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Paris is a city that you either love or hate. And honestly, I completely understand why. If you only have three days, it’s natural to spend your time rushing from one famous landmark to the next. But after living and working in Paris for half a year, I realised that those weren’t the only places that made me truly fall in love with the city. That’s exactly why I created this 3 day Paris itinerary, to give you the best of both worlds. You’ll still visit the iconic landmarks, but you’ll also discover local favourites, budget-friendly food spots and the side of Paris, that made me love calling it home for six months.
During my time in Paris, I played tour guide more times than I can count as friends and family came to visit, so every recommendation in this guide is somewhere I’d happily take someone again.
Everything to Know Before Your 3 Day in Paris Itinerary
Best time to visit: This is a crucial point because coming during the biggest heat in summer is not worth it. Just imagine rush hour in a metro with 40 degrees and no air con… Not it! But visiting in summer is still the season that I would recommend, but during shoulder season. So, May, June or September, when the weather is still warm, with long evenings and plenty of outdoor events.
Where to stay: I would recommend to stay near Canal Saint-Martin, because it’s the perfect balance between feeling local and still being well connected to the rest of the city. Also, you’ll have plenty of cafes, restaurants and bars nearby. There is a great youth hostel called “Generator Hostel” near the metro stop Jaures, which has nice rooms and the prettiest rooftop looking over the city, with a direct view over Sacré-Cœur.
Another hostel recommendation, if you feel like you want to be more in the centre, is the hostel called “Le Village Montmatre by Hiphophostels”, which is a bit cheaper and also offers cool views of Sacré-Cœur.
Budget: Paris doesn’t have to be as expensive as people think. If you follow this 3 days in paris on a budget, I would say around €50–80 per day (excluding accommodation), depending on whether you visit museums and how often you eat out. I’ve included approximate daily costs at the end of each day to help you plan your trip.
Metro tips: One thing that surprised me after moving to Paris was just how walkable the city is. Most days in this itinerary only require one or two metro rides, so I personally wouldn’t buy an unlimited transport pass. Instead, I’d simply buy tickets as you need them on your phone. It’s quick, easy and usually works out cheaper for this itinerary.
Museum Pass: For this itinerary, a Paris Museum Pass is not worth buying. With only three days, I’d rather spend more time exploring different neighbourhoods than only seeing museums. The exception is if you’re planning a museum-focused trip or staying longer. Also, if you’re under 26 and live in the EU, many museums are free anyway.
DAY Itinerary 1
Morning
Grab a coffee to go, hop on the metro and arrive at Notre-Dame before the crowds do. When arriving as early as possible, you avoid crowds and the heat when waiting in line to get in. Although I lived in Paris for six months, I never actually went inside Notre-Dame until my parents came to visit me. They insisted that we had to see it. If the queue isn’t too long, I think it’s worth going inside. The colourful stained-glass windows, the incredible stonework (which now after the renovations is super light) and the peaceful atmosphere inside make it really special. But don’t forget to cover your shoulders in order to be allowed to go in!
Cost: free
Best photo spot: on the bridge
Once you’ve explored the cathedral, cross over to Île Saint-Louis. This tiny island is one of my favourite places in Paris and somewhere I kept coming back to whenever I wanted a quieter walk. The narrow streets, beautiful buildings (of course owned and lived in by rich rich people) and little cafés make it feel completely different from other busy places in Paris.
From there, continue along the Seine from Pont Marie towards Pont Neuf. This was actually part of my weekly running route while living in Paris. I was definitely not the only one running along this part of the Seine, but this is what I loved so much about it. Also, this is where sometimes pop-ups happen or other social projects.
Cross Pont Neuf into the Latin Quarter, one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Paris. While many people come here for the famous cafés and luxury boutiques, shops like Ralph Lauren even have their own Café. But this area also has many hidden streets with smaller stores and restaurants, so also perfect for budget conscious travellers.
If you love books, you have to check out The Abbey Bookshop. Not far away from Shakespeare and Company is this tiny Canadian bookshop, where books are stacked from floor to ceiling.
More information you will find in our recent blog post about the best bookstores around the world, to get more information about both bookstores!
Slowly make your way towards the Panthéon. I think the Pantheon itself is worth seeing from the outside, but personally I just admire it for a few minutes and continue my way towards one of my favourite places in the city since visiting Paris for the first time years ago with my co-founder and completely falling in love with this park.
Lunch & Afternoon
To experience Jardin du Luxembourg to the fullest, grab lunch to go from one of the nearby cafés (for example Bagels and Brownies) and find one of the famous green chairs around the fountain near the castle. If you feel cheeky, get Macarons like Blair from Gossip Girl at Ladurée and enjoy them for dessert. This is the perfect place to slow down and watch people reading, talking and kids playing with boats on the pont, right in the middle of the park.
