Itineraries

Paris in 3 days: our day-by-day itinerary

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The Eiffel Tower by the Seine in Paris
Contents

In short: day 1, the Île de la Cité, the Left Bank and the Eiffel Tower at sunset; day 2, the Louvre, the Tuileries, the Champs-Élysées and a Seine cruise; day 3, Montmartre in the morning and the Marais in the afternoon. Book the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower ascent in advance, and group your visits by area so you can stroll rather than rush.

Before you go: what to book

  • The Louvre: book a time slot on the official website. Closed on Tuesdays.
  • The Eiffel Tower: book your ascent online; slots sell out fast in high season.
  • The Musée d’Orsay (closed on Mondays) and the Sainte-Chapelle: a booked slot saves you the queue.
  • Notre-Dame de Paris: entry is free; you can book a time slot to skip the line.

Always check opening days and hours on the official websites: they can change.

Day 1: the Île de la Cité, the Left Bank and the Eiffel Tower

Morning: the Île de la Cité. Start with Notre-Dame de Paris, reopened in December 2024 after its restoration, then the Sainte-Chapelle and its stained glass, even more beautiful on a sunny day. Cross the bridge to Île Saint-Louis for an ice cream and a walk along the quays.

Lunch: the Latin Quarter. Cross the Seine to the lanes around the Sorbonne and the Panthéon, full of small restaurants.

Afternoon: Saint-Germain and Orsay. Take a break in the Luxembourg Gardens, then head to Saint-Germain-des-Prés and its cafés. End the afternoon at the Musée d’Orsay and its Impressionist collection (except on Mondays).

Evening: the Eiffel Tower. Walk along the Seine or take the RER C to the Eiffel Tower. Go up at sunset if you have booked, then cross to the Trocadéro for the most famous view: after dark, the tower sparkles for a few minutes at the start of every hour.

Day 2: the Louvre, the Tuileries and the Champs-Élysées

Morning: the Louvre. Arrive at opening time with your booked slot. The museum is huge: pick two or three departments (the Mona Lisa and Italian painting, the Egyptian antiquities, the Venus de Milo) rather than trying to see everything.

Lunch: the Palais-Royal and the Tuileries. Have lunch near the Palais-Royal, then cross the Tuileries Garden. Monet fans can stop at the Musée de l’Orangerie and its Water Lilies.

Afternoon: from Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe. From Place de la Concorde, walk up the Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe, whose terrace overlooks the great avenues.

Evening: a Seine cruise. A cruise of about an hour glides past the illuminated monuments: a highlight, especially on a first visit.

Day 3: Montmartre and the Marais

Morning: Montmartre. Head up the hill early to enjoy the calm: the Sacré-Cœur basilica and its view over the whole city, Place du Tertre and its painters, the cobbled lanes, the Wall of Love. The funicular saves you some of the stairs.

Afternoon: the Marais. Take the metro down to the Marais: Place des Vosges, the oldest square in Paris, the Musée Carnavalet on the history of the city (free for the permanent collections) or the Picasso Museum, then the boutiques and grand mansions.

Evening: Bastille or Canal Saint-Martin. End with a drink around Bastille or by the Canal Saint-Martin, one of Parisians’ favourite spots.

A fourth day? Versailles or Disneyland

  • The Palace of Versailles (closed on Mondays): the palace, the Hall of Mirrors and the gardens take a full day. Book ahead; the RER C serves the town.
  • Disneyland Paris, on the RER A from the centre: a full day, ideal for families.
  • Giverny and Monet’s house, in spring and summer.

Our tips to make the most of 3 days

  1. Group your visits by area: that’s the secret to seeing a lot without wearing yourself out.
  2. Walk: many sights are close together, and Paris reveals itself street by street.
  3. Take the metro for longer distances; contactless payment and rechargeable cards make journeys easier. Fares change: check the Île-de-France Mobilités website.
  4. Leave some slack: the weather, a queue or falling for a neighbourhood can change your plans.
  5. Watch out for pickpockets on the metro and around the major monuments.

Where to stay for these 3 days

A central base saves precious time: the Marais, Saint-Germain or the Latin Quarter are ideal for this itinerary. Every area is detailed in our guide Where to stay in Paris. To get in from the airport, see Paris airport to city centre, and to go further, Things to do in Paris.

Frequently asked questions

Are 3 days enough to see Paris?

Three days let you see the essentials: the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre or the Musée d'Orsay, Notre-Dame, Montmartre and the Marais. For Versailles or Disneyland, add a day.

Which museums are closed on which day?

The Louvre is closed on Tuesdays, the Musée d'Orsay on Mondays, the Palace of Versailles on Mondays. Always check opening days on the official websites before your trip, as they can change.

Do I need a pass to visit Paris in 3 days?

A museum pass or a sightseeing pass can be worth it if you plan many paid visits in a row. Compare it with the price of the tickets you actually intend to buy before deciding.