They say that Paris is always a great idea, and we couldn’t agree more. Paris, often called the City of Love, has a special charm that captures the hearts of people worldwide. Whether it’s your first visit or a return trip, Paris has a timeless allure that never gets old. To help you make the most of your valuable time in this famous city, we’ve put together the perfect 3-day itinerary. It combines must-see places with some hidden treasures, and of course a big focus on all the amazing food this city has to offer. Discover the ultimate 3 days in Paris itinerary, one unforgettable day at a time.
Day 1: The iconic Iron Lady and her surroundings
Start your day at the famous Rue de l’Université
What better way to start your day than with Paris’ most iconic and famous landmark? Yes, we are talking about The Iron Lady! The Rue de l’Université is one of the most famous spots to take a stunning shot with the Eiffel Tower. We recommend starting your day here at 6.30 AM. You’ll have the whole place to yourself, apart from some photographers if you’re unlucky. These photographers have a strict time schedule to follow, which means that they’re in and out in no time. We promise you, it’s worth getting up so early!
Take some pictures at Passerelle Debilly
Another wonderful spot, just a 20-minute walk from Rue de l’Université, is Passerelle Debilly. Who can say that they’ve walked through the streets of Paris at 7 AM? Now you can! Once you get to Passerelle Debilly, it’s time for the fun. Here you really get the total package of the best that Paris has to offer: a stunning view of the Eiffel Tower, the Seine River and a beautiful bridge with love locks. Picture perfect of romantic Paris!
Enjoy a delicious breakfast at Carette
You’ve now been able to take lots of stunning shots of the Eiffel Tower without too many tourists in the background. A lovely start to your first day in Paris. To still your hunger, we got an amazing address for you, only 15 minutes away. It’s time to channel your inner “Emily in Paris” at Carette! Order a freshly baked croissant and feel like a real Parisian while eating your croissant on the terrace. The terrace offers amazing views of the Place du Trocadéro, the bustling roundabout at the top of the Jardins du Trocadéro.
Where: 4 Place du Trocadéro et du 11 Novembre
Climb to the top of the Arc de Triomphe
Time for another iconic sight of Paris: Arc de Triomphe. Besides being one of France’s most important national monuments, it also offers amazing panoramic views over Paris. To get to the Arc de Triomphe, there are two options. The first option is to risk your life by (trying to) cross the Place de l’Étoile roundabout where the rules are a “free for all”, not advisable.
The second option is much safer, which is to take one of the two underpasses located at the Champs Élysées and the Avenue de la Grande Armée. From there, a lift will take you (almost) to the top. To reach the absolute top of the Arc de Triomphe, you will have to buy a ticket. Tickets are € 13 for adults, or free if you’re a citizen of the EU and under 26. If you’re looking for those magnificent views we really recommend buying a ticket!
Stroll down the Champs-Élysées Avenue
Right by the Arc de Triomphe you’ll find the Champs-Elysées Avenue. This world-famous avenue is known for its luxury boutiques, theaters, and cafes. It the perfect place for some (window) shopping and people-watching, especially if you’re into designer clothing and expensive things. If you’re looking to do some actual shopping, don’t forget about the “golden triangle”. This “triangle” consists of three streets: the Avenue des Champs-Elysées (of course), the Avenue Montaigne and Avenue Georges V. These three streets got you covered, no matter what it is you’re looking for!
Lunch on the Champs-Élysées Avenue
Enjoy a leisurely meal at one of the charming bistros along this renowned avenue. May we give some suggestions? There is the Bistro des Champs, a cozy restaurant named after this iconic street. It mainly offers the best of the French cuisine, like a parisian-style onion soup or a croque-monsieur. Yum!
Then there is Le Drugstore, a restaurant that changes menus depending on what time you’re visiting. From 8 AM, you’ll be able to order breakfast, which includes classics like some scrambled eggs or a smoked salmon toast. At noon you can go for a gourmet lunch or a lunch in a hurry, with fingerfood dishes like crispy rice with salmon and chilli garlic or falafel with yogurt, mint and lemon. Finally for dinner (7 PM until 11.30 PM), you can go for a lovely black cod, a king crab salad or a delicious beef carpaccio. So much to choose from!
Visit La Galerie Dior
Located in a small street just off the Champs-Elysées Avenue, you’ll find La Galerie Dior. It’s the first museum of the Parisian fashion house and definitely worth a visit. It opened in the spring of 2022, and consists of 13 rooms which are spread over 3 floors. Discover the history and evolution of Dior and admire some masterpieces! There’s plenty to see, read and explore here, so make sure to reserve some time for your visit. A visit to La Galerie Dior will last approximately 2 hours, but this can be even longer! Big bonus: the magnificent staircase, surrounded by countless classics and arranged in a beautiful color palette.
