THE SUNSET TABLE

Paris — 3 Day Itinerary

Paris is exactly what you think it will be — and somehow better.

Three days in Paris isn’t a lot of time, but it’s enough to see the icons, wander a few neighborhoods, eat very well, and figure out why everyone keeps coming back. This is the exact itinerary I followed on my first visit. It’s fast-paced, very walkable, and built around seeing as much as I could before my next destination.

Take what works, skip what doesn’t, and leave a little room to get lost. It is Paris, after all.

At a Glance

Best Time

May–June · Sept–Oct

Trip Length

3 Days

Getting Around

Public Transit + Walking

Trip Cost

~$1,080 + flight points

3 DAYS · FIRST VISIT · LET’S GO ↓

Best for: First-time visitors who want to see a lot of Paris in a short amount of time.
The vibe: Iconic Paris, long walks, café stops, museums, and a lot packed into three days.

Copy my itinerary

I don’t usually recommend rushing through a city, but this itinerary was worth every step.

DAY 1

~11:00 AM

Arrival + Check-in

Drop bags at Le Relais Saint Charles.

1:00 PM

Lunch at Au Dernier Metro

Our first meal in Paris — a casual neighborhood bistro near the hotel and an easy stop before heading to the Eiffel Tower.

3:00 PM

Trocadéro + Eiffel Tower

Start at Trocadéro for the classic Eiffel Tower view, then walk over to the tower.

5:00 PM

Seine River Cruise

Bateaux Parisiens cruise along the Seine. They depart every 30 mins, do not stress if the time isn’t perfect.

7:30 PM

Dinner at Chez Francis

Dinner near the Eiffel Tower after a very full first day.

DAY 2

8:00 AM-9:00 AM

Breakfast

Angelina Bakery

9:00AM–11:45 AM

Louvre Museum

9:00 AM reservation. Arrive around 8:30 AM to get in early. This was a quick visit focused on the highlights.

12:00 PM–1:30 PM

Lunch at Café Saint-Honoré

An easy lunch stop near the Louvre in the 1st arrondissement.

1:30 PM–3:30 PM

Walk to Notre-Dame + Île de la Cité

About a 1.25-mile (2 km) walk from Café Saint-Honoré — long, but worth it. You get to see so much of Paris along the way.

~4:00 PM

Hotel Reset

Back to the hotel to refresh and take a break before heading out again.

~ 6:15 PM

Arc de Triomphe + Champs-Élysées

~7:00 PM

Galeries Lafayette Haussmann

Take a look inside for the famous glass dome.

~8:00 PM

Palais Garnier / Opéra District

Walk around the Opera House and surrounding streets.

~8:30 PM

Dinner at The Public House

Good Fish and Chops and Meat Pies

DAY 3

~9:30 AM

Breakfast at a Neighborhood Bakery

Grabbed pastries and coffee from a highly rated bakery near our hotel.

~10:30 AM

Metro to Montmartre

This ride will take approximately 45 minutes.

11:00 AM–1:15 PM

Explore Montmartre

Walked all over the neighborhood — Moulin Rouge, Sacré-Cœur, Place du Tertre and the surrounding streets.

~1:15 PM

Metro to Versailles

Give yourself plenty of time for the journey out of central Paris.

2:40–5:00 PM

Palace of Versailles

Guided Tour of the palace and grounds before heading back into Paris.

5:00 PM

Return to Paris + Hotel Reset

Back to the hotel to refresh before our final dinner.

8:00 PM

Dinner at PUR’

Finished Paris with a Michelin dinner at PUR’ at Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme.

Highlights

THE LOUVRE

The Louvre is overwhelming in the best way. Go early, know what you want to see, and don’t feel guilty about skipping the rest.

MONTMARTRE

Montmartre surprised me. It had so much personality, and some of the best views of Paris from anywhere we visited.

VERSAILLES

The palace and gardens are as extravagant as any royal could want. I loved stepping into this piece of French history.

PUR’

PUR’ was indulgent in every way possible. A multi-course tasting menu, wine pairings, and the chef even came out to thank us.

Frequently Asked Questions

Three days is enough to see many of the highlights, but I wouldn’t call it enough for an immersive Paris trip. If you have the time, I think five days is much more reasonable. You’ll have time to slow down, spend longer in the museums, explore more neighborhoods, and actually enjoy sitting at a café without thinking about where you need to be next.

That said, if three days is all you have, you can see a surprising amount. I did.

Avoid choosing a restaurant just because it’s next to a major landmark. Walk a few streets away and check Google reviews before sitting down. I also looked at who was leaving the reviews. Seeing reviews from French diners, not just tourists, was always a good sign.

Huge menus, lots of food photos, and menus clearly designed for tourists made me think twice. The places I actually ate are included throughout my itinerary above.

For a short trip, I think location matters more than finding the cutest neighborhood. Stay close to a train or Metro station. It makes getting around Paris much easier and, more importantly, makes going back to your hotel to refresh feel like a quick break instead of another task.

