyone getting bored (prefer the green route a.k.a. Paris Grand Tour Route)

Stop at the Louvre

Let the kids play with the pyramids, stand on the poles and take pictures where they seem to be holding them

Boat + Eiffel Tower

Take the Batobus to the Eiffel Tower and discover the iconic Iron Lady. Kids love the short cruise on the Seine Reiver

If you like this mode of transportation, you can get a day pass to use them as much as you want 🙂

# WITH KIDS Day 2 - DisneyLand Paris

Enjoy a full day at Disneyland Paris with your children

• Getting there by taxi will cost you 70 to 80 euros
• Or you can take the suburban train (and stop at Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy train station on RER A) - train ticket 7.60€ one way per adult
• or Purchase a entrance ticket + Transportation to make the ride easy and worry-free
• or check options here if you prefer the Viator platform

# WITH KIDS Day 3 - Wildlife 

Natural History Museum

Paris has a fantastic Natural History museum at the end of Jardin des Plantes. Kids can see giant animals, skeletons and learn more about their eating habits and all. When? 10 am to 6pm Where? at the Jardin des Plantes (RER C or metro 10 or 5 stop Austerlitz / Metro 7 stop place Monge)

Vincennes Zoo

In the afternoon you can take them see live ones at the Vincennes Zoo with its fake mountain and large enclosures.

Where? (East of Paris (Take metro 8 direction Creteil, stop at Porte dorée and walk or Take bus 46 towards Château de Vincennes and stop at zoo - or take taxi)

or La ménagerie Alternatively for something more historical, you can visit the small zoo La ménagerie in Jardin des plantes (next to the museum). It is the oldest zoo in the world as it opened in 1793 - small animals but in old settings. Another type of zoo experience.

Alternative Paris Museums for kids to Consider

• Musee de la Poupée i.e. Museum of Dolls
• Musee de la magie i.e. Museum fo magic
• Musée de l'air et de l'espace i.e. Museum of flight and space
• Grévin Wax Museum with the sculptures of famous people - pre-purchase your ticket

And if you want another perspective, check out the 10 exciting things to do for kids in Paris by The London Mother.

• Check out the best customer rated 5 stars hotels in Paris
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• Check out the best customer rentals in Paris

#5 - IMPRESSIONIST ART

Consider purchasing the Museum pass so that you can easily change museums when you want something new - GET A 2 DAY PARIS MUSEUM PASS

#5 IMPRESSIONISTS Day 1 - Impressionnist

Spend your first day at 2 of the most appreciated museums in Paris:

Start with Musée d'Orsay

It  is famous for its view through the clock and the world's finest collection of impressionist paintings with Monet, Degas, Renoir, Delacroix and many others. If you did not purchase the museum pass, pre-purchase your Orsay ticket to avoid the lines, or book a guided tour , it is worth it. Where? Along the Seine River - closest metro stop: Line 12 Solferino When? at least 10am to 6pm - Closed Mondays

Between both museum, walk along the Sine River and cross at one of the bridges (under 20min walk)

Le Petit Palais

This museum is often overlooked, maybe because entrance is free,  but it is home to a small permanent collection with paintings from Delacroix, Cézanne, Monet, Pissaro and more. And it is in a great building! Where? North shore of Seine River - Metro line 1 & 13 stop Champs-Elysées -Clémenceau When? 10am to 6pm - Closed on Mondays and some public holidays

#5 IMPRESSIONISTS Day 2 - Smaller museums

Morning at Marmonet-Mottan museum

If you love Claude Monet, go to this smaller Museum in an old Parisian mansion to see a wide variety of his work. Where? 16th arrondissement, Metro Line 9 stop at La Muette or RER C stop at Boulainvilliers When? 10am to 6pm - Closed on Mondays and some French holidays 

Between both museum take Metro line 9 towards Montreuil, switch at Roosevelt to take line 1 towards Vincennes and stop at Tuileries

Musée de l'Orangerie

Check some of the most renowned paintings of Monet including the 8 water Lilies Murals. Where? Jardin des Tuileries near the Louvre, in the old Orangerie building - Metro Line 1 Stop Tuileries When? 9am to 6pm - closed on Tuesdays

Skip the ticket booth by pre-purchasing your entrance ticket

#5 IMPRESSIONISTS Day 3 - Giverny and Monet

Get out of Paris on a day Trip to Giverny

Head to Giverny, North of Paris, to visit the home of Monet and its famous gardens that inspired him so much. This is where he created some of its most iconic paintings. Giverny also has a museum about Impressionism in general.

It is possible to get there by train and waling, but if you don't want to worry about transportation and finding your way, join an organized tour from Paris by minibus - check program and book your seat   (or here on Viator)

#6 - ART THROUGH THE AGES 

There are so many art museums in Paris, it is difficult to choose from... So here is an itinerary that will include a little bit from all periods!

Consider purchasing the Museum pass so that you can easily change museums when you want something new -  GET 3 DAY PARIS MUSEUM PASS

#6 ART Day 1 - Ancient Art

Musée de Cluny

Start the day with Medieval Art - This is quite a unique museum where you can enjoy beautiful medieval art such as sculptures, tapestries and jewelry. When? 9.15am to 5.45pm - closed Tuesdays and some public holidays (it can also close when outside temperature goes over 33°C) Where? In the 5th arrondissement

Walk to the Louvre across île de la Cité (and Notre Dame) and along the Seine River (20min walk)

Enjoy a huge choice or art throughout the ages at the Louvre Museum. So much to see! Just pick the period that interests you most (egypt, roman, modern...). And of course it is home to the famous painting of Mona Lisa.

If you don't want to choose book a 3h guided tour to avoid getting lost and get a good overview of the museum. Book your spot

#6 ART Day 2 - Impressionists

Orsay and Petit Palais - as per Day 1 or the Impressionist Art itinerary above

#6 ART Day 3 -Modern Art

Morning Street Art Tour

Change style with a Street Art tour taking you to the upcoming Belleville area. This is quite a change from the Impressionists! Great to see some of the pieces that take advantage of the environment.

Book your spot on a 90min tour highlighting the best of Street Art in Paris Where? (Line 2 and 11 - stop Belleville)

If you prefer more "classic" art, you can go to the Garden of the Palais Royal where you will see the outside piece of the Buren Columns by French artist Daniel Buren (just North of the Louvre)

Take Metro 11 to Châtelet.

Finish with a great collection of modern art in a unique building. Centre Pompidou is a world renowned museum with visual arts, photography, new media... It covers many movements including Cubism, surrealism and geometric abstractions. You can keep busy all day at the European MOMA! Pre-purchase your Pompidou entrance ticket to avoid the queues!

Note: The museum will be closed from 2023 to 2026 for renovations.

#7 - KINGS & QUEENS - Places to visit in Paris in 3 days

If some of you want to spend your 3 days in the footsteps of the Kings and Queens in Paris, here is my suggested itinerary to explore one of the most beautiful cities in Europe , that inspires many themed weddings .

#7 KINGS Day 1

La Conciergerie

One of the most impressive building along the Seine River is La Conciergerie even if it is lesser known than the Louvre. This Medieval palace was the residence of the rulers for 5 century until the 15th. During the French revolution it became a prison where Marie-Antoinette lived her last few days. You can visit the huge hall of soldiers, the Guards room and much more. When? 9.30am to 6pm Get a combined ticket for the Conciergerie and the Sainte-Chapelle - skip the line and save money!

Walk to Notre Dame on Ile de la cité (5min)

Construction of Notre Dame started during the 12th century under Louis VII. Many Kings made alterations over the century creating the magnificent building it is today. *** Since the fire, the cathedral is under construction. You cannot get inside anymore but you can still walk around and it remains worth it! 

Cross to the other side of the Seine river, to the Palais de Justice where your can find Sainte Chapelle (10min)

Sainte Chapelle

Discover one of the most surprising location in Paris. Hidden within another building, the masterpiece was built over 7 years. It is well worth a visit as you won't see anything like that anywhere else in the world. The walls are covered in stained glass windows for several meters! It was a place honored by many dynasties. ( see my photos )

Use your combined ticket to enter - do not queue! show your ticket at entrance

Walk to the Louvre (15min)

Louvre Explore the area of the Louvre - don't visit the museum but explore the outside of the magnificent royal palace.  Find out all the details in the architecture, the sculptures and the touches of many rulers. 

#7 KINGS Day 2

Château de Versailles

Head out of Paris to discover another grand palace - visit the Versailles Castle with its magnificent garden and incredible interior decor. Don't miss the long corridor full of mirrors and chandeliers! It is easy to feel like you are traveling back in time and imagine the a big ball organized by the King and Queen.

How to best visit Versailles?

• Option 1 - on your own - take RER C Towards Versailles Rive Gauche and walk to the castle  - you have to figure out the suburban train but with this option you can spend as much time as you want exploring. The park is huge! Pre-purchase your Versailles ticket with Audioguide to avoid queuing at the ticket booth
• Option 2 - Take a shuttle from Paris - pick one that does not do hotel pick-up so you don't waste time in the morning. meet at the pre-arranged location and just seat back and relax. The tours include a skip the line entrance to the Castle and a return shuttle - Some tours also include Giverny. - See options and Reserve your seat to Versailles

#7 KINGS Day 3

If you are really passionate about Royal History, you should get just ouside Paris once again today.

St Denis Basilica

First head North to the Basilica of Saint Denis. It is a large burial complex with 42 Kings, 36 queens and many princes and princesses buried in this historical building.  You can book a guided tour to learn more - see details

Where? (Metro line 13 - Stop Basilique Saint Denis)

A taxi would save you time between both locations (25 to 30 euros) Easiest metro path (with less changes): 13 line towards Chatillon-Montrouge - switch at Champs Elysées for line 1 direction Château de Vincennes

Vincennes Castle

East of Paris, you find the lesser known Château de Vincennes. Several dynasties had chosen this palace as their home. It was built in 1410 by Louis VII and later developed at a royal residence. It is quite recognizable with its tower. Louis XIV was the one who moved to Versailles.

Where? At then end of the Metro Line 1 - Stop Château de Vincennes

#8 - ARCHITECTURE

For big fan of architecture in all its shape. You can see a lot in Paris from all period of times (well, not completely true since there are not menhirs... but still).

#8 ARCHITECTURE Day 1 - Ancient Buildings

Lutetia - Gallo-Roman Ruins

Start by finding the remnants of Paris when it was called Lutetia. Not much remains. Here is what you can spot in the city: 

• The Arenes de Lutece - what remains of an amphitheater. It could seat 15000 persons and was used for gladiatoral combats. Learn more Between 3 metro stations: Line 7 & 10 Jussieu - Line 10 Cardinal Lemoine - Line 7 Monge
• The Terms of Clun y are what remains of one third of the massive bath complex from the 3rd century Metro Line 10 stop Cluny - La Sorbonne

Medieval Period

• Near the therms you can visit the Medieval museum of Cluny
• Then enjoy the center of Paris around île de la Cité with the buildings from the medieval period. Especially the Orangerie and the Notre Dame Cathedral

If you have time, enjoy a walk along the Seine River or take a cruise to admire all the bridges.

#8 ARCHITECTURE Day 2 - Post Revolution

Paris by Haussmann

Spend the morning admiring the work of the architect Haussmann under Napoleon. He re-invented Paris with large boulevards and a certain type of buildings.

• Have a look at the Opera Garnier built from 1861 to 1875 in Second-Empire Beaux Arts Style - learn more
• Walk around in the Grand Boulevard, head to St Trinity church. From its small garden you have a great view of many typical Haussmannian buildings with shops on the ground floors, high ceilings, a second noble floor with large balcony and a 5th floor with a running balcony that is here only for aesthetics.

Head South to the Eiffel Tower, Architectural icon of Paris constructed between 1897 and 1889 under the design of Gustave Eiffel. The tower is 324m tall (1,063ft)

#8 ARCHITECTURE Day 3 - Modern Days

It is now time to discover modern Paris. Here are some buildings you should take the time to admire:

• Pompidou Cente r with its colors and 'tubes' on the side
• The large modern Arch at La Defense in alignment with the Arc de Triomphe
• The Philharmonie building in Paris with its elegant lines
• And one of the most recent additions: the Luis Vuitton Foundation

#9 - MILITARY - What to do in Paris in 3 days

#9 military day 1 - invalides.

Today you can keep busy around the Invalides

The main military Museum in Paris is the Army Museum (Musée de l'Armée). It houses great collections such as:

• A temporal room with objects from all Ages
• Unusual weapons
• Ancien armors and weapons
• Military objects and stories from Louis XIV to Napoleon III
• The Honor Square with the artillery pieces
• Displays on both WWI and WWII

With more than 500,000 pieces you can keep busy all day!

Avoid queueing at the ticket booth, pre-purchase your Army museum entrance .

#9 MILITARY Day 2 - Normandy beaches

Normandy Beaches

Today, head out of Paris on a day trip to the Normandy beaches. They are only 2 hours away from Paris. Tours will include several WWII landing beaches and the Caen memorial museum

• Small group tour with pre-defined beaches and a visit to the Caen memorial museum - Book your seat
• or Book a private tour, to decide with your guide which beaches you want to visit. It is fully customizable - Book a private tour
• or check tour options here if you prefer the Viator platform

#9 MILITARY Day 3 

Musée du Service de Santé des Armées (Army Medicine Museum)

If you want something original off the beaten track, I recommend the Museum of Army medicine. It is quite a unique place to visit. I really had a great time and was almost alone! Located in Val de Grace, you have to buzz at a small door to be allowed in, but don't worry it is open! In the museum, you can find many instruments and tools used by doctors during the wars. The collection is quite impressive, plus it gives you access to a small magnificent church (Val de Grâce).

Where? In the 5th arrondissement (1, place Alphonse Laveran) near station Port Royal for RER B When? Noon to 8pm - Closed Monday and Friday Closed in August

Note There is also a National Navy museum but it is closed for renovation until 2021.

#10 - OFF BEATEN PATH Paris

To best discover Paris off the beaten path I recommend to just go for a walk and see what you find. But here are some ideas that can interest you during those 3 days. They can be starting points for your walks:

• Père Lachaise Cimetery - where many famous people are buried (Metro 3 Gambetta or Metro 2 Philippe Auguste)
• The Museum of Vampires and Legendary creature s (Metro line 11 Porte des Lilas + Walking
• St Sulpice Church - I don't understand why almost nobody visit this church. It is quite stunning! Near the Luxembourg Gardens
• Canal St Martin - You won't be alone but won't be surrounded by Paris. You will find mostly locals enjoying the shores of the Waterway (Metro 2 and 5 Jean Jaures)
• Walking on La Coulée Verte or La Petite Ceinture - where railways have been set up as a green walk
• The National Library - The 4 towers have an underground garden you can see from the esplanade - quite a unique place and very relaxing on a sunny day (Metro 14 Bibliothèque François Mittérand)
• Near the Eiffel tower the Musée des Egouts ( Sewage museum )

EXTRA IDEAS -  FOOD (what to eat while in Paris) and more

Food you should try while in paris.

Here is a little list of all the food I think you should try, apart from lunch and dinner:

• Enter a Boulangerie and buy a baguette. Dites: "Bonjour, une baguette s'il vous plait!" and then "Merci. Au revoir"
• Head to a boulangerie for breakfast and enjoy a freshly baked croissant
• Taste macarons - Head for example to one of the 3 famous Ladurée shops
• Find a Patisserie with colorful and delicate cakes and taste one - don't play it sage with eclair au chocolat or Paris-brest, be adventurous!
• Cheese, Cheese, Cheese!!! Cheese shops normally sell around 300 types of cheese when it is the right season for goat cheese... so you can choose! My personal favorites are Roquefort and very old Conté where the salt has aggregated.

Paris Food Tours

And if you want a bit more, then switch one of the half days in your itinerary with one of these best Food tours in Paris:

• Book a 3h Gourmet Tour - you will cover your basis with cheese and bread, and you might want to try the French delicacy of Foie Gras (if you are not vegetarian).
• CHOCOLATE -  Book a Chocolate Tour - Some great chocolate artists in Paris!
• WINE  -  Book your wine tasting in Paris through the French wine regions...
• PASTRIES - Book a tour and tasting of Pastries in Le Marais
• MACARONS - Learn to cook those delicacies with a chef
• BREAD - Tour Some Bakeries and learn about Bread or Join a bread cooking class and learn to make your own bread

Other fun activities for your Paris long weekend

 If you are tired of old buildings, history, museums and architectures.... here are some extra activities you could enjoy during your 3 day in Paris:

• HELICOPTER -  Enjoy an helicopter ride from Paris center to Versailles - and incredible experience to admire the beauty of this iconic city - Book your unforgettable 25min Helicopter Flight to Versailles  
• SHOPPING - a lot of shopping can be done in Paris either luxury on the champs Elysées or Avenue Montaigne or unique finds at the flea markets - if you are looking for something special, you can book access to Concierge services to facilitate your shopping experience at Galeries Lafayette - Get privileged access
• MOVIES/TV - Many movies and TV shows have been filmed in Paris - you can spend the day retracing the steps of Carrie in Sex in the city or visiting all locations from the Da Vinci Code or just find some cool movie locations throughout the city - and you can visit the Grévin Wax Museum with the sculptures of famous people - pre-purchase your ticket

Still need to find your hotel? Check out my article about the best areas to stay in Paris

Scams to be aware of

Like in all the big cities, some people are running scams on tourists. Nothing big or dangerous, just be aware  to be able to easily avoid them:

• BRACELET/STRING - Mostly done by men - Especially at the bottom of Montmartre Hill garden, they try to attach a bracelet on your wrist and then request that you pay - don't leave your hand hanging while you walk this short section until your get higher on the stair
• PETITION - Mostly done by young women - they stop you to sign their petitions and want to do your pockets while you do so - When you see a clipboard, say no thanks and keep going
• RING -   several variations exist. But you see a "gold" ring, you pick it up and someone comes in and start a crazy story. If you forgot about it, and picked one up. If someone start talking to you just drop it on the ground and keep going
• CUPS OR CARDS - It has been existing for a long time - 3 cups and a pea or 3 cards with one Queen and you have to find it. They are pros at distracting and diverting. Don't start playing!
• And check out these tips to help you avoid being pickpocketed

Longer itineraries from Paris - 5 days, 7 days, ...

Staying longer in Paris ? Great for you!

My suggestions are of course to mix the suggested itineraries above.

And you can also discover some of the most beautiful sites in France. Paris is quite centrally located and many day trips are available without much driving - castles, gastronomy, villages, war history...

Check out my article with the Best Day Trips from Paris

Is 3 days enough to visit Paris?

Well Paris is a large towns with incredible monuments and museums. 3 days is not enough to see it all. But to have a snapshot of the main attractions, it is perfect timing.

Is 4 days in Paris too much

Not at all. With all the museums, churches, shops, historical palaces, you would not be bored at all with 4 days.

Cost of 3 days in Paris

Well, it can vary a lot. If you sleep in a hostel in the suburbs, eat sandwiches, walk everywhere and only do free activities, then it can be as cheap as 50 dollars a day. But you can also stay at a 5 star hotels, with private guide and eat at highly rated restaurants... The average cost per day per traveller is around 200 dollars per day.

Enjoy your trip to Paris!

Reader Interactions

September 11, 2017 at 5:06 AM

Epic guide Claire! I love it, next trip to Paris this will be really helpful. Thanks so much for the info ??

September 11, 2017 at 9:08 AM

Thanks Kim! Glad you found it useful 🙂

September 20, 2017 at 8:36 PM

Love how detailed this is (AND that you’ve got a completely free guide!!)

September 20, 2017 at 9:16 PM

Thanks Katie 🙂

March 27, 2018 at 1:59 PM

I want to stay for 3days in Paris Want to do Eiffel tower,Disney n cruise with hop in hop off bus Plz suggest

March 27, 2018 at 3:10 PM

I am sorry but I don’t understand what you want me to suggest I do not create nor do I book personalized itineraries. I am not a travel agent, in case this is what you are requesting. I wish you wonderful travels!

May 2, 2018 at 2:23 PM

You are amazing !! Your guide was very helpful to plan our days in Paris !!!

May 2, 2018 at 6:37 PM

Thanks for taking the time to write a comment. I am glad you are finding my content useful. I wish you wonderful travels

June 28, 2018 at 11:37 AM

I loved visiting the Ile de la Cite. I sadly didn’t have the time to see Saint Chapelle, but I am going back later this year so hopefully, I will get to see it. Great advice to book tickets in advance as well. I am not fond of waiting in a long queue.

July 11, 2018 at 8:55 PM

This is the best, most detailed travel blog guide I’ve ever seen. Thank you for doing this (and extra thanks for including the free itinerary).

January 27, 2019 at 6:43 AM

Just booked tickets for our euro trip 3 months away with Paris being the 1st stop. aaaaand…. bookmarking this…. amazing and detailed information,,, Thanks a lot for the effort you’ve put into this…

January 27, 2019 at 7:07 AM

Thanks for your comment. I am glad you are finding it useful 🙂 I wish you wonderful travels !

February 16, 2019 at 8:32 PM

This was so incredibly helpful, especially about the scams. I don’t know how many people tried to tie strings on my boyfriend and I, or get us to sign petitions today in front of the Eiffel Tower. It was so nice feeling knowledagable about what to look for! And the links to the tours were also great, thanks so much!!

February 17, 2019 at 6:11 AM

That’s great to read I am glad it was helpful

May 10, 2019 at 1:47 PM

Lovely Guide !!! I am a travel agent and came across this blog,, … this has made exploring Paris so simple. Pls keep up the Good work.

September 11, 2019 at 9:52 PM

hello I have a question about group tours in Paris, can you give me a phone number so I can see what services you provide

September 11, 2019 at 9:55 PM

Hi Rita, I am a blogger not a travel agent. I do not provide personalized services. But I wish you wonderful travels! Claire

September 12, 2019 at 9:36 AM

Thank you so much Claire for a complete guide of 3 days in Paris, this makes me a solo traveler well informed and less nervous 😁

September 12, 2019 at 1:24 PM

That’s great. Have a wonderful trip!

Par Claire Robinson Region Lovers SARL 76600 Le Havre FRANCE VAT FR21845103191

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The ultimate Paris trip planner: 1-day, 3-day and 5-day Paris itineraries

Things to do in Paris Paris Travel Guide Paris Itineraries

Ever dreamt of strolling down the streets of Paris but got overwhelmed planning the perfect trip? Well, fret not! Our blog's got your back with tailor-made itineraries for every type of explorer. Whether you're a foodie on the hunt for baguettes and fromage, a couple searching for romantic spots, a family with kiddos itching for fun, or a history buff eager to time travel through cobblestone alleys – we've got the deets. Let's ditch the stress and dive into the magic of Paris together. Bon voyage, pals!

How long are you in Paris for? Pick your itinerary!

Paris is like a treasure chest. So many things to do, it's like trying to catch a gazillion fireflies at once – impossible! But don't stress. We've got your back with some detailed Paris itineraries. Whether you're just popping in for a day, rocking a weekend escape, or planning to chill for a cool 5 days, we've lined up the must-dos. Let's make sure you soak up the absolute best of Paris, no matter how short or long your trip is!

Explore the most iconic attractions in Paris

From the iconic Eiffel Tower's breathtaking views to the artistic wonders at the Louvre Museum, the magic of Disneyland Paris, the spine-chilling Catacombs, to the grandeur of the Palace of Versailles – we've lined up the hottest spots for your perfect Paris adventure. Let's turn your trip into a blockbuster movie of unforgettable moments!

46 PARIS BUCKET LIST EXPERIENCES

A curated itinerary for foodies in Paris

Get your taste buds ready for a Parisian symphony of flavors! Dive into buttery croissants at Le Marais, savor escargot delights at L'Ambroisie, and let the cheese magic unfold at Fromagerie Laurent Dubois. Cap it off with decadent macarons from Ladurée. This foodie itinerary will have you singing "Bon Appétit" at every delightful stop!

Must-Try Dishes in Paris

BEST RESTAURANTS IN PARIS

A curated itinerary for art lovers in Paris

Paris is your canvas, and we've sketched out the perfect itinerary. Start at the Louvre, soak in Monet's water lilies at Musée de l'Orangerie, feel the modern vibes at Centre Pompidou, and let the street art in Le Marais inspire you. This art-packed journey will have you swooning in the City of Light!

• Louvre Museum
• Rodin Museum
• Picasso Museum
• Orsay Museum
• Quai Branly
• Montmartre Art Tour
• Belleville Street Art Tour
• Musée Jacquemart-André
• L’Atelier des Lumières
• Musée des Arts Décoratifs

BEST MUSEUMS IN PARIS

Top 20 Instagrammable Places in Paris

Travelling with kids here's your family-friendly paris itinerary.

Paris with kiddos? No problemo! Dive into family fun at Disneyland Paris, let the little ones marvel at the wonders of the Cité des Enfants, go on a Seine River cruise, and don't forget a playful day at Jardin d'Acclimatation. This kid-friendly itinerary ensures your Parisian adventure is a blast for the whole fam!

Things to do in Paris with kids

Romantic itinerary for couples in Paris

Lovebirds, get ready for a Parisian rendezvous! Start with a dreamy sunset at Montmartre, share a cozy moment by the Seine, lock your love at Pont des Arts, and indulge in a romantic dinner at Le Jules Verne. This couple's itinerary is your ticket to a swoon-worthy, unforgettable escape in the city of amour!

5 romantic things to do in Paris

• Sunset at Montmartre: Ascend the steps to the Sacré-Cœur for a breathtaking view of the city as the sun dips below the horizon, casting Paris in a warm, romantic glow.
• Seine River cruise - Candlelit dinner: Go on a dreamy Seine River cruise, where the city of lights comes alive at night. With the soft flicker of candles, savor a romantic dinner, serenaded by Parisian charm. Pure magic!
• Love Lock Bridge: Seal your love at Pont des Arts with a padlock, tossing the key into the Seine. A timeless symbol of commitment, surrounded by the city's ambiance.
• Dinner at Le Jules Verne: Elevate your evening with a gourmet dinner atop the Eiffel Tower. Savor exquisite cuisine while overlooking the sparkling city lights—a culinary journey for two.
• Stroll Along the Seine: Wander hand in hand along the Seine's quays, passing charming bookstalls and artists. The serene ambiance invites intimate conversations against Paris's timeless backdrop.

