Paris
3
Day Itinerary •
France
Three days in Paris and Ile-de-France gives you the essential French capital, from the extraordinary Eiffel Tower rising above the Seine to the magnificent Gothic cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris, the extraordinary Louvre with the finest art collection in the world, the hilltop village of Montmartre and the finest food markets and bistros in Europe. This route covers the heart of Paris. The extraordinary Musee d'Orsay with the finest Impressionist collection in the world, the extraordinary Marais with its Place des Vosges, the extraordinary Sainte-Chapelle with its 15 windows of extraordinary medieval stained glass, the Pere Lachaise cemetery and the finest boulangeries and patisseries on earth.
Best Time To Visit
April to June or September to October
Getting There
Eurostar from London, TGV from major French cities, or fly to CDG or ORY
Getting Around
Metro and walking. No car needed in central Paris
Budget Per Day
Approx 130 to 220 euros per person per day
Difficulity
Easy, walking
DAY 1
THE EIFFEL TOWER AND THE LOUVRE
MORNING
TOUR EIFFEL, THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY IRON STRUCTURE IN THE WORLD
The Eiffel Tower is the most extraordinary iron structure in the world, its extraordinary lattice rising 330 metres above the Champ de Mars in three platforms of increasingly extraordinary views over Paris and the Ile-de-France. Arrive at 9am opening to beat the queues. The view from the second platform is finer than the summit on hazy days. The extraordinary ironwork details designed by Gustave Eiffel are unmissable at close range. Lift to summit approx 29 euros. Drive: 20 min walk
MIDDAY
THE LOUVRE, THE GREATEST MUSEUM IN THE WORLD
The Louvre is the greatest museum in the world, its extraordinary collection of 380,000 works in the finest palace in Paris requiring a lifetime to explore fully. The Winged Victory of Samothrace at the top of the Daru staircase, the Venus de Milo, the extraordinary Grande Galerie of Italian painting and the Mona Lisa are unmissable. Enter through the Richelieu wing to avoid the pyramid queue. Book online. Entry approx 22 euros. Drive: 20 min walk
AFTERNOON
TUILERIES, PALAIS ROYAL AND THE SEINE AT DUSK
The Jardin des Tuileries between the Louvre and the Place de la Concorde is the finest formal garden in Paris, its extraordinary alignment from the Louvre pyramid to the Arc de Triomphe the most extraordinary urban axis in Europe. The extraordinary Palais Royal arcades with their artist studios, restaurants and the Buren columns are unmissable. Walk the Seine embankment at dusk for the most extraordinary golden light on the bridges.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Musee de l'Orangerie in the Tuileries gardens contains Monet's Water Lilies in two extraordinary oval rooms, the paintings wrapping the walls in continuous 360-degree panoramas of extraordinary light and colour. Monet designed the rooms himself before his death. Entry approx 12 euros. Far fewer visitors than the Louvre and one of the most extraordinary art experiences in Paris.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Du Pain et des Idees, 10th arr. The finest croissant in Paris. Queue before 8am. The extraordinary pain des amis is unmissable. | Lunch: Cafe Marly, Louvre Outstanding brasserie overlooking the Louvre pyramid. Local duck confit and Bordeaux by the glass. | Dinner: Le Grand Vefour, Palais Royal Two Michelin stars in the most beautiful restaurant in Paris. Napoleon and Hugo both ate here.
DAY 2
ILE DE LA CITE AND THE MARAIS
MORNING
NOTRE-DAME DE PARIS, THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY GOTHIC CATHEDRAL IN FRANCE
Notre-Dame de Paris is the most extraordinary Gothic cathedral in France, its extraordinary twin towers, flying buttresses and extraordinary rose windows rising from the Ile de la Cite at the heart of the city. Largely restored after the extraordinary fire of April 2019, the cathedral reopened in December 2024 with its extraordinary interior in extraordinary condition. The exterior with its extraordinary gargoyles and the Square Jean XXIII garden behind are unmissable. Entry free. Drive: 10 min walk
MIDDAY
SAINTE-CHAPELLE AND THE CONCIERGERIE
The Sainte-Chapelle on the Ile de la Cite is the most extraordinary Gothic chapel in the world, its extraordinary upper chapel consisting almost entirely of 15 windows of 13th-century stained glass covering 600 square metres. Built by Louis IX in 1248 to house the Crown of Thorns, the effect of midday light through the extraordinary glass is the most overwhelming interior experience in Paris. Entry approx 13 euros. Book online. Drive: 15 min walk
AFTERNOON
LE MARAIS AND THE PLACE DES VOSGES
The Marais is the most extraordinary historic quarter in Paris, its extraordinary concentration of 17th-century hotels particuliers, the oldest planned square in France at the Place des Vosges and the finest contemporary galleries in the city making it the most extraordinary neighbourhood for walking. The Musee Carnavalet tells the extraordinary history of Paris free of charge. The Jewish quarter of the rue des Rosiers is extraordinary.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Crypte Archeologique beneath the parvis of Notre-Dame is the finest hidden museum in Paris, its extraordinary underground excavations revealing 2,000 years of Parisian history from Roman Lutetia to the medieval city. Entry approx 9 euros. Almost entirely unknown to visitors queuing above for the cathedral. The most extraordinary hidden gem on the Ile de la Cite.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe de Flore, Saint-Germain Coffee at the most celebrated cafe in Paris. Sartre and Beauvoir wrote here every morning. | Lunch: L'As du Fallafel, Marais The finest falafel in Paris on the rue des Rosiers. Queue is extraordinary but worth every minute. | Dinner: Benoit, Marais The finest traditional bistro in Paris. Extraordinary pot-au-feu, sole meuniere and Burgundy wine.
