3 Days in Paris Itinerary: The Best Paris Destinations + Exactly Where To Find Them

With only 3 days in Paris to spare, your itinerary needs to be on point.

There are an overwhelming amount of places to eat, museums to wander, and historic places to see in Paris, but with the right Paris itinerary, it’s possible to see the best highlights all in this short amount of time!

You’ll need a clear game plan for your 3 day Paris itinerary to avoid burnout and wasting time running around the city. We’re here to give you that perfect Paris guide for an amazing and memorable trip to France.

In this post, we’ll be sharing the best way to spend three days in Paris, what to see, where to stay in Paris, how to get around, and the best ways to save money.

We’ll also be giving you safety tips while in the city, and sharing the best photography locations in Paris to make the most of your time in the city of love!

 3 Days in Paris Itinerary: The Best Paris Destinations + Exactly Where To Find Them

It’s important to break up your three days in Paris into micro areas of the city. You don’t want to be crossing multiple metro lines back and forth across the city!

Below, we’ll give you an example weekend Paris itinerary, but the important thing is to cluster destinations into similar areas.

This way, you can spend more time seeing amazing Paris attractions and less time on the metro!

Here, we’ve included the ideal itinerary for your three days in Paris. Note the different colors that reflect attractions what attractions to see on what day. Click on the image (or here!) to see the interactive version!

Map of Attractions For 3 Days In Paris - TheMandagies.com

The Perfect 3 Day Paris Itinerary

Paris Itinerary Day 1: Historic Monuments & Buildings

Les Invalides

Rond-Point du Bleuet de France, 75007 Paris, France (map here)

Les Invalides is a building complex consisting of landscaped grounds, monuments, buildings, and museums. All of these structures relate to France’s military history including tombs of soldiers from the Army of France.

One of the most notable war heroes of France is buried here, and he goes by Napoleon Bonaparte!

One of the most recognizable structures here is the Dôme des Invalides, which is a stunning example of French Baroque architecture. Take some time to walk to the grounds and visit this beautiful former church. 

Important Museum Note: If you are a huge history buff and plan to visit more than three Paris museums, we recommend purchasing the Paris Museum Pass.

This will ultimately help you save money on admission costs, and even skip the queue on busy days!


Musee Rodin

77 Rue de Varenne, 75007 Paris, France (map here)

Musee Rodin is located near Les Invalides, which makes it a perfect next stop on the first day of your Paris weekend itinerary.

This museum was opened in 1919 by the famous sculptor Auguste Rodin. Here, you can find many famous sculptures, including ones from Claude Monet, Vincent Van Gogh, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir.

Some of the most famous sculptures here are The Thinker and The Kiss!


Champ De Mars

2 Allée Adrienne Lecouvreur, 75007 Paris, France (map here)

Champs De Mars is a beautiful public area with the clearest view of the Eiffel Tower in the entire city.

During the spring and summer in Paris, this is an incredibly popular place to bring a picnic and enjoy a meal on the lawn under the Eiffel Tower. In fact, you might even call it the perfect couples bucket list activity for people searching for a romantic experience together in Paris!

We highly suggest grabbing a baguette, some fresh produce, and having a picnic out on the lawn! It’s an incredibly “Paris” thing do to!

Safety Note: Picnics are fun, but don’t let your guard down. Just like any other part of the city, theft can be an issue. Know where your items are at all times and secure them if you can!


Eiffel Tower

Champ de Mars, 5 Avenue Anatole France, 75007 Paris, France (map here)

The Eiffel Tower is without a doubt the most iconic landmark in Paris. It’s one of the best Paris photography locations in the city, and a must-see when visiting Paris.

In the evenings every hour, the tower sparkles with beautiful lights which is an incredible sight to see!

Here are some of the best locations to view the Eiffel Tower:

  • Champs De Mars Lawn – (Pack a picnic and stay awhile!)
  • Jardins du Trocadéro – (The famous stairs with the tower in the background)
  • Rue de l’ Université – (a cobblestone street perspective with the Eiffel Tower up close)
  • Arc De Triomphe – (keep scrolling to read more about this place!)

