3 Days in Paris: The Ideal First-Timer Itinerary

Three days in Paris is enough to fall in love with it — if you plan smart and don't try to do everything. Here's a first-timer itinerary that hits the icons while leaving room for the cafés and side streets that make the city.

Day 1 — Classic Paris

Start at the Eiffel Tower early to beat the crowds, then stroll the Champ de Mars and along the Seine to the Musée d'Orsay, home to the world's best Impressionist collection. End the evening in the Latin Quarter with dinner and a walk past Notre-Dame.

Day 2 — Art & the Louvre

Dedicate the morning to the Louvre — pick two or three wings rather than trying to see it all. Walk through the Tuileries Garden to Place de la Concorde, up the Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe. Save the evening for a relaxed dinner in Saint-Germain.

Day 3 — Montmartre & the Marais

Climb to Sacré-Cœur for the city's best free view, then wander artsy Montmartre. In the afternoon, explore the Marais — boutiques, falafel, and the lovely Place des Vosges.

Budget note

Mid-range, plan around €120–180 per person per day. Paris rewards walking, and a Navigo or carnet of metro tickets covers the rest.

Pack for Paris

• Comfortable walking shoes — Paris is made for wandering, and the cobblestones are unforgiving in the wrong footwear
• A lightweight daypack — for museum days — the Louvre and Musée d'Orsay both mean hours on your feet
• A European plug adapter (Type C/E) — for charging everything overnight
• A local eSIM — data the moment you land, no hunting for airport wifi

Make it yours

Prefer more food and less museum? Traveling with kids? TravelBeast builds a Paris itinerary around your exact dates, pace, and budget — and lets you swap any stop by chat or voice. Plan your Paris trip free →