3 Days in Paris: The Perfect Paris Itinerary
Paris, also known as the City of Lights (or the City of Love) is one of the most magical cities I’ve ever visited. Some people say it is overrated, but I couldn’t disagree more! No matter what type of travel you like, I promise you need to see the Eiffel Tower sparkle at some point in your life!!
I first visited Paris in 2012 with my family and got to go back in summer of 2022 with my husband and just fell in love with this city all over again.
If you’re reading this post, you’re probably already planning a trip to Paris, so I’ll stop trying to convince you and get right into the itinerary! In this 3 Day Paris itinerary, I’ll dive into exactly how I would spend 3 days in Paris on my first visit. I’ll go over where to stay, what to pack, and exactly what to do each day!
If you only have three days, this itinerary hits all of the highlights of the city and beyond!! If you don’t have 3 days in Paris, 2 full days is the absolute minimum I would recommend for Paris. You won’t be able to see and do it all, but you can still hit the major sites in 2 days.
Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you click an affiliate link or book through an affiliate program, I receive a small commission at no cost to you!
How to Spend 3 Perfect Days in Paris: A First Timers Guide and Itinerary
Where to Stay in Paris
If this is your first trip to Paris, you are probably wondering where to stay! Paris isn’t THAT big, but the main sights are sort of spread out, so it’s important to be somewhat central if you only have 3 days in Paris.
The city of Paris is organized into 20 Arrondissements (otherwise known as neighborhoods). They are ordered from 1-20 and spiralize around the city – check out the map below to see what I mean!
If this is your visit to Paris, I recommend staying in either the fourth, fifth, sixth, or seventh arrondissement to be as central as possible. These are the neighborhoods that surround the main sites like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, etc.
When looking at hotels, I highly recommend picking one that is within walking distance of a Metro Station.
I’ll talk about it more in the next section, but public transportation in Paris is exceptional and will save you tons of money versus taking cabs everywhere. So, it’s extremely convenient to be close to a train station!
In terms of hotel options, there is truly something for everyone in Paris, from hostels to luxury stays and everything in between.
No matter what your preference, I highly recommend using TripAdvisor to search for hotels. It’s my favorite tool to scour reviews before I book anywhere, and now you can book directly on TripAdvisor!
Getting Around + Map of the Sites
Transportation Options
Paris has a wonderful public transportation system that is SO easy to use, even for tourists! Don’t be intimated by it, even if you can’t speak French. RATP (Régie Autonome des Transport Parisiens) is the name of the entire system, which includes trains, the metro, trams, and buses.
I highly recommend downloading Google Maps for your trip, which has all the public transportation schedules built in. Just enter your location and where you need to go, and it’ll show you the different options for getting there, including the easiest and the fastest.
You can also purchase the Paris Visite pass for your trip, which is.a card you can pre-load that includes all public transportation within the city limits. We didn’t bother with this since we were only there for 2 days, but you can read more about it here!
No matter what pass you decide on, just know taking public transportation will save you a lot of money! If you rely solely on taxis in Paris, you will end up spending a ton of money and wasting time, so take advantage of the public transportation!
For example, we were trying to get from the Arc de Triomphe to our Seine River cruise. The metro station was nearby but we would’ve had to walk pretty far to get to the Seine River Cruise.
I found some free Wi-Fi and plugged in our current location and where were trying to go on Google Maps, and sure enough, there was a bus line right next to us that went straight to our destination!
We already had RATP tickets which can be used on the bus, tram, or Metro, so all we had to do was hop on and insert our ticket! It was so easy and saved us tons of time and money.
P.S. Planning a trip to Paris? Don’t miss my 10 Things You Need to Know Before Visiting Paris for the First Time to prepare for your trip!
Map of the Sites
To make it easier to follow along on this itinerary, I created the below map of Paris for you which has all the main sites that you will hit pinned!
You can even export and save this map directly so you can reference it during your trip. Don’t forget to “Download” the map of Paris before you leave so you can access it without cell service!
