Paris is one of the most visited cities in the world and one of the most romantic cities in Europe. It’s a beautiful city, easy to walk around, with an interesting history, and with lots of things to see and do. You can never be wrong with Paris!
The first weekend of September we're heading to Paris from Amsterdam with the Thalys train just a 3-hour ride to Paris North where we take the metro to our first hotel.
So, you’re planning a trip to Paris? Welcome to one of our favorite cities. With 3 days in Paris, you have enough time to take in the view from the Eiffel Tower, say hi to Mona Lisa in the Louvre, eat street food crepes, climb the Arc de Triomphe, explore several Parisian neighborhoods, and visit the amazing Palace of Versailles. We put together this 3-day Paris itinerary to help you have the best experience.
The Seine River is the most beautiful avenue in Paris and a trip to the City of Light cannot be complete without a walk along its banks. Starting from Notre Dame, on the right bank, head west and admire the city’s beautiful architecture with its quintessential Parisian Roofs, the famous “Bouquinistes” but also some of the city’s main sights like the Louvre, Les Invalides or the Eiffel Tower. It’s classic Paris and a Paris walk that will give you the chance to see the incredible bridges that cross the river such as Pont Alexandre III, Pont Des Arts, Pont de l’Alma, and Pont Neuf. And if you don’t fancy walking all the back to where you started on the left bank, hop on board a Seine River Cruise and take in the sights from the water level. Or grab a meal as you do on a dinner cruise!
Louvre
Even if you are in Paris only for the weekend, block a couple of hours on your agenda to visit one of the best art museums in the world (which also happens to be the most famous Paris museum too!) The Louvre Museum has a central location in Paris and hosts artwork from across history including Western art from the medieval period to 1848, formative works from the civilizations of the ancient world, and works of Islamic art so there is something for every taste.
Some of the Louvre’s most famous works include Mona Lisa, the Seated Scribe, The Winged Victory of Samothrace, and Venus de Milo, just to name a few.
Eiffel Tower
What better way to start your trip to Paris than with a visit to the Eiffel Tower? This is, without doubt, the most iconic landmark in Paris (if not France!), and a visit here is a must for any visit to Paris. When we visit Paris, we always visit at least once, and every time we are amazed at the sheer scale of this beautiful building.
Notre Dame
No more than ten minutes walk from Sainte Chapelle is Paris’s most famous religious building, known for her flying buttresses, twin towers, and, of course, hunchback resident.
You will definitely see two out of those three when you visit Notre Dame, the major Catholic cathedral in Paris. Construction of this magnificent building took nearly two hundred years and was completed in 1345.
Current situation Notre Dame
On the evening of 15 April 2019, a large fire partially destroyed the upper part of Notre Dame Cathedral. The fire caused serious damage, but thanks to the 400 firefighters at the scene, the monument was able to be partly saved. From May 31, 2020, the cathedral’s parvis is accessible to the public, a first step towards the full reopening of Notre Dame. The archaeological crypt is once again open to visitors. However, the cathedral’s towers and treasures will be closed to the public until further notice.
The reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is announced for 2024. A Te Deum is planned for 15 April 2024, exactly 5 years after the fire. The supervision of the restoration is entrusted to the architect Philippe Villeneuve. The general principle is to rebuild the cathedral identically, including the spire.
Arc de Triomphe
We’re going to finish off our three-day Paris itinerary with a visit to the Arc de Triomphe, another of Paris’s iconic landmarks. From the Louvre you can either take public transport here, or you can walk up the Champs Elysees, Paris’s most famous shopping street.
Montmartre
Finishing off your last day in Paris is to head to the Montmartre region. This is home to a large hill, atop which sits the glorious Sacre Coeur de Montmartre, another of Paris’s iconic buildings.
