Thinking about spending 3 days in Paris? We think that’s the perfect amount of time to see the highlights of one of our favourite cities in the world. Three days gives you enough time to visit the big attractions, explore a few different neighbourhoods, eat well, and get a real feel for the city.
We have visited Paris more times than we can count at this point, and we keep coming back. We’ve put together this itinerary based on all those visits, and we’ve laid it out so you can see the major sights without spending your whole trip in queues or on the metro.
As well as a day-by-day itinerary, this guide covers how to get around Paris, where to stay, where to eat, and how to save money with the various city passes on offer. We’ve updated everything for 2026, including the significant pricing changes at the Louvre and Versailles that came into effect in January 2026.
Of course, if you have less time, we also have itineraries for 2 days in Paris and a day in Paris.
Table of Contents:
3 Day Paris Itinerary
This three-day Paris itinerary covers the major attractions across the city. We’ve arranged it so each day makes geographic sense, keeping the walking and metro time between stops to a minimum.
A couple of things to keep in mind before you start. First, check the opening days for each attraction. The Louvre is closed on Tuesdays and the Musée d’Orsay is closed on Mondays, so depending on when your trip falls, you might need to swap days around. Second, many attractions now require advance booking, and the most popular ones like the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower can sell out weeks ahead, especially in summer. We’ve included booking links and tips for each one.
A note on pricing: From January 2026, several major Paris attractions introduced two-tier pricing. Visitors from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) now pay a higher rate than EEA residents at the Louvre, Versailles, Sainte-Chapelle, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Opera Garnier. We’ve listed both prices throughout this guide so you can budget accordingly.
3 Days in Paris Itinerary Overview
- Day 1: Hop on Hop off Bus, Seine River Cruise, Walking Tour, Eiffel Tower and Trocadéro at sunset
- Day 2: Sainte-Chapelle, Notre Dame, Musée d’Orsay, The Louvre, Wine tasting, Arc de Triomphe
- Day 3: Versailles (or the Catacombs), Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur
Paris Itinerary Day 1: Getting Oriented, Seine Cruise and Eiffel Tower at Sunset
Your first day in Paris is about getting your bearings, seeing the city from a few different angles, and finishing with the Eiffel Tower as the sun goes down.
~9am: Hop on Hop off Bus
We find that a hop on hop off bus is a great way to get oriented in a new city on the first day. You get a sense of where everything is relative to everything else, and you can decide which areas you want to come back to and explore on foot.
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 found it useful, both as a way to get around the city and to learn about the sights from the commentary. There are also other hop on hop off options available if you want to compare routes and prices.
~11am: Seine River Cruise
A river cruise on the Seine is one of those experiences that Paris does really well. You sit back, relax, and watch Notre Dame, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and a procession of beautiful bridges drift past.
We’ve taken many of these cruises and have written a full post about the various Seine River sightseeing cruise options. For a daytime cruise, we recommend the Bateaux Parisiens River Cruise, which departs from just next to the Eiffel Tower and is included on the Paris Pass.
If you’d prefer a dinner cruise later in your trip, we have a detailed guide to the best Seine River dinner cruises with options at various price points. We’ve done a few of these and they make for a memorable evening in Paris.
~1pm: Walking Tour
After seeing the city from a bus and a boat, it’s time to put your feet on the pavement. A guided walking tour on your first day is a great investment, because you can ask your guide for restaurant recommendations, local tips, and suggestions for places you might not find in the guidebooks.
We’ve taken walking tours with both Take Walks and Context Travel, and have always enjoyed both. Take Walks runs small group tours with knowledgeable guides, and we particularly enjoyed their Ultimate Paris Food Tour, which takes you through Le Marais and includes a stop at the Marché des Enfants Rouges, the oldest covered food market in Paris. We did this tour and loved it.
Context Travel offers very focused, expert-led tours if you want to go deep on a particular subject. We really enjoyed their Hemingway-themed walking tour. You get 10% off with this link.
If you have a Paris Pass, it comes with a choice of walking tours included.
~4pm: Eiffel Tower
We’ve saved the Eiffel Tower for the end of the day, and there’s a good reason for that. The area around the Eiffel Tower is one of the best spots in Paris to watch the sunset, and arriving in the late afternoon means you can visit the tower and then stay for the evening light.
Every time we visit Paris, we visit the Eiffel Tower at least once, and the sheer scale of it is always impressive. There are a few different ways to experience it.
