3 Days in Paris – The Perfect First Timer’s Itinerary
Paris is one of those cities that lives up to the hype… and that is not something I say about many places. It is truly magical in a way that is difficult to explain until you experience it for yourself. But on the flip side, Paris also has more tourist traps than almost anywhere else in Europe. The wrong restaurant, the wrong neighborhood, the wrong museum at the wrong time of day – and suddenly the city that was supposed to feel like a dream starts to feel like a very expensive, very crowded disappointment. As someone who lives in Paris, I created this itinerary to help you avoid that. I’ve spent a lot of time figuring out what is actually worth your time and what is not. This is how to properly do three days in Paris.
Before You Arrive – A Few Things Worth Noting
Paris is one of the most visited cities in the world, which means there is a lot of advice out there – and a lot of it is either outdated, overwhelming, or written by someone who has not recently been, or only been once. Here is what I would tell a friend before their first trip (as someone living in Paris).
Getting from the Airport to the City
Most international flights land at Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), about 45 minutes northeast of the city center. You have a few options for getting in. The RER B train is the cheapest – it runs directly from the airport to central Paris and takes about one hour, but it involves navigating a busy commuter train with luggage which is not always fun after a long flight. A taxi from CDG is a set price – €56 to the right bank and €65 to the left bank. My personal recommendation for a first trip is a private transfer – you are picked up by name, driven directly to your hotel. It’s perfect for travelers coming off a long international flight just wanting to get to their hotel without the fuss of figuring out public transport or hailing a taxi. I use and recommend Welcome Pickups for this.
Getting Around Paris
Once you are in the city, Paris is remarkably walkable (far more so than most people expect). Many of the best experiences on this itinerary are within walking distance of each other, particularly in the Marais and Saint-Germain. For longer distances the Metro is fast, cheap, and easy to navigate. Download the IDF Mobilités app before you arrive and set up your payment information to easily purchase tickets on the go. Taxis, Uber, and Bolt are also widely available and worth using at night or when you’re tired.
A Note On Bookings
Paris rewards those who plan ahead. The museums and shows all require advance booking – particularly in peak season from April through October. I will flag this throughout the itinerary but the short version is: do not assume you can show up anywhere without tickets (otherwise you’ll be waiting in long lines and wasting time(. Book before you leave home and your trip will be significantly less stressful and significantly more enjoyable. If you would rather hand the whole thing off to someone who does this every day, I plan custom France & Paris itineraries and would love to help you put this trip together properly. I can also hop on a France audit call with you to walk through your itinerary and ensure that it makes sense, and answer all of your questions.
Day 1 – Arriving to Paris
Morning – Arrival & Check-in
Do not try to do too much on your first day. I know that sounds counterintuitive when you have three days and a long list of things you want to see, but arrival day in Paris deserves a little bit of relaxation. Check into your hotel, walk your neighborhood, find a café, order a coffee and a croissant, and just regroup for a bit before you start planning your next move.
Afternoon – Musee Carnavalet & Le Marais
Once you are settled, the Musée Carnavalet is my first recommendation for any first timer in Paris (and it is one of the most underrated things you can do in the city if I do say so myself). Housed in two magnificent 16th and 17th-century mansions in the heart of the Marais, it tells the entire history of Paris across 140 rooms – from prehistoric times through the French Revolution, the Belle Époque, and beyond. It is truly incredible, completely free, and requires no advance booking. Most visitors to Paris skip it entirely in favor of the Louvre – that is a mistake. You can expect to spend 2-3 hours here.
If you need a coffee pick-me-up on your way to explore Le Marais, I highly recommend stopping at Sevenly Heart which is right outside of Musée Carnavalet.
The Musée Carnavalet puts you directly in the Marais, which is exactly where I’d recommend you to explore for your first afternoon in Paris. Walk to the Place des Vosges, wander the streets in every direction, and stop at Marché des Enfants Rouges for lunch. It’s the oldest covered market in Paris and worth a stop even if you don’t end up eating there. (Other lunch recommendations I have in this area include Chez Alain Miam Miam, Tycoz, or Les Marquereaux Paris – a riverboat on the Seine).
Evening – Cocktails & Dinner
For your first evening in Paris, I’d still recommend staying in the Marais or surrounding area. Start with wine or cocktails before dinner; my recommendations include…
- Le Garde Robe – Wine bar
- Bar Nouveau – Cocktails
- Candelaria – Cocktails
- Little Red Door – Cocktails
- The Cambridge Public House – Cocktails
- Le Pinardier – Wine
- Terraza Mikuna – Rooftop of BHV (recommend reservations beforehand)
- Folderol – Wine & ice cream pairings
- Septime la Cave – Wine
For more wine bars in Paris, don’t miss…
From there, the Marais/surrounding area has some of the best restaurants in Paris within easy walking distance. My recommendations include…
- Aux Lyonnais
- Chez Georges
- De Vie
- Frenchie Bar a Vins
- L’Altro Frenchie
- Aux Bons Crus
- Chez Paul
- Clown Bar
- Double Dragon
- GRAMME PARIS 11
- Le Servan
- RESTAURANT AU PASSAGE
For my full restaurant recommendations organized by arrondissement, don’t miss…
Day 2 – Pick Your Day Trip
For your second day in Paris, I would recommend a day trip to see some of the surrounding area. There are three places I recommend, all within 1.5 hours of the city. Pick the one that sounds most like you.