This area of Paris was particularly famous as being home to artists, and folks like Dali, Picasso, and Hemingway all either lived or frequented this area. It’s still popular with artists, and the Place du Teatre is the place in Montmartre is the place to go to get your portrait or caricature painted
We stayed in 3 hotels in Paris in different areas
Le Narcisse Blanc Hotel***** & Spa is inspired by a muse who embodied the ideal of the timeless beauty of Paris. An elegant retreat that captures the spirit of Paris past and present, Timeless, elegant, and focused on the finer things in life. The hotel is within walking distance of the Eiffel Tower and many cozy streets in Paris. Le Narcisse Blanc & Spa is located in Paris, in the 7th district. Invalides and Tour-Maubourg Metro Stations are a 5-minute walk from the property. Guests can take advantage of a Spa with a sauna, and a fitness center.
Le Narcisse Blanc Hotel***** & Spa is an exclusive establishment at the heart of a historic neighborhood in which written the legend of Paris, the ‘City of Light’.With beautiful rooms and a winning location, Le Narcisse Blanc provides all the creative inspiration you need for a boutique city break in Paris... The Eiffel Tower, with its majestic setting in the Champ de Mars gardens. The artistic treasures of the Musée d’Orsay, and culinary delights of rue Cler. Le Narcisse Blanc puts you in the perfect position for exploring the City of Light’s most dazzling sights
Les Invalides
After we dropped our Luggage we start walking around wandering the Streets of Paris with Always the Eiffel tower high in the sky shining in the sun. Our first stop is the hotel Les Invalides
In 1670, no foundation existed to house wounded and homeless veterans who had fought for France. Louis XIV, who was anxious about what would happen to soldiers that had served during his numerous campaigns, decided to build the Hôtel Royal des Invalides. It`s one of the most prestigious monuments in Paris. Today, under the Ministry of Defence but is also occupied by numerous organizations that are part of other ministries.
The Hôtel National des Invalides still retains its original function as a hospital and hospice for badly injured and disabled war veterans. As well as the Musée de l'Armée, it comprises the Musée des Plans-Reliefs and the Musée de l'Ordre de la Libération as two churches: the Eglise du Dôme, which houses the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte designed by Visconti in 1843, and the Eglise Saint-Louis des Invalides.
We walked around the buildings shoot some photos and walked farther where we passed the luxury shopping mall Le Bon Marché and enjoyed some coffee in the many cafes in Paris. Did you know how many cafes there are in Paris? There are around 7000 cafes in Paris. In the 1880s there were around 45,000 cafes! our next stop is Le Jardin du Luxembourg in the lovely area to relax in the afternoon.
Le Jardin de Luxembourg is a very popular garden with Parisians who love to promenade here. Visit the garden when in Paris and enjoy the peace and beauty The gardens are a great place to relax whilst visiting Paris. If you have children there is a very good play area and a puppet show. Adults are catered for too and can play chess, tennis, bridge, or remote control boats. Whilst there are flower borders it is really more of a park. A place to enjoy some greenery in the heart of a city.
Here in the park, we relax a bit, look around and buy some ice cream and keep walking our route to the Seine river where our next stop is the Notre Dame. The Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture, is the most visited monument in France. It was built in the Middle Ages. In the middle of the city, Notre Dame de Paris means 'Our Lady of Paris'.
Notre-Dame de Paris, also called Notre-Dame Cathedral, cathedral church in Paris, France. It is the most famous of the Gothic cathedrals of the Middle Ages and is distinguished for its size, antiquity, and architectural interest
We enjoyed the afternoon sun in the park and walked around Notre Dame heading back to the Eifel tower following the Seine river and taking the metro to Champ de Mars - Tour Eiffel for watching the sunset in the park. 7 years ago we did this route also, we saw many things are changing militaries are these days usual by the cultural sights, if you one visit the Eifel tower now the security looks like an airport, it feels sad we lost so much freedom in Europe
The next morning we woke up early to watch the Sunrise by the Eifel tower to shoot some photo`s there and avoid the crowd. Still, there were some people shooting for magazines and we meet up with some other bloggers. After a couple of hours and visiting all the viewpoints and the typical postcard views of the Eifel tower we headed back to our hotel to enjoy a lovely breakfast in our room en relax until around 11:00 and checked out take the metro to our next neighborhood.