Escape to places near Paris

Smrithi Jacob

Is an avid reader, writer, and dreamer. She is constantly in pursuit of portals to travel to interesting places afar and likes to experience new cultures through her writing. Give her a city unheard of and a giant mug of coffee, and she’s good to go!

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3 Days in Paris: The Best Paris Itinerary for Your First Visit

Written By: The Planet D

City Guides , France

Updated On: February 9, 2024

If you know us then you know that Paris is one of our favorite cities in Europe, and 3 days in Paris gives you ample time to sample all the highlights of the city. From visiting the famous sights like the Eiffel Tower and The Louvre to exploring great Paris neighborhoods and sampling some great food, Paris is a city that has it all.

To help you in your planning we put together this 3 Day Paris itinerary to help you have the best experience possible.

Table of Contents

Our 3 Day Paris Itinerary

Paris itself can be an overwhelming city. There are so many things to do and you need to make sure you take advantage of all the time-saving ideas you can. We have spent considerable time in Paris , so we took our knowledge and used it to make sure that you visit the most attractions without feeling like you are run off your feet.

By taking advantage of Skip the Line tickets and easily accessible transit you can have the Paris dream in 3 short days. The way to do this is to purchase a GoCity Paris Pass that includes public transportation, skip the line tickets and timed entrances.

Paris Itinerary Day 1

Welcome to Paris! Today we will start off by visiting some truly iconic landmarks of the city. These are all the places that you associate with Paris.

So get your camera ready as this is the “Classics” of Paris! If you don’t want to walk this you can jump on a Seine River Cruise to see most of it from the water.

1. Eiffel Tower

No trip to Paris would be complete without seeing its most famous landmark. There is nothing like gazing up the center of the tower or catching the view from Trocadéro Gardens or the Champs de Mars. Either way, you won’t be disappointed.

Now, if you want to go up the Eiffel Tower (which I recommend if this is your first time in Paris) make sure you book your tickets in advance. Check out These Hotels with the best Eiffel Tower Views

How to Go up the Eiffel Tower

Take the elevator.

There are 2 different ways to go up the Eiffel Tower. One is by stairs and the other is by the elevator. Most people choose the latter. But, the line up here can get extremely long (2 to 3 hours long), so buying them beforehand is recommended and it allows you to skip that line. If you can, try and book them for the first time slot at 9:30 am.

You can book them at the  official website  or if they are sold out for your day check out the   Skip the Line options here .   **Note** Tickets for the elevator go on sale 60 days in advance for the elevator so book early.

Take the Stairs

There is another way you can get up if you don’t mind climbing a few stairs, 700 to be exact. If you are feeling spry you can opt for access to the second level by stairs. It is cheaper and is almost always shorter than the one for the elevator. A good option if the summit access is sold out. **Note** Tickets for the stairs go on sale 10 days in advance.

• Hours:  Lift access: Every day 9.30 am-11.45 pm (9 am-12.15 am July-August); last entry 1 hour 45 minutes before closing.
• Stair access: Every day 9.30 am-6.30 pm (9 am-12.45 am July-August); last entry 45 minutes before closing.
• Cost:  Lift to the second-floor €16.60; Stairs to the Second Floor €10.40; Elevator to the top €25.90; Stairs to the second level + Elevator to the top: €19.70
• Location:  7th Arrondissement 5 avenue Anatole France – Champ de Mars – 75007 Paris
• Metro Stop:  Bir-Hakeim stop Line Green 6

2. The Louvre Museum

After a great morning at the Eiffel Tower make your way to Paris’s second most popular landmark, The Louvre. We originally left this off of the 3 Day Paris Itinerary because it is so huge and crowded. But after our last visit, we decided to add it in because you can enjoy the highlights of the museum in just a couple of hours.

We are definitely not frequent museum visitors but the Louvre is another exception. It is much more than a museum, it is a journey through history via art.

Here you will find famous works from The Venus de Milo and the Mona Lisa to the Psyche Revived by Cupids Kiss, there is something here for all kinds of art lovers. Truthfully you could spend days here if you are an art lover.

How to Skip the Line at the Louvre

Being the largest art museum in the world it is busy, especially in the high season. But, there are a few ways you can get ahead of the crowds to save some time.

• Book your tickets online in advance: The official Louvre Website says that if you buy your tickets in advance the wait is never more than 30 minutes. Cost: 17 Euros
• Get a The Paris City Pass  or  The Paris Museum Pass : Both of these allow you to skip the line at the Louvre. But note that you will still have to wait in the security line but this is often much shorter.
• Book a Tour: If you don’t want to spend the additional money on one of the above passes you can always jump on a tour. We recommend this Fast Track Highlights Tour or the Timed entrance ticket if you want to explore on your own.

Don’t forget to admire the outside from all angles as the Glass Pyramid (which is also the entrance) was built by I.M. Pei and is a great compliment to the original architecture of the Louvre. For a photo with almost no people, return later at night. The scene takes on a different feel and it is nearly devoid of people.

• Hours:  Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 5.45 pm. Wednesday and Friday 9:00 am to 9:45 pm.
• Cost:  €17
• Location:  1st Arrondissement Pyramide du Louvre – 75001 Paris
• Metro Stop:  Palais Royal – Musée du Louvre, Yellow Line 1, Pink line 7.

3. Place de La Concorde

After a couple of hours of experiencing the Louvre head northwest towards the Champs Elysees. Starting at the Tuileries Garden and ending at the Place de la Concorde this walk takes you through some of the most beautiful gardens in Paris and ends in a place steeped in French history.

The Place de la Concorde was created in 1772 and has the macabre designation of being the execution site during the French Revolution. Some famous people who lost their heads to the guillotine here were Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette. But today it is most recognized by the Luxor Obelisk which is 3300 years old and was erected in 1836.

4. Champs D’Elysees

Continue northwest along the Jardins Des Champs D’Elysees and cross a busy roundabout (Exercise caution here, the traffic is crazy) to arrive at the Champs D’Elysees.

This is a relatively long walk so if you want to save time jump on the Metro at Place de la Concorde and get off at George V. This will put you right in the middle of the Champs Elysees. The most famous street in Paris.

Boutiques and bistros line the wide lanes and street performers shine on the sidewalks of the boulevard. It is a walk you won’t forget. Take your time to explore the shops and splurge on a café au lait at a sidewalk restaurant.

• Location:  8th Arrondissement Place de la Concorde – 75008 Paris
• Metro Stop:  Concorde stop Yellow Line 1, Purple Line 8, Green Line 12. Champs D’Elysees: George V stop Yellow Line 1

5. Arc de Triomphe

At the end of the Champs Elysees is the famous Arc de Triomphe. I see this every year on television as it marks the finish line of the Tour de France. As you walk towards the Arc De Triomphe you can witness the world’s largest roundabout from the inside.

Pay your respects to the unknown soldier and marvel and the grandness of this impressive monument. I highly recommend you go up to the top of the Arc for another great view of the city.

The streets span out from one of the world’s largest roundabouts and you have an incredible view of the Eiffel Tower.  If you have the Paris Pass you get free entry and you can skip the line.

Note: Make sure to use one of the underpasses to cross the street. The traffic is crazy. Also, If you are looking for a cool view of the Arc de Triomphe head to the crosswalk on the Northwest side of the Arc on Avenue de la Grande Armee. You can stop in the middle and grab a great shot!

• Hours:  From 1 April to 30 September: 10am-11pm. From 1 October to 31 March: 10am-10:30pm.
• Cost:  €13; Children under 17 are free. Skip the line and Free entry with the Paris Pass.
• Location:  8th Arrondissement Place Charles de Gaulle – 75008 Paris
• Metro Stop:  Charles de Gaulle – Étoile stop Lines 1, 2 and 6

Paris Itinerary Day 2

Click here for the Interactive Map

Paris History, Musee D’Orsay and The Catacombs

6. ile de la cite.

What better way to start your second day in Paris than the Ile De La Cite. This is the historical heart of Paris and home to Notre Dame and Sainte Chapelle.

A great way to get around is the Hop on Hop Off bus. If you have purchased the   Paris Pass  i t is included for 1 day. If you have not you can get a  1-3 day pass here.

Start at the  Pont Neuf Bridge , which is one of the oldest bridges in Paris, and stroll along the Seine until you reach Notre Dame. This is one of my favorite stretches of the river.

7. Sainte Chapelle

Nore Dame is beautiful on the outside but it does not really compare to Sainte Chapelle on the inside. Sainte Chapelle has one of the best displays of stained glass in the world. It is definitely worth spending a little time here in the morning when the light is beautiful.

Like most attractions in Paris, you will want to get here early in order avoid the lines. We suggest arriving 20 to 30 minutes before opening time if you want to take in the beauty of this church. Skip the Line to Sainte Chapelle Here

• Hours: April 1 to September 30: 9 am to 7 pm; October 1 to March 31: 9 am to 5 pm; closed January 1, May 1, December 25.
• Cost: €11.50
• Location: 8 Boulevard du Palais, 75001 Paris, France
• Metro Stop:  Line 4, Cite

8. Notre Dame Cathedral

Please Note: Due to the tragic fire on April 16, 2019, Notre Dame is no longer open. They are doing restorations but do not expect to open until 2024.

Notre Dame may be inaccessible at the moment but it is still worth taking in the beauty of this building. As you walk through its courtyard you will also come across a plaque that marks the “Point Zero” or the official center of old Paris.

Continue along the Seine to the rear of the cathedral and cross Pont de l’Archeveche which will give you the most beautiful view of Notre Dame.

9. Left Bank of the Seine River

As you leave Notre Dame you can then begin your 30-minute stroll to the Musée d’Orsay, where you are transported into a book lover’s paradise. The famous left bank of the Seine is lined with booksellers that have plied their trade since the early 1900’s. It is very “Paris”.

Make sure to take notice of Shakespeare & Company . If you are a fan of classic literature you will remember that this was a famous gathering place for Hemingway, James Joyce, and Ezra Pound back in the early 1900’s.

10. Musée d’Orsay

Now, we are self-proclaimed non-museum fans. Usually, we find them a little boring and not very interesting. Enter the Musée d’Orsay. This is by far one of the best museums I have ever been to. It houses the largest collection of Impressionist art in the world and is housed in an old train station so the design is just beautiful.

If you are a lover of Manet, Monet, Degas, or any other Impressionist you will find some of their best works here. We absolutely loved how this museum was set up and it may just have made us museum fans. There is an entry fee to get into the Museum but if you have The Paris City Pass  or  The Paris Museum Pass it is included.

**Tip** The Museum is FREE on the first Sunday of every month and it is closed on Mondays.

• Hours:   Closed on Mondays. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30am to 6pm. Open to 9:45pm on Thursdays.
• Cost:  Museum ticket + exhibition: €14
• Location:  7th Arondissment 1 rue de la Légion d’Honneur – 75007 Paris
• Metro Stop:  Solferino, Green Line 12

11. Les Jardins du Luxembourg

After you leave the Musée d’Orsay you can make your way towards the Catacombs and Montparnasse. For those who love to walk and maybe are a little peckish, we suggest grabbing a baguette and some cheese and head to the south lawn of Jardins du Luxembourg for an afternoon picnic.

The gardens themselves are beautiful. They were created by Queen Marie de Medici in 1612 and span 25 hectares! That is a lot of land.

If you prefer to get there faster we suggest either hop on the Metro at Musee D’Orsay and get off at Montparnasse  (A metro Pass is included in your Paris Pass)

If you have purchased tickets for the Hop on Hop Off Bus that day you can get off at the Catacombs stop (Summer Route) or the Port Royal stop (Winter Route). That will get you close to the Catacombs, which is the next stop on today’s agenda.

• Hours:  Opens 7.30am and 8.15am, and closes between 4.30pm and 9.30pm according to the season.
• Cost:  Free
• Location:  6th Arrondissement Rue de Médicis – Rue de Vaugirard – 75006 Paris
• Metro Stop:  Odean on the Yellow line 10 and on the Purple line 4.

12. The Catacombs

If you like a little adventure and don’t mind being a little spooked than the Catacombs of Paris are for you. Built back in the last 18th Century to house the bones of Paris’s overrun cemeteries.

Now that may seem gross to you but the way they are stacked neatly and presented it is almost as if they are artwork rather than human bones. Like they say “Everything looks like art in Paris”.

We suggest taking a   Catacombs Tour   so you can get all the information that will allow you to appreciate this part of Paris.

• Hours:  10 am to 8:30 pm Tuesday to Sunday. Closed Mondays.
• Cost:  13 Euro
• Location:  14th Arrondissement1 avenue du colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy – 75014 Paris
• Metro Stop:  Denfert Rochereau stop, Green Line 6 and Purple line 4

If you want to read a detailed account of our time in the Catacombs make sure to check out  Catacombs of Paris – Touring the Underground Labyrinth of Death

13. Montparnasse

To finish off your evening sightseeing we recommend heading to Montparnasse. This is definitely one of the best views of Paris and at sunset, it is even more impressive. Head up the tower to the observation deck on the 56th floor. It is divided into 2 levels.

The lower level is completely glassed in. Great if it is a windy or chilly day and still a great view of the city. But we suggest heading up to the terrace. This has glass panels but there are a few openings that you can get the lens of your camera through. Great for reflection-free shots. For all our photography friends this is good news. You can also bring a tripod up there as well which is a big bonus in Paris.

For dinner, we suggest heading to the Latin Quarter and grabbing a Prix Fixe Meal. This area is only a 20-minute walk and has a ton of charm and some amazing restaurants.

• Hours:  Summer: Monday to Sunday, 9.30am-11.30pm. Winter: Sunday to Thursday, 9.30am-10.30pm, Friday, Saturday and on the eve of public holidays, 9.30am-11pm
• Cost:  Adults: €18 ; students: €15 ; Children (4-11 years): €9.50. Day & Night Ticket (valid for 2 visits within 48 hours) : €23/adult ; €20/student ; €16/child.
• Location:  15th Arrondissement Rue de l’Arrivée – 75015 Paris
• Metro Stop:  Montparnasse – Bienvenüe

Paris Itinerary Day 3

On the final day Paris Itinerary takes you to explore one of the world’s most famous cemeteries as well as the artist center of the city. These are located a little out of the main center but well worth visiting.

14. Père Lachaise Cemetery

Located in the 20th Arrondissement, the Père Lachaise Cemetery is home to 800,000 souls and some of the most famous plots in the world. Jim Morrison of the Doors,  Chopin, Moliere, Edith Piaf, Rossini, and Oscar Wilde are all buried here. There is a reason this is the most visited cemetery in France!

Even if you are not interested in the famous residents of Cimetiere Pere la Chaise you can still visit and be in awe of the artwork on display at this museum of the dead. If you want to get more detailed information on the Cemetary we suggest you  book a guided tour   which gives you some great details of this area of Paris.

Tip: Make sure to get yourself a map. You can get one at the Cemetery by the main entrance at Avenue Principal or you can  download one here.

• Hours:  November to mid-March from 8am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday, from 8.30am to 5.30pm on Saturday and from 9am to 5.30pm on Sundays and holidays.
• Mid-March to October: 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 6pm on Saturday and 9am to 6pm on Sundays and holidays.
• Location:  20th Arondissment 8 boulevard de Ménilmontant – 75020 Paris
• Metro Stop:  Pere Lachaise Line 1 and 2

15. Montmartre

Jump on the Metro and head to the Montmartre area. This is located in the 18th Arrondissement and is one of our favorite areas in Paris. Not only to stay but to spend an afternoon.

Start your afternoon with a leisurely lunch at Place du Tertre and admire all the artists who display their works daily. After lunch stroll the streets of Montmartre and see where Dali, Picasso, and Renoir once lived and worked. You can visit the Montmartre or Dali Museum, both of which are very interesting. But before you leave this area you must make your way to Sacre Coeur.

16. Sacre Coeur

This Basilica, which is situated on the highest point in Paris, is a must-see. Standing on the steps you feel as if you can see all of Paris. If you are looking for an even higher view you can climb up the 300 steps to the top of the Dome (there is a small fee for this). The view is spectacular.

After viewing the sunset from the steps of the Basilica you can finish off your day by grabbing dinner in the Montmartre area or if you are looking for something a little more daring, take in a show at the Moulin Rouge.

Sacre Coeur Hours:  The basilica is open everyday from 6am to 10.30pm (last entry at 10.15pm for visitors).

The dome (access from the left side of the basilica) : 8.30am-8pm from May to September; 9am-5pm from October to April.

• Cost:  Free to go inside and Fee to access the Dome. See the  official website  for details.
• Location:  18th Arrondissement Parvis du Sacré-Coeur – 35 rue du Chevalier de la Barre – 75018 Paris
• Metro Stop:  Anvers Stop on Line 2 then walk up the stairs or take the funicular which costs the same as Metro ticket and is free with your  Paris Pass.

Optional Day 3 Activity

The palace of versailles.

Many people when they visit Paris for the first time want to see the Palace of Versailles . It is on everyone’s bucket list. As it is technically not “in Paris” we didn’t include it on this itinerary but you may want to add it as an option on Day 3.

Located a 45-minute train ride from downtown Paris, Versailles, which was the seat of the French government fo 100 years, is a magnificent castle and grounds. From the impressive Hall of Mirrors to the gardens that have been used as a model in countless castles around the world, this place really does impress.

How long do you need at Versailles? Depending on how much of a history buff you are you could spend 3 hours or so (like we did) or take the whole day.

If you do want to fit this into half a day we suggest grabbing a Skip the Line Entry Ticket or grabbing Transfer, Ticket and Audio Guide tour to make the most of your time.

• Hours: Closed Mondays; open at 9 am Tuesday to Sunday; Gardens and the park are open every day and are free to visit.
• Cost:  20€ for the palace and gardens and the Trianon; 18€ to tour the just the palace (Included with The Paris City Pass  or  The Paris Museum Pass .
• Getting There:  Because Versailles is outside Zone 3 on your travel card a ticket will cost 7.10€ return extra. Take the RER C from Paris to Versailles it is a 45-minute ride each way.

Tips to Make the Most of Your Visit to Paris

Get yourself a paris pass.

The best way that you can save money and see all of the sites is to get yourself a  Paris Pass . You can get it for 2-6 days and it includes all of these and more:

• Free entry to more than 60 top attractions
• Free travel on the metro
• A 1-day hop-on, hop-off bus tour ticket
• A guidebook in 6 languages
• Skip-the-line entrance to many of the sights, like Centre Pompidou (Modern Art), Arc de Triomphe, Louvre Museum, and more.
• Bateaux Parisiens River Cruise
• Wine Tasting – O Chateau Day Trips
• Book your Paris Pass Here

With only having a short amount of time this will help you get around quickly and skip the line at a bunch of places. Definitely worth it. Book your Paris Pass Now!

Some Museums are closed Mondays or Tuesdays

There is nothing worse then showing up when the museum is closed. There is a lot to keep up on so check out Paris Museum and Attraction closures before you visit.

Getting Around Paris

The city is easy to get around so don’t stress too much about choosing a hotel near your favorite monument or museum. **Please Note** If you opt for the Paris Pass the Metro is included from zones 1-3!

The Paris Metro is affordable and easy to navigate. When you arrive in Paris, you can easily pick up a pass and travel is easy. A five-day pass in zones 1-3 is only €37,50.

The Hop on Hop off Bus

The Hop on Hop off Bus runs between 9:30 am and 7 pm. If you get the Paris Pass the Hop on Hop off bus is included for 1 day. If you feel you want to use it more than that or decide against the Paris Pass you can book your   1-3 day pass here. Just be aware that the Hop on Hop Off Bus has a  Summer  and  Winter  Route Map. Check to make sure you are using the correct one.

Getting to and from the Airport

We recommend taking either a private transfer or shuttle bus. Or you can opt to take an Uber. The  shuttle bus  will cost you about $21 USD per person,  The Private Transfer   will cost about $40 USD return and an Uber will run you a minimum of 50 Euros.

If you want to know the fastest and cheapest way to get to Paris from the airport then check out our guide on the Cheapest Ways to Get from CDG and Orly to Paris .

That should do it.! If you have any questions about this Paris itinerary, leave them in the comments below!

Additional Information for Your Trip to Paris

• WHERE TO STAY IN PARIS – A 2020 GUIDE TO THE BEST NEIGHBORHOODS
• HOW TO VISIT PARIS ON A BUDGET – 20 TIPS TO SAVE MONEY
• 27 FREE THINGS TO DO IN PARIS, FRANCE
• CHEAPEST WAYS TO GET FROM ORLY & CHARLES DE GAULLE (CDG) TO PARIS
• What to do in Paris at Night
• PARIS CLOSURES, WHEN TO AVOID MUSEUM AND ATTRACTIONS
• FAMOUS PEOPLE BURIED IN THE PERE LACHAISE CEMETERY OF PARIS
• CATACOMBS OF PARIS TOUR – THE UNDERGROUND LABYRINTH OF DEATH

If you are planning a trip to France, make sure to check out our France Travel Guide!

Many People add London to their Paris Itinerary, check out these London articles to help plan more of your Paris travels:

• Where To Stay In London – A Guide to The Best Areas and Places
• 3 Days in London – The Ultimate London Itinerary
• London Landmarks – 18 Famous Places in Photos
• 22 of the Top Things to do in London, England
• London’s Top 5 Alternative Attractions

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Travel Planning Resources

Looking to book your next trip? Why not use these resources that are tried and tested by yours truly.

Flights: Start planning your trip by finding the best flight deals on Skyscanner

Book your Hotel: Find the best prices on hotels with these two providers. If you are located in Europe use Booking.com and if you are anywhere else use TripAdvisor

Find Apartment Rentals: You will find the cheapest prices on apartment rentals with VRBO . 

Travel Insurance: Don't leave home without it. Here is what we recommend:

• Allianz - Occasional Travelers.
• Medjet - Global air medical transport and travel security.

Need more help planning your trip? Make sure to check out our Resources Page where we highlight all the great companies that we trust when we are traveling.

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Dave Bouskill and Debra Corbeil are the owners and founders of The Planet D. After traveling to 115 countries, on all 7 continents over the past 13 years they have become one of the foremost experts in travel. Being recognized as top travel bloggers and influencers by the likes of Forbes Magazine , the Society of American Travel Writers and USA Today has allowed them to become leaders in their field.

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28 thoughts on “3 Days in Paris: The Best Paris Itinerary for Your First Visit”

Great piece of work. I agree to the way you list them down. For example, Eiffel Tower rightly makes to the first spot. I am from Toba in Indonesia. I can tell that all people I know wish to see the Eiffel Tower. The tower is a symbol for romance, the way people here see it. The Louvre Museum is next on their dream list, and so on.

Great post and Paris looks so wonderful! this literally help me for my next vacation plan and considering Paris as the next destination, thank you so much

This was exactly what I’ve been looking for- thanks! I am frantically trying to plan out my family trip (with a naughty 3 year old boy and 13 year old daughter) for this coming summer. We will be in Paris for 6 days out of the 3 weeks. *Breath in, breath out* I appreciate your well detailed itinerary!!!

Thanks- it sounds like a wonderful itinerary.

Great post.. was a great help while planing and during a four day stay in Paris last week.. I was there 19 years ago and had a magnificent time… this time around,not so much.. the people of Paris,for the most not all, have become so very gloomy . It was just plain depressing. And when there were protests in the Champs elysee the metro stations and buses were suspended all the way to the Louvre.. and not even a taxi or uber could get through…then the whole thing got repeated the very next day cause the Champs elysee was open only to pedestrians… and again everything closed for miles and miles.. and no one not even the police knew how to direct us to the closest working station .. Traffic in Paris has become very bad that walking will get you to your destination much faster… The tax deduction policy is ridiculous , and trying to redeem your money at the airport is not and easy task and needs you to get to the airport with more than plenty of time on your hands.. This is getting pretty long so I think I should stop here. Thank you for letting me steal off some of my disappointment in city I used to live so much.

I love your post very much. Paris is one of the most romantic cities in Europe and one of the most visited cities in the world. No doubt, there are endless reasons to visit Paris again and again: it is a beautiful and cultural city, very walkable, with great sights. Thank you.

it looks that was a great trip! I hope to make a trip like that soon.

I am planning to go for paris and i was just searching for this kind of article. now i can plan my trip in a very systematically way. Thanks

Paris has been on my bucket list since my childhood. Your blog will be of great help when I plan a trip there. Thank you guys for sharing it with us.

Amazing blog… I am planning to go for paris and i was just searching for this kind of article. now i can plan my trip in a very systematically way. Thanks Alot.

that’s a very complete guide 🙂 Did you manage to do everything?

Wow, amazing! Can you advise some photo-tricks to make such kind of photos. What software do you use to edit them?

Great article.!! paris is just the city where you want to go anytime if someone ask you to go. Thanks for sharing such great article. Great images. Cheers.!!

It looks a wonderful place to visit there. Loved your pictures. Thanks a lot to share a nice post!!

Sounds like you’re having fun over there! Awesome !!!

Seeing a post like this makes me want to revisit all these places again. Certainly, Paris is everyone’s dream destination. The place is very romantic, not to mention all these beautiful places bound to catch everyone’s attention.

This article made me cringe. Please, please learn to spell or use spell check. And it is “sight seeing” . If you are going to talk about French sights, at least don’t mangle the spelling of their famous avenue, the Champs Elysees. Cemetery is a “ce” word in English as well as French.

Thanks for pointing out the mistakes Solstice. It’s not a good excuse, but I remember being in such a hurry while we were in Paris and frantically put up posts each day to share our experience there. I agree with you though, I should have taken the time to do a quick spell check. It can be difficult to write a blog each and every day without an editor and it is passionate comments like yours that remind me to make sure to give each and every post the time it deserves once I am finished writing it to give it a good once over. This was written nearly 2 years ago and I have definitely learned a lot since that time when it comes to writing an article for ThePlanetD. Cheers.

It takes a lot of time, but I think it’s worth it to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower.

