Want to build your perfect Paris 3 Day Itinerary but don’t know where to start?
If you’re tired of seeing the same cookie-cutter Paris Itinerary everywhere, you’re in the right place! Larry and I have traveled to Paris 3 times, staying about a week each time. We are currently planning trip number 4, and took this opportunity to put together a perfect 3 day itinerary, perfect for first time visitors and return visitors alike!
This post is all about the perfect Paris 3 Day Itinerary for any type of traveler!
Quick Glimpse: Paris 3 Day Itinerary
Day 1: Louvre, Palais Royal, Palais Garnier, Musee D’Orsay, Dinner Cruise on the Seine, Eiffel Tower
Day 2: Latin Quarter, Pantheon, Luxembourg Gardens, Notre Dame
Day 3: Marais, Montmartre
Detailed: Paris 3 Day Itinerary
If it’s your very first time visiting Paris, I recommend you consult our Paris travel guide to help individualize your itinerary. Or if you’d rather, just steal the itinerary below!
Day 1: Louvre, Grand Boulevards, Museums, and Eiffel Tower
What do you consider the most iconic places in Paris? I’ll bet it’s some combination of Eiffel Tower, Louvre, and Notre Dame. No Paris 3 Day Itinerary would be complete without them!
LOUVRE AREA
Early in the morning, before it gets incredibly busy, walk around the famous Louvre and the surrounding neighborhood! Here are some highlights we recommend:
- Walk around the exterior of the Louvre – soak in the architecture, and take pictures! Personally, I don’t recommend going in unless you’ve got a week in Paris. Otherwise, you’ll spend a full half day of your precious Paris 3 Day Itinerary in lines (security, Mona Lisa, bathrooms, etc). Instead, focus on the stunning exterior of the Louvre. Remember, the Louvre doesn’t just hold art, it IS art. You can walk around the beautiful outdoor archways, plazas, and glass pyramids for free.
- Tuileries Gardens – Either buy food at a nearby boulangerie or buy a sandwich at one of the many stalls in the Tuileries. Find a lovely spot by one of the outdoor fountains or statues, and enjoy a true Parisian lunch experience!
- Musee l’Orangerie – While walking through the Tuileries, consider entering the incredible Musee l’Orangerie. If you skipped the Louvre and are jonesing for a smaller, more intimate world class art museum, this place hits the spot! We LOVE this museum and would go back anytime!
PALAIS ROYAL
Time to start walking north towards Palais Royal. This iconic series of covered passageways contains the black and white column art that is so Instagram famous, but it is also a really pretty and relaxing place to walk and window shop!
GRAND BOULEVARDS
Continue walking towards Palais Garnier. This opulent opera house is drop-dead gorgeous and not as busy as many of the other tourist spots in Paris. Surrounding this area is the Grand Boulevards district of Paris. If you’re hoping to experience that wide-boulevard, picture-perfect-buildings version of Paris, make sure to spend a while strolling through this neighborhood.
MUSEE D’ORSAY
If the opera isn’t your thing and you still haven’t checked out an art museum, look into Musee D’Orsay. Why? Because it holds some incredible impressionist art that you’re sure to recognize AND because it has discounted late hours during certain days of the week (be sure to check online). This is a great alternative to Louvre in our opinion. It still gives you that “Grand” feeling and puts you face to face with masterpieces.
DINNER CRUISE ON THE SEINE
This was our favorite thing we did last time we were in Paris! I recommend choosing a dinner cruise at sunset or after dark, when the whole city is lit up. This way, you’ll see all the major attractions along the river, including Notre Dame, Louvre, Musee D’Orsay, and Eiffel Tower. It will give you a whole new perspective on the sites that you just spent the day walking around. Have fun reminiscing on the day you’ve just had from this vantage point.
EIFFEL TOWER
I also recommend choosing a cruise that originates and ends at the Eiffel Tower Pier. Because after the cruise, you’ll be able to walk around the Eiffel Tower (or actually go up it if you somehow have enough energy), all lit up at night!
