UPDATED FEB 2020. Paris seems to be a divisive destination in that people seem to either love it or hate it. For me, I loved Paris. It is a city with its own romantic, magical energy that was just contagious. It’s also a beautiful place to wander around and explore. Like every big city, it has its crowds, pickpocketing, and can be a bit dirty, but, aside from that, it’s a must-see place. In this post, I’ve put together a guide on how to spend 3 days in Paris. I’ve also added my other Paris posts at the end which have even more tips to help you plan your trip.
How To Spend 3 Days In Paris – What To See, Do, And Eat
Disclaimer
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Where to stay in Paris
Firstly, we have to cover where to stay.
I have my full review linked at the end of this post, but I stayed in an incredible Airbnb with a view of the Eiffel Tower.
If you prefer hotels, I recommend searching on Booking.com. There are also a few hotels on there with a view of the Eiffel Tower that aren’t too extravagant in price.
Things to do in Paris – Day 1
Head to the Metro to get a ticket to Denfert-Rochereau station.
Catacombs
The Catacombs are a busy attraction so aim to get here when they open.
At the Paris Catacombs, you walk down a flight of spiral stairs which leads you to a series of underground tunnels that house the bones of 6 million people.
Only a small section of the 300-kilometer Catacombs are open to the public, though you can see enough to have an interesting visit.
You are only allowed to have a small backpack with you and you need to carry it in your hands. You are not allowed to wear it on your shoulders. Keep that in mind when you are heading out for the day.
Price: €13 + €5 if you want the audio guide
More information: Visit the Catacombs website
Wall of bones at the Catacombs
After your time at the Catacombs, jump on the Metro and head to Palais Royal Louvre station.
The Louvre
I have to admit, I thought the Louvre was going to be one of those touristy rip-off places.
Man, I was wrong.
I absolutely loved it and it has so much more than just the Mona Lisa. It houses art exhibits from all over the world and from a range of time periods.
My favorites were the Ancient Egypt exhibit and the art on the roof in the Italian art exhibit.
Allow half a day here to go through it all.
Price: €15 per adult. You can buy tickets when you arrive.
More information: Visit the official website of the Louvre.
Travel tip: The Louvre is closed on Tuesdays.
From the Louvre, walk through the statue filled park, stop and grab a coffee at one of the street carts, and head towards the Eiffel Tower.
Eiffel Tower
Of course, you need to see the Eiffel Tower while you visit Paris – that’s just a given.
On your walk to the tower you will no doubt stop along the way to take photos of it from different angles (or is that just me?) and when you get close there is a lot of space around it to snap a couple of selfies.
Price: Free, or if you want to go to the top of the Tower it is €25 per adult.
Travel tip: If you are visiting in a busy season and would like to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower, you might want to book your tickets in advance here.
Seine River Cruise
Finish off your first day in Paris with an evening dinner cruise on the famous Seine River with Bateaux Parisiens.
You can rest after your big day of sightseeing with a nice meal and watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle – which is a magical sight to see.
The Bateaux Parisiens check-in location is a short walk from the Eiffel Tower and they have a range of cruise options to suit different budgets.
Price: Dependent on the cruise type and seating choice.
Things to do in Paris – Day 2
Head down to the Metro and travel to Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame station.
Notre Dame Cathedral
Visiting the famous Notre Dame Cathedral won’t take a long time but it is one of the things you just have to see while you are visiting Paris.
You can enter the Cathedral for free and walk through to see the colorful stained glass windows and displays.
If you’d like to tour the towers you can do so for €10.
Price: Free
More information: Details for the tours here.
Use the Google Maps directions below to walk to Haute Marais.
Explore boutique shopping
We all want to dress like a Parisian, don’t we?
The classy, minimalist style is always so effortlessly gorgeous.
If you stay in the touristy shopping areas though, you will find the same products you can find anywhere else.
Instead, get off the tourist path and pick up some unique items from boutique stores. I went to Haute Marais which is the less touristy part of the famous Marais shopping area.
Price: As much as you want to spend – I picked up a cute shirt on sale for only €30!
Travel tip: I put the Musee National Picasso into Google Maps to get me close then walked through the streets Rue Vieielle du Temple, Rue de Poitou and Rue Charlot exploring different shops as I went along. This is a great guide on finding boutique shopping in Paris if you want to explore more or different areas.
Big smiles while boutique shopping in Paris
Take a long walk back to the Airbnb, stopping soak in the sights or pick up some souvenirs along the way.
For dinner, pick up some snacks from the grocery store and some fresh Macarons and have a little cheese platter and wine night (you can get a whole Camembert for €1.50!) while you cozy up in a blanket watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle.
Things to do in Paris – Day 3
Walk to the Ponte de l’Alma – the bridge is a great spot for photos of the Eiffel Tower so you may want to take some on the way to the first stop of the day.
Flamme de la Liberté
The Flamme de la Liberté is a gold replica of the flame on the Statue of Liberty which sits by the Ponte de l’Alma.
Though it was originally given as a gift to France in a gesture of thanks for work done on the Statue of Liberty as well as a reminder of the positive relationship between America and France, it became somewhat of a memorial for Princess Diana who died in the tunnel under which it sits.
This might not be interesting for everyone to see, but her death is the first huge global news story I can remember. Seeing the tunnel in real life, after seeing it so many times on TV was surreal.
There are some tributes left by people under the Flame and otherwise, this spot only takes a short time to see.
Memorials for Princess Diana.
Walk to the Arc de Triomphe.
Arc de Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe is a famous French Patriotic monument in Paris which was created as a memorial to remember people who fought for France.
Names of Generals who have fought are engraved on the inside of the monument and underneath is a Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
You can go to the top of the tower for a panoramic view of Paris (and it’s a bit cheaper than the Eiffel Tower) or you can view it from the outside with the many other tourists taking photos of the iconic arch.
Price: Free unless you want to get a ticket to the top, which is €12 per adult.
Avenue des Champs-Élysées
The Avenue des Champs-Élysées is a famous avenue filled with cafes, theaters, and shopping stores.
You can find everything in this 2km stretch from the high-end Louis Vuitton to mid-range flagship stores like Sephora and H&M.
There’s something for everyone. It’s a nice place to wander and finish off your time in Paris.
There’s a little extra time on this day to add in any other sights that are on your Paris bucket list.
When it comes to how to spend 3 days in Paris – you have to try some snails.
For dinner, stop in for a little surf and turf at le George V Cafe.
If you like seafood they have a seafood platter with oysters, prawns and Norwegian lobsters for €25. It’s a pricier meal but so worth it! Get a nice steak for your main meal and you’ve got yourself a delicious surf and turf dinner.
You could also try snails there which is one of the must-eat foods in Paris.
More guide to help you plan your visit to France
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it’s great to be able to enjoy the beauty of Paris. Thank you for sharing your experiences and knowledge about holidays.
Thanks for reading!
We are going to Europe this fall. Paris is one of our cities we’ll be visiting. I love reading your blog. You have some great ideas.
Thank you so much! Hope you have the best time in Europe!
Thank you, Madam ! Paris, the romantic, high cultured metropolis…
You’re welcome 😀