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:
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This brilliantly converted Belle Epoque train station is now a temple to art from 1848 to 1914, and it’s looking better than ever after a revamp for the museum’s 25th anniversary.
Downstairs, sculptures sit where trains once pulled in, and rooms pit Symbolists against Realists. On the top floor, the crowd-pulling Impressionists and Post-Impressionists include Monet, Manet, Degas, Cézanne, Gauguin and Van Gogh. The mezzanine levels feature Rodin sculptures, early photography and superb Art Nouveau decorative arts. At any one time, around 3,000 artworks are on display. Check out their Wikipedia page for a list of 24 selected collection highlights.
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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.
The nearest metro station is Solférino. It’s a 1-minute walk from there.
Be prepared for crowds, especially in the Impressionist galleries. The museum organises regular guided tours of the collection in English (see website for details). Audio guides are also available to rent (for small fee) at the entrance in multiple languages, with commentaries on over 300 artworks in the permanent collection.
The top-floor Café Campana, given a funky redesign by the Brazilian Campana brothers, is great for a light lunch. The first-floor restaurant serves more formal meals in gilded surroundings, under chandeliers.
The museum is open all year round, Tuesday to Sunday. Closed on Mondays. It’s open late on Thursday, when crowds are fewer.
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Paris, Ile-de-France, France
Seriously grand but pleasingly unstuffy, the queen of Paris’ palace hotels has a regal setting overlooking the Jardin des Tuileries.
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Paris, Ile-de-France, France
In a perfect Louvre-adjacent location, this witty, original boutique hotel pays homage to Parisian style.
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Paris, Ile-de-France, France
A grand, historic boutique hotel, set in a 17th-century St-Germain townhouse, offers both history and a brilliant, contemporary Left Bank location.
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Paris, Ile-de-France, France
This lovely, classic hotel puts you within walking distance of Paris’ major sights, perfect for first-time visitors.
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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.
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Paris, Ile-de-France, France
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Best for ages: 4+ | £15 | 1+ hour
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Paris, Ile-de-France, France
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Round-ups that include this experience
Multiple countries
From New York to London, Paris to Berlin, here’s our round-up of the must-see art galleries and museums around the world that should be on everyone’s travel bucket list.