Emma’s Favourite: If you are looking for a shaded place to do this, I would recommend you find the Fontaine Médicis beneath the trees.
After lunch, start your digest walk towards Musée Rodin. On the way you’ll pass Le Bon Marché and some of Paris’ most elegant shopping streets as well as the biggest Hermes in the world (I never thought I would see this store from the inside but somehow I did).
I visited more than ten museums while living in Paris, but if you only have time for one, I’d choose Musée Rodin every single time. Don’t get me wrong, the Louvre is incredible. If seeing the Mona Lisa has always been your dream, then absolutely go there instead. But if you’re looking for a museum that doesn’t completely exhaust you after three hours, Musée Rodin is my recommendation. It’s much smaller, significantly less crowded and its sculpture garden with the famous The Thinker is absolutely beautiful, not to mention the stunning host building.
Cost: €14 (full price)
Evening
There is only one way to end your first day in Paris. From Musée Rodin it’s only a short walk towards the Eiffel Tower.
Personally, I wouldn’t spend the money going to the very top. As one of my colleagues once joked: “The view is beautiful, but the Eiffel Tower isn’t even in it.” Instead, I’d save that money for something you’ll remember even more.
A sunset cruise on the Seine when the Sun is setting. You have amazing atmosphere, beautiful views, amazing atmosphere and you see everything along the Seine in a special lighting.
I’ve done this cruise countless times, with visiting friends, family and sometimes simply because I wanted to experience Paris from the water again. One cruise company that stood out to me is this one: Paris river cruise with music. It’s going by electric fuel and is smaller than the bigger boats that you see all the time. There is no commentary but only music and vibes (audio guide app is affailable). While on the boat, you watch all the Parisian buildings at golden hour, people chilling at the Seine, having a glass of wine, dancing or going on dates.
A must-do activity in my opinion, and if I could only recommend one paid activity in Paris, this would be it!
Cost: €30
Book in advance: Sunset cruises often sell out in summer, so I’d recommend reserving your tickets a few days before your trip.
If you’re still full of energy after your Seine cruise, don’t head straight back to your hostel. Grab a drink from a nearby supermarket and spend twenty minutes sitting along the Seine and watch the Eiffel Tower blink at every full hour when it is dark. At first, Johanna wasn’t convinced that waiting for the Eiffel Tower to sparkle would be worth it. But the moment the lights came on, we both stood there completely speechless. It really is one of those moments you have to experience for yourself.
When you take line 2 or 6 to get from the Eiffel Tower back to your accommodation, you’ll most likely pass through Charles de Gaulle–Étoile. Before heading back underground, take a quick look at the beautifully illuminated Arc de Triomphe. It’s the perfect final stop before calling it a night.
Approximate Walking Distance: 10 km
Approximate Budget:
Breakfast: around €15
Lunch: around €18
Musée Rodin: €14 (Free for EU residents under 26)
Seine Cruise: €30
Metro: €7.50 (for 3 rides)
Approximate Total: €84.50 (without accommodation).
DAY Itinerary 2
Morning
No trip to Paris is complete without visiting Montmartre, but I honestly believe that the way how you explore it makes all the difference.
Most people take the metro to Abbesses, walk straight up to Sacré-Cœur, take a few photos and leave again. Instead, I recommend getting off one stop earlier at Pigalle. Yes, you’ll have to walk uphill, but it is better to take 200 stairs to get to Montmartre.
If you happen to visit on Saturday, then you are lucky to be here for one of the biggest flea markets in the city. Right next to the famous wall of “love you” quotes is one of my favourite brunch places in Paris.
They have a few locations all over the city called “Kozy” and have these amazing waffles and brioches. But be aware the portions are ginormous, but I overate myself all the time because it was soooo good!
Afterwards keep exploring Montmartre it is such an enchanting place with many hidden streets and cosy cafes as well as nice buildings and views. Instead of taking the main tourist route, walk up Rue Chappe. Yes, it is also very steep but the stairs are prettier and less people are walking up there than in the park at the foot of the church.
Even though the queue might look intimidating, it usually moves surprisingly quickly. So if you really want to visit inside and look at the stunning wall paintings, then don’t be intimidated. Most tourists stop right after Sacré-Cœur, but don’t make this mistake!
Photo Spot: Continue walking towards Le Château d’Eau de Montmartre, where you’ll get beautiful views over the rooftops and staircases below.
From there, follow the streets instead of the stairs until you reach one of the most photographed corners in Paris. La Maison Rose is a stunning rose and green building in one of the prettiest streets called La Rue de l’Abreuvoir, which hosts not only La Maison Rose but many more sweet ivy-covered houses and cobbled streets.
