A beautiful city with an incredible history, excellent architecture and home to one world’s best cuisines, Paris is nothing less than an incredible city! With over 180 monuments and museums, gorgeous landmarks, spacious boulevards and more than 360 Michelin starred establishments. It is of no surprise that Paris ranks as of the most visited cities in Europe. A vast city with so much to do and with only 3-day to spare, it is crucial that you nail your itinerary!
This is the perfect itinerary for a first-timer spending three days in Paris. Featuring detailed guides, along with tips on where to wine and dine, this guide has been designed to ensure that you have the best experience!
Day 1 / Classic Paris Highlights
Morning at the Eiffel Tower
It’s day 1, and you’re full of energy and eager to explore the city! So start the day right by heading straight to The Kozy Bosquet for breakfast. Here you will be able to experience a traditional French breakfast and indulge in artisanal pastries, bespoke coffees and a range of other treats.
After breakfast, head on over (15-minute walk) to the iconic Eiffel Tower! Seeing the Eiffel Tower in the flesh is a surreal experience. Hence why I thought it best to start here.
Now you could explore the top of the Eiffel Tower, and that is totally up to you. But I would suggest skipping that option. As lines can be dreadfully long, and in turn, this will chip a few hours out of your day, and as we know, time is of the essence!
Visit the Arc de Triomphe
Whilst in the vicinity of the Eiffel Tower, I would instead suggest lounging on Champs de Mar (though when I visited, the area was restricted) to soak in the view. Then head over (5-minute walk) to the Wall of Peace landmark.
From here, you will make your way to one of the most famous monuments in Paris, Arc de Triomphe.
Several modes of transport could quickly get you to the Arc de Triomph. However, I would highly recommend that you walk. It is a beautiful and enjoyable walk that will help you familiarise yourself with Paris and ultimately help you find your bearings.
Standing 50 m tall, the Arc de Triomphe offers some of the best views in Paris. Permitted to weather conditions, you will be able to see for miles; and, as such, take spectacular panoramas of Place de l’Etoile, Concorde, the Champs Elysées and La Défense, to name a few.
To access Arc de Triomphe’s rooftop and skip long queues, I would recommend that you book tickets in advance.
Arc de Triomphe
Afternoon at the Lourve
A former royal palace located on the Right Bank of the Seine, you will spend your afternoon exploring the many wonders of the Louvre Museum.
One of the finest art galleries in the world, the Louvre’s collection ranges from Mesopotamian, Egyptian, and Greek antiquities, with masterpieces by Da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Rembrandt.
A testament to French culture and European history, visiting the Louvre Museum is, of no doubt, a big but worthwhile commitment. For art-lovers, I am sure you will spend most of your afternoon here, but the average length of a tour of the Lourve is between 2-3 hours! Whilst in the vicinity of the Lourve Museum, you may want to explore (3-minute walk) Les Deux Plateaux.
By now, I am sure you are feeling ravenous, and breakfast is by in large; a far distant memory. So for lunch, you will dine at one of my favourite spots in Paris; Le Café du Commerce. A four-star Parisian brasserie, Le Café du Commerce is an amazing restaurant; serving authentic French recipes.
An extensive menu serving beloved classics: onion soup, snails, tartare, terrine de lapereau, soupe de poisson with rouille, pot au feu. I am sure you will find a dish to match your palate.
Sunset on the Seine, dinner at Le Potager du Père Thierry and drinks at Le Très Particulier
So, it’s your first official night in Paris, and you’re probably wondering how you should spend your evening. But don’t worry, I have it all figured out for you.
You will start your evening on a sightseeing cruise on the Seine. This may sound like a crazy idea but remember, Paris is the ‘city of lights. Sunset is the perfect time to take a Seine River Cruise. It’s far more beautiful to admire the views as darkness settles over the city and as the lights of the cityscape start to turn on.
From here you will head off to dinner, and tonight you will be dining at Le Potager du Père Thierry; a cosy and rustic French restaurant that is highly rated for its dishes and particularly its Crème brûlée.
