Three Days in Paris: Best Things to Do

Imagine you just arrived in Paris, also known as the city of love. You have only three days to tour and you have no sense of where to begin, let along to finish.

Let’s begin by telling you this… Paris is a huge, full-of-sightseeing city where each second matters, so wasting time is not an option. First-hand advice: book a centric hotel, the ones in The Latin Quarter – 5^th Arrondissement are normally very cozy and convenient. I recommend to book a car rental to make your tour a lot easier. You may not get to visit all the famous places in three days in Paris, but I can help you with some of the most iconic ones!

Day 1

Rise and shine! Start your day by stopping at some Boulangerie (or bakery) to have a  (petit déjeuner) consisting of a coffee accompanied by a traditional croissant or a chocolate bread (pain au chocolat). It will not be difficult to find one, since it is something that is left over in Paris.

With a full stomach and happy heart, start your day visiting some of Paris most famous places!

Architectural Works
Right in the center of the city, you will find Catacombes de Paris (Catacombs of Paris), one of the most unique and emblematic architectural works in the city. At the end of the 18th century, the exhumation of the remains at the Cemetery of the Innocents was ordered to avoid an infectious outbreak in the surroundings. This remains where moved underground and it is now preserved as an ossuary that houses more than six million human skeletons, the largest concentration of this type in Europe. Descending to this lugubrious and mysterious place can be shocking but once you get used to it, it becomes an extraordinary experience that you should definitely not miss. I recommend booking your ticket online in advance to avoid the lines.

Crossing the most famous streets in the world, the Avenue of the Champs Elysees and its almost two kilometers in length, you’ll see the Arc de Triomphe (Arch of Triumph). It takes approximately 30 minutes walking from the invalids to the Arc de Triomphe. Celebrating the victories of Napoleon was the main reason for building this impressive structure. The Arch of Triumph hosts the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which represents those unidentified Frenchmen who died during the battles of the First World War. It is open from 10:00 to 2300 from April to September and the rest of the year closes at 22:30 hours.

Last but not least, on your trip to Paris, you cannot miss the most visited monument in Europe, (La Tour Eiffel) The Eiffel Tower.

This is one of the characteristic monuments of France and is a must see attraction for all tourists. It dates from the 20th century (1987) and it was conceived to preside over the universal exhibition that gave rise to the French capital. Once you get to its base, you must look up and admire the great height of the monument, something absolutely impressive.

Day 2

After a restful sleep, this is a day to wake up early and go around the museums of the city. Three days in Paris is enough to see some of the best ones! Where to start when there are so many cultural offers? Don’t worry here’s a little guide:

Famous Museums

I definitely recommend you to start with el Louvre (The Louvre). The most famous museum in the world is located in the Louvre palace, the former residence of the kings of France. You should consider at least half a day to get to know most of it but let me tell you, it’s almost impossible to know it completely in a single visit. The Code of Hammurabi, the Winged Bull, the Venus de Milo, the Sitting Scribe, the Mona Lisa, the Wedding at Cana and the Rubens Room are some of the artworks, you cannot miss at the Museé du Louvre. The best you can do is to buy the tickets online and be there in the early morning to avoid the lines.

If you still feel with energy, you have to give a visit to Musée de l’Orangerie. Don’t worry. This is a small museum in comparison with the first one, so you don’t have to walk that much.The l’Orangerie is full of masterpieces of impressionist and post-impressionist painting. Although you can find works by Matisse, Picasso, Renoir or Cézanne, among others, the true gem at the museum and enough reason to visit it, is that it contains one of the most famous painting cycles in history: the water lilies of Monet.

As a little plus, you can take your rented car, save some time and take a leisurely stroll to the Opera Garnier.  They open to the public every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The famous Paris Opera was completed in the 19th century. It is worth visiting inside, as the finishes, materials, and works of art inside are worth seeing.

Do not forget to take something to eat in Paris, there are plenty of gastronomic options to choose from and they are to die for! One I personally really like is just a 9-minute walk to cross the Seine River on the pedestrian bridge, called Passerelle Léopold-Sédar-Senghor (we don’t name these things), to access the Jardins des Tuileries, where you can dine at outdoor restaurants, Café Diane or Terrasse de Pomone (open from April to October).

Day 3

There are plenty of things you can do on your third day in Paris… among them, you can choose any of the following:

Cathedral of Notre Dame

This is important.  You must get up early and get there early, you will find endless lines if you go to mid-morning. The Notre Dame de Paris (Cathedral of Notre Dame) is one of the symbols of Christianity in the city. Some of the most impressive things to see inside is the passage of history… Napoleon Bonaparte was crowned here as emperor and Joan of Arc was canonized. Once you have seen the cathedral inside, it is time to climb the towers, the views are spectacular throughout the city.

Notre Dame de Paris is open every day from 8:00 in the morning until 18:45 in the afternoon. On the other hand, weekends close at 7:15 p.m.

There’s nothing like shopping in Paris, especially when you are leaving tomorrow!

An excellent spot is Champs Elysees, near the arch of Triumph.  This is one of the most famous avenues in the world for hosting luxury stores of international brands that even, it’s worth it when traveling on a budget, go and see and amaze with its ostentatious dressers.

At the end, I couldn’t forget about the symbolic Moulin Rouge. Built in the 19th century with the exterior finish of a mill, this is the most famous cabaret in the world. It is located in the red light district and it is a symbol of the Belle Epoque era. If you have enough budget for your trip, I recommend to dine and attend one of their cabaret shows, although you should make a reservation well in advance, as it is a much-demanded site.

Enjoy your three days in Paris!

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