Paris may be the “City of Love” but it’s not just for romance. My daughter Lola and I spent 3 unforgettable days there in the summer during a 2 week trip to Europe and both agreed, Paris was our favorite! The picturesque streets, delicious food, and rich history still has us dreaming of returning. Whether you’re visiting for the first time or returning after years away, a well planned 3-day Paris itinerary can give you a genuine feel for the city. We’ve put together a free Google map of every spot mentioned in this itinerary at the end of the post. Save it to your Google account for easy, stress-free navigation.
Where to Stay: Why We Chose Montmartre and Why You Should Too
Paris is divided into 20 arrondissements with the 1st starting in the city center, then spiraling clockwise. Montmartre sits in the 18th and is just a 30min metro ride from central Paris. Situated on a hill with cobblestone streets, it looks like all the Parisian scenes you’ve imagined. Artists and authors such as Picasso, Van Gogh, Renoir and Dumas once lived and worked here. Choosing to stay in Montmartre rather than the city center was one of the best decisions we made on this trip. It gave our entire stay a more intimate, storybook quality that the busy tourist heavy area can’t offer.
A must see here is the Sacre-Coeur basilica which sits at the highest point of Montmartre and overlooks Paris. Since our hotel was so close, we were able to experience the view during the day and night, and honestly, both were breathtaking in completely different ways. Don’t skip the evening visit.
Next to the Sacre-Coeur is the sinking house which is not really sinking but an optical illusion because of the hill in front of it. Position your camera to make the slope look like flat ground, and the building appears to be sinking.The best spot for the shot is at the bottom of the stairs leading up to Sacré-Cœur.
The surrounding cobblestone streets are lined with charming bakeries, restaurants, and boutiques worth exploring leisurely. Two restaurants not to be missed:
- Le Consulat — a café that has been around since 1790 and was frequented by Picasso and Van Gogh. We tried the frog legs (yes, they really do taste like chicken) and witnessed live music and dancing in the street out front.
- La Maison Rose — the iconic pink café on the corner, best photographed from Rue des Saules, which you’ll pass on your way from Le Consulat. Reservations required.
Place du Tertre is a famous square in the heart of Montmartre where painters showcase their art and restaurants set up outdoor seating. First opened to the public in 1635, the square quickly became a gathering spot for painters, writers and poets, and that nostalgia is still felt today. This is another place to experience during the day as well as night.
Near the Abbesses metro station is a garden featuring the “Wall of Love” (Le Mur des je t’aime), a blue tiled wall with the words “I love you” written 311 different ways in over 250 languages. Frédéric Baron and Claire Kito collected the phrases over several years from friends, colleagues, embassy workers, and travellers, and completed the art display in 2000. Random red shapes scattered across the wall symbolize broken hearts; a reminder that love is fragile yet universal. The garden is free to enter but check operating hours. This is an easy stop as you’ll likely take the Abbesses metro into Paris.
Another interesting stop in Montmartre is The Passer-Through-Walls (Le Passe-Muraille), a sculpture of a man partially stuck in a wall, honoring a short story from 1943 written by Marcel Aymé. The man, Dutilleul, realizes he can pass through walls after a power outage and gets into all sorts of shenanigans but eventually his power fades and he becomes stuck in a wall.
Curious about a Parisian cabaret? The infamous Moulin Rouge is also in Montmartre although a little further on the southern outskirts. The “Féerie” revue show is a display of beauty, glamour, and nostalgia. Get your tickets ahead of time.
Now that you’ve got your homebase covered, here’s how to spend three days in Paris.
Day 1: Settle into Montmartre
- Arrive and decompress with a proper Parisian meal at Le Consulat, La Maison Rose, or any of the flower-draped restaurants along the cobblestone streets.
- Visit the Sacre-Coeur Basilica and take in the view of Paris from the lawn in front of the basilica. Snap a picture of the sinking house and see if you can spot the Eiffel Tower (it’s not visible from the lawn, but from a side street just below the basilica.)
- Roam around the cobblestone streets where you’ll see beautiful intricate doors, shops and restaurants covered in flowers, and artists and musicians working on their craft.
- Visit The Passer-Through-Walls sculpture.
- Find your native language, or one you’re learning on the Wall of Love.
- Dinner at Pink Mama (near Montmartre in the Pigalle district/9th arrondissement) or splurge on dinner with a show at Moulin Rouge.
- Stroll around the Place du Tertre and stop for a drink or dessert
- Head back to the Sacre-Couer for an evening view of the basilica and city. The Eiffel will be easier to spot at this time.
Day 2: Museums, Cathedrals & Literary Cafés
- Start with breakfast in Montmartre or grab a coffee and croissant near the Abbesses metro station on your way to the city center. (Google maps works well for metro directions and stops)
- The Louvre Museum! You can easily spend days here and still not see everything, but we only have 3 days so decide what is most important to you. (The Mona Lisa will have a huge line but it moves pretty quickly.) For the gram, get a photo pinching the top of the Louvre Pyramid.
- Lunch at the iconic Café du Flore or Les Deux Magots (situated across from each other)
- Stroll around Luxembourg garden (Jardin du Luxembourg) which is situated on 56 acres and split into formal English and French gardens. This is the perfect place to embrace the European art of doing nothing for a while.
- Buy a book from the Shakespeare and Company bookstore where all the great writers once gathered; Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Joyce, Andre Gide to name a few.
- Notre Dame Cathedral
- Sainte-Chapelle
- Dinner at Le Louchebem
- Louis Vuitton art display outside the LV Dream store
Day 3: The Opera, The Eiffel Tower, and a Seine River Cruise
- Palais Garnier (built in the late 1800s) is one of the most magnificent opera houses in the world. Even if you don’t catch a performance, the self-guided tour through its gilded interiors and grand chandelier-lit halls is stunning.
- Arc de Triomphe
- Shop (or window shop) along Avenue des Champs Élysées
- Head towards the Seine river and get your first photo op with the Eiffel at Pont de l’Alma bridge and Av. de New York.
- Pick up picnic essentials: cheese, bread, fruit, and wine from a nearby shop or market.
- Head to the intersection of Rue de l’Université and Av. de la Bourdonnais for a beautiful view of the Eiffel between classical Haussmann buildings.
- Enjoy a picnic at Champ de Mars at the base of the Eiffel Tower. This is one of those moments you’ll talk about for years.
- Board a Seine river cruise for a different perspective on the city’s landmarks, with a little history woven in.
- End the night at Place du Trocadéro for a view of the shimmering Eiffel. It puts on a light show every hour on the hour after dark.
- Dinner back in Montmartre at Le Vrai Paris, right near the Abbesses metro station.
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A Few Final Notes Before You Go:
There is a lot of walking on this itinerary, so comfortable shoes are non-negotiable. That said, don’t feel pressure to rush through any of it. The best memories are sometimes in the small moments so take in the beauty of Paris. If your feet need a break, the metro is easy to navigate with Google Maps and will get you anywhere quickly.
We hope this inspires you to visit Paris and if you’ve already been, we’d love to hear about your experience in the comments below.
