Paris 3-day itinerary
France
Where to go and what to see in Paris – a 3-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Anna Brooke.
Bucket list experience:
Paris, Ile-de-France, France
There’s no better way to see the sights in one magical sweep than by boat along the Seine.
From the filigree girders of the Eiffel Tower to the giant clock of the Orsay Museum and the Mansard rooftops of the Louvre – not to mention the statue-studded bridges – the waterway provides a unique and crowd-free viewpoint for taking in the city’s treasures.
Book a dining cruise on a riverboat, hire your own private boat or opt for the hop-on-hop-off boat-buses. They’re all good, but for extra romance, go at night, when the monuments are lit up and the Eiffel Tower sparkles.
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Destination Guide >Recommended itineraries by our writers that include this experience
France
Where to go and what to see in Paris – a 3-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Anna Brooke.
France
Where to go and what to see in Paris – a 6-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Anna Brooke.
For dinner cruises, Ducasse sur Seine is consistently excellent, offering modern French cuisine and panoramic windows.
Batobus’ hop-on-hop-off service covers nine stops, making it a fun option for sightseeing while getting around town.
But the most dramatic way to do it – with the wind in your hair and rosé in your hand – is with Lakana Paris Cruise, whose captain-commandeered four-person boats give you a bespoke ride along the ripples.
Boat trips and dinner cruises run all year round, so check individual websites for times. Spring and autumn are the best times, when it’s hot but not scorching. And at night, when the city twinkles.
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Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Paris, Ile-de-France, France[2.4 miles]
Experience a truly imperial lifestyle in the former residence of Prince Roland Bonaparte (Napoleon’s great nephew), with unbeatable views of the Eiffel Tower.
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Paris, Ile-de-France, France[2.6 miles]
Bargain prices and boutique style at this family-run hotel near the Eiffel Tower. One of city’s most popular affordable hotels.
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Paris, Ile-de-France, France[2.8 miles]
Live out your country house fantasies at this delightfully eccentric, handsomely revamped chateau hotel in a smart western suburb of the city.
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Paris, Ile-de-France, France[3.8 miles]
Soak up the buzz at design legend Philippe Starck’s gloriously decadent take on a grand palace hotel – in a very convenient location for seeing the sights.
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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
Ile-de-France, France
Crammed with iconic buildings, world-class art and a culinary scene steeped in history, Paris is one of the world’s great capitals, overflowing with style, romance, and art de vivre.
Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
Paris, Ile-de-France, France[1.6 miles]
The world’s largest collection of Monet’s paintings, displayed in a grand 19th-century mansion – including his world-famous ‘water lily’ canvases.
Best for ages: 13+ | £10
Paris, Ile-de-France, France[2 miles]
This exceptional collection of works by one of the world’s most famous sculptor, is presented in his former home and gardens in Paris.
Best for ages: 13+ | £10
Paris, Ile-de-France, United Kingdom (UK)[2 miles]
Gustave Eiffel’s eccentric, iron-clad tower built as a temporary exhibit for the World Fair in 1889, has views all over the city and has become iconic symbol of Paris.
Best for ages: 4+ | £23
Paris, Ile-de-France, France[2.4 miles]
Fascinating primal art and indigenous artefacts from all over the globe, theatrically presented in Jean Nouvel’s striking modern building.
Best for ages: 13+ | £10
Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..
Paris, Ile-de-France, France[2 miles]
World-class food and unrivalled Paris views at Michelin-starred Frederic Anton’s daring restaurant on the Eiffel Tower’s second level.
Best for ages: 12+ | £120
Paris, Ile-de-France, France[3.5 miles]
One of Paris’ main museums for Contemporary & Historical art exhibitions, set in a stunning avant-garde silver and glass structure designed by Frank Gehry.
Best for ages: 18+ | £16
Paris, Ile-de-France, France[4.4 miles]
These eerie bone-lined passages, set in a former quarry 20m underground, contain the remains of several million Parisians. The residents – including many victims of the notorious guillotine – were buried here when existing cemeteries overflowed during the French Revolution.
Best for ages: 13+ | £23
Paris, Ile-de-France, France[5.2 miles]
Paris’ most exquisite Gothic monument was built by Louis IX in 1248 to house his collection of Passion relics, including Christ’s Crown of Thorns (now at Notre-Dame Cathedral). It has one of the most extensive 13th-century stained-glass collections anywhere in the world.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free