When is the Best Time to Go to Paris

I recommend Paris in the summer or between May and September, to be more precise. The weather is lovely. It is not too hot, which is great because Paris has to be experienced outdoors, but I can’t imagine Paris being bad any time of the year.

Where to Stay

You can find all kinds of accommodations in Paris, from luxury hotel chains and beautiful boutique hotels, to mid range and budget hotels.

While the standard of accommodation is not very high (a 3-star hotel can be quite shabby), you aren’t in Paris for it’s hotels.

How to See Paris in 3 Days

Day One

For your first day in the City of Love, you’ll want to tick off as much of your French bucket list as possible.

As such, the first 24 hours are all about seeing those iconic places which you’ve no doubt seen on countless postcards prior to your city visit. So indulge your inner tourist and rest well the night before because you’ve got a lot of ground to cover.

Eiffel Tower

Get up early to see it at sunrise. This is pretty much the only way to guarantee that you’ll see the Iron Lady at her best – void of the million selfie sticks and souvenir peddlers that impede her loveliness throughout the day.

Sunrise is by far the most peaceful time to go, and while you’ll definitely see many couples doing wedding photo shoots at this time, it’s still your least crowded option.

Champs de Mars and Trocadero are the two main spots that people go to take photos of the Eiffel Tower and yes, they’re amazing, but everyone knows about them. If you don’t mind wandering off a bit, you can find plenty of great views of the Eiffel Tower throughout the city.

The Louvre

After walking along the Seine for about 40 minutes, passing iconic sites such as the Alexandre bridge and the Tuileries garden, you’ll reach the world-famous Louvre the biggest museum in the entire world and of course the most visited attraction in Paris.

When you think of the Louvre, your first thoughts are probably of elbowing your way through selfie sticks to catch a glimpse of the Mona Lisa. However, the Louvre museum offers so much more than a maybe smiling muse. It is a home to medieval ruins and plenty of priceless artifacts from around the world. It’s closed on Tuesdays.

Notre Dame Cathedral

Besides being one of the most famous churches on Earth, this Gothic masterpiece is also a must-do for one simple thing, it’s epic view over Paris.

Scope out it’s Eastern facade in Park Square Jean XXIII. This little park is literally right next to Notre Dame but a lot of people miss it for some reason.

There’s lots of benches for you to sit on and it’s a great place to appreciate an alternative view over the Cathedral. If you’re super keen on seeing the inside, don’t despair. While the line-up can often reach the other end of the square, it moves really fast because of how huge the church is.

Spend sunset going up the Arc de Triomphe

Why it’s one of the “must see” Paris landmarks? It’s massive, dominating and the view from up top is so worth the wait.

If you time your visit right, then you’ll be rewarded with what is probably the best sunset view the city has to offer. So, if you’re looking to splurge out on one panoramic view while in Paris then make it a trip to the Arc de Triomphe.

Day Two

Whereas day one in Paris involved waking before the crack of dawn in order to see sunrise over Paris, day two of this 3 day itinerary will allow you a little rest before going out to explore for the day. Day two is all about wandering around the chicest areas of the city and seeing where all the writers and artists would hang out in the 20th-century.

Saint-Germain-des-Prés

Paris’ Chicest neighborhood is the place to go if you fancy heading to the shops and splashing out on a wearable souvenir.

It also happens to be one of the most picturesque neighborhood in the city for taking photos.

Saint Germain comprises of the 6th district of the city and focuses on a church of the same name, the former Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Highlights of this district include oodles of quaint coffee shops, many luxury hotels, countless antique stores and the church of Saint Sulpice.

The Panthéon

This neoclassical beauty is one of the most picturesque buildings in Paris, but of course lurking beneath the ground is what truly makes this landmark special, it’s mausoleum, the final resting place of many unimaginably famous French citizens. While gorgeous from the outside, the inside of the Pantheon is swimming in stunning details, and so worth a visit.

Spend the afternoon taking a day trip to Versailles

No three days in Paris itinerary would be complete without at least a quick mention of the Royal Palace of Versailles and perhaps even a day trip to the Royal City. Best seen any day other than Monday (when the Palace, Grand Trianon, and Petit Trianon are in fact closed), the Palace of Versailles may well be the most famous château in the world.

Elsewhere in the city of Versailles, there’s the ‘Hameau de la Reine‘ to explore (where Marie Antoinette would play dress up), several museums, and plenty of interesting architecture to see.

Day Three

Rest at Jardin Des Tuilieres

After all the walking and exploring, your last day in Paris can start slowly, and why not in the lovely Jardin des Tuilieres. It has seating options and looks absolutely lovely. So, this is the first choice when you like to start the day quietly.

From there, you can head to the next attraction, which is easily accessible on foot from the garden.

Stroll Avenue Des Champs-Élysées

The Avenue des Champs-Élysées is one of the most famous tourist spots in Paris and there is a reason why.

This almost two kilometer long magnificent avenue is home to many shops, restaurants, and cafes, and you could spend hours and hours here.

Seine River Cruise

No trip to any place with a river or lake, would be complete without a boat cruise. And when in Paris, I recommend going on an evening river cruise. Paris at night is like a different world and a River Cruise at night is one of the best things to experience in Paris.

This is a nice way to end your lovely 3 days in Paris!