You are right Jetpacker, everything in Paris is worth doing, but if you have limited time and money there are great ways to pick and choose. We are definitely not saying don’t go up the Eiffel Tower, these are just suggestions to see everything in a few short days. I suggest getting to the Eiffel Tower very early if you want to go up, the crowds and lineups are out of control.

Wow, that was a busy three days! We will be in Paris for five days in July, so I enjoyed reading up on how you organized your time in the city. Next time you will definitely have to visit the Louvre!

Dian, you will be able to pack so much in to three days and have plenty of time to relax.

What a whirlwind! Sounds like my last trip to Paris when I had only two (full) days there – I’d been to Paris before but it was my husband’s first time there, so we did a similarly rushed tour of the most popular sights – if it wasn’t for the photos we took we’d be hard pressed to remember all that we packed into two days! 🙂 .-= Trisha Miller´s last blog .. The Write Time =-.

There is something about Paris that always makes us travel fast. We have been here 2 times before, but never running the travel blog. We wanted to revisit the sites that we only had photos on from our old film camera and we wanted to share our favorite moments and sites in Paris with all of you. However, I am sure that if we go back, we will still run around to see all the sites again, we can’t get enough of Paris!

I hope you are lucky for the next trip dave, Paris is amazing destination that strongly recognized its culture and historical sites.

I can understand why you need a holiday after this! 🙂 .-= Maria Staal´s last blog ..How Hard Can It Be To Find A Waffle Iron Expert? =-.

Maria, we are exhausted:-)

Sounds like you’re having fun over there! .-= Michael´s last blog ..Life at the Edge: Why Putting Yourself in Harm’s Way is a Good Idea =-.

4 Days in Paris: Detailed Itinerary, Map & Tips (Perfect for 1st Visit)

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: January 18, 2024

Visiting Paris for 4 days and wondering how to best plan your time so that you can make the most of your trip?

In this guide, we share a suggested Paris 4 days itinerary based on our recent trip (and taking into account what can actually be done!). It includes all the must-sees, a few amazing places that are often overlooked by first-time travelers, and some lesser-known gems that will make your trip even more special. Take a look!

The capital of France, Paris is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. With such an old history and an incredible number of landmarks, I’m sure you understand that there is no way to see ‘everything’ in Paris in four days. But if you plan well, you can definitely see all the musts and get a good feel of what Paris is truly like.

Below, you’ll find our suggested 4-day Paris itinerary that covers all the main landmarks and most interesting places in the most efficient way. Of course, there are many ways to plan any visit to Paris and this is just one of them. But if you want to see the very best of Paris, but also get a bit off the beaten path and truly experience the city, this guide should help you do just that.

Good to know: This itinerary is quite packed, but it’s based on our personal experience and on what can actually be done . It takes into account opening times/ walking distances/ metro and the time you need to visit each place. Plus, when possible, you’ll be at the most popular places at the best possible time. We also include some alternative suggestions so that you can personalize and plan your own perfect trip based on what interests you the most.

We also created an interactive map indicating all the sights. That way, you can have a better idea of how it all fits together.

Please note that the hours in the itinerary below are only indicated for your reference and are based on our personal experience. That way you have a better idea of how much time you need and can also decide to skip some places if you rather take it easier.

PRO TIP! Where applicable, we also share practical info and tips on which tickets to prebook. Without advance reservations , you will waste many hours waiting in lines and won’t be able to see as much. In fact, you may not even be able to visit certain places at all. Paris has changed a lot in recent years, and planning a spontaneous visit as we often did in the past is no longer straightforward.

Furthermore, by booking in advance, you can immediately see if the place is open on the day of your visit and can avoid unpleasant surprises. We had to adjust our itinerary several times based on the availability of some tickets (like Moulin Rouge , for example, where almost all the shows appeared to be sold out 3 weeks before our trip, or Paris Opera which was exceptionally closed on several days during our visit).

As a minimum, book the tickets/ tours/ experiences for those sights which you absolutely don’t want to miss!

For some of the most popular attractions in Paris, booking in advance will save you money but also lots of time! You can go straight to the entrance without having to queue at the ticket desk.

Good to know: If you visit at least 2-3 museums per day and stay in Paris for a few days, Paris Museum Pass offers excellent value for your money. It includes most of the ‘musts’ and offers skip-the-line access at most attractions. However, keep in mind that you will first have to pick it up at a certain location and you’ll also have to book timed-entry slots for several of the most popular places. That’s why we personally opted to just get timed-entry tickets for each place separately.

If you are visiting Paris with kids, teens, or young adults , you will be glad to know that most Paris landmarks offer FREE entry to everyone under 18 (and for EU residents, even under 26). However, you also need a timed reservation for the free tickets.

READ ALSO: Paris Travel Tips & Tricks

• DAY 1: Île de la Cité, Arc De Triomphe, Champs Elysées, (optional) Les Invalides and/or Rodin Museum, Place de La Concorde, Tuileries Gardens, Louvre Museum.
• DAY 2: Musée d’Orsay, Versailles, Eiffel Tower, Seine Cruise.
• DAY 3: Place Vendôme, Opera, Galeries Lafayette, Hidden Passages, Montmartre, Moulin Rouge.
• DAY 4: Hôtel de Ville, Pompidou Center/ Stravinsky Fountain, La Marais, Pantheon, Latin Quarter, Luxembourg Gardens, Catacombs, Montparnasse Tower.
• Where to stay

MAP of this 4-day Paris itinerary

To help you plan your visit to Paris, we created a map indicating all the places mentioned in our guide.

As you can see below, each day has a different color, so you quickly get a good overview of how it’s structured. We tried to group the sites in the most logical way so that you can walk between the sights as much as possible. When possible, we also take into account the best times to be at each place.

How to use this map:  Use your computer mouse (or fingers) to zoom in or out. Click on the icons to get more information about each place. Click the arrow on the top left corner for the index. Click the star next to the map’s title to add it to your Google Maps account. To view the saved map on your smartphone or PC, open Google Maps, click the menu and go to ‘Your Places’/’Maps’. If you want to print the map or see it in a bigger window, click on ‘View larger map’ in the top right corner.

Île de la Cité – Arc De Triomphe – Champs Elysées – Les Invalides or Rodin Museum or l’Orangerie (optional) – Place de La Concorde – Tuileries Gardens – Louvre Museum (at the quietest time).

Day 1 – planning info/tickets to book:

• Sainte-Chapelle – timed entry tickets .
• Arc De Triomphe – skip-the-line tickets are valid the entire day and save you time at the ticket desk.
• Louvre – timed-entry tickets or a guided tour (recommended). We opted for this tour – Closing Time at the Louvre: Mona Lisa at Her Most Peaceful . It covers all the musts in 3 hours at the quietest time of the day.
• Optional: Les Invalides or Rodin Museum or l’Orangerie .

Good to know: All of these places are included with the Paris Museum Pass . Even if you decide to visit the Louvre with a guided tour as we did, this pass can still be good value, depending on your overall Paris itinerary. The Louvre and l’Orangerie are closed on Tuesdays and Rodin Museum is closed on Mondays. Other places are normally open daily.

Île de la Cité: Sainte-Chapelle, Notre-Dame & More

Île de la Cité is a small island in the middle of the River Seine, best known for the Notre-Dame Cathedral. This was the birthplace of Paris in the 3rd century BC.

If you come here before 9 am, you could walk around the island and explore it a bit deeper. In that case, you may want to start at Pont Neuf , the oldest stone bridge in Paris, with 384 grotesque face ornaments lining its sides. Next, head to Square du Vert-Galant , the westernmost point of the little island. The views from here are quite nice.

Then walk past Place Dauphine , a cozy town square at the western end of this little island, and on to the Conciergerie and its Clock Tower. Built in the 14th century, this is the oldest public clock in France, and you can see it from the street.

The Conciergerie is a former courthouse that also served as a prison. Nowadays, this is a museum that you could consider visiting if you have at least an hour to spare. With 4 days in Paris, and depending on your interests, I’d just see it from the outside.

The most impressive place to visit on Île de la Cité is Sainte-Chapelle . This is the 13th-century royal chapel that I can only describe as the most beautiful chapel in the world. It will take your breath away!

Please note that there are actually two chapels here, connected by a small staircase. The lower level (where you enter) was used by servants and the upper chapel – by the Royal family. They are both very impressive, but the upper one is absolutely stunning, so if it’s not too busy as you enter, head there first.

TIP: You really have to reserve your tickets in advance for Sainte-Chapelle!!! For this itinerary, it’s best to book the tickets for 9 am and arrive at least 15-20 minutes before it opens. You will still have a small queue at the security check, but it will be incomparably quieter than later during the day.

Near Sainte-Chapelle, you can visit a flower market . It’s just a short photo spot, but quite nice to see.

If interested, you could also walk to see Au Vieux Paris , aka the most charming café in Paris. It usually only opens at lunchtime, but most people come here just for the picture of its exterior anyway.

It’s definitely not a must and we saw many other cafés in Paris that looked at least just as charming, but it’s just a small detour. You could also come for lunch here, but it will likely be much too early for that.

Next, head to Notre-Dame Cathedral . At the moment, it’s being rebuilt after the 2019 fire. Behind the fences, you can still see the two towers of Notre Dame, but that’s really it. You can’t even step on the iconic ‘Point Zero’ from which all the road distances in France are measured.

Anyway, it’s still worth a few minutes of your time to see this famous Paris landmark.

Good to know: Based on the official sources at the moment of the last update, Notre-Dame Cathedral is supposed to reopen on December 8, 2024.

Arc De Triomphe

11-12.30 PM.

Time for the next place on your Paris itinerary – Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile . The distances are big and you’ll be walking a lot as it is. So to get there, it’s best to take the metro.

Arc de Triomphe needs no introduction. Commissioned by Napoleon to celebrate all his victories (he never lived to see its completion), this is one of the most recognizable landmarks of Paris. Under the arch, you can see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the eternal flame that is rekindled at 6.30 pm every evening. Inside, there’s also a small exhibition.

While you can just see the arch from a distance, we highly recommend that you also visit the rooftop . The views from here are among the best in Paris! Keep in mind that there are 284 steps to reach the top. They also have a small elevator which is reserved for people with reduced mobility, but it stops at the exhibition level, so you’ll still have to do some stairs.

Good to know: Do not attempt to cross the busy roundabout in order to get to Arc De Triomphe. There is a well-indicated underground passage for that!

TIP: While not absolutely needed, booking a ticket in advance will save you at least one queue (you’ll still have a security check, as in most places). If you are visiting in the high season, definitely book upfront! Even with the skip-the-line tickets or Paris Museum Pass , count at least 45 minutes for a visit here.

READ ALSO: Best Views in Paris

Champs-Élysées & Lunch

12-1.30 PM.

Avenue des Champs-Élysées is probably the most famous street in Paris. This wide avenue is nearly 2 kilometers in length, but the liveliest part with most shops and restaurants is right next to Arc de Triomphe.

Here, you will find some of the most expensive designer shops in the world. Amazingly enough, there are often huge queues to get inside the luxury stores of Dior, Moncler, or Louis Vuitton, to mention just a few. Most of the restaurants in this area are also on the pricier side and very busy.

Time for lunch !

You’ll find many traditional Parisian brasseries and restaurants in this area, or you can just get a sandwich at PAUL’s or similar (this will save you a lot of time vs sitting down for lunch). For a truly Parisian experience, you could also opt for some sweet pastries and macarons at the iconic Ladurée. And yes, there are fast-food restaurants here too, but come on – you are in Paris!

Good to know: If you want to be sure to have a table at a specific restaurant, be sure to reserve in advance! For example, without a reservation, you’ll likely waste at least 30-40 minutes in line at Ladurée, maybe even more in the high season.

Just keep in mind that these are not the places where you go if you are hungry ; rather for a special treat. I always have to laugh at my husband’s experience at Ladurée years ago. He ordered a coffee and a sandwich and ate the one-bite snack thinking that it was something extra served with coffee. He then sat there waiting for his sandwich to arrive. But it never did. It turned out that the tiny bite was in fact the sandwich that he ordered. We’ve been to Paris many times, but there is no way I can ever convince my husband to go for ‘lunch’ at Ladurée again. 🙂

In fact, we have similar stories about a few other restaurants on Champs-Élysées. Let’s just say this area is really touristy and you won’t find the best value or service. But I guess it’s just part of visiting Paris for the first time…

TIP: There’s one traditional Parisian restaurant that we quite liked near Arc de Triomphe. It’s called La Flamme and is located on one of the side streets, so not on Champs-Élysées itself. On our recent visit, we had dinner here and found that the service, as well as the food, were excellent. The prices were also very reasonable for this area.

Jardin des Champs-Élysées – Grand Palais – Petit Palais – Pont Alexandre III

1.30-2.30 PM.

After lunch, continue east down the Champs-Élysées. You’ll soon reach the greener area with several small parks on both sides of the boulevard. If you have some time, it’s nice to explore these gardens a bit more.

Be sure to also check out the two iconic buildings known as Grand Palais and Petit Palais . These Art-Nouveau-style buildings date from the early 1900s.

At the moment, the Grand Palais is being renovated and is not open to the public.

Petit Palais houses an art museum which is free to visit. However, it sometimes closes for special events, which was the case every time we were in Paris… Anyway, it’s worth seeing it from the outside too, and if it’s open when you are there, be sure to take a look inside!

TIP: Check out the “Bouquet of Tulips” sculpture in the gardens behind the Petit Palais. This huge hand holding a bouquet of colorful flowers is the work of American artist Jeff Koons.

Just nearby, you can see one of the most beautiful bridges in Paris – Pont Alexandre III . Even if you decide not to walk to Les Invalides on the other side of the river, it’s well worth making a small detour to see this bridge.

This remarkable Beaux-Arts style bridge was inaugurated in 1900. It is lined with beautiful lampposts and lots of impressive sculptures. On each corner, you can also see four winged horses which represent Sciences, Commerce, illustrious Arts, and Industry. 

From the bridge, you also have great views over the River Seine and Eiffel Tower in the distance.

Les Invalides OR Rodin Museum OR Musée de l’Orangerie (optional)

If you are not going shopping at Champs-Élysées and want to pack as much as possible into your day, there are a few interesting places in this area that you could add to this itinerary.

Hôtel des Invalides (or simply Les Invalides) and Rodin Museum are located just next to each other on the other side of the river, about 15 minutes walk from the bridge. Alternatively, you could visit Musée de l’Orangerie which is conveniently located on the way to the Louvre.

TIP: Depending on your interests, I’d only visit one of these museums or not even at all, or you risk getting a ‘museum burnout’ on your first day in Paris already. You can get tickets for Rodin Museum , or for Les Invalides , or l’Orangerie separately, but if you decide to come here in addition to all the other places mentioned in our guide, then it’s definitely better to get the Paris Museum Pass . That way, you can just decide if/which of these museums you want to visit on the day itself.

While not unknown, these places are not on the must-see list of most first-time visitors to Paris. But you really need either a skip-the-line ticket or a museum pass so that you don’t waste any time in lines, definitely in the high season.

• Built as an accommodation and a hospital for wounded soldiers in the 17th century, the Hôtel des Invalides is now a military museum. It’s best known for the incredibly grand Tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte . While you likely need at least 2 hours for all the museums here, you could visit the tomb in about half an hour.
• Rodin Museum is dedicated to the works of the French sculptor Auguste Rodin, showing how his technique and style evolved over time. The must-see here is the Sculpture Garden and his most famous work “The Thinker” ( Le Penseur ). However, there are multiple copies of this sculpture worldwide and you can also see one inside the D’Orsay Museum (see day 2 of this itinerary).
• Musée de l’Orangerie is a recently-restored art museum mostly focused on impressionism and post-impressionism. The most famous works here are “Water Lilies” by Claude Monet, but you’ll also find paintings by Picasso, Renoir, Cézanne, Henri Matisse, Modigliani, and many others.

READ ALSO: Best Museums in Paris

Place de La Concorde – Tuileries Gardens

5 – 6 PM.

Next, return to the northern side of the river and walk to Place de La Concorde . This is the largest square in Paris, and since there’s lots of traffic here, it’s an experience in itself. Be careful when crossing the streets! Even if it’s green, be sure to look well in all directions – also for bikes, e-steps, tourist rickshaws/ pedicabs, etc.

While navigating the crazy traffic, don’t miss the Egyptian Obelisk and the beautiful fountains !

Interesting to know: During the French Revolution, this square was the site of many public executions, including that of the last king of France, Louis XVI, and his wife Marie Antoinette.

Next, walk to Tuileries Gardens (this is also where Musée de l’Orangerie is located). These beautiful gardens connect the Place de la Concorde to the Louvre and are popular among tourists and locals alike. There are chairs around the big pond in the middle and benches throughout the park. It’s a nice place to sit down, rest a bit, and do some people-watching.

TIP: If you are not planning on doing shopping or visiting any of the museums, you’ll have quite some free time left. You may want to stop for some afternoon tea at Angelina Paris , just next to Tuileries Gardens.

This is a very popular 120-year-old tea room that – according to the locals – serves the best hot chocolate in the world. However, it’s pricey and very busy. Try to reserve in advance or prepare to wait for a while.

Next, check out the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel , right in front of the Louvre. Built in 1806-1808 to celebrate Napoleon’s victories, this ornate arch is a predecessor of the more famous Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile that we mentioned earlier.

Louvre Museum

End your first day in Paris with a visit to the most famous museum in the world, The Louvre . It’s also one of the most-visited tourist attractions in Paris, so it’s always busy here. But if you come in the evening, a few hours before the closing time, you will be able to avoid the biggest crowds.

Louvre Museum is so big that you could spend several weeks inside and still not see everything. But most people come here for the most known artworks such as La Gioconda (Mona Lisa) by Leonardo da Vinci, the ancient Greek sculpture Venus de Milo, or the Winged Victory of Samothrace (the Nike), etc. For the highlights, you need at least 2-2.5 hours, plus count that it will also take you some time to get inside.

Good to know: The opening times of the Louvre Museum depend on the season and on the day when you visit. But since you need to get timed tickets anyway, you can immediately see what is available. In the high season, it’s normally open late (9-9.45 PM), so you could come here at around 6-6.30 PM.

Alternative – if visiting Paris in the low season. In the low season, the Louvre is normally open until 6 PM (unless on Fridays when it remains open until 9.45 PM). In that case, you will have to adjust this itinerary. You can come here after visiting Notre-Dame and then continue with all the other places as described above and end your day at Arc de Triomphe which remains open late.

PRO TIP: No matter when you visit, be sure to get timed-entry tickets for the Louvre in advance. But in all honesty, this is one place where it really pays to visit with a guided tour . Otherwise, it can get very overwhelming just trying to figure out which entrance to take and where to go or what to see inside.

We opted for this closing time at the Louvre tour (Mona Lisa at her most peaceful ). It’s a great way to skip the queues at the entrance and see all the musts in a short time. It wasn’t our first time at the Louvre, but we learned so much from our guide! Highly recommended.

As you exit the museum, take the time to enjoy the Louvre Pyramids . You can take some nice pictures here, especially around sunset.

READ ALSO: Tips & Tricks for the Louvre Museum

Colonnes de Buren

Just a few minutes walk from the Louvre, you can also check out the Colonnes de Buren at the courtyard of the National Royal Palace. It’s just a quick photo stop and there are quite some restaurants nearby, so you could come here before dinner.

Alternatively, you can also visit here on day 3 of this sightseeing itinerary. This square is also the start of many walking tours that visit the covered passages of Paris .

For dinner , you’ll find lots of restaurants in all price categories in the area to the north/northeast of the Louvre. We reserved a table at Pizzeria Popolare , which is located about halfway between the Louvre and the hotel where we stayed .

This is a very trendy Italian restaurant, one of the Big Mamma Group restaurants in Paris. They are all excellent and extremely popular with long queues every evening. So it really pays to reserve a table in advance.

Riverside walk (optional) – Musée d’Orsay – Versailles – Eiffel Tower – Seine Cruise – Eiffel Tower Lights & Sparkles.

Day 2 – planning info/tickets to book:

• Musee d’Orsay – timed entry tickets .
• Versailles Palace & Gardens – timed entry tickets . We opted for this guided tour .
• Eiffel Tower – timed entry tickets on the official site . If certain times are not available, or if you rather have someone guide you, be sure to also check the best options on GetYourGuide . If you don’t mind waiting longer (it can be really crowded and take a few hours though), you can get the tickets on the spot too. If you want to visit the Summit, be sure to book weeks ahead!
• Seine Cruise – see all the cruise options here . Sunset cruises with dinner are also available. This is one of the best-value cruises (departs close to Champs-Elysees).

Good to know: Orsay Museum and Versailles Palace are included with the Paris Museum Pass (although we really recommend a guided tour in Versailles). Also, extra shows in Versailles Gardens are not included. Keep in mind that both – Orsay Museum and Versaille Palace – are closed on Mondays , so adjust your itinerary if necessary.

Riverside walk

You could start your morning with a stroll on the Seine riverside . The first stop on your itinerary today is Orsay Museum, so you could start from Ile de La Cite or from the Louvre, and walk to the museum enjoying the nice views of the river and the surroundings.

Of course, this is not a must, and you can just take the metro straight to the museum.

Musee d’Orsay

10 AM-noon.

Start your day with a visit to one of the best museums in Paris – Orsay Museum . It’s located inside an old railway station and the building is worth seeing in its own right. As you walk inside the huge covered hall, it’s easy to imagine steam trains arriving and departing from here a hundred years ago.

D’Orsay museum is probably best known for its incredible collection of impressionist- and post-impressionist art. It’s here that you will find some of the best works of Monet, Manet, Renoir, and Van Gogh.

You can see lots of other masterpieces here too, including some fantastic temporary exhibitions. When we visited, we could also see the works of Edvard Munch, but also some incredible and touching contemporary art by American artist Kehinde Wiley.

Don’t miss the impressive station clock on the top floor. From here, you also have nice views of the city and the river, and the clock makes for some nice pictures too.

TIP: The impressionist collection is located on the top floor and it’s the most popular area of the museum, so you may want to head there first before it gets too busy. For that, walk straight all the way to the back of the museum. Against the back wall, a bit to the left, you’ll find escalators that can take you all the way to the top floor.

Train to Versailles and quick lunch

Right next to Museum d’Orsay, there is a train station from where you can take a direct train to Versailles . There are regular trains throughout the day and the journey takes about 30-35 minutes. You can get a ticket at the station (a regular Paris metro ticket will not be sufficient).

Important! You will need line C in the direction of Versailles Château Rive Gauche station. The same line splits in many different directions and there are lots of trains on the same track too, so double-check the direction so that you do not get on the wrong train!

In the old town of Versailles, you will find plenty of cafés and restaurants. However, if you don’t want to waste too much time, you can also just get a sandwich or something small to eat. We stopped for a sandwich at Madeleine just across the station and it was excellent (and quick). It’s conveniently located right next to the GetYourGuide office, which was the meeting point of our guided tour of Versailles .

Versailles Palace and Gardens

1.30-4.30 PM.

Together with the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, the Palace of Versailles is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Paris. And once you see this grand palace with its opulent royal chambers and impressive vast gardens, you’ll understand why.

There is a lot to see in Versailles. In fact, you could easily spend an entire day here. But if you just want to see the main palace and some of the gardens, you’ll need about 2-3 hours. That’s what we recommend if you have just 4 days in Paris because there are just so many other amazing places to see.

Versailles Palace boasts more than 2,300 rooms. The most impressive are the King’s and the Queen’s bedrooms and the world-famous Hall of Mirrors. And while the gardens are huge and have a lot to offer too, some of the nicest ones are located right next to the main building. So with just a few hours in Versailles, concentrate on the main sights.

TIP: While you can easily visit Versailles on your own (be sure to get a timed entry ticket !), we highly recommend taking a guided tour . It’s not just the best way to see all the ‘musts’ in a few hours, but you’ll also appreciate it all so much better. With a good guide, the walls and the furniture come to life and you leave Versailles with a much better understanding of how unique this place really is.

We opted for this highly-rated tour and it was really worth it. Alternatively, you can also opt for a tour that includes a guide/transportation from Paris ; this is a good option if you are worried about the practical side of getting to Versailles (it’s really not difficult though).

Train to Champ de Mars & Eiffel Tower Views

4.30-5.30 PM.

After visiting Versailles, take a train back to Paris and get off at the ‘Champ de Mars’ station. This is right at the Eiffel Tower, which is the next destination on your itinerary.

If you have some time to spare before visiting the tower, you could first walk to the nearby bridge Pont de Bir Hakeim . It’s located just next to the train station.

This metal multi-storey bridge is a sight in itself, but the main reason to come here is the amazing views of the Eiffel Tower. This bridge is just a tiny bit further away from the tower and gives you a nice perspective. Plus, it’s not nearly as busy as the Pont d’Iéna bridge right in front of the Eiffel Tower and is lined with street vendors and hundreds of tourists posing for pictures.

Cross the bridge and walk to Trocadéro Gardens . From the upper terrace here, you have an amazing view of the Eiffel Tower.

Of course, you can also visit all these places after visiting the tower, but if you want to go to the top at around sunset, it’s probably better to do this first.

Eiffel Tower

Eiffel Tower is at the top of any Paris bucket list. So if this is your first time in Paris, you will likely want to go to the top of the tower too. There are a few things you should know.

First, there are several types of Eiffel Tower tickets. First, you have to make the choice of visiting up to the 2nd floor or going all the way to the summit . To keep things cheaper, you could also opt to climb to the 1st/2nd floors via the stairs instead of taking an elevator. Depending on the day, this might also mean that you’ll spend less time queuing.

I find that the city views are best from the 1st and the 2nd floors of the Eiffel Tower. The only reason to go all the way to the top is to tick the box and have done it all so that you have no regrets later. It is a special experience, that’s for sure, but not an absolute must.

No matter which option you choose, if you want to visit Eiffel Tower at a specific time without wasting too much time in lines, it’s best to book your timed tickets online in advance . And if you can time your visit so that you are at the top about half an hour before sunset , it might make it even more special. But remember that a nice sunset is never guaranteed, so don’t obsess about this.