Emma’s Favourite: Continue along Avenue Junot, one of my favourite streets in the neighbourhood, before slowly making your way down Rue Lepic. This route lets you experience both the quiet residential side of Montmartre and the lively atmosphere closer to Pigalle. Give yourself permission to get a little lost here. It’s the best way to experience the neighbourhood.
Lunch & Afternoon
From Pigalle, continue towards Rue des Martyrs, one of my favourite streets in Paris. I ended up here more often than I can count because my office was only a short walk away. After work, my friends and I would often meet somewhere along this street for dinner or coffee. It’s one of those streets where I don’t think you can really make a bad food choice. Whether you’re craving pasta, Asian food, pastries or a quick sandwich, you’ll find something here.
One café I particularly enjoyed is Marlette, serving warm and delicious Madeleines. You can find out more about this recommendation in our blog post about the best fall cafes in paris.
If you’re looking for a proper lunch, I’d recommend Tiger Milk or Namak, both of which became regular spots for me while living in Paris.
Along Rue Saint-Lazare, which ends right at trinite, which is a little park where many workers sit during lunch and enjoy their food while talking to colleagues and friends.
You are now not far away from Galeries Lafayette. It is the most famous shopping centre in Paris. Even if shopping isn’t really your thing (and this shopping centre is not in your price range, because same), don’t skip this stop. The magnificent glass dome inside is worth seeing on its own, and the rooftop terrace offers one of my favourite free views over Paris. Seeing the Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier and the rooftops stretching across the city never gets old.
Emma’s Favourite: Another place to visit is the bibliothèque de nationale de France, a library worth to visit not only for book lover, because it’s picturesque reading rooms and best of all it is for free.
Alternative / Additional Option:
You already saw the breathtaking Opéra Garnier, right next to Galeries Lafayette. When I visited with my cousin, I didn’t think that I would enjoy it as much as I did. But the interior completely blew me away! If your budget and time allows for it, I’d absolutely recommend going inside.
Evening
To finish the day, slowly make your way down the avenue towards the louvre and take a look into Jardin du Palais Royal to take aesthetic pictures.
From there, walk past the Louvre. Even if you’re not visiting the museum, seeing the glass pyramid in the evening is still worth it and something that everyone needs to see at least ones.
For dinner, I’m going to recommend something a little unexpected. Just a short walk away you’ll find one of my favourite areas for affordable Asian food. While it isn’t the large Chinatown in the 13th arrondissement, this little area around Rue Sainte-Anne has some fantastic Japanese, Korean and Chinese restaurants at much more reasonable prices than many tourist spots nearby.
A special recommendation is in Passage Choiseul called Yatai Ramen, where you will find the most tasty, warm and delicious ramen in town.
If you’re travelling with friends, don’t miss the photobooths nearby, they’ve become a little tradition whenever someone comes to visit me and is the perfect little souvenir!
Approximate Walking Distance: 6 km
Approximate Budget:
Breakfast: approx. €17
Lunch: approx. €15
Metro: €5
Dinner: approx. €20
Approximate Total: €57 (without accommodation)
DAY Itinerary 3
Morning
The last day you will spend, how I would spend most of my time in Paris.
Starting at Bastille, the best point to wander into Le Marais. This is my favourite area to get food and shop. The Le Marais is famous for chic boutiques and great food spots and I was absolutely jealous of my best friend living in that area…
But before diving into the little street, stop at Café Abel, which serves amazing matcha and has a wide selection of typical brunch items. Tucked away on a quiet side street, it quickly became one of my favourite brunch spots thanks to its great matcha and delicious breakfast menu. It’s much calmer than many of the trendy cafés in central Paris.
Right across the street is Place des Vosges, one of the most beautiful squares in Paris. The elegant red-brick buildings (you should know by now that I am a sucker for good architecture) and perfectly symmetrical gardens make it one of my favourite places for photos, but it’s also simply a lovely place to slow down.
Then you should just wander around the Marais and Pop into little boutiques, discover hidden courtyards and stop for a coffee whenever a place catches your eye. That’s exactly how this neighbourhood should be experienced!
At the end reach le Centre Pompidou, where it’s time for the most famous ice cream in Paris.
Everyone and their grandmother talked about this ice cream on TikTok and I was sceptical at first if it is really worth the money and the waiting in line (eventhough the line moves very fast I might ad), but I was absolutely shocked by the amazing taste of their original flavour with the crunchy pistachios. It is a bit expensive but I think that one for two is enough.
I still have soooo many great things that I need to tell you to do in the Marais. So, if you are interested in an arrondissement guide, then let me know in the comment section!
Lunch
From there, Rue Saint-Martin is going straight to Porte Saint-Martin.
Continue towards Rue René Boulanger, where you’ll find one of my absolute favourite Chinese restaurants in Paris. Tiger Tiger serves amazing Chinese food (I loved every bit), but their homemade lemonades were actually outstanding. Whenever I wasn’t feeling well, I ordered it to my home.
