I feel like no matter how many times you go to Paris, it’s a city where you can always enjoy something new.
From chic shops and delicious eats to world-class galleries and hip cultural happenings, follow my ultimate 3-day itinerary for a visit to Paris that ticks all the boxes.
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My 3 day Paris itinerary
I always enjoy going to Paris – and these are the things that I think you shouldn’t miss if you’re spending a long weekend!
If you’re staying longer, check out our list of the best things to do in Paris for every budget – there’s loads more to do in there!
Day 1
On the first day I like to spend the morning getting to grips with my new surroundings.
Scoff a croissant for breakfast
There’s only one way to kick off your Paris adventure, and that’s with a delicious fresh croissant… or three.
I like Du Pain et Des Idées in the 10th arrondissement where you can get pastries for about €3-€5 each. I get a croissant AND a pain au chocolat (one for each hand) and then sometimes a little treat for later too.
If you’re not in this area, some other places to try are…
- The French Bastards – they have several outposts across town
- Ble Sucre – in the 12th
- Maison d’Isabel – in the 5th
- TikTok-famous Utopie – in the 11th
Keep in mind lots of bakeries are just that – they just sell pastries and don’t always do coffee or drinks too, and there isn’t always somewhere to sit.
Plus, some of the more authentic bakeries will run out of pastries by the afternoon, so swing by early if it’s essential eating for you!
Admire the views from Montmartre
Head to Montmartre, the charming quarter on the northern edge of the city where the great artists and thinkers used to hang out. People like Victor Hugo, possibly France’s most famous writer, and painters like Van Gogh.
Roam its cute cobbled streets and don’t worry about getting lost. The general direction you want to head is uphill.
If it all feels a bit much, there’s a funicular you can ride up towards its pièce de resistance (it costs the same as a metro ride) – Sacre Coeur basilica.
Sacre Coeur can be a bit marmite – it’s one of the city’s more modern churches and you probably caught sight of its wedding cake-white domes as you approached. If you want to go inside, you can’t pre-book but if you get there early doors, the queue should move fairly quickly.
If you’ve come for the view, head to Louise Michel square and grab a spot on the grass to get a killer view out over Paris.
You’ll be joining loads of other people doing the same, and it’s a great spot to perch for a picnic, or to watch evening draw in.
Enjoy a bistro lunch
By now you’ll probably be wanting lunch, so check out your options. For a sit down meal in Montmartre, try Le Poulbot for traditional dishes like duck confit and steak, or La Taverne de Montmartre for a filling plate.
If you’d rather keep moving, then head back towards the centre. You can walk past Moulin Rouge on your way back into town, so don’t miss it if it’s something you want to see!
Grab a crepe to munch for lunch on the go, or head to Boullion Chartier on Grands Boulevards, a bustling crowd-pleaser that does well-priced French classics. Or there’s cosy Astair in the Passages des Panoramas, one of Paris’ historic covered shopping galleries.
See the skyline from Galeries Lafayette Haussman
If the Montmartre views have got you going, then swing by the rooftop of the Galeries Lafayette department store.
The Paris skyline stretches all around you from up here. It’s nice to feel like a bird for a bit, and escape the bustling streets below.
You get a great view of the Palais Garnier, the opera house next door, and you’ll spot the Eiffel Tower and other landmarks like Notre Dame Cathedral from up here too. In summer they usually have pop-up restaurants up here.
Don’t miss peeking at the beautiful interiors of the shop as you make your way up. It’s got an immense glass dome and feels seriously posh – if you have a bougie budget, you could do a bit of shopping here too!
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You get a great view of the Palais Garnier, the opera house next door, and you’ll spot the Eiffel Tower and other landmarks like Notre Dame Cathedral from up here too. In summer they usually have pop-up restaurants up here.
Don’t miss peeking at the beautiful interiors of the shop as you make your way up. It’s got an immense glass dome and feels seriously posh – if you have a bougie budget, you could do a bit of shopping here too!
Visit the Louvre
In the afternoon, it’s time to get a dose of culture and fill up your camera roll. All these sights and more are waiting for you in the city centre…
The Louvre
This icon should definitely be on your list whether or not you go inside. The Louvre‘s majestic courtyard makes a cool contrast with the modern glass pyramid, and towards the evening if the sun is shining it looks really beautiful on the stone building.
Inside you’ll find the famous Mona Lisa, as well as other exceptional works of art and antique sculptures.
Palais Royal
Duck off the main streets and you’ll find picture-perfect Palais Royal. It’s pretty impressive – a typically ornate Paris buildings with a big facade and lots of columns. Plus they have art installations that look seriously good on the ‘gram.
