Before visiting Paris, I used to hear people saying that it was impossible not to fall in love with the city, after all, this is the city of love. In fact, I thought all of this was an exaggeration … until I finally got to know the city. No, this is definitely not an exaggeration, few cities in the world make me admit it, but here it goes: Everything they say about Paris is true.

Paris is an inspiring city that makes you sigh and miss it. I could go back there a million times and still, it wouldn’t be enough, and for sure, it won’t be any different. But for those who don’t have the chance to visit Paris a million times, here’s a 3-day tour in Paris, with tips on what to do in Paris for those who are going to the French capital for the first time.

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3 Days in Paris: What to do in Paris

Planning your visit to Paris

• 🏨 Find the perfect accommodation in Rome. Booking, HotelWorld.
• 🌃Looking for a room with a view of the Eiffel Tower? Find it here.
• 🚖 Book your airport transfer here.
• 💳 Get free access to the main attractions with a City Pass. The Paris Pass.
• 🏛 Enjoy the best museums in Paris with the Museum Pass.
• 🚌 Book a City Sightseeing bus & Cruise.

The best way to save time and money on your 3 days in Paris is to buy the local city pass, called The Paris Pass, with it you get free entry to more than 60 Paris tourist spots and attractions, among them, the Louvre Museum, Musée d’Orsay, Arc de Triomphe and Palace of Versailles.

You can choose between 2, 3, 4, or 6-day passes. The Paris Pass also includes a day city sightseeing bus tour, metro tickets, and a Seine River cruise.

Another option to save time and money is the sightseeing bus ticket, also known as Hop-on Hop-off. With The Paris Pass you get a ticket for one day, but to enjoy your tour better, I suggest you buy a ticket for the other two days too.

The advantage of it is that this bus leaves you in front of the main tourist spots in Paris, so you don’t have to waste time getting from one to the other, nor run the risk of getting lost in the city on the way!

Charles de Gaulle Airport or Orly Airport to Paris

If you are arriving in Paris by plane, you will likely arrive at Paris-Charles de Gaulle International Airport, the main airport in the French capital and the hub of Air France.

The airport is located in a commune 30 km northeast of the city of Paris, called Roissy-en-France. From the airport to the center of Paris it takes an average of 45 minutes.

It is always important to put the travel time from the airport to your hotel in your itinerary, so you don’t end up being disappointed. Often, the arrival day, especially if it doesn’t happen early in the morning, is almost a day wasted because of the commuting time between places if you do it on your own. Of course, you can save time if you go for a private transfer though.

Taxi

From the airport to the center of Paris, you have several options, including taking a taxi, these have a fixed price of 50 euros for regions on the right bank of the Seine, and 55 euros for regions on the left bank from the Seine river.

Bus

The Roissybus that connects Charles de Gaulle Airport to the Opera Garnier square costs €13.70, but the journey is limited and takes an hour. Other bus options are line 350 which connects the airport to Gare de l’Est and line 351 takes you from the airport to Place Nation, the ticket for either of them costs €6.

RER trains

RER trains are also a good option, the ticket costs €11 and among the main stops are Gare du Nord, Châtelet-Les-Halles e Denfert-Rochereau. The ticket also includes the value of the metro pass in case you need to take one to get to your hotel.

Private transfer

The best option if you want to save time, also it is the most comfortable as well, the trip to the city center will take around 60~80 minutes and they will drop you at your hotel at any point in the city. Book your transfer here.

Day One: Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower

Notre Dame Cathedral

You can start the day by visiting the most famous gothic cathedral in the world, Notre Dame!

For those who chose not to buy a ticket for the Hop on Hop off the sightseeing bus, there is a subway station called St-Michel Notre Dame that drops you off right next to the cathedral, from there you are just a walk away. Notre Dame is located on the Île de la Cité, the largest island in the Seine.

