3 days in Paris, planned hour by hour — the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Montmartre and the Marais, with a realistic budget table and tips for first-time visitors.
Three days is the sweet spot for a first trip to Paris: enough for the big icons, a slow afternoon in a café and one evening by the river, without rushing from queue to queue. This plan groups sights by area so you spend your time walking through beautiful streets, not sitting on the metro.
A few things to know before you start: most big museums need a timed ticket booked online, the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays and the Musée d'Orsay on Mondays, so arrange your days around that. Opening hours and prices change — check the official sites before you go.
Day 1 — The Louvre, the Seine and the islands
- 09:00 — Louvre. Arrive for your timed entry and head straight for the big names (Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, Venus de Milo) before the crowds build, then slow down in a quieter wing. Two to three hours is plenty for a first visit.
- 12:30 — Lunch near Palais-Royal. Walk through the Palais-Royal gardens and grab lunch in the side streets rather than on Rue de Rivoli, where prices are higher.
- 14:00 — Tuileries to Pont des Arts. Stroll the Tuileries Garden, then cross the river for views up and down the Seine.
- 15:00 — Île de la Cité. Visit Notre-Dame — reopened after the restoration, with free entry (queues can be long, so check whether a free time slot is offered). Book Sainte-Chapelle ahead for its stained glass; it's best on a sunny afternoon.
- 17:00 — Île Saint-Louis. Wander the island's quiet streets and get an ice cream.
- 19:30 — Dinner in the Latin Quarter, then an evening walk along the river. A Seine boat cruise after dark is touristy but genuinely lovely.
Day 2 — Eiffel Tower, Orsay and Saint-Germain
- 09:30 — Trocadéro. Start across the river for the classic Eiffel Tower view, before the square gets busy.
- 10:00 — Eiffel Tower. Book a timed ticket in advance. Going up by the stairs to the second floor is cheaper than the lift, and the view from there is arguably better than from the top. Picnic on the Champ de Mars afterwards.
- 13:30 — Musée d'Orsay (not Mondays). Impressionists in a former train station — Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh. Budget two hours.
- 16:00 — Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Coffee at one of the famous cafés if you want the experience, or a cheaper neighbourhood café a street away.
- 17:00 — Luxembourg Gardens. Grab a green chair by the fountain and rest your legs.
- 20:00 — Dinner in Saint-Germain or the Latin Quarter.
Day 3 — Montmartre and the Marais
- 09:00 — Montmartre. Climb (or take the funicular) up to Sacré-Cœur — free to enter, with one of the best views over the city. Walk down through Place du Tertre and the backstreets toward the old windmills.
- 12:00 — Lunch in Montmartre, ideally away from the busiest square.
- 14:00 — Le Marais. Place des Vosges, little galleries, vintage shops and some of the city's best falafel on Rue des Rosiers.
- 16:30 — Centre Pompidou area or the Picasso Museum, depending on your taste (check what's open, as parts of the Pompidou are closed for renovation).
- 19:00 — Farewell dinner. Book a bistro in the Marais or Canal Saint-Martin for a relaxed last night.
What 3 days in Paris costs
Approximate ranges per person, excluding flights. Prices rise in summer and around big events.
| Budget | Comfortable | |
|---|---|---|
| Stay (per night, hostel bed / shared double) | €40–80 | €100–200 |
| Food (per day: bakery breakfast, café lunch, bistro dinner) | €30–50 | €60–110 |
| Transport (per day, metro tickets) | €5–10 | €8–15 |
| Louvre ticket | €20–35 | €20–35 |
| Eiffel Tower (stairs vs. lift to the top) | €15–25 | €25–40 |
| Musée d'Orsay | €15–20 | €15–20 |
| Total for 3 days | €300–550 | €600–1,150 |
Couples sharing a room bring the stay cost down a lot. Under-26s who live in the EU often get free entry to national museums, including the Louvre and Orsay — bring ID.
Tips for first-timers
- Book the big three early: Louvre, Eiffel Tower and Sainte-Chapelle can sell out in high season.
- Pick a hotel near a metro line you'll use. Areas like the Marais, Saint-Germain or around Bastille keep you walkable to most of this plan.
- Look at the Paris Museum Pass if you plan lots of museums in a short time — but do the maths first, it isn't worth it for two or three.
- Eat lunch as your main meal. Many bistros offer a fixed-price lunch menu (formule) that's far cheaper than dinner.
- Watch your phone and wallet on the metro and around the busiest sights.
Make it yours
This plan is a starting point. If you're travelling with a partner and want more cafés and fewer museums, or you're on a tight budget and want the free version, just tell Journey something like "3 days in Paris in spring, €700 each, two of us, less museums" — it plans every day hour by hour with real places and a total that adds up. Want day 2 cheaper? Just say so. Join the waitlist to try it first.
FAQ
Is 3 days enough for Paris?
Yes, for a first visit. Three days covers the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, Montmartre and the Marais at a comfortable pace. Add a fourth day for Versailles.
What's the best area to stay in Paris for first-timers?
The Marais, Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the Latin Quarter are central, walkable and well connected by metro. They cost more than outer areas, but save you a lot of travel time.
Do I need to book the Eiffel Tower in advance?
It's strongly recommended, especially from spring to autumn. Timed online tickets help you avoid the longest queues and sold-out slots.