Our next hotel is Hôtel Square Louvois This stylish hotel enjoys a central location, with easy access to the Louvre and Palais Garnier opera. The underground pool and relaxation area are delightful, unusual for central Paris. A beautiful boutique hotel in the second arrondissement, full of Art Deco touches and elegant Parisian design in a lovely neighborhood full of Asian restaurants. In the heart of the 2nd arrondissement of Paris, just a short distance from Opéra Garnier and Boulevard Haussmann, the Square Louvois Hotel elegantly combines contemporary design with Haussmann-like influences. Its refined style with Art Deco details makes the 4-star hotel the new chic place to be in the French capital.
It offers warm, sophisticated rooms, a wellness center with a vaulted underground swimming pool and a gym, a modernized business area, outstanding services, and more. Whether you are on a business trip, a holiday with friends, or a romantic weekend, each stay here is a unique experience that will make you want to come back again and again. After a warm welcome from the staff and some drinks, we dropped our luggage and discovered the area of our hotel Hôtel Square Louvois
The Hôtel Square Louvois**** lies in the 2nd arrondissement in central Paris just minutes away from the city’s main attractions (Musée du Louvre, Jardin des Tuileries, Opéra Garnier, Grands Magasins etc.) We walked to Musee du Louvre did some sightseeing at the Le Palais Royal and relaxing in the park.
Le Palais Royal Created by Cardinal Richelieu in 1633, the Palais Royal and its gardens, just a short walk from the Louvre, housed royal families up until the Palace of Versailles was built. Prestigious and peaceful, the gardens are surrounded by superb futuristic architecture with contemporary sculptures by Buren and Bury. The Colonnes de Buren was designed by artist Daniel Duren and is situated in the courtyard, near the garden and Ministry of Culture. The 260 black and white striped octagonal columns are definitely worth a visit and are one of the symbols of Paris.
After some photos and sightseeing, we took the metro to Rue Cremieux a lovely colorful neighborhood in the city. This charming street is located in the 12th arrondissement, between Rue de Lyon and Rue de Bercy. A lovely spot for a picture. Rue Crémieux is beginning to fall victim to its success and you may well not be the only one taking photographs in this street whose façades are reminiscent of Portobello in London or Burano in Venice. The light plays with the colors all day long, so much so that fashion bloggers have made it their favorite spot for presenting the latest outfits. Here’s some advice so that this little piece of paradise remains one – be discreet! Rue Crémieux 75012 Paris
We loved to shoot here but except this street in this area is not much to do so we took the metro back to Louvre to watch the sunset there. I love to watch the sun going down behind the pyramid
The Louvre Museum is unquestionably one of the finest art galleries in the world. Home to hundreds of thousands of classic and modern masterpieces, the Louvre is the icing on the cake of French culture and a testament to European art history – it’s not surprising that it’s also the most visited art gallery in the world!
The next morning we woke up and enjoy breakfast in the hotel, did some morning swimming, and headed to our next hotel within walking distance Hotel Secret de Paris
in the heart of Paris and just a stroll from the Grands Magasins, the boutique design Hotel Secret de Paris bathes you in the atmosphere of the City of Light. With wit and designer dash, the design hotel offers all the creature comforts you could wish for in a luxury boutique hotel. And by night, it’s the perfect place to prolong the magic of Paris, France.
Secret de Paris - Design Boutique Hotel is located in Paris, between Montmartre and Opera Garnier. It offers luxurious, boutique-style accommodations and facilities such as a sauna, hammam, and fitness center.