What to Pack for Paris
I won’t list out my whole packing list for you, because that would be excessive right?! Instead I’ll give you my must haves for your trip to Paris!
1. Comfy Walking Shoes: If you’ve been to Europe before, you know that you walk A TON. Paris is no different! During our first day in Paris we walked over 15 miles… If you don’t have the right shoes, you will be miserable. So make sure to pack comfy sandals or sneakers that won’t give you blisters. Sneakers like these are your best bet! Don’t forget to break them in before your trip!
2. Cross-Body Bag: Before you visit Paris, it’s important to know that pick-pockets are prominent! They frequent tourist areas like in front of the Eiffel Tower and in the Louvre and will steal from you without you even realizing. It’s important to have a small bag that always stays on your person and in front of you like this one.
3. Cute Hat and Sunglasses: Not totally necessary but helps with cute photos!
4. Europe plug converter: If you’re traveling from the USA, you will need a converter like this one to use your electronics!
5. Power Bank: You will likely be out adventuring all day and not at your hotel much. Couple that with taking tons of photos and videos means one thing… low phone battery. I recommend buying a power bank like this one to make sure your phone never dies!
The Paris Pass
If you’re spending 2 or 3 days in Paris, make sure to look into the Paris Pass before your trip. The Paris Pass is a combination pass that you can purchase for a flat fee of $140.
It gets you entrance into over 35 attractions in Paris, including the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, and more. There are different passes depending on the duration of your trip (1-day, 2-day, etc.).
The Parris Pass also allows you to skip the normal line at most attractions and/or get early entry. But make sure to do your research and confirm if it’s worth purchasing! We didn’t end up getting it because a 2-day pass was about $140/day and the total for the sites we wanted to visit was less than that!
Day 1: The Louvre, Gardens, Arc de Triomphe & A Dinner Cruise
Visiting the Louvre
Today is your first day in the City of Lights, and it is an action packed one!! Start the day with a pastry and cappuccino from whatever café you stumble upon (there is literally one on almost every corner!).
Then it is time to head to the Louvre!! Even if you don’t like museums, the Louvre is just one of those things you have to do. I mean, you can’t spend 3 days in Paris and NOT see the Mona Lisa, right?
PRO TIP: There’s really no need to wait in the long line for the Mona Lisa unless you ABSOLUTELY have to have a perfect picture right in front of it! Just walk to the left or right of the line and you will still be able to see it!
Make sure to reserve your tickets for the Louvre in advance. If you’re visiting in the summer, I recommend booking around a month in advance so you can get a morning timeslot. This goes for pretty much every major site in Paris.
Do NOT wait until you get there to purchase tickets. At most places, like the Louvre and the Arc de Triomphe, there is a line for people with tickets and a line for people without tickets, and the one for people who don’t have tickets is always INSANE. So, be proactive and buy in advance.
Wander on Foot
After you’re done at the Louvre, follow the exit signs for the Jardin de Tuileries. This is a gorgeous garden right outside the grounds of the Louvre.
You can grab a quick bite to eat from one of the vendors in the park, or venture a few blocks away to a local café.
If the weather is nice, spend some time exploring the garden! From there, you can also walk around the River Seine and see some of the famous bridges like Pont Alexandre III, Pont des Arts, and Pont Neuf.
The Notre Dame is also in this area, but it is still being rebuilt after the fire that occurred in 2019. Still awesome to see though!
Visiting the Arc de Triomphe
Once you’ve had your fill, head back to your hotel and change for the evening. Tonight you are embarking on a dinner cruise along the Seine, so I recommend dressing up a little. However, before the dinner cruise, you will be heading to another famous site: the Arc de Triomphe!
You can absolutely just go and see it from the ground, but I highly recommend going to the top!! I didn’t even realize this was possible until recently, but it was one of my favorite parts from our trip this past summer.
Going to the top costs about ~13 euros, and I recommend buying tickets in advance. (It is covered by the Paris Pass if you decide to go that route!)
