Paris, often called the City of Light, is a place where history and romance intersect. From the sparkling Eiffel Tower to the cobblestone streets and charming cafes, Paris exudes charm, sophistication, and magic. While you can spend weeks in Paris, this itinerary will highlight how to spend 3 days in the City of Light. 

Where to Stay

Paris is sectioned into 20 different arrondissements. I recommend staying in the first, second, third, sixth, or seventh. For more hustle and bustle consider the first, second, third. For a quieter stay and more local experience consider the sixth or seventh. It was important to me to find a hotel near a metro station for convenience, exuded Parisian architecture, and is a more “local” neighborhood. Luckily, I found the perfect place- Hotel Vaneau St Germain.

Book Hotel Vaneau St Germain Here

The hotel truly embodies old Parisian charm. While the hotel was very clean and well-kept, the building itself is old and comes with its own charm. The elevator is very small, really only able to fit two people and two bags at a time. It only goes to floor 4, so if you are on floor 5 and 6 you will need to take the stairs the remainder of the way. We stayed in their 3-person room located on floor 6 and I loved it! 

Hotel Vaneau St Germain exceeded all my expectations. Located on the border of the sixth and seventh arrondissements, I loved the location—it wasn’t right in the city center but just about a twenty-minute walk from the Eiffel Tower, offering a true local feel. The hotel is just steps from the Vaneau metro station, a grocery store, and only a block away from the café where I enjoyed the best croissant.

If you wish to stay closer to the hustle and bustle of the city the Citizen M hotel chain off Champs Élysées would be a good option. 

BOOK Citizen M Hotel Here

Tip: Be sure to visit  La Pâtisserie Cyril Lignac – Sèvres for an incredible croissant!

Day 1: Bir Hakeim bridge, Arc de Triomphe, Champs Élysées, Galeries Lafayette Haussmann, and River Cruise

Start your day with a pan au chocolate from any cafe- they are on every corner! Should you be near a La Pâtisserie Cyril Lignac, I highly recommend stopping there as it was my favorite place to grab a croissant from! 

Bir Hakeim bridge

Make your way to the Bir Hakeim bridge, also known as Pont de Bir Hakeim. The Bir Hakeim bridge provides one of the best viewpoints of the Eiffel Tower. From our metro station Vaneau to Bir Hakeim, the metro line provided an amazing view too! Walk along the Debilly path until you reach Passerelle Debilly bridge. 

Walk down Avenue de New York for more breathtaking views. 

Head back across the water to 225 Rue de l’Université for a stunning view of the Eiffel Tower and to experience the gorgeous Parisian architecture.

Arc de Triomphe

Take the metro to the Arc de Triomphe, then walk down Champs Élysées. The Arc was much larger than I expected and busier, even on a rainy day afternoon. I imagine the crowds would be busier on a summer day but get there early to avoid large crowds. You can go up to the view deck at the top of the Arc de Triomphe. 

BUY ARC DE TRIOMPHE TICKETS HERE

Walk down Champs Élysées and stop for lunch along the way. This is a main street with luxury brands, restaurants, cafes, and macaroon shops lining the path. We stopped for lunch at Brioche Dorée. 

In Paris there is something called “a formula” that many restaurants, cafes, and sandwich shops offer. It is a set price and usually limited in terms of what you can choose from. Oftentimes I found this to be cheaper than just a sandwich. The formula lets you choose a drink, a main, and a dessert. The “main” is usually a sandwich. The desserts are quite good and unique like a pistachio cream tart or chocolate cream pastry. 

Galeries Lafayette Champs-Élysées

Galeries Lafayette Champs-Élysées, a large department store off the main street, offers luxury shopping, food, and quirky shops. You can use the restrooms inside for 2 euros, and the machine takes cash or card.

Tip: Paying for public restrooms is normal in Paris so bring Euros for bathroom stops.  

Flame Liberty, Princess Diana Memorial

The Flame of Liberty originally symbolized peace and friendship between France and the United States. Following the tragic death of Princess Diana, it has become a memorial in her honor, as the fatal car crash that claimed her and Dodi Fayed occurred in the tunnel beneath the monument. Today, visitors leave flowers, cards, and photographs to pay tribute to her memory.

Alma Bridge

Visit the Alma Bridge- this spot provides a beautiful shot of the Eiffel Tower. 

Ritz Carlton

The Ritz Carlton was one of the last places Princess Diana visited the night of the crash. You are free to walk around the hotel as there is a bar, where she sat at, and small shops on the ground floor floor. You can book an afternoon tea if you would like. Book afternoon tea here.