You can go up inside the tower to one of the different levels, and that’s definitely something to do at least once. We’d recommend that you book your tickets in advance from the official website. The queues for tickets can be very long, and with a pre-booked ticket you skip the wait. Tickets go on sale 60 days in advance for the lift and 14 days for the stairs.
If you’re feeling fit, you can also take the stairs up to the second floor. The queue for stairs is usually much shorter than for the lift, and it costs less too (€14.80 for stairs to the second floor vs €23.50 for the lift). Alternatively, this guided tour includes a visit to the second floor with the option to add summit access, and comes with free cancellation which the official tickets do not.
A guided climb of the Eiffel Tower is also included on the Paris Pass. These tend to run in the middle of the day, so if you want to use this, you’ll need to adjust the timing of your day accordingly.
For more tips, see our complete guide to visiting the Eiffel Tower.
Sunset: Trocadéro and Champ de Mars
The real highlight of ending your day here is the sunset. The Trocadéro, on the opposite bank of the Seine from the tower, gives you one of the most iconic views in Paris, and it’s free. The Champ de Mars gardens behind the tower are just as good. We’ve picnicked on the grass here at sunset with some wine and nibbles from a nearby shop, and it’s a wonderful way to end your first day in Paris. Just grab a baguette, some cheese and a bottle of wine and find a spot on the lawn with a view.
Sunset time varies through the year (from around 5pm in winter to nearly 10pm in midsummer), so plan your afternoon accordingly. It’s worth checking the exact sunset time for your travel dates and working backwards from there.
If you’d prefer a sit-down meal near the Eiffel Tower, we can recommend the Jules Verne inside the tower itself for a special occasion (we’ve eaten there and the views are incredible), or La Fontaine de Mars nearby, where I had a cassoulet that was one of the best things I ate on our last Paris trip.
Paris Itinerary Day 2: Museums, Historic Paris and the Arc de Triomphe
Day two takes in some of Paris’s most famous museums and churches. It’s quite a full day, so feel free to skip a stop or two if you prefer a slower pace.
~9am: Sainte-Chapelle
It took me multiple visits to Paris before I finally made it to Sainte-Chapelle, and I’ve been telling everyone to go ever since. This 13th century chapel is not far from Notre Dame, and the interior is extraordinary. Almost every surface from floor to ceiling is covered in stained glass. When the light comes through on a sunny morning, it is something else entirely.
The chapel is small and popular, and the mandatory security checks mean the queue to get in can be long. That’s why I’ve put it first on the day. Get here for opening time, ideally ten to fifteen minutes before, and you’ll avoid the worst of the wait.
There’s an entry fee (€22, or €16 for EEA residents). You can buy tickets on the official site, or find guided tours that include Sainte-Chapelle on GetYourGuide. Entry is also included on the Paris Museum Pass and Paris Pass Plus. Just next door is the Conciergerie, where Marie Antoinette was imprisoned before her execution, and well worth a visit if you have time.
~10:30am: Notre Dame
A short walk from Sainte-Chapelle brings you to Paris’s most famous cathedral. Notre Dame was seriously damaged by fire in April 2019, but after years of restoration work, it reopened to the public in December 2024. It’s free to visit, and the restored interior is well worth seeing.
Given how long it was closed and the scale of the restoration, interest in visiting is high, so expect a bit of a wait. You can check opening hours and plan your visit on the official Notre Dame website.
While you’re in this area, Shakespeare and Company bookshop is a short walk across the river. It’s a famous English-language bookshop and a lovely place to browse, although it can get busy given how popular it is.
~12pm: Musée d’Orsay
From Notre Dame, take a walk along the Left Bank of the Seine towards the Musée d’Orsay. It’s a pleasant 20-minute stroll past the booksellers (bouquinistes) that line the riverbank.
Paris’s three main art museums each cover a different time period, which is quite logical. The Louvre covers ancient times to the mid-19th century. The Musée d’Orsay picks up from the mid-19th century to the early 20th, with a focus on the Impressionists. The building itself is a former train station and the grand central atrium is gorgeous, almost worth visiting on its own.
There’s an entry fee (€16 online). Holders of the Paris Museum Pass and Paris Pass Plus get free entry with skip-the-line access. You can also buy tickets on Tiqets or on the official site. The museum is closed on Mondays.
