Are you planning your first trip to Paris? This itinerary for 3 days in Paris is designed for first time visitors to Paris, to help you plan your trip & reduce overwhelm. The best things to do in Paris include iconic sights like Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower and Sacre Coeur, exploring the coolest Paris neighbourhoods like St Germain, Le Marais and Montmartre, and experiencing classic French cuisine, boulangeries and brasseries. After five trips to Paris over the last decade, including a stint studying in Paris, I’ve written this itinerary for 3 days in Paris for first time visitors to help you get the most out of your trip.

This itinerary includes all of the iconic sights and places listed above, as well as some less-obvious gems like Musee Rodin, Sainte-Chapelle and the Jardin du Luxembourg. If you have more time than 3 days in Paris, check out my other Paris travel guides for more ideas! If you’re planning your first trip to Paris, don’t miss my guide on where to stay in Paris, which includes the best areas in Paris for first time visitors.

Day 1: Ile-de-Cite, Le Marais & Montparnasse

The first day of your itinerary for 3 days in Paris takes you from Paris’ historic heart, to Le Marais, the city’s coolest neighbourhood, and ends in Montparnasse at art deco brasseries that have stood the test of time. See some of the iconic Paris sights like Notre Dame and Place des Vosges, and visit some less obvious spots like Sainte-Chapelle, Notre Dame’s Crypt and the relatively tourist-free boulevards of Montparnasse.

Sainte-Chapelle

Start your trip in Paris in Ile-de-Cite, which is the largest of the two islands in the Seine, and the historic centre of Paris. Since Notre Dame is currently closed, make your first stop at Sainte-Chapelle to beat the crowds. Sainte-Chapelle is a royal chapel that was built in the 13th century by King Louis IX to house his collection of relics. It’s considered one of the highest achievements of the Rayonnant period of Gothic Architecture and has to be seen to be believed! It is spellbindingly beautiful. Arrive shortly before opening for the best experience and buy your tickets in advance if you can.

From Sainte-Chapelle, it is a 5 minute walk to Notre Dame.

Notre Dame & The Crypt

Notre Dame Cathedral needs little introduction. The 13th century cathedral is an 800 year old masterpiece, famous for it’s Gothic architecture and enormous stained glass rose windows. It is still under reconstruction, but you can admire the facade.

Ile-de-Cite is is also the site of the Roman settlement Lutetia, which predates Paris. Underneath Notre Dame, lies the remains of Roman Lutetia. You can visit the site, which is now part of the Crypt of Notre Dame. Buy tickets online in advance if you’re visiting in peak season. It is a small but fascinating site!

Bouquinistes

If you’re a bookworm like me, don’t miss the bouquinistes, the booksellers which line the left and right bank either side of Ile-de-Cite, selling antiquarian books. On the right bank, you’ll find them between Pont Marie and Quai du Louvre, and on the left bank they are between Quai de la Tournelle and Quai Voltaire. I recommend going to the left bank, so you can loop back through Ile Saint-Louis on your way to the Marais.

Ile Saint-Louis

Cross over the Pont de la Tournelle to Ile Saint-Louis, the smaller of the two islands in the middle of the Seine. The charming Ile Saint-Louis is mostly residential, and is one of the best preserved examples of a 17th and 18th century neighbourhood in Paris. Swing by the famous hole-in-the-wall gelato shop Berthillon before using Pont Marie to cross back over the right bank, to Le Marais.

Le Marais

Le Marais is one of Paris’ most beautiful neighbourhoods, with medieval cobblestone streets, boutiques and art galleries and lots of great food. It’s a must visit during your 3 days in Paris, as one of the city’s most beloved neighbourhoods. Browse antiques at Village Saint-Paul and don’t miss the medieval Rue des Barres and pretty Place St-Catherine. Stroll down Rue St Antoine, peek inside the magnificent Church of Saint-Paul Saint-Louis and see if you can find the Delacroix, and pick up a picnic lunch. Pick up incredible cheese at Fromagerie Laurent Dubois, some fruit from the fruit shops along this street, and a baguette.

Check out my Le Marais Neighbourhood Guide for more things to see & do in this charming Paris neighbourhood.

Place des Vosges

Head to Place des Vosges with your picnic. Place des Vosges is the oldest planned squares in Paris, built in 1612. It was built on the site of the former Hotel des Tournelles, a building complex and gardens that held medieval jousting tournaments. It was was demolished by Catherine de Medici when her husband King Henry II was killed in a jousting tournament, and Place des Vosges was later built over the top. It’s the perfect spot for a picnic and is a popular sunbaking spot for Parisians.