Option 1: Versailles (for History & Grandeur)
If you want the full French royal history experience – the Hall of Mirrors, the extraordinary formal gardens, Marie Antoinette’s private estate, and the sheer scale of what the French monarchy built for itself – Versailles is the perfect choice. It is one of the most impressive things you will see in France and genuinely lives up to the reputation. It can get crowded, especially in summer, so book skip-the-line tickets in advance and arrive as early as possible.
For Versailles, I would suggest planning a full day. The palace alone takes several hours and the gardens deserve at least as long again. Take the RER C from central Paris directly to the Versailles Rive Gauche station.
If you want a guided tour of Versailles, I recommend…
- Versailles Palace & Marie Antoinette’s Estate Private Guided Tour with Lunch (this is a full-day, private tour, with hotel pick-up, and lunch included)
- Versailles Palace & Marie-Antoinette’s Estate Full Day Private Tour (this is a full-day, private tour, with hotel pick-up and NO lunch)
- Versailles Palace Private Guided Tour with Hotel Pickup (this is a half-day, private tour, with hotel pick-up, and NO lunch)
- Versailles Palace Guided Tour with Reserve Entry (this is a 90-minute, guided, public tour with 27 people)
Option 2: Giverny (for Gardens & Art)
If you want something more intimate – Monet’s house and the gardens in Giverny is one of the most beautiful day trips from Paris and another one I would personally recommend. This is not open year-round, so make sure to check dates before visiting. You’ll also want to purchase tickets ahead of time and I recommend goingright when it opens or around 3-4pm when the crowds thin out.
Pro tip: Plan lunch at Blossom Bistrot in Vernon, the town just five minutes from Giverny. The food is excellent and completely removed from the tourist crowds at the garden. For everything you need to know before you go, read my complete Giverny day trip guide.
For a guided tour of Giverny, I recommend…
- Monet’s Gardens & House Private Tour from Paris (this includes hotel pick-up with a private guide)
- Monet’s House & Gardens Private Guided Walking Tour (this includes a private guide with NO hotel pick-up)
Option 3: Chantilly (for Casual & Relaxed)
If you want a beautiful day without the crowds or the intensity of Versailles, Chantilly is where I would send you. Chantilly is a fairytale château set in its own moat with vast grounds to explore by golf cart, and Europe’s largest horse stables. It’s one of those day trips that makes you feel like you are actually on vacation rather than rushing. Chantilly is just 25 miles north of Paris and 25 minutes by train. For everything you need to know, read my complete Chantilly day trip guide.
Evening – Dinner in Paris
Whatever day trip you choose, you’ll be back in Paris by evening. On your second day, I’d recommend a restaurant that either has a Michelin-star or something more “vibey”. Here are some good options…
- Nhome – 1 Michelin star
- Septime – 1 Michelin star
- Thoumieux – for dinner and dancing
- Le Speakeasy – for dinner and dancing
- Ora Farmhouse – the late seating turns into dinner and dancing
For my full restaurant recommendations by arrondissement, read…
Day 3 – Montmartre & the Left Bank
Saving the best for last, day 3 covers two of the most beautiful and neighborhoods in Paris – Montmartre in the morning and the Left Bank in the afternoon
Morning – Montmartre
Get to Montmartre early. The neighborhood transforms completely between 8am and 10am – before the tour groups arrive it feels like a village, all cobblestone streets and local boulangeries and cats sitting in doorways. After 10am it starts to feel considerably more like a tourist attraction.
Start at Sacré-Coeur – the white domed basilica at the very top of the hill with views over the entire city. From there, walk down towards Place du Tertre – the famous artists’ square. You’ll want to see the Montmartre vineyard, one of the last working vineyards within Paris, and Rue de l’Abreuvoir. For coffee and breakfast I’d recommend Marcella villa Léandre or Les 5 Marches.
If you’re interested in art, Montmartre also has a great art museum – Musée de Montmartre – that I’d recommend.
