Paris in 3 Days: The Essential Route 🇫🇷

Day 1: Arrival & Le Marais 🍷

After landing (Uber is around €40 from Orly and very convenient), we settled in Le Marais. It is the perfect neighborhood for a first impression: historic, manageable, and beautiful, even in light rain. Our first stop is Place des Vosges, the oldest square in Paris (1612), famous for its perfect red brick symmetry and for housing the home of Victor Hugo.

Walking north, you will bump into the brutal contrast of the Centre Pompidou, with its colorful pipes and high-tech architecture. Nearby, look for the Agoudas Hakehilos Synagogue, an Art Nouveau jewel by Hector Guimard.

For sunset, stroll through Rue des Rosiers, the heart of the old Jewish quarter (Pletzl). The smell of falafel and pastries is unmistakable.

Our star recommendation is dinner at the Marché des Enfants Rouges, the oldest covered market in Paris (1615). There are food stalls from all over the world.
Note! They close early. Try to arrive before 19:00. If you arrive late or prefer a sit-down meal, the bistro L'Aller Retour Marais is excellent for trying a pâté board and French wine.

Day 2: Latin Quarter & Louvre 🖼️

We start the day surrounded by science and nature at the Jardin des Plantes 🌿 and the Natural History Museum. From there, head up towards the Pantheon, where Marie Curie, Voltaire, and Rousseau rest. You are in the heart of the Latin Quarter, the university area par excellence (the Sorbonne is here).

A short walk takes you to the Luxembourg Gardens. Look for the small replica of the Statue of Liberty hidden among the trees 🗽; it is a gift from the American community in Paris.

Heading down towards the Seine River, you'll reach ground zero. Cross the Pont Neuf to see Notre Dame (still under restoration after the fire, but imposing). Just opposite, enter (or look from outside if the line is long) the Shakespeare and Company bookstore 📚, a refuge for writers like Hemingway.

In the afternoon, visit Sainte-Chapelle (its stained glass windows are out of this world) and stroll towards the City Hall (Hôtel de Ville). If you need sugar, a pain au chocolat from Boulangerie Le Parisienne eaten in Nelson Mandela Park will bring you back to life 🥐.
We leave the main event for the end: the Louvre Museum. We recommend entering in the late afternoon/evening.

Day 3: The Iron Lady & Montmartre 🎨

Today starts strong. Have a pain au chocolat from Maison Bergeron and go straight to the Eiffel Tower.

After going up the tower (book in advance) and walking through the Champ de Mars (venue for Beach Volleyball in the 2024 Olympics), head to the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Élysées.

For lunch, you MUST book at Pink Mamma . It is a spectacular Italian near Montmartre (order the truffle pasta).

Dedicate the afternoon to Montmartre. You can start at the Moulin Rouge and wander up the streets. Don't miss the Montmartre vineyard 🍇, Van Gogh's house, and the Place du Tertre (painters). The neighborhood retains a unique bohemian vibe.

If you prefer to be told the stories of Picasso and Dalí, this Free Tour of Montmartre is highly recommended.

One of the highlights not to be missed is the Montmartre vineyard 🍇, saved from urbanization in the 30s thanks to the mobilization of artists and intellectuals. The harvest is celebrated annually at the famous Fête des Vendanges.

It is also interesting to visit the cabaret Lapin Agile 🎶, known for having been a regular meeting point for artists and writers in the late 19th century.

Other essential points of interest are the Wall of Love (Le mur des je t'aime) and the Maison Rose. This neighborhood was home to artists such as Modigliani and Utrillo, and still retains an atmosphere that evokes its rich creative past.

To say goodbye to the trip, go to the Sacré-Cœur to watch the sunset over Paris.