Tuileries Gardens
The Tuileries is a nice park beside the Louvre that goes all the way to Place de la Concorde. There’s areas of formal planting but it’s also pretty relaxed.
You can’t sit on the grass everywhere but there’s a spot near the Louvre where lots of people picnic.
Otherwise there are plenty of green chairs scattered about that you can sit down and have a quiet 5 minutes on.
Île de la Cité
This spot on the river was once the original Paris. The streets here are still surprisingly quaint and cute, and you can see Notre-Dame here too – it’s newly restored after a big fire.
Pont Neuf
Pont Neuf is considered the oldest bridge in Paris, and you can get nice views of the city as you cross it, especially around sunset.
Take a Seine river cruise
As evening draws in, take a Seine river cruise for a more laid-back tour of Paris’ highlights.
There’s plenty to see from the river including the Musée d’Orsay, Notre Dame, the Louvre and Pont Neuf.
If you can time it around sunset, it’s a nice moment, although it will depend what time of year you’re visiting. Then afterwards as darkness draws in you can head over to the Eiffel Tower to see it all lit up.
It will also sparkle every hour on the hour until about midnight – it’s every bit as magical as it sounds.
The great thing about running along the Seine is that there are lots of pedestrianised points and so you’re not constantly having to cross roads. The not-so-great thing about running along the Seine is that it can smell a bit pissy under some of the bridges… Ha!
I went for my run around lunchtime and there were loads of locals out jogging on their lunch break and so that was a nice feeling! That and I was able to tick off lots of tourist hotspots on my run, clocking Pont Neuf bridge, Sainte-Chapelle chapel and Musée d’Orsay on my way.
Camp it up at the cabaret
If you want to splash out on a special evening activity, treat yourself to dinner and a cabaret show at a spot like Crazy Horse. It doesn’t come cheap – tickets start at around €100.
Or visit a jazz club like 38Riv in the Marais or Caveau de la Huchette in the Latin Quarter for live music.
Accommodation options in Paris
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Day 2
See something unique at La Villette
Start your day in La Villette, a huge cultural area over on the northeast side of Paris.
There’s an enormous park here as well as an arts venue. I know Paris has heaps of great museums, but my hack is to also check which exhibitions are going on when I’m there.
With these types of shows coming and going, you may not find write ups and reviews of them when you’re searching for things to do when you’re in the city. So you could easily miss something exciting if you don’t go out there and find that information for yourself!
When James and I were last in Paris together I checked what was on at La Villette, which I knew ran all sorts of exhibitions and installations.
And that’s how we came across this incredible ‘Pop Air’ Exhibition, which had ball pools and huge rooms filled with balloons and inflatables. It was amazing!!!
Plus, since we were there in the exhibition’s first week, it wasn’t too busy thanks to it not going ‘viral’ yet on social media. We paid €20 each for entry and it was a really fun, interactive experience that I’m glad I paid for.
Hang out by Canal St Martin
From La Vilette, spend a lush afternoon moseying down the canals and stopping off at the bars and cafes that line the waterways.
There’s huge pedestrianised pathways, and you also get to spot locals playing boules or outdoor table tennis too.
We liked Paname Brewing Company, which can be a great sun trap and has some delish craft beers. There’s also Péniche Antipode, a little boat where you can get a bite to eat and some drinks. And there’s Point Éphémère, a cool hangout where they do cool pop ups like a record store.
Or, join the locals and sit and chill right by the water with a book or some drinks from the nearby supermarket.
There’s also a place here to hire boats, although perhaps stay away if you’ve had a few drinks already!
You’ll finish up in Canal Saint Martin which is a beautiful area with so many places to eat and drink.
It’s chill and peaceful, and worlds away from the busyness of the centre and the Seine. I recommend Gros Bao for – you’ll never guess – bao! And Liberté for amazing patisserie.
Wander the Marais
Le Marais is one of Paris’ oldest areas so it’s a really classic part of Paris that’s nice for a wee stroll around.
There’s the ornate Hotel de Ville (town hall), lively Rue de Rosiers, and shady Place des Vosges that’s nice for a picnic.
You can find some seriously old buildings here, as well as the modern Pompidou Centre, although it’s closing from 2025-2030 for renovations.
Food & Drink options in Paris
Drink in Paris’ secret bars
If you stick around the Marais area until dinner time, there are some really nice bars.
My favourite is Candelaria, a Mexican place that has a hidden cocktail bar at the back. There’s also Little Red Door which does some really unique drinks, and Bisou which is all about the cocktails.
On a budget?
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Dine out in Belleville
For the evening, head to Belleville. This is the area I stayed in on my most recent trip and I really loved it.
You can leave the chaos of the centre behind and just swing by any bar or restaurant here that takes your fancy.
