Three days is enough to see the essentials of Paris, as long as you plan your route well. This itinerary groups the must-see sights by geography across three days, so you spend less time in transit and more time actually enjoying each neighborhood. Bring comfortable walking shoes and a rechargeable transit card, the rest takes care of itself.
Day 1, morning: the Eiffel Tower and Trocadéro
Start with the most photographed monument in the world. Book your ticket online in advance to skip the line, which can run over an hour in high season. Head up to the second floor for the best view over the city, then cross the Seine to the Trocadéro gardens for the classic shot with the tower in the background.
Day 1, afternoon: the Louvre and the Tuileries
The world's most visited museum deserves at least three hours, even if you only focus on the major works like the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. On your way out, extend the walk through the Tuileries Garden toward Place de la Concorde.
Day 2: Montmartre and the Sacré-Cœur
Spend the whole morning on the Montmartre hill: the Sacré-Cœur basilica, Place du Tertre and its painters, then the small cobbled streets around Rue Lepic. In the afternoon, head down toward Pigalle or push on to Le Marais if you still have the energy.
Day 3: Notre-Dame and the Île de la Cité
End your trip on the island where Paris was born. Notre-Dame cathedral, the Sainte-Chapelle and its stained glass, then a walk on Île Saint-Louis for ice cream at one of the neighborhood's well-known shops before crossing back to the Left Bank.
Tips
Buy a day transit pass if you're taking several metro rides, it pays for itself from the fourth ride onward. And build in half a day of slack in your schedule: in Paris, you always end up wanting to linger a little longer somewhere.
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