~2pm: The Louvre
If you only visit one museum in Paris, the Louvre is a good choice. It’s one of the world’s most famous museums and home to the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, and Michelangelo’s Dying Slave, among many thousands of other works. You could spend days here and not see everything, but for this itinerary we’d suggest limiting yourself to two or three hours so you can fit more of Paris in.
Important booking information: As of 2026, the Louvre only sells entry tickets through its own website. Third-party sites no longer sell entry tickets, though they do offer guided tours which include entry. You can book your timed entry ticket on the official Louvre ticketing site.
The ticket price depends on where you live. Visitors from outside the EEA pay €32, while EEA residents pay €22. Entry is free for everyone under 18 and for EEA residents under 26 (bring ID). The Louvre also offers free entry on the first Friday of every month after 6pm, except in July and August.
If you have a Paris Museum Pass or Paris Pass Plus, you must still reserve a free timed entry slot on the official website. This is mandatory and you are not guaranteed entry without a reservation, even with the pass.
In the summer months especially, the Louvre regularly reaches capacity and only visitors with advance tickets are admitted. We’ve occasionally found that guided tours still have availability when general tickets are sold out, so if you want to visit and can’t get a standard ticket, a guided tour through Take Walks or GetYourGuide is worth considering.
The Louvre is closed on Tuesdays. See opening times on the official site.
~5pm: Wine Tasting at Caves du Louvre
After a few hours of art, a glass of wine is well earned. Conveniently located right by the Louvre, the Caves du Louvre is a wine-tasting experience set in an 18th century wine cellar that originally housed the wine collection of the French King.
Over about an hour, you’ll try several French wines and learn about grape varieties and the wine-making process. The setting is atmospheric and it’s a nice change of pace from museum-going. There’s a fee for the tour (€36), and it is included on the Paris Pass. You can also book online here.
If wine tasting isn’t your thing, the hot chocolate at Angelina Café nearby is superb, or check out Jess’s guide to the best afternoon tea in Paris.
~6:30pm: Arc de Triomphe
The last stop of your second day is the Arc de Triomphe. From the Louvre you can either take the metro or walk up the Champs-Élysées, Paris’s most famous shopping street.
The Arc de Triomphe was built in memory of those who died in the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars. From the top you get an excellent view of the city, with the twelve avenues radiating outwards and the Eiffel Tower in the distance. It’s particularly good at sunset if your timing works out. Below the monument you’ll find the tomb of the unknown soldier.
To get to the Arc de Triomphe, don’t try and cross the traffic roundabout. Take one of the pedestrian underpasses instead.
There’s a fee to go up inside (€22 April to September except Wednesdays, €16 October to March and every Wednesday). Free for under 18 (all visitors) and under 26 (EEA residents). Holders of the Paris Museum Pass and Paris Pass Plus get free entry with skip-the-line access. You can also buy a skip-the-line ticket online here.
Paris Itinerary Day 3: Versailles and Montmartre
On your third day, we recommend heading outside the city centre to visit one of the most famous palaces in the world, before finishing your time in Paris with a sunset in Montmartre.
~9am: Versailles
The great advantage of having three days in Paris is that you have time for a half-day trip to Versailles, the incredible palace that was home to French royalty including Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. We don’t include Versailles on our two-day Paris itinerary because it really needs at least half a day to do it justice.
Get here for opening time, as this is one of the most visited attractions in Europe and it gets busier as the day goes on. Start with the Palace itself and the Hall of Mirrors, then head outside to the gardens. We particularly enjoy Marie Antoinette’s Estate, which is a slightly quieter part of the grounds with a model farm, hidden temples and walking paths. You could easily spend a whole day exploring Versailles and the gardens.
Getting there: Take the RER C train from central Paris to Gare de Versailles Château Rive Gauche. From the station to the Palace it’s a well sign-posted ten to fifteen minute walk.
Pricing: Versailles uses seasonal pricing. The Passport (full estate access including Palace, Trianon, and Gardens) costs €25 in low season (November to March) and €35 in high season (April to October) for non-EEA visitors. EEA residents pay €22/€32. In high season, when the Musical Fountains are running, there’s an additional €10 gardens supplement. Timed entry to the Palace is now mandatory, so book in advance.
The Paris Museum Pass includes Versailles (you still need to book a free timed entry slot). You can also book tickets on GetYourGuide or book a guided tour if you’d prefer a more structured visit.