Place des Vosges is surrounded by a gallery of boutiques and art galleries, and historic homes, including the former residence of Victor Hugo!

Classic Brasseries in Montparnasse

Step back in time this evening, to the glamorous heyday of 1920s Paris. Make a reservation at one of Montparnasse’s classic brasseries, La Coupole or Le Select. Both were a hotspot for intellectuals and bohemians, and yet they continue to be local favourites to this day. Otherwise, for a unique dining experience, arrive just before opening of Le Relais de l’Entrecote. This is a walk-in only restaurant, with a fixed price for steak frites, salad and a glass of wine.

Alternatively, for a super cheap & cheerful dinner, hit Creperie Genia, near La Coupole. This permanent crepe stand is one of the best places to get a classic French crepe!

Tour Montparnasse or Les Catacombs

If you’ve also got an appetite for a little extra sightseeing, you can go high or low in Montparnasse. Head to Tour Montparnasse for the best views over the city, from the observation deck of Paris’ sole skyscraper. Otherwise, head twenty metres underground to the Paris catacombs, for a creepy, and unique experience.

Check out my Montparnasse Neighbourhood Guide for more tips for visiting Montparnasse.

Day 2: Eiffel Tower & St Germain

For your second day of your 3 days in Paris, I suggest adding some of Paris’ most iconic sights to your itinerary. See the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower, before exploring chic Saint Germain and the lovely Jardin du Luxembourg in the afternoon. Spend the evening enjoying a sunset picnic on the banks of the Seine.

Arc de Triomphe, Place du Trocadero & The Eiffel Tower

The Arc de Triomphe is a little out of the way of most of this itinerary, but it is one of Paris’ most iconic sights! If you want to squeeze it in and you only have 3 days in Paris, get an early start. You can purchase tickets in advance to climb (many stairs) to the top, which has a cool view down the Champs-Elysee, but in the interest of time, I’d suggest just admiring it from ground level so you can fit in the rest of today’s itinerary.

The Arc du Triomphe was built in 1836 in honour of those who died in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. The names of all French generals and victories from these wars are inscribed on the surfaces of the Arc du Triomphe, and in the centre, underneath the vault, is the tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I. The Arc du Triomphe is in the centre of Place Charles de Gaulle, at the etoile or star of the juncture of 12 avenues radiating out from the monument.

The Champs-Elysee runs southeast from the Arc de Triomphe, but instead I’ll suggest you walk 25 mins (or Metro, or 5 min Uber), southwest, to the Place du Trocadero.

Place du Trocadero & Eiffel Tower

For an iconic view of the Eiffel Tower, head to the Place du Trocadero, in the 16th arrondissement. It is directly across the Seine from the Eiffel Tower, and the elevation gives an amazing view. It gets very busy, very quickly, so arrive early for the best experience. There are plenty of cafes nearby on Avenue Kleber – Cafe Kleber is always good.

If you want to go up the Eiffel Tower, book tickets in advance and arrive ahead of opening. Otherwise, you might like to spend this morning visiting the Musee D’Orsay or the smaller Musee Rodin.

Musee D’Orsay or Musee Rodin

If you’ve visited everything suggested for this day’s itinerary already, you probably won’t have time for one of these museums as well – depending on how early you start, you’ll be able to do 2 of the 3: See the Arc de Triomphe, go up the Eiffel Tower, visit one of the below museums. I would choose seeing the Arc, seeing (but not climbing) the Eiffel Tower, and one of the below!

Musee D’Orsay is one of the best museums in Paris, and is best known for having the largest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings in the world. The light-filled museum is housed in a beaux arts former train station, which makes it much less stuffy than most other museums (looking at the Louvre). You’ll find masterpieces from the likes of Manet, Monet, Degas, Renoir, Gaugain, Cezanne, Seurat, Sisley and Van Gogh.

Musee Rodin is dedicated to the artist, Rodin. There is a museum, as well as a sculpture garden, where you can admire Rodin’s iconic sculpture, Le Penseur (The Thinker). When I visited, the entry to the garden only was free, but now there is a small fee. Alternatively, buy a combined ticket to visit the museum as well as the gardens.

St Germain & Brasserie Lipp

St Germain is one of the most beautiful neighbourhoods in Paris, and one of the most famous. Located on the Left Bank, in the 6th arrondissement, St Germain was a popular hangout for intellectuals, artists and bohemians in the early 20th century.

First, stop for lunch at the classic Brasserie Lipp, which has been a Parisian favourite since the 1930s. This is a perfect, old school Parisian brasserie. Note that if you want to sit inside, men will need to wear pants, not shorts! There is also a patio in summer, which seems to be a bit more relaxed.

