Three days in paris
With three days in Paris, I would recommend seeing the following highlights:
Arc De Triomphe – Whether you are admiring from across the street or from underneath, this impressive monument is well worth a visit. My favorite part of the experience was climbing 284 spiral steps to the top. The 360-degree views of Paris were exquisite! *We found this view to be much more enjoyable than the hilltop view from Sacre Coeur.* I highly recommend purchasing tickets in advance to avoid long lines.
Champs-Elysées – Known for some of the best shopping in the world, there is so much to observe along the Champs-Elysées. There are also beautiful parks and views of the Arc De Triomphe, and endless people watching!
Eiffel Tower (see at night as well) – tickets go on sale 60 days in advance so make sure to set a reminder. The line of people trying to purchase tickets the day of was extremely long (and we visited in April, which is considered the shoulder season). If you purchase tickets in advance, I would mentally account for half of a day to be spent there. Lift lines are long, and you want to enjoy the view once you are at the top! If you had to wait in line for tickets in person, I imagine it could easily become a full day event. If you want to go for sunset, I recommend getting an earlier ticket and waiting for sunset at the top. Lines get extremely long around that time of day, and you might end up stuck in line on Level 2 instead of being at the top enjoying sunset! Even though this experience was unbelievably crowded, it was still worth doing.
No trip to Paris is complete without looking down on views of Paris from the Eiffel Tower! You can make the experience even more special with a glass of champagne at the top!
Jardins du Trocadéro – Be sure to visit Jardins du Trocadéro for excellent views of the Eiffel Tower!
The Louvre – Even if you aren’t particularly fond of art or art museums, when in Paris, you must visit to the Louvre! You could easily spend an entire day in this massive museum, but if you only wanted to be there for a bit, I recommend researching what areas or pieces of art you want to see ahead of time so you can focus on those during your visit. I thoroughly enjoyed the architecture of the museum itself alongside the variety of art within. We chose to download the Rick Steves Audio Europe App, which walked us through many of the rooms in the museum, and included history about some of the more famous works of art. There are also many guided tours you could take if you prefer.
Sainte Chapelle – You have probably seen beautiful photos of the stained glass in Sainte Chapelle, but nothing beats experiencing it for yourself. Thankfully, they limit the number of people allowed in the chapel at one time, so even though it’s crowded, it never felt unbearable. We downloaded Rick Steve’s Audio Europe App, which was able to walk us through a variety of the stained glass depictions and scenes. If you visit when the sun is at a lower angle it will shine directly through the windows instead of being overhead. Early morning or late afternoon are both great!
Notre Dame (REOPENS 12/8/24) – Unfortunately, Notre Dame was still under construction during our visit to Paris, but once it’s back open this church is a must see!
SAMPLE ITINERARY:
Day 1:
- Walk along the Champs-Elysées (starting at Place de la Concorde, walking toward the Arc De Triomphe) – take a detour to the Grand Palais, eat breakfast at a café, take a stroll through the park, shop
- Visit the Arc De Triomphe – walk through and around the arc and then climb the stairs to the amazing views up top
- View the Eiffel Tower from the Jardins du Trocadéro (stay for sunset depending on time of year)
- See the Eiffel Tower sparkle (every hour after dusk on the hour for 5 minutes)
Day 2:
- Start your morning viewing the stained glass at Sainte Chapelle
- Visit Notre Dame (if open)
- Head to the Louvre and spend as much time in the museum as you desire. If you have additional time I recommend walking through the Jardin des Tuileries. We visited in late April and the flowers were STUNNING!
Day 3:
- Enjoy a pastry for breakfast and walk along the Seine
- Ride the elevators up the Eiffel Tower
- Stroll through the streets, find beautiful gardens, walk through old churches. If you want an additional activity you could consider visiting the Pantheon or the Catacombs (highlighted in my 4-day itinerary)