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
Credit: andersphoto / Shutterstock.com
Paris has been catering to the fancies of the wealthy for centuries, and thanks to French haute couture brands like Chanel, Dior and Givenchy, it’s still associated with luxury shopping today.
But there’s loads more to discover than just posh shops. Stroll the Marais, Saint-Germain-des-Pres and South Pigalle to find gorgeous indie fashion boutiques, or seek out one of the city’s chocolate shops, bookshops, kitchenware boutiques or quirky concept stores selling everything from sustainable clothing to make-up and furniture.
In the 19th century, Paris was the birthplace of the French department store, and its legacy lives on in some of the most famous shopping spots in Europe. And of course, there are the fabulous markets too – from weekly food stalls to vast antiques bazaars.
Want more recommendations in this destination?
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.
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
Chic department store with a dazzling Art Nouveau cupola, famed for its food court, luxury fashion brands and rooftop restaurants.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Paris, Ile-de-France, France
Ultra-chic department store, with architecture by Eiffel and stylish fashion displays, plus an adjacent luxury supermarket and eateries.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Paris, Ile-de-France, France
The largest antiques market in the world, with serpentine alleys lined with shops and stalls of curios, knickknacks and furniture.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity
Paris
€99 | Rating 4.02 / 5 [44 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Paris
€100 | Rating 4.88 / 5 [18 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Paris
€140 | Rating 4.24 / 5 [37 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Paris
€152 | Rating 5 / 5 [15 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Paris, Ile-de-France, France[0.2 miles]
A designer boutique bolthole that’s perfectly positioned for the stylish, gay-friendly Marais district and Centre Pompidou.
Official star rating:
Paris, Ile-de-France, France[0.9 miles]
A grand, historic boutique hotel, set in a 17th-century St-Germain townhouse, offers both history and a brilliant, contemporary Left Bank location.
Official star rating:
Paris, Ile-de-France, France[1 miles]
Smack bang in the museum-filled Marais, this ivy-clad hotel with a spa and restaurant is a romantic spot for couples.
Official star rating:
Paris, Ile-de-France, France[1.2 miles]
This tranquil hotel has a gorgeous garden and delightful, old-fashioned charm, in the heart of Paris.
Official star rating:
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[0.5 miles]
This vast Medieval palace was most famous as the ‘antechamber to the guillotine’ in the French Revolution. Three thousand prisoners were tried and convicted here, including France’s last queen Marie Antoinette.
Best for ages: 13+ | £10
Paris, Ile-de-France, France[0.5 miles]
Europe’s largest collection of modern and contemporary art, housed in Richard Rogers and Renzo Piano’s iconic inside-out building.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Paris, Ile-de-France, France[0.9 miles]
Paris’ official museum of the Middle Ages, set one of Paris’ oldest and finest medieval buildings. It’s home to the world-famous 15th-century La Dame a la Licorne (The Lady and the Unicorn) tapestry, and Paris’ oldest sculpture (1349 AD).
Best for ages: 13+ | £4
Paris, Ile-de-France, France[0.9 miles]
One of the world’s most important Picasso museums, highlighting the artist’s prolific career and his own collection of art in a sumptuous 17th-century mansion.
Best for ages: 18+ | £12
Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..
Paris, Ile-de-France, France[0.5 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
Paris, Ile-de-France, France[1 miles]
The apartment where famous French poet and novelist Victor Hugo lived for 16 years, now a museum about his life and works.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Paris, Ile-de-France, France[1.1 miles]
The birthplace of the rum baba in the 18th century, the city’s oldest patisserie still wows with its gateaux (cake) today.
Best for ages: 4+ | Free
Paris, Ile-de-France, France[1.6 miles]
Founded in 1793 during the French Revolution, this impressive museum has four substantive galleries, with dinosaurs galore, all dedicated to preserving and educating about the natural world.
Best for ages: 4+ | £26