Alternative: Paris Catacombs. If you’ve been to Versailles before, or you’d rather stay in the city, the Paris Catacombs are a fascinating alternative. This underground ossuary holds the remains of more than six million Parisians, arranged in long tunnels beneath the city streets. We’ve done the skip-the-line guided tour and it was a great experience. The guides are knowledgeable and you get access to restricted areas that independent visitors can’t see. It’s not for everyone, but if the idea appeals to you, it’s well worth a few hours.
~4pm: Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur
However you spend your morning, our suggestion for finishing your last day in Paris is to head to Montmartre. This hilltop neighbourhood in the north of the city has a character all its own, and it’s a wonderful place to end a trip.
The Sacré-Cœur basilica sits at the summit of Montmartre, the highest point in the city. The basilica is free to enter, and from the steps in front you get sweeping views across Paris. It’s one of the most popular spots to watch the sunset, and a perfect way to finish three days in the city.
Montmartre was historically home to artists like Dalí, Picasso, and Monet, and that artistic atmosphere is still there. The Place du Tertre is where you can get your portrait or caricature painted, and the little streets around it are full of cafés, galleries and independent shops. If you’re a Dalí fan, the small Dalí Paris museum (€16) in Montmartre has over 300 original artworks and is worth a quick visit.
Be aware that the steps up to the basilica are popular with “bracelet makers” who will try to tie a bracelet on your wrist and then ask for money. Just say no thank you and keep walking. For more tips on this, see our guide to avoiding scams in Paris.
If you’re looking for dinner in Montmartre, the neighbourhood has plenty of options. For a budget-friendly meal with excellent value, Bouillon Chartier (Grands Boulevards location) is hard to beat. They don’t take reservations and it gets busy, but the traditional French food and the prices make it well worth the wait.
3 Days in Paris Itinerary Map
To help you visualise our 3-day Paris itinerary we’ve put together this map which shows the attractions for each day. You can access this on Google Maps here.
Where to Stay in Paris
Paris has no shortage of accommodation options and we’ve stayed in everything from hotels to apartments to homestays over the years. Ideally you want to be fairly central to minimise travel time. We’re particularly fond of the Le Marais neighbourhood, which we’ve stayed in a number of times. It’s central, walkable, full of great restaurants and has excellent metro connections.
Our recommendation is to look at the listings for Paris on Booking.com. They’re our go-to booking engine when we travel, usually offering the best choice and prices across hotels, apartments and hostels. Here are some options we suggest, depending on your budget.
- Hôtel Dress Code, a highly reviewed 4-star hotel centrally located near the Opera Garnier
- Hôtel Eiffel Turenne, a well rated 3-star hotel within a ten minute walk of the Eiffel Tower
- Ateliers de Montmartre, an apartment in Montmartre with views of the Sacré-Cœur
- The People – Paris Marais, a well-reviewed hostel in the Marais, one of our favourite parts of Paris to stay
- Hotel France Louvre, a characterful 3-star hotel on the Rue de Rivoli near the Marais and Louvre
If you prefer an apartment, we recommend Plum Guide. They curate their listings carefully so the quality tends to be consistently high across 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 Paris listings here.
For more options, we have a post on the best alternatives to Airbnb and a page of travel resources with our tips for finding the best accommodation deals.
When to Visit Paris
We’re happy to visit Paris at any time of year, and this itinerary works in any season.
Summer brings the best weather, but the city is a lot busier and queues for major attractions are at their longest. If crowds aren’t your thing, you might want to avoid July and August.
We also love spring and autumn, when temperatures are comfortable and there are fewer visitors. In the run-up to Christmas the city is beautifully decorated and the department stores put on elaborate displays. After Christmas and into January, Paris is quieter and accommodation prices drop, though it will be cold.
Pick your preferred balance of weather versus crowds and go from there. Paris is good whenever you can get there.
How to Get to and From Paris
Paris has three major airports. Charles de Gaulle (CDG) is the main international airport, and Paris Orly is the second. Both are easily reachable by public transport from the city centre. Paris Beauvais-Tillé is where budget airlines tend to operate from, and it’s further out, but shuttle buses run into the city.
Paris is also connected to the high-speed rail network, and you can travel from London by Eurostar through the Channel Tunnel. See our guide to getting from London to Paris for more options.
If you’re arriving from elsewhere in France or Europe by car, we’d recommend parking on the outskirts and taking public transport into the centre. Driving in central Paris is stressful and parking is expensive.
