What To Do In Paris City For 3 Days

You have limited budget for holiday or leisure away from reality and you decide to spend it in Paris for 3 days?

Visiting Paris for the first time can be overwhelming especially when you only have 3 days to accommodate your plan for activity or event in the city of lights and romance. We all know that 3 days will never be adequate when you plan for a visit to another country. Paris is one of those cities where you can never truly have enough time to explore. Paris is a big city and it requires a good amount of your time to explore and see every quarter. If you only have 3 days to make the most unforgettable moments in Paris, it's vital to plan ahead of time. Prior to your departure I highly recommend that you write up a plan and stick to it once you arrived in Paris. Plan all specific activities you prefer to do and make the most of it each day.

I have been to Paris a couple of times and the last time I went there I had only 3 days to enjoy the beauty of Paris. Even though I had already seen the highlights a couple of times previously, I still toured around some particular places by purchasing a tour bus ticket for 3 days. Within those 3 days I managed to see nearly most of Central Paris. Here is a breakdown of what I planned and saw that I believe is a “must see” of Paris when you only have 3 days!

First day tour

Morning 9:30 AM – 12:30 pm – See most of Paris by

L’Open Tour Bus

I stayed at Cluny Square Hotel, which is located at Saint Michel in the Latin Quarter. I got up early as I couldn’t sleep in considering that I only had limited time. I arrived at the bus stop by 9:30 at 96 boulevard Saint-Germain Musee national du Moyen-Age, Thermes et Hotel de Cluny. This is where I waited for my L’Open Tour Bus, which I had purchased tickets for 3 days in advance online at Conciergeri - L’Open Tour Paris Buses. You can use the Opentour Paris bus pass to discover the city for one or three days. You can definitely purchase your Opentour Paris Hop On/Off in advance and have it delivered to your home, your hotel, or a convenient pickup location in Paris if you're renting an apartment.

There are a few tour buses in Paris, however the Open Tour Paris Bus is by far the best that I have experienced. It’s a hop on and off bus, which means you can get off the bus at any stop along the route and take another tour bus again, perhaps later in the day, by simply showing your purchased ticket to the driver. They provide four routes – Paris Grand Tour, Montmarte – Grands Boulevards, Montparnasse – Saint Germain and Bastille – Bercy. Each route is colour coded. I was satisfied with the service as the driver provided me with a map, discount vouchers and a headphone.

The first day starting from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm I sat on the open top deck of the tour bus to see most of Paris (and to also get a great tan in the wonderful summer sun). I decided to view the entire four routes, while the heat from the sun was not too bad before midday. It was worthwhile as I was able to view how beautiful Paris is whilst sitting on top of the bus. Additionally, I was able to take notes at the same time and was also able to decide on which quarter of Paris I wanted to stop by and see for the rest of the afternoon or for the next 2 days of my stay.

A quick note: this tour bus also conveniently features on-board vending machines, so you can grab a diet-coke while enjoying the sights and sun. I found this a life saver on the hotter summer days when touring, and this also means that you don’t necessarily have to get off at a stop for refreshment!

Afternoon

By 12:30 I was back at the Latin Quarter after sitting on the bus top deck floor for 3 hours. So I decided to have some kebabs for lunch along the Latin Quarter.

La Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Paris

After lunch I walked towards La Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Paris. I only stayed there for half an hour and took some photos, however I didn’t go inside because I had already seen the interior view of the Notre-Dame on my previous vacation. But for those of you who haven’t been inside please do so. It’s worth visiting even for only 1 hour.

Musee du Louvre

By two in the afternoon I headed towards Musee du Louvre, as it wasn’t too far from the Notre-Dame. On my way to the Louvre I got to see the beautiful view of the River Siene and the cruise boats full of tourists. I also stopped by at the Pont Neuf (the oldest bridge in Paris) just for relaxation and enjoyed every moment of it whilst standing by the bridge starring into the river with the sunlight on my back. Afterwards, I finally arrived at the Louvre and spent 30 minutes just wandering outside and taking some photos. The Pyramid du Louvre is a large glass and metal pyramid, which also a “must see” in Paris. I did not go inside because I had already seen the inside of the Louvre couple of years ago. But if you only have three days to visit Paris, I still recommend that you to stop by at the Louvre and take some photos outside or just wander around for 20 minutes. I’m afraid if you purchase your ticket to see the architectures and paintings inside the Louvre you need at least 6 hours or more of your time to see it all. So it is entirely up to you how you plan it because visiting the Louvre takes almost a whole day.

If you plan ahead in time how you could fit the Musee du Louvre bypass the lines, buy your Louvre Museum Ticket in advance and have it delivered to your home, your hotel, or a convenient pickup location in Paris if you're renting an apartment.

Seine River Tour

If you also plan to accommodate a seine river tour for one hour of your time. Here is a perfect deal which you could purchase from home prior to your arrival. Discover Paris with a one-hour multilingual Paris River Cruise sailing from the Eiffel Tower.