Galeries Lafayette Haussmann

There is a free viewing deck on roof of the building. Enter the store and locate the escalators, taking it up to the viewing deck. Inside, there is a large, sparkling rotunda that is beautiful, with the ornate gold detailing and marble touches; it doesn’t feel like you are in a department store.

From the top of the roof you can see the Eiffel Tower to the Sacré-Cœur all the way in Montmartre.

 Visit the Palais Garnier, also known as the Opera House. The foyer of the Palais Garnier is breathtaking- if you have the chance to visit inside you absolutely should. Purchase tickets here.

The Starbucks at 26 Avenue de l’Opéra, 75001 Paris, France, is often hailed as the most stunning Starbucks in the country. Its ceilings feature intricate gold detailing, complemented by elegant chandeliers and mirrored walls adorned with gold molding.

There is a Lindt store next to the Starbucks that we had to go in, as devout chocolate lovers. We found this one type of chocolate bar we had not seen in the U.S. before. It is a Truffle Chocolate and it was amazing! Fun fact: you can only buy the Truffle Chocolate bar in France!

We stopped for dinner near the Seine, stumbled upon a charming Italian restaurant after stopping by Avenue de Camoëns and Rue de l’Université, some of the most beautiful spots to grab a photo of the Eiffel Tower. 

Stop by the Eiffel Tower to admire it up close. I was surprised it was smaller than I thought when standing next to it. You can pay to go up to the top, though I feel pictures with the Eiffel Tower in it are prettier than those without it.

Buy Eiffel Tower Tickets here

Make your way towards Pont Neuf for a River cruise on the Seine with Vendettes du Pont Neuf river cruise company. You can book tickets at the small booth out front or on their website here.

I enjoyed the river cruise mainly for the scenery, not necessarily the cruise experience. It was difficult to hear what the narrator was saying as the boat was busy and the person switched from three languages to interpret. Any cruise line would work as they roughly are all the same. It was lovely seeing the Eiffel tower sparkle at night yet again- I think we watched it sparkle every night. 

Fun Fact: Did you know the Eiffel Tower “sparkles” for five minutes at the beginning of each hour after sunset, with the last one at 11:00pm. 

Day 2: Pont Neuf, Notre Dame, Shakespeare and Company, and Croissant Class

For the second full day in Paris, start out by taking the metro or walk to the historic Notre Dame and Sainte Chapelle. When I visited in March 2023, Notre Dame was still under renovation though the Cathedral is now open to the public.

Next, walk over to the infamous Shakespeare and Company! Ernest Hemingway was rumored to spend copious amounts of time writing on the second floor. Even if you are not a reader, I strongly encourage a visit to this charming shop opened in 1951. The charm is still there, with writing etched in the walls, creaky floorboards, and original windows. I can only imagine the conversations and stories shared throughout the years. 

There is a small park next to the bookshop that had the most stunning blossoms, called Square René Viviani. It is the perfect setting to read a book while enjoying coffee and croissants. 

Next is lunch at 808 Mac and Cheese- I am not a huge fan of cheese but this place was amazing. The staff was friendly and funny and the food was reasonably priced with large portions. 

Explore the Latin Quarter and stop by Fontaine Saint-Michel and explore the charming streets and quaint pockets of the city.

With the afternoon free, I highly suggest a cooking class! A cooking or baking class is a fun way to learn more about the culture from a local. We took a croissant making class which was so fun and delicious! We were given the instructions too so we could make croissants from home. This is the class we took!

Angelina’s, a renowned café famous for its hot chocolate, is often hailed as one of the best in Paris. I decided to try both the hot chocolate and a pastry but found myself disappointed. The dessert was mediocre, and while the hot chocolate was enjoyable, it didn’t live up to the my expecation. Overall, it’s a place you can easily skip.

We had dinner at Bouillon Chartie, around the corner from our hotel. They are known for the steak frites, so that is what I ordered. I knew it wouldn’t be taken well by the chefs but I did ask for the steak to be cooked well-done.

The server seemed confused but assured me he would pass along the request. When the food arrived, the steak was far from well-done—in fact, it appeared even rarer than those at other tables. Lesson learned: if you prefer your steak well-done, don’t order it in Paris! We also ordered the chocolate mousse to complement the meal, but it was mediocre at best, nothing memorable.

Day 3: Trocadéro, Petit Palais, Jardin du Tulleries, Louvre, Rue Cler Market, and Montmartre

The last full day in Paris came quickly! Head out to see the Trocadéro around 8:00 am to avoid crowds. From our hotel we took metro line 6 to Bir-Hakeim. The Trocadéro is one of the most photographed spots in Paris, for good reason, as the Eiffel Tower is a stunning backdrop.