When you book online, you will select a time to visit – they have slots in 15-minute increments. For this itinerary, I recommend booking at slot about 2 hours before your dinner cruise (this will vary depending on the time of year!).
PRO TIP: The Arc De Triomphe is in the middle of a major intersection at the end of the famous Champs-Élysées street! To get to the monument, you actually have to go underground through a tunnel! We spent about 10 minutes trying to figure out how to cross through the crazy traffic before asking a policeman how to get across… he pointed to the signs for the tunnel (stupid American moment!)
When you get through the tunnel, you might see a HUGE line.. if you already have a ticket keep walking to the front and up the little stairs until you’re outside. There should be a separate (and much shorter) line for people with advanced reservations.
This is you. You’re welcome. We only waited about 5 minutes to start climbing the stairs!! There are elevators but I believe they are reserved for those who are physically incapable of climbing, have small children, etc.
Once you finish the climb, you will be rewarded with epic views of the entire city, including the Eiffel Tower! Spend some time walking around and taking it all in – there is a lot to see!
You can also learn more about the history of the Arc de Triomphe inside – did you know it was built to honor those who fought and died in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars?
Dinner Cruise Along the Seine
After you’re finished at the Arc de Triomphe, it’s time to make your way towards the river for your dinner cruise! If your cruise leaves from Pont de l’Alma Bridge, you can hop right on the #92 bus to the Alma – Marceau stop!
We booked our dinner cruise through Bateaux Mouche, and I highly recommend them!! They operate a few different dinner cruises, but I highly recommend the Romantic Dinner Cruise that leaves later in the evening.
We almost booked the “early bird” one because it was much cheaper, but then I realized how late the sun sets in the summer in Paris! Our boat left around 8pm, and the sunset was around 9pm. Trust me, you don’t want to miss the sunset from the boat!!
To start, they give you a little card that shows all the historic sites you will see along the way. The boat cruises along the Seine, first south towards Notre Dame and the Louvre. Then, you’ll get to see the sunset from the river and get the fabulous golden hour lighting, but that’s not even the highlight!
The boat is timed perfectly so that you are right in front of the Eiffel Tower when the lights turn on at dusk, followed shortly after by its first sparkling light show on the hour. We took our drinks and went to the roof at this point and got to watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle right in front of our eyes. It was seriously magical.
The boat docks back around 10:30pm-11:00pm. If you still have energy, I highly recommend strolling towards the Eiffel Tower along the Seine. This area completely comes alive at night, and you can catch a few more sparkling shows!
If you make it until 1am, you’re rewarded with a unique viewing where all the lights on the Tower turn off and the entire thing is covered in sparkles!! A sight not to miss!
Day 2: Day trip to Versailles + Dinner show
If you have 3 days in Paris, I highly recommend spending a half day getting out of the city and visiting one of the many famous sites right outside! We chose Versailles, which is what I will dive into in this itinerary. However, here are some other awesome options for day trips outside of Paris:
1. GIVERNY, WHERE MONET LIVED AND PAINTED
2. CHAMPAGNE, NEED I SAY MORE?
3. NORMANDY, IF YOU LIKE HISTORY
4. BRUGES, THE VENICE OF BELGIUM!
5. MONT SAINT-MICHEL, AN INCREDIBLE ISLAND VILLAGE
Versailles is another famous site that you absolutely need to reserve tickets for in advance! Again, I highly recommend looking about a month before your trip. You will need to select a timeslot for entry – I recommend grabbing the earliest option so you can avoid the crowds and crazy lines..
We booked our tickets very close to our trip and got an 11am time slot, and the lines were already crazy by the time we arrived. So.. the earlier the better!
Getting to Versailles is actually very easy, even for tourists! To get there, you can take one of the “RER” trains. These are basically commuter trains that run from the middle of Paris to the outskirts. The RER C train (yellow line) runs directly from Paris to Versailles, which makes it impossible to mess up!