From there you are super close to Canal Saint-Martin already. Just take one of the streets and you will reach it in no time.
Walking alongside the canal was one of my favourite activities when living in Paris. I loved watching people sitting there, having fun with their friends and enjoying the time together. This was a must stop for all of my friends and family visiting and often I just went there to read or get my daily steps in.
Emma’s Favourites: If you feel like taking a little break, stop by Buddy Buddy for a coffee or grab an ice cream from JJ Hings, where the flavours change every week. I honestly don’t think I ever had one I didn’t like.
This is one of those moments where I wouldn’t plan too much. Find a spot by the canal, sit down and enjoy!
Evening
For your dinner, go and grab some baguettes to go and have a nice picnic in the park not far away from the canal.
Emma’s Favourite: Make sure to get your baguette at Pompette Bolivar, because from all the baguettes (and I had many) I liked this one the most and almost everyday I bought one there for work. This is really a hidden gem but many locals go there daily and especially the baguette (tradition) and the olive bread. I had no bad experience with cashiers being rude or similar any time!
Grab some cheese, fruit and something to drink from a nearby supermarket before making your way into the park. Most visitors to Paris never make it to Buttes-Chaumont, which is exactly why I love recommending it, but that doesn’t mean that on a sunny day you won’t find many locals there relaxing on the grass, friends sharing dinner together and people enjoying one of the city’s most beautiful parks.
If you are not to tired you should stay until sunset to watch Sacré-Cœur from the park at golden hour (exact coordinates in the google maps walk guide).
Approximate Walking Distance: 6 km
Approximate Expenses:
Breakfast: approx. €18
Bachir Ice Cream: approx. €7.50
Lunch: approx. €25
Coffee or Ice Cream: approx. €8
Picnic: approx. €15
Metro: €5
Approximate Total: €78.50 (without accommodation)
The End of Your 3 Day in Paris Itinerary
This may be the end of this 3 day Paris itinerary, but it doesn’t have to be the end of your Paris adventure. If you have an extra day or simply want to swap one of the activities, I can’t recommend my Paris to Étretat day trip itinerary enough. It’s one of the most underrated day trips from the city and an experience you won’t forget.
If I only had three days in Paris again, I would absolutely never skip the Seine Cruise, Montmartre at sunrise and an evening picnic at Buttes-Chaumont. Those are the moments that made me fall in love with the city.
Have the most amazing time in Paris and if this itinerary helped you, I’d love to hear about your favourite spot in the comments below.
XOXO Emma in Paris
published: August 23, 2026
FAQ Section: 3 day paris itinerary
1. Is 3 days sufficient for Paris?
Honestly, no. You could spend weeks in Paris and still discover new cafés, neighbourhoods and hidden corners. However, if you only have three days, this 3 day Paris itinerary covers everything I would recommend for a first visit while also showing you a more local side of the city. If you have extra time, I’d definitely stay another day or two to explore more museums or take a day trip, such as my Paris to Étretat itinerary.
2. What are the top 3 things to do in Paris?
If you ask me, these are the three experiences I would never skip:
- Taking a sunset cruise on the Seine
- Wandering through the streets of Montmartre
- Spending an afternoon exploring Le Marais
Of course, iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame are a must for first-time visitors, but these three experiences for me (!!!) are the most important.
3. How much will I need for 3 days in Paris?
Following this itinerary, I’d budget around €350 per person, excluding flights. That includes accommodation, food, transport and the paid activities mentioned throughout the guide. Of course, you can easily spend less by staying in a cheaper hostel, skipping museums or cooking some of your meals or much more if you enjoy shopping and fine dining. I think this budget is a realistic middle ground for most travellers.
After seeing Étretat in “Lupin” on Netflix, I was already stunned and impressed by the incredible views and those dramatic white cliffs. But honestly, it was even better in real
Watching the leaves turn different colours while listening to “All Too Well” by Taylor Swift just hits different in Paris. This, combined with sitting in a cutesy and cosy café
These are our Paris must-visit places everyone has to visit when going to Paris. This was our first holiday alone. Just me and Johanna. We were staying in Paris to
Emma
About Emma:
The strategist behind Life To Remember, Emma is the one turning big dreams into detailed itineraries. She’s dedicated to finding the "hidden gems" and the most authentic local stories. Whether she’s navigating a new city or connecting with people across the globe, Emma is driven by a curiosity for the world and a belief that the best journeys happen when you move with intention.
Emma
About Emma:
The strategist behind Life To Remember, Emma is the one turning big dreams into detailed itineraries. She’s dedicated to finding the “hidden gems” and the most authentic local stories. Whether she’s navigating a new city or connecting with people across the globe, Emma is driven by a curiosity for the world and a belief that the best journeys happen when you move with intention.
