Heading to Paris for 2 or 3 days? Wondering what are the must-see places to visit in Paris in 3 days? I’m presenting my detailed Paris 3 day itinerary for your memorable trip.
Landing in the French capital was no less an adventurous trip to me. Yet, on my first morning, I woke up to a wonderful surprise of light snowfall. I visited Paris In March, when the weather change was imminent and the arrival of spring expected. That did raise my excitement levels at the experience of this tiniest blessing of nature. Because coming from Delhi in India we never get to see *real* snowfall. However, snowfall also means bad weather, or maybe even rains which is a spoilsport sometimes. Although, I try not to let bad weather ruin my trip, though one can’t compete with mother nature..right? It’s better to be ready, in my case I wasn’t!! Because I didn’t do the rain check, I didn’t pack proper clothes and no umbrella – never even considered that packing it :D.
Despite all these difficulties, I thoroughly enjoyed my stay in the city of lights and tried to cover all the must-do places. So, here’s I’m presenting all the things one must do with the places to visit in Paris in 3 days with my detailed Paris 3 day itinerary.
Looking for something non-touristy? Read about Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.
If you have more days in France, I recommend visiting Nice for A coastal feel from the city. Read these top things to do in Nice for first-timers from Maria.
Suggested Read – Things to know before visiting Paris and here are some things you shouldn’t do when in Paris!
Places to visit in Paris in 3 days
Paris 3 day itinerary
Day 1
Places to visit in Paris in 3 days – Part 1 – Exploring the must-dos.
I started my first day at Café De Trocadero for breakfast, opted for an omelet and a cappuccino to beat the chilly weather. An amazing restaurant in a typical Parisian residential neighborhood. Although more like a touristy one because of the great views of Eiffel Tower with excellent quality of food and top-notch service. Do visit the restaurant to get an impression of Parisian lifestyle, passing cars and tourists finding their way to Palais de Chaillot while enjoying direct views of the most spectacular tower in the world. Enjoying coffee in the restaurant will be one of the most romantic things to do in Paris, so don’t shy away from bringing your date to Cafe De Trocadero! While planning your trip, don’t assume Paris is expensive. Here’s are some of the free things to do in Paris which can keep your expenses in control.
A stroll towards Eiffel Tower
How can one visit Paris, and not see the Eiffel Tower? So, I started to walk towards the Eiffel Tower as I believe what better medium to explore a city than barefoot. Important to note, walking on those cobbled roads lead to tiredness at the end of the day. It was a walk which I underestimated to be close but actually was not, although totally worth it!! While crossing Seine bridge Pont d’Iena, overlooked some souvenirs shops and promised myself about purchasing some on my return, which I missed and I know I shouldn’t have.
Walk to Eiffel
So, I started my walk from Trocadero I reached the iconic 324 meters high Eiffel Tower. It acquired the name from Gustave Eiffel’s company which designed & built the tower. Completed in 1889, the tower served as the entrance to the World Fair ’89 & held skepticism in its construction, instead turned out to be a global icon. The 81-story building ~ the tallest building in Paris has three levels for visitors accessible via stairs & lift and the observation deck showcases the bird’s-eye view of the city. The monument is visible usually from any part of the city, but standing right below the Eiffel gives you a feeling you might never have before. I settled on a bench opting for a cappuccino in the cold weather with a packet of chips enjoying the view. This will be one of the best things to do in Paris and will give you a memory for a lifetime. Read more on Ayu finally decided to go up to the top of the Eiffel Tower and finally loved the view of Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower. There’s indeed a reason Eiffel Tower is one of the top photo spots in Paris.
In addition, you may plan your commute in the city with this Paris Arrondissement guide!
Champs Elysees
Champs Elysees is one of the most famous streets in Paris and the most beautiful avenues in the world. this 2 kilometers long stretch is known as a must-see from Paris. The avenue has amazing cafes & restaurants and is taken by pedestrians and cyclists mainly.
Arc De Triomphe
Continue the Paris quest towards Arc De Triomphe while admiring the gorgeous architecture of the city. From the Eiffel Tower, it will take almost 30 minutes of walk to Arc de Triomphe. It is one of the most famous monuments of Paris honoring the fighters of the French revolution and the Napoleonic wars. Located in the center of Charles De Gaulle, the monument stands high since it’s construction in 1836. There are 284 steps to the top of the Arc De Triomphe and the observation deck showcases the best panoramic views of the Paris city. The roundabout around the monument is now the busiest traffic Triomphes in Europe. While visiting Paris for 2 or 3 days, a walk to the Arc De Triomphe shouldn’t be missed.