The construction of the cathedral began in 1163 by Pope Alexander III but was only completed in 1345. Its name means “Our Lady” and is dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

Entrance to visit the interior of Notre Dame Cathedral is free, however, you will probably have to face a queue to get inside, but don’t worry, it’s totally worth it!

The interior is beautiful, with some stained glass windows and statues decorating the cathedral, among the highlights is the statue of Joan d’Arc, who is considered a heroine of France and was beatified here at Notre Dame by Pope Pius X in 1909, and canonized 11 years later.

📝 Interesting Fact: Among other important events that took place here at Notre Dame are the coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte and the coronation of Henry VI of England.

Probably the most famous piece inside the cathedral is the altar, which is definitely one of the most beautiful altars I have ever seen and features the iconic Pieta statue by Nicolas Coustou.

For a small fee, it is possible to climb to the top of Notre Dame, where you can admire the beautiful view of Paris, and the Eiffel Tower beside one of the famous gargoyles of the cathedral.

🔥 2019 Fire: Sadly on April 15, 2019, Notre Dame was partially damaged during a fire that took place in the cathedral. With that, the famous needle of the main tower was knocked down and completely destroyed. Fortunately, as the cathedral was undergoing renovations at the time, the main works of the interior had been removed and did not suffer any damage. Unfortunately, due to the fire and restoration work, it is not possible to visit the cathedral at the moment.

After leaving Notre Dame, you can explore the neighborhood a bit. Along the canal you will see traditional Bouquinistes, selling used and old books.

Sainte-Chapelle

Within walking distance of Notre Dame, is located what is probably the most beautiful chapel in the city of Paris, known as Sainte Chapelle.

Although it’s quite famous, it’s still a lesser-known tourist spot in Paris, but make no mistake, there’ll probably be a line to get in.

What is unique about this chapel is the fact that it is completely surrounded by large stained glass windows, the color of the glasses in contrast to the lighting of the place makes it a visually stunning experience. Despite its small size, those who visit will not regret it, you will hardly find places as rich in details as Sainte-Chapelle.

The chapel was built in 1248 to serve as the chapel of the royal palace, unfortunately, the rest of the palace has completely disappeared, and now around it, we have the Palace of Justice.

🧐 Did you know?: Sainte-Chapelle housed the relics of the Passion of Christ, composed of the crown of thorns, and a piece of the Vera Cruz (the real cross where Christ was crucified). The crown of thorns was purchased from the Latin emperor of Constantinople, Balduin II, for an exorbitant sum.

During the French Revolution, the chapel had been transformed into an administrative office, and its stained glass windows were covered by cabinets, which contributed to the artistic stained glass not being destroyed by vandalism in the period.

Fortunately, the main relics survived those turbulent times and are now deposited in the Treasury of Notre Dame Cathedral.

To visit the interior of Sainte Chapelle it is necessary to buy a ticket, you can buy it here.

Eiffel Tower

Time to visit the symbol of Paris. If you opt for the metro again, Champ de Mars Tour Eiffel Station takes you really close to it.

The Eiffel Tower was built in 1889 by Gustave Eiffel to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution and to demonstrate France’s industrial prowess to the world.

🧐 Did you know?: The Eiffel Tower was not meant to be permanent, it was built just for the 1889 Universal Exposition and was definitely not Parisian’s favorite landmark. They found it too modern for her time and didn’t fit the pattern of that period. However, it soon became a symbol of Paris.

A picnic in Champ de Mars, in front of the tower, is always a good idea during the summer, and also a common activity for Parisians, you will see many people doing this, especially on the weekends, so prepare yourself and buy some sandwiches and why not some wine too, on your way there.

Don’t miss the chance to climb the Eiffel Tower, as you will have an incredible panoramic view of the city of Paris from there. To climb the tower, you have the option of going up to the second floor, which already provides a nice view, or going to the top of the Eiffel Tower.

To climb any floor of the Eiffel Tower I recommend securing an online ticket, so you’ll avoid long waiting lines.