I went to Paloma, a fabulous place which is women-run, and got a set menu for €16 and it was delicious.
It also had a really cool vibe, you could see into the kitchen and there was just a nice buzz about the place.
Other spots I’d recommend are Junk Burger – if you want somehtng quick and dirty, or Thai-Lao spot Lao Siam.
Finish your night at The People. It’s a hostel with a bar, where they often have live music late into the evening.
It might be just a weekend (15 August is a national holiday) or it could be a few weeks, or even the whole month of August.
So if you’re heading there during summer, just check opening times before you set off for your meal out. Google Maps generally has the latest opening times and can often show exactly when these businesses are closed.
Day 3
Explore the Left Bank
Get up and out early, and head over to the south of the Seine, known as the Left Bank. This is traditionally a more artsy and bohemian side of the city, compared to the more grand and formal Right Bank.
Some of the highlights here include:
Musée d’Orsay
The Musée d’Orsay is a lovely museum that has some beautiful art inside and the building itself is pretty stunning – an old railway station.
If you’re happy to get a dose of culture but feel a bit put off by the enormous Louvre, then this is my pick.
You can see lots of famous works here – particularly by artists like Monet, Van Gogh, Renoir – and can easily do it in a couple of hours without feeling overwhelmed.
Sainte-Chapelle
This chapel is pretty unobtrusive from the outside, but it has some stunning glass windows inside.
When the sun shines, it’s out of this world. If you like to poke your head in a church or two, then seriously don’t miss it, it’s pretty special.
Jardin du Luxembourg
Jardin du Luxembourg feels very Paris, with its neat paths and flowerbeds. The pond is famous for traditional wooden sailing boats.
Grab a chair here in summer and feel like you’re in a movie – just don’t sit on the grass, it’s not allowed!
Panthéon
The Panthéon looks very grand, which makes sense when you realise lots of the country’s important figures are buried here.
It’s pretty impressive inside and in the crypt you can spot the famous names that lie here, like Victor Hugo and Marie Curie. It’s a nice area to just wander as well.
Shakespeare and Company
This quaint English-language bookshop is a bit of an institution – a great one for the ‘gram or for just soaking up the atmospheric interior. It’s small and busy but has bag loads of charm.
Visit Versailles
In the afternoon, take a trip out of the city. Hop on the regional train and in just 20 minutes you’ll be at Versailles – which is a bit surreal as it feels so far away from the city centre.
This iconic Royal palace will have your jaw dropping at every turn. It’s very over the top – think chandeliers upon chandeliers and shed loads of gold everything – and the crowning glory is the epic Hall of Mirrors. It’s all very impressive, even if it’s not to your personal taste.
Make a quick tour and then get outside into the gorgeous gardens. They go on for miles, and you can even cycle around them to make the most of them.
If you don’t fancy Versailles, then try an activity like a cooking class, bike tour or a wine tasting.
Have a chill dinner at Ground Control
In the evening, make your way to Ground Control, a huge food court that’s in a former train depot over on the south eastern side of the city.
If you’ve had enough of the city’s queues and tourist traps by now, you can relax a bit here!
Ground Control is more than just a food court. It’s a project space and a kind of independent cultural centre that prides itself on being a place where great minds meet and cool things happen. There’s everything from DJ sets and live music to karaoke, yoga and exhibitions.
I like Ground Control because you can spend the whole evening here, eat and drink what you fancy, and not worry about making reservations or figuring out the next spot to go to.
Plus, there’s always something cool happening – my favourite discovery here was an old airplane which when I peaked inside, had a DJ and people starting a mini rave!
The place had loads of locals and a great buzz about it. The only downside that was come half past midnight, we were turfed out when it felt like the fun had just begun!
Alternatively, nearby is La Felicità – along the same lines, it’s an events space and food hall serving up all things Italian. It’s run by Big Mamma, known for their vibrant and exaggerated takes on Italian food and decor – they run spots including Gloria and Circolo Popolare in London.
Here it’s all things Italian – pizzas and pastas and even burgers and desserts, served up amongst tumbling greenery and fairy lights – it’s proper train hangar chic.
They hold everything from Drag Race events to DJ sets here, and again here you don’t have to book to eat.
It’s a bit of fun compared to the more traditional Parisian dining spots, and you’ll finish up your trip well fed-and well-watered, in buzzing vibey surroundings.
Want more Paris ideas?
Read our list of The Best Things to Do in Paris for Every Budget
Enjoy The Best of Paris With Our 3 Day Ultimate Paris Itinerary
So there it is – our 3 day itinerary to guide you through the highlights of Paris without the headache of planning everything yourself!
Whether you follow my itinerary or just choose the bits you like the most, do let me know how your trip went! Paris is always a good idea!
