Visit Paris in 3 days

Where to sleep in Paris

Choosing where to drop your bags profoundly changes how you will experience three days in Paris. A central location will let you maximize sightseeing time — fewer transfers, more wandering along the Seine — and easily return for a break before the evening. Prioritize proximity to the sites you want to see: Île de la Cité is ideal if Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Palais de Justice of Paris are at the heart of your trip.

Paris is a compact, hierarchical city: a historic core around the Seine, then neighborhoods with very distinct atmospheres radiating outward. For three days, the logic is to stay in the geographical center (1st, 4th and the nearby Left Bank) so most walks can be done on foot. Between the Pyramide du Louvre, the Church of Saint‑Germain‑l’Auxerrois and the Pont d'Arcole, you’ll find many monuments are adjacent or about a twenty-minute walk from one another.

Practically speaking, target neighborhoods that give direct access to these monuments without sacrificing charm: a pied-à-terre in the 1st arrondissement or near the Louvre will put culture within reach; the 4th, including Île Saint‑Louis and Le Marais, offers lively neighborhood life and short trips to the Pont d'Arcole; the nearby Left Bank (Saint‑Germain) remains an elegant option if you enjoy cafés and bookstores. Le Marais is particularly convenient for combining daytime visits with evening outings.

For getting around, Paris has a dense network where the métro and the RER are your allies: Châtelet‑Les Halles and Saint‑Michel are central hubs that easily connect the airport, the major train stations and the historic center. In this area, many people move between sites on foot, reducing the need for multiple transfers and making sightseeing days more pleasant.

Finally, rest assured: you will find a range of accommodation options — apartments, small guesthouses, boutique hotels — in these areas. To sleep soundly, choose a quiet street, check metro access and the check‑in/check‑out policy, and favor flexibility if your flight or train changes. With a good location, your three days in Paris will turn into memorable strolls rather than a race against the clock.

Getting around Paris

Paris is surprisingly simple to get around thanks to a dense, regular network: the Métro, the RER, the bus and the tramway serve almost every corner of the city and its outskirts. Stations are close together and maps are posted at every entrance; even if you’re not bilingual, connections are clear and announcements often state the next station in French and English. For a tourist, this means you can chain visit after visit without stress: the system works like a large web where each line brings you closer to a monument.

A practical tip about tickets: get t+ tickets for short trips (a book of 10 tickets is often cheaper) or consider a Navigo card if you’re staying several days, and the Paris Visite pass if you prefer unlimited simplicity. 🎫 Always validate your ticket on entry (and sometimes on exit for certain RER lines) and keep it until you leave—controls are frequent. You can buy tickets at ticket offices, machines or via some apps.

The tool I use most for planning is Google Maps: it shows connections, platforms and total door-to-door time, and it compares metro, bus or walking. For real-time schedules and incidents, the RATP app or Citymapper are excellent. 🗺️ You’ll also see when it’s better to walk—sometimes a 10–15 minute walk between two sites is faster and more pleasant than a complicated transfer.

To save, walk when possible: many central sites are within walking distance. The book of 10 reduces the cost per trip and the weekly Navigo becomes cost-effective as soon as you make several trips a day. The bus also offers a view of the city at no extra cost, and some RER journeys remain affordable if you stay in zones 1–2 (most of the listed monuments are there).

When I arrived from the Palais de Justice de Paris to the Grand Palais, we hesitated between a lovely walk along the Seine and the metro. In the end, I took line 4 at Cité, changed at Châtelet for line 1 and got off at Champs-Élysées–Clemenceau: about 20 minutes door-to-door, easy and stress-free. Along the way, we validated our tickets, followed the signs and enjoyed the contrast between the Île de la Cité and the lively avenue. These kinds of mini-itineraries quickly become automatic—you’ll see, Paris reveals itself at the pace of public transport.

What to bring to Paris

For a 3-day stay in Paris focused on monuments, churches, mausoleums and city walks, you walk a lot and spend little time in organized outdoor activities. Here is my practical list — based on my own treasures and mistakes — to stay comfortable, safe and ready to fall in love with a park bench at dusk.

1. Comfortable shoes (MANDATORY) : I insist: walking sneakers (for example New Balance 574 or ECCO with soft soles) or well-broken-in city shoes. Once I walked 25 km in a single day between cathedrals and cemeteries — the cobbles and some church staircases kill your calves if the shoes don’t support you. WHY : you avoid blisters and can enjoy 10+ hours outside without wanting to head back.

2. Secure crossbody bag : Wear it across your body, in front. In Paris pickpockets are not a myth: I felt a hand near my bag on the metro, but the anti-theft closure made the difference. WHY : keeping passport, wallet and phone close to you avoids stress and long procedures if something happens.

3. Clothes suited to the weather and places : Plan layers — 1 light jacket, 3 interchangeable tops, and a scarf. I visited a chilly church where the scarf helped me cover my shoulders; in the evening the same jacket protected me from a breeze along the Seine. WHY : Paris changes temperature quickly and some places require respectful attire.

4. Power adapter (Type E) : France = 230 V, Type E sockets. Once I forgot the adapter and paid €20 at the airport shop; pointless. WHY : to recharge camera, phone and razor in the evening so you can head out fresh the next day.

5. Power bank (10,000–20,000 mAh) : I bring a 20,000 mAh to be safe: it charges my phone at least twice during a 10+ hour day of photos and GPS navigation. WHY : no panic at the crucial moment in front of Sainte-Chapelle when the battery drops to 5%.

6. Useful optional — small compact umbrella or versatile scarf : The umbrella fits in the bag and saved me from a sudden shower near the Luxembourg Gardens; the scarf also serves as a light cover and an accessory for entering churches. WHY : these small items greatly increase comfort without taking up space.