3-day itinerary
Paris in 3 days: the perfect weekend itinerary
Paris in 3 days is intense but worth it. This route covers the iconic monuments, two major museums, the Left Bank's literary cafes, Montmartre's hilltop village, and the Marais's design district.
Day 1: Louvre, Notre Dame, the Marais
Morning
Louvre at opening (9am, pre-book to skip queues). Allow 3 hours - hit Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Egyptian wing, Napoleon III apartments.
Afternoon
Walk through the Tuileries Garden, across Pont Neuf to Ile de la Cite. Notre Dame (reopened Dec; free entry) + Sainte-Chapelle (13 EUR; the stained glass is the highlight).
Evening
Walk through the Marais for design-shop browsing and falafel queues on Rue des Rosiers. Dinner at Breizh Cafe (best crepes in Paris) or Chez Janou (classic bistro).
If you have an extra hour
Pere Lachaise Cemetery in the late afternoon if you have energy - Jim Morrison, Edith Piaf, Oscar Wilde.
Day 2: Eiffel Tower, Orsay, Saint-Germain
Morning
Champ de Mars early for Eiffel Tower photos. Climb the tower (29 EUR summit) or just see it from Trocadero across the river.
Afternoon
Musee d'Orsay (16 EUR, closed Monday) for the world's best Impressionist collection. Allow 2.5-3 hours. Lunch at the Orsay rooftop cafe.
Evening
Walk across the river into Saint-Germain. Cafe time at Les Deux Magots or Cafe de Flore. Dinner at Bouillon Pigalle or a classic Saint-Germain bistro.
If you have an extra hour
Late-evening Eiffel Tower with hourly sparkle show (after 8pm Apr-Aug, 7pm Sep-Mar).
Day 3: Montmartre, Versailles, or Marche aux Puces
Morning
Choice: Montmartre + Sacre-Coeur (climb up at 7am for crowd-free; village atmosphere by 10am) OR Versailles day-trip (30 min by RER C; closed Monday).
Afternoon
Montmartre option - walk down through Place du Tertre (artists' square), Espace Dali, Moulin Rouge. Versailles option - palace tour (full day commitment).
Evening
Wine bar dinner in the 11th arrondissement (Septime, Le Servan, or Le Verre Vole). End at a riverside walk along the Seine.
If you have an extra hour
Marche aux Puces de Saint-Ouen (Saturday-Monday) is the alternative Sunday-morning move.