How to Get Around Paris
Paris has an excellent public transport network, particularly the metro, which will get you around all the major areas quickly and cheaply. There’s also a good bus network and local trains (RER).
Paris has moved to an electronic ticketing system. The old paper tickets have been phased out, and you now need either a physical Navigo Easy card (€2 for the card, then load tickets onto it) or a smartphone app (Île-de-France Mobilités). Single tickets, day passes and multi-day passes are all available.
If you’re in Paris for a week that runs Monday to Sunday, the weekly Navigo pass (around €30) can be excellent value as it covers unlimited travel across all zones including airport transfers.
For the full details on all the ticket options and how to buy them, see our detailed guide to how to get around Paris.
Where to Eat in Paris
One of our favourite things about Paris is the food, and we’ve built up a list of restaurants over our many visits that we keep coming back to. Here are some of our favourites.
For a special seafood meal, Terminus Nord opposite Gare du Nord is excellent. I had the bouillabaisse on our last visit and it was phenomenal. If you’re arriving by Eurostar, it’s the perfect first or last meal.
Le Procope in Saint-Germain is the oldest café in Paris (it’s been serving since 1686) and the food is good traditional French fare. It’s near Sainte-Chapelle, so works well as a lunch stop on Day 2 of this itinerary.
For great value traditional French cooking, Bouillon Chartier at its Grands Boulevards location is our go-to budget recommendation. They don’t take reservations and it can be busy, but the menu du jour pricing is hard to argue with.
Le Café des Musées in the Marais does a great beef bourguignon, and it’s well placed if you’re exploring that neighbourhood. If you fancy lobster rolls (and don’t mind paying a bit more for them), Homer is worth seeking out.
More generally, keep an eye out for the “menu du jour” at lunchtime. Most restaurants offer a fixed-price lunch menu that includes two or three courses, bread, and sometimes wine or coffee. You can usually eat well for between €12 and €25, which is good value for Paris. For more restaurant ideas, see our guide to the best restaurants in Paris.
If you want to book a table at one of the more popular restaurants, we recommend TheFork, which is the most widely used restaurant booking platform in France. It’s easy to use and makes booking a breeze, even if you don’t speak French.
How to Save Money in Paris
Paris is not a budget destination, but there are a few ways to save money, even on an itinerary as packed with attractions as this one.
City Passes
If you’re planning on visiting several attractions, a city pass can save you money. There are a few different options in Paris, and the right one for you depends on what you want to see.
Paris Pass (Go City All-Inclusive): Available in 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6-day versions. Includes the Eiffel Tower guided climb, Seine River Cruise, Big Bus hop-on hop-off tour, Caves du Louvre wine tasting, Opera Garnier self-guided tour, walking tours, and more. It does NOT include Louvre, Versailles, Musée d’Orsay, Sainte-Chapelle, or Arc de Triomphe access. For those, you need the Plus version.
A 3-day Paris Pass costs €179 for an adult. Buy the Paris Pass here.
Paris Pass Plus (Go City All-Inclusive Plus): Includes everything in the Paris Pass, plus a Paris Museum Pass which adds access to the Louvre, Versailles, Arc de Triomphe, Sainte-Chapelle, Musée d’Orsay, and 50+ other museums and monuments. Available in 2, 4, and 6-day versions (no 1 or 3-day option).
Paris Museum Pass (standalone): If you mainly want museum and monument access without the experience-type inclusions (Eiffel Tower tour, Seine cruise, etc.), the standalone Paris Museum Pass is often the better-value option. Available in 2-day (€85), 4-day (€105), and 6-day (€125) versions from the official site. It’s also available on GetYourGuide but at a higher price, so we’d recommend buying direct.
Paris City Card (Tiqets): A smaller bundle that includes the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, and a Seine River Cruise with a 10% discount on other attractions. See current pricing and inclusions here.
Our Recommendation for This Itinerary
For a 3-day trip following this itinerary, there’s no 3-day Paris Pass Plus available. Your two main options are:
Option 1: Buy a 4-day Paris Pass Plus (€239). This is actually cheaper than buying a 3-day Paris Pass (€179) plus a separate 2-day Paris Museum Pass (€85), which would total €264. The 4-day Plus gives you an extra day of coverage and works out €25 cheaper. We think this is the best option for visitors who plan to do most of the attractions in our itinerary.
Option 2: Buy a standalone 2-day Paris Museum Pass (€85) for the museum-heavy days, and book individual tickets for the experience-type attractions (Eiffel Tower, Seine cruise, etc.). This works well if you don’t plan on doing the hop-on hop-off bus, wine tasting, and walking tour.
