HOW TO SPEND 3 DAYS IN PARIS
WATCH MY DREAM PARIS TRIP TRAVEL VLOG HERE
I finally went on my Dream Trip to Europe this fall and spent 3 days in Paris! It was more than I could have imagined! I’ll show you exactly how to spend 3 Days in Paris even if you’re on a budget! I want to keep this Paris Travel Guide simple and easy for you to whip out while planning your trip to Paris because there is so much to do, see, and eat in this city of love.
Not to mention, there are SO MANY Instagrammable Photo Spots in Paris!
I have everything listed as USD but you can find the exchange rate for Euros.
Keep in mind, there are so many fabulous hotels and cafes in Paris, this was just my experience and we had such a blast!
DAY 1 ARRIVE IN PARIS IN THE AFTERNOON:
We flew into Charles De Gaulle airport and took a train straight to our hotel! It took about an hour after all the different lines we took.
Where I stayed and loved:
- Hotel Yllen Eiffel – right next to the Metro stop and a cute 20 minute walk to the Eiffel Tower
- Hotel Magellan – we stayed here on our final night before flying home to the states. It was such a little gem I wasn’t expecting! It’s just north of the Arc de Triomphe and right around the corner from the best restaurant we went to in the city,, ROCO Italian Restaurant
If you want a cute balcony pic from your hotel room, these are a few great options (a little more budget friendly than other Eiffel Tower view rooms)
EXPLORE THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO THE EIFFEL TOWER
Once we settled into our hotel room, we decided to stumble our way through the neighborhood to the Eiffel Tower. It was about a 20 minute walk from our hotel, so we grabbed a quick cappuccino on the way! We were jet lagged and delusional which made the whole experience feel even more like a dream! Soaking in each alley and cobblestone street.
We used a big scarf as a blanket and grabbed a cheap bottle of wine from a vendor walking around. He said it was $25 but we negotiated him down to $15! They usually provide cups and open the bottle for you so you’re all set.
We got there just in time to see the tower in the daytime, and stayed until the light show around 7pm! It was such an epic experience that I’ll never forget.
When we got hungry we walked over to the Crepe stand right at the front of the park and got the Jambon et Fromage crepes. Order them. Thank me later.
DAY 2: EXPLORING THE CITY
START THE DAY AT ANY CAFÉ
We started with going to the same café we went to the night before (I’ve looked everywhere for the name but it didn’t really have a name…so strange. It’s directly on your way to the Eiffel Tower from Hotel Yllen Eiffel, with a pink overhang). We got pain du chocolat and cappuccinos again. Everything is different in Europe…the ingredients are just 1000x better than America. You can taste the difference with every bite!
THE LOUVRE MUSEUM
Then we took the Metro to the Louvre Museum! The line was so long and we had so much ground to cover, so we just explored the outside. There is still so much beauty and architecture to look at. Plus, you can get awesome photos outside of the pyramids – and it’s free!
TIP: Get there before the museum opens for less crowds if you want to take photos!
WALK TO CHAMPS ÉLYSÉES AND ARC DE TRIOMPHE
It’s a beautiful walk (or bike ride!) to the Arc de Triomphe from The Louvre! There was an art exhibit in one of the parks on the way which was so fun to see.
Shopping down the Champs Élysées can look like tax-free purchases or beautiful window shopping! There’s a reason Paris is known for its shopping!
At the end of the strip you’ll meet the epic Arc de Triomphe, which you can also go to the top of! We were on the move so we just got our photos from the ground level. These monuments are so powerful when you’re next to them!
EXPLORE MONTMARTRE AND THE SACRE COEUR
You can either brave the many steps up to the beautiful Sacre Coeur or there is a cable car that can take you up. Again, such beauty in these historical buildings!
It’s free to go inside, but be mindful that it is still a place of worship. There was a service in session when we arrived.
LUNCH AT CHEZ EUGÈNE IN MONTMARTRE
The town of Montmartre felt the most immersed in another world! You’re at the top of this hill and every building has its own unique character.
We had lunch at Chez Eugène which was fabulous. I love that all of the cafés have their chairs face out to people watch! I wish we did more of that in the states!
SUNSET AT TROCADERO AND DINNER AT CAFÉ DU TROCADERO
After lunch we freshened up at the hotel room and picked up flowers on the way to Trocadero to take Eiffel Tower pics! It was pretty crowded because we picked one of the peak times to visit, but it was still worth it to get photos!
There are several restaurants in the area, but we decided on Café du Trocadero for dinner for its quaint patio and unobstructed view of the Eiffel Tower! We enjoyed an aperitivo, split a delicious pasta dish, and finished off with some crème brulé. The sparkes of the Eiffel Tower never get old!
After dinner we grabbed another cheap (yet somehow still incredible) bottle of rosé and walked down to sit on the Seine river, just below the Eiffel Tower. THAT is a moment I’ll never forget – watching the boats go by as the Eiffel Tower lights up the city.
DAY 3: THE LATIN QUARTER AND HEAD TO AIRPORT
The next morning, we headed straight to the famous Café de Flore in the Saint-Germain neighborhood. Of course it already had about a 30 minute line to get in by like 9:30am!
We opted for photos outside the café, then headed to Café Louise across the street. We were so pleasantly surprised by how great it was! You choose one of 2 options for your meal and they bring it out in courses. Coffee, OJ, Croissant, Eggs etc.
After eating we headed to the Latin Quarter where Notre Dame is! You can get lost in these side streets (which I suggest doing!) to find some unique hidden gems like churches, shops, jazz bars, and bakeries.
BONUS DINNER
Spending only 3 days in Paris didn’t feel like we had nearly enough time, but we still got to do quite a bit! We actually came back to Paris for one more night to end our Europe travels, and had the best meal at ROCO’s in the 17th Arr. Truthfully, if you love Pizza and/or Chocolate Mousse, it’s worth the 20 minute train ride. We’ll never forget our experience there! Very local.
Everywhere you look in Paris is a Postcard in itself, and I am so happy to have these memories forever. I can’t wait to visit again! I hope this guide was helpful for you in planning your next trip whether you only have 3 days in Paris too or a whole week! Check out my Travel Vlog to see some of our experience!
Leave a Reply