Palais De Chaillot and the Jardins de Trocadero

1 Place du Trocadéro et du 11 Novembre, 75016 Paris, France (map here)

If you’re looking for that famous perspective of the Eiffel Tower with the stairs in the foreground, this is it.

This is a free and open space in Paris that includes the beautiful Fountain of Warsaw, curate lawns, and a beautifully centered view of the Tour Eiffel.

To get to this area from the Eiffel Tower and Champs de Mars, cross the Pont de Iena bridge for a short 10-minute walk. During our three days in Paris, we arrived before sunrise to catch the colorful pinks and purples in the sky.


Arc De Triomphe

Place Charles de Gaulle, 75008 Paris, France

During your three days in Paris, visiting the Arc De Triomphe is an absolute must!

This beautiful monument was built in honor of the warriors who fought and died during the French Revolution and Napoleonic wars. Take some time to locate the tomb of the unknown soldier.

We also highly recommend taking the spiral stairs to see the view from the top of the Arc de Triomphe. Visiting the Arc is one of the best things to do in Paris with kids because it’s one of the most easily recognizable icons in the city. They will have fun climbing the stairs, and seeing Paris from above at the top!

From above, you can view the gorgeous roundabout that connects twelve separates streets together and straight down the Champs Elysees. Also, there’s a pretty incredible perspective of the Eiffel Tower.

Important: DO NOT try to cross the roundabout!! There is a designated path for passengers that takes you underground and under the road. It is extremely unsafe to cross this 12-lane road. Better safe than sorry!

Arc du Triomphe Stairs - 3 Days In Paris Itinerary


Champs Elysees

Av. des Champs-Élysées, 75008 Paris, France (map here)

Champs Elysees is one of the most well-known shopping and commercial streets in Paris. It’s 1.19 miles (1.9 kilometers) of beautiful tree-lines street, restaurants, and gorgeous sidewalk cafes.

It is famous for its luxury stores, magnificent light displays, and the famous Bastille Military parade every July.

Champs Elysees is located in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, north of the River Seine.

Champs Elysees Road - 3 Days In Paris Itinerary - TheMandagies.com


Laduree (The Champs Elysees Location)

75 Av. des Champs-Élysées, 75008 Paris, France

Not weekend trip to Paris is complete without buying the most adorable macarons, patisseries, and chocolates in the city.

Laudree is the most well-known bakery for these sweet treats, and their store located on the Champs Elysees is one of their most famous locations. Stop in for a quick bite and get yourself some macarons to-go!


Paris Museums - 3 Days In Paris Itinerary - TheMandagies.com

Paris Itinerary Day 2: Paris Museums + Cathedrals

On day 2 of your weekend Paris itinerary, we’re sharing the best museums for your short time in the city. There are over 120 museums in Paris alone, so we’re only sharing the best of the best in this post!

Weather Note: If the weather isn’t kind to you during your three days in Paris, you can always switch around these days to fit your schedule (and the forecast!) This will be the day where you will spend the most time indoors. 


Pont Alexandre III

Pont Alexandre III, Paris, France (map here)

Before beginning Day 2 of your three days in Paris, make sure to cross over this historic and beautiful Paris bridge.

This deck arch bridge crossing the Seine River connects the Champs Elysees quarter and the Invalides / Eiffel Tower quarters of the city.

Built between 1896 and 1900, it’s widely considered the most elaborate and ornate bridges in the city, and is regarded as a French Historic Monument as of 1975.

But pedestrians and cars can go across the bridge, so pick whichever mode of Paris transportation works best for you – just make sure you go!


Musee d’Orsay

1 Rue de la Légion d’Honneur, 75007 Paris, France (map here)

Head upstairs to the top floor to experience the larger-than-life-sized clock!


Les Palais Royal

8 Rue de Montpensier, 75001 Paris, France (map here)

An Instagrammer dream, this iconic Paris destination is easily recognizable for its art piece with black and white columns. You can find Buren’s Columns in the inner courtyard of Les Palais Royal, free of charge!

This place is just a short walk away from the Louvre museum, which makes it a great stop before you spend the afternoon indoors.

Read More: 10 Best Instagram Spots In Paris You Have To Visit


Lourvre Pyramid

75001 Paris, France (map here)

Easily one of the most recognizable attractions in Paris is the Louvre Pyramid. Located just outside the world-class museum, the Louvre, this serves as the entrance to thousands of years of preserved history.

Come early to experience the quiet courtyard in the morning. This area gets busy during the day with busy museum-goers.

Love This Spot? Discover More Photography Location In Paris Here


The Louvre Museum

Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France (map here)

The Louvre Museum can easily take up an entire day of one of your three days in Paris. Coming to the Louvre, it’s important to have a game plan.

There are so many things to see in this iconic Paris museum, that it is said to take up to 100 days to see every single artifact inside! And that is if you only spent 30 seconds on each item!

Do a little bit of research on the Louvre’s website to find out what you are truly interested in seeing. From there, you can map out exactly where you need to go to save time wandering the many halls!

Important Note: If the Louvre is high on your list of things to see in Paris, save some time and get the Paris Museum Pass to save money on admission and skip the queue!


Notre Dame

Notre Dame, Paris, France (map here)

Sainte-Chapelle

8 Boulevard du Palais, 75001 Paris, France (map here)

Paris Itinerary Day 3: Romantic Streets and Cute Cafes

The best way to spend the last of your 3 days in Paris would be to casually wander the streets of Montmartre.

Overview of Montmartre

Montmartre, 75018 Paris, France (map here)

La Maison Rose

2 Rue de l’Abreuvoir, 75018 Paris, France (map here)

La Maison Rose, or “The Rose House” is a beautiful piece of preserved Montmartre history. It attracts people today for it’s rose-y colored exterior and romantic cafe vibe.


“The Sinking House”

The Sinking House is not actually sinking or tilting!

Contrary to popular belief, it is an optical illusion created by tilting your camera at an angle to capture a photo of the building.

While this iconic paris photography location doesn’t have an official address, you can easily find the patch of hillside grass when making your way to the Basilica Sacre Coeur.

Here’s a helpful article to read to find out exactly where this it!


Basilica Sacré-Cœur

35 Rue du Chevalier de la Barre, 75018 Paris, France (map here)

Moulin Rouge

82 Boulevard de Clichy, 75018 Paris, France (map here)

Abbesses

22 Rue des Abbesses, 75018 Paris, France (map here)

Rue de Steinkerque

Rue de Steinkerque, 75018 Paris, France (map here)

Best Tours For Your Three Days In Paris

Sometimes its just easier to have someone do all the itinerary work for you!

Big Bus Tours / Hop-On Hop-off Tours

We actually find these guided bus tours to be a spectacular way to orient yourself with a new city. We recently did a guided bus tour in London, and it was an incredible way to figure out where attractions were, and which ones we wanted to see more of later.

If you want to take a guided bus tour in Paris, we recommend the Big Bus Tour. You can easily hop on and off at any stop and wait to board the next one. The buses run all day and come often at several stops around the city.

Money Saving Tips While Traveling In Paris

The Paris Pass

Not only did this pass save us money, but it also saved us a lot of time. (Which is totally necessary if you have a limited amount of days in the city!)

The Paris Pass allowed us free access into almost every monument and museum, as well as entry into their “fast-lane” if there was a line to get in. We didn’t waste any time buying tickets at each place!

You can decide how many days you want the pass and you also receive an unlimited subway ticket within the city! We ordered ours online in Seattle, and went to their office in Paris to pick it up in person. Easy!

The Paris Museum Pass

How To Get Around Paris

Get A Paris Metro Map

RER Line and the Metro Line are both affordable ways to get around the city.

If you want to see the city as efficiently and cheaply as possible, the subway is your best friend. You can buy a booklet (called a carnet, usually, 10-single pass ticket), or even an unlimited 1,2,3, or 5-day pass.

It’s always possible to buy single tickets as you go, too. Paris is a very walkable city so depending on where you are staying in the city, you may not need a subway pass at all!

Here’s a Free Paris Subway Map Download!

Safety Tips When Traveling In Paris

It’s very important to stay alert and safe during your 3 days in Paris. The most commonly reported crime in Paris is theft and pickpocketing. Here are some quick safety tips for Paris. For more information, we’ve written an extensive article going into deeper detail about how you can keep you (and your possessions!) safe while traveling.

  1. Don’t walk with your phone in your hand.
  2. Keep your possessions at the front of your body, with contact at all times.
  3. Never set your purse or backpack down on the ground.
  4. Stay in public places and don’t walk alone at night.
  5. Tell a trusted person about your itinerary, including addresses of where you’re staying and where you’ll be.
  6. Get traveler’s insurance and write down your tech’s serial numbers.
  7. Trust your gut.
  8. Leave sentimental items at home.

Read More: 10 Tips On How To Stay Safe In Big Cities

Easy Day Trips From Paris

Have a few more than 3 days in Paris to spare? Consider taking these day trips from Paris to elevate your trip and see more of France. All of these attractions are located on or near the RER subway lines, which makes getting to and from these extremely easy to reach from Paris!

Versailles

The Palace of Versailles is the former center of government and French royal residence in the 1600 and 1700s. It’s famous for it’s ornate and themed rooms, most famously are the Hall of Mirrors. Come here if you love manicured gardens, history, and gorgeous architecture. This place is currently a UNESCO World Heritage Site!

The reach Versailles by Metro, take the RER C which leads directly there from Paris.

Disneyland Paris

Disneyland Paris (Formerly Euro Disney Resort) is located east of the center of Paris, known for its two theme parks and several resorts and hotels. It IS possible to see Disneyland Paris in one day, but if you are a huge Disney fan it might be worth your time to spend an entire weekend at the park.

Want To Extend Your Paris Itinerary?

Consider taking a 10 day trip between London, Amsterdam, and Paris! These cities are easily connected by underground rail and train lines. This means you can see more than one city during your European itinerary. On our next trip to Europe, we definitely want to explore Amsterdam for a day…at least!

It’s extremely easy to travel Europe by train, and we think that everyone should experience this kind of traveling at least once. Here are some of our top choices for weekend trips from Paris:

  • Luxembourg: This beautiful county is only a 4-hour train ride from Paris, and it’s one of the smallest countries in Europe!
  • London, England: A quick train ride connects these two amazing cities!
  • Geneva, Switzerland: A 5-hour drive from Paris will lead you to beautiful lakes, mountain air, and proximity to the Swiss Alps!

Basic Essentials To Know About Paris, France

Currency: France uses Euros as its currency. Find the most up-to-date exchange rate here to see how far your money will go for your 3 days in Paris.

Language: The language that is spoken in Paris is French. Many locals understand English as well, but they really appreciate it when travelers attempt to speak in French.

Water: The water in Paris is generally safe, but many locals prefer to drink mineral water.

Power: The voltage in France is 220 volts. You will need a power converter for European plugs, which you can find and buy here.

Where To Stay In Paris, France

Click here to get $40 off your first booking on Airbnb!

Best Photography Locations Around Paris

Click here to find the exact addresses of the best Instagram spots in Paris!

Have you ever spent 3 days in Paris? Are there any other useful tips we should add to this post? Let us know in the comments below!

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Discover all the best things to do in Paris, France! We're sharing a Paris bucket list to inspire your next trip to France including famous stops like lake The Eiffel Towel, Le Marais, Notre Dame, Saint Michelle, and so many other great Paris photo spots! #paris #france #eiffeltower #parisfrance #europe #europetravel #cityoflive #city #notredame #photography #travel

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