Best Eiffel Tower Tours

• 1 – Climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower, Cruise on the Seine, and visit the Arc de Triomphe – This ticket includes all floors of the Eiffel Tower, including the summit, the elevator is included in this ticket. Don’t forget to stop on the first floor, where you can walk along the glass floor of the Eiffel Tower. This ticket also includes a cruise on the Seine River and a visit to the Arc de Triomphe.
• 2 – Climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower and cruise on the Seine River – This ticket includes a guided tour of the second and third (summit) floors of the Eiffel Tower, the ticket includes a lift. Afterward, you will be taken on a boat trip along the Seine River.
• 3 – Visit the second floor or the summit of the Eiffel Tower – With this ticket you can choose between visiting the second floor or the top of the Eiffel Tower, without having to wait in any line!

Why you Should Buy a Ticket Online?

To go up on any of the floors, you need to buy a ticket, for that, you’ll have to go to the ticket office, then you’ll have to decide whether you want to go up the stairs or the elevator, in both cases you’ll have to face another line, but I’ll let you know that the stair line is shorter.

Buying your advance ticket online to climb the Eiffel Tower is a good way to avoid all those lines. With it, you’ll be able to climb the Eiffel Tower without catching any queue.

It’s important to buy tickets soon, as soon as you’ve decided on your travel dates because they start going on sale two months before the date, but they often sell out a month before.

By buying the Ticket you guarantee your ride without wasting time waiting, and also guarantee that you won’t need to climb the stairs since the ticket already includes going up in the elevator.

Seine Cruiser

A nice experience is to take advantage of the sunset time to take the Seine River cruise. Some tickets mentioned to the Eiffel Tower, mentioned above, already include this boat tour along France’s main river, but if you bought a simple ticket, just to climb the tower, don’t worry, you can guarantee the cruise here.

You can take the tour at any time of the day, however, in my opinion, the coolest experience is at dusk, as you can still admire the city in daylight on the way to and from the lights. the city ​​already accessed, they are two very different experiences, in a single tour.

With the boat, you will pass by the main sights of Paris, such as Notre Dame, the Musée d’Orsay, and the Eiffel Tower, and admire them all from a different angle.

If you opt for the night tour, you also get the chance to enjoy a three-course dinner during the Seine River tour, another unmissable experience, especially if you are traveling as a couple. Grant this experience here.

Day Two: Museums, Arc of Triomphe

 Louvre Museum

Today is the day to discover some of the most famous works of art, Paris is full of museums, but as we only have 3 days in Paris, it’s best to choose well. Let’s start our day with the most famous museum in the world, the Louvre Museum.

The Louvre Museum is the largest museum in the world, to visit it completely would take literally days. For this reason, many people prefer not to enter the museum, and visit it only from the outside. The building itself is a tourist attraction, in fact, the famous Louvre pyramid is also located outside, so many prefer to take some pictures and move on to another part of the city.

But even for those who aren’t a fan of art, nor do they have much patience for museums, I recommend a visit at least to the best artworks in the Louvre. A tour focused on the main works takes around one to two hours and is very worthwhile. Among the highlights not to be missed are the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and Winged Victory.

🧐 Did you know? Paris has more than 130 museums around the city, there is something for all tastes, but among these, some stand out more, see here the list of best museums to visit in Paris.

Best Louvre Museum Tours

• 1 – Skip the line at the Louvre and visit directly the Mona Lisa – If you want to get straight to the point, this is the best choice. With this guided tour, you enter the Louvre museum without having to face any queue, your guide will take you to the Mona Lisa, the icing on the Louvre museum cake, after that, you can go to another tourist spot. The tour takes around 30 minutes.
• 2 –Private Guided Tour of the Louvre – This two or three hours private guided tour ensures you see the best of the Louvre in no time with the company of a professional guide to answer any questions. With it, you also avoid any queue at the entrance and save time.
• 3 – Visit the Louvre your way with an audio guide – With this ticket you avoid the queues and visit the Louvre museum at your own pace, the ticket is valid for the whole day, you also get an audio guide, with it, you will be able to learn more about the main works of art at the Louvre.