Simply walk from the pier to the famous side streets of the 7th arrondissement – Rue de l’Université, Rue Buenos Ayres, and more. You’ll be surprised and delighted to find beautiful glimpses of Eiffel Tower from little parks dotted around the neighborhood and in between apartment buildings. Trust me … Tower gazing is a must for any Paris 3 Day Itinerary.
Day 2: Explore the Latin Quarter
PANTHEON
Pantheon might be the most underrated monument in Paris. Don’t skip it! Get there early, right when it opens, to have the cavernous temple/museum/mausoleum mostly to yourself. If you’re there during spring and summer, you can also access the rooftop dome for incredible views over the Latin Quarter.
SHOP AT A LOCAL MARKET
Weekly neighborhood markets are one of our favorite things about European cities in general, and Paris is no exception! Chances are, there is an outdoor market going on in the Latin Quarter or St. Germain while you’re in Paris, but if not, there is an incredible covered market – Marché Couvert St. Germain – that you can access any day of the week.
Pick up some wine, cheese, fruit, & bread for an incredible picnic!
LUXEMBOURG GARDENS
This enormous park surrounding a spectacular palace and fountain is filled with statues and quiet shaded nooks. Find a nice spot to enjoy your picnic lunch for an authentic Parisian experience.
BROWSE ST. GERMAIN
This neighborhood is insanely aesthetic and full of adorable boutiques and shops. Not to mention, it’s famous for being the hang-out zone for poets, writers, and artists of the 1920s. Make sure to spend at least a couple hours just exploring and popping in and out of shops.
NOTRE DAME
From St. Germain, walk along the Seine towards Notre Dame. Marvel at the famous cathedral’s exterior from a viewing platform that was constructed after the recent fire of 2019. But don’t stop there! Make sure to explore Ile de la Cité further. Place Dauphine and Square du Vert-Galant at the “front” of the island are perfect spots to rest your legs and soak in the city during sunset.
DINNER NEAR NOTRE DAME
We recommend eating nearby, so that you can walk around and explore the Latin Quarter at night afterwards. The golden glow of the street lights is magical, and shouldn’t be skipped! One restaurant we have visited nearly every time we go to Paris near Notre Dame is Au Bougnat. It has a classic, old world feel and a relatively inexpensive menu!
Day 3: Marais & Montmartre
THE MARAIS
You’re almost at the end of your Paris 3 Day Itinerary! Le Marais is a neighborhood full of nostalgia, narrow cobbled streets, great restaurants, and shopping! Make sure to spend at least a morning exploring this neighborhood and soaking up the feeling of old Paris. A few highlights of this area:
- Covered passageways full of boutiques, wine bars
- Vintage restaurants for affordable clothing with personality
- Place des Vosges is an incredible square with many options for coffee and lunch
- Les Archives is another underrated museum with a relaxing small park
- Marche des Enfants Rouges is an incredible food market with an international feel. We ate here twice last time we were in Paris, it’s really that good!
MONTMARTRE
In the evening, travel by metro or bus to this historic neighborhood. If possible, enter the Sacre Coeur cathedral and take the walk up to the dome for an unbeatable view of Paris (and less crowded than the steps in front of the church). A few highlights of this area:
- Dinner in any number of incredible cafes or restaurants
- Late-night entertainment comes in many forms: the iconic Moulin Rouge, other cabaret shows in Pigalle, or the relatively tamer but much more authentic Cabaret Au Lapin Agile.
- Enjoy the Sacre Coeur at night! It’s beautifully lit and the majority of tourists have dispersed.
This post was all about creating the perfect Paris travel itinerary for a 3 day trip!
Do you have longer than 3 days in Paris? Consider taking a day trip to Versailles, Normandy, or Giverny!
John Patsimas says
Exactly what I was looking for!