3 Days in Paris: A First-Timer’s Itinerary for Solo Travelers and Girls’ Trips

Day 1 · Montmartre

Day 1: Montmartre, Sacré-Cœur and a Cocktail Bar Tour

The plan: arrive, check in on the Left Bank, eat your way up Montmartre, then cocktails with a guide. Book ahead: airport transfer, Montmartre food tour, cocktail bar tour.

Morning: Arrive and Check In on the Left Bank

Most flights from the United States land at Charles de Gaulle.

The RER B train runs straight from the airport to Luxembourg station, a few minutes’ walk from Hotel Saint Paul Rive Gauche.

The Paris airport ticket is €14 one way. A taxi into the Left Bank is a flat €65 from CDG, or €36 from Orly (as of November 5th, 2026)

After an overnight flight, I’d skip the train. Book a Welcome Pickups transfer and a driver will meet you at arrivals and take you straight to the hotel. Coming over from the UK by ferry or the Channel Tunnel instead? Calais is the start of the Côte d’Opale, and my 3-day GR120 coastal walk from Calais to Boulogne-sur-Mer makes an easy add-on before you head into Paris.

Midday: Eat Your Way Up Montmartre on a Guided Tour

Take the metro up to Abbesses and start your 3 days in Paris with a fun introduction to the city. I took this Montmartre food and walking tour with my friend Maggie, and I loved it. I know from experience that tours like this will definitely help you make new friends and get the lay of the land in a city like Paris.

Getting there is simple. Abbesses is on metro Line 12, and the station drops you right into the heart of Montmartre. Use Google Maps for the route from your hotel, and give yourself a little extra time on your first full day while you get used to the metro.

We both agreed that for a solo traveler, this would be the perfect tour! We learned where to find the best food in Montmartre, saw the Emily in Paris and Amélie filming locations, and stopped at the most photographed spot of all, La Maison Rose.

It doubles as lunch, and it’s an easy, social way to see the neighborhood if you’re on your own. It’s also a fun way to kick off a girls’ trip or a solo trip in Paris.

Not a Foodie? Book a Montmartre Walking Tour Instead

Afternoon: Place du Tertre and Sacré-Cœur

After the tour, walk over to Place du Tertre and peruse the artists working in the square. Maybe even stop and get your portrait done. Then finish the climb to Sacré-Cœur for the view over the city.

Montmartre has always drawn artists. Picasso had a studio at the Bateau-Lavoir, and painters still set up their easels in Place du Tertre today. Entry to Sacré-Cœur is free, so step inside, then find a spot on the steps out front. It’s one of the best places to see how big Paris really is.

Evening: A Paris Cocktail Bar Tour

Head back toward the center for the night. Maggie and I did this Paris cocktail bar tour, and I would never have found these bars on my own. My favorite stops were the Mobster Bar and La Mezcaleria. A guided bar tour is one of the best ways to go out at night when you’re traveling solo, because you’re with a group the whole time and someone else handles the route. It’s just as good for a girls’ night. There’s a lot of walking, so wear comfortable shoes.

For more on the neighborhood, see my one day in Paris itinerary.

Day 2 · 1st and 6th Arrondissements

Day 2: The Louvre, the Left Bank and Dinner at Freddy’s

The plan: the Louvre in the morning, fashion or books in the afternoon, and Freddy’s at night. Book ahead: a timed Louvre ticket.

Morning: The Louvre

The days of walking into the Louvre and buying a ticket on the spot are over. Book a timed ticket on the official Louvre website before you go. With 3 days in Paris, pick a few rooms instead of trying to see it all. You’ll find the Winged Victory of Samothrace at the top of the Daru staircase, usually with a crowd around it.

Plan on two to three hours. The Louvre is closed on Tuesdays, so build your three days around that. Book the earliest time slot you can get, head straight for the pieces on your list, and leave the rest for your next trip.

For lunch, Café Marly overlooks the Louvre courtyard. We didn’t have a reservation and were seated right away. I know people call it a tourist trap, but I kind of like it.