Finding my way without a phone
I couldn’t visit the observation deck because of the long queue for the ticket and hence I returned capturing pictures from outside. If you are visiting Paris for 2 days or less, I suggest skipping it too. But if you have the complete 3 days in Paris, I highly recommend taking the stairs to the top for some amazing views of Paris. At this point, my phone’s battery drained so I couldn’t even find the way back to the hotel. Following my gut, I backtracked and lost my way and reached Victor Hugo street where I did window-shopping and a lovely lady in Zara helped me with my way back. Although this walk turned out to be the one I remember about Paris making me feel sometimes it’s better to travel without phones, isn’t it? Walk in Paris without phones or camera admiring it local vibe will give you a lifetime of memory.
Enjoy day trips? If you have some spare time, I highly recommend taking a day trip to picturesque Rouen in Normandy.
Wondering where to eat in Paris? Fancy eating in an Indian restaurant in Paris? I highly recommend Restaurant Indien Suraj in a quaint Parisian neighborhood.
Day 2
Places to visit in Paris in 3 days – Part 2 – Parisian art &their world-renowned museums.
Musee de Louvre
A visit to the French capital can never be complete without feeling its art culture persistent for centuries. World’s largest museum, an architectural marvel, a photographic gem, and illuminating star is the Louvre Museum Paris as a gift for tourists!! Even, so many books and movies have revolved around the art collections from this particular museum and some movies have also been shot here and thus the Louvre museum is one of the top sites in Paris. If visiting the Louvre museum in the peak tourist season, plan so as the famous Louvre museum is known to host millions of visitors annually so the entry or ticket counters queue can be overwhelming for some. Know more about these Top Tips for Visiting the Louvre by Anisa.
Musee d’Orsay
A train station building converted to a museum in 1919, Musee d’Orsay is the national museum flaunting art from the 18th century. Known for the largest exhibits of Impressionist work from renowned artists including Van Gough. The museum not only attracts millions of tourists for the artworks but also for the clock giving away amazing views of Paris. The clock is on the fifth floor and is the highest selling point of the museum. If you’re interested in taking an amazing wide-angle shot from behind the clock, I suggest going early. The clock attracts various tourists and hence it is difficult to click pictures amidst all the crowds. Also, bear in mind that selfie sticks and tripods are not allowed to take photographs here.
Day 3
Places to visit in Paris in 3 days – Part 3 – Parisian History and architecture
Notre Dame de Paris
The historic Notre Dame De Cathedral which took over 2 centuries to be built completely is another prime vantage point associated with the Pari. Showcasing the finest French-Gothic architecture, the Notre Dame de Cathedral stands high at 130 meters and the steps leading to the top of the church features some of the best views of the capital. Did you know this particular Notre Dame Cathedral is one of the largest church buildings in the world? Read more about the fascinating history and facts about the Notre Dame cathedral.
Montmartre – Sacre Coeur de Montmartre
The Montmartre region is on a hill with a Sacre Coeur de Montmartre Basicila, narrow streets and cute cafes. The Basicilia is one of the most photographed monuments from Paris. I recommend going early mornings or late evenings to get a perfect shot without crowds. The area is known as a playground for artists and some of the famous ones once lived here. So, don’t miss out the glorious region in your 3 day Paris itinerary. Here’s a detailed guide on what to do in Montmartre.
Hidden Gems Paris
La Grande Arche at La Defense
The Trocadero metro station was just 5 mins from my hotel from which took me straight to Gare de La Défense – a metro station in Europe’s largest office complex located just beneath the Grand Arche in the west district of Paris.
The Arche is about in shape of a cube and is on a secondary axis with two tallest buildings in the city – Tour Eiffel & Tour Montparnasse. The roof of the Arche was open to the public for views of the city until 2010. But unfortunately, it was closed after an incident in elevators. After completing the Grand Arche Tour, I had half a day, so my Paris voyage on foot continues 🙂 There are a variety of things to see in Paris, while no one recommends this urban side of Paris. I highly recommend taking Paris metro and enjoy some economic shopping and skyscrapers at La Defense.
Relish French Cuisine
A trip to the city of love isn’t complete without tasting the French cuisine. Beautiful start of a morning with a freshly baked croissant and coffee served with chocolate. Savor the engaging smell how crepes are prepared in every nook and corner of the alleys in the city. Macarons in different flavors are found everywhere in the world yet Parisian ones have a special feel to them. If you’re like me preferring vegan food during travels, then check out these amazing best vegan restaurants in Paris.
You can various delicacies specific to Europe filled with their regional specialties and same is the case with typical Parisian cuisine. You’ll not leave disheartened if you taste some of them in the French capital. That memory will stay on your mind from your Paris visit forever. So, before winding up your 3-day visit to Paris, I recommend trying their freshly baked croissants & crepes and wine & coffee in drinks. If you love culinary tours during your travels, check out the best food tours in Paris.
Love European cuisine? Read more about my 8 must-try European delicacies.
These are my must-see places and the Pais 3 day itinerary, still confused about what to see in Paris? Read these 21 things to do in Paris on your first trip from Chandrima From “Travel Stories Untold“.
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