On our last day in Paris, we walked up to Montmartre and wandered around the colorful Streets and did some shooting but it was very crowded so we did a Thai lunch and take the metro to the Streets around the Eifel tower for some last photo spots visit The Champs-Elysées this is the most famous avenue in the world. the Avenue des Champs-Élysées is a Paris must-see. Tourists and Parisians can be spotted strolling at any time of day or night and at any time of year along this iconic two-kilometer stretch between the Place de la Concorde and the Arc de Triomphe. Like the Eiffel Tower, the avenue is a symbol of Paris
On our last day we woke up early to wander around the Streets of Montmartre to avoid the crowd. The Streets were quiet and lonely in the morning, with only a few people cleaning the Streets. The Sacré Cœur on top of the hill of Montmartre not only offers the best view of Paris. The famous district in the north of the city has had more influence on the history of the city than any other place in Paris. Montmartre is a misunderstood gem. Of course, the hordes of visitors climb the stairs to see the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, to make a clichéd French meal disappear, and to catch a glimpse of the great Parisian skyline, but what is really hidden in it? those charming alleys with kaseien? Here are our suggestions on how to experience the sights of Montmartre in this lively district uphill.
After some sightseeing and photo shooting were headed back to our hotel to enjoy our breakfast and get some more sleep. It was a great trip and weekend in Paris but we were so tired of walking my legs tingling everywhere we need a day full of sleep
After a couple of hours of sleep, we checked out and took the train back to Amsterdam, I hope you enjoy our trip and see you next trip
Below is a list of the places to visit if you have 3 days in Paris.
Eiffel Tower
Arc de Triomphe
The Louvre
The Champs-Élysées
Notre Dame Cathedral
Île de la Cité
Seine River
Montmartre
Sacre-Coeur Basilica
Versailles
The Catacombs
Best time to visit
In general, spring and fall are the best times of the year to visit Paris. During this time, the weather is great for sightseeing and crowds tend to be lower than in the busy summer months. But here is a breakdown by the season of what you can expect in Paris:
WINTER: Paris is cold during the winter months, with average highs ranging from 5 to 7°C and the average low hovering just above freezing. Rainfall is slightly higher than most of the other seasons, with Paris getting about 8 days of rainfall per month in the winter. Skies tend to be overcast on a regular basis.
SPRING: The spring brings warmer temperatures and clearer skies. In early April, the average high temperature is still on the cooler side The average high in May is 19°C but it can be much warmer than this, on unusually warm days. April is a beautiful month to visit Paris when the trees begin getting leaves and flowers are in bloom.
SUMMER: Summers are warm with sunny skies. The average high is 24°C but during a heat wave, it can get up to 38°C. This doesn’t happen every year, but it is a possibility. Crowds are at their highest during the summer.
FALL: In fall, the weather turns cooler and rain chances increase slightly over the summer months. October is another beautiful month to visit Paris, with cool weather and a hint of fall colors.
Our favorite months to visit Paris are April and October. The weather is wonderful and crowds aren’t at their peak levels.
How to get there and how to get around
Paris is well connected to most of the main airports in the world. Also, the city has direct train connections with many European cities like London, Amsterdam, Brussels, and Frankfurt. The advantage of traveling via the train station is that you arrive directly at the city center.
If you are arriving in Paris by plane into Charles de Gaulle, there are many ways to get from the airport to the city being the most popular ones the RER B (10.30€), Taxi G7 (24 hours a day, 50€ to 70€) or airport shuttles like Le Bus Direct (12€ to 21€ depending on the route).
Paris is a great city to walk and a lot of people will enjoy their tour of Paris more when they explore on foot. You can also use local public transportation and the T+ ticket (1.90€) can be used to travel by metro, train, bus, and tram. There are also metro stations everywhere so the Paris metro is very easy to navigate. In addition, the city has more than 700km of cycling paths, and Paris by bike is a fun way to explore Paris. Velib also provides more than 18.000 (mechanical and electrical) bikes to hire available across the city, with interactive and easy-to-use terminals. Bikes are free for the first 30 minutes, paying 1€ (or 2€ for electrical bikes) for each additional half hour.