Printemps

By 3:30 in the afternoon I arrived at Printemps Haussmann situated at 64 Boulevard, Haussmann. This is a well known French department store. I have been to the boulevard Haussmann a few times in the past, however I never really went inside Printemps Department Store to explore some of the beautiful items on sale and the restaurants inside. During my recent visit I managed to accommodate browsing inside Printemp Department Store. This store contains a lot of floors and each level comprises of branded item collections from Gucci, Guess, Armani, Omega, Jean Paul Gaultier and many more. So if you plan to purchase at least one of your favorite branded clothes or accessories then Printemps is the best department store to purchase from. I can reassure you that you can find the best branded items in this store. Printemps does not only have branded items on sale but a variety of restaurants as well. The different levels offer choices of restaurants to eat that should suit if you are looking for a posh taste of Paris. These places to eat are the Brasserie Printemps, Cojean, Café Be, Laduree, Pouchkine, Le Deli-cieux and Le World Bar.

After going through each level I decided to have my coffee on the 9^th floor at Le Deli-Cieux inside Printemps Department Store. This is the top roof terrace where you can pretty much enjoy a glass of wine or champagne or even just have a cup of coffee. The top roof terrace of Printemps Department Store has by far the most breathtaking view of Paris that is second only to the view of Paris from the Eiffel Tower. Entry to this roof terrace is free as you will be able to see all the familiar highlights such as the Eiffel Tower, Sacre Coeur and Arc de Tiomphe and many more. I stayed at the terrace for almost 2 hours just sitting on the chair with my coffee watching the distant beautiful view of a wide Paris - it was very pleasant to look at! The roof terrace is also a place to take different angle shots and photos with a 360 panorama view. I also met some tourists having a glass of coffee and wine while enjoying the sights, taking photos and videos of Paris.

This is one of the most beautiful places that I happened to visit during my recent holiday in Paris. It’s worth visiting the store just to see the view from the terrace. Staying there for 30 minutes to an hour is just enough (well almost enough!).

Latin Quarter

I arrived at 6:30 at my last destination for the day, which is the Latin Quarter. I explored more of the bohemian lifestyle although I have been in there many times in the past. In fact I stayed in one of the hotels along Saint Michel, which is not far from the Latin Quarter. I must say that this quarter is overcrowded with tourists and as well as locals wandering around the area. This is one of my favorite arrodissements of Paris as it’s full of energy and liveliness. This area has full of Mediterranean foods, jazz bars and crepes, which is actually what I had for dinner prior to returning to my hotel.

Even if you only have 3 days to see Paris don’t forget to accommodate the Latin Quarter in your must see list.

Second Day Tour

Morning

Champs-Elysees – Arc de Tiomphe

I took the green line tour bus at 9:30, which is the Paris Grand Tour route located at 27 Quai Saint-Michel just opposite my hotel (Cluny Square). I stopped at the beginning of Avenue des Champs-Elysees and walked towards the end to see the Arc de Triomphe. This avenue is famous and widely known amongst other boulevards in the world. You would have seen some films and movies that are set in this illustrious avenue.

I walked around Champs-Elysees doing window shopping, taking photos and enjoying the ambiance. This is absolutely my favorite place in Paris however it might be impossible to live in this quarter as the apartments are tremendously expensive. This avenue is known to be pricey when it comes to restaurants however there are some restaurants in there that allow you to enjoy a meal without having to destroy your credit card. By 10:30 am I managed to stop by at Pomme de Pain, which is a reasonable restaurant along Champs-Elysees for brunch. This restaurant offers delicious foods that are not incredibly expensive. After the meal, I then headed towards the Arc de Triomphe.

This is a must see famous avenue of Paris even if you are only staying for 3 days. I have been there a few times and I still can’t get enough of it. I absolutely love this area as I can feel like a model walking along Champs-Elysees and seeing all the beautiful shops, street performers and Parisians eating and drinking in the cafes and restaurants.

Afternoon

Trocadero

By 1 pm I caught the tour bus by the Arc de Tiomphe heading towards Trocadero, which is not very far away. In Trocadero you can enjoy the atmosphere from the Place de Chaillot as it overlooks the Eiffel Tower. Alternatively you can find yourself a beautiful seat at the Trocadero Garden, which is also just opposite the Eiffel Tower and across from the River Siene. Moreover you’ll also enjoy the ambiance in this garden as you’ll discover many sculptures. This area is also a good place to take beautiful photographic shots especially portraits.

Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is widely known and is a symbol of Paris.

It’s walking distance from the Trocadero, so I came to the Eiffel Tower again after a few years. It’s still the same to me and it hasn’t changed at all despite the fact that the queue to purchase your ticket to get to the top was even longer this time! I arrived by the Eiffel Tower at 3 pm and the line was extremely long. So, I waited in the queue for an hour just so I could purchase my ticket. Finally, at 4pm I was on top of the Eiffel Tower and spent the whole 2 hours visiting each level.