Why you Should Take a Guided Tour?

As I mentioned before, the Louvre Museum is huge, and it would take you a few days to visit it fully. It’s easy to get lost in the middle of so many rooms, corridors, wings, and floors, so the visit is much easier in the company of a professional guide, who, in addition to teaching you about the museum’s pieces and history, will be able to show you the easier and faster path from one piece of art to another.

Especially if you have a few days in Paris, the idea is to be very objective when visiting the Louvre. Alone and without knowing the way, it is difficult to guarantee that you will visit the museum and see all the main works at the right time. With a tour, the tour time is guaranteed.

With the company of a guide, you can enjoy your tour without worrying about getting lost on the way or ending up late leaving the museum and not having seen everything you wanted.

Musée d’Orsay

We leave the Louvre behind now and head across the Seine to another one of the must-see museums in Paris, the Musée d’Orsay.

Your building, located on the banks of the Seine, was once one of Paris’ train stations, which explains the large clock you’ll see as soon as you enter the museum’s hall. The clock is original from the old season.

The Musée d’Orsay is famous for its large collection of Impressionist art, the Musée d’Orsay houses one of Van Gogh’s most extraordinary collections.

Among the pieces, you can’t miss during your visit are Renoir’s Ball at the Moulin de la Galette, Van Gogh’s Self-Portrait, and Van Gogh’s Starry Night. In addition to these works mentioned, of course, there are several other famous works that are worth mentioning, check here the artworks you shouldn’t miss in the Musée d’Orsay.

The museum is not as big as the Louvre and can easily be visited in an hour or two, so take this time out of the day to enjoy and admire the works before heading to the next attraction.

Jardin des Tuileries

Going back towards the Louvre museum again, we will now go through the garden located in front of the museum building, known as the Tuileries Gardens. This is the first public park open in Paris.

The garden was created by order of Catherine de Medici, queen consort of France between 1547 and 1559, to decorate the Tuileries Palace, which was also built at the request of Catherine, in a place previously occupied by a tile factory (in French tuiles).

👉 For anyone wondering what the Tuileries Palace was like, in its later years it was the facade of the Louvre. Passing by the Louvre’s Arc de Triomphe, right in the middle of the park, you will notice a walkway with a tunnel for cars passing underneath, this walkway now occupies the space occupied before by the Tuileries Palace.

The palace was a royal residence for many years but was eventually destroyed in a fire in 1871. Today, the Tuileries Garden is the only remnant of the palace.

Inside the garden itself, you can still find two museums, the Musée de l’Orangerie and the Jeu de Paume, both located in pavilions at the end of the park, one on each side.

Place le la Concorde

Right at the end of the Tuileries Gardens, you find one of the most iconic squares in Paris, the Place de la Concorde.

Nowadays known for its large water fountains and the Obelisk, Place de la Concorde was once famous for a much more violent attraction: the Guillotine.

During the French Revolution, Revolution Square, as it became known during that bloody period, was an obligatory stop for processions, events, and meetings, especially after the installation of one of the many guillotines in Paris.

Public executions took place in different areas of the city, but this was undoubtedly the most popular one, and the stage for the execution of famous figures such as King Louis XVI himself and his wife Marie Antoinette, Robespierre, and Danton, two leaders of the Revolution.

🧐 Did you know? Altogether around 2,498 people were guillotined in Paris during the revolution, of which at least 1,119 were executed in the Place de la Concorde.

GET TO KNOW MORE PLACES RELATED TO THE FRENCH REVOLUTION IN PARIS.

Champs Élysees

The Place de la Concorde marks the beginning of the most famous avenue in Paris, the Champs Élysees. If you bought a ticket for the panoramic bus, you’ll probably prefer to ride it by bus and save energy for the rest of the tour, now if you’re on foot, get ready, because this avenue is quite long.

