Paris does not need a plan, except for the three places that sell out. Book those, then walk.
Before you go#
Timed tickets for the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower; the Orsay if you dislike queues. A Navigo Easy card or the metro tickets on your phone. Comfortable shoes: you will walk fifteen kilometres a day without noticing.
Day 1: the centre and the Marais#
The Louvre at opening with your ticket; two hours, one wing, out. Cross to the Île de la Cité for Notre-Dame and Sainte-Chapelle, then the Île Saint-Louis for ice cream. Afternoon in the Marais: Place des Vosges, the Jewish quarter on Rue des Rosiers, the Picasso Museum if you have energy. Dinner in the Marais or the Haut Marais.
Day 2: the tower, the Orsay, the left bank#
The Eiffel Tower at opening with your ticket, or at the last slot for the city lit up. Walk the river to the Musée d'Orsay (the Impressionists, two hours). Lunch in Saint-Germain, the Luxembourg gardens after, the Panthéon and the Latin Quarter if you want more. Dinner on the left bank.
Day 3: Montmartre, then the real Paris#
Montmartre at eight, before the coaches: Sacré-Cœur, the vineyard, Place Dalida, down the back stairs to the 9th for coffee. Metro to Canal Saint-Martin for lunch and a walk along the water, then up into Belleville for the view from Parc de Belleville and a last dinner where the menu is not translated.
Where to stay#
The Marais for food and walking, Saint-Germain for the postcard, the 10th for value. Things to do in Paris if you have more days.
Skip#
Going up the Eiffel Tower without a ticket, the Champs-Élysées as a walk, the Moulin Rouge, dinner on Rue de la Huchette, and Versailles on a three-day trip unless you drop a city day for it.
Safety#
Pickpockets at the sights and on line 1, and the bracelet and petition tricks around Sacré-Cœur and the tower. Is Paris safe? explains them. Alone? Meet other travellers in Paris.
Plan it with someone who lives here#
The Paris worth coming back for is a wine bar in the 11th with no English menu. Post your dates on Roavi Community and see who is around; Roavi has almost no Local Friends in Paris yet, so browse who is on Roavi and post early.
3 days in Paris? Make one of them a local's Paris.
Meet a Local FriendFrequently Asked Questions
Is 3 days enough for Paris?
Enough for a strong first visit: the major sights, three distinct neighbourhoods, two great museums. Nobody finishes Paris; three days finishes the list that would nag at you if you missed it.What should I book in advance in Paris?
The Louvre (timed entry), the Eiffel Tower (summit tickets sell out weeks ahead), and the Orsay if you hate queues. Sainte-Chapelle and the Catacombs also benefit from booking. Notre-Dame is free but uses a reservation system for timed entry.Where should I stay for 3 days in Paris?
The Marais (3rd and 4th) for walkability and food, Saint-Germain (6th) for the classic Paris, Canal Saint-Martin (10th) for a local, cheaper base with good metro links. Avoid hotels around the Gare du Nord and Opéra if you want evenings in a neighbourhood.Is the Eiffel Tower worth going up?
Once, with a booked ticket, at opening or at night. Without a ticket the queue can eat half a day. The view from the Arc de Triomphe or the Montparnasse tower includes the Eiffel Tower in it, which many people prefer.