Here’s what each attraction in our itinerary costs individually, so you can do the maths for your own plans:
- Eiffel Tower: €14.80 (stairs) to €40 (guided tour). Tour included on Paris Pass.
- Seine River Cruise: €17. Included on Paris Pass.
- Hop on Hop off Bus: €45. Included on Paris Pass.
- Walking Tour: around €36. Options included on Paris Pass.
- Sainte-Chapelle: €22 (€16 EEA). Included on Paris Museum Pass and Paris Pass Plus.
- Musée d’Orsay: €16. Included on Paris Museum Pass and Paris Pass Plus.
- Louvre: €32 (€22 EEA). Included on Paris Museum Pass and Paris Pass Plus.
- Wine Tasting: €36. Included on Paris Pass.
- Arc de Triomphe: €16 to €22 depending on season. Included on Paris Museum Pass and Paris Pass Plus.
- Versailles Passport: €25 to €35 depending on season. Included on Paris Museum Pass and Paris Pass Plus.
You should also know that on the first Sunday of every month, many museums are free to visit, though popular museums get very crowded on these days. If you are an EU citizen under 26, you can enter many attractions for free or at a discount (bring ID).
See our detailed reviews of both the Paris Pass and the Paris Museum Pass to help you decide what works best for your trip. Always check for current pricing before buying, as pass prices do change.
Practicalities for Visiting Paris
Safety
Paris is a safe city in our experience, though it does have a reputation for scams. Most are easy to avoid once you know about them. Keep your phone and wallet in a front pocket (with a zip if possible), stay aware of your surroundings, and don’t accept anything “for free” from strangers on the street. We’ve not had any problems in Paris, but it’s worth reading our guide to avoiding common Paris scams before you go.
Power
Electricity in Paris is 220V with the two-pin European plug. Travellers from the UK and the US will need a travel adapter. US travellers should also check that their devices support 220V (it will be printed on the power adapter). Laptops, phones and camera chargers are usually dual-voltage, but hair dryers and straighteners often aren’t. See our guide to the best travel adapters for our current recommendations.
Currency
The currency is the Euro. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted, and ATMs are easy to find.
Internet Access
WiFi is widely available in hotels, cafés and public spaces. If you want mobile data, check with your carrier whether your plan includes international roaming, as many now do. Otherwise, we recommend picking up an eSIM through Airalo, which is the solution we use. For more options, see our guide to getting online when travelling.
Water
Tap water in Paris is safe to drink unless otherwise indicated. We recommend travelling with a reusable water bottle. We use Klean Kanteen water bottles which are lightweight, easy to clean, and made by a certified B-Corp.
Walking Tours of Paris
If you’d like to take a guided tour during your stay, the two companies we use most are Take Walks and Context Travel. Both offer small group walking tours in Paris and we’ve had great experiences with both.
Some tours we can recommend from personal experience:
- The Ultimate Paris Food Tour by Take Walks, which takes you through Le Marais with 11+ tastings including stops at the Marché des Enfants Rouges. This is our personal favourite.
- The Paris in a Day tour by Take Walks, which includes the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre and a Seine River Cruise.
- The Hemingway walking tour by Context Travel, for literary Paris fans.
There are lots of other options too, including this Montmartre walking tour and this Marais food tour on GetYourGuide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 3 days enough time in Paris?
Yes, three days is enough to see the highlights. You can cover the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre Dame, Versailles, Montmartre and a Seine River Cruise in that time, plus have space for some good meals and neighbourhood exploring.
You won’t see everything (Paris could keep you busy for weeks), but you’ll get a solid introduction to the city. We’ve visited Paris many times for three days at a stretch and always come away feeling like we’ve had a proper trip.
Is the Paris Pass worth it for a 3 day trip?
It can be, but you need to do the maths for your specific plans. The Paris Pass covers experience-type attractions like the Eiffel Tower guided climb, Seine cruise, hop-on hop-off bus and wine tasting, but does not include museum access (Louvre, Versailles, Musée d’Orsay, etc.). For those, you need the Paris Pass Plus or a separate Paris Museum Pass.
