Three days in Paris is a balancing act: enough to fall in love, not enough to see everything — and that's fine, nobody sees "all" of Paris, not even Parisians. We have built and rebuilt this itinerary over many stays, with one obsession: maximise moments, not monuments. Here is the version we would hand to a friend arriving for the first time.
Day 1: Île de la Cité, the Latin Quarter and the Louvre
Start where Paris was born: the Île de la Cité. Notre-Dame, restored after the fire, is free to visit but the queue can be long — arrive before 9am. Two steps away, the Sainte-Chapelle is the aesthetic shock of the trip: 600 m² of 13th-century stained glass turning light into a kaleidoscope. Book your slot online (about €13); in season this is non-negotiable.
Cross into the Latin Quarter: the Panthéon, the bookshops of the Montagne Sainte-Geneviève, a pause in the Luxembourg Gardens — take a green chair by the pond; it's free, and it is the real Parisian luxury. In the afternoon, follow the quays and their bouquinistes to the Louvre. The classic trap: trying to see everything. Pick ONE wing (Denon for the Mona Lisa and the great French canvases, Richelieu for Mesopotamia and the Napoleon III apartments), two hours, no more. Exit by the pyramid at sunset and finish on the Pont des Arts.
Day 2: the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe and the Marais
For the Eiffel Tower, two schools. Go up (book the 9am slot, stairs + lift ~€14–22) or admire it from the Trocadéro, which offers THE photo — our choice on busy days. Then walk down the Champs-Élysées from the Arc de Triomphe: its terrace (€16, bookable) is for us the finest view in Paris, because the Eiffel Tower is in it — impossible from the Tower itself.
The afternoon belongs to the Marais: the Place des Vosges and its pink arcades, the Carnavalet museum (free, and wildly underrated — the whole history of Paris), the boutiques of Rue des Francs-Bourgeois, a falafel on Rue des Rosiers (€8–10, the queue moves fast). In the evening, dinner in the neighbouring 11th, where the bistros serve the capital's best value cooking.
Day 3: Montmartre in the morning, the passages in the afternoon
Montmartre does not forgive a lie-in: before 9:30am, Place du Tertre is a village; after 11am, a theme park. Climb the Rue Foyatier stairs (or the funicular, one metro ticket), Sacré-Cœur, then get lost around Rue des Saules: the Montmartre vineyard, the Lapin Agile, the studios — this is where the district becomes real again.
Walk down through Pigalle to the covered passages — Jouffroy, Panoramas, Vivienne — the 19th-century galleries where Paris invented shopping under glass. Depending on your energy, finish at the Musée d'Orsay (the world's finest Impressionist collection, book ahead) or with a twilight Seine cruise — touristy, yes; magical, also yes.
The budget, no sugar-coating
- Transport: the weekly Navigo Découverte pass (~€31, photo required) is unbeatable from 3 days. Otherwise, single tickets on the app and lots of walking: Paris is smaller than you think.
- Museums: free on the first Sunday of the month, and all year for EU residents under 26. The Carnavalet and the Petit Palais are free all the time.
- Restaurants: the lunch menu is your ally — starter and main for €18–24 in bistros charging double at dinner.
- Hotels: the centre (1st-7th) is splendid and unaffordable. The 10th, 11th and 12th arrondissements offer the Paris Parisians actually live in, 30–50% cheaper and 15 metro minutes from everything. Our selection is on the Paris page.
The editors' tip: never book a Paris hotel "20 minutes from the centre" without checking the metro line. Paris's real unit of measurement isn't the kilometre, it's the station: a hotel 3 stops from Châtelet beats a "central" hotel 12 minutes' walk from the nearest metro.
And with one more day?
Versailles is the reflex — allow a full day and book the first slot. But our preference goes to a less obvious alternative: escape to Normandy (Rouen in 1h10, the coast in 2h) or the Loire Valley, one hour by train. Paris is France's most beautiful gateway — use it.
The 5 first-timer mistakes
- Staying "cheap" far from the metro. Thirty minutes of bus morning and evening ruin three days. A station under 5 minutes' walk is non-negotiable.
- Hitting the Eiffel Tower at noon. Between 11am and 4pm, maximum queues and flat light. First hour of the morning or last of the evening, everything changes.
- Trying to "do" the Louvre. 35,000 works on display: a marathon lost in advance. One wing, two hours, a satisfied exit.
- Dining in 100% tourist streets. Around Notre-Dame and Montmartre, the laminated six-language menus serve the city's worst food at top prices. Two streets away, everything improves.
- Taking an unofficial airport taxi. Terminal touts overcharge. Official taxi at fixed fare (€56-65 depending on the bank) or the RER B — never a driver who approaches you.
3-day budget for two: the real numbers
| Item (2 pers., 3 days) | Budget | Comfort |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel, 3 nights (10th-12th arr.) | €270-360 | €450-660 |
| Transport (Navigo / tickets) | €35-62 | €62 |
| Museums and monuments | €60-90 | €120-160 |
| Meals (lunch menus + evening bistro) | €180-240 | €300-450 |
| Total | ~€550-750 | ~€930-1,330 |
The item that tips the budget is not the hotel: it is the meals. The "big set-menu lunch, simple dinner" discipline saves €40-60 a day without sacrificing any pleasure.
Where to stay: the editors' shortlist
- Best metro-to-price ratio: the 10th and 11th around République — ten metro lines, the best bistros, 30-40% less than the neighbouring Marais.
- For museum early birds: the 12th near Bastille-Gare de Lyon, quiet at night and direct to everything.
- All our addresses: on the Paris page, selected by the 5-minutes-to-the-metro rule.
Frequently asked questions
Are three days really enough for Paris?
For a first contact, yes: the essentials fit into three well-built days. To 'know' Paris, no — but that is precisely the charm: every return trip has its programme. Our advice: three full, dense days beat five exhausted ones.
Which arrondissement should I stay in for a first visit?
The 10th, 11th and 12th offer the best price-metro-restaurants triangle. The Marais and Saint-Germain are prettier but 40-60% dearer; Montmartre is charming but out of the way for a fast-paced first visit.
Is Paris doable with children?
Very much so, provided you alternate: a museum in the morning, a park in the afternoon (Luxembourg, Tuileries, La Villette), and the classics that always work — Eiffel Tower, river boats. The metro with a pushchair, however, remains a combat sport: favour buses and walking.
Is everything closed on Sundays?
No — it is actually an excellent day: museums are open (and free on the first Sunday of the month), the Marais is one of the few districts where shops open, and the Seine banks go car-free. Watch Mondays and Tuesdays instead: Orsay closes Monday, the Louvre Tuesday.
How do I reach the centre from the airports?
From CDG: RER B (~€11.80, 35 min) or fixed-fare taxi €56-65. From Orly: direct metro 14 (~€13, 25 min) — the simplest option since its extension. Avoid 'low-cost' private shuttles that wait to fill up.
