You’re visiting the famous city of love but don’t have lots of time? We’ve done the hard work for you and planned out a rough 3-day Paris itinerary that hits all the major tourist locations with time to shop, relax with a café au lait, and find the streets less travelled. Paris welcomes over 30 million visitors each year, and if you’re planning to be one of them, you’ll need our guide to spending three days in Paris.
Day One
Your first day in Paris should be a day of exploring, getting a feel for the city, and taking in the ambience that only Paris has. A good day starts with a good breakfast, and you won’t find finer bakeries than in Paris. Mamiche, Boulangerie Utopie and Bo&MIE have great reviews, but you’ll find great breakfast and brunch spots all over the city. You are in Paris after all.
Spend the afternoon visiting the tourist spots such as the Louvre Museum, Notre Dame and Arc de Triomphe, then indulge in a hot chocolate at Angelia’s while you people-watch and take a moment to appreciate where you are right now. For dinner, book tickets in advance for the legendary home of Parisian cabaret, Moulin Rouge, and enjoy an evening of great food and an unforgettable show.
Day Two
Day two of your trip to Paris could begin with stepping out of your hotel and on to breakfast at a nearby patisserie. Next, take a mid-morning cruise on the Seine River to see Paris from a unique angle. Lunch could be a picnic of bread and cheese under the Eiffel Tower at Champ-de-Mars, and the afternoon is yours to enjoy. Avid readers can spend an hour or two in the Shakespeare and Company independent bookstore or if you’re in Paris searching for vintage Chanel and Dior, Come on Eileen is a famous vintage clothing store where you can find designer fashion gems at more affordable prices.
Take a walk down the iconic Champs-Élysées and visit the luxury stores or if your budget doesn’t stretch to designer brands, there are plenty of more affordable stores on the avenue. After dinner, walk to Jardins du Trocadero to get the best views of the Eiffel Tower as it sparkles spectacularly until 11.45 pm every night.
Day Three
Spend a lazy morning walking around the beautiful Tuileries Gardens and visit the famous paintings in the Musee de L’orangerie or take in the view from the Montparnasse Tower Observation Deck. If there’s anything left on your Paris bucket list, now is the time to do it. If you have missed anything from the past two days, squeeze it into your plans for your last day in Paris. Make sure to factor in enough time to travel to the airport or train station, so you don’t miss your transport home.
Et voilà! You have an itinerary for 3 days in Paris. All the main spots will be ticked off your bucket list and you’ll have sampled the best of Paris in just three days. Our city destination tokens are the perfect way to remember your short but sensational trip to Paris. Simply attach the tokens to a Journeys Made keychain the same way you would put keys on a keyring or slide them onto your necklace and carry them close to your heart.