Afternoon – Left Bank
Cross the city to the Left Bank for the afternoon. If you’re an art person, Musée d’Orsay is my favorite art museum in Paris housed in a former railway station on the banks of the Seine and home to one of the greatest Impressionist collections in the world. Book skip-the-line tickets in advance – the queues without them can be brutal in peak season. You can expect to spend about two hours here. (For a shorter, but still impressive museum, switch out Musée d’Orsay for Musée Rodin).
If you’d like a tour of Musée d’Orsay, I’d recommend this tour that only has 6 people maximum.
After the museum, walk to Saint-Germain-des-Prés. I’d recommend lunch at Les Antiquaries or L’Avant Comptoir du Marché; for a coffee pick-me-up you’ll want to stop at Café du Clown.
Then make your way towards the Luxembourg Gardens to relax in one of the most beautiful parks in Paris. And if you’re interested in shopping, stop at Marin Montagut and Messy Nessy’s Cabinet.
Evening – Dinner & a Show
For your final night in Paris, end your trip in a very Parisian way – with a cabaret show. Here are the two I would recommend depending on what you are looking for – with dinner suggestions nearby. (Don’t eat dinner AT the show – it isn’t worth it).
Option 1: Crazy horse
Crazy Horse is the more intimate and artistic of the two (compared to Moulin Rouge). It’s set in a smaller venue near the Champs-Élysées where the production is avant-garde and sensual. The choreography, the lighting design, and the overall aesthetic have been developed over decades into something that feels completely unlike anything else in Paris. Crazy Horse is best for those who want something sophisticated, art-forward, and less touristy. Book well in advance.
If you choose Crazy Horse, eat dinner at Biche or L’Ami Jean.
Option 2: moulin rouge
The Moulin Rouge is the most iconic cabaret in the world. It’s bigger, louder, and more theatrical than Crazy Horse, and despite it being touristy, I do think that it’s well worth it. Just like Crazy Horse, you’ll want to book well in advance.
If you choose Moulin Rouge, eat dinner at L’Annexe, Le Bon Bock, Adraba, or Zoutra.
Where to Stay for This Itinerary
For this specific three-day itinerary, the Marais and the 6th arrondissement are the two neighborhoods I would point you towards – and both work well for slightly different reasons.
The Marais (3rd and 4th arrondissement) puts you directly in the middle of Day 1 – the Musée Carnavalet and the afternoon exploration are both on your doorstep. It is also one of the most characterful central neighborhoods in Paris, which means your walks to and from the hotel are enjoyable. The Marais works particularly well if you are taking the Versailles or Giverny day trip on Day 2, since both train stations are easily accessible by Metro.
The 6th arrondissement (Saint-Germain-des-Prés) puts you closest to Day 3 – the Musée d’Orsay is a short walk from most hotels here. The 6th also has one of the best restaurant and bar scenes in Paris.
But truthfully, anything works. Paris is compact enough that no central arrondissement will ever leave you far from anything on this itinerary. For my complete guide to where to stay in Paris by arrondissement, with specific hotel recommendations for every neighborhood, read my full guide here.
Practical Tips for First Timers in Paris
A few things worth knowing before you go that will make your three days significantly smoother.
- Book everything in advance. I mentioned this at the start and I am saying it again because if you don’t book in advance, you will spend far too much time waiting in lines, wasting your day.
- Restaurant timing. Paris does not eat on American timing. Lunch is roughly 1-3pm and dinner does not really start until 8:00pm at the earliest (most Parisians eat closer to 8:30 or 9pm especially on the weekend).
- Tipping. Service is included in the bill in France – you are not expected to tip the way you would in the US. Leaving a couple of euros for a good meal or rounding up the bill is appreciated but never obligatory. Do not stress about it.
- Comfortable shoes. Paris is a walking city and the streets are uneven, the Métro has stairs, and you will cover far more ground than you planned. Bring shoes you can walk in all day.
- The Métro. It is fast, cheap, and goes everywhere. Download the IDF Mobilités app and connect your payment details to scan into the metro.
- Learn three phrases. Bonjour when you walk into any shop, café, or restaurant. Merci when you leave. Excusez-moi when you need someone’s attention. Parisians appreciate the effort far more than most visitors expect.
If you have more than 3 days in Paris, check out…
Three days in Paris is enough to fall completely in love with the city… but not nearly enough time to see everything it has to offer. I hope that this guide helps you see the highlights of Paris as well as off the beaten path recommendations. If you have any questions or need help planning, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Planning a Trip to France?
I am a licensed, Paris-based travel advisor who plans custom France itineraries for travelers who want to experience the country the way it deserves to be experienced – intentionally and free of tourist traps. From a long weekend in Paris to a multi-region road trip, I handle every detail so you don’t have to. If you’re not ready for full-planning services, I also offer 1-hour “France Audit” calls to go over your itinerary, share recommendations, and answer any questions you have!
Like this post? Share with others on Pinterest!
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to purchase through my link, at no cost to you.
