3 days in Paris: a day-by-day itinerary

Better on the second visit, when you stop trying to see everything.

Trip length

3 full days

Best months

April, May, June, September, October

Rough daily budget

Mid-range: roughly €130–190 per person per day

This is a shape, not a schedule. Each day has two anchors and a lot of slack, because 3-day itineraries that book four things a day fall apart the first time lunch runs long. Move things around freely — the neighbourhoods are grouped so that walking between stops actually works.

Day 1 — Right bank and the Marais

Bakery breakfast, then Musée Picasso or the Carnavalet

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3 days in Paris: a day-by-day itinerary

Better on the second visit, when you stop trying to see everything.

Trip length

3 full days

Best months

April, May, June, September, October

Rough daily budget

Mid-range: roughly €130–190 per person per day

Day 1 — Right bank and the Marais

Bakery breakfast, then Musée Picasso or the Carnavalet

Day 3 — Montmartre and the canal

Montmartre before the crowds; Sacré-Cœur, then down the north side

Lunch in the 9th or 18th

Afternoon along Canal Saint-Martin with picnic supplies

Dinner in Belleville — the city's best value and most interesting food

Go in April to June, and September to October if you have the choice
Skip August, when a lot of the good neighbourhood restaurants close for the month
Walk more than you plan to.
Book anything with timed entry as soon as your dates are fixed

Paris is expensive enough that budget differences show up fast. Agree early on how many sit-down dinners versus market picnics you're doing — picnics are genuinely one of the best things about the city, not a compromise.

How many days do you need in Paris?

Four days is enough for two or three museums, three neighbourhoods and a proper unstructured day. A first-time checklist trip can be squeezed into three.

Is the Louvre worth it?

Yes, if you go with a plan and a timed ticket, and accept you'll see one wing. If you only want impressionists, the Orsay is the better visit.

What's the best area to stay in Paris?

The 11th and 3rd for food and value, the 5th and 6th for classic Paris, the 18th for cheaper and livelier. Avoid the 8th unless you want quiet and shops.

Is Paris good for a couples trip?

It's the obvious choice for a reason, but the version that works is low-density: one museum a day, long lunches, and evenings walking rather than queueing.

3 days in Paris: a day-by-day itinerary

3 days in Paris: a day-by-day itinerary

Before you go

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