For the tickets, at the moment, the cheapest option is booking via the official site . Just keep in mind that these tickets are non-refundable and you can’t change the dates either. Also, sometimes summit tickets are not available on the official site anymore, but can be available via other websites like GetYourGuide or Tiqets .

The biggest advantage of booking Eiffel Tower tickets via GetYourGuide is that – for most tickets – they allow free cancelation up to 24 hours before your visit. On this website, you can also find some guided tour options, or get a ticket where you’ll also meet a host and get some guidance on where to go, etc.

Good to know: You can always just queue at the tower upon arrival and get your tickets on the spot, but – depending on how busy it is – it can mean that you are queuing for a few hours. Also, even with the timed tickets, arrive at least 30-40 minutes earlier so that you have enough time to get through the first security check before you even get to the actual queue to go up (and the second security check).

Seine Cruise (with dinner)

+ -8.30 PM.

To end your second day in Paris, you could opt for another typical Parisian experience – a Seine cruise . It’s something that’s popular not just among tourists, but also business travelers, and locals who take their guest for a special treat. This is especially the case with the cruises that include dinner.

There are many various cruise options , and most Seine cruises depart from one of the bridges at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. So if you want to do this at any time of your trip, this is the best moment in this itinerary.

The most popular option is the 1-hour cruise . You can take any boat which suits your schedule best and see all the highlights next to the river. On the way, you’ll pass many of the most famous landmarks of Paris, including the Louvre and Notre Dame. It’s a really nice way to see the city from a different angle and something I really recommend doing.

Alternatively, you can opt for an evening cruise that includes dinner. There are also quite a few options here and the choice can be overwhelming. This highly-rated dinner cruise offers really good quality and it starts/ends at the Eiffel Tower, so it would be a great fit for this itinerary. The fact that it’s also popular with the locals says it all.

Eiffel Tower Lights and Sparkles

As it gets dark, the Eiffel Tower is lit up every evening . In addition, it also sparkles for a few minutes every hour. It’s an unforgettable sight!

So after returning from your (dinner)cruise wait for the tower to sparkle. If you are visiting in the summer when it gets dark late, you could first go for dinner nearby. If you take a dinner cruise, it should be dark by the time you get back. In the winter, it’s quite likely that the tower will lit up when you visit it or even before that.

Good to know: Eiffel Tower light installation is automatic and it switches on a few minutes after sunset. At the moment, the tower remains lit until 11.45 pm. The sparkles go on on the hour every hour, between dusk and 11 pm. The spectacle lasts for about 5 minutes.

TIP: Some of the best places to enjoy the view on the sparking Eiffel Tower are Champ de Mars , a park southeast of the tower or Trocadero Park northwest of the tower, on the other side of the river. When the weather is nice, you will see hundreds of people (often with picnic blankets and wine bottles) enjoying the views of the beautifully-lit tower. It’s always a great atmosphere! You will usually see street vendors walking around selling wine and champagne (and also paper cups), so you can join in with the fun.

Place Vendôme – Opera – Galeries Lafayette Haussmann and (optional) Printemps Haussmann – Grévin Wax Museum or Covered Passages (optional) – Montmartre – Moulin Rouge Show.

Day 3 – planning info/tickets to book:

• Opera – skip-the-line tickets.
• Grévin Wax Museum – entry tickets (booking isn’t a must, but can save you some time).
• Montmartre – a guided walking tour or a self-guided tour is really recommended.
• Moulin Rouge show (with dinner) – you really should book the tickets long in advance.

Good to know: None of these places are included in the Paris Museum Pass . Also, your overall itinerary on this day (and how much time you’ll have everywhere) will depend a bit on which Moulin Rouge tickets you get – an early show with dinner (+-7 PM), just the show (+- 9 PM), or the late-night show (+-11.30 PM). So if you opt for a later show, you’ll have more time everywhere and/or be able to get back to your hotel to change if you like.

Place Vendôme

In the morning, you could visit Place Vendôme , one of the famous squares in Paris. This huge square is lined with some of the most expensive designer clothing- and jewelry stores. It’s much more exclusive than the luxury stores on Champs-Elysees or pretty much anywhere else in Paris.

One of the most luxurious hotels in Paris – the Ritz – is also located here. This is where Princess Diana stayed on her last night in the city.

The main landmark on the square is Colonne Vendôme . This is a 44 meters high bronze column that dates from the early 19th century and was ordered by Napoleon. It was made using over 1,200 cannons that were seized from the enemy during the battle of Austerlitz, and was dedicated to the French soldiers.

You don’t really need much time here, but since the next place on this itinerary is nearby, you could make a small effort and visit Place Vendome in the morning. Alternatively, just head straight to Palais Garnier (see below).

Palais Garnier (Paris Opera)

Opera Garnier is one of the places you really should see in Paris! I have to admit that it took me multiple trips to finally make the time for it, and wow, we should have done it right from the start. The architecture and the grandeur of this palace is absolutely dazzling!

Built in the late 19th century, Palais Garnier is the largest opera house in Europe. It’s not only its size that is impressive, but mostly the interior. I can’t even start to compare it to any other opera house we had seen (and we visited quite a few of them all over Europe including some of the most famous opera houses in Italy).

It’s not just the main hall/stage that is worth seeing, but there are so many other impressive halls and chambers. Everywhere you look, it’s a real feast for the eyes! In fact the Grand Foyer inside Palais Garnier is so exquisite that it could compete with the famous Hall of Mirrors in Versailles!

Good to know: Paris Opera is normally open for visits daily from 10 AM. However, it sometimes closes for special events. You can immediately see if it’s open on the day of your visit when you check the availability and buy your ticket . If needed, adjust your Paris itinerary, but don’t miss it!

Of course, you could also check their calendar and see if there are any performances that you could potentially visit during your stay in Paris.

TIP: For a small additional fee, you can get an interactive audio/tablet guide at the opera. If you have time to explore deeper, it’s worth it. And otherwise, just walk around and enjoy!

Galeries Lafayette – Printemps – Lunch

11 AM – 1 PM.

Right across the street from the Opera, you will find the most famous department store in Paris – Galeries Lafayette Haussmann . This is where the richer tourists come to do some shopping, but even if you are not interested in buying anything, you should really take a look inside!

The central area with an impressive glass dome is absolutely not to be missed! However, in addition, be sure to also visit the rooftop terrace ! The views from here are really nice and there is now a big ‘Paris, je t’aime’ (Paris, I love you) sign where you can take some nice pictures with the Eiffel Tower in the distance.

TIP: If you are looking for a similar experience without the crowds, check out the nearby Printemps Haussmann department store as well. Its top floor also has a very impressive glass dome, and they also have a rooftop terrace with stunning city views. There was one other tourist here when we visited; for the rest – only locals.

Good to know: Both of these department stores have some nice restaurants and cafes where you could sit down for lunch .

If the weather is good, you could also try to find a table at one of the cafés on the rooftop terraces (both, at Lafayette and Printemps). However, if you are just looking for a more simple quick meal, then you’ll find much better options in the nearby streets.

We really enjoyed crepes at La Crème de Paris , about 12 minutes walk from here, but there are tons of other nice options in this area too. And no worries – I indicated all the places mentioned here on our map, so you don’t have to write down or remember all the names.

Grévin Wax Museum or Covered Passages (optional)

In this same area, you can visit Grévin Museum . If you have been to a wax museum (like e.g. Madame Tussauds), it’s a very similar experience. Except that here, you will see more famous French people. But there are plenty of big international names too.

You can get the tickets for this museum in advance and in the high season, it can help you to skip the lines, but they aren’t very well organized so it’s not always the case. Or you can just see how busy it is on the day itself and decide if you want to visit at that time.

Another nice alternative in this same area are the covered passages . There used to be about 150 covered galleries in Paris, out of them about 20 remain today. You can see a couple of them here – on both sides of the street next to and opposite the museum.

Good to know: There are some tours that also visit these – and many other – covered passages. Or you can also opt for the self-guided audio tour . Just keep in mind that almost all of them start at Colonnes de Buren (close to the Louvre – see day 1 of this itinerary), which is about 15-20 minutes walk from the Opera or Grevin Wax Museum. If you are interested, I think that the self-guided tour will be the best option for this itinerary since it gives you complete flexibility on when to start/end.

TIP: It’s also really easy to adjust this itinerary so that you start with the self-guided covered passages tour in the morning (you can start as early as you like). The tour ends close to Grevin Wax Museum and you can then visit the Opera and the department stores nearby.

Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur Basilica

Next, make your way to Montmartre , one of the most iconic neighborhoods of Paris. You could walk here or take the metro which will take about the same amount of time.

A good place to start your visit to this area is Abbesses metro station at the foot of Montmartre. From here, you can walk/ take a funicular to Sacré-Cœur Basilica which is located on the hill.

I highly recommend that you take a guided tour of Montmartre , or you risk missing all the best parts of this neighborhood!

There are really nice tours of Montmartre , and many of them start at around 3-4 PM. So it could work for this itinerary really well.

If you rather explore on your own, you can also opt for this great self-guided audio tour (this is what we did since we weren’t sure how the timing would work out). Despite having visited Montmartre many times in the past, we’ve learned so much more and saw some nice areas that we would have missed otherwise.

The main landmark of Montmarte is the Sacré-Cœur (Basilica of the Sacred Heart). Most tours will end here allowing you plenty of time to see it inside.

TIP: If you are fit and can do 300 steps, be sure to climb the Dome of Sacré-Cœur . The 360° views from the top are absolutely worth the effort. Normally, the Dome is open until 8.30 PM and you can just get the ticket on the spot. When we recently visited Paris in October , there was no queue at all and we could just walk in (despite it being quite crowded at the Basilica itself).

READ ALSO: Best Things to Do in Montmartre

Moulin Rouge Show (with dinner)

Next and final stop on this itinerary is the iconic Moulin Rouge , the most famous cabaret in Paris. It’s located just near Montmartre and so you could easily come here after seeing all the rest.

If you are wondering whether a Moulin Rouge cabaret show is a good idea, I’d say don’t hesitate. It’s an amazing experience and so typically Paris. You can even do it with kids, just prepare them for the fact that there will be some nudity. And yes, there are quite a few other cancan shows in Paris (and you could easily visit one or two more), but if you choose just one, make it the Moulin Rouge!

A few things to keep in mind. They do have a certain dress code , so ideally, you don’t come here in jeans and sneakers (shorts are definitely not a good idea). But it’s not like you need evening attire either. When we visited, we saw everything – from very casual pants/blouses to high heels and evening dresses (these were rather an exception and not the rule). So if you want to go back to your hotel to change, foresee some time for this. Or simply dress up a bit more during the day already.

Normally, there are two shows every evening , one at around 9 PM and one at around 11.30 PM. You can also opt for dinner+show option , which usually starts at around 7 PM. This is a really high-quality dinner created by an award-winning chef, so the food is excellent.

PRO TIP: No matter which option you choose, be sure to book your Moulin Rouge tickets asap! Because this is a very popular experience in Paris (also among locals and business travelers), the shows usually sell out a few weeks in advance. Sometimes, there are only late shows available, which was the case when we booked tickets 3 weeks (!) before our visit.

Our experience: Due to it being the only available choice, we booked a late show at the Moulin Rouge and it worked out really well. Since our hotel wasn’t that far away, we went back to change our clothes. At 9 PM we had dinner at a very popular restaurant Bouillon Pigalle , just a few blocks from Moulin Rouge.

I indicated this and one other good restaurant in this area on our map. Try to reserve in advance because both of these restaurants are really popular and very busy! Alternatively, you’ll find plenty of other places to dine in this area.

Based on our experience, I say don’t worry about the late show . In fact, it’s maybe even better if you don’t mind staying up late. It leaves you more time for sightseeing and you can also get back to the hotel to change your clothes and have a quiet dinner before coming here. So just see what works best for you.

TIP: If the Moulin Rouge is sold out, you should be able to find tickets for one of the other cabaret shows . A popular (and also more budget-friendly) choice is Paradis Latin , the oldest cabaret in Paris. We once also went to see the Crazy Horse show and it was excellent too.

Hôtel de Ville – Centre Pompidou – Stravinsky Fountain – Le Marais neighborhood – Pantheon – Latin Quater – Luxembourg Gardens – Catacombs + Montparnasse Tower .

Day 4 – planning info/tickets to book:

• Le Marais neighborhood – book a guided tour (walking tours or bike tours). We opted for this amazing food tour . Optional Picasso Museum .
• Pantheon: skip-the-line ticket .
• Catacombs: timed-entry tickets are a must! We wanted to do this tour , but unfortunately, it was sold out (4 weeks before our trip!).
• Montparnasse Tower: skip-the-line ticket .

Good to know: The Pantheon and Picasso Museum are included with the Paris Museum Pass .

Hôtel de Ville – Pompidou Center – Stravinsky Fountain

Start your day at the Hôtel de Ville , the city hall of Paris. It’s a beautiful neo-renaissance-style building that is well worth seeing.

In front of the city hall, there is also a large square with fountains where various events are held. For example, in December, you’ll find a Christmas market here. During our last visit, Paris was already in preparation mode for the 2024 Summer Olympics, with colorful Olympic Rings set right in front of the city hall.

Next, walk to the Centre Georges Pompidou . This iconic building dates from the 1970s and is best known for its unique architecture.

You can see colorful piping all over the facade and each of the colors actually means something. Yellow pipes are for electricity, green – for water, blue – for ventilation and air-conditioning, and red for lifts and escalators. The building has several functions including a library and a modern-art museum. There is also a rooftop restaurant with nice city views.

You could spend a few hours here, but with just four days in Paris, we suggest only seeing this remarkable building from the outside. Also – if you would like to visit – keep in mind that it only opens later in the day. In that case, you’ll have to adjust your itinerary.

Good to know: Centre Pompidou will be closed for renovation starting from late 2024 until 2030. Even so, it’s still worth coming here – see below.

Just next to the Pompidou Center, on the southern end of the square, you can see another famous Paris landmark – the Stravinsky Fountain .

Built in the early 80s, this colorful fountain is made up of 16 moving figures, each representing different works of composer Igor Stravinsky. It’s very unique and makes for some fun photos.

The fountain has been recently reopened after a complete renovation, so the colors are as bright as ever!

In this same neighborhood, you could also walk to Forum des Halles , a huge modern shopping mall.

Next to it, you can also visit an impressive Saint-Eustache church . You could also start here early in the morning, but nothing will be open yet.

This is not really a must, but something to consider depending on the rest of the plans for this day.

Le Marais Neighborhood (walking/food tour)

10 AM – 2 PM.

With 4 days in Paris, you should be able to have at least a few hours to get a bit off the beaten path, beyond the main landmarks. For that, we highly recommend a walking tour through the charming Marais neighborhood .

Located in the heart of old Paris, this is the best-preserved medieval area of the city and also the heart of the Jewish community . Despite its proximity to so many popular landmarks and touristy places, this is a wonderful area with a feel of authentic Paris.

Le Marais is a great place to taste all kinds of food, which is as diverse as the residents of this neighborhood. From traditional Parisian and French food to Moroccan and middle-eastern cuisine and typical Jewish dishes, there’s truly something here for everyone.

And if you need some more convincing to visit this neighborhood, you might want to know that Le Marais is also home to the Picasso Museum , which is located in a beautiful building that is worth a visit in itself.

TIP: If you decide to visit this neighborhood, I highly recommend that you consider a guided tour. There are quite a few tours that come here (on foot or by bike), sometimes in combination with some other neighborhoods nearby. Without a guide, you might not appreciate this area unless you do lots of research in advance and know exactly the best spots.

We opted for this amazing food-tasting tour and it was by far the best tour we did in Paris. We also considered this walking tour (which doesn’t include any food and is much cheaper) and met a few people who did it and said it was excellent. As you can see, there is truly something for everyone and all budgets. Needless to say, 3-4 hour tours that include food tasting will be much more expensive than walking tours of less than 2 hours.

Good to know: Your overall itinerary on this day will depend on the tour that you choose here (if any). As you can see in the indicated timing, we foresee about 4 hours for this area (based on the tour that we did). If you join a shorter tour, you could also visit Picasso Museum, or simply continue with the rest of this itinerary allowing yourself more time at the other places indicated further below.

Also, pay attention to the starting times of the tours when deciding as this might be different depending on the season, etc. Ideally, you finish at no later than 2.30-3 PM so that you still have plenty of time for the rest of this itinerary.

READ ALSO: French Food: Best Local Dishes to Try in France

Panthéon

2.30 – 3.30 PM.

Built in the 18th century as a church, the Paris Panthéon later became the burial place for many famous French personalities, artists, and intellectuals, since the time of the French Revolution.

In the underground crypts of the Pantheon, you can see the tombs of French writers such as Voltaire, Victor Hugo, and Alexandre Dumas, but also the scientists Pierre and Marie Curie, and many others.

The building itself is really grand too and the interior is very impressive. Plus, you can climb to the top of the dome from where you have nice views of central Paris.

Good to know: Unless you have the Paris Museum Pass , get the tickets for the Pantheon online in advance. This was one place where we didn’t book upfront and we wasted almost 45 minutes in line (and it wasn’t even high season). The tickets are not timed and are valid the whole day, and it can save you a lot of time.

Saint-Étienne-du-Mont Church (optional)

3.30-3.45 PM.

Right next to the Pantheon, you will see the church of Saint-Étienne-du-Mont . And while there are countless beautiful churches that you can visit in Paris, this one is truly one of the most impressive ones (and it fits this itinerary really well, so you don’t have to go out of your way to see it).

The interior of this impressive church is even more breathtaking than its exterior. Inside, you can also see the shrine of Saint Geneviève, the patron saint of Paris . On the right side close to the altar, you’ll find an impressive glass coffin containing her relics.

There is no fee to visit and it only takes a few minutes of your time. I highly recommend that you check it out!

TIP: If you’d like to see more churches in Paris, you may want to make a small detour and visit the Église de Saint Germain des Prés . It’s a bit out of the way, but still in the same neighborhood. It’s beautifully restored and many Parisians say it’s now one of their favorite churches to show to tourists. We didn’t get there anymore – there’s just so much you can squeeze in a day. But if you have some time to spare, you’ll find it indicated on our map.

Latin Quarter – Luxembourg Gardens

Next, explore the Latin Quarter a bit more and walk to Luxembourg Gardens . These gardens are among the must-sees in Paris and really worth a visit at any time of the year.

You could start at Luxembourg Palace . This former Royal Palace is now used by the Senate. Then check out the beautiful pond in the middle, and walk south all the way to the “4 Corners of the World” fountain .

From here, it’s just a short walk to the next stop on this itinerary – the Catacombs.

5.30-6.30 PM.

It took me many years and many trips to Paris to finally visit the Catacombs . And now that I did, I highly recommend considering adding this unique place to your Paris sightseeing itinerary. It’s a truly unique place that will show you the dark side of the City of Lights.

Paris Catacombs date from the 18th century when the city was expanding and the decision was made to clear up the overflowing cemeteries. The remains of about 6 million people were carefully moved to this new location. Already at that time, it became a quirky attraction. They even organized midnight concerts here…

It’s really special to descend deep under the streets of Paris and discover this huge labyrinth lined with millions and millions of bones and skulls. We have visited numerous catacombs and bone chapels in Italy ( Rome , Naples ) and Portugal (Evora) before, and each and every one of them is so different.

The Paris Catacombs are absolutely massive! To give you an idea, you exit them about 0.5 km further than where you entered.

Good to know: While it’s not a spooky place, a visit to this ‘Empire of Death’ can be quite confronting. Plus, you will be underground for about 1 hour, so it’s not suited for people with claustrophobia. There are also some stairs that you have to negotiate, but nothing too strenuous.

TIP: Book your tickets for the Catacombs in advance ! The tickets are timed and they only allow a certain number of people inside. It usually sells out, so you really can’t count on being able to visit without a reservation. On Tiqets , you can usually book the tickets weeks upfront. On the official site , they only start selling 7 days upfront. The price is normally the same everywhere, but not all time slots are available on all sites. If it’s available, get them as soon as you start planning your itinerary; and if not, mark your calendars and try the official site 7 days before your visit.

Alternatively, if available for your travel dates, you could consider visiting the Catacombs with this tour . They take you to some chambers inside the Catacombs that are not open to the general public. This tour has fantastic reviews, but it is often sold out. It was also fully booked when we traveled. A self-guided visit is also ok, but I’m sure we would have learned so much more with a guide.

Montparnasse Tower

The last place on this 4-day Paris itinerary is one more amazing viewpoint – the rooftop terrace of Montparnasse Tower . This is the second-highest viewing terrace in the city (after the Eiffel Tower summit) and the views are really nice. In fact, the view is better than from the Eiffel Tower since you are looking at it.

Depending on the time of the year, you could time it to be here around sunset. But it’s worth it either way!

TIP: Get your ticket in advance and skip the queues at the entrance. People with reduced mobility get a big discount – in that case, get the ticket once you get there.

There is also a nice restaurant here if you are looking for a special treat for your last evening in the city (in that case, be sure to reserve in advance!). But there is really no shortage of good restaurants, cafes, cocktail bars, and pubs in this part of Paris, so you’ll find plenty of nice places to eat nearby. I indicated a few of them on our map.

Where to Stay

There are so many nice areas where you could stay in Paris and there is really not one ‘best’ place. As a general rule, try to stay in the heart of the city center, close to the metro, next to lots of local restaurants, and – ideally – within 15-20 minutes walking distance to places like the Louvre or Opera. That way, you are really centrally located for most sights.

Good to know: Many hotel rooms in Paris are tiny ! Often, there is just enough place in the room for a double bed and one person can hardly turn around in the bathroom. Pay attention to this when making your choice so that you know what to expect!

Advice based on our multiple trips to Paris. If your main focus of visiting Paris is sightseeing and getting to know the city a bit deeper, I recommend staying in the area north of the Louvre and east of the Paris Opera. There are many nice hotels here for various budgets, this area has lots of restaurants, and so many of the main landmarks are within easy reach from here. Some of the best department stores are also located in this area.

Here are some hotel recommendations in this area for various budgets:

€€€€€ InterContinental Paris Le Grand . €€€€ Chouchou Hotel . €€€ Leonardo Boutique Hotel Paris Opera (we recently stayed here – see below for more info). €€+ Hotel Choiseul Opera (one of the most popular 3* hotels in this part of Paris). €+ Hotel des Arts – Cite Bergere .

Our recent experience: On our recent visit on which this 4-day Paris itinerary is based, we stayed at Leonardo Boutique Hotel Paris Opera (previously Hotel Prelude Opera). This hotel is located very close to Grevin Museum, next to some of the nicest covered passages of Paris, about 15 minutes walk from the Opera and 20 minutes walk from the Louvre.

The location of the hotel was excellent, with the metro just behind the corner and lots of good price/quality restaurants. It’s a very good-value mid-budget 4* hotel that has been recently renovated. Also, by Paris standards, the rooms are of a rather comfortable size.

On a somewhat higher budget, a very nice choice in this area is La Maison Favart , with an indoor swimming pool and big family rooms for up to 4 people. You’ll find lots of other options for all budgets nearby too.

So, this sums up our recommendations on how to spend 4 days in Paris.

I hope that this very detailed guide will give you a better idea of what can be done in Paris in about four days. Of course, you can also skip the places that don’t interest you that much and take it easier leaving more time to relax and explore deeper.

So use this itinerary as it is or adjust it to your interests and plan your own perfect trip.

TIP: Be sure to also take a look at our first-timer’s guide to visiting Paris . It contains lots of useful information and tips for your trip to the City of Light. Check it out!

Enjoy Paris!

More travel inspiration for Paris:

• Traditional French Food
• Best Views in Paris
• Top Museums in Paris
• Tips for Visiting the Louvre Museum
• Best Things to Do in Montmartre
• Paris Itinerary for 1 Day
• Paris in October

If you found this post helpful, don’t forget to bookmark it and share it with your friends. Are you on Pinterest? Pin these images!

More travel inspiration for some of the most beautiful cities in Europe:

If you are visiting other European cities and are looking for in-depth information for your trip, take a look at some of our city guides:

• Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Antwerp, Belgium
• Barcelona, Spain
• Bern, Switzerland
• Bologna, Italy
• Brasov, Romania
• Brussels, Belgium
• Bruges, Belgium
• Bucharest, Romania
• Colmar, France
• Edinburgh, UK
• Florence, Italy
• Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
• Geneva, Switzerland
• Krakow, Poland
• Lisbon, Portugal
• Liverpool, UK
• Lucerne, Switzerland
• Madrid, Spain
• Manchester, UK
• Milan, Italy
• Naples, Italy
• Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal
• Ravenna, Italy
• Reykjavik, Iceland
• Rome, Italy
• Salzburg, Austria
• Seville, Spain
• Siena, Italy
• Sintra, Portugal
• Toledo, Spain
• Venice, Italy
• Verona, Italy
• For more… check our  destinations page.

READ ALSO: Best Time to Visit Europe

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Monday 15th of April 2024

Hi Jurga, I’m planning a trip in September and found your 4 day itinerary extremely helpful. Yours is by far my favorite out of the several Paris traveler blogs that I’ve read.

My question or concern is that it seems very busy. While I would like to see as much as possible for the four days we will be there, Im also a bit worried about just running around like crazy in order to not miss timed entries and not being able to relax and enjoy each place. It seems like a lot of ground to cover each day and I’m not clear on distances since I’ve never been there.

For example the Versailles trip in between D’Orsay museum and the Eiffel Tower. Seems like a lot but I’ve never been so I don’t know.

I know this might be a big question but…is there really enough time to do all this stuff each day?

Tuesday 16th of April 2024

@Jurga, thanks so much for the speedy response. All great advice again! Probably stuff I should already know but it definitely helps to hear from an expert. Much appreciated!!