To commemorate your first night in Paris, you will be heading off to Le Très Particulier (10-minute walk) for a well-deserved nightcap. A sensational bar hidden inside the luxurious Particulier Montmartre Hotel. Le Très Particulier is a favourite amongst in-the-know Parisians, and the cocktails menu is ingenious!
However, I should warn you that getting into this blissful sanctuary does require some effort, but it will be well worth it! To gain access to the bar, you will need to follow the path down the private-access street and pass through a series of intercoms and buzzers before finally reaching the hotel garden.
Le Très Particulier
Day 2 / Exploring the Real Paris
Morning at the Sacré-Coeur
After what I hope was a fabulous night, an incredible dinner followed by a boozy though lavish end to your evening, I am sure today you are maybe feeling a bit wounded.
And for that reason, today, we will take it easy. Day two was one of my favourite days in Paris because it was just so laidback yet so fulfilling.
Winners of the Certificate of Excellence 2018 – 2019, today we are heading to The Hardware Société Paris for breakfast.
A refined spot, hidden in the hills of Montmartre. The Hardware Société Paris is a quirky restaurant that offers an Australian twist on French breakfast classics. You will be impressed by the creativity and inspiration behind their dishes.
Visit the Sinking House
From here you will venture to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris (2-minute walk), commonly known as Sacré-Cœur Basilica and often simply referred to as Sacré-Cœur.
Consecrated in 1919, the Sacré-Coeur, is one of the most iconic monuments in Paris. One hundred thirty metres above the ground, at the top of the Butte Montmarte, you will be provided with one of the best panoramic views of Paris.
Inside the building, the ceiling is decorated with one of the largest mosaics in France, measuring about 480 m². The crypt is also worth a visit. And to go even higher up, visitors can access the dome, where the 360° degree view of Paris is magnificent.
It is also here that you will be able to take a snap of the “sinking house” or alternatively phrased “tilting house”. An optical illusion, I must confess I walked past this spot a few times, the sinking house of Paris can be snapped on the banks of the Sacré-Coeur. Tilt your camera to about 45 degrees, and voila, you have found the sinking house.
The "Sinking House"
By now, I am sure you have gathered that you are in the arty neighbourhood of the Montmartre. The most famous Parisian district, Montmartre, is an authentic village. Well known for its cobbled streets and grand debut in the internationally acclaimed film ‘Amelie of Montmartre’, this historic village is full of charm.
A short walk from the Sacré Coeur is the Place du Tertre (3-minute walk), and it is here that you could have your portrait drawn or painted. But, if this isn’t your thing, that’s okay as the Montmartre district is full of other delights.
Whilst in the Montmartre district, be sure to take a few snaps of Le Passe-Muraille (3-minute walk), also known as The Man Who Walked through Walls, Rue de l’Abreuvoir (La Maison Rose) and the famous Moulin Rouge cabaret (8-minute walk).
I hope you have enjoyed your time in the Montmartre district, and despite the famous saying “all good things must come to an end”, your day is about to get a whole lot better. From here, you will be heading (24-minutes via Metro) to one of the best museums in the world, Musée d’Orsay.
Visit Musée d’Orsay
An incredibly impressive museum, and without a shimmer of doubt, the best museum I have ever visited. Musée d’Orsay is a museum that you must visit! Offering a vast collection of imperialist art that is not only graphic and detailed but incredibly thought-provoking and emotive, I don’t want to say too much about this museum. Instead, I want you to go and experience it for yourself.
Afternoon at the Catacombs
Although I am eager to hear your thoughts on the Musée d’Orsay, I am also aware that it is lunchtime, and it’s been quite some time since you last ate. So, where are we heading for lunch?
Today you will be dining at Les Niçois (27-minutes via Metro), a mouthwatering, tastebud appeasing Parisian restaurant. This restaurant is off the radar; it is not a restaurant that the average tourist would dine. It is a restaurant that only those in the know; know about. And now I am sharing this gem with you. You can and will thank me later.
Les Niçois is a relatively small restaurant that is predominately enjoyed by locals, which within itself says a lot. The tapas menu is refined, and every dish I tried quite literally brought tears to my eyes; every dish was sensational! Just a little warning, their cocktails are beyond delicious and pack a punch, and as a result, I found myself heading off to our next venue feeling somewhat tipsy…Oops!
