3 Perfect Days in Paris: Ultimate Itinerary for First-Time Visitors
Are you planning a trip to Paris? Is it your first time visiting the city? Overwhelmed by all there is to do in such little time? Keep reading for my guide to 3 Perfect Days in Paris
Paris is one of the most iconic cities in the world and there are so many historical and cultural landmarks to see.
I visited Paris for the first time on a school trip in 2014 and I recently returned in the summer of 2024 with my husband. It is one of my all-time favorite cities to visit so I have created created the ultimate itinerary for first-time visitors.
Whether it is your first time visiting the city or it’s a regular stop on your travel list, this post will share everything you need to know for 3 Perfect Days in Paris. Keep reading to ensure you see all the iconic sights and still have time for that afternoon café stop.
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3 Perfect Days in Paris
Importance of Planning
Before we dive into the ultimate itinerary for 3 perfect days in Paris, let me first share how important it is to make sure that you have a plan before heading to this wonderful city.
Approximately 50 million tourists visit Paris each year. This means that it can get very crowded and popular attractions may fill up quickly.
For many tourist attractions, you must book a reservation even if there is no fee associated with the experience. This helps to reduce the crowds and security lines when checking-in. However, it also means you must do some planning ahead of time.
I highly recommend having a roadmap of where you would like to go and book all tickets and reservations before your trip begins.
Pro Tip: Booking accommodation close to the center of Paris is going to be easiest for navigating all the sights. Close to a metro station? Even better!
Navigating Paris
Before beginning the guide to 3 Perfect Days in Paris, it is important to know how you can get around the city. I am personally a fan of their public transportation system and found the metro system easy to navigate.
The name of the system is RATP (Régie Autonme des Transport Parisiens) and it include the entire public transport system. You have multiple options such as a metro, train, trams or buses to help you navigate the system. Don’t speak French? No problem! The system is very simple and great for tourists!
Metro System
On our most recent trip, we used the Metro for most of our travel. When we arrived in Paris, we purchased a Navigo Pass. This is a card where you load your purchased metro rides and then scan it when entering the metro station.
You have the option to purchase one ride at a time or a set of 10. My husband and I both loaded our cards with a set of 10 since we knew that we would be using the metro for multiple days. There are plenty of self-service stations where you can purchase this card or you can speak with a metro attendant who is able to help you get set up.
There are of course options to just purchase single ride tickets but we found the Navigo Pass to be the easiest for us to use and we were able to get around everywhere we wanted to go.
If public transportation is not you vibe, there are plenty of taxis in Paris and rideshare services such as Uber are popular. However, you will spend a lot more money this way.
My husband and I spent a total of 34 euros on transportation for our entire Paris itinerary. This could have easily been the cost of one taxi ride. If you’re trying to save some money or traveling on a smaller budget, I recommend using the public transport.
Day One: Classic Paris – The Eiffel Tower, Louvre and Amazing Views
Visiting the Eiffel Tower
Today is your first day of 3 perfect days in Paris and it is a classic Paris experience. Today you are visiting all the major sights in Paris, starting with the Eiffel Tower.
This is probably the most iconic stop of the trip and I love doing this first thing in the morning. There tends to be less crowds and it is easier to get pictures at the top and in the grounds surrounding the Eiffel Tower.
Book Tickets in Advance. If you’re visiting during the summer, I recommend booking tickets about a month in advance. There are many options to choose from depending on how high you would like to go and whether you want to walk up and down the steps.
On our recent trip, my husband and I did not book our tickets early enough and the day we wanted to visit was “sold out”. However, there is the option (depending on availability) to wait in line in-person to purchase tickets.
There were tickets available on the day we visited and after waiting in a very long line we were able to purchase them.
We selected 2nd floor lift access so we could ride the elevator rather than walking up the steps.
Amazing 360-degree views await you on the second floor and it is the perfect opportunity to see the layout of Paris while taking perfect pictures.
Wander Along the Seine
After exploring all the Eiffel Tower has to offer, you can take a lovely stroll along the Seine River.
Iconic pictures can be taken all along this walk with views of the Eiffel Tower you just visited in the background.
Pont des Arts is an iconic bridge along the Seine that you can see lined with locks attached to the sides. Many people will purchase these locks, write the initials of their partner on the outside and lock their love to the bridge forever.
Grab an afternoon coffee and sandwich from whatever café you happen to stumble upon. Don’t worry – you can find one on almost every corner!
Then it is time to head to the Louvre!
Visiting the Louvre
Even if museums and art is not your favorite way to explore a new city, the Louvre is an absolute must-see. You have to at least be able to say you saw the Mona Lisa, right?!
Reserve Tickets in Advance. Like visiting the Eiffel Tower, it is much easier if you book your tickets in advance as the lines can get very long to enter the museum. There is a separate line at the louvre for people who have tickets, so be sure you are standing in the correct queue to minimize your wait time.
Pro Tip: You don’t have to wait in line to see the Mona Lisa unless you really want that “perfect” picture. Instead of waiting in line, we just walked around to the right of the line and were able to see it from just a bit further back.