Hi Damian, I sure understand your concern. This itinerary is packed. But yes, it's also doable (it's based exactly on what we did on one of the recent trips to Paris (it was me and my mother, so no kids on this trip)). Whether you should follow it to the t, it's really your call. In that case, you will have to plan well and pre-book everything well in advance to get the time slots you want. And yes, there will be moments when it might feel rushed. You won't have half a day to spend at each museum or in Versailles, so if you want to explore deeper, skip some places and concentrate on those that interest you the most. You could easily spend the entire day in Versailles alone if you prefer. On the other hand, keep in mind that slowly walking between the museum exhibits is usually quite tiring too and after 2-3 hours, most people can't really concentrate on anything anymore. Also, what do you do in a city if you didn't plan anything for 2-3 hours? Sit down at a cafe, go shopping, do some people-watching? If you like to do that, then skip something else and foresee some extra time in between. Only you know yourself and how you like to travel, so decide based on that. If having too much planned on the same day without much extra time gives you stress, see if you can adjust the itinerary to make it more relaxing for you. For example, you can visit Museum d'Orsay first thing when it opens and then Versailles in the afternoon. But maybe plan the Eiffel Tower later and/or skip the Seine Cruise. Or only visit the 2nd floor of the Eiffel Tower instead of the Summit (that saves a lot of time)... There are so many ways to adjust the itinerary and still see a lot without feeling overwhelmed. This itinerary is just meant to give you ideas on what to do, how you could plan your time, and show what's possible. But there are a million other ways to do it. Hope this helps.

Friday 2nd of February 2024

Q: what is the train station for Varersaille, to purchase entry tickets I want to ensure there is a train leaving early enough for a 9:30 entry. Thank you

Saturday 3rd of February 2024

Hi Terri, depending on where you are coming from in Paris, here are some of the best train stations from where you can take a train: Invalides 'close to d'Orsay Museum or Invalides', Champs de Mars (close to the Eiffel Tower), or Pont de l'Alma (a bit in between). You need to take a train line C to Versailles Château Rive Gauche Station. There are trains running more or less every 15 minutes throughout the day and you can just get tickets at the machines at any station. There is no need to book train tickets in advance. And yes, there are plenty of trains in the morning and the journey from the center takes about half an hour. In addition, it takes about 15-20 minutes to walk to the Palace from the station in Versailles. TIP: You can use Google Maps to find the best route and see the train schedule. Choose the little train icon instead of a car or a pedestrian and you'll see all public transport options. Ideally, check it the day in advance or on the day itself - that way, you get the most up-to-date info. Hope this helps.

Michael Cicchi

Monday 17th of April 2023

I have not been at Place Vendrôme yet but I hope to have high tea at the Ritz next time in Paris. That is probably all I can afford there.

@Jurga, Yes, I just googled Angelina and it sounds like a great place.👍👍👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

I still haven't been inside the Ritz either, Michael. Locals recommended Angelina tea house (they have several locations in Paris, including one not too far from this area). That might be a more affordable choice for your high tea experience ;).

Tuesday 31st of January 2023

Thank you SO much for putting this blog together! It has been extremely helpful as I plan our trip this spring! I have a couple questions. I love that we can reserve skip the line and timed entry tickets ahead of time. I've noticed though, for skip the line we aren't given the opportunity to select a specific time... Does this mean that we can show up any time during that day and are able to skip the line? That will be helpful in planning but I noticed when I go to reserve tickets I'm not prompted to select a given time. And for the Cruise/Bistro dinner tour. That also doesn't inlcude a time? Will more information come after we book it or do we just show up to the destinition sometime during that day and it works? I'm sure I'm making this more difficult than it needs to be. Any help appreciated! Thank you!!

Wednesday 1st of February 2023

@Jurga, Thank you so MUCH for you quick response! That was extremely helpful! I will start reserving times when my planning is nailed down. There are a few things I can't reserve yet because some calendars only go till March. The dinner cruise in our budget is the $54 one. 1 hour sight-seeing cruise with Bistro dinner. That is the one within our budget. Sorry. It won't let me link it. But it's on the list of ones you shared in that section. Thank you so much for all your help!

Hello Jacque, many Parisian attractions have timed entry tickets (e.g. Sainte-Chapelle, Musee d'Orsay, etc.). But there are many others where you just get a ticket that is valid the whole day and it doesn't matter when you arrive. So it really depends on the specific attraction that you book. I linked to the tickets as we bought them throughout the article. For the Seine dinner cruise, if you mean this one, it shows 8.30pm for me as a starting hour. I now realize that maybe you haven't chosen the date when looking at tours/tickets - you need to do that first in order to see the possible hours. So when you open a specific ticket or tour on the GetYourGuide website, you have to select participants, travel date, and in some cases, you can also choose between different languages. When you do that, you either see the hours to choose from or - like for the dinner cruise - you see the only possible starting time. Alternatively - for tickets to the main attractions - you can also try booking tickets on this website. Maybe it's simpler for you to understand. Also here, you have to select the travel date, choose your timeslot (where applicable), and then the number of tickets that you need. Hope this helps.

Perfect 4 Day Paris Itinerary for all seasons

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Our 4 day Paris itinerary was about falling in love with Paris – all over again. I love Paris and I fell in love with Paris even before we met and after having spent a few days – this love affair continues to grow.

Thomas Jefferson summed up my feelings about Paris. To quote, “A walk about Paris will provide lessons in history, beauty, and in the point of Life” . Truly, when we explored Paris, we found beauty in the old charming lanes, the abundance of history, and the everyday life in lovely neighborhoods, just straight out of postcards.

Our 4 days in Paris Itinerary were about getting lost in the city’s lanes, checking off the iconic landmarks, and bringing back tons of unforgettable memories. 

4 days in Paris: A 4 day Paris Itinerary for first time visitors & all seasons

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click one of them, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you .

4 day Paris itinerary: Things to do in Paris in 4 days

• Day 1 : Best of Paris , start at the Trocadero Gardens, visit the Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysses, Arc de Triomphe, Grand/Petit Palais, and finish the day at the Louvre
• Day 2: More of Paris Highlights : Notre Dame Cathedral, Seine River, Latin Quarter, Pantheon, Catacombs, Seine River Cruise
• Day 3: Explore Parisian Neighborhoods . Montparnasse and/or Montmartre 
• Day 4: Take a day trip to Versailles (+ Giverny)

Planning for 4 days in Paris Itinerary

Arriving in Paris – Planning a trip to Paris

There are three airports in Paris France –  Charles de Gaulle International Airport, Orly Airport, and Beauvais-Tille Airport.

• Charles de Gaulle International Airport is the main airport in Paris and it is located about 45 minutes from the city center. You will most likely fly into this airport if traveling from North America or Asia. We arrived at the Charles de Gaulle airport and took the RER to reach the 15th arrondissement, where our hotel was. From the airport, you pay 10 Euros to take the RER train to multiple locations in the city. You will always see a HUGE line-up at the ticket counter, but trust me, the lines move very fast. If in a hurry, you can always book an airport shuttle or transfer
• Orly Airport is the second international airport in Paris and is around the same distance as the Charles de Gaulle (45 minutes from the city center). From Orly, you can either take a taxi or a shuttle bus. The shuttle buses leave every 15 minutes.
• Beauvais-Tille Airport is for budget airlines only (RyanAir and Wizz Air). It takes about 80 minutes to arrive at the city center from Beauvais-Tille Airport. There are 2 options to get to Paris from the airport – airport transfer buses (takes 80 minutes, tickets can be purchased at the terminal), by train (from the airport to the train station is 15 minutes by taxi and then the train takes another 80 minutes. Taxi fare is around 15 euros).

Paris Accommodation Guide – Paris Hotels

Paris is divided into 20 arrondissements ( arr. ) or boroughs. We narrowed down the areas to the best places to stay in Paris and have provided some hotel recommendations below.

Keep in mind, Paris is home to some of the finest and most luxurious hotels and it is well worth investing the money in a boutique hotel with great views.

Most of the luxury hotels are located near the city centre (1st and 8th arr.) There are also quaint Parisian neighborhoods (Montmartre, Marais, 11th arr.) that are well connected by Paris metro, which are great options to stay if you are looking for mid to budget range hotels and do not mind the distance from the city centre. Book your Paris hotels here .

Luxury – Paris Hotel Recommendations

• Hotel Plaza Athenee has 154 rooms and 5- star restaurants on site. 
• It was awarded the “Palace distinction” for being ONE of the finest luxury hotels in France.
• Stay at this hotel for its history, luxurious and one of kind treatment, and of course Eiffel tower views!
• Check rates and book your stay at Hotel Plaza Athenee
• One of the finest hotels in Paris, Park Hyatt Paris Vendome brings in stunning interiors, an in-house spa, and 3 restaurants including a Michelin star restaurant.
• The prime location of this hotel steals the cake – Place Vendome, the Louvre, and Palais Opera Garnier are located just minutes away
• Stay at this hotel to experience luxury, delicious breakfast at a convenient location.
• Check rates and book your stay at Park Hyatt Paris Vendome

Mid Range – Paris Hotel Recommendations

• Metro station is easily accessible. Stay at this hotel for a romantic vacation, with access to sightseeing areas. Great value.
• Check rates and book your stay Mercure Paris Montmartre Sacre Coeur
• The location of this hotel is perfect and convenient to view Paris attractions like Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Porte de Versailles Exhibition, and Dupleix Metro Station are just a few steps away.
• Stay at this hotel for its convenient location and good value for money.
• Check rates and book your stay at Hotel Eiffel Capitol
• Metro stations are located close by (Issy de Marie).
• The hotel was located in a residential area, not as vintage as some of the other areas or hotels mentioned above. The rooms were spacious and clean. The staff was friendly too. There are a restaurant and bar on-site but had limited hours of operation
• As we were out and about exploring all day long the hotel neighborhood didn’t bother us. The room rates were of good value.
• Check room rates and book your stay   Hotel iBis Issy Les Moulineaux Val Seine  

Day 1 of 4 Day Paris Itinerary – Eiffel Tower, Trocadero Gardens, Arc de Triomphe, Louvre Museum

The first day of 4 days in Paris Itinerary should include the BEST that Paris is known for. On this day, explore the Trocadero Gardens, then head to the stunning Eiffel Tower and more Paris tourist spots and finally finish the day at the Louvre.

Before you start your day, it is worthwhile to check out a few ways to explore Paris.

On our trip to Paris, we utilized the hop-on and hop-off sightseeing tours to save time. These tours commence at the Trocadero gardens – so as long you arrive there, you can ride on one of these sightseeing buses for the day.

Grab a map (like the one added in this article) and then get down whenever you like to explore. These are not guided tours, it is more of a convenience in traveling from point A to B. Continue reading to find out what tourist spots you should cover. Click here to book your hop-on and hop-off sightseeing bus tour .

Paris Pass to make the most of 4 days in Paris

Consider getting the Paris Pass for your trip. With the Paris Pass, you can get access to over 60 attractions in the city (including the Paris museum pass for 2 days/access and fast track entry), free public transportation, and also 1 day of hop-on and hop-off tour – mentioned above. The Paris Pass can be purchased for 2, 3, or 6 days. (There is no 4 day Paris Pass for purchase.)

We have highlighted some of the individual tours and entry fees for each tourist spot below as well. To save money on transport and get more of your four days in Paris, get the 3 day Paris Pass.

Purchase your Paris Pass here

Trocadero Gardens

Start your day at the Trocadero Gardens. Jardins du Trocadero is a garden and along with the Palais de Chaillot (which is built on a hilltop) provides excellent views of the Eiffel tower. This site (also the seat of a former palace) was named after the Battle of Trocadero, 1878.

Today, the Trocadero has 3 museums on-site, along with the gardens. The garden also has fountains called the Fountain of Warsaw, whose still waters create perfect reflections of the Eiffel tower.  Fountain of Warsaw is the largest fountains in Paris.

Most tours and sightseeing buses start at the Trocadero gardens. Trocadero is easily connected via Paris metro.

We arrived here at 7:30 am and the place was already filled with a lot of people. Still, it wasn’t too crowded. Entry to the gardens is completely free. We clicked some photos of the Trocadero Gardens and of course the Iron Lady. You can get awesome shots of the Eiffel Tower from here.

We also decided to have some breakfast at the Trocadero – watch the sun go up against the Eiffel Tower, whilst sipping some lattes, baguette Fromage, and croissants. There was a coffee and breakfast stall set up at the Trocadero, along with vendors selling Paris souvenirs .

Eiffel Tower – Check off Paris bucket list

Gustave Eiffel, the architect of the Eiffel tower, once said, “ I ought to be jealous of the tower. She is more famous than I am “. Referring to the Eiffel Tower, you might already know that the Tour  Eiffel  is an iconic symbol of France and romance .

It is the WORLD’S most-visited paid structure. Needless to say, you got to visit to see for yourself.

The Eiffel Tower was originally built as an entry gate to World Fair (Exposition), had nothing to do with romance actually.

If you compare the tower to some of the tallest buildings in the world, it is actually as tall as a skyscraper with 81 floors. However, the Eiffel is the tallest structure in the whole of Paris at 324 metres high, followed by the tallest skyscraper – Tour First (a commercial building) at 231 metres.

From the Trocadero when you make your way to the Eiffel Tower, you will find ample opportunities to capture and admire the stunning structure. The streets, trees, and the Carrousel de la Eiffel Tower (Eiffel Tour Carousel) makes for a charming, romanticized view.

To view the Eiffel tower closely, there is an entry fee, and depending on how close, under, or top you wish to go to the tower, the access fees are different. Technically to view the Eiffel or walk on the grounds is free, but to access the tower itself you pay a fee. Or you can stay in a hotel with an Eiffel tower view.

There are 3 floors of the Eiffel tower, where visitors are granted access.

• 1st floor – The 1st floor of the tower has a transparent glass floor.
• 2nd floor – 2nd floor provides you with mesmerizing views over Paris. View the sights of the Parisian iconic building like the Invalides, Notre Dame, Louvre, Grand Palais, and the Seine river. There are restaurants and souvenir shops located here as well. The second floor is most popular among tourists, also because of the romantic dining options. You can book your tickets online for the second floor .
• Summit –  With 2 lifts, you will be taken to the summit of the Eiffel tower at 273 metres high and you can see the whole of Paris below you. There are open-air and indoor viewing areas. There is a champagne bar, and a museum dedicated to Gustave Eiffel on the top floor. Book your summit tour of the Eiffel Tower .
• Esplanade – This is the ground level, from where you can see the tower soaring on top of you. The hydraulic lifts located at the basement on either side of the tower operate the lifts to take you to the tower floors and summit. Ticket counters, information desk, souvenirs stores, and other stores are located here.

Eiffel Tower Tips 

• If you wish to access the 2nd floor or the summit of the Eiffel Tower, give yourself enough time. 2-4 hours easily. Most online access tickets are for 90 to 120 minutes (2 hours) like this one , but Eiffel tower is notorious for LONG lines and wait times, even with a “skip the line” ticket. So give yourself time.
• The same applies to the Summit. Book your summit tour in advance .
• Whenever you book your ticket, choose a time slot and arrive 30 minutes ahead of time to line up and go through security checks.
• Booking tickets ahead of time will confirm your slot and save you money. You can also buy tickets at the tower, depending on availability, at individual costs.
• Eiffel Tower can also be accessed via stairs. Stair access tickets are only available at the tower, not sold online. You can only take the stairs up-to-the 2nd floor.
• A romantic dinner at the Eiffel tower is a GREAT way to celebrate Paris and you! Reserve your Eiffel tower dinner (or lunch) here.
• Safety : Eiffel Tower is a major attraction in Paris and there is heightened security in and around the structure. Be careful and aware of your surroundings. Travel light and don’t carry additional bags or cameras (or other flashy things).
• Hours: Eiffel Tower is open all year round. Depending on the season, there are different timings for the tower access .

It is a wonderful sight to see the Eiffel tower shining bright at night.

Did you know that the Eiffel Tower has a furnished apartment? Gustave Eiffel built the apartment/office for himself – third floor. You can take a peek at it while on your way to the Summit.

Champs-Élysées

From the Eiffel Tower, make your way to another Parisian popular spot – Champs-Élysées. Champs Elysees is a stretch of lane extending from the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde.

Take a quick stroll and admire the gardens and vintage buildings. Champs Elysees is popular as a shopping street as well.

The most Instagrammable Laduree store and one of the largest Louis Vuitton stores are located here. Shop or window shop here and grab a bite to eat before heading to the Arc de Triomphe.

We went in to the Laduree store here to try out some macaroons and get souvenirs back home. The place was packed – took us almost 15 – 20 minutes to get our macaroons. But they were DELICIOUS.

Arc de Triomphe

The Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile (or Arc de Triomphe) is a stunning neoclassical archway located at the west end of Champs Elysees. The construction of the archway was ordered by Napoleon to honor the brave hearts from the Napoleonic wars and the French Revolution. Today it attracts tourists from all over the world.

Visiting Tips for Arc de Triomphe – 4 day Paris Itinerary 

• From the west end of Champs Elysees, you can see or view the Arc de Triomphe. In between Champs Elysees and Arc de Triomphe are busy roundabout and heavy traffic.
• Pro tip : Do not attempt to cross the road. There is an underground pedway available to access the archway.
• If you are taking pictures from Champs Elysees (like we did – guilty), look out for oncoming traffic and stay on the walkway.
• That area is super crowded with people and street artists – be careful and stay alert. Careful with your belongings.
• You can access the top of the archway, to get some breathtaking views of Paris.
• For less than $15 USD, you can capture some amazing views. Book your rooftop access tickets here. 

Grand Palais/Petit Palais

From the Arc de Triomphe and Champs-Elysees, head to Grand Palais. Grand Palais des Champs-Elysees or the Great Palace is a large historic site, an exhibition hall, and a museum.

If you are not interested in exploring the museum displays, we would still recommend visiting the complex and admiring the beautiful architecture. The Grand Palais is open every day except Tuesday and an entry fee costs about 15 euros.

Close to the Grand Palais, is a smaller art museum – Petit Palais. Petit Palais is less crowded than the Great Palace. You should be able to explore the museum in an hour or so. There is a statue of Sir Winston Churchill located at the Petit Palais grounds.

Both Grand and Petit Palais were built as part of the 1900 Universal Exposition. Another stunning structure built during this exhibition was the beautiful Pont Alexandre III (bridge) built over the river Seine. The Pont Alexandre iii is located close to the Grand Palais, so definitely stop by to admire the bridge architecture.

Opera House/ Palais Garnier

Paris’s Opera House or the Palais Garnier is the State Opera and the seat of Paris Opera Ballet. The stunning Opéra Garnier was built by Charles Garnier by winning the opera house design competition.

The Opera House is beautiful to look at. And we have heard and seen amazing (and luxurious) details of the interiors. You can book a 90 minute guided tour of the Opéra Garnier .

The Louvre Museum

We finished our first day of 4 days in Paris Itinerary by visiting the Louvre Museum. There are many ways to spend an evening in Paris, we chose to spend it at the Louvre. Arrive late afternoon before the museum closes and explore the art displays.

It takes 2-3 hours to completely enjoy and explore the Louvre, so give yourself enough time.

But stay there until the end when the museum closes to see the lights on the pyramid, capture images and then head to the Arc de Triomphe Carrousel to take a stroll.

From the Arc de Triomphe Carrousel, you will see the Eiffel Tower illuminated in all of the night’s glory.

The Louvre Palace originally served as the royal residence of the French monarchy. This is where the WORLD FAMOUS Louvre museum is housed. Louvre museum opened its doors in the late 18th century, with royal exhibitions.

Over the years, the Louvre complex and the museum displays grew in size. When the Palace of Versailles was built by Louis IX, the Louvre no longer served as a prime royal residence.

Leonardo da Vinci’s Monalisa is displayed at the Louvre museum, along with more than 350,000 other historical and art items. The Louvre is the world’s MOST visited museum. If you are an art museum lover, then plan for a 2-3 hour stay here.

The historical elements of the displayed items and the structure come from the royal family (Louvre Palace), the painters, and art history.

Book a comprehensive 3 hour tour of the Louvre

Don’t forget to spend some time at the Arc de Triomphe Carrousel after to watch the Eiffel Tower glowing in the night lights. There are a lot of restaurants and cafes by the Louvre museum for dinner.

If you are uninterested in entering the Louvre, then head to the Palais Royal instead. 

Domaine National du Palais Royal

The Palais-Royal is a former royal palace located opposite the Louvre. If you are looking for I nstagrammble spots in Paris , then don’t miss the columns at Palais Royal (just like the pyramid at the Louvre – this is a must for your Paris photos!)

This palace site dates back to the 16th century and it represents one of the most beautiful remnants of historical architecture in the city, complemented with a breathtaking garden. Palais Royal grounds are open until 10:30 pm (and 08:30 pm during the off-season). 

Pro Tip: If the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum are your prime sightseeing items, allot 3 hours for each (summit access, guided tour, etc). Trocadero, Champs Elysees (no shopping), and the Arc de Triomphe (including tower access) will not take a lot of time.

You can explore the Opera House, Grand Palais/Petit Palais from the outside – as they are in the same vicinity. But in dept exploration might be too tight for a day, but not impossible.

Day 2 of 4 days in Paris Itinerary – Notre Dame Cathedral, Seine River, Latin Quarter, Pantheon, Catacombs, Seine River Cruise

Day 2 of your 4 days in Paris Itinerary is filled with more sightseeing and experiences. Today we will cover some of the other popular Paris tourist landmarks. So, let’s kick start day 2 of Paris Itinerary with a visit to the Notre Dame Cathedral and Saint Chapelle.

Notre Dame Cathedral

Notre Dame Cathedral is a beautiful Catholic church located in Paris’s 4th arrondissement neighborhood. It is considered one of the finest Gothic architectural landmarks and its beautiful architecture is characterized by stained glass windows, statues, and bells.

The Notre Dame Cathedral was built between the 12-14th centuries as the seat of the Archbishop of Paris. It is a living museum and masses are held regularly.

Note: Due to the devastating fire at the Notre Dame Cathedral on April 15, 2019, the cathedral is currently closed until further notice. Restoration work is currently going on, with hopes of re-opening Notre Dame in 2024 for the Summer Olympics. 

You can still view Notre Dame from outside, and take pictures. 

Seine River

By now, you must have realized that there is a river that flows through Paris and has been a significant contributor to French history. The word Seine is derived from the Latin word Sequena – the goddess of the river.

The earliest mention of the Seine river is from the 800s. Since then the Seine has witnessed Olympic games, murders and massacres (Algerian Paris massacre 1961), trades and commercial activity, and history and literature on its river banks.

There are over 35 bridges built over the river Seine – some are more stunning than the others and some historical and some very functional.

Just like the Pont Alexander III (we saw yesterday), the Pont Neuf (or the New Bridge) is another popular bridge attraction. The river flows throughout the city of Paris, so you will see different versions and stories of the Seine.

Île de la Cité and Sainte Chapelle

The Seine river area, close to the Notre Dame Cathedral is worth exploring. Île de la Cité is a natural island in the River Seine – this is where medieval Paris was founded. If you take a walk across from the cathedral, you will be able to view it.

The Sainte-Chapelle is a royal chapel built in the Gothic style in the 13 th century. The floor-to-roof glass interiors are absolutely gorgeous. This church is located within the Palais de la Cite.

The artsy stained glass interiors of Sainte Chapelle have become a curiosity of many travelers. Although a smaller church than the mighty Notre Dame, Saint Chapelle has a strong fan following, and the lineup to get there can be quite crazy. Here are the entry tickets

Pro Tip: Try to arrive here first thing in the morning and then head to the Notre Dame Cathedral, preferably 10-15 minutes before the gates open.  

Continue walking to see some green colored bookstalls. The Seine has been also popularly described as the “river between 2 bookshelves”. The Bouquinistes of Paris (aka the green bookstalls) sell used and antiquarian books along the banks of the River Seine. These stalls have been located here since the 16th century.

Latin Quarter

Home to the Paris Sorbonne University, the Latin Quarter, in the 5th (and part of 6th) arrondissement is filled with multi-cuisine cafes, bars, and student areas. This is a perfect lunch stop for the day.

The history of the Latin Quarter dates back to 52 BC, and had been a centre of education and learning for centuries.

Latin Quarter is on the left bank of the Seine river. Start your exploration by taking a stroll along with the Quai St Michel. You will see some book stores (famed Shakespeare and Co) and restaurants along the banks.

Explore the vintage buildings, lanes, and the Sorbonne University area, before setting down for a good lunch. After lunch, explore the Luxembourg Gardens (Jardin du Luxembourg) which is located on the cusp of the 5th and the 6th arrondissement (in the artsy Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood).

The Luxembourg Gardens are popular for their lawns, beautiful flower beds, and the picturesque Medici Fountain.

To make the most of your time, you can also take a 2 hour guided tour of the Latin Quarter, which covers all of the above-mentioned areas, including the Pantheon and the Musée d’Orsay (art museum).

Explore the guided tour of Latin Quarter here .

Musee d’Orsay

Musee d’Orsay is one of the popular museums in Paris. It is home to the largest Impressionist and post Impressionist masterpieces in the world. The museum pass will come in handy here.

The Pantheon, from a distance, looks like a city hall, but it is was originally a church dedicated to Saint Genevieve, patron saint of Paris. Today it is the burial ground of some of Paris’s famous personalities. Admire the architecture of this building, built in neo-classical style.

Catacombs of Paris

The catacombs of Paris are slowly becoming a popular tourist attraction, but we do understand not everybody might want to visit this on their first trip to Paris. It is, however, good to know.

The Catacombs of Paris are underground ossuaries (a room where bones of dead people are kept) in the 14th arrondissement – Montparnasse neighborhood.

Catacombs house the remains of more than six million people in a small part of a tunnel network.

The reason for building this ossuary is not very “grave” as it might seem. In the late 18th century, many cemeteries (holy Saint Innocents) were falling apart and there was an urgent need to dispose of the dead bodies.

As part of town planning, the remains were moved to a mine shaft. Years went by and this place was almost forgotten until excavations were done. The streets of the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower and beyond form a part of this dark tunnel.

From Pantheon to the Catacombs of Paris, it is a 6-minute drive or a 25-minute walk. You can explore the catacombs only with a guided tour. This guided tour here is for small groups only. It is for 2 hours. The inside of the tunnels are dark, uneven, and could be claustrophobic (and sometimes dark and chilly, also eerie).

