Places to Visit in Paris in 3 Days
Check out our favorite places to visit in Paris, and how we spent three magical days exploring the city. Think breathtaking views, charming neighborhoods, and those little in-between places that end up being your favorites without warning!
My daughter and I spent two weeks traveling in Europe, first visiting London, and then taking the Eurostar to Paris. There we spent three incredible days eating, exploring, and soaking everything up. I’ve been taking French lessons for a few years, and my tutor is French. She shared some of her “must-see” items for someone going for the first time, as well as some really great tips that worked really well for us.
There is a lot to do in Paris and surrounding areas, but we didn’t have a lot of time, and weren’t able to do nearly everything we wanted to do, especially going out of the city. One of our three days was spent in Versailles, so we really only had two days in Paris. But we maximized our time and saw as much as we could, and loved it! Even though we were on the go a lot, it was worth it to fit in as much as possible.
Table of contents
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Where we stayed
In my search for lodging, I came across the stunning Hotel Rochechouart, Paris 9th Arrondissement. I was immediately charmed by the exterior photos, followed quickly by the interior. It’s been around since 1929, and with its art deco and modern vintage charm, it makes you really feel like you are staying in Paris. Only a few minutes from a metro station, it makes it easy to travel around the city and back again. I found it on Airbnb, which is where I booked it, but you can also do so on their site. It was pretty small, but just fine for the two of us. They do have larger rooms available, but we also had a budget to keep!
Transportation
We took the metro and train everywhere we need to go! It was pretty straight forward, and we were able to buy tickets at the first station we went to when we arrived. Throughout Paris, there are metro stations not more than 10 minutes of walking, making it very convenient and easy to use. Don’t be afraid to use it! We found it clean with clear signage.
Tours
I love tours when I’m on a trip, especially when it’s the first time I’m visiting, there is something I want to know about in depth, or I want to cover a lot of ground with someone who knows the area well. Viator is a favorite, and I use it on just about every trip I go on. There are a lot of options, and you can cancel 24 hours before your tour if something comes up or plans change. That has been especially useful when traveling with kids, as you just never know what can happen! Take a peek at my Paris collection of tours –my personal favorites as well as the most popular. The Versailles bike tour & picnic is unforgettable!!
See Paris in a 2CV: Classic Car Tour
This is one that my French teacher recommended to me! Take a tour around Paris in a classic car–Citröen 2CV. They give you a complete tour of Paris, anywhere from 1 hour to 5 hours. There is even a picnic option! You’ll be able to see many monuments, and even learn about ton of secret places that only local Parisians know. The cars are SO cute, and it’s such a fun way to really see the city and learn from experts at the same time. It’s the perfect thing to schedule for your first day, so you can get to know the city at the beginning of your stay.
Les Catacombs de Paris
“A veritable labyrinth in the heart of underground Paris, the Catacombs were installed in the tunnels of former quarries.” – The Paris Catacombs
20 meters (65 feet) below the surface, lay the remains of several million Parisians. When you visit, you descend to the tunnels, and walk through to view the ossuary while also learning about its history dating back to the late 18th century. It is utterly fascinating, and one of the highlights of our trip. I highly recommend visiting the Catacombs. Buying tickets ahead is also strongly recommended–it can and does sell out.
Eiffel Tower: Best Places to View
The Eiffel Tower is a must see–it’s absolutely worth visiting such an iconic and historic monument. But the best views might just be away from the tower!
Avenue des Camoëns
This is a little hidden spot tucked away in the 16th arrondissement. Walk to the end of the avenue, you’ll find a stunning view. Take photos, with the gorgeous buildings and the tower in the background. A very instagrammable spot, and one the very best places to see the Eiffel Tower. Here is a map location to help you find it. We visited in early spring, and it was gorgeous–but when everything is in full bloom, and when the fall leaves are in, it will take your breath away.
more places to view the tower
- Pont Alexandre III Bridge
- Place du Trocadero – from an elevated, more up close view (go early to avoid the crowds!)