You can read my full guide on taking a Day Trip from Paris to Versailles to learn more about transportation options, ticket options, and how to spend your day!
Once you arrive at the Versailles Train Station (River-Gauche), just follow the crowds! Nearly everyone will be headed to the same place. There is a small little town outside the palace with shops to grab breakfast at as well. We found some delicious crepes here before heading inside!
Between the gardens and the palace, Versailles can easily fill your entire day. If I could go back and do it again, I think I would book an organized tour of Versailles since there is SO much to see and do here. We kind of wandered around and definitely weren’t as prepared as we should’ve been!!
Another great option is to rent bikes at Versailles. The grounds are MASSIVE (part of the reason it’s impossible to do it all in one day), so bikes allow you to get around faster and see more! Below is a map of Versailles so you can get a feel for all there is (it’s not just a palace!)
If you’re interested in doing a private walking tour or a bike tour, Get Your Guide has some great options!! I love using Get Your Guide when visiting new countries. They take all the stress out of planning!
Once you’re finished at Versailles, it’s time to head back into the city for another evening of fun! If you want to eat dinner before heading back to Paris, there are some great restaurants right outside the palace. We ate at Le Saint Claire and it was yummy!
Once you’re back in the city, I recommend spending the evening bar hopping in the Latin Quarter, or if you are looking for something more exciting, you can’t go wrong with seeing a burlesque show like Moulin Rouge, Lido or Crazy Horse! Because what’s more iconic than seeing a French cabaret show in Paris?!
Make sure to check out my list of 19 things to do in Paris at night for even more ideas!
Day 3: Montmartre & Picnic at the Eiffel Tower
Exploring Montmartre
Today is your last day in Paris, and I recommend heading to the quaint little neighborhood of Montmartre. If you went to the top of the Arc de Triomphe, you probably saw the most famous Montmartre landmark, the Sacré-Coeur Basilica. It stands out high on a hill above Paris, and it is totally worth a visit!
In addition to the Basilica, you’ll find adorable cobblestone streets and fabulous eateries in Montmartre. It’s the perfect place to spend your morning wandering around, and it actually feels totally different from the rest of Paris.
Picnic at the Champs de Mars
Once you’ve had your fill of Montmartre, head back into the city center and spend time exploring any other areas that you missed! And to finish your last day in Paris, of course we are going to spend the evening at the Eiffel Tower!
First, head to the nearest market or grocery store and pick up some fruit, cheese, bread, wine, and whatever else tickles your fancy!! Bring a blanket or kimono from home so you don’t have to buy one, then make your way to the Champs de Mars!
The Champs de Mars is a large grassy area right in front of the Eiffel Tower where people sit and picnic (it’s linked on the map at the beginning of this post!). Find an empty spot on the lawn and enjoy!
I recommend trying to arrive around an hour before sunset so you can see all the different views of the Eiffel Tower. First at golden hour right before sunset, then the sunset itself, then blue hour, then darkness!! They are all magic in their own way.
Note: The sunset time will depend on what time of year you are visiting! When we were visiting in late May, the sunset wasn’t until 9:45pm!!
And of course the Eiffel Tower will change too. Around dusk, the Eiffel Tower automatically lights up with golden lighting. Then, on the first hour after dusk (9:00pm, 10:00pm, etc.) the Tower sparkles for 5 minutes. It is pure magic.
That view will be totally different from the one an hour later, as the next one will be completely dark outside!! So I highly recommend staying for a few hours so you get all of the experiences!!
There really is no better way to end your 3 days in Paris then to watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle.
Final Thoughts
Well that wraps up my 3 Day Paris itinerary! I hope this guide helped you plan your trip. In my opinion, 3 days in Paris is the perfect amount of time to see the best parts of the city.
If you only have 2 days, I would cut out the trip to Versailles and focus on the main parts of the city!! And if you only have one day, that is not enough and you need to extend your trip!
For those looking to spend more time in France, make sure to check out my 7 Day France itinerary!
Don’t forget to pin this post for future planning!
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