For a 3-day trip, there’s no 3-day Paris Pass Plus. We think the best option for visitors doing most of the attractions in our itinerary is the 4-day Paris Pass Plus (€239), which is actually cheaper than buying a 3-day Paris Pass (€179) plus a separate 2-day Paris Museum Pass (€85). If you’re mainly interested in museums, the standalone Paris Museum Pass (€85 for 2 days) often offers the best value. See our detailed Paris Pass review for a full breakdown.
How much does 3 days in Paris cost?
This varies hugely depending on your accommodation, dining choices and how many paid attractions you visit. As a rough guide, budget travellers staying in hostels and eating picnic lunches might spend around €80 to €120 per person per day. Mid-range travellers in a 3-star hotel eating out once a day could expect €150 to €250 per person per day. Attraction entry fees for this itinerary total roughly €200 to €280 per person depending on which pass you buy and whether you qualify for EEA pricing.
Food is one of the easiest ways to manage your budget. The “menu du jour” at lunch (a fixed-price two or three course meal) is widely available for between €12 and €25, and picking up supplies from a bakery or market for a picnic lunch is even cheaper.
What days are the major Paris museums closed?
The Louvre is closed on Tuesdays. The Musée d’Orsay is closed on Mondays. Most other museums and monuments are open daily, but always check before you go. If your trip includes a Tuesday, you’ll want to plan your Louvre visit for a different day, which might mean swapping Days 2 and 3 of this itinerary around.
It’s also worth knowing that on the first Sunday of every month, many Paris museums offer free entry, though popular ones like the Louvre get very crowded on these days.
Can I visit Versailles with the Paris Museum Pass?
Yes. The Paris Museum Pass includes entry to the Palace of Versailles, the Estate of Trianon, and the gardens (on non-Musical Fountains days). You will still need to book a free timed entry slot online in advance, even with the pass. During high season (April to October), the Musical Fountains add a separate €10 supplement to access the gardens, which is not covered by the pass.
Note that the Paris Museum Pass is a consecutive-day pass, so plan your days to make sure Versailles falls within your pass validity period.
What is the best time of year to visit Paris?
We’re happy visiting Paris at any time of year. Summer (June to August) has the best weather but the longest queues and highest prices. Spring (April to May) and autumn (September to October) offer a good balance of pleasant weather and fewer crowds. Winter is the quietest and cheapest time to visit, and the city is beautifully decorated for Christmas, but it will be cold and daylight hours are short.
If you want to avoid the worst crowds at major attractions, the shoulder months of April, May, September and October are our pick.
Further Reading for your 3 Days in Paris
We’ve visited Paris many times and have written a good deal about the city across both our sites. Here are some posts that might help you plan your trip.
- A detailed guide to 2 Days in Paris, if you have a shorter stay, and a guide to spending a day in Paris if you’re on a really tight schedule
- Our guide to the best photography locations in Paris
- Guides to choosing a Seine river cruise, Seine River dinner cruises, buying Paris opera tickets, and attending a fashion show at Galeries Lafayette
- Our review of the Paris Pass and the Paris Museum Pass
- A complete guide to visiting Galeries Lafayette
- Our guide to the Moulin Rouge show in Paris
- Our guide to the best afternoon tea in Paris
- A guide to Airbnb alternatives
- If you’re heading out of Paris, check out our itinerary for 2 days visiting Normandy and the D-Day beaches
- We recommend the Rick Steves Paris guidebook and the Lonely Planet Paris guide, both updated for 2026
And that’s our guide to spending 3 days in Paris! If you have any feedback or questions, let us know in the comments below.
Deidre Smith says
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
Hi Deidre,
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!
Laurence
Catrina says
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 🙂
Laurence Norah says
Hi Carina!
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 🙂
Laurence
Catrina Baugus says
Thank you so much! This gives us a great place to start 🙂
G. Heartwell says
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?
Laurence Norah says
Hi G
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!
Laurence
Dina says
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.
Laurence Norah says
Hi Dina
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 🙂
Laurence
jacques Martial says
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
Laurence Norah says
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!
Laurence
Marybeth says
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.
Laurence Norah says
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
Cyndi says
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
Laurence Norah says
Hi Cyndi!
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 🙂
Laurence
Andrej ands Heather says
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!
Laurence Norah says
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,
Laurence
Dee says
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
Laurence Norah says
Hi Dee,
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!
Laurence
Tina says
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!
Laurence Norah says
Hey Tina,
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 😀
Laurence
amanda Pimm says
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.
Laurence Norah says
Hi Amanda
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!
Laurence
James says
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.