Jardin de Tuileries and Place de la Concorde
When you leave the Louvre, be sure to look for the signs that say Jardin De Tuileries. This is a beautiful garden that is located right outside the Louvre and it is perfect for a nice evening stroll.
You can then continue your walk over to Place de la Concorde. This is one of the most famous public squares in Paris. It is most notably recognized today for the 3,000 year old Egyptian Obelisk in the center of the square.
Dinner With A View is the perfect way to end your first day in Paris. It may be a little more expensive but we’re on vacation, right?!
You can enjoy a relaxed dinner with a view of the Eiffel Tower and if you stay late enough, you can even see the Eiffel Tower sparkle. This wonderful light show will last for 5 minutes at the beginning of every hour from sunset until 1AM (2AM if you are visiting in the summer months).
Day Two: Artistic and Cultural Paris
On your second day you are going to use this ultimate itinerary to explore more of the artistic and cultural side of Paris.
You are going to grab some breakfast at one of those cute corner cafes that we talked about earlier and head out to spend the morning at Montmartre and Sacré Cœur.
Montmartre and Sacré Cœur
Getting to Montmartre is fairly simple as you can just take the metro.
Montmartre is located north of the Paris city center and will take you about 30 minutes to get there depending on your starting location.
This beautiful neighborhood is considered the best in Paris by many tourists and locals alike. Personally, it is my favorite to just stroll around the cobblestone streets and take in the Parisian culture. I highly suggest taking your time and finding a corner café or bistro to enjoy a cup of coffee or glass of wine.
Place du Tertre
I still have a painting hanging in our home that I purchased here during my first trip to Paris over ten years ago.
After exploring the adorable neighborhood, you can head on up the hill to Sacré Cœur Basilica.
Sacré Cœur is a Roman Catholic Church dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. You will find it at the summit of Montmartre as it is the highest point in the city. It is full of history and offers amazing views of Paris.
If you are interested in diving deeper into the history and culture of Montmartre and Sacré Cœur, you can sign up for a walking tour that will ensure you get the most out of your visit.
After you are finished exploring Montmartre and Sacré Cœur, you can continue your artistic journey at Musée d’Orsay.
Musée d’Orsay
Musée d’Orsay will bring you back into the heart of Paris as it is located on the left bank of the Seine River in the former Gare d’Orsay (a railway station).
This museum holds many of the most famous impressionist works of art, including pieces by Vincent Van Gogh, Manet and Renoir.
Similar to many other attractions in Paris, you can book tickets in advance to help fast track the entrance process.
Once you have had enough time to see all the pieces of art you would like, you can make your way over to Paris’ Latin Quarter for the rest of the evening.
Latin Quarter
Paris’ Latin Quarter is a wonderful location to spend an evening. It is also known as the 5th arrondissement (similar to a neighborhood) and is filled with winding cobblestone streets.
There are notable attractions here such as the Pantheon and the Natural History Museum, both of which I would recommend if you are staying in Paris for longer than 3 days.
I recommend grabbing dinner and spending the evening exploring this historical section of the city.
Day Three: Modern and Historical Paris
It is your last day in Paris and you are going to see all things historical throughout the city.
Notre-Dame is a great place to begin. On our most recent trip, renovations were still in progress due to the 2019 fire, however, we still stopped by the to see the outside, take some pictures and get updates on when it will be open to the public.
Current projections are that it will be reopened in early December, 2024. If you are planning a trip after this date, a tour of the Cathedral is a must!
After spending time at Notre-Dame you can walk over to Saint-Chapelle.
Saint-Chapelle is a beautiful chapel that was built in the Gothic Style in the mid-1200s. It is filled with 1,113 amazing stain glass windows that stretch from floor to ceiling. The chapel used to be the home to relics of the Passion of Christ and is an incredible piece of history.
We purchased the audio guide with our ticket, and it was worth it as it explained many unique features about the chapel and told the stories depicted in the stained glass.
Arc De Triomphe
In the afternoon, you can continue your historical journey of Paris by visiting the Arc de Triomphe.
The Arc de Triomphe is one of the most famous monuments in Paris. It stands at the center of the Place Charles de Gualle. It is also known as the Place de l’Étoile and it offers one of the best views of the city.
You can purchase tickets to walk to the top of the arch and since you’re visiting in the evening you may have a chance to see the “eternal flame” relighting. This happens every day at 6:30pm.
After you have taken in the city from a bird’s eye view, you enjoy your evening strolling down the Champs Élysées. This road runs between Place Charles de Gualle (where the Arc de Triomphe is located) down to Place de la Concorde.
There is plenty of shopping (or if you’re like me…window shopping) available to keep you entertained and there are plenty of bistros and restaurants located off the side streets that you can stop in to for dinner.
If you didn’t get a chance to see the Eiffel Tower at night, this is a great last chance! You can end the night at Champs de Mars, a famous Eiffel Tower viewing location.
Other Activities in Paris
Before we wrap up this itinerary for 3 Perfect Days in Paris, I wanted to give some other options for things to do. Whether you have more than 3 days, or another activity sparks your interest, there is plenty to do in this wonderful city. Here are my top three recommendations:
Take a Day Trip to Versailles
Have you been on a recent trip to Paris? If there is something you would add, I would love to hear about it in the comments!