Seine River Cruise

We hope you have some energy for one last item of your Day 2 Paris Itinerary. Whether you visit the Catacombs or not, this SEINE river cruise should not be MISSED. We have taken quite a few day and evening (sightseeing) cruises and we loved them all.

With the Seine River Cruises, ranging from 1 hour to 2.5 hours, you can capture and see MOST of Paris’s iconic landmarks, whilst sailing on the Seine. Bateaux Parisiens is the starting point for the Seine River Cruise and it is FREE with the Paris Pass.

You can take this cruise anytime (day or evening), it has a 1-day validity. Here is the one-hour sightseeing cruise information . We prefer doing this in the evening, so we reached there at 08:45 pm. Whatever time of day it is, bring a scarf or a light cardigan, as it could get chilly.

If you have not made any dinner plans, consider taking a Seine River dinner cruise for 2.5 hours . It is so romantic and will definitely make a great Paris memory.

Day 3 of 4 day Paris Itinerary – Montparnasse & Montmartre Tour – Sacre Coeur, streets and cafes, walking, Place du Tertre, Moulin Rouge

On your third day of 4 days in Paris Itinerary, split your time between 1 or 2 neighborhoods – get lost in their lanes, try out some local cafes and cuisines and just fall in LOVE!

We picked the Montmartre district to explore, with a quick stop at Montparnasse. Of course, there are other areas that you can visit too like – Marais or the Latin Quarter, but we hope you fall in love with Montmartre as we did.

Montparnasse

The Catacombs that you visited yesterday are located in the Montparnasse district – in the 14th arrondissement. The Montparnasse tower is the most popular attraction in the city. It is a must-visit to capture some of the stunning views of the city.

Montparnasse Tower

The Montparnasse Tower is a skyscraper in the district of the same name. The observation platform at the Montparnasse tower will give you amazing photo opportunities of the city. Now, this is, of course, different viewing the city from the Eiffel tower itself – as you won’t see the tower in it.

The Montparnasse tower will give you just that. There are 2 levels at the tower to take in the views – one is on the 56 th floor (with glass windows) and the rooftop observation terrace. Grab your tickets here

Pro tip: You can also visit the Montparnasse tower at night, for light views as well. The tower is located 5- 15 minutes away from the Catacombs. Because the evening Seine river was already covered, we suggest viewing a different perspective (maybe during spring and autumn for fall colors) in daylight. 

Head to the Montparnasse cemetery

Montparnasse cemetery is really a popular site in Paris. Now I will be a bit overwhelmed visiting the Catacombs and the cemetery on the same day and at night, so visit this during the day.

The Montparnasse Cemetery is actually very smoothing – perfect for a stroll (before heading for some crepes in town!). Many of the well-known French personalities including artist Jean-Paul Sartre is buried here.

Here you will also find some of the last remaining windmills in the city of Paris.

Crepes at Rue du Montparnasse

Your trip to Paris is not complete without trying out the best crepes in town and you will find those crepes on Rue du Montparnasse. No particular recommendation here – but just pick the café that appeals to you on this street and go crazy with crepes.

Now for the second half of the day, head to Montmarte. Montparnasse to Montmartre is 30 minutes by train.

Another pro tip: You can also go to Montmartre first and then Montparnasse if you wish to see the sunset from Montparnasse Tower.

What to do in the Montmartre neighborhood

Montmartre today is a popular Parisian neighborhood located in the 18th arrondissement. It is also an official historic district, meaning the city of Paris is trying to preserve much of the vintage and bohemian vibe of this neighborhood.

Before we explore Montmartre, it’s important to understand its history (and you know how MUCH we LOVE history). So Montmartre is the name of the hill that overlooks the district and it is also the name of the district itself.

Montmartre means “mount of mars” (in Roman. Frenchman call it the “mount of martyrs” and there is a reason why).

Until the late 19th century, Montmartre was not a part of the city of Paris nor was the stunning Sacre Coeur built. The village, as it was back then, was filled with gypsum miners and traders.

It had also witnessed French wars of Religion and Franco-Prussian wars, and the Germans had once upon a time also occupied the Montmartre hill (for bombardment. It’s a hill, so it worked for military expeditions).

Montmartre’s iconic landmark – Sacred Heart Basilica of Sacre Coeur was completed in 1919 and slowly this little village was filled with artists (painters, cabaret dancers, and the like) and cafes.

When you walk through the district, you will find cafes that were frequented by the likes of Vincent van Gogh, Pierre Brissaud, Raymond Duchamp-Villon, and more. These lanes are completely Insta-worthy and vintage-y.

You can easily reach Montmartre from the Paris metro

• Pigalle station (closest Sacré Coeur metro),
• Ansvers (near Sacré Coeur funicular and Place de tetre),
• Abbesses (right at the entrance of Montmartre neighborhood) and
• Blanche station (near Moulin Rouge) are some options to get to Montmarte.

Montmartre Walking Tour 

Once you are in Montmartre, you can spend the day exploring all the sightseeing spots. If you prefer taking a guided tour, here is a GREAT option. This recommended walking tour is a small group tour which starts from the Paris metro station and takes you to all the important sightseeing areas. Tour is for 2-3 hours, leaving you with plenty of time to relax, eat, and spend the day.

So here is what you should explore in Montmartre in 4 day Paris Itinerary.

The Sacred Heart Basilica of Paris, known as Sacré Coeur is located on a hill in Montmartre. The basilica was built and opened in 1919. The entry to the basilica is completely free. To access the church towers/dome, there is a fee of 5 euros. This entry fee is worth it as you can get amazing views of the entire city from the top.

The basilica is open every day from 06:00 am to 10:30 pm. Try to arrive early for some photos or a light stroll by the basilica. Sacré Coeur is easily accessible by bus from one of the nearest Montmartre Paris Metro locations (Pigalle, Ansvers stations).

Cafes and Streets of Montmartre 

Sacré Coeur is definitely an iconic landmark, but the streets and quaint lanes of Montmartre are what will leave your heart wanting for more.

Take a walk from the metro station towards the Sacré Coeur or vice versa, you will see red-green cafes, old vintage buildings, souvenir stores, street art, and murals. These small lanes are also lined with con artists and pickpockets, so always be careful. Carry the basic items that you need and enjoy the neighborhood, eat, and drink to your heart’s content.

Le Consulat – Le Consulat is a cafe in Montmartre that was frequented by popular artists in bygone days. Today, it is one of the most photographed pictures on Instagram.

La Maison Rose – Pretty pink and mint green colored restaurant, also very Instagram famous is located in Montmartre

Museums in Montmartre – Visit the Musée d’ Montmartre (learn about history and architecture of Montmartre), Musée de la Vie Romantiqe (artists and displays from the Romanticism era), Musée d’Art Naïf Max Fourny (museum of modern art), Musée de l’Erotisme (only for adults)

Rue de Steinkerque – The streets of Rue de Steinkerque are bustling with French souvenirs, T-shirts, and more. Best way to mingle and get lost in this neighborhood.

Place du Tertre 

Place du Tertre is a popular square in Montmartre. Rightly popular as the Montmartre artists square, this place has been an important seat of arts and art display since medieval times. Today you can find artists painting or selling their artwork. This square is lined with cafes and restaurants, perfect for a pit stop to try some macaroons or crepes.

Moulin Rouge Montmartre

Moulin Rouge is the FAMED cabaret in Paris France. Located near the Blanche metro station, this landmark with the iconic red windmills and lights is hard to miss.

The heritage of cabaret at the Moulin Rouge dates back to the late 1880 and was evolved from the popular can-can dance (very high energy, physically demanding dance to a seductive cabaret). The original building was destroyed was fire and later rebuilt.

Today it is a popular tourist attraction and if you did like to spend the evening with dinner and music-dance, head to Moulin Rouge. The shows and dinner at the Moulin Rouge get sold out often, so book in advance. Here is a highly recommended Moulin Rouge show (Féerie) with dinner options. 

Day 4 of 4 days in Paris Itinerary – Day Trips from Paris to Versailles (+ Giverny)  

On day 4 of your Paris Itinerary, head 20 kilometers southwest of the French capital to Versailles. 

There is a BIG reason why you should include a day tour to the Palace of Versailles. Actually, I will give you 2 reasons.

For one, the Palace of Versailles was not only the residence of the French monarchy – but also a symbol of political power shifts and luxury.

What was the Louvre Palace to the monarchy once, was now the Palace of Versailles, and later on, the Tuileries Palace became the royal residence of the French monarchs.

Visiting the Versailles Palace and learning about its history closes the loop on the missing piece that’s hidden in Versailles. The second reason why you should visit Versailles (and the reason why I wanted to visit), was to see where the Treaty of Versailles was signed.

As a modern history student, I studied about the Paris Peace Agreement and the Treaty of Versailles which concluded the First World War (with difficult terms for Germany), and REALLY wanted to see the room where the agreement was signed.

I did explore the place/room where the treaty was concluded and boy! the war ended by signing the treaty (in style?) at the luxurious Hall of Mirrors – the most STUNNING and expensive rooms of all.

We took a  day tour from Paris to Versailles and we HIGHLY recommend you take a guided tour as well. The palace of Versailles is ONE of the busiest and most visited palaces in Europe .

We took an early tour (arrived at 08:30 am) and the palace complex was packed. We had to wait for our guide to get us the tickets to get into the Palace courtyard – without a guided tour, we would be waiting FOREVER.

Here is a guided tour that we recommend. It is a half-day tour, so you can return to Paris in the afternoon and spend the evening there or take a full day tour to Versailles and Giverny.

If you would like a private tour of Versailles, here is a great option . You will be arriving in Versailles in an AC car and will be provided with a guided tour of the palace and gardens.

Once you arrive and gain entry to the palace, you will be guided to different rooms. Your guide will provide you with a brief history of each room, the architecture, and other stories of the French royalty.

You will definitely hear about Louis IX and why he decided to move the royal residence to Versailles, how the palace was built and what led to the French Revolution, and the ousting of the monarchy from their beloved Versailles palace back to Paris.

When you explore the interiors of the palace, you will be in a small group of 5-7 people only, so ask questions and learn about French history.

After your guided tour of the palace, spend some time at the palace gardens (Jardins du Chateau de Versailles). They are beautifully curated and are awesome for taking photos.

There are washrooms located inside the palace and outside the gardens for patrons to use. The palace complex also has a café (we had some lattes and smores), gift and souvenir store inside.

At Versailles itself, you can also take wine tours or explore some lesser-known estates like the Grand Trianon and Marie-Antoinette’s Estate.

Here is a  full day tour of Versailles with palace guided tour and visit to the Estates and lunch

READ : Day trip to Versailles from Paris Guide

READ : More Day trip ideas from Paris  or embark on weekend trips from Paris

Paris Sightseeing Map – Paris 4 day Itinerary

When you open and zoom the map, you will find that almost all of the tourist attractions are located on either side of the Seine River. The left bank of the Seine is home to the iconic Eiffel Tower, Latin Quarter, Montparnasse, and St Germain. 

Paris right bank has the Lourve, Champs Elysee, Arc de Triomphe, Marais, Montmartre (plus Sacre Coeur), along with Notre Dame Cathedral.

Is 4 days in Paris enough? How many days do you need in Paris?

We feel that four days in Paris is a good time to explore the city and take day trips. Of course, depending on your interests, you can visit all (or none) of the museums.

We think that the museums take the MOST time in Paris – due to line-ups and how grand the complexes are. So if this is your only trip to Paris for a while, try to hit the iconic symbols and pick 2-3 of your favorites for an in-depth exploration.

This 4 day Paris Itinerary is designed in a way that you can explore each day independently of each other. So you only have 1-2 days, pick Day 1 (best of Paris) and maybe Day 3 (Montmartre) or a day trip. Only three days in Paris – leave out the day trip.

If it’s only ONE day and this is your first visit, then for sure do Day 1. All these Paris tourist spots, by day, are located close to each other, so you can cover them easily in a day – as outlined.

You can easily tweak this itinerary to fit your needs. And can use it for all seasons – Paris summer or winter itinerary.

Paris Summer Itinerary

This 4 day Paris itinerary can be used as-is, for the summer months. We recommend taking breaks and staying hydrated in the summers. In the last couple of years, Paris has been suffering from heat waves in the summer.

If you are traveling around this time, carry a water bottle with you at all times, when you are out and about exploring.

Summers are busy, so expect long line-ups at museums and other sightseeing attractions. Purchase tickets ahead of time and choose to skip the lines or early mornings/late evening entries.

Paris Winter Itinerary

Winters in Paris are not crazy like it is in Canada or some parts of the USA. It is quite mild, probably will be beach weather for some traveling from northern Canada (ask my husband). Ok, so for most of us, winters in Paris will be cold, you can expect snow in December and January.

Wear warm clothes when you are exploring different neighborhoods. Paris is a great place to ring in New Year or Christmas celebrations, do festive shopping, and visit markets. Almost all of the attractions will be open during winters, probably fewer line-ups (as people are cold, and some are busy shopping).

MUST VISIT – 

• Vendome Column and the Rue de la Paix looks stunning in the winter – highly recommend visiting them.
• You can ice skate at the rink in front of Hotel de Ville (home of the Paris City Council)
• Shop or window shop at Champs Elysses – Faire du leche-vitine is a colorful French term for window shopping in Paris it literally means “to lick the glass”! LOL – Well, that’s what happens when festive shopping aka marketing is in full swing!

Adding the London United Kingdom to your trip to Paris

London to Paris is only 2 hours away via the high-speed Thalys train. So if you are in London, you can travel to Paris for the weekend. Use day 1-2 of this Paris itinerary. There are many tours from London offering a day trip as well. Check this day tour to London from Paris here.

From Paris – the same way. You can hop on a train and arrive in London to continue your travel saga there.

There are day tours from Paris to London and back. Both cities have a ton of things to see, but connectivity between the two is super-efficient and worth taking the time to explore.

Paris trip for two

Many travelers to Paris wish to celebrate something special in the city of love – an anniversary, proposal, or birthday. And yes there are TONS of things that you can do to make that trip special (other than going to Paris itself!)

• Start by booking a nice hotel – overlooking the Eiffel Tower or ones with vintage and romantic décor (bonus for couples spa and massage). Read our hotels guide to Paris here
• Take a photo session at your favorite stops in Paris.
• Go on a private guided tour of Paris.
• Take a romantic dinner – Seine River cruise with your sweetheart.
• Dinner on Eiffel tower floors.

For a romantic Paris trip for two, things don’t have to be super expensive. The couples tours mentioned above won’t break the bank and you can do one or combine 2-3 for a lavish stay. Hotels will probably take the most of your budget – so book ahead of time. Read: About Private Tours in Paris

A vacation to Paris – Common questions answered

If you planning to visit Paris often, like us, then choose some for this trip and some for the other trips and ensure you participate in a seasonal activity (for that month).

You can also do Paris in 2 days, by following day 1 and 2, which are the MUST visit sites, and leave out the day trips or neighborhood wanderings.

A day out in Paris – Is it possible to see Paris in a day?

We say any day traveling is a GREAT day, and Paris is no exception. You won’t be able to enter all the museums and palaces in a day in Paris. But here is what you can do –

• Choose any single day of this 4 day Paris itinerary as a stand-alone activity for the day. Day 1 is our personal favorite
• Or pick of your favorites items to do in-depth sightseeing like Eiffel tower – morning 08:00- 09:30 am, Louvre – afternoon 04:00 pm, and Seine river late evening like 09:30 pm, and the time in between use the hop on and hop off tour to see attractions from afar like the Arc de Triomphe, Montparnasse Tower, to name a few.
• Must read: One day in Paris itinerary

Read: The BEST Photography spots in Paris

Is Paris expensive?

The travel budget for Paris is similar to other touristy destinations in Europe. Depending on your departing city, your flight tickets and accommodation will occupy most of your budget. Food, tours, transport depends on personal preference.

We have highlighted different ways to explore in a short time like using the hop on and hop off tours or saving on transport – Paris Pass and the Museum pass.

Or you can go on a super strict budget and just view buildings from outside. But….. we think you should go and properly explore, just pick your favorites, you don’t have to do EVERYTHING.

Is the Paris Pass worth it? Sightseeing in Paris

A BIG YES! The Paris Pass is completely worth it. Everything we have mentioned in this post can be easily explored (and within budget) using the Paris Pass. Take a look at the Paris Pass here 

Note: This is different from the Paris City Pass. 

Using trains in Paris to reach different sites?

Paris Pass offers unlimited use of transportation within various zones in the city. Think about airport to hotel and return or a day tour meeting place, or dinning. You will save $$ on this

Wish to hit every sightseeing in the city?

Paris Pass has the hop on and hop off sightseeing bus included. Save $40

Want to check out a few of your favorite museums? Paris Pass includes a 2-day museum pass which offers free and skip the line tickets to museums. The 2-day museum pass is $30, you can plan your sightseeing and museum visits accordingly (as per this itinerary – it is day 1 & 2). Museum pass is also available in a 4-day option. Buy it here 

Paris Travel Tips – 4 days in Paris Itinerary

How to plan a trip to Paris  – a travel guide and essential tips to get you started for your 4 days in Paris Itinerary,

Travel Documents – France Tourist Visa

France is located in Europe, and it is part of the Schengen agreement. If you require a visa to travel to the 28 Schengen countries, then you will need to apply for France travel visa/Schengen travel visa before arrival. Learn more about the Schengen Visa process .

If you have a European Union passport, you won’t require a visa for France.

All the visa-exempt countries like the United States and Canada can travel to France and stay for 90 days without a visa, right now.

From 2023 onwards, all the Schengen nations require visa-exempt countries to apply for an ETIAS – European Travel Information and Authorization System, which although not a visa, requires the US and Canadian passport holders to apply for an ETIAS (electronic travel authorization) to travel to France and other Schengen countries.

Unlike the Schengen visa, the ETIAS is pretty forward and very easy to get. Apply online and get the authorization in 24-48 hours.

Whether visa or ETIAS, ensure that your passport is valid for 3 months after the intended date of departure from the Schengen zone.

Read : Most beautiful cities in France

Insurance for 4 days in Paris Itinerary

Insure your trip to France for unforeseen situations – including trip cancellation, lost and damaged bags, medical emergency, etc. Get your travel insurance quotes here

The official language of France is French. Hotels, tour operators, stores, and restaurant service providers spoke both English and French.

On our Paris trip, we did interact with passers-by looking for directions, and all the people we spoke to were very friendly and helpful. Yes, they do speak French extensively, but they did understand English and they responded back in broken English.

One of them also used Google translate to respond back to us

Hint: Download Duolingo to learn a few common French phrases or words. Google Translate is a handy app as well. Not to forget, offline maps for directions.

What to pack for Paris? Packing for Paris outfits and essentials

For your trip to Paris, wear pretty dresses, clean-cut pants/jeans and of course the usual travel essentials. Read our guide to packing for Europe for all seasons 

• Carry your passport, documents in an RFID protected passport holder
• An anti-theft backpack  or a stylish daypack when you are out and about in Paris
• Universal adapter and multi-port charging cables
• Get your medications ( no jet-lag tablets ) and cosmetics (sunscreen, light make up)
• For all seasons, carry an umbrella and a cardigan or a light trench coat
• Pack pants, skirts  (avoid shorts)
• Tops and blouses (avoid jerseys and athletic wear)
• Pretty dresses – long and short
• Scarf (in-flight and for evenings)
• Light trench coat and/or cardigan
• Flat shoes, oxfords (avoid sports shoes)
• Socks and underwear
• Things to avoid – Avoid flashy or expensive items on your travels.

What to wear in Paris?

Paris is the fashion capital and you can avoid looking like a tourist (to a certain extent. Don’t try too hard though).

Avoid clothes that are TOO loud (color or graphics). Wear clean-cut and mono-colored clothes. Carry flats, oxfords, or closed-toe shoes that are comfortable to wear and walk long distances. Here is our detailed guide to what to wear in Paris

• Spring (March to May)  – In addition to regular clothing, carry a raincoat or rain jacket
• Summer (June to August) – Good idea to carry a light (waterproof or water repellent) trench coat
• Fall (September to November) – Carry 1 warm peacoat or light coat. Cardigan and scarf is always handy
• Winter (December to February) – Boots, leggings, warm wool coat (outwear), beret, gloves, hat, long sleeve shirts, and sweater

Best time to visit Paris

The weather in Paris is similar to the rest of Europe. It is rainy most times of the year. Winters are not extreme (like winters in North America).

As you can see from above, the summer months are from June to August – this is a popular tourist season and things are crowded and busy. Wintertime is also a popular season to visit due to the Christmas and holiday events.

Fall is considered to be the BEST time to visit (in most countries) and Paris is no exception. Tourist places are less crowded and flights are cheaper. We visited Paris in the fall (late September). It did rain every now and then, but it was not too bad for exploring. Read our detailed guide on when is the best time to visit Paris , with a monthly feature

Budget – Trip to Paris Cost 4 day Paris itinerary

Our flights from Canada to Paris, France cost us about $665 USD and we booked our accommodation at a 3+ star hotel. Hotel room rates were $125 USD for each night (not in a central location). We did take tours and used the RER local transit via Paris Pass.

So on average for the day, we spent around 150 USD for the two of us. It is a good idea to budget for $100 USD per person per day for meals, museum entry, tours, and transit costs. Our day trip and hop-on and hop-off tour/Paris Pass were booked in advance and online.

Euros are the mode of exchange in France. So carry cash (in euros, in a limited amount) and credit cards to pay for expenses.

Food – what to eat in Paris? –  4 day Paris Itinerary Guide 

There are cheap things that you can eat in Paris and then there are lavish, expensive dinners to indulge in. We recommend that you do both. There will be days when you are tired and you just wish to eat “something” and go to bed. Get groceries then.

Try something from the small/local cafes – baguette, croissant, or lattes. A latte/coffee with a baguette will cost around 8 euros. If you can budget for that for 1-2 days, then it is a great way to experience the popular food in Paris.

Food tours (cheese and wine tasting tours like this one) are a great option if you wish to keep costs low, but still, experience food in Parisian style.

Another option is to book a dinner meal with the Seine river cruise which comes with a 3-course meal on a cruise and it is well worth the money. It is a romantic way to spend the evening and also to try out some French cuisines. VIP Michelin Food tours are also available in the French capital city.

We hope you enjoyed our ultimate 4 day Paris Itinerary. This was our first time in Paris France. We tried to make the MOST of our trip and covered these areas extensively. We have followed Day 1 and Day 2 spots in a sequence as they are located close to each other or are easily accessible. We did utilize the hop on and hop off tours and it allowed us to make the most of our time in Paris.

Additional Travel Resources – Europe Itinerary & Travel Guides

• Planning your trip to Europe – If this is your first-ever trip to Europe, consider reading our Europe 101 guide .
• Europe – Get our 27 Europe in one week itinerary samples
• France – Best places to visit in the South of France

ToSomePlaceNew is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

Pin! Perfect Paris Itinerary 4 days – What to do in Paris in 4 days? 

Mayuri is the founder & editor of ToSomePlaceNew. An Indian-Canadian globetrotter, she has traveled to over 100 cities and 35+ countries. Mayuri has a graduate degree in History and is an MBA. She loves traveling the world, capturing historical nuances, and discussing that over a cup of coffee with her husband, Salil. She currently resides in Edmonton, Canada, and plots travel plans to Europe, the Americas, and beyond. 

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11 Comments

Mayuri well thought and properly described. Keep on doing, very helpful.

Thank you so much! So happy you liked the post! Thanks for reading 🙂

Greetings. I hope to put to use your travel/tour guide of Paris. I hope to take my family on a tour of Europe later in the year and I will be glad of suggestions and ideas on how to have a 12 day visit to France, Spain, Italy and Germany. I intend to do the 4 countries visit on a Schengen visa being from Nigeria with my family (wife & 4 kids,the oldest is 4 and the youngest are 6 months. Thanks in advance for the wonderful suggestions

Hi Sen, thank you for your comment. Glad you found the Paris guide useful. You can start your trip in Paris and then head to Munich (Germany), the train journey is around 5 hours. We have a Munich itinerary on our site as well. From Munich, you will either have to take a flight to Barcelona or Rome (Italy) to make the most of your 12 days. Trains or drive won’t be feasible. Munich to Barcelona is only 2 – 3 hour flight and then fly down to Rome.

Wouw !!! Your information is really useful, details and clear. I have a plan to visit Paris on November this year. I read your blog and it was helping me to arrange what I suppose to pack and bring it. Anyways, all the pics you took really nice. It makes me wanna go early. Thank you!

Hi Parul – We stayed at Room with a view hotel. I have added a link to the hotel and updated the article.

Thanks for stopping by!

What type of camera did you use for pictures since you mentioned not to have them out?

We had our iphones and a small mirror-less camera. The camera is super lightweight to carry inside a jacket pocket. When touristy areas are overly crowded, we use our cell phones for photography.

I been reviewing online more than 10 hours today for a Perfect 4 Day Paris Itinerary for all seasons, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me. In my view, if all site owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the internet will be a lot more useful than ever before.

Where is your dress from? Its gorgeous!

Thank you! It is from a store/brand named Aritzia. It is a Canadian brand – love their clothes!

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48 Hours in Paris: The Ultimate Itinerary

Jacques Loic, Getty Images 

Is it possible to really enjoy Paris in only 48 hours? It may seem a little ambitious. But if you've only got a couple of days at your disposal to explore the French capital, planning your time carefully can ensure you make the most of your visit.

Follow our suggested self-guided itinerary below to take in the best Paris has to offer, with stops at Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Latin Quarter, the hilly heights of Montmartre, a Seine River cruise, and the stylish, contemporary Marais district. You'll see both the more traditional left bank ( rive gauche ) and the contemporary right bank ( rive droite ), where students, artists, young professionals, and diverse communities live and thrive, offering you varied perspectives of the city.

The itinerary is designed to be flexible and adaptable, so feel free to change the order of the activities or even add your own. To make the most of your stay, wear a decent pair of walking shoes, and make sure you bring weather-appropriate clothes and accessories with you.

Day 1: Morning

9 a.m.:  Welcome to Paris! After arriving by air or by train, head to your hotel to unload your bags. It's recommended that you choose a hotel or other accommodations close to the city center, saving you travel time as you experience each point on the itinerary.