After that we stopped by the Petit Palais, Jardin du Tulleries, and stopped by the courtyard of the Louvre. The Louvre was actually quite small and underwhelming. I am not a huge fan of art and knew I had limited time in Paris, so this is one activity I decided to cut.

Stopping by the Louvre? Get your tickets ahead of time here. It is encouraged to get there early as the museum gets very busy.  

Tip: Check out the hidden art installation, consisting of black and white striped columns, near the Louvre called Colonnes de Buren / Les Deux Plateaux. The hidden installation is tucked inside government buildings, right next to the Palais Royal. 

Add the address to your itinerary: Galerie de la Cour d’Honneur, 2 Rue de Montpensier, 75001 Paris, France.

Right behind the art installation is Jardin du Palais Royal, which was absolutely beautiful with the spring flowers.

Stop by the Rue Cler market- this market is full of shopping, vendors selling fresh produce, vintage stores, gelato, and restaurants. 

Eat lunch at Tribeca- the best pizza I have had, even after visiting Italy. This restaurant was trendy with friendly staff with reasonable prices. 

After lunch we made our way to Montmartre to visit the beautiful Sacré-Cœur. We took the metro closest to Rue Cler Street and took it up to Montmartre. It was about a half mile walk from the metro station to the base of the funicular/staircase leading to the Sacré-Cœur. To reach the Sacré-Cœur you either climb 100+ stairs or you can pay to take the funicular up. 

You can purchase a ticket from the booth next to the loading area. I opted to climb the stairs because I figured- why not, what is more walking when I am already hitting 20,000 steps a day!

We arrived around 3:00pm to Montmartre and it was rather busy, so I can only imagine what it is like in the peak season.

If you walk up the stairs and around the corner you will find a charming square with restaurants and shops. I loved walking around the small streets and popping into the shops in the main square. There were so many people painting in the square! There are a decent number of shops and restaurants to choose from. I recommended exploring outside the main square and wander through the streets surrounding the church and square. 

We ended up walking down the street to La Maison Rose, the famous pink house in Montmartre and wandering back up to the church by way of the backroads.

It was nice to see the less busy, quieter parts of Montmartre which is much more relaxed than Paris was. 

We stayed for sunset, which was around 7:00 pm in March. By then the area was starting clear and most people left, leaving mostly locals and a few tourists.

 We had dinner at Grenouilles to try their famous Raclette. While I am not a fan of cheese, I did try this sandwich and enjoyed it! The shop was on a cute street as well. This place was great; the food was delicious, a good portion, and affordable. Take a look at the menu here. 

We made our way back to see the Eiffel Tower sparkle one last time. 

Tip: Have your hotel schedule a taxi to take you to the airport. Our hotel front desk staff booked us a taxi as we have a 5:30am leave time to make our flight out of CDG. 

That is a wrap on 3 days in Paris! I wish I had more time to explore farther out of the city, and to make my way down to the South or visit the beautiful wineries.  

Have more time? Consider a day trip! 

Day trip to Versailles

Day trip to Mont-Saint-Michel from Paris

Day trip to Normandy

Good to Know Before You Go

1. Most places accept cash but it is wise to bring some Euros
2. Public restrooms are not free- bring a couple of Euros to use the restroom
3. Know some basic greetings and words in French- French people appreciate the effort 
4. Download Google Maps and CityMapper for directions and navigating the metro

Using the Paris Metro

I wanted to have Paris be my first solo trip but ended up going to London as the metro system intimidated me. The metro system ended up being relatively easy to use. There is a lot of talk about pickpockets in Paris and the metro being “unsafe”, and while I did encounter someone trying to go through the metro turnstile with me and cheat the system, I would say the metro was relatively safe. There are some people who dress up as fake police offers to fine you as a money grab. If you can buy your ticket on your phone I suggest doing so. Always use caution and hold your belongings close to you as you would in any city. 

You can buy a ticket at the counters in most metro stations. We opted for the one day pass, using the T+ ticket, which granted us access to the metro for 24 hours. It is a paper ticket and if you lose it, and are asked for it, you can be fined. We bought a ticket each day before our first metro use. You can buy a ticket through the Bonjour RATP app on your phone if a paper ticket feels too easy to lose. 

Check out this helpful blog on navigating the Paris Metro. Paris is a very walkable city if you are in the lower arrondissements but getting places like Montmartre require the metro or a car.

You will need to slide the ticket in the turnstiles to open the window and catch it where it spits out at the end of the turnstile. Don’t forget to grab it!

I hope you enjoy your time in Paris! As always, happy travels!