DAY 3
MONTMARTRE AND THE LEFT BANK
MORNING
MONTMARTRE, THE EXTRAORDINARY HILLTOP VILLAGE ABOVE PARIS
Montmartre is the most extraordinary neighbourhood in Paris, its extraordinary hilltop village of cobbled streets, vineyard, artist studios and the extraordinary white dome of Sacre-Coeur rising 130 metres above the city giving the finest panoramic view of Paris. The Place du Tertre where Picasso had his first Paris studio, the extraordinary Musee de Montmartre in the oldest house on the hill and the Moulin de la Galette are all extraordinary. Sacre-Coeur entry free. Drive: 20 min metro
MIDDAY
MUSEE D'ORSAY, THE FINEST IMPRESSIONIST COLLECTION IN THE WORLD
The Musee d'Orsay in the extraordinary converted Gare d'Orsay contains the finest Impressionist collection in the world. Monet's extraordinary series paintings, Renoir's Bal du Moulin de la Galette, Van Gogh's extraordinary self-portraits, Degas's extraordinary dancers and Cezanne's Card Players are among the most extraordinary paintings in existence. Book tickets online to avoid queues. Entry approx 16 euros. Drive: 20 min metro
AFTERNOON
PERE LACHAISE AND THE LATIN QUARTER
Pere Lachaise is the most extraordinary cemetery in the world, its extraordinary 44 hectares of cobbled lanes between the tombs of Chopin, Proust, Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison, Edith Piaf and Moliere making it the finest outdoor art gallery in Paris. The Latin Quarter around the Sorbonne with its extraordinary bouquinistes on the Seine embankment and the extraordinary Pantheon are unmissable. Pere Lachaise entry free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Musee Gustave Moreau in the 9th arrondissement is the most extraordinary artist's house museum in Paris, its extraordinary double-height studio crammed with the Symbolist painter's extraordinary mythological canvases, drawings and watercolours in the studio where he worked for 40 years. Entry approx 7 euros. Almost entirely unknown to visitors. The finest hidden museum in Paris.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: La Maison Rose, Montmartre Coffee at the most photographed corner in Montmartre before the tourists arrive. | Lunch: Le Comptoir du Relais, Saint-Germain Outstanding bistro by Yves Camdeborde. Extraordinary Saturday lunch menu and natural wines. | Dinner: Septime, 11th arr. The finest modern bistro in Paris. Book weeks ahead. Extraordinary seasonal tasting menu and wine list.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
Marais, 3rd or 4th arr. Hotel du Petit Moulin or Hotel Caron de Beaumarchais. Approx 130 to 220 euros. Saint-Germain, 6th arr. Hotel Lutetia or L'Hotel (where Oscar Wilde died). Approx 150 to 300 euros. Montmartre, 18th arr. Hotel Particulier Montmartre or Hotel des Arts. Approx 110 to 200 euros.
Top Tips
1. The Eiffel Tower at dawn before the lifts open, with mist on the Seine, is the most extraordinary Paris moment.
2. Book the Louvre for a Wednesday or Friday evening. The museum stays open until 9.45pm and crowds halve.
3. Sainte-Chapelle upper chapel at midday when sun floods through 15 windows of medieval glass is extraordinary.
4. The best croissant in Paris is at Du Pain et des Idees in the 10th. Queue before 8am on weekdays.
5. The Marais on a Sunday morning, when the Jewish bakeries open and the galleries are quiet, is extraordinary.
6. Pere Lachaise at dawn, before the Jim Morrison pilgrims arrive, is the most extraordinary garden in Paris.
Total Budget
130 to 220 euros/day