Your first stop is the Latin Quarter , the historic center of artistic and intellectual history in Paris and home to picturesque sidewalk cafes, winding, cobbled streets, lush parks, and handsome university buildings.

Start at Rue Mouffetard and wander up the centuries-old market street, admiring some of its old-fashioned storefronts and perhaps ordering a croissant or patisserie for breakfast from one of the bakeries in the area.

Wander past the Place de la Contrescarpe, a square popular for its sidewalk cafes, and head northeast to the Panthéon, a neoclassical-style mausoleum housing the remains of Victor Hugo, Voltaire, Marie Curie, and other great French minds. From here, turn to admire the Luxembourg Gardens and Eiffel Tower further on the horizon. Then head northwest through the narrow streets of the old quarter to admire the Place de la Sorbonne and the main facade of the Sorbonne University.

12:30 p.m.: Take a lunch break at Les Trublions , a French bistro with a friendly vibe and excellent value. Alternatively, try Baieta , a highly-reviewed restaurant serving French Mediterranean specialties.

Day 1: Afternoon

Eric Schaeffer /Moment/Getty Images

2 p.m: Your next stop is Notre-Dame Cathedral , the 12th-century Gothic marvel that for many represents the historic "ground zero" of medieval Paris. To get there, cross the Pont de l'Archeveque or Pont Saint-Michel bridge from the Latin Quarter.

From the enormous plaza (parvis), admire the Cathedral's ornate facade—boasting three portals decorated with delicate statues and carvings. Unfortunately, due to a 2019 fire that severely damaged the roof and destroyed the spire at Notre-Dame, renovation efforts are currently underway , and the interiors and towers have been closed to the public until further notice. The cathedral is expected to fully re-open for visits sometime in 2024.

3:30 pm: From Notre-Dame, head west by foot or bus to visit one of two major Parisian museums, the Louvre or the Musée d'Orsay .

Both are among the city's most impressive collections, with the Louvre focused on European (and Egyptian) art and antiquities from the ancient period through the Renaissance and the Musée d'Orsay boasting an impressive collection of impressionist and expressionist masterpieces, as well as decorative objects and sculptures.

At the Louvre, see masterpieces from Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Delacroix, Da Vinci, and Van Dyck. At the Orsay, beeline to works from Monet, Degas, Manet, Gaugin, Van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec, and many other masters of 19th and 20th-century art. To avoid burnout, plan to spend around two hours in one or two wings of the permanent collections.

Day 1: Evening

Courtesy of headout.com  

6 p.m.: To start your evening in style, head to the Avenue des Champs-Elysées (via Metro Line 1 from the Louvre-Rivoli or Tuileries stop to the Charles de Gaulle-Etoile stop ). One of the world's most famous streets, the "Champs" (as locals call it) is lined with trees, boutiques, and cafes with terraces spilling out onto the sidewalks. In recent times, it's been a favorite site for taking in festive winter holiday decorations and markets.

Start at the upper part of the long Avenue and admire the Arc de Triomphe, a 164-foot-high arch commissioned by Emperor Napoleon I to celebrate his military victories. Take in dusky views of the monument, then head down Avenue and perhaps stop at a café for a before-dinner drink (aperitif).

8 p.m.: For dinner, you have two options, both picturesque and memorable: either take an evening dinner cruise on the Seine or have dinner at one of the Eiffel Tower's two restaurants, 58 Tour Eiffel or Le Jules Verne. Whichever you choose, make sure to book well in advance to avoid disappointment.

If you take a dinner cruise with an operator such as Bateaux Parisiens , the cruise typically begins at 8:30 p.m. and lasts for around two hours, with variable courses served depending on your budget and the chosen package. Wine, champagne, live music, and other entertainment are often part of the service, and gliding along the waters allows you to see some of the city's most iconic sites bathed in the poetic evening light.

Meanwhile, dining at the Eiffel Tower lets you admire the fine details of the tower's construction up close while enjoying panoramic vantages over the whole capital.

10:30 p.m.: Feel like a nightcap? Why not grab a drink or head to the dancefloor at one of Paris' best after-dark spots?

Day 2: Morning

Stefano Amantini/Atlantide Phototravel/Getty Images

8 a.m.: Welcome to day two, focusing on the Right Bank and a more contemporary side of Paris. We recommend you start early to take full advantage of your second day exploring the capital. For breakfast, either grab some pastries from a good bakery close to your hotel or at one on or around Rue Saint-Paul, the main artery in the Marais district, your first stop of the day.

From the Saint-Paul Metro stop, explore the winding streets, Renaissance-era mansions, trendy boutiques, and medieval remnants of the Marais, one of Paris' oldest areas and home to a historic Jewish quarter. Today, the neighborhood is coveted for its LGBTQ-friendly bars and clubs, fashionable stores, delicious street food, and people-watching opportunities.

There's a lot to see and do in the district, from the Paris History Museum (Musée Carnavalet; entry to the permanent collection is free) to the Place des Vosges , a 13th-century square flanked by grand townhouses with red-bricked facades.

This is also an excellent gift and souvenir shopping area, endowed as it is with artisan boutiques selling handmade jewelry and accessories, high-quality chocolate, tea and coffee, and other authentic goods.

12:30 p.m.: Strolling and sightseeing have probably left your stomach grumbling, and you're in luck—this is one of the best areas in town for lunch. If it's a sunny day, grab a mouthwatering falafel from L'As du Fallafel or Chez Hanna on Rue des Rosiers, the heart of the historic pletzl (Jewish Quarter). You can also grab a table at the nearby Chez Marianne for a full sit-down meal.

Day 2: Afternoon

2 p.m.: After lunch, catch Metro Line 11 at the Hotel de Ville or Rambuteau station, and take it to the République stop. From here, walk around 10 minutes east until you reach the Canal Saint-Martin .

Originally built as a shipping canal in the early 19th century, this is a narrow waterway lined with trees, punctuated by elegant footbridges in greenish metal, and surrounded by eternally busy cafes, restaurants, and shops.

Wander up the canal, browse its shops, and traipse across the footbridges for interesting perspectives of the area before stopping for a drink at neighborhood watering holes such as Hôtel du Nord . This is a historic cafe named after the 1928 Marcel Carné film of the same name and an important landmark in the district.

You may also be interested in stopping at Le Verre Volé , a popular wine bar on an adjacent street. It's an ideal spot for a decent glass of red or white or for selecting a bottle to bring home with you.

4:30 p.m.: From the Canal, walk to Metro Goncourt and take it to the Belleville station.

One of Paris' most interesting neighborhoods, Belleville is also relatively little-known to tourists. It's a traditionally working-class district whose long history of immigration makes it both diverse and uniquely cosmopolitan. It's also an important site for art and performance; once home to the legendary singer Edith Piaf, today countless working artists live and work from studios in the area.

While Belleville doesn't correspond to the "postcard-pretty" Paris you may expect, it's fascinating for its quirky murals, vibrant Chinatown, weekly food markets, and winding, secretive little streets. Take some time to explore it, notably by wandering up Rue Denoyez (lined with street art and artists' studios) and up the steep heights of Rue de Belleville.

Day 2: Evening

6:30 p.m.: Return to the Belleville Metro station and take the same line to the Anvers stop. Walk up the steep hill towards Sacré-Coeur (following the signs from the Metro) and into the heart of Montmartre. If you wish, you can also take the funicular up the hill (for the price of a Metro ticket), accessible from Rue Steinkerque.

For the last leg of your 48-hour whirl through Paris, you'll spend a memorable evening in Montmartre , a hilly area in the north that was once an external village (and still feels like one, from many standpoints).

The area's steep cobblestoned streets, quiet lanes, ivy-covered buildings, and historic cafes are all enduring draw cards. There's even a functioning vineyard, the Vignes du Clos-Montmartre, at Rue des Saules.

Admire the "creampuff"-like exterior of the legendary Sacre-Coeur Basilica , and take in sweeping panoramic views from its terraces. See an original Montmartre windmill at Le Moulin de la Galette , a restaurant once painted by the likes of Van Gogh, and leaving an emblematic trace of the area's agricultural past.

Le Bateau Lavoir , meanwhile, is an unassuming building perched on a steep hillside that once housed the studios of artists, including Pablo Picasso, while a museum dedicated to Salvador Dalí is just blocks away.

8 p.m.: It's time for a late dinner and show at one of Montmartre's traditional cabarets: either at the legendary Moulin Rouge (down the hill towards Metro Pigalle) or Au Lapin Agile , a traditional cabaret circa 1860 that's housed in an iconic pink house on one of Montmartre's quieter little streets.

In both cases, reservations are a must.

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How to Spend 4 Days in Paris – The Best Travel Itinerary

Posted on Last updated: January 16, 2023

Categories Europe , France , Guides , Travel Guides

You’re about to spend 4 days in Paris? You’re one lucky fella! “City of Lights”, “City of Love”, the “Fashion Capital” of the world, no matter how it’s called,  Paris is one of those special places everyone has on their bucket list . And trust me, there’s a good reason for that!

No matter what kind of traveler you’re, this beautiful city got you covered. From tiny alleys soaked in history to world-renounced marvels of engineering, from croissants and macarons to high-end French cuisine, from Luis XIV to Napoleon there is so much stuff going on in the French capital that seeing it all in a single visit is plain impossible.

Spending 4 days in Paris, however, should give us just enough time to check out the biggest highlights and immerse into that world-famous Parisian spirit.

I bet you have at least one friend who’s been to Paris and didn’t like it. This should not discourage you.  Paris is not an easy city to explore . The must-see places are plenty, the metro system is confusing, and the tourist hordes are massive! If you go there unprepared and spend most of your time waiting in line or trying to figure out how to get from the Eiffel Tower to the Louvre, chances are you won’t enjoy your vacation much.

Don’t worry, though. Stumbling on this 4 Days in Paris guide means you are doing your homework properly and the chances are high you’re gonna enjoy the City of Lights to the max!

Enough hyping, let’s start guiding. Here is the ultimate 4-day Paris itinerary!

Four Days in Paris – Day 1 – Global Icons

For our first day in the city, we’re going to explore the major highlights.  And there is no bigger highlight  than our first stop of the day:

The Eiffel Tower

Built for the 1889 Exposition Universelle,  the idea behind the Eiffel Tower was to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the  French Revolution . It took only two years of construction, and with its height of 312 meters (1024 feet), it was the tallest building on Earth at the time.

A curious fact about the Eiffel Tower is that the Parisians hated the idea of it. They even went on strikes around the city to stop the construction that was feared will ruin the beautiful landscape of Paris. Things cooled down when Gustave Eiffel promised the tower would be decommissioned after 20 years.

Thanks to the invention of the radio waves, however, after 20 years the Eiffel Tower was not torn apart but instead turned into one of the first radio broadcasting towers in the world.

Today the globally recognized Eiffel Tower is the first item on every Paris bucket list hence attracting massive hordes of tourists. To avoid spending half of your first day waiting in lines to get up, you need to prepare your entrance. There are two queues you need to worry about. The first one is the security line to enter the Eiffel Tower area. If you go there at 9:00 (when it opens) there would already be an hour-long queue waiting. How to avoid this? Get your skip-the-line ticket and went straight through the fast line. Once inside the area, there is another line, depending on the way you’re gonna get to the top. The options are:

–  Using the elevator This is the most expensive option, and you’ll have to wait a while to get inside the elevator going up and eventually down. It stops at all three levels of the tower.

–  By foot The cheapest option allows you to only go to the first and second levels of the tower. There are 328 steps to the first floor and another 346 to the second, making it a total of 674 steps climb. Since the steps are quite small and you get a break exploring level 1, the climb is not as hard as it sounds.

–  Combined With this option, you get to the second level on foot and get the elevator to the top from there. Considering the fact that the “Foot only” ticket couldn’t be bought online  (this you can’t skip the first line ) and it won’t get you to the top ( the top is overcrowded and nothing special but still ), I consider this to be the best option.

Castaway Fact With almost 7 million visitors per year, the Eiffel Tower is NOT the most visited monument in Paris! It actually ranks fourth behind Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre, and Sacre Coeur Basilica. Check out more interesting Paris facts

Photo Tip To get the best shot of the Eiffel Tower you need to cross the Seine where you’ll find the Trocadéro Gardens. To get the best Instagram shot, get there early in the morning. 

There is a big chance the official tickets are not available for the time slot you need. In this case, your best option is getting a guided tour  that will not only give you priority access but will also teach you a ton of fun stuff about the Eiffel Tower and its history!

Working Hours : Check for your day here

Prices : Elevator to the top – 28.30 EUR Elevator to the second floor – 18.10 EUR ( skip-the-line ticket here ) Stairs to the second floor – 11.30 EUR ( skip-the-line ticket here ) Stairs to second floor and then elevator to the top – 21.50 EUR

Guided tour – Check here Guided tour + Seine cruise – Check here

Castaway Tip If you want to have a picnic under the Eiffel Tower, I suggest going first to the nearby Rue Cler. Being one of the best French food streets in town, strolling around Rue Cler choosing picnic supplies is an experience by itself (a tasty one)

Arc de Triomphe

Next on the list is another global symbol – Arc de Triomphe!

Commissioned by Napoleon himself , the arc was built to celebrate his victory at Austerlitz. So what is there to see here? Beneath Arc de Triomphe, there is the tomb of the Unknown Soldier with an eternal flame on it. If you happen to be there at 6:30 PM, you can see the flame being rekindled.

Not a lot of people are aware that you can actually climb to the top of the arc . When you go beneath the arch, you quickly realize it, but it’s already late. The queue for the tickets is as long as the Eiffel Tower one, and the arc allows only a limited amount of people inside.

To save yourself some time and still enjoy the glorious panoramic view, prepare yourself with the  online skip the line ticket . It’s not only  the same price , but unlike the other prebooked Paris tickets, this one is valid for a whole year.

Working Hours : 1 October – 31 March Mon-Sun 10:00 AM -10:30 PM

1 April – 30 September Mon-Sun 10:00 AM -11:00 PM

Prices : Regular – 13 EUR Online priority ticket – Check here   Priority + Audio Guide – Check here

Castaway Fact Arc de Triomphe’s facade is calligraphed with all French battle victories and the names of the generals who won them

Champs Elysees + Pont de l’Alma

When you get enough from the arc, make your way down to  the most famous and luxurious street in France – Champs Elysees.

Featured in many movies and songs ( ohhhh Shan ze lizeeee ) the avenue is considered the second most expensive in the world (Bond street in London beats it). The impossible to pronounce name translates to Elysian Fields referring to the afterlife heaven-like place in Greek mythology.

Spending a lot of time on Champs Elysees is not healthy for your credit card balance , so make the right to George V Avenue and go straight to the Pont de l’Alma. This bridge gives you a perfect photo op with the Eiffel Tower in the background and the Seine River in the front. Take your shots and cross the river to find our next stop.

Castaway Tip If you want to shop, but you’re more of a mall person, forget Champs Elysees and go to The Galeries Lafayette. This upmarket French department store chain is the biggest one in Europe, and its flagship store is on Boulevard Haussmann in the 9th arrondissement.

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Branly Museum

Here’s the best place to warn you about something.  This 4 day Paris itinerary features a lot of museums . Since Paris has so much art and history to offer, I just can’t skip so many treasures and claim to have the perfect itinerary.

The Branly Museum (Musée du Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac) is the first one I’m about to show you, and it’s by far the most underrated one. Rare to find on any other Paris itineraries,  the museum offers an impressive collection of indigenous art and cultures of Africa, Asia, Oceania + the Americas . France used to be a major colonizer, so having a museum of this type is not surprising at all.

And since the museum is not among the most popular Paris attractions, the lines are short, and there’s no need to prebook anything. Just go there and enjoy the weird masks, totems, and costumes.  They even have an Easter Island Moai Head!

Working Hours : Tuesday – Sunday: 10:30 AM – 7:00 PM Monday – closed

Prices : Regular – 12 EUR ( get one from here ) Free admission the first Sunday of each month (timed tickets are also required for all visitors).

Banks of Seine

The first of our 4 days in Paris is about to end, and you’re probably tired.  A great way to relax before going back to your hotel is a walk alongside the banks of Seine . Unlike many other famous rivers, the banks of Seine are kept nice and tidy, giving both locals and tourists a perfect place to relax and enjoy a romantic sunset.

My advice is to follow the river on the way to the Eiffel Tower and see the light show after dark ( on every hour, the tower starts to sparkle !). If the weather is good, you can also get a bottle of wine ( beer ) and sit at Trocadero.  The atmosphere is magic!

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Four Days in Paris – Day 2 – Treasures of Paris

Our 4 days in Paris continue with full steam. On day 2 we have a jam-packed itinerary that’s about to uncover City of Love’s hidden and not-so-hidden treasures.

What better place to start our treasure hunt other than the most impressive treasury in the world?Transformed from a 13th century fortress into a gigantic palace,  The Louvre Museum is so big and has so much to see that if you spend just 30 seconds on every artifact there, you’d need more than 120 days to see them all.  They also have tens of thousands of items not on display, but that’s another story.

So how do we see all of that in a day?  We don’t. If you try to do it, not only you won’t succeed, but you’ll get so burned out that you’d hate the place. The best thing to do is to mark the things that most interest you and try to find them. 

My advice is to go to the heavyweights first – Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and The Winged Victory of Samothrace  ( they are close to each other ). Then decide if you’re most interested in Egyptian antics ( Great Sphinx of Tanis ), Mesopotamian artifacts ( The Hammurabi Code ), paintings (  Liberty Leading the People ), sculptures (  Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss ) or lavish interiors ( Napoleon’s apartments ). Pick one, maybe two, and go for it. Once you feel overwhelmed by culture, it’s time to leave.

Currently it’s impossible to buy tickets at the gate so online booking is mandatory. If you want to have a chance to explore Mona Lisa in piece, just get the earliest one possible and pick a side entrance ( it should be mentioned on your ticket, I used the Richelieu Gate ). Show up just 30 minutes before opening, and you’re guaranteed to be among the first to enter the museum!

Working Hours : Wed – Mon: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (9:45 PM on Friday) Tuesday: Closed

Prices : Regular: 17 EUR ( Get one here ) Ticket + Audio Guide – Check here Reserved Ticket + Boat Cruise – Check here Guided Tour – Check here

Castaway Tip On the way to the Louvre, go through the Pont Alexandre III bridge. It’s a Paris landmark and one of the most beautiful bridges globally.

Jardin du Palais Royal

Once you’re out of the Louvre, you’re a little disorientated, so you need a refresh.  Luckily one of Paris’ hidden gems is right next to you.

The Royal Palace Garden is one of the very best places to kick back and recharge your batteries.Surrounding an 17th century palace, It’s also home to Buren’s Columns, a curious art installation that gives an excellent setting for a cool Instagram photo.

Sainte Chapelle

Don’t get too comfortable inside the Royal Gardens cause we still have a lot to explore today. Our 4 days in Paris continue with one of the most beautiful churches in Europe – Sainte Chapelle! Constructed in only seven years, the gothic-styled chapel was built to host Christ’s Crown of Thorns – one of the most important relics in the world. Today, the crown is hosted in Notre Dame, but millions of people still go to Sainte Chapelle to see its magnificent interior.

While the first floor looks decent,  the real magic is the second one . Fifteen enormous stained glass windows surround you while a large rose window dominates the wall behind.  I’ve been to many holy places around the world and trust me, Sainte Chapelle has no equivalent! Sainte Chapelle may not be among the most famous attractions in Paris , but you shouldn’t underestimate the lines ( I did, and it was stupid ). Yes, there are two lines before you enter the chapel. First, the security line and then the ticket line.  It took me a little bit more than an hour to get inside . What you should do is get the  online priority ticket  (same price)  and don’t waste your precious Paris time watching somebody’s back.

Working Hours: 1 October – 31 March Mon-Sun:  9:00 AM – 5:00 PM 1 April – 30 September Mon-Sun:  9:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Prices : Regular: 11.50 EUR Online priority ticket – Check here Online priority ticket + Conciergerie – Check here  

Castaway Tip To reach Sainte Chapelle, go through the Pont Neuf bridge. Although its name translates to New Bridge, it’s the oldest standing bridge across the river Seine.

The most famous religious building in France and another  symbol   of Europe , the Notre Dame is just a 10-minutes walk from Sainte Chapelle. In a city full of gothic cathedrals, this is THE chrurch of churches. While operational it was more visited that the Eiffel Tower itself!

Sadly, due to the devastating fire on April 15, 2019, the cathedral is closed until second notice, but you can still go around it and enjoy the magnificent architecture from the outside. To donate towards its restoration or to check for updates, see the official site of Notre Dam.

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Shakespeare and Company

Located just 5 minutes away from Notre Dame is  my favorite hidden treasure of Paris – the Shakespeare and Company bookstore . I’m not sure if it still qualifies for a hidden gem actually, the place is buzzing with people, but even all that interest can’t take away this vintage bookstore’s charm.

The popularity of Shakespeare and Company comes from the fact that it was the informal living room (and sometimes bedroom) to revered figures in contemporary literature such as Ernest Hemingway, F Scott Fitzgerald, Jack Kerouac, and all others from the lost generation .

Shakespeare and Company is still privately owned and run by the daughter of George Whitman – the American-born proprietor who made the shop what it is today.

“I like people to open the door the way they open a book, a book that leads into a magic world in their imaginations.”

Working Hours : Mon to Sat: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM Sunday: 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Prices : Free

Jardin du Luxembourg

The day is slowly going down, and I bet you’re tired ( the Louvre tends to do that ). Resist the temptation to sit in one of the cute little cafes and instead go to a supermarket to stock with some picnic supplies cause the next stop on our 4 day Paris itinerary is  the most beautiful garden and a popular spot for relaxation – the Luxembourg Gardens .

Created in 1612 by Marie de’ Medici the Luxembourg Gardens park is one of the most relaxing places you can spend an afternoon in ( I’m not ashamed to admit I had a little nap there ). Even if it’s full of people, there will always be a bench or a chair for you to enjoy a bit of fresh air.

Montparnasse Tower

The second of our 4 days in Paris will end  with the best view in town . What, you thought the best view is the one from the Eiffel Tower? While the view from there is pretty spectacular,  to claim to be the best view in Paris you need to have the Eiffel Tower on the horizon too, right? So the best view in Paris is not the one from the Eiffel Tower but the one from the observation deck of the Montparnasse Tower – a 210 meters tall office building located just 10 minutes away from the Luxembourg Gardens.

There’s no better place to watch the sunset in Paris.

Working Hours: 1 April – 30 September daily: 9:30 AM – 11:30 PM

1 October – 30 March daily: 11:00 AM – 10:30 PM (11:00 PM Frinday and Saturday)

Prices: Weekday – 18 EUR ( Get one here ) Weekend – 19 EUR ( Get one here )

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Four Days in Paris – Day 3 – Recharge

After an intense day 2, our 4 days in Paris continue with a recharging day. It’s not like we won’t do anything on day 3 it just won’t be jam-packed as the day before. If you’re well prepared ( and I know you will be ), you can sleep a bit more today and still waste minimum time on queues.

Musee d’Orsay

The second most significant art museum in town,  Musee d’Orsay would be THE museum to visit in almost any other city on the planet . Unlucky for it, it happened to be right next to the biggest and most famous art museum in the world ( the one you got lost in yesterday ) so it kind of stays in its shadow.

Housed in the former 100 years old railway station – Gare d’Orsay,  this museum displays the biggest collection of French impressionist and post-Impressionist masterpieces in the world.

Here are some of the artists Musee d’Orsay displays: Monet, Manet, Degas, Renoir, Cézanne, Seurat, Sisley, Gauguin, Van Gogh. And not some random paintings but their very best works!

Exploring this museum seriously raised my bar for art museums. It’s hard to explain the whole experience, but if impressionism is your type of art,  Musee d’Orsay will give you one of the most pleasurable museum visits of your life. A train station worth a visit indeed!

Why did I mention you can sleep a bit late today? Are there no lines for Musee d’Orsay? There is a line of course ( duh, we’re in Paris ) and it’s not a little one. But there is also a fast priority line you should be in. Just get the online   ticket  and save yourself the annoying wait.

Working Hours: Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun: 9.30 AM – 6:00 PM Thur: 9:30 AM – 9:45 PM Monday – Closed

Prices: Regular Ticket – 14 EUR Guided Tour – Check here Online priority ticket – Check here Online priority ticket + river cruise – Check here Free on first Sunday of the month

Musee d’Orangerie

Ten minutes away from Musee d’Orsay is our next stop for the day and the last museum on our 4 Day Paris itinerary – Musee d’Orangerie. If you followed my advice, you already have a ticket so skip the long line and go for the little one  (if there is any at all ).

Unlike the other museums we visited in Paris, Musee d’Orangerie is quite small . It consists of two levels. The bottom one feature some impressionist masterpieces ( which I suspect, the nearby Musee d’Orsay didn’t have a room for ). The main reason for our visit is on the upper floor where two oval-shaped rooms ( forming the symbol of infinity ) displays  Claud Monet’s biggest masterpiece – The Water Lilies!  Created at the end of his life, The Water Lilies are a series of paintings depicting the artist’s flower garden at his home in Giverny.

Impressionism is a form of art that is hard to describe by words, but for me, the sense of calmness and tranquility projected by these paintings can rival the best natural sights I’ve seen.

Working Hours: Wed-Mon: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Tuesday: Closed

Prices: Regular – 12.50 EUR ( get one here )

Castaway Fact Even though he made over 250 Water Lilly paintings, only eight are exposed in Musee d’Orangerie. Claude Monet himself picked the paintings, their positions, and the lightning.

Place de la Concorde

Right in front of Musee d’Orangerie, you’ll find the biggest square in Paris – Place de la Concorde.

Dating back to 1748, the square  used to be called Place Louis XV  ( when it was housing a statue of the king ). It was renamed to  Place de la Révolution  ( when the statue was torn down ) and became the public spot where the new revolutionary government executes the French royals ( such as  King Louis XVI  and  Queen Marie Antoinette ).

Today the square hosts a glorious fountain and a genuine Egyptian Obelisk. If you visit during autumn or winter, there’s also a big Ferris wheel there.

