Paris in 3 Days: Itinerary, Budget and Tips (2026)

Three days in Paris is the right length to see the essentials without rushing: the Eiffel Tower and the Left Bank on day one, the Louvre, Île de la Cité and the Marais on day two, Montmartre and the Champs-Élysées on day three. Here is the day-by-day plan with recommended times, 2026 ticket prices, the total budget, where to stay and the mistakes to avoid. The whole plan can then become your personalized itinerary, map included, in 30 seconds with NavorAI.

Paris in 3 days: the plan at a glance

Day 1: Eiffel Tower, Musée d'Orsay and Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Day 2: the Louvre, Sainte-Chapelle, Notre-Dame and the Marais. Day 3: Montmartre, the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Élysées. Versailles takes an extra half day, ideally a 4th day. Each day stays in one area of the city to keep metro rides short.

Day 1: the Eiffel Tower, Orsay and Saint-Germain-des-Prés

Start early at the Eiffel Tower (metro line 6, Bir-Hakeim station) with a booked ticket: the summit by lift costs €36.70 for an adult in 2026, and the view is best in the morning. Then walk along the Seine to the Musée d'Orsay (about €16, booking required), set in a former railway station: allow 2 hours for the great Impressionists, Monet, Renoir and Van Gogh. Closed on Mondays. End in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, among historic cafés, bookshops and galleries: the perfect area for dinner on a terrace.

Day 2: the Louvre, Île de la Cité and the Marais

Book the Louvre for opening time (metro lines 1 or 7, Palais-Royal-Musée du Louvre station): since January 2026, tickets cost €22 for EU visitors and €32 for non-EU visitors. The museum is closed on Tuesdays. Aim for 2.5 hours for the highlights (Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Winged Victory) rather than everything. In the afternoon, head to Île de la Cité: the Sainte-Chapelle and its stained glass (€16 for European Economic Area residents, €22 for others), then Notre-Dame, reopened since December 2024, with free entry. Finish in the Marais: Place des Vosges, mansions and independent shops.

Day 3: Montmartre, the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Élysées

Go up to Montmartre early in the morning (metro line 12, Abbesses station), before the crowds: the Sacré-Cœur basilica is free and its terrace offers a vast view over Paris. Wander around Place du Tertre and the village lanes. In the afternoon, head to the Arc de Triomphe (Charles de Gaulle-Étoile station): its rooftop offers one of the best views over the Champs-Élysées, without the Eiffel Tower queue. Then walk down the avenue to Place de la Concorde. If you have a 4th day, keep it for Versailles (RER C, about 40 minutes): the Passport, giving access to the palace and estate, costs €25-35 depending on the season. The palace is closed on Mondays.

How much does 3 days in Paris cost?

Indicative prices per person in 2026. • Site tickets: about €75-90 (Eiffel Tower summit €36.70, Louvre €22 or €32, Orsay about €16), plus €25-35 for Versailles. • Meals: €40-60 per day, making the most of bistro lunch menus (€15-20), so €120-180 for 3 days. • Transport: a metro ticket costs €2.55 and a Navigo day pass €12.30; budget €25-40 for the stay. • Total excluding accommodation: about €220-310 per person. • Accommodation: allow €130-250 per night for a double room in a well-located hotel, so €390-750 for 3 nights. For two people, a comfortable 3-day stay comes to around €830-1,370 all in, excluding travel to Paris.

Where to stay in Paris for 3 days?

The Marais (3rd and 4th arrondissements) is central, lively and charming, ideal for a first visit. Saint-Germain-des-Prés (6th) is the most elegant, with its cafés and shops, but also one of the most expensive. The Latin Quarter (5th) offers a good balance between price and location. Near the Eiffel Tower (7th), it is calm and chic, but quieter in the evening. Montmartre (18th) has lots of charm and gentler prices, in exchange for slightly longer journeys.

What to eat in Paris?

In the morning, an all-butter croissant from a neighborhood bakery. At lunch, a jambon-beurre on the go or, better, a bistro lunch menu, much cheaper than dinner: steak-frites, beef bourguignon, onion soup. In the evening, a cheese board with a glass of wine, and crêpes for a stroll. To eat well, head for market streets such as Rue Montorgueil or Rue Cler, and avoid restaurants with menus in ten languages facing the big monuments.

How to get around Paris?

The metro (16 lines) is fastest for long trips: a metro-train-RER ticket costs €2.55 in 2026, and the Navigo day pass (€12.30) pays off from 5 rides in a day. The center (Île de la Cité, Saint-Germain, the Marais) is easy to explore on foot, and the Seine banks are the city's finest walk. From the airports, a dedicated €14 ticket covers the RER or direct buses.

Our tips for a great stay in Paris

Book the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and Orsay as soon as your dates are set, and plan only one big visit per half day. Remember closing days: the Louvre on Tuesdays, Orsay and Versailles on Mondays. Watch out for pickpockets in the metro, especially on line 1, and around the Eiffel Tower and Sacré-Cœur. For a view without the wait, choose the Arc de Triomphe rooftop or the Sacré-Cœur terrace at sunset.

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This plan is a starting point. With NavorAI, enter your dates, budget and interests (museums, food, couple or family trip): you get your day-by-day itinerary, in the right order, with the map, the budget and links to book your tickets. You can also find our 10 must-see places on our Paris page.

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