Paris
3 days in Paris: itinerary
Three days is enough for Paris if you stay in one city and pick one cluster of sights per day: central islands and the Louvre, then the Left Bank or Montmartre, then Versailles or a museum you booked ahead. Add a fourth day if you want a day trip and the big sights without rushing.
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Key facts
- Days needed
- 3 days covers the core; 4–5 nights is the site's first-trip recommendation for Paris
- Best months
- May, June and September; August is hot and some small restaurants close
- Book aheadcheck
- Louvre, Orsay, Eiffel Tower summit and Versailles timed slots
- Metro single ridecheck
- About €2.50 per ticket; a carnet or day pass is cheaper per ride (2026 estimate)
- Museum entrycheck
- Most national museums €12–22; under-18s and many under-26 EU residents free (2026 estimate)
- Day trips that fitcheck
- Versailles (30–45 min by RER C), Giverny in season, Fontainebleau, Disneyland Paris
- Airport transfercheck
- CDG to central Paris 45–60 min by RER B or taxi; Orly 30–45 min
Quick answer
Three days is enough for Paris if you treat the city as one base and one cluster of sights per day. Trying to add two day trips to a three-day stay is what makes people feel they missed Paris.
The plan below assumes you land the evening before day one, sleep in the centre (1st–6th arrondissement or near a direct metro line), and leave on the morning of day four. If you arrive on day one at midday, cut the third stop from each day rather than the whole day.
If your dates fall in July or August, expect 35–40 °C heatwaves and no air conditioning in many small hotels and flats; start at 8am, rest indoors at 2pm, go out again at 6pm. In August some small restaurants close for the month.
- Day 1: Île de la Cité, Notre-Dame exterior, Sainte-Chapelle, Louvre (booked slot), Seine walk at dusk
- Day 2: Orsay or Rodin, Saint-Germain, Luxembourg Garden, Eiffel Tower (booked summit), Trocadéro
- Day 3: Montmartre in the morning, Marais or Canal Saint-Martin in the afternoon, or swap for Versailles
- Swap rule: if it rains, move the museum day forward and the walking day back
Top picks
These are the stops that carry a three-day trip. Everything else is optional. Prices are 2026 estimates; check the official site before you book because timed slots sell out days ahead in summer.
Two decisions matter more than any list. First, book the Eiffel Tower summit and the Louvre before you fly. Second, choose either Versailles or a full Left Bank day for day three, not both.
- Skip if short on time: Champs-Élysées shopping, Moulin Rouge, Disneyland Paris on a 3-day trip
- Worth the queue only once: Eiffel Tower. The Trocadéro and Champ de Mars views are free
- Free and good: Père Lachaise, Promenade Plantée, Marché d'Aligre, Luxembourg Garden
| Pick | Price (2026 estimate) | Hours | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louvre | €22 | Wed–Mon, usually 9am–6pm; late night Fri | Timed slot online |
| Musée d'Orsay | €16 | Tue–Sun, usually 9.30am–6pm; late night Thu | Timed slot online |
| Eiffel Tower summit | €29–36 by lift | Daily, roughly 9.30am–11pm in summer | Timed slot online |
| Sainte-Chapelle | €13 | Daily, usually 9am–7pm | Slot advised |
| Arc de Triomphe roof | €16 | Daily, usually 10am–11pm | Walk-up often fine |
| Versailles palace | €21 palace; €32 passport | Tue–Sun, usually 9am–6.30pm | Timed slot essential |
| Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur | Free; dome €7 | Basilica daily, usually 6.30am–10.30pm | No |
| Seine river cruise | €15–20 | Daily, evening departures common | Online cheaper |
Opening hours change by season and on public holidays; confirm on the official site. Under-18s and many under-26 EU residents enter national museums free (check).
Prices and hours
Paris is walkable in the centre but you will still use the metro. A single ticket costs about €2.50 (2026 estimate); a carnet of ten or a day pass brings the per-ride cost down. Buy at machines or with a contactless card where supported.
Food splits the budget more than sights. A bakery lunch (sandwich, quiche, pastry) runs €8–14. A sit-down bistro lunch menu is €18–28; dinner mains €18–30. Supermarket picnics in a park are the cheapest good meal in the city.
Museums are the other big line. Most national museums sit at €12–22; Versailles costs more with the gardens and Trianon included. Many are free on the first Sunday of the month, which also means the worst crowds.
| Item | Cost (2026 estimate) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Metro single ride | €2.50 | Carnet or day pass cheaper per ride |
| Airport transfer CDG | €12 RER B; €55–65 taxi | 45–60 min to the centre |
| Airport transfer Orly | €11–14 train or tram; €40–50 taxi | 30–45 min |
| Bakery lunch | €8–14 | Fastest cheap meal |
| Bistro lunch menu | €18–28 | Best value sit-down meal |
| Dinner main | €18–30 | Add drinks separately |
| Museum entry | €12–22 | Free first Sunday, crowded |
| Seine cruise | €15–20 | Evening light is best |
Prices are 2026 estimates and vary by operator, season and day.
Getting there
From the UK and Ireland, Eurostar runs London to Paris in about 2h20; book 6–12 weeks ahead for the cheapest seats. From the US, nonstop flights land at CDG (about 45–60 min to the centre by RER B or taxi) or Orly (30–45 min).
Within the city, the metro and RER cover everything on this itinerary. Allow 20–30 minutes between stops in the centre and 45 minutes to Versailles by RER C. Taxis and ride-hailing cost more but save time late at night when some lines thin out.
If you are coming for three days only, do not rent a car. Parking is expensive and the centre is slow to drive.
| Route | Time | Cost (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| London to Paris (Eurostar) | About 2h20 | From €50 one way if booked early |
| CDG to centre | 45–60 min | €12 RER B; €55–65 taxi |
| Orly to centre | 30–45 min | €11–14 train or tram; €40–50 taxi |
| Centre to Versailles | About 45 min | RER C fare, a few euros |
| Centre to Disneyland Paris | About 40 min | RER A fare, a few euros |
Questions people ask
Is 3 days enough for Paris?
Yes for the core: the islands, one big museum, the Eiffel Tower, and Montmartre or the Marais. It is not enough for Paris plus two day trips. Add a fourth day if you want Versailles and the big sights without rushing.
What is the best 3-day itinerary for Paris?
Day 1: Île de la Cité, Sainte-Chapelle, Louvre, Seine at dusk. Day 2: Orsay or Rodin, Saint-Germain, Luxembourg Garden, Eiffel Tower. Day 3: Montmartre in the morning, Marais or Canal Saint-Martin in the afternoon, or swap day 3 for Versailles.
Which day trips fit a 3-day stay in Paris?
One, at most. Versailles is the classic (about 45 min by RER C, timed slot essential). Giverny works in season; Fontainebleau and Disneyland Paris are also reachable. Two day trips in three days leaves no time for Paris itself.
Do I need to book the Louvre and Eiffel Tower in advance?
Yes in practice. Timed slots for both sell out days ahead in summer and on holiday weekends. Book on the official sites, not resellers, and arrive 15 minutes before your slot.
How much does 3 days in Paris cost?
Mid-range, roughly €120–200 per person per day for a hotel room share, meals, metro and one paid sight. Budget travellers can stay near €70–90 using hostels, bakery lunches and free sights (2026 estimate).
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialParis Convention and Visitors Bureau
- officialMusée du Louvre – official
- officialEiffel Tower – official
- officialChâteau de Versailles – official
- officialRATP – Paris transport
- officialSNCF Connect – trains
- officialEurostar – official
- secondaryWikivoyage – Paris