After lunch, explore the pretty streets of Saint-Germain. If you’re a Hemingway fan, you might want to stop by his famous hangouts, Cafe de Flore and Les Deux Magots, but these are pretty touristy these days.

Jardin du Luxembourg

Make your way to the beautiful Jardin du Luxembourg, which were built as a palace and gardens for Marie de Medici in the 17th century. The gardens aren’t huge, so you could stroll through in less than twenty minutes, or you might like to stop for a picnic with some cheese, wine or pastries – these won’t be hard to find in St Germain!

Picnic on the Banks of the Seine

Weather permitting, stock up on a picnic dinner before the boulangeries and fromageries close, pick up a bottle of wine (your hotel room will have a corkscrew!), and head for a sunset picnic on the Seine. The banks of the Seine are very popular with Parisians for a sunset picnic, but if you’re patient you’ll find a spot. The most popular spots are near the centre of the city, around Ile de Cite.

I have had several picnics on the banks of the Seine, over the last decade – always one of my favourite ways to spend an evening in Paris!

Day 3: Montmartre, Opera & Louvre-Tuileries

The last day of your 3 days in Paris itinerary covers three very distinct parts of Paris: Romantic Montmartre, chic Opera and stately Louvre-Tuileries. Tonight, I’ve suggested your last meal in Paris to be at Allard in St Germain, a Paris institution.

Montmartre & Sacre Coeur

Spend the morning exploring Montmartre, one of Paris’ most romanticised neighbourhoods. The luminous, white basilica of Sacre Coeur is one of the most beautiful sights in Paris, and as the highest point in the city, it also offers the best views. Entry to Sacre Coeur is free, but it gets extremely busy – beat the crowds by arriving as early as you can. Sacre Coeur opens at 6-6:30, so use your jetlag to your advantage!

Sacre Coeur was built in 1919, as a national penance for France’s defeat in the Franco-Prussian war in 1870. The mosaic artworks inside are breathtaking! This is also an iconic film location from the French film, Amelie.

Afterwards, explore the pretty, winding backstreets of Montmartre. Parts can be very touristy, and rife with pickpockets, but there are plenty of pretty pockets to discover. It’s best known for its 19th century heyday, when it’s low rents and convivial anything goes atmosphere attracted bohemians and artists like Renoir, Henri Toulouse-Lautrec, Picasso, Modigliani and more. It was a village of cafes, artist studios, bars and cabarets, as well as a thriving red light district. Emily in Paris fans will want to visit Le Maison Rose, one of several filming locations for Emily in Paris in Montmartre.

If you’re looking for a less touristy spot to stop for a coffee or lunch, head to Le Nazir on Rue des Abbesses. There’s also a patisserie, Maison Aleph, across the street!

Opera: Galeries Layfayette & Palais Garnier

Depending on how energetic you’re feeling, or how early it is in the day, you might want to visit Opera before heading to the 1st arrondissement, or you may want to choose one or the other.

Opera is the 9th arrondissement of Paris, and it’s next to Montmartre, to the south. Opera is home to Paris’ most beautiful department store, Galeries Lafayette, and the magnificent opera house, Palais Garnier. Palais Garnier was the inspiration for the Victor Hugo novel, and now musical, Phantom of the Opera.

Jardin des Tuileries

If neither of these tickle your fancy, crack on for the 1st and 2nd arrondissements, closer to the Seine. Louvre-Tuileries is the 1st arrondissement of Paris, and home to some of the city’s most famous sights. You might want to visit the Louvre, or prefer to visit the smaller, and much more peaceful museum, Musee de l’Orangerie. It is home to Monet’s waterlilies, which are displayed in a curved room for the ultimate effect. Many first time visitors to Paris, will have the Louvre on their bucket list. The Louvre is a behemoth, so you may not want to spend too much of your 3 days in Paris at a museum – you’ll want to allow at least 2 hours.

Both museums are located adjacent or inside the Jardin des Tuileries, which is the most famous, oldest and largest garden in Paris. It’s so beautiful, it’s one of my favourite spots in Paris! The Jardin des Tuileries was created by Italian-born queen Catherine de Medici in the 16th century for the Tuileries Palace. It’s a great place for a picnic lunch, and there are a few cafes dotted throughout the gardens.

Dinner at Allard

Celebrate the end of your 3 days in Paris with an unforgettable meal at Allard in Saint-Germain. Chef Alain Ducasse has earned 21 Michelin stars in three different countries over the course of his career, and Allard is a Parisian institution. Established in 1932, Allard has been a culinary destination in Paris for more than 80 years! We celebrated our anniversary here, and it was the perfect spot for a traditional French restaurant experience.

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