Montmartre is one of my favorite areas to visit, but I wouldn’t stay there for a 3-day first trip. Depending on where you’re going, it can add around 40 minutes of travel time. When you’re already trying to fit a lot into three days, that adds up quickly. I stayed near the Eiffel Tower with easy access to the Dupleix station, and the location worked really well for this itinerary.

Yes, especially if you’re only in Paris for a few days. I booked our major attractions in advance, including the Louvre and Versailles. Having timed reservations made it much easier to plan the rest of each day and meant we weren’t wasting vacation time figuring things out once we got there. I pre-booked and mapped out all of my must-see places and must-try experiences before the trip.

My rule for a short trip: if you would be genuinely disappointed to miss it, book it before you arrive. Leave some meals, cafés, and wandering flexible, but lock in your must-dos.

Not exactly, but if you’re coming from the U.S., prepare yourself. Air conditioning exists, but it isn’t everywhere, and even when a place has it, it may not feel like the AC you’re used to at home. If you’re visiting during the summer, absolutely check that your hotel has air conditioning before booking, especially if you’re considering an Airbnb.

As for ice, just ask. If you want a lot of ice, say so. They understood exactly what I meant and sometimes even brought a bucket of ice to the table. So yes, Paris has ice. You just might have to ask for it.

A lot, but that’s part of the experience. You will see so much more of Paris if you walk whenever it makes sense instead of taking public transportation between every stop. We used the Metro and buses for longer distances, but walked as much as possible between neighborhoods, restaurants, and attractions.

I would plan for 15,000+ steps a day, especially if you’re following an itinerary like mine. Comfortable shoes or sandals are a must. You can find my favorite travel shoes and other things I actually pack in The Favorites.

Yes. Even with only three days in Paris, Versailles was completely worth the time it took to get there. The palace and grounds are unlike anything else I saw on the trip, and there really is nothing quite like it anywhere in the world.

Just be prepared for crowds, and if you’re visiting during the warmer months, the heat. Give yourself enough time to get there and don’t try to squeeze it into too small of a window. If Versailles is on your bucket list, I wouldn’t skip it just because you only have three days.

Where I Stayed

Le Relais Saint Charles

Le Relais Saint Charles is a small boutique hotel near the Eiffel Tower, with some rooms offering Eiffel Tower views. Don’t expect luxury, but the location is hard to beat. It’s directly across from the Dupleix Metro station, which made getting around Paris incredibly easy.

Our room had air conditioning and enough space for two large suitcases, which honestly feels like a luxury in a European hotel room. Depending on your room, you can also watch the Eiffel Tower light up at night without leaving the hotel.

There are plenty of local places to eat nearby, plus pharmacies where I found great, affordable French beauty products. For a short first trip to Paris, I would prioritize this kind of location over a fancier hotel farther from public transportation.

What I Spent

STAY
$335

FOOD/DRINKS
~$1,200

TRANSPORTATION
~$36

ATTRACTIONS
$151

FLIGHTS
115K points + $56

A note on the budget: $700 of my food spending was one splurge dinner at PUR’. Without that dinner, my three days in Paris came to about $1,080 out of pocket, plus 115,000 Aeroplan points for my business-class flight. This cost is per person.

Tips Before You Go

MAP IT OUT

Google Maps was my best friend in Paris. Save your must-see places before the trip and use it for walking and public transportation. Google Maps will tell you exactly which station to get on and off.

PREPARE FOR THE HEAT

Paris summers are getting hotter, and air conditioning isn’t guaranteed everywhere. Check that your hotel has AC before booking, carry water, and dress for a lot of walking in the heat. A handheld fan may be a good investment.

VISIT A FRENCH PHARMACY

Save some room in your suitcase. I buy my Caudalie products at French pharmacies because they’re cheaper than what I pay at home. Pharmacies are everywhere, so you don’t need to go out of your way to find one.

BATHROOMS

When you need a bathroom, Starbucks and McDonald’s were my easiest stops. I found them much simpler than walking into a local restaurant just to ask to use the restroom.

WHEN TO BUY A DAY PASS

Don’t automatically buy a daily Metro pass. Do the math based on how much you actually plan to ride. A single Metro train is €2.55 in 2026, while a Navigo Day pass is €12.30 for unlimited travel. That means the day pass starts making sense at roughly five Metro/train rides in one day.

WATCH YOUR BELONGINGS

Pickpocketing is unfortunately something to be aware of, especially around crowded tourist areas and public transportation. Avoid backpacks or purses with easy-access openings, keep your phone and wallet secure, and pay attention when you’re in a crowd.

Next Time

Three days in Paris meant making choices, and a few places from my original list didn’t make the cut. Consider these unfinished business for next time.

I DIDN’T GET TO → Things I’ll make time for on my next trip.

Musée d’Orsay
Jardin du Luxembourg
Sainte-Chapelle
Latin Quarter

ON MY LIST → Things recommended or saved for next time.

Bouillon Pigalle
Le Relais de l’Entrecôte
Chez Janou
Bistrot Paul Bert

I’D DO DIFFERENTLY → Things I’d change with the benefit of hindsight.

Spend 5 days instead of 3
Plan another high-end dining experience
Book a guided Louvre tour instead of navigating it on my own