3-Day Paris Itinerary: How to Plan a Perfect Long Weekend in Paris

Paris is one of those cities that rewards a well-planned visit. Three days is genuinely enough time to hit the landmarks, explore a few neighborhoods, and eat well — but only if you plan your time instead of just winging it. This itinerary is built around realistic walking distances, pre-booking requirements, and a budget that doesn't assume you want to spend $400 on a hotel.

Before anything else: book your major attractions in advance. The Louvre, Eiffel Tower, and Versailles all sell out on popular dates. Showing up without a ticket means standing in a two-hour line or missing the site entirely.

Day 1: The Eiffel Tower Area and the Left Bank

Morning — Trocadéro and the Eiffel Tower

Start at the Trocadéro. This is the best viewpoint for the Eiffel Tower and it's free. Arrive early (before 9am) and you'll have the plaza almost to yourself. After photos, walk across the Seine to the tower itself. If you booked summit tickets, go up in the morning before the midday heat and crowds peak.

Afternoon — Champ de Mars and the 7th

Grab lunch from one of the bakeries near Rue Cler — one of Paris's best market streets and far cheaper than anything directly under the tower. Walk through the Champ de Mars, then head east toward Les Invalides and Napoleon's tomb, which is worth a 45-minute visit.

Evening — Saint-Germain-des-Prés

Walk or take the metro to Saint-Germain. This is one of Paris's best neighborhoods for an evening stroll — browse Rue de Buci for street food, have a drink at a classic brasserie, and walk along the Seine as it gets dark.

Day 2: The Louvre and Le Marais

Morning — The Louvre

The Louvre is enormous. You cannot see it all in one visit, so don't try. Pick three or four rooms you actually want to see — the Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, Venus de Milo, and one or two others — and spend two to three focused hours. Arrive right at opening time (9am) and go straight to the Denon Wing for the Italian paintings before the crowds arrive.

Admission is €22 for adults. Under 18 is free. The first Friday evening of each month is free for everyone under 26.

Afternoon — Le Marais

Take the metro east to the Marais. This is one of Paris's most walkable and interesting neighborhoods — medieval streets, the Place des Vosges (Paris's oldest planned square, free to enter), boutique shopping on Rue des Francs-Bourgeois, and some of the best falafel in Europe on Rue des Rosiers.

Evening — Place de la République

End the evening near Oberkampf or République, where locals actually go out. Dinner at a neighborhood bistro here costs half what you'd pay near the tourist sites.

Day 3: Montmartre and Departure

Morning — Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur

Get to Montmartre early before the tourist groups arrive. The Sacré-Cœur basilica is free and the view from the steps over Paris is one of the best in the city. Walk through the back streets of the butte — Rue Lepic, Place du Tertre — before the artists set up and it gets crowded.

Midday — Shopping and Departure Prep

If you have an afternoon flight, store luggage at the Gare du Nord left luggage office and spend your final hours near the Grands Boulevards or Galeries Lafayette. If you have more time, the Pompidou Centre (modern art, great rooftop views, €15) is a 15-minute metro ride from Montmartre.

Getting Around Paris

The Paris metro is the fastest and cheapest way to get around. A single ticket costs €2.15 or you can get a carnet (10 tickets) for €16.90. If you're staying more than 2 days, a weekly Navigo card covers unlimited metro, bus, and RER travel for €30. Don't take taxis between tourist sites — the metro is almost always faster.

CDG airport is connected to central Paris via the RER B line (€11.80, about 35 minutes). Don't take a taxi from the airport unless you're splitting it — it's €55+ and much slower.

Realistic Budget for 3 Days in Paris

• Accommodation: €80–150/night (budget hotel or Airbnb outside the center)
• Meals: €20–35/day eating at markets and neighborhood restaurants, €50+ near tourist sites
• Attractions: €60–80 total (Louvre + Eiffel Tower + one or two others)
• Transport: €25–35 (Navigo weekly card + airport train)
• Total estimate: €450–650 excluding flights for one person, 3 nights

What to Book in Advance

• Eiffel Tower — Book 2–3 weeks ahead, especially for the summit
• Louvre — Book 1–2 weeks ahead to skip the ticket line
• Versailles — If you're going, book at least a week ahead and go on a weekday
• Dinner reservations — Popular spots fill up fast; book 3–5 days ahead

Three days in Paris moves fast. The single biggest mistake travelers make is trying to see too much and spending half their time commuting between distant neighborhoods. This itinerary keeps each day geographically focused so you spend your time in Paris, not on the metro.