By Gemma Tedaldi | Published: 6 December 2023 | Updated: 16th January 2026
Flying into Paris at night with the Eiffel Tower lit up and sparkling to greet us started off a perfect 3 days in Paris itinerary. For Matt and I, it was our first trip to the French capital and one we will never forget. We’ve now visited Paris a couple of times since, and seeing the Eiffel Tower never gets old!
Alongside the likes of London, New York and Milan, Paris, France’s capital, is known for its architecture, fashion and of course, its food. With a population of over 2 million, the City of Light attracts visitors from all over the world, and it is easy to see why. So to help you plan a future trip here (and believe me, you should), here is our perfect 3 days in Paris itinerary.
📍 Paris Itinerary Day 1: Montmartre
📍 Paris Itinerary Day 2: Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars & Musée d’Orsay
📍 Paris Itinerary Day 3: The Arc de Triomphe, Seine, Musée de Louvre & Notre-Dame
Are 3 Days In Paris Enough?
In all honesty, no. Three days in Paris is the perfect amount of time to get a feel for Paris and see some of the main sights, but if you want to really delve deep into Paris, you want a couple more days so you can visit galleries and museums without worrying about how little time you’ve got there. We loved our 3 days there, but we have since been back to explore further and some lesser-known spots.
If you are short on time in Paris but want to see all the main sights, then this Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with optional cruise is a great option.
The Perfect 3 Days in Paris Itinerary Map
The Perfect 3 Days in Paris Itinerary
For this Paris itinerary, we highly recommend booking a few tours and tickets in advance, not only to get skip-the-line tickets (no one wants to stand in an hour-long queue if they don’t need to!), but also to guarantee that you get tickets at all. Paris is popular!
Also, as the itinerary below is only for spending 3 days in Paris, if you have more time to spend, then we recommend taking a tour out of the city and visiting one of these destinations:
3 Day Paris Itinerary Day 1: Montmartre
Paris may not seem like it is suited to wandering on foot; however, it is surprisingly easy to walk around. Plus, walking means you get to see bits of the city you wouldn’t otherwise see! We based ourselves in Montmartre, so we were within easy access to a number of sights in the area, including the Moulin Rouge, Rue Norvins, and Sacré-Cœur. This also meant that Montmartre was the perfect place to start our 3-day Paris itinerary.
Paris Day 1 Morning & Afternoon – Explore Montmartre
It is easy to see why so many artists call Montmartre their home. The historic buildings and tree-lined squares, alongside the cobbled streets brimming with cafes, patisseries, and people, make for a perfect combination.
Start the day off with breakfast or brunch at Kozy Montmartre (they have the most delicious egg, brioche and other brunch food), before heading out and walking through the cobbled streets, historic buildings, and artist hideouts of Montmartre. It really is an architect’s, artists and adventurers’ heaven and a must-do if you are in Paris. With quaint cafes and hidden art at every turn, this route allows you to fully immerse yourself in Parisian ways, with a few sweet treats along the way! (Crepes and macaroons, we’re looking at you!).
Be sure to stop at Place du Tertre to see local artists at work and to even buy a piece or two and at La Savonnerie de Montmartre for all things lavender and traditional soaps, (the smell lasts months!).
Paris Day 1 Evening – Catch a show a Moulin Rouge
For your first night in Paris, we recommend booking to catch a show at Moulin Rouge if you can (just be sure to plan and book ahead of your arrival in Paris, as the shows often sell out months ahead), but before you head there, go to Le Comptoir Boutary for dinner. The food is truly incredible, and some of the nicest we’ve had during our numerous trips to Paris. Be sure to book in advance and let them know that you have a show to get to (they are used to it, so they will make sure you have all your food on time!).
3 Day Paris Itinerary Day 2: Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars & Musée d’Orsay
Paris Day 2 Morning & Afternoon – Walking the Gross-Caillou District from the Eiffel Tower to Musée d’Orsay
We can’t write a guide to visiting Paris for 3 days and not include a walk that takes in the sights of the Eiffel Tower. So this day of the Paris itinerary allows you to see the Eiffel Tower from a number of places, all of which are just as stunning as the last.
Start the day off by grabbing a croissant from Boulangerie Bonon, (nearest Metro stop Iena), before walking the short way to Place du Trocadéro and down towards the river and the Eiffel Tower through the Jardins du Trocadéro.