Afternoon: Choose Your Left Bank

This is where your 3 days in Paris become yours. Pick the afternoon that sounds most like you.

Option 1: For Fashion Lovers, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs

Next door to the Louvre, in the same building complex, is the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, my favorite museum in Paris. I have my AA in fashion merchandising and design, and the clothing exhibits here give me goosebumps. The museum rotates its exhibitions, so check what’s on before you go, and save time for the gift shop.

Tickets are about €15, and the museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Give yourself about two hours.

Option 2: For Book Lovers, Shakespeare and Company or the Abbey Bookshop

Walk across the river to Shakespeare and Company, where I always pick up more books. It has gotten so popular that the line only gets longer through the day, so go early. If you’d rather browse without the crowd, the Abbey Bookshop nearby is much quieter. Then stop for a small croissant at Le Corner Saint-Germain.

Option 3: For Architecture Lovers, the Opéra Garnier

If architecture is your thing, walk about 15 minutes north of the Louvre to the Opéra Garnier. I did the self-guided visit on my solo day and spent about two hours inside, and it’s easy to get lost in this place. Book the self-guided Opéra Garnier visit ahead, from about €25.

Option 4: Make Your Own Perfume

For something hands-on, book a perfume workshop. I made my own perfume at Galimard and I highly recommend it if you’re on your own. Read my Galimard perfume workshop review before you book, or choose one of these workshops in central Paris. French perfume has its roots in the south, in Grasse, where Galimard was founded. If you’re continuing on to the French Riviera after Paris, my Menton travel guide is a great place to start.

Evening: Cocktails and a Meat and Cheese Board at Freddy’s (aka Girl Dinner)

End the day back in Saint-Germain at Freddy’s, at 54 rue de Seine. I loved it. I had a meat and cheese board, the cocktails are great, and if you can, sit at the bar. It’s a small spot and they don’t take reservations, so go a little earlier in the evening for the best chance at a seat. It’s an easy walk back to the hotel afterward. If a glass at Freddy’s gets you curious about French wine, Bordeaux is about two hours from Paris by high-speed train, and my 3-day Bordeaux itinerary covers the city, the food and a day in Saint-Émilion.

Day 3 · 4th, 6th and 7th Arrondissements

Day 3: Notre-Dame, Your Pick of the Afternoon and the Eiffel Tower at Night

The plan: Notre-Dame, the Catacombs or the Seine, and the Eiffel Tower lit up. Book ahead: your Notre-Dame time slot, Seine cruise or Catacombs ticket, and Eiffel Tower tickets.

Morning: Notre-Dame Cathedral

I was especially excited to see Notre-Dame after it reopened, and it’s an easy walk from the hotel. Entry is free, but reserve a time slot on the Notre-Dame website. Slots open only a couple of days ahead, and visitors without a reservation aren’t guaranteed entry. If you’d rather not deal with it, a guided Notre-Dame tour includes entry.

Go first thing in the morning, before the tour groups arrive, and plan about an hour inside. If you didn’t get a reservation, it’s still worth walking around the outside and across to the Square du Vert-Galant at the tip of the island.

Afternoon: Choose Your Afternoon

Option 1: For History Lovers, the Paris Catacombs

My first visit to the Catacombs was ten years ago, and the experience is so much better now. The audio guide tells the story as you walk, which makes all the difference. Tickets are €31 for adults with the audio guide included, so book online ahead of time.

Plan about an hour underground. There are 131 steps down and 112 back up, and it stays cool down there year-round, so bring a layer. The Catacombs are closed on Mondays.

Option 2: For a Slower Afternoon, See Paris From the Seine

If you’d rather sit back, see the city from the water. Book a Bateaux Parisiens Seine cruise for the classic sightseeing route, or ride the hop-on, hop-off Batobus from the Notre-Dame stop.