- Rue de Buenos Aires
Musée de Louvre
One of the absolute highlights of Paris was visiting the Louvre. To come here and not see it would be a tragedy! There is so much history, and for an American, it feels almost impossible how old some of the art is that resides in the museum. As soon as you know you’re visiting Paris, you must get online and reserve tickets–at least 6 weeks ahead at the minimum, and that might not be enough especially through the busy travel months. You will not regret it!
I’m sharing a photo of the Mona Lisa, but that’s because I risked my life to get it, ha! When we visited, it was extremely crowded, and there was no system to stand in line to view it–more of a free-for-all. I was talking to someone who worked there and it wasn’t always like that, so I’m hoping now they’ve made some changes to the process. I booked a tour to see the Louvre, and it was one of the best things I could have done. There is so much to see, and I loved hearing about the in-depth history as we looked around.
Versailles Bike Tour & Picnic
This was one of the best travel days I’ve ever had. It was incredible from the beginning to the end, and I highly recommend! We booked a tour through Viator for a Versailles Bike Tour with a Market Visit & Picnic, and Grand Palace Tour. The tour included train tickets to Versailles, and we met our guides at the station. After arriving, we walked to the bike shop and chose our bikes. They even had baskets!
The first stop was a food market with local vendors where we shopped for bread, cheese, meat, pastries and produce. It was incredible–everything looked so good, it was tough to choose! Once we had our food and it was wrapped up, we put it in our baskets and continued biking. We visited the Royal Gardens and Fountains, then then hamlet of Marie Antoinette.
Next we parked our bikes and picnicked along the Grand Canal. It was a perfect day–sunny, but not too hot, with a slight breeze. We could see the palace at one end, and the beautiful water. I cannot think of anything better! It was magical.
The last stop was at the Palace, where we explored the Chateau, including the infamous Hall of Mirrors.
After returning our bikes to the shop, we took the train back to Paris–only about 45 minutes or so. It was such a wonderful day, and we still talk about it often. Definitely one of the very best things we did on our entire trip!
Shakespeare & Company + Bookstores
My daughter and I are avid readers, and finding the best bookstores were high on our priority list. We had one exploring day built in, with nothing specific planned, and this was also our bookstore day. We explored parks, walked up and down the Seine, ate the most delicious churros from a street vendor, and browsed for books. Shakespeare & Co. was at the top of our list. It’s right along the Seine, and we happened to be there when the cherry trees were blooming.
It’s a small bookstore, and they can only allow in a certain number of visitors, so there can be a line outside. We didn’t have to wait too long before we could go in. There are no photos allowed inside the store, but it’s about as charming (more so) than you could imagine.
When you buy a buy a book, they stamp inside the front cover, which is just about my favorite thing ever. We had already bought a bunch of books in London, and we had to really decide how many more we could get home in our luggage! But there is just something about knowing you have a book from a Paris bookshop that’s stamped–irresistible!
more bookstores
Librairie du Passage, Passage Jouffroy, 9th
Les Halles Saint-Pierre, Rue Ronsard, 18th
Notre Dame
We visited about 8 months before Notre Dame opened again after it tragically burned in 2019. We weren’t able to go in, and there was still a lot of construction happening around it, but we did take pictures and look around. It’s on our list for next time, but if you go to Paris, this should be on your list!
Musée d’Orsay & more
We had a few things on our list that we just ran out of time to do while we were there, but they are on our list for next time!
Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre
Macarons
My daughter loves macarons. She had her first taste when my husband brought some home from a business trip to Paris, and fell in love. It had to be on our list when we were there! You can find them many places, but our absolute favorite was Ladurée. Everything is gorgeous–from the store to the packaging, and macarons delectable. I adore the green and white check so much! Definitely worth a stop.
It was fabulous trip, and we loved every minute of it. Can’t wait to go back!
More favorite travel
- Visiting Prince Edward Island, Canada
- Must-See Places in London
- Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone Road Trip
Thanks so much for stopping by! Join me on Instagram for even more ideas and inspiration…I’d love to see you there. 🖤