Dinner at Homer Lobster
End your first day with some delicious lobster rolls at Homer Lobster. These are truly the best lobster rolls we have ever eaten, period. A delicious warm brioche bun and an abundance of perfectly cooked lobster that melts in your mouth, what more could you want? And other than (XL) lobster rolls, they also offer delicious grilled cheese here! Whether it’s a regular grilled cheese, one with lobster, or even a caviar grilled cheese, we can vouch for all of them. Regarding the sauce for your lobster roll, you can’t go wrong with the classic, Connecticut or the miso-yuzu. There’s also the option to add caviar to your lobster roll, but we haven’t tried that one yet. Sounds delicious, though! Homer Lobster has multiple locations throughout the city (we tried them all, by the way), but the one we’re sending you to is their venue on Avenue Victor Hugo.
Where: 106 Avenue Victor Hugo
Admire the Eiffel Tower by night
No visit to Paris is complete without admiring the iconic Eiffel Tower by night! The perfect spot for this is Trocadéro Square, a 15-minute walk from Homer Lobster. This square offers THE best views of The Iron Lady. Yes, there will be other people here, but we guarantee you it’s worth it. Take a bottle of wine with you and enjoy the magical moment when the Eiffel Tower begins to sparkle for 5 minutes. This happens at the beginning of each hour after dusk. Truly magical!
Day 2: Musée D’Orsay, Opéra Garnier, Montmartre, and more
Start your day at Café de Flore
Kickstart your day at Café de Flore, a historic café known for hosting famous writers and the Parisian intellectual elite. Whether you’re in the mood for a delicious coffee, hot chocolate, or fresh-squeezed orange juice, they have it all. In addition, you can also find lots of breakfast options here like freshly baked croissants and omelets. Big bonus points for the gorgeous façade! Also, located on Boulevard St Germain, this café is a great spot to do some people-watching.
Where: 172 Boulevard Saint-Germain
Visit Musée d’Orsay
A 15-minute walk from Le Café Flore you’ll find Musée D’Orsay. It’s one of the largest art museums in Europe, with a rich collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art. You can admire masterpieces of Monet, Cézanne, Van Gogh and many other famous painters here.
Explore Musée de l’Orangerie
Less than a 10-minute walk away, in the Tuileries Garden, you’ll find another beautiful museum: Musée de l’Orangerie. This museum is rather small, but here you can find Monet’s world-famous water lilies! These paintings are so large and impressive that a visit to Musée de l’Orangerie cannot be missed during your time in Paris. It’s really impressive to see how the paintings are spanning the complete wall of each room, as if you’re actually looking at a pond of lilies. Who would’ve thought that Monet’s magnum opus could be found inside such a small museum?
Lunch at Perruche
A 20-minute walk away, you’ll find the perfect lunch spot: Perruche. This incredible rooftop restaurant has some breathtaking views of the Eiffel Tower! It’s really amazing to enjoy a nice meal whilst overlooking the city of Paris and its iconic Iron Lady. At Perruche, they have amazing cocktails, Kelvin was a big fan of the le mas du 9ème cocktail with vodka, apricot juice and Rosemary. But don’t forget about the food, which is really good too! Make sure to try the rigatoni with burrata, so delicious! Reserve in advance to make sure you get a table.
Where: Printemps de l’homme (9th floor), 2 rue du Havre
Visit Opéra Garnier
Walk 5 minutes to Opéra Garnier: a true architectural masterpiece. This opera house, where elements from the Baroque, Palladio, and Renaissance periods blend together, is already beautiful from the outside. However, if you’re looking for the ultimate experience, we really recommend buying tickets to visit the inside as well. You can do it with a guided tour (€ 23), or explore the Opéra on your own (€ 15 for a ticket). You’ll be able to explore the Grand Escalier with its magnificent thirty-meter-high vault, which appeared in Emily in Paris. Another masterpiece is the Foyer, covered with mosaics on a gold background. Make sure to look for the reflection in the beautiful mirrors, too. Walking around here almost feels like being back in the 19th century, every detail is so stunning!
Stroll through Montmartre
Your next stop is the Montmartre neighborhood, a half-hour walk from Opéra Garnier. It’s one of the coziest neighborhoods in all of Paris! Each corner has its own charms or little café where you can rest and do some sightseeing, or grab a quick coffee. You can (should) easily spend multiple hours here! Have your portrait painted by the countless artists in the area, visit Le Passe-Muraille statue or stroll around on the Montmartre Cemetery. Some other famous spots and “must-sees” like the Sacré-Coeur and La Maison Rose are also located in the Montmartre area. Plenty of things to do!
Dinner at the Pigalle neighborhood
A 15-minute walk from Montmartre you’ll find Pigalle, our favorite neighborhood for dining. You have numerous nice restaurants here, ranging from local specialties over burger joints, to Mediterranean and steakhouses. For fine dining, we really recommend Moloko, an intimate Asian fusion restaurant. They mainly offer sharing dishes like sushi and edamame, but also have other dishes that will surprise you with their original twists. Think: Wagyu Beef Tacos or Truffle Salmon Carpaccio. Looking for something simpler? Then dine at Pink Mamma, a lovely Italian restaurant with a beautiful interior. We won’t spoil anything but the top floor is our favorite floor! Regarding the food: you can’t go wrong with the truffle pasta “La fameuse pâte á truffe”.