Here is a great opportunity to not just visit the Eiffel Tower but also take a river cruise as well, before continuing through the surrounding park, Champ-de-Mars, heading to your lunch spot at Kozy Bosquet, (the same company as brunch the first day of the Paris itinerary, but with a different menu).
With a chance to see the sights from the river, and a chance to rest those legs from all the walking you will have been doing around the city, a river cruise is the perfect thing to do. Be sure to book in advance, though, for the best cruise options and cheapest tickets.
After lunch, it is a short walk to the Musée de l’Armée and Hotel des Invalides, home of army museums and tombs, including Napoleon. You can easily spend an hour or two here exploring before walking down the Esplanade des Invalides to the river again and to the Quai d’Orsay. Keep the river on your right and follow along, stopping at one of the many buvettes (open-air cafes/bars), along the way before arriving at the Musée d’Orsay.
Paris Day 2 Evening – Food with a view
For your second evening in Paris, head to Terrass Restaurant in Montmartre, just a short walk from most accommodation in the area. If you have never heard of it and are booking a trip to Paris, make sure you reserve an evening table here; the panoramic views over Paris are incredible, and the food is just divine. What more do we need to say? If you can’t book in the main restaurant, they also have a rooftop bar you can visit instead.
Another option for food in the area is Umi Ramen, which, although small, has some of the best ramen we have had outside of Japan!
After catching the Eiffel Tower sparking to life, you can do as we did and head back to Place du Trocadero for the nighttime light show, or just head to bed ready for another whirlwind day around Paris tomorrow.
3 Day Paris Itinerary Day 3: The Arc de Triomphe, Seine, Musée de Louvre & Notre-Dame
Paris Day 3 Morning & Afternoon – Walking the Seine
For the final day of the 3 days in Paris itinerary, we are walking along the River Seine to see some of the typical tourist sights of Paris, as well as exploring some of the beautiful gardens and galleries that fill the area, but to kick the day off with a bang start at the Arc de Triomphe for some of the most iconic views over the city. Cafe Lateral is a great option for breakfast, with good coffee and croissants, pretty much a given in Paris!
From the Arc de Triomphe, you can either walk down the Champs Élysées to Place de la Concorde and the Jardin des Tuileries, or you can hop on the metro, getting off at Concorde. We would highly recommend walking, as you can stop at the Petit Palais (the most beautiful art gallery/museum) or Grand Palais (another stunning museum inside and out) on the way.
Whilst in the Jardin des Tuileries, we recommend stopping at one of the many cafes in the park for lunch before heading into the Louvre. Cafe des Marronniers is a great option for quick bites. At the end of the park, after walking through the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, you will have arrived at the famous glass pyramids of the Louvre, and more often than not, a really big queue! So be sure to book your tickets for the Louvre well in advance so you don’t have to join in!
If you aren’t actually that fussed with visiting the Louvre, or are all gallery/museum’d out at this point, (we get it!), then the Jardin du Palais Royale is a great place to escape from the outside city streets, and relax around the fountain. It is also particularly lovely with early spring blossom or summer roses.
After a stroll around the gardens, head back to the riverside and wander a little further to the Cathedral Notre-Dame and then back along the island to Pont Neuf. You can also take the Metro but will need to cross the river to Musee d’Orsay before getting off at Saint-Michel Notre-Dame.
Paris Day 3 Evening – Dinner Cruise & Goodbye to Paris
After wandering around this beautiful city for 3 days, we highly recommend booking onto one of the cruises along the Seine for dinner. Taking in all the sights you have been seeing on foot over the last 3 days in Paris, it is the perfect way to end the trip. Just be sure to book well in advance as the good seats with views over the river often sell out!
Where to stay in Paris
Each trip we’ve had to Paris, we’ve based ourselves in Montmartre, as it is the perfect place to be close to the sights but far enough away to get some peace and quiet from the hustle and bustle of Paris. There are also numerous public transport stops in the area and a wide selection of restaurants, cafes and bars to choose from too.
We’ve stayed at Citadines Montmartre and Ibis Styles Paris Montmartre Batignolles, both of which are great, but Citadines has a cute rooftop terrace with views of the Sacré-Cœur…
Check out the map below for the best accommodation options for your stay in Paris.