If you’re visiting Paris for the first time I would advise you to see the Eiffel Tower early in the morning in order to miss out on the long queues.

Laduree at Champs-Elysees

Prior to returning to my hotel, I decided to meet some of my friends at the Laduree Restaurant situated in Champs-Elysees for dinner. The first time I ever had dinner at the most beautiful boulevard in the world. The atmosphere is absolutely magnificent and very French. However most of the staff there were not very approachable at all. If you plan to taste some Macaroons at Champ-Elysees after having dinner, this restaurant is the place to eat despite all the unfriendly staff.

You cannot miss out on tasting the beautiful baked confection the “Macaroons”, which is popularly known in Paris. The Laduree at Champs-Elysees offers traditional French cuisine and various flavours of macaroons.

Third Day Tour

Morning

Opera Garnier and Haussmann Boulevard

During my last day in Paris I caught the tour bus opposite Cluny Hotel at 27, Quai Saint-Michel, Place saint-Michel, Sainte Chapelle heading towards Auber at 13, Rue Auber, La Boutique Printemps Haussmann. I strolled around the area to see more shops along side streets and as well as seeing the beautiful French restaurants from the outside view and experiencing the ambiance of Haussmaan Boulevard. I then walked pass Opera de Paris or Opera Garnier, however I didn’t go inside as I just wanted to see the sights while passing by.

I’m not quite sure if you would be able to accommodate Opera de Paris within those 3 days of your stay as it surely will take hours watching the exhibitions. Nevertheless, this is a spectacular architectural treasure and a crucial place to be if you truly love watching ballet and the classical music scene in Paris Opera. This Opera is one of the most famous attractions of the Haussmann Boulevard amongst tourists - so there’s no doubt of seeing different cultures in there.

According to my travel guide book the tickets price varies from different performances that includes ballet and classical music. The opening hours also vary depending on the season each year.

Afternoon

Montmarte – Sacre Coeur

I stopped at Trinite – Gare Saint-Lazare to catch the tour bus again heading towards Montmartre-Anvers. I chose to stop by at Montmarte again as this is also one of my favorite district in Paris. I also love being in the narrow cobblestone paved streets, walking up the stairways and most of all seeing all the beautiful restaurants, hidden gardens and the street performers. In addition, the Sacre Coeur Basilica is a must see which is situated on top of Montmarte. The Sacre Coeur sits on top of the hilly part of Montmarte, which definitely requires strong legs to walk up the stairs. When you are in Sacre Coeur it’s definitely worth taking great photos as it’s overlooking the city of Paris.

Moreover, I came upon Le Vrai Paris Bar and Restaurant located at 33 rue de Abbesses, whilst walking around Montmartre. So, I decided to have a break and have my late lunch and a cup of coffee. It was a pleasurable experience as I hardly have lunch at a Bar and Restaurant in Paris every day! Notwithstanding it’s one of those bar and restaurants that is popularly known in rue de Abbesses amongst tourists and locals. I also noticed that most Parisians were enjoying their meal and champaign at Le Vrai Paris. Prices for their meal are comparatively average.

Moulin Rouge

Final destination for the entire 3 days trip in Paris is the Pigalle district where the Moulin Rouge is situated. I arrived in Moulin Rouge late in the afternoon. I explored this district a few years ago and it’s not my favorite place, however I still went to visit again during my recent rip. My first impression of this area during my first trip was that it’s full of sex shops, expensive shops and gang members. The only decent attraction I could think of was the Moulin Rouge. I didn’t go inside this time to watch the Moulin rouge show as it was nearing night time and I had to go back to my hotel to start packing for my departure the following day.

Please be advised that if you venture to Pigalle district you need to be vigilant with your belongings and most of all your safety. I had witnessed with my own eyes a blonde girl walking with her high heels and skimpy outfit being robbed by three guys. I don’t think that Pigalle is a safe area at all especially if you are traveling alone. This is one of the reasons why I did not stay there for long this time (I just wanted to see what the area was like in recent times).

However, if you would like to accommodate Moulin Rouge in your plans I would highly recommend you to visit Pigalle district (Moulin Rouge) during day time as it’s more dangerous at night time. If you are traveling solo just ensure that you don’t carry lots of cash and avoid showing your camera in suspicious parts of Pigalle. I know a lot of my friends are put off by this area as it’s full of gang members, sex shops, and homeless people and overall it does not look clean in some parts of Pigalle.

Lastly, I strongly recommend to book your evening at Moulin Rouge Paris in advance, whether if you decide to watch some shows or for dinner. Make sure that you take a taxi back to your apartment or hotel as it’s definitely not safe to take the metro or even walking alone at night.