Day 3: Musée du Louvre, Sainte-Chapelle, Notre-Dame, and more
Start your day at Le Café Marly
What better way to start your day with a breakfast right in front of the Louvre? Have breakfast at Le Café Marly, where you can enjoy a lovely breakfast menu with a picturesque view of the Louvre. Make sure to arrive before the Louvre opens, it’s an incredible sight to see all those people getting in line to visit the Louvre! And who knows, maybe it’s your next destination of the day, too? 😉
Where: 93 Rue de Rivoli
Visit the Musée du Louvre
There are plenty of good reasons to visit the Musée du Louvre, with the Mona Lisa undoubtedly being the most famous reason. For us, a visit to the Louvre already begins on the outside. The large glass pyramid entrance of the Louvre immediately fills us with excitement. But the actual museum is super fun, too. The Louvre exhibits sculptures, paintings, drawings, and much, much more. This collection of sculptures, paintings, drawings,… is divided in 8 major sections that range from Middle Eastern Antiquities to Graphic Art. The museum is very, very large, so be sure to count enough hours to see everything! Yes, hours (not just the Mona Lisa).
Take some pictures at Palais Royal
Looking for an interesting photo spot? Right next to the Louvre you can find Palais Royal, with its majestic “Courtyard of Honor”. It’s an extremely famous photo spot, and we totally understand why. The beautiful black and white striped columns look absolutely amazing and scream the perfect Instagram spot!
Lunch at Maison Sauvage
Walk 20 minutes to Maison Sauvage, your lunch spot of the day. With its beautiful flowered facade, this charming place in the middle of a small but busy street, is the perfect spot for an amazing lunch. On a sunny day we absolutely recommend taking place on the outside terrace. There’s so much to see on the bustling street right in front of it, which all adds to the experience. For lunch we recommend going for an avocado toast, some eggs or checking out the fingerfood menu items. Also, we tried lots of different cocktails here and they all were amazing. We absolutely love that the cocktails and dishes at Maison Sauvage are delicious and affordable!
Where: 5 Rue de Buci
Marvel at the gorgeous Sainte-Chapelle
Walk 10 minutes to Sainte-Chapelle, one of Paris’ most beautiful hidden gems! This chapel is famous for its gothic stained glass windows, which are simply stunning to see and really take you back a couple centuries into the “dark ages”. We really love that you have the freedom to visit this for how long you want, without feeling you are “missing out”. What we mean by that is whether you’re visiting this beautiful chapel for only 15 minutes or 2 hours, you will leave a happy man/woman. A visit during a sunny day makes it even more impressive, when the sunlight shines through the colorful stained glass. Tickets will set you back € 11,50, or € 9 If you have the Paris Museum Pass.
Admire the Notre-Dame Cathedral
Notre-Dame Cathedral is only a 10-minute walk from Sainte-Chapelle. Whilst you still can’t explore its interior for now, Notre-Dame Cathedral remains an architectural masterpiece with an exterior that’s worth admiring. Its majestic façade and intricate Gothic details continue to captivate visitors, and why shouldn’t it! Visiting the Notre Dame, even only from the outside, is definitely worth making a detour or quick stop for. One can only dream of when those doors open to the public again.
Dinner at Pizzou
A short 15-minute stroll will lead you to Pizzou, a restaurant well-known for its delicious pizzas made from fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. From pizzas with spicy sausage to pizzas with truffle, you’ll find the most delicious combinations at Pizzou. Sure, you can just order your usual margarita pizza here, but it’s definitely worth it to try something new. Our suggestion? The Tibourg Pif or Bourg Tiburrata will make you drool. Make sure to order one of their local wines as well! Nothing feels better than sipping wine on the sidewalk of a beautiful Parisian Street.
Where: 29 Rue du Bourg Tibourg
Drinks at L’Epicier
A 20-minute walk away you’ll find L’Epicier, the coolest hidden bar in Paris. What better way to end your 3 days in Paris than with delicious cocktails at a speakeasy? At first glance, this looks like some kind of night store, but nothing could be further from the truth. Pulling one of the items on the shelf (discover which one yourself, we won’t spoil the experience) allows you to open the door to the speakeasy. Behind the door you can find an oriental bar with multicolored lamps, road signs as tables and even swings to sit on! Everything here is themed, which we absolutely adore. Ever ordered a cocktail that came in a tea pot? Now’s your chance. Grab one of their delicious cocktails, and enjoy your last night in Paris.
Where: 24 Rue Notre Dame de Nazareth
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5 days in Paris: Budget Breakdown