Top Sights To See In Paris
A perfect 3 days in Paris has to include those bucket list stops everyone has to see.
📍 Eiffel Tower – Nearest Metro stop Champ de Mars, but I recommend heading to Trocadero instead for incredible views down to the Eiffel Tower.
📍 Sacre Coeur – Nearest Metro stop Anvers, but a walk through Montmartre is not to be missed.
📍 Musee du Louvre – Nearest Metro stop Palais Royal / Musee d.Louvre, but I highly recommend getting off at Concorde and wandering through the Jardin des Tuileries to the Louvre instead.
Top Food To Eat In Paris & Where
📍 Banana & chocolate crepes/sugar & lemon crepes in Le Palais Royale gardens
📍 Croissants for breakfast in Montmartre
📍 Any filled baguette you can find in a boulangerie
📍 Onion soup overlooking the River Seine
📍 A glass of wine with views to die for at Terrass Restaurant
The Perfect 3 Days in Paris Itinerary FAQs
How to get to Paris
As Paris is the capital of France it has a very well accessed international airport. It is also extremely well linked throughout Europe via trains. If you are arriving from the UK, you can also take the Eurostar train directly into Paris too.
How to get around Paris
The easiest way to get around Paris is by utilising the metro system. Paris is a pretty big city so if you want to save your feet a little, get a metro pass for the 3 days and use them to get you across the various districts before exploring. You can also utilise the bus network, or cycle across the city but be warned, the traffic can get quite busy!
What is the cheapest way to get around Paris?
The cheapest way to get around Paris is via the Metro system. You can buy various day passes for either Zone 1 – 3, from €13.20 per adult / €6.60 per child for 1 day or Zone 1 – 5, from €27.80 per adult / €13.90 per child for 1 day.
Will I be disappointed when visiting Paris?
If you come with extremely high expectations of Paris as this fairytale city full of love and life (as it is often portrayed in the movies), then depending on where you visit and where you stay, you might be a little disappointed. There are, of course, some truly wonderful locations to visit around Paris, but you also have to be prepared for the crowds and possibly not so magical locations too…
Is Paris safe?
Paris is safe to visit for the most part, but you need to be aware of petty crimes and pickpocketing, as with any large city, and especially a capital city.
What is the best time to visit Paris?
We visited Paris in early April, just in time for the spring to be hitting the city. It was still a bit cold, though, but with only a few tourists around at some of the bigger sights and tourist attractions, we didn’t mind a little cold!
Is Paris expensive?
Being the capital city of France, Paris is, of course, more expensive than other locations across France. It is also one of the most expensive cities to visit in Europe, but don’t let that put you off visiting! If you are sensible with where you eat, (not in the touristy locations), and where you stay you can make a Paris trip affordable for most budgets.
Should you get the Paris Museum Pass or the Paris Pass?
If you are looking to visit a number of the well-known museums and monuments in Paris then the Paris Museum Pass may be right for you as it gives you unlimited admission to over 60 locations as well as jump-the-line capabilities. However, if you are an EU citizen under 25 you can have free access to most of these locations already. Be aware that although it can jump the line, you may still be queuing for quite some time to the more well known places.
If you are visiting Paris and want to spend time exploring the city as well as attractions then the Paris Pass might be a better option. The Paris Pass gives you a one day hop on and off bus tour, a Seine River cruise, admission to various well known attractions and walking tours as well as discounts as restuarants.
Day trips from Paris
All roughly 1 hour from Paris, these locations make great day trips:
Versailles – UNESCO World Heritage Sites, full of beautiful palaces and gardens
Fontainebleau – historical chateaux and gardens surrounded by a famous bouldering forest
Reims – the capital of the Champagne region
Conclusion: The Perfect 3 Days in Paris Itinerary
So there you have our perfect 3 days in Paris itinerary for first-time visitors to this wonderful city. From our first, of what are sure to be many future trips to this beautiful location ‘la fin’.
Gemma Tedaldi
Gemma is the owner and author of The Travelling Tedaldi, a travel blog helping travellers to discover the best road trips and travel itineraries throughout the UK and Europe. When she isn’t writing about her favourite travel destinations, she can often be found out exploring local hikes or planning future trips.