A juxtaposition, from here, you will be heading off to The Catacombs of Paris, an underground ossuary. The bones of a staggering six million human remains are on macabre display. The catacombs is a fantastically eerie experience, whereby you’ll discover the dark side of Paris and learn all about life (and death) in 18th-century Paris. This is a culturally enriching experience that you must cease! The average length of a tour of The Catacombs of Paris is 45-minutes.
Catacombs of Paris
Dinner at Pink Mumma, explore Pigalle and drinks at Dirty Dick.
I think it’s fair to say that you have had a pretty splendid day, filled with lots of walking, sight-sighting and ultimately exploring the real Paris!
This evening you are going to kick back and relax! This evening will be kept very simple. Tonight you will be having dinner at Pink Mamma, a cosy trattoria located in Pigalle. What I loved most about Pink Mamma was the vibe! It’s a very chilled establishment, the waiters were friendly and fun, but most of all, its atmosphere has a real buzz, and you are made to feel at home.
In terms of the menu, all ingredients are freshly sourced from Italy, and dishes are tasty, bursting flavour, delicious and magnificently presented! From here, you will nip over to Dirty Dick (4-minute walk); although I say ‘nip’, I do imagine that you will be here for a few hours. A hipster cocktail bar, with Polynesian totems scattered throughout the bar, Dirty Dick is an eccentric, super fun and most importantly, a renowned cocktail bar in Paris.
I hope you enjoy your night! Though if this is not to your fancy, there’s much to see in the infamous neighbourhood of Pigalle. A simple wander through the streets would be enough to keep you entertained!
Pink Mamma
Day 3 / Discovering Eastern Paris
Morning at Bois de Vincennes
It’s your last day in Paris! I think it’s fair to say that the last few days has been ram-packed; you’ve visited some incredible sights, dined some of the most excellent Parisian restaurants, and perhaps consumed a few too many cocktails.
I’m sure you can agree that it’s been great, it’s been an experience of a lifetime, and I am sure you will be going back home with lots of memories, photos, and funny stories. Today will be very different from the other days because we will be fully embracing the Parisian way of life.
Okay, first of all, and not to be a party-pooper, I would highly recommend that you start your day off early!
To start, we will be grabbing our breakfast from Boulangerie Utopie. I say grabbing because, unlike the other days, this will be a grab and go breakfast, and as to why I will reveal that soon!
In a city with over 30,000 bakeries, Paris’s Boulangerie Utopie has been crowned the best bakery in Paris. I hope it is now all starting to make sense to you. I am not sending you to just any bakery; I’m sending you to THE BAKERY! Best known for its bread, all made with natural sourdough and serving a range of croissants, sandwiches and a huge variety of other seasonal sweets. You will be spoilt for choice!
Now that you have your breakfast treats, you will be heading to Bois de Vincennes. A former royal hunting forest spanning 2,459 acres, Bois de Vincennes is the second-largest park in Paris, and it is considered the oxygen-giving left lung of the city!
With extensive trails, bicycles to hire, lakes & boat rentals, as well as a castle to explore, along with a children’s farm, mini-golf and a botanical garden, it is within the confines of the Bois de Vincennes that you will tuck into your breakfast.
This morning is all about breakfast with a view and being surrounded by complete peace and tranquillity. The Bois de Vincennes has four lakes, each carefully designed to reflect the era of Romanticism. It is on the banks of Lac Daumesnil that you will have your breakfast.
You may be wondering why I have chosen Lac Daumesnil, though in all honesty, where you decide to eat your breakfast is totally up to you. But after breakfast, you will be hiring a rowboat to cruise Lac Daumesnil.
Afternoon – Shopping vs Racecourse
It’s your last afternoon in Paris, and that said, I don’t want to dictate too much how you should spend it. Though I will offer some friendly suggestions, as I know we all have different preferences and in some part priorities. For example, some of us prefer to spend our last afternoon packing, ensuring that we are packed and ready to go. Some of us prefer to spend the afternoon shopping or getting last-minute souvenirs. And some of us would prefer to relax and unwind.
