3 Days in Paris: the Guide
Categories : Discover Paris, published on : 4/3/24
Paris is a city with a particularly dense architectural, cultural and historical heritage. During a stay in the capital, you must therefore make choices among all the possible visits. To help you plan your itinerary and not miss any of the must-sees, here is a guide to spending 3 days in Paris .
1st day of visit: the Louvre Museum and the Eiffel Tower
Let's start our Parisian journey by discovering the 2 greatest monuments in Paris . Together, they represent the most tourist sites, with millions of visitors each year.
Visit the famous museum: the Louvre
From the Bleu de Grenelle hotel, you can reach the Louvre Museum by taking the metro (lines 8 and 1) in just 16 minutes, or 20 minutes by bike.
The Louvre Museum was first the royal residence, before opening its doors to the public in 1793. This universal museum exhibits, to date, more than 33,000 world-famous works , such as the Victory of Samothrace, the Mona Lisa, or the Venus de Milo. We find all forms of art there, from Antiquity to the 19th century. The works are exhibited through 8 departments highlighting art objects, painting, sculpture, photography, and graphic arts.
Visiting hours: the Louvre Museum is open every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., except Tuesday, with late night opening until 9:45 p.m. on Friday.
The emblematic monument of Paris: the Eiffel Tower
After visiting the Louvre museum, it is high time for lunch. Several options are available to you: picnic in the Tuileries garden, find a small Parisian restaurant near the Alexandre III bridge or the Orsay museum, or go directly to our next address, for lunch in one of the restaurants of the Eiffel Tower .
The Eiffel Tower was built in 1889 for the Universal Exhibition. Although it has not always met with unanimous approval, it is today the most magnificent and emblematic monument in France. More than 300 meters high, it offers you a breathtaking view of Paris .
You can then take the stairs or the elevator to go to the 1st floor , where you will find the Madame Brasserie restaurant, to the 2nd floor , where the gourmet restaurant Jules Verne is located, or to the top, to enjoy a glass of Champagne bar.
Visiting hours: the Eiffel Tower is open every day, all year round, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:45 p.m.
For lunch, we have prepared a guide to the best restaurants with a view of the Eiffel Tower.
2nd day in Paris: Île de la Cité, the Musée d'Orsay and Montmartre
After a good night's sleep at the Bleu de Grenelle hotel, you can reach the starting point of your second day of visit: Island of the City . To do this, take metro line 10 to the Maubert-Mutualité metro station (20 mins), or make the journey by bike (22 mins).
The Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris
Installed at the end of the Île de la Cité for more than 800 years, Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral is a true architectural gem. Although the religious building suffered from the 2019 fire, it remains majestic, with its astonishing gargoyles and sublime stained glass windows.
You can also take advantage of your time on the island to visit the Sainte-Chapelle , where the relics of the Passion of Christ are exhibited. Its remains of Christianity are priceless treasures, to be discovered in an equally dazzling religious building.
The Orsay museum
Let's continue the walk in the French capital by going to the Musée d'Orsay . To do this, you can take the RER C, for a 7-minute journey, get there on foot (30 minutes) or by bike (8 minutes).
Housing the largest collection of impressionist works of art, the Musée d'Orsay addresses the artistic creation of the Western world , from 1848 to 1914. You will find all the forms of artistic expression of this significant era, in a breathtaking setting of old station redeveloped. Among the renowned works, we recognize Van Gogh's Self-Portrait, Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe, by Manet, and the Origin of the World, by Courbet.
Visiting hours: the Musée d'Orsay is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., with an evening opening until 9:45 p.m. every Thursday.
Montmartre: end the day with an incredible sunset
To continue and end this second day in style, go to the foot of the Montmartre hill . You can get there by taking metro line 12 in less than 25 minutes.
Then take a stroll through the small cobbled streets of the Montmartre district , discovering this corner of Paris that looks like a picturesque little village and has a friendly atmosphere. You will stop at Place du Tertre, where you can have lunch on one of the terraces of the many restaurants. And if you feel like it, the Montmartre museum will tell you the history of this historic district of Paris.
You can continue the ascent on foot or take the Montmartre funicular. At the top, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart impresses with its architecture and its bright white color. From here, you will observe an incredible view of Paris and a breathtaking sunset.
3rd day in Paris: Les Invalides and the Center Pompidou
Your last day of your visit to Paris begins at the Hôtel National des Invalides. From the Bleu de Grenelle hotel, after a good breakfast, a 20-minute walk or 15 minutes by metro will be enough.
The National Hotel des Invalides
Not far from the Eiffel Tower and the Hôtel Bleu de Grenelle, the Invalides are a must for Parisian visits.
The Hôtel des Invalides was built at the request of Louis XIV. Its goal was to be able to shelter disabled soldiers who fought for France. Since 1677, the hospice has always played this role, but over the centuries, new developments have taken place. Now, Les Invalides also houses various museums, such as the Army Museum , the Museum of the Order of the Liberation , or the Plans-Reliefs Museum .
There are also the graves of many war heroes, including the tomb of Napoleon I, under the dome of the Saint-Louis chapel.
Visiting hours: the Hôtel des Invalides is open every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with late-night openings until 9 p.m. on Tuesdays.
The Center for Art and Culture: the Center Pompidou
After the Hôtel des Invalides, you can head towards the next stage: the Georges Pompidou Center . You can get there by metro (25 minutes). On foot, you can pass by the tip of the Île de la Cité, and take the opportunity to picnic in the Vert Galant square. Then, take the Pont Neuf to reach the Art and Culture Center.
The Center Pompidou is a world reference in modern art. In this building with its colorful pipes, we discover essential art collections from the 20th and 21st centuries . Two spaces are dedicated to renowned artists: on one side, the modern period (1905 to 1960) with Matisse, Dubuffet, Picasso... On the other side, the contemporary period (from 1960 to today), with Anish Kapoor, Andy Warhol, Saint Phalle...
Temporary exhibitions are also organized throughout the year, highlighting an artist or an artistic movement.
Visiting hours: the Center Pompidou is open every day, except Tuesday, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. An evening is organized every Thursday, until 11 p.m.
Other sites to visit in Paris
Depending on your pace of visit, our itinerary still leaves you time to discover other sites of our beautiful capital. By bike or metro, you are free to go to the Latin Quarter, the Montparnasse district or even the famous Avenue des Champs Élysées district.
You can also visit the most beautiful historical monuments and museums in Paris : the Opéra Garnier , the Catacombs of Paris, the Picasso museum ...
Finally, you can also take the time to stroll through the pretty Parisian gardens , such as the Luxembourg Gardens or the Jardin des Plantes, or try to experience a magnificent moment during a boat trip on the Seine.
Are you staying longer? Discover our guides:
Two tips for making the most of your stay in Paris in three days
To avoid wasting time traveling between each site, we recommend that you opt for two options.
- Cycling: with more than 1,000 km of cycle paths, bike rental agencies and Vélibs, everything is there to visit Paris by bike . This will help you avoid Parisian traffic;
- Public transport : the metro, RER, tram and bus allow you to visit Paris quickly. For the occasion, the Paris Visite package allows you access to the entire network for 3 days, for only €30.90.
Ideally located near the greatest monuments, the Bleu de Grenelle hotel is perfect for a 3-day stay in Paris . Book your hotel room with a view of the Eiffel Tower now, and experience a magnificent and unforgettable trip.
