The Best Ways to Spend 3 Days in Paris
Paris is one of those cities that can steal your heart in just a few days. With so much history, art, food, and culture packed into every street corner, there’s no shortage of sights and activities. If you have only 72 hours, you’ll want to make the most of every moment. Here’s a friendly guide to help you experience the best of the City of Love without feeling rushed.
Jardin du Luxembourg
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Kick off your time in Paris with a stroll through Jardin du Luxembourg. This is where locals go to slow down—wide gravel paths, quiet corners, and plenty of shade. There are also plenty of benches where you can sit and settle in.
Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Credit: Getty Images
Saint-Germain is filled with old bookstores that haven’t changed in decades, corner cafés with regulars who stay longer than their espresso lasts, and side streets that always seem quieter than they should be.
Café de Flore
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Sipping coffee at a sidewalk table is practically a Parisian pastime, and Café de Flore puts you right in the center of it. People-watching while you’re here is a must, and there’s no better place to do it than at this local café on Saint-Germain.
Pont des Arts
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Pont des Arts has less traffic, fewer loud voices, just water and skyline, and maybe someone sketching nearby. The bridge allows you to take in the skyline without distraction or noise.
Musée des Art Décoratifs
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
This museum could easily be missed, as it’s next to the Louvre. Vintage advertising, elegant furniture, and iconic fashion pieces are all displayed as works of design history. The exhibits tell how style, marketing, and culture evolved over time.
Palais Royal Gardens
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
The Palais Royal Gardens have rows of trees, scattered green chairs, and the black-and-white striped columns that attract people with cameras and kids who climb them. You’ll also find quiet nooks for reading or sketching.
Avant Comptoir
Credit: Yelp
Avant Comptoir should be on your list for a casual meal. You stand, order a few small plates, maybe try a beverage you’ve never heard of. There’s no pressure to stay for hours or commit to a full dinner.
The Louvre Courtyard
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
There’s no rule that says you have to go inside the Louvre. In fact, there is a lot to do in the courtyard as well. Sit by the fountain, walk the outer edge, take in the scene, and snap a few photos. If you have time later, you can always pop in to explore more of the museum’s treasures.
Musée d’Orsay
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
The Musée d’Orsay is unique because it is housed in a former Beaux-Arts train station. It has impressionist rooms packed with familiar names, but the layout never feels like a maze. Its smaller size makes it more manageable than the Louvre.
Montparnasse Tower
Credit: Getty Images
If you want to enjoy the full view of Paris, including the Eiffel Tower, then you should add Montparnasse Tower to your itinerary. It is easy to access and offers panoramic views, including the Eiffel Tower, without a sea of heads in front of you.
Rodin Museum
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
The Rodin Museum is inside an elegant old mansion surrounded by expansive gardens. Inside, Rodin’s most famous works—like The Thinker and The Kiss—are displayed in softly lit rooms, while others are scattered outdoors among the trees and hedges.
Palace of Versailles
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
No visit to Paris is complete without seeing the Palace of Versailles. Use the morning to tour the lavish palace and its impressive gardens. If you’re short on time, stick to the palace itself, but the gardens are worth exploring if you can spare a few extra hours.
Catacombs
Credit: flickr
For something a little eerie, head to the Catacombs beneath Paris. This underground maze stretches for miles and is lined with the bones of over six million Parisians, carefully arranged in haunting patterns.
Montmartre
Credit: flickr
This part of Paris doesn’t need a schedule. You can follow whatever street looks interesting, climb a few stairs, and then sit outside with a glass of something cold. Sacré-Cœur pulls the tourists, but the side streets are where you’ll probably end up staying longer.
Le Marais
Credit: iStockphoto
Wrap up your trip with dinner in Le Marais. This neighborhood has plenty of options, from casual falafel to chic bistros. The lively atmosphere, delicious food, and the views will allow you to end your last evening in the City of Love on a good note.