WWayfare

Example itinerary

3 days in Paris for two on about €950

One museum a day, long walks between them and dinner in neighbourhoods where Parisians actually eat — the classic three days, arranged so you never backtrack.

Couples on a first trip who want the landmarks and a real evening or two.

Build this plan for your own datesSee other examples

Where to sleep

A mid-range hotel in the 11th or the Latin Quarter — The 11th is cheaper and full of restaurants; the Latin Quarter puts you inside the sightseeing. Budget around €135 per night for two.

Day by day

  1. Day 1 — Louvre and the Right Bank

    ~€340
    Morning.
    The Louvre at opening, entering by the Porte des Lions to skip the pyramid queue.
    Afternoon.
    Walk the Tuileries to Place de la Concorde and up the Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe.
    Evening.
    Dinner in the Marais, then a slow walk back along the lit riverbank.

  2. Day 2 — Eiffel Tower and the Left Bank

    ~€330
    Morning.
    Eiffel Tower with a timed ticket, or the view from Trocadéro if you would rather not queue.
    Afternoon.
    Musée d'Orsay for the Impressionists, then Saint-Germain and the Jardin du Luxembourg.
    Evening.
    Bistro dinner in the 5th, then a drink on a café terrace.

  3. Day 3 — Montmartre and the canal

    ~€280
    Morning.
    Sacré-Cœur early, before the steps fill, and the lanes behind it.
    Afternoon.
    Lunch in Montmartre, then down to Canal Saint-Martin for a very Parisian afternoon.
    Evening.
    Wine bar dinner in the 11th, ten minutes from most hotels in the area.

What it costs

Accommodation (3 nights)
€405
Food and drink
€300
Sights and museums
€145
Local transport
€60
Buffer
€40
Total for 2 travellers
€950

Estimates for 3 nights in Paris, excluding flights. Always confirm live prices and opening hours before you book.

Best time to visit Paris

April to June and September to early October: mild, long days, gardens at their best. August is quiet but many neighbourhood restaurants shut. January and February are cheapest, with short queues at the big museums.

Getting in from the airport

Cheapest.
RoissyBus or RER B from Charles de Gaulle, €11.80–€16.60, 45–60 minutes.
Fastest.
Taxi at the fixed fare of €56 to the Right Bank and €65 to the Left Bank, 40–60 minutes.

Where to stay in Paris

Le Marais.
central walking, cafés, museums — around €150–200 a night for two.
Latin Quarter.
students, cheap dinners, the Seine nearby — around €120–170 a night for two.
Batignolles / 17th.
calmer, better value, 15 minutes to the centre — around €100–140 a night for two.

Getting around

A carnet of 10 metro tickets is €17.35 and works for both of you; Navigo Easy loads the same fares onto one card. Most of central Paris is walkable between neighbouring arrondissements.

What to skip

  • Skip the Eiffel Tower summit queue — the Trocadéro view, or Montparnasse tower, shows you the tower itself.
  • Skip the cafés on the Champs-Élysées; a coffee there costs three times what it does two streets away.

Staying longer?

With 5 days add Versailles on a weekday morning (€21, RER C) and a slow day in Montmartre and Canal Saint-Martin.

Worth knowing

  • Book the Louvre, Orsay and Eiffel Tower online; every one of them sells timed slots that go days ahead.
  • Museums are free for under-26 EU residents and on some first Sundays — check before you pay.
  • A carnet of metro tickets or a Navigo Easy card costs much less than buying singles.

Paris questions, answered

How much does 3 days in Paris cost for two people?
About €950 excluding flights: €405 on three nights, €300 on food and drink, €