Evening: The Eiffel Tower and Dinner at Les Cocottes

Save the Eiffel Tower for the last evening of your 3 days in Paris, when it’s lit up. Buy tickets ahead of time. When we bought tickets on site, the line to get into the park around the tower is what ate most of our time. Everyone goes through a security check with bag screening before the elevators, and the weather matters. I’ve had the summit fogged out on one visit.

When you book, you’ll choose between second-floor and summit tickets, and the summit is best on a clear evening. Once you’re back on the ground, stay for the sparkle. After dark, the tower lights up and sparkles for five minutes at the top of every hour.

For dinner, walk over to Les Cocottes. I found it on Paris Eater’s guide to restaurants near the Eiffel Tower. I had a glass of Languedoc-Roussillon and the filet de boeuf with butter and fries, and we split the house chocolate pie, which was divine. It’s a great way to end your 3 days in Paris.

Leaving Paris: Store Your Bags and Book Your Ride

If you’re flying out the next day, check out, drop your bags with Radical Storage so you can enjoy a last morning hands-free, then book a Welcome Pickups transfer back to the airport so you aren’t dragging a suitcase through the metro.

3 Days in Paris FAQ

Is 3 days in Paris enough?

Three days is enough to see the big sights and get a feel for a few neighborhoods, as long as you plan each day around one part of the city. If you can stay longer, my one week in Paris itinerary adds Versailles, the Opéra Garnier, Les Invalides and Canal Saint-Martin.

Where should I stay for 3 days in Paris?

I recommend the 6th arrondissement on the Left Bank. Hotel Saint Paul Rive Gauche puts most of Days 2 and 3 within walking distance.

Is this itinerary good for a solo female traveler?

Yes. I built it with solo women in mind. The guided food tour and cocktail bar tour mean you’re with a group for the parts of the trip where company helps, and the rest is easy to do on your own. For more ideas, read my solo day in Paris.

What should I book before I go?

Book your Louvre ticket, your Notre-Dame time slot, Eiffel Tower tickets and the Catacombs ahead of time. The food tour and bar tour can fill up, too.

How do I get around Paris in 3 days?

Walk as much as you can and take the metro for longer hops, like the ride up to Montmartre on Day 1. For metro etiquette and other first-timer mistakes, read my Paris travel tips.

Where should I go in France after 3 days in Paris?

It depends on what you love. For wine and food, take the train to Bordeaux and follow my 3-day Bordeaux itinerary. For sunshine and the sea, head to the French Riviera. Start with my Menton travel guide, then use my 5 days in Menton itinerary and where to stay in Menton to plan it. Traveling in winter? Read about visiting the French Riviera in February and the Fête du Citron. And if you’d rather hike, my Côte d’Opale GR120 itinerary takes you along the cliffs of northern France. Want mountains instead? Trade the Paris cobblestones for the French Alps with my 5-day hut-to-hut hike on the Tour du Vallaisonnay in Vanoise National Park.

Why 3 Days in Paris Is Enough for Your First Trip

3 days in Paris goes fast, but it’s enough to see the Louvre, Notre-Dame, Montmartre and the Eiffel Tower without rushing, as long as each day stays in one part of the city. Stay on the Left Bank, book the two tours that put you with a group, and leave room to choose your own afternoons. Whether it’s your first solo trip to Paris or a girls’ trip, you’ll leave knowing the city and already planning the next visit.

If you have an extra afternoon, add a perfume workshop at Galimard, and if you have more time in France, my 3-day Bordeaux itinerary is an easy train ride away. For sunshine after the city, the French Riviera is a short flight or a scenic train ride south.

Research and Sources

This itinerary is built from my own trips to Paris, including stays in Montmartre and Saint-Germain, the Montmartre food tour and cocktail bar tour I took with my friend Maggie, and dinners at Freddy’s and Les Cocottes. Ticket prices and booking rules were checked against the official sites for the Louvre, Notre-Dame de Paris, the Paris Catacombs and the Eiffel Tower. Freddy’s details were confirmed with Paris by Mouth, and I found Les Cocottes through Paris Eater.