In the first half of it, there’s not much to see, apart from the avenue itself and the surrounding park. Arriving at the first intersection, you will notice an interesting building on your left, there is the Petit Palais, the Paris fine arts museum, one of the top 10 museums to visit in the city.

👉 Tip: For those visiting Paris at Christmas time, between November and January, the Champs Élysees hosts a Christmas fair, so the avenue is full of stalls and Christmas attractions, including amusement park rides.

Following the Champs de Élysees, passing the first roundabout, the commercial heart of the city of Paris begins, here you will find shops of the best and most famous brands in the world.

Arc de Triomphe

Standing at the Charles de Gaulle Place, at the end of Champs Elysée, we have that classic view of the Arc de Triomphe. The famous arch was commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1806 to commemorate France’s victory at the Battle of de Austerlitz. The monument was only completed in 1836, 15 years after Napoleon’s death.

🧐Did you know? The Arc de Triomphe in Paris was inspired by the Arc de Titus in Rome, located next to the Coliseum. The Arch of Titus was the first Arc de Triomphe built-in history. In addition to these two, several other Arcs de Triomphe were erected in the world.

If you’ve covered the entire Avenue Champs Elysée on foot, you must be tired of walking, so take a moment to rest here, admiring the incredible view of the Arc de Triomphe.

If you want to get closer, you can cross the roundabout, but beware of the somewhat chaotic traffic here! Arriving at Charles Gaulle Square, pay attention to the details, inscribed on the four pillars of the arch, there is the name of all the battles won by the Napoleonic army, as well as the name of the 558 generals.

In the center of the arch, you will find the “Tomb of the Unknown Soldier”, placed there after World War I, the body that was never recognized, symbolizes all the French soldiers killed during the First War battles.

💶 Visiting the Arc de Triomphe is free, but for those who want a privileged view of Paris, it’s worth climbing to the top of the monument, for a panoramic view of the city, you’ll be able to see the entire Avenue Champs Elysée as well as the Eiffel Tower. To go up it is necessary to buy a ticket.

Day Three: Montmartre

On our last day in Paris, we will visit one of the most famous, romantic, and certainly bohemian neighborhoods in the city, known as Montmartre.

Montmartre is one of the hills in the city and the highest point in the city of Paris and is overlooked by the great Basilica of the Sacred Heart (Sacre Coeur), which we will visit in a moment.

Since 1133, the region has been used by Benedictine monks for the production of wines, but this is just one of the reasons for making this the most bohemian neighborhood in Paris. Known for its many pubs, I would say that here, you will find the hottest and coolest nightlife in town.

The neighborhood was the favorite of intellectuals and famous artists, such as Monet, Van Gogh, and Renoir, and served as the inspiration for several paintings. Even today the streets are frequented by several artists and it is not uncommon to find painters sitting in the streets depicting the landscape of the neighborhood.

Basilica of the Sacred Heart – Sacre Coeur

There are two ways to go up the hill to the Sacre Coeur Basilica, one is up the stairs, you can choose to go up the stairs right in front of the church, or the stairs on the side, which by the way is very famous for those who like to take pictures. striking. Or you can choose to go up the hill with the electric tram.

Before rushing to the entrance to the Basilica, enjoy the incredible view of the city of Paris from above.

The idea of building the Sacre Coeur arose during the Franco-Prussian War, when two influential men at the time, Alexandre Legentil (owner of a fabric store) and Hubert Rohault de Fleury (painter) promised to finance the construction of the Basilica if France resisted the onslaughts of the German army, so in 1875 the church began to be built.

The style used was a mixture of Roman and Byzantine architecture, which gave a unique face to the church, and marble was used in the construction, hence the white coloring that is not affected by rain or pollution.

In the basement of the church, there is still a crypt where it is possible to visit temporary exhibitions of religious art.