Laurence Norah says
Thanks James!
rj digma says
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.
Laurence Norah says
Hi RJ,
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!
Laurence
Veronica Webster says
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!!
Laurence Norah says
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/ 🙂
Laurence
Afitha says
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
Afi
Laurence Norah says
Hi Afi,
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!
Laurence
Eli says
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.
Eli
Laurence Norah says
Hi Eli!
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!
Laurence
Sam says
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.
Laurence Norah says
Hi Sam!
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!
Best
Laurence
Sam says
Thank u so much I’ll check that link in just a few when I have a bit more time ????????
Adri says
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?
Merci
Laurence Norah says
Hi Adri,
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!
Have a great trip 🙂
Laurence
nancy says
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.
Laurence Norah says
Hi Nancy!
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
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.
Thanks
Laurence Norah says
Hi Rupali,
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!
Laurence
Jane says
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?
Laurence Norah says
Hi Jane,
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 🙂
Enjoy!
Laurence
PS – sorry about the slow response, we’ve been travelling for the past few days with limited internet 😀
Angela B says
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
Laurence Norah says
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
Thank you so much for writing this. Really helpful and very well written!
Laurence Norah says
Thank you very much Sumona – have a wonderful trip to Paris and do let us know if you have any questions 🙂
Jasma says
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 : )
Laurence Norah says
Thank you very much Jasma – have a wonderful time in Paris! Do let us know how you enjoy the city 🙂
Jasma says
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
Laurence Norah says
Hi Jasma,
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.
Laurence
Jasma says
Thanks a million Laurence. You are doing a great job and I truly appreciate it. Regards, Jasma
Godfrey says
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!
Laurence Norah says
Thanks Godfrey – we will certainly try! Have a lovely trip to Paris and let us know if we can be of any help!
Laurence
kheii says
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! ☺️
Laurence Norah says
Hi Kheii!
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!
Laurence
Anjana says
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?
Thank you.
Laurence Norah says
Hi Anjana!
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!
Laurence
Shree says
How to get Paris Pass and the bus passes.
Required details about the inclusions and exclusions of the Paris Pass .
Laurence Norah says
Hi Shree,
You can buy the Paris Pass with this link.
You can see the inclusions here.
Enjoy your time in Paris!
Shree says
Thank you so much..
I will sure be in touch with you if i require any more details .
Regards
Shree
Shree says
Hi
Is it mandatory to get the paris pass before hand or the same can be availed after reaching the destination as well..
Regards
Shree
Laurence Norah says
Hi Shree,
You can buy the pass in Paris as well, but they don’t offer sales as they sometimes do online,
Best
Laurence
Amanda Che says
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?
Laurence Norah says
Hi Amanda!
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
Laurence
Amanda Che says
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.
Laurence Norah says
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 😀
Nice says
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!
Laurence Norah says
Thanks so much! Have an awesome trip 😀
Evelyne says
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.
Laurence Norah says
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!
Laurence
kunal gupta says
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 !
Cheers
Laurence Norah says
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!
Laurence
Kritika says
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
Laurence Norah says
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!
Laurence
Aisha says
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 🙂
Laurence Norah says
Hi Aisha!
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!
Best
Laurence
Susan Morris says
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
Laurence Norah says
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/
Dip says
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?
Thanks
Laurence Norah says
Hey Dip!
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/
Have a great trip!
Laurence
Qinwan says
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?
Laurence Norah says
Hi Qinwan!
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!
Laurence
Elizabeth Higgins says
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!
Laurence Norah says
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
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.
Laurence Norah says
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.
Hope this helps!
Shashank says
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?
TIA!
Laurence Norah says
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!
Laurence
Julie says
Hai
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
Laurence Norah says
HI Julie!
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
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
Laurence Norah says
Hi Karuna,
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.
Laurence
Sunil Chawla says
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
Laurence Norah says
Thanks Sunil! Have a great trip 🙂
Chitra Shah says
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.
Laurence Norah says
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!
Neo says
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!
Laurence Norah says
Thank you very much 😀
Nitin Bansal says
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.
Laurence Norah says
Thanks very much Nitin – have a great trip 😀
kristin says
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 =/
Laurence Norah says
We are lucky on that front for sure 😀
Matheresa says
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…
Laurence Norah says
Thanks very much Mathresa 🙂 Have a wonderful trip!
kazim Gurmani says
The amazing place for the lovers. You guys are so lucky enjoying all this