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Planning 3 days in Paris? Here’s my personal itinerary for icons, hidden streets and top sights, with advice on stress-free transport too.
Paris and I go back a fair way. My first visit was years ago and I completely fell for the place. It was that slightly embarrassing kind of love, where you’re planning your return before the plane’s even landed. I’ve been back more times since than I probably need to admit. It’s still one of my favourite cities anywhere in Europe. Hey, I even love the grumpy locals who scowl at everyone.
There’s something about Paris that makes every visit feel like you’ve wandered onto a film set. Maybe that’s because I’m obsessed with Emily in Paris (hey, I only watch it because Chloe watches it…) One minute you’re pottering along a quiet backstreet past a boulangerie, the next you’re stood beneath the Eiffel Tower watching it sparkle as the sun goes down. It’s a city that rewards slowing down, even when, like most visitors, you’ve only got a few days to play with.
That’s exactly what this guide is for. I’ve put together a three-day Paris itinerary that covers the big icons alongside a few quieter corners, without you losing half your trip trying to decode the Metro map. Read on for my day-by-day plan, plus a few practical tips I’ve picked up along the way.
Contents:
Day 1: Discover the icons of Central Paris
I always start a Paris trip the same way: with the Eiffel Tower, and always early. There’s a version of the Eiffel Tower that exists in everyone’s head, all crowds and queues. And then there’s the one you get at eight in the morning, when it’s just you, a few joggers, and the tower looming over an almost empty Champ de Mars. Get there early. You won’t regret it. Alternatively, I always find it’s beauty and empty very late and night when you’re strolling back to your apartment drunk. I feel like that’s a classic Parisian moment.
From here, I like to walk rather than jump straight underground. Cross the Seine towards Trocadéro and you’ll get one of the most photographed views in the city. I’ve taken this photo so many times and I still find it stunning. Keep following the riverbanks rather than diving into the Metro. You’ll pass grand old bridges, ornate architecture, and more café terraces than you could ever sit at.
By lunchtime, head for the Champs-Élysées. I’m not much of a shopper, but simply walking the avenue is worth it for a proper introduction to the grander side of Paris. Push on to the Arc de Triomphe and climb up to the viewing platform. The views down those wide boulevards are some of the best in the city.
Save your evening for Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Classic cafés, independent bookshops, art galleries and relaxed restaurants make it my favourite spot for a first dinner in the city, ideally with a glass of something and no particular plan. I know all of that sounds like a lot, but you’ll find it’s quite easy just to follow your feet and tick off the big icons in Paris. Even though it is a big city, it’s one that’s meant to be seen from foot!
Day 2: Art, history and hidden streets
Day two is all about the historic heart of the city, and I’d give the whole day over to it if you can. Start at the Louvre Museum. I’ll be honest, I don’t always go inside, even I know that’s borderline sacrilege in a city like this, but seeing that glass pyramid up close and wandering a handful of galleries is worth the visit alone. If you’ve got the time and the stamina, pick a couple of collections and dig in properly rather than trying to see everything.
From the Louvre, walk through the Tuileries Garden towards Place de la Concorde, then cross the Seine into the Latin Quarter. This is where Paris shifts gear entirely. The grand avenues give way to narrow streets, centuries-old buildings, and lively squares that practically beg you to wander without a plan. I’ve spent entire afternoons here just following whichever street looked most interesting, which is, frankly, my favourite way to explore any city.
Make time for Notre-Dame Cathedral and a walk around Île de la Cité. Restoration work has continued in recent years, but it remains one of the most striking corners of Paris.
Continue on to the Panthéon before finding somewhere for dinner in the Latin Quarter. Traditional bistros sit alongside small wine bars and family-run restaurants here, and you genuinely can’t go too far wrong.
Day 3: Montmartre and local Paris
Montmartre feels like an entirely different city, and it’s one of my favourite areas to photograph. Start at Sacré-Cœur, and again, go early. The views across Paris are stunning first thing, before the tour groups arrive in force. I’ve stood on those steps at sunrise more than once, coffee in hand, and it never gets old.
From there, ditch the map and just explore. Montmartre’s winding streets, hidden staircases and quiet residential corners feel a world away from the busier central districts. You’ll stumble across local bakeries, artists’ studios and small boutiques, and this is exactly the kind of neighbourhood where I’d tell you to put the itinerary down and just wander.
After lunch, the Musée de Montmartre is worth a couple of hours if you’re keen, or you could simply linger over coffee somewhere. Either way, save some energy for the evening, because I’d always point you towards Canal Saint-Martin to finish the trip.
It’s a noticeably more local crowd down by the canal. Residents gather along the water, friends meet for evening drinks, and the restaurants offer a proper taste of everyday Parisian life, away from the busiest attractions. It’s how I like to end most Paris trips: somewhere quiet, with a drink, watching the city carry on around me.
Why transportation can shape the entire experience
By the end of day three, your legs will know exactly how much walking this itinerary involves. A lot of first-time visitors assume Paris is entirely walkable, and plenty of neighbourhoods are perfect for exploring on foot. But the distances between the major attractions add up quickly, especially over three packed days.
The Metro is efficient, I won’t argue with that, but changing lines, navigating busy stations, and hauling luggage around can wear you down, particularly after a long flight or a full day of sightseeing.
I’ve found the best approach is to combine walking with pre-arranged transport for the longer journeys across the city. It cuts out unnecessary transfers and leaves more time for actually enjoying the places you’ve come to see. This matters just as much on your way out of the city as it does during the trip.
After three days on your feet, the last thing you want is to be dragging your bags around the Metro trying to make a flight. Booking a private transfer back to the airport is one of the easiest ways to make sure you spend your final hours in Paris actually enjoying it, rather than worrying about connections.
One simple way to keep a three-day itinerary running smoothly is to arrange your longer journeys in advance. I’d recommend looking at what Kar Go Paris offers before you arrive, which makes airport pickups and cross-city transfers far easier to fit around a busy schedule.
Enjoy Paris at your own pace
Three days will never show you everything Paris has to offer, but they’re more than enough to get a proper feel for its variety. From the world-famous monuments and museums to the quieter neighbourhoods with all the local character, this is a city that rewards travellers who slow down and enjoy the journey between attractions.
Organise your itinerary around nearby districts, simplify your longer transfers, and you’ll spend far less time wrestling with transport networks and far more time actually enjoying what makes Paris so special. Some of the best travel memories don’t come from ticking off more places, but from experiencing each one without feeling rushed.
Let me know if you have any questions about Paris! It’s a city I love, so just let me know in the comments below. Or, alternatively, let other people know some of your favourite things to do in the city!
