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
Try snails with garlic, herbs and butter – a local specialty
Paris is one dynamic food metropolis – a culinary hub that ticks every edible box, whether you’re looking for classic steak-frites and onion soup or breakfast staples like baguette and croissants.
Old-school pleasures – chateaubriand beef and garlicky snails – abound on menus in many traditional eating houses (like bistros and brasseries), but nowadays the new generation of chefs is deconstructing traditional dishes to create their own, more elevated styles of food, often using ingredients sourced from neighbouring departements like Picardie (for potatoes and root vegetables) and Seine-et-Marne (for cheeses).
You’ll find plates from all over France, but Parisian specialities include: Paris-Brest (choux pastry with praline cream), croque-monsieur (cheese and ham toastie), steak tartare (raw beef chopped with spices and herbs), hachis parmentier (ground beef and mashed potato pie) and cheeses like Brie de Meaux and creamy Coulommiers. Also see our round-up of traditional French foods to try in France.
Wine predominates, but look out for Parisian beer (often brewed within the city limits), like Gallia, La Parisienne and La Baleine.
Paris and fine food have always gone hand-in-hand. But over the last twenty years, classic French cuisine has transformed into something wholly exciting and contemporary, largely in its bistros (local eating houses), thanks to a culinary movement known as bistronomie (a mix of bistro and gastronomie). In short, it involves making ‘simple’ bistro dishes with high-end gastronomic techniques, resulting in creative, elevated food, at affordable prices.
The one staple that never seems to change, however, is the Parisian café – the people-watcher’s dream with tiled floor, zinc bars, and tables sprawling onto the pavement. Cafés tend to open early for breakfast then serve food all day until late.
You’ll also find traditional menus in the city’s brasseries – grand, noisy institutions, where black-and-white suited waiters serve seafood platters, sauerkraut and steak in historical dining rooms with décor unchanged since the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The street food scene in Paris has exploded in recent years too, with everything from Afro-French soul food to Brazilian stews on offer from pop-ups and vans around the city.
Paris is also now home to more than eighty food markets, all overflowing with locally-grown produce, cured meats, pates, cheeses and of course, French wines. The quaintest is Enfants Rouge, but Marche Bastille, where colourful stalls are often interspersed with street performers, is also worth a try.
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France
Where to go and what to see in Paris – a 3-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Anna Brooke.
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Unsurprisingly, many of the fanciest haute cuisine restaurants are near the Champs-Elysees. The new generation of neo-bistros, where many locals actually eat, are scattered all across town, although you’ll find hotspots in the 7th and 11th arrondissements.
The best bar and party destinations depend on your style: young students let loose in rue Oberkampf and the Latin Quarter, trendy creatives mill around Faubourg St-Denis, and fashionistas and jetsetters pose in St-Germain.
Despite the explosion of street food, sit-down meals are still sacred in Paris, with three foodie moments punctuating the day: Lunch between 1 and 2:30pm, where locals lap up the menu du jour (daily specials). Then by 7pm, it’s aperitif time in a café or bar, followed by dinner in a bistro or brasserie after 8pm. Parisians typically dine late, with many places serving until 10pm – some are even open 24/7.
On weekends, the city turns into a brunch capital, when eateries all over town offer their take on the Anglosaxon meal. Don’t expect Sunday lunch as such. Though restaurants are open, there are rarely Sunday specials as people traditionally visit family and dine at home.
Paris, Ile-de-France, France
There are old-fashioned bonbons, jellied fruits and chocolates galore in this historical sweet shop, founded in 1761.
Best for ages: 4+ | Free
Paris, Ile-de-France, France
This vast, snaking open-air food market of 100+ stalls is held on weekly Thursdays and Sundays. It’s great for fine, locally-sourced produce, especially cheese, and atmospheric; street performers often entertain the shoppers.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Paris, Ile-de-France, France
An institution with the best vanilla mille-feuille in Paris, served in gilded surrounds with views onto the Palais Garnier Opera House.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Paris, Ile-de-France, France
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Paris, Ile-de-France, France
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Paris, Ile-de-France, France
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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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Homely country-cottage charm and welcoming calm in this 26-room boutique hotel, halfway between magical Montmartre and louche Pigalle.
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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.