💶 Entrance to both the Basilica and the crypt is free. However, you do have the option of taking guided tours that take you not only to the Basilica but also to other points in the Montmarte neighborhood, here is the 1-hour guided tour option through Montmarte and Basilica de Sacre Coeur. Or, if you want to enjoy the tour for a longer period of time, this is the 2.5-hour guided tour through Montmarte and Basilica de Sacre Coeur.

Le Lapin Agile

One of the oldest cabarets in Paris, also known as Cabaret of the Assassins because of the engravings of famous assassins that decorate the walls, later the cabaret began to be called Lapin Agile, from a painting made by André Gill on the wall of the place. , depicting a rabbit running away from a pot, the painting can still be seen today.

Lapin Agile was one of the meeting points for famous artists in the region, among them Picasso, Maupassant, Apollinaire, and Brassens, among others, and became world-famous after Picasso painted “Au Lapin Agile”, in 1905, a small tribute to the local.

Place des Abbesses

This square is famous for several attractions in fact, so it’s an almost mandatory stop if you’re in Montmarte. It is here that you will find one of the last Fontaines Wallace in Paris, the famous iron fountain, decorated with columns in the shape of women, representing kindness, charity, sobriety and simplicity.

In addition, this square is home to the famous Mur des Je t’Aime (I Love You Wall), a 40m² wall dedicated to love. The wall is formed by tiles, where the different ways of saying I love you in different languages are recorded. Nothing more appropriate than a wall like that in the City of Love.

It is also here that you will find one of the most famous metro stations in the French capital, the Abbesses Station, famous for its entrance in the Art Nouveau style, the work was signed by the artist Hector Guimard in 1912.

Moulin Rouge

As the night approaches, head to the Moulin Rouge, the most famous cabaret and one of the symbols of the city of Paris. It was built in 1889 and is one of the few traditional cabarets that still work, and still preserve its Belle Époque atmosphere.

The Moulin Rouge is the inspiration for great shows around the world, and among its attractions are the famous dancers of Cancan. Among the artists who have performed here are big names like Frank Sinatra, Edith Piaf, and Liza Minnelli.

During the night, the building together with the Moulin Rouge mill is illuminated, which gives a whole new charm to the place. If you have the opportunity, don’t just admire him from the outside. The Moulin Rouge offers shows every day at 9 pm, on some days of the year it also offers a second show at 11 pm.

Best Moulin Rouge Tours

• 1 – Moulin Rouge Show with Champagne – Enjoy an evening at the Moulin Rouge watching the Féerie show while enjoying half a bottle of champagne
• 2 – Show at the Moulin Rouge with Dinner – Combining the useful with the pleasant, why not enjoy the Moulin Rouge show while enjoying a typical dish of French cuisine? With this ticket, you have access to the Féerie show and one more dinner during the event, you can choose one of four menus, including a vegan and vegetarian menu.
• 3 – Show at the Moulin Rouge and Night Tour through Paris – With this ticket, you will not only attend the show Féerie at the Moulin Rouge but you will also be taken on a luxury bus to discover the biggest tourist spots in Paris at night!

How to get around

Paris has a great, well-connected metro system, all the must-see places to visit in Paris are very easy to get to, and they normally have a metro station nearby. If you are thinking about using the metro, you can download the metro map here.

In my opinion, though, the best way to see a city is by taking the bus, as you can admire the views from the window while getting to your final destination, this is also a cheap option if you are traveling on a budget.

Now, if you want a cheap option where you will have all the comfort of being left exactly in front of every tourist point you want to visit, the best option of all, and my favorite option, is to buy the Hop on Hop off bus ticket.

It is the best option especially if you are spending a few days in Paris, as it will bring you to all the important spots, which will save you time from moving around and figuring out your way, plus it is a cheap option to get to all the tourist points in Paris.

Where to stay in Paris

Looking for a perfect stay in Paris? If you dream about waking up to a view of the Iron Lady, Paris’ iconic landmark, check these hotels with Eiffel Tower views.

For more options you can check the map of the hotels in Paris:

Booking.com

Read more

Things to know before going to Paris

Room with a view of the Eiffel Tower

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