3 Days in Paris: An Itinerary by Area
Paris is compact, but its famous places sit on opposite sides of the river, and a day that crosses the city several times is a tired day. This three-day itinerary groups the highlights by area: the islands and the Latin Quarter, the Louvre and the grand avenue west of it, and the Eiffel Tower with a museum and an evening in Montmartre. The two timed entries are fixed first.
In short: Day 1 is the islands and the Latin Quarter, day 2 the Louvre and the Tuileries to the Arc de Triomphe, day 3 the Eiffel Tower, Orsay and Montmartre; book the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower first.
How the three days fit together
Each day covers a part of the city: the center and the Left Bank on the first, the Louvre and the grand axis on the second, and the Eiffel Tower, a museum and Montmartre on the third. If you arrive late or leave early, drop a stop rather than rush. The method is the one in how to plan a city break.
Book the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower first. They have timed entries and they decide which days the rest of the plan is built around.
Day 1: The islands and the Latin Quarter
Begin on the Île de la Cité with the exterior of Notre-Dame and Sainte-Chapelle, then cross to the Left Bank for the Latin Quarter and its lanes and bookshops. Check the current access arrangements for each building before you go, as they change.
Continue to the Luxembourg Gardens for a slow afternoon, and spend the evening in the Latin Quarter or Saint-Germain, where restaurants and cafés are within a short walk of one another.
Day 2: The Louvre and the grand axis
Book a timed entry to the Louvre for the morning, and accept that you will see only a part of it: choose a few galleries rather than trying to cover everything. Check the weekly closing day before you fix this date.
After lunch, walk through the Tuileries Garden to Place de la Concorde and up the Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe. This is a long walk, so take the metro for part of it if you are tired. End the day with a view from the arch, if you wish to climb, or a quiet dinner nearby.
Day 3: The Eiffel Tower, Orsay and Montmartre
Start at the Eiffel Tower with a timed ticket, and take photographs from the Trocadéro side. Then visit the Musée d’Orsay or the Rodin Museum, depending on your taste, remembering that museums close on different weekdays.
In the late afternoon, take the metro to Montmartre and walk up to Sacré-Cœur for the view. The streets are steep and busy, so allow time and keep your belongings close.
Getting around and planning the days
The metro is the fastest way to link the areas, and walking works well inside each one. Check the current ticket options on the official transport site, and plan how you will travel to and from the airport.
In MyTrip Builder add each stop with its location and the app estimates the distance and time to the next one, so you can see whether a day crosses the city too often and move a stop to a better day. See also reducing travel time between sights.
Frequently asked questions
Is 3 days enough for Paris?
Three days cover the main highlights if you group them by area. They will not cover everything, so choose a few places you really want to see.
Do I need to book the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower in advance?
A timed entry is the safest option for both. Use the official sites and check what the ticket includes.
What is the best way to get around Paris?
The metro between areas and walking within them. Check the official transport site for current ticket options.
Which area is best to stay in for a short trip?
A central base close to a metro line that connects the main areas saves the most time. Check how you will reach it from the airport or the station.