Castaway Story When I was in Egypt, the locals seemed bitter about the obelisk. Apparently, the French tricked them by taking Karnak Temple’s most prominent obelisk in exchange for a clock that’s not even working (now in the Alabaster mosque).

Jardin des Tuileries

As I promised, we continue with the relaxing itinerary by going straight to the Tuileries Garden.

Shaped by the famous gardener of King Louis XIV , this public garden offers two ponds with many benches and chairs ( yes, parks in Paris also have public chairs. It’s incredibly convenient! ), perfect to kick back from the intense sightseeing of the last three days.

And since it’s Paris and nothing in Paris is just average, the gardens also feature some statues made by the art-titans Maillol, Rodin, and Giacometti.

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Seine Cruise

The last activity on our recharge day is, again, a lazy one. It’s day 3, and you’ve already seen the biggest highlights of Paris  but seeing them from a boat that slowly floats around the Seine river is like seeing them for the first time .

The regular river cruise  will present plenty of photo opportunities while  the night one   will show you why exactly they call Paris – “The City of Lights”. If you want the most premium experience, get  the cruise with the French Dinner included . Definitely one of the top romantic things to do in Paris!

Castaway Tip Check out the weather forecast before you book a boat. Depending on the weather, decide what type of ship you need (you don’t want an open one if it’s cold and rainy, right?)

Four Days in Paris – Day 4 – Old Paris

On our last day in town, we’re going to explore some of the old parts of Paris. I mean, I know that almost everything in Paris is old, but those places have kept their vintage spirit alive and, as cliche, as it sounds, will transfer you back in time.

Paris Catacombs

An underground tunnel of death spread 20 meters beneath the streets of Paris, the catacombs hold the remains of several million (!) people.

A walk around them is like no other. Few dozen chambers filled with thousands and thousands of bones. The walls are built by bones, there is an altar built by bones, there’s even a heart made of bones. The whole catacombs experience is surreal.

Walking around so much death, really makes you put things in perspective and appreciate life.

Even though the place is fantastic,  I almost left it out of my 4 day Paris itinerary . How come? No, I didn’t get chased by a ghost, nor did I got creeped out too much. The experience is top-notch but to enter the catacombs…well, that’s pure hell. Something I didn’t know before I visit ( hello, a professional traveler here ) is that  the catacombs are famous for having the longest line of all Paris attractions! So here I am, excited to explore the veritable labyrinth of bones, getting on the line without even seeing the entrance. And I wait… and wait…and wait some more.  It took me 3 and a half hours to get inside!  Absolutely ridiculous.

Why is the queue so big? The catacombs are a major attraction, and many people want to see them. Only 200 people, however, are allowed down there, and no one gets in before someone gets out. Also, there’s a priority line that gets to enter with…well…priority.

So after waiting on the longest line in the world, my advice is – either  get the priority ticket  or skip the place . The catacombs are genuinely great, but the three hours + waiting is just not worth it. The other option is to go an hour before they open. You’ll still have to wait, but at least you know it’s just an hour.

Working Hours: Tue-Sun: 9:45 AM to 8:30 PM Monday: Closed

Prices: Last Minute Ticket (bought at the desk, or online and used the same day) (limited availibilities): 18 EUR Priority ticket + Audio guide – Check here VIP Tour – Check Here More skip the line tours

Palais Garnier

If you’ve read any of my other guides, you probably noticed I love to include European operas in my itineraries. Well I couldn’t skip one of  the most famous opera houses in the world , right?

So our next stop is the Paris Opera, also known as Palais Garnier!

Is it really a palace? No, but the opulence of the building is so rich that it was deemed the Palace of Garnier ( its creator ). There is no need to buy an incredibly expensive opera ticket to enjoy the opera house’s interior as Palace Garnier offers  visitation tickets  too.

Working Hours: Mon-Sun: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM A lot of time the opera is closed or there is reduced working hours so better  double check here

Prices: Regular: 14 EUR ( Get here ) Audioguide + 6.50 EUR Guided tours – Check here

Castaway Fact An incident in 1896 where one of the chandelier’s counterweights broke free killing a concierge inspired the legendary gothic novel – The Phantom of the Opera.

The most charming part of Paris, Montmartre, is located on a small hill in the 18th arrondissement.  Famous for its vintage charm , Montmartre used to be the go-to place for every self-respected artist of the 19th and 20th centuries.

And no wonder, the district managed to keep the small village atmosphere that can inspire all sorts of art expressions.  Walking around it even nowadays is like stepping inside a postcard . If you want to go to the next level, get yourself a  walking tour  that will teach more about the history of the district and show you its hidden gems!

Tour or no tour, make sure you visit one of the highlights of Montmartre – the ” I Love You Wall”.  The love-themed wall covers around 40 square meters (430 sq ft) and includes the words I love you in 311 different languages. Try to find it written in your language ( it’s quite hard! ).

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The Sacre Coeur Basilica

The biggest highlight of Montmartre and another iconic symbol of Paris – the Sacre Coeur Basilica is the next stop on our 4 days in Paris.

The entirely white basilica is dedicated to the heart of Jesus, and it’s  the second most visited church in Paris  (at least when Notre Dame is open). It stands at the top of the hill of Montmartre, and it’s also the second-highest point of the city ( behind the Eiffel Tower ).

And while the basilica comes second in those rankings, its architecture is second to none. Built in romano-byzantine style, Sacre Coeur was inspired by Saint Sofia ( Istanbul ) and San Marco ( Venice ).  The entirely white exterior completes the majestic luminance of this astonishing place.

Working Hours: Church Mon – Sun: 6:30 AM – 10:30 PM Dome Daily from 10:30 AM to 7:00 PM – summer Daily from 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM – winter

Prices: Church: Free Dome: 5 EUR (300 steps, no elevator) Guided tour – Check Here

Castaway Tip Honestly, the Basilica is not as glorious from the inside as it’s from the outside. If the line is too big, I suggest skipping it. The hill presents a marvelous panoramic view of Paris and this is the main highlight of the place. Yes, the real magic of Sacre Coeur is the steps that lead there. One of the most popular spots to relax and enjoy a bottle of wine.

Moulin Rouge

The last event in our 4 days in Paris would be a memorable one. Famous all over the world, Moulin Rouge was founded in 1889 and went through several transformations before becoming the global symbol that it is today.

The idea behind Moulin Rouge was simple.  The creators of the place wanted to attract an audience that just wants to have fun . They served champagne during the shows and allowed people from the audience to go on stage. The whole place had an extravagant design and even an elephant in the garden.

Unfortunately, the place burned out in 1915 just to be replaced ten years later with a theater that later became a dance club.

The legendary cabaret we have today exists thanks to Georges France and Vincent Auriol who decided the renovation of Moulin Rouge should bring back the original idea – to attract people who just want to have fun!

Working Hours: Moulin Rouge working hours and FAQ

Prices: Moulin Rouge online tickets

Where to Stay in Paris

Paris has thousands of beautiful hotels. If you’re willing to break the bank, it’s easy to find a luxurious hotel with perfect conditions. What I’m gonna suggest here are hotels who ( in my opinion ) have the X factor to excel your Paris experience but won’t cost a small fortune to stay.

Résidence Charles Floquet

Hotel Le Notre Dame Saint Michel

Located next to Notre Dame, this hotel offers not only a  perfect location in the center of Paris  but also a unique art experience. “Cobblestoned” floors, bright walls, and windows overlooking the more famous church in the world! Count me in! Check out the latest price

 Elysées Union

Another amazing place with an Eiffel Tower view, hotel Elysées Union is housed in a typical 19th century Paris building and offers all you need to have a perfect vacation. Soundproofed rooms with classic French decor, delicious continental breakfast, 24-hour reception, and a metro station a hundred meters away make this hotel one of the very best options for your 4 days in Paris. Check out the latest price

Want to explore more options in Paris? See the best-located hotels in town

Paris Tours

–  The Dark One : Paris may be the “City of Light” but its alleys hold plenty of dark stories. This unique tour will show you the other side of Paris, its myths and legends.

–  The Cemetery One : Explore one of the most famous cemeteries in the world with this one. I didn’t put it in the 4-day itinerary because I don’t think it’s something that should be explored on your own. With a guide tough, the Pere Lachaise cemetery is quite an interesting place to visit.

–  The VR One : This is quite a unique experience. Put your VR headset, fuel your jetpack, and explore Paris the way you never imagined possible! Very cool thing to do for a reasonable price.

– The Wine One  – Paris wines are worldwide famous. So is there a more Parisian tour than a wine tasting tour? I don’t think so. This tour is not even a tour but a workshop that will teach you history, aromas, terroir, and the specific ways different wines are made and turn you into a proficient sommelier.

More than Four Days in Paris

You have more than 4 days in Paris, or you want to replace something on the itinerary? Not a problem, Paris has plenty to offer.

Le Centre Pompidou

The Pompidou Centre is an odd building located in the 4th arrondissement of Paris that hosts the Public Information Library of Paris and the biggest modern art museum in Europe – Musée National d’Art Moderne.  It’s also designed to be inside-out.

Described by National Geographic as “love at second sight” Le Centre Pompidou is one of the weirdest constructions in Paris and a must-see for every modern art enthusiast.

Working Hours: Wed – Mon: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM (except Thursday when the museum is open until 11:00 PM) Tuesday – Closed

Prices: Regular – 15 EUR ( Get one here )

If you stumble upon a mid-1800s Haussmann era building with a snake, face or breasts on its facade, don’t be confused. You found 59 Rivoli.

An artist squat of over 30 artists that pay minimum rent to live and create in the heart of Paris. If you need more art for your 4 days in Paris, you’re free to go in and explore six floors full of fantasy.

Working Hours: Tue-Sun: 1:00 PM – 8:00 PM Monday – Closed

Prices: Free

Nicholas Flamel House

Alchemists were those weird semi-scientist, semi-magician guys from the middle ages who devoted their entire lives to the search of a mythical item that can turn metal into gold and produce an elixir of life ( apparently doing just one of those things was not enough ).

Nicholas Flamel is the most popular alchemist of all time that was even featured in the Harry Potter series. The legend says ( and J.K. Rowling confirms ) that he actually managed to find the Philosopher’s Stone and he is still alive today.

His house in Paris still stands, and today it’s turned into a Micheline-star restaurant.  If you’re a foodie and you fancy a curious dinner in the oldest house known to date in Paris, the home of Nicholas Flamel is your place.

Working Hours: Lunch – from 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM Dinner – from 7:00 PM to 10:30 PM

Reservation Info: Tel: 01 42 71 77 78 mail: [email protected]

Musée Rodin

If you prefer sculptures instead of paintings, you can change one of the museums within the 4-day Paris itinerary with one of the very best sculpture museums in the world – the Rodin Museum.

Opened in 1919, the museum is dedicated to the works of the French sculptor Auguste Rodin who is considered among the most prominent sculptors of all times.  His most influential masterpieces – The Gates of Hell, The Kiss, and my favorite, The Thinker can all be found in the museum.

Working Hours: Tue-Sun: different through the year – check here Monday – Closed

Prices: Regular – 13 EUR ( Get one here ) Priority + Guide – Check here

Les Invalides

Les Invalides used to be a royal chapel commissioned by Louis XIV and completed in 1677. In 1800, Napoleon turned the place into a pantheon of military glories. Today, the building hosts the Military Museum of Paris,  the biggest attraction of which is the tomb of Napoleon himself!

Working Hours: Daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (Tuesday till 9:00 PM) Closed every first Monday in the month.

Prices: Regular: 14 EUR ( Get one here ) Priority + Guide – Check here

Paris Pantheon

A monument in the 5th arrondissement, The Pantheon has been a burial ground for notable French figures since the French Revolution. The famous graves you can explore there today include Victor Hugo, Marie Curie, and Alexandre Dumas.

Working Hours: From April 1 to September 30:   Daily 10 AM to 6:30 PM

From October 1 to March 31: Daily 10 AM to 6 PM

Prices: Regular: 11.50 EUR ( Get one here ) Free for Under 18 or 18-25 citizens of EU countries

Day-Trips From Paris

If you’re ready to sacrifice one of your 4 days in Paris for a day trip, there are plenty of picturesque villages, theme parks, and chateaus around the city. Two of them, however, stand out:

Palace Of Versailles

In the 17th century, the Sun King transformed his father’s hunting lodge into a palace so beautiful and opulent that nowadays, it’s a synonym for a luxurious lifestyle

Explore the lavish rooms and get lost in the exquisite gardens while learning more about the former inhabitants of the palace.  Legendary figures like Marie Antoinette and the Sun King all used to call the Versailles Palace home and left their mark on it. Lines for the Palace Of Versailles are not something to be taken lightly. Just like most of the things in Paris,  it’s best to get your  online ticket  beforehand . There are two types of tickets – with a fixed hour and without. Get the fixed-hour ones. If you’re in time you go straight in, and if you’re not, your ticket is still valid, but you just have to wait in the no-fixed-hours line ( the same one you have to wait if you get the other ticket ).

And if you want to learn more about all the gorgeous and pompous things you’re about to see in the palace, I strongly recommend getting this guided tour . The guides are among the best in Paris and their personal approach to every visitor guarantees a plesant experience.

Working Hours: Palace Tue-Sun: 9:00 AM -5:30 PM Gardens Tue-Sun: 8:00 AM -6:00 PM Trianon Estate Tue-Sun: 12:00 PM -5:30 PM Monday: Closed

Prices: There are multiple prices so better find the best one for you on  the official site  or book yourself a  guided tour  (you can choose a secret rooms visit here!)

How to get there? Get the public train from Paris to Versailles-Chteau rive gauche station stop (RER C – the yellow line)

Disneyland Paris

The only Disneyland park in Europe is also the most visited theme park on the continent. No matter your age, the magical land of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, and friends is a guarantee to have a good time.

Working Hours: Mon-Sun: 9:30 AM – 8:00 PM ( double-check here )

Prices: There are multiple prices, you better go to  the official site  to find the best one for you or explore  the offers of GetYourGuide  ( some include private transport from Paris and back )

How to get there? Get the public train from Paris to the Marne-la-Vallée-Chessy stop (RER A – the red line)

Paris Itinerary Map

Click to open in Google Maps

Is Paris a safe city to visit?

Absolutely! Paris is one of the safest places you can visit, and you shouldn’t let the mainstream media convince you otherwise.  The only thing you should be wary about in Paris is the pickpockets . Wherever there are massive tourist crowds, the pickpockets follow. Be especially careful around crowded public spaces like the Eiffel Tower or Sacre Coeur.

No matter how safe it is, it’s always good to be prepared for everything and have travel insurance. I currently use  HeyMondo  for my travels because they have proven themselves to me more than once over the years. The link above will give you a 5% discount, but If you have another favorite provider, that’s ok. Just make sure you have one because you never know what may happen.

Is Paris expensive?

Paris is very expensive. It’s even ranked as the world’s  most expensive city to live in 2019 .  But you don’t have to break the bank to visit it. There are cheap Ryanair flights to Paris or Brussel ( bus from Brussel to Paris is less than 10 EUR ), there are Airbnb’s with pretty reasonable prices and great cafes offering french sandwiches and breakfast for a few euros.

You can even save money from the museum entries if you get the  Paris Museum Pass  ( not to be mistaken with Paris Pass which sucks ). Just make sure you’re gonna visit enough places to cover the price ( if you follow my 4-day Paris itinerary, you will ).

Is Paris easy to walk around?

Paris is an extremely walkable city. Big streets combined with little alleys, all designed with the pedestrian in mind. Having said that, Paris is huge, so walking everywhere may not be the best idea. This leads to our next question:

What is the cheapest way to get around Paris?

The cheapest way to get around town during your 4 days in Paris is the metro. The “City of Lights” has a very developed metro system that can take you anywhere you want in no time. The problem with the Paris metro is that it’s confusing as hell for a first-time visitor.  The way I managed to get around was by using Google Maps just to find out what line I need . Select the nearest metro station, zoom out, and you’ll see the line color and where it goes.

Something that confused me at the beginning was the RER system. The train system of Paris is perfect for a day-trips but often uses the same stops as the metro and the colors of the lines are identical! When you check out your route, make sure there is no RER next to it.

The price for a single ticket is 1.90 EUR, and you can buy it from the machines positioned on every station. Tickets are also valid for buses, trams, RER trains (within Zone 1), and even for the Montmartre funicular.

If that seems like too much hassle (cause it is), the easiest way to travel around Paris would be to rent a car. In that case, I recommend checking out  Discover Cars  and their tool that will compare all the best rent-a-car providers in the area. The prices they manage to find are sometimes ridiculously low.

How do I get from Charles de Gaulle Airport to the city center?

The cheapest way is to use one of the RER trains. In this case, you need RER B (blue line) which you can find both on Terminal 2 and 3.  Tickets cost 11.40 EUR , and you can get them from the blue ticket machines ( not the yellow ones ) or a ticket booth. The journey to the center should last around an hour.

Alternatively, you can also use the buses that leave in front of all terminals. They are a bit cheaper, but you risk getting into traffic.

If you don’t want to stress yourself with public transport on your first day, the best thing you can do is to book either a  private  or  shared transfer straight to your hotel.

The easiest way, of course, would be to simply rent a car that will wait for you at the airport.

What is the currency in France?

France uses the Euro as its official currency. – Can you use US currency in Paris? No, you can’t. French are very proud people, and there’s no way they let you pay in USD. Even if you find a place where they accept dollars, the rate would be abysmal.

Do they speak English in Paris?

In Paris, people tend to speak French ( duh ). Not only that but they write everything in French neglecting English completely. Now from my experience, French people do speak English, or at least understand it.

Every time I wanted to order or buy something, I used English, and even though they replied in French, they always understood me.  So my conclusion is that most of the people in Paris do know English, however, they don’t like to use it.

That’s all from me, I hope you enjoy your 4 days in Paris . To get your even more Paris-excited I reccomend checking my awesome Paris quotes collection . ———————————— If you haven’t planned your trip there yet, find out how I plan my trips! ———————————— I have 32 bucket list ideas for France. See my impossible bucket list of 1700+ adventures!

Is Paris on your bucket list?

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Tuesday 23rd of May 2023

That's so great to read about how to live for 4 days in Paris. I would like to thank the author for sharing this beneficial blog with us. Keep Sharing.

Friday 26th of May 2023

Glad I can help :)

Wednesday 22nd of December 2021

Hi, I have been reading your articles for France and Spain all morning. I have one question.. Out of every month you have visited France, what was your personal favorite time to go?

Saturday 25th of December 2021

Hi there Alexa, Sorry for the late response. Spring is my favourite season for France, something around late March, early April. It's not flooded with tourists, days are long enough, weather is mild aaand blossom season in Paris :)

Friday 20th of December 2019

Love your article!! Would love to use your photo of the Eiffel Tower in an article if that would be OK?

Saturday 21st of December 2019

Glad you like it, Stephanie. Please send me a message with more details about the pic

Wednesday 10th of July 2019

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Visiter l'Irlande en 7 jours : nos conseils d'itinéraire jour par jour

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L’île verte déroule ses paysages sublimes, évocateurs d'un ailleurs imaginé, que l'on découvre au fil de ses routes côtières, jalonnées de villes et de villages authentiques. Nos conseils pour découvrir les charmes de l'Irlande en une semaine.

Carte : notre road trip en Irlande

Étape 1 : dublin, étape 2 : côte est, étape 3 : côte ouest, étape 4 : les routes pittoresques (wild atlantic way & ring of kerry).

C'est au printemps que l' Irlande est la plus belle. Lorsque les jours rallongent et que le soleil apparaît entre deux averses pour faire ressortir les couleurs éclatantes de l'île. En commençant par le vert qui domine son paysage, dessiné par des prairies, des collines et des vallées, auquel s'ajoutent les teintes variées des fleurs qui foisonnent dans les jardins des châteaux ou qui poussent le long des côtes torturées, bordées de falaises vertigineuses, de criques et de baies parsemées d'îles.

Nature , histoire et aventures se combinent lors de ce road trip d'une semaine en Irlande, à la découverte de quelques-uns des joyaux du pays. Un itinéraire qui se fait dans de parfaites conditions, par la qualité des routes et la facilité d'accès aux paysages traversés.

500 km au moins sont nécessaires réaliser notre parcours.

2 jours – Culture - Plaisirs urbains

Moins de 2 heures de vol séparent Paris de Dublin , que l'on rejoint facilement depuis l'aéroport après avoir récupéré notre véhicule de location. On consacre la première journée à la découverte des incontournables de la vibrante capitale irlandaise, avant d'explorer ses environs le lendemain.

• Flâner dans le centre-ville pour découvrir le Château du Dublin, la cathédrale Christ Church et la cathédrale Saint-Patrick ;
• Visiter Trinity College, la plus ancienne université d'Irlande, et admirer les œuvres de Van Gogh, Monet et Rembrand exposées à la National Gallery ;
• Se détendre en fin de journée au Phoenix Park, où les cerfs se baladent en liberté, avant de prendre le pouls de la vie nocturne dublinoise dans les pubs animés du quartier de Temple Bar ;
• Se rendre au village côtier de Howth (17 Km) pour savourer de délicieux fruits de mer et profiter des superbes paysages qu'offre le sentier de Howth Cliff Loop, qui fait le tour de la péninsule ;
• Se promener sur la plage de Malahide (18 Km) et admirer les bâtiments au style géorgien de la ville ainsi que son sublime château, datant du XIIe siècle ;

VISITER LA CATHÉDRALE SAINT-PATRICK

1 jour – 66 Km - 1h de route – Nature - Histoire

Depuis Dublin, on longe la côte est du pays pour découvrir les joyaux du comté de Wicklow, surnommé le jardin de l'Irlande . Entre villages pittoresques, demeures chargées d'histoire et nature exubérante, on prend plaisir à explorer cette région pleine de charme, au cœur de terres ancestrales irlandaises.

• Déambuler dans les rues pavées du charmant village de Dun Laoghaire (15 Km) et contempler le panorama saisissant sur la mer d'Irlande depuis la colline du village médiéval de Dalkley ;
• S'arrêter à Enniskerry pour admirer le manoir palladien et les magnifiques jardins du domaine de Powerscourt, datant du XIXe siècle ;
• S'aventurer sur les sentiers verdoyants du parc national des Monts Wicklow et s'émerveiller devant ses paysages enchanteurs où se mêlent montagnes, lacs et forêts ;
• Faire une halte au village de Glendalough pour découvrir les ruines du monastère fondé par les premiers chrétiens d'Irlande au VIe siècle, notamment sa tour ronde, haute de 30 m.

RÉSERVER UNE EXCURSION À WICKLOW

2 jours – 207 Km - 2h30 de route – Nature

On traverse l'île verte d'Est en Ouest pour se rendre à Galway . Appréciée pour son âme authentique, la ville la plus irlandaise d'Irlande est également un excellent point de départ pour découvrir les trésors naturels de la côte ouest, notamment les terres sauvages de la région du Connemara, à 1h30 de route de là.

• Se promener dans la vielle ville de Galway pour admirer l'Arche Espagnole, datant du XVIe siècle, et l'église médiévale Saint Nicholas, érigée en 1320 ;
• Découvrir l'histoire de la ville en visitant le Galway City Museum et se balader au bord de l'océan sur la promenade de Salthill ;
• Embarquer à bord d'un ferry à Rossaveal pour découvrir Inis Mór, Inis Meáin et Inis Oírr, les trois îles d'Aran ;
• Randonner sur les sentiers bucoliques du parc national du Connemara, admirer la sublime abbaye de Kylemore au bord du lac de Pollacapall et découvrir les superbes chutes d'eau d'Aasleagh ;
• Se rendre à Clifden, chef-lieu du Connemara et point de départ de la Sky Road, une route panoramique offrant des paysages splendides.

RÉSERVER UNE EXCURSION D'UNE JOURNÉE

2 jours – 263 Km - 4h de route – Nature

Depuis Galway, on emprunte le célèbre Wild Atlantic Way, la plus longue route côtière au monde, pour se rendre aux Cliffs of Moher. Dépassant les 200 m de hauteur, ces falaises impressionnantes dominent l'océan Atlantique sur 8 Km et offrent des vues époustouflantes dont on s'imprègne avant de reprendre la route en direction de Killarney, point de départ du Ring of Kerry, une pittoresque route formant une boucle dans le sud-ouest de l'Irlande.

• Se balader en calèche entre les lacs du parc national de Killarney et découvrir la cascade de Torc ;
• Profiter d'un superbe panorama sur la région depuis les points de vue de Moll's Gap et Ladies View ;
• Admirer les îles Skellig du haut des falaises de Kerry et s'aventurer au milieu de la nature sauvage de l'île de Valentia ;
• Se délecter des fruits de mer du village de Kenmare et s'immortaliser devant les maisons colorées du village de Sneem ;
• Se promener sur les superbes plages de Rossbeigh, Derrynane et St Finian's Bay.

DÉCOUVRIR LES CLIFFS OF MOHER

On profite des paysages de la campagne irlandaise qui jalonnent le trajet de 4 heures entre Killarney et l'aéroport de Dublin, d'où on embarque à destination de l'Hexagone. L'Irlande est un pays à l'âme vibrante qui peut se découvrir aisément lors d'un roadtrip de deux semaines également, pour entrer en profondeur dans ses terres et s'imprégner pleinement de leur essence.

• En Irlande, voyage aux îles d'Aran, à l'écart du monde
• Nos 5 destinations typiques pour découvrir l’Irlande
• Sur la côte ouest de l'Irlande, 5 bonnes raisons de visiter le comté de Clare

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le 27/04/2024 à 20:27

La campagne vers les Monts Wicklow et Glendalough = on se croirait dans la Comté du Seigneur des Anneaux Campagne Sauvage sauvage et luxuriante

anonyme 12347

le 27/04/2024 à 10:18

Sympa comme programme pour quelques jours, mais on peut y passer plus de temps, il y a tellement de belles choses à voir ! Ring of Kerry, bof, la péninsule de Dingle est beaucoup plus belle. Ah l’Irlande ! Quel beau pays ! L’Ecosse n’est pas mal non plus !!

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