So with the above in mind, here are some of my suggestions. If you fit into the first category, I would suggest that you head back to your accommodation to pack and relax because tonight I have something special planned for you. And I want you to be in high spirits, energised and ready to celebrate your last night in Paris.
But, if, like me, you’re a shopaholic or appreciate the fine art of shopping. My number one recommendation would be for you to leave the city. Now I know that may sound absurd, given that Paris is the home of fashion with a range of malls, boutiques, and avenues specifically designed to suit different tastes and more to the point spending powers.
Yet still, I would suggest that you leave the city and head to La Vallee Village, a luxury outlet shopping village in Serris, France. La Vallee Village is the French version of Bicester Village; it’s a boutique shopping village with designer brand reductions all year long!
Now, if none of the aforementioned tickles your fancy, please do not forget that you are in one of the best parks in Paris. There’s an ample amount of things to do and see in the Bois de Vincennes.
La Vallee Village
Why not try your hand at mini-golf? Or perhaps Ping-Pong, or how about hiring a quadricycle? Alternatively, if you’re feeling daring, why not try your luck by completing an escape course? Whatever your fancy, the Parc Floral de Paris offers a range of fun and exciting activities.
Now, I know some activities are not for everyone, so why not visit Parc Zoologique de Paris? I think I know what you’re thinking, and the answer is yes; the Paris zoo is located within the Bois de Vincennes.
But, if you don’t want to visit the zoo, I have one last suggestion. Given that you are of age and perhaps feeling a bit lucky, why don’t you head over to Vincennes Hippodrome de Paris, the racecourse? A delightful and exceptionally entertaining spot, holding over 1,200 races every year: 8 races at lunchtime, 7 during dinner, Vincennes Hippodrome de Paris is a spot to kick back, unwind and share a laugh with your friends.
Given all my above suggestions, however, you decide to spend your afternoon, I hope you have a lovely afternoon!
Dinner at Le Relais de l’Entrecôte, Moulin Rouge and drinks at Lulu White
Tonight I have something special planned for you. It’s time to dress up! I want you to wear your most beautiful garments; put on your lipstick or stuck in your shirt because tonight we’re going out!
With locals typically queuing for an hour or more for a dinner table, tonight, you will be dining at an exquisite and notoriously famous Parisian restaurant, Le Relais de l’Entrecôte. Famed for its brilliant steaks and secret sauce, Le Relais de l’Entrecôte is a fabulous steakhouse and an excellent culinary end to your trip.
From here, you will be heading into the dazzling and spectacular universe of the Moulin Rouge. It would be wrong to visit Paris and not see the Moulin Rouge.
Enjoy a spectacular evening inside the iconic Moulin Rouge, whereby you will bear witness to sensational performances, enticing sets, and original French music. It is within the Moulin Rouge that you will experience a wondrous journey through time! The show lasts for approximately 2-hours, and I would suggest booking the late show as tickets to the Moulin Rouge tend to be cheaper as the evening draws to a close.
At this point, I think it’s fair for me to assume that you’ve had a great night; you’ve dined at one of the best restaurants in Paris, and you’ve experienced the Moulin Rouge, and I bet the thought of heading back home tomorrow is depressing!
Now you may or may not have an early departure time, but if you don’t want your evening to end just yet. You know I have your back, and in having you back, here are a few bars in Paris that may pique your interest.
As you’ve probably figured, you’re in the area of Pigalle, and what that means is Dirty Dick is just around the corner. But if you fancy spicing things up and going somewhere different, then Lulu White Drink Club is the perfect spot!
Though you are happy to go on an adventure, and by adventure, I mean travelling further afield, I would highly recommend the Prescription Cocktail Club! However, if you are a Gin lover, you must visit Tiger, whereby you will discover Gin’s many flavours and personalities.
Tiger
Best Itinerary for Three Days in Paris
So, there you have it, a detailed itinerary for 3 perfect days in Paris. Covering what to do in Paris and, most importantly, where to wine and dine. Be sure to comment below if you have followed our itinerary, and please share with us what activity, restaurant, bar or experience you enjoyed the most.
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