3 days in Paris

Day by day

1. Day 1: Eiffel Tower and Musée d'Orsay

   Eiffel Tower, Musée d'Orsay and Musée Rodin, then Arc de Triomphe in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Eiffel Tower

      Gustave Eiffel's 330-metre iron tower was built for the 1889 World's Fair and is the city's defining view.

   2. Late morning

      Musée d'Orsay

      Start on the fifth floor with the Impressionists before tour groups arrive, then work downwards.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Croissant and pain au chocolat

      Any neighbourhood boulangerie with a queue of locals; bakeries that have won the city's annual baguette contest are a reliable sign.

   4. Afternoon

      Musée Rodin

      Rodin's former home and studio, the Hôtel Biron, displays The Kiss inside while The Thinker and The Gates of Hell stand in the rose garden.

   5. Evening

      Arc de Triomphe

      Use the underground passage from the Champs-Élysées; never try to cross the roundabout on foot.

2. Day 2: Louvre Museum and Tuileries Garden

   Louvre Museum, Tuileries Garden and Notre-Dame Cathedral, then Seine river cruise in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Louvre Museum

      Go straight to the Mona Lisa at opening time or leave it for the final hour, then explore the quieter Richelieu wing.

   2. Late morning

      Tuileries Garden

      The formal garden between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde is the natural walking route between the big museums.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Baguette tradition

      Ask for 'une tradition' rather than 'une baguette' at any boulangerie; it costs a little more and is worth it.

   4. Afternoon

      Notre-Dame Cathedral

      Queues move quickly early on weekday mornings; a free online time slot can shorten the wait at busy periods.

   5. Evening

      Seine river cruise

      Choose a sailing that leaves about 30 minutes before the hour after dark so you pass the Eiffel Tower as it sparkles.

3. Day 3: Sacré-Cœur and Montmartre and Sainte-Chapelle

   Sacré-Cœur and Montmartre, Sainte-Chapelle and Luxembourg Gardens, then Canal Saint-Martin in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Sacré-Cœur and Montmartre

      The white basilica crowns the highest hill in the city, and the steps below it are one of the best free viewpoints in Paris.

   2. Late morning

      Sainte-Chapelle

      Visit on a bright morning; the upper chapel is at its most spectacular when the sun is on the south windows.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Steak frites

      Classic bistros and brasseries across the city, especially around Saint-Germain and the Grands Boulevards.

   4. Afternoon

      Luxembourg Gardens

      The Senate's formal gardens are where Parisians read on the famous green chairs, children sail wooden boats on the octagonal pond and older locals play pétanque.

   5. Evening

      Canal Saint-Martin

      Pick up wine and cheese and join the locals on the quays around sunset.

Before you go

• Eiffel Tower: Summit tickets sell out in summer and school holidays; book timed tickets on the official site weeks ahead.
• Louvre Museum: Timed-entry tickets are effectively required; reserve online before you go.
• Musée d'Orsay: Book a timed slot online, especially for weekends and Thursday late openings.
• Sainte-Chapelle: Security queues can be long; a timed ticket bought online helps.

If it rains

• Swap in Musée Carnavalet (Le Marais): Don't miss the courtyard garden and the room of old painted shop signs near the entrance.
• Swap in Musée de l'Orangerie (Tuileries): Arrive at opening and sit quietly in the first water-lily room before it fills.
• Swap in Catacombs of Paris (Montparnasse): Bring a layer; the tunnels stay cool all year, and the exit is some distance from the entrance.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Le Marais keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Saint-Germain-des-Prés ($$$$) suits first-timers, couples, luxury and culture. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 18–24 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 8.3 hours in December to 16.2 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Paris
• 2 days in Paris
• 4 days in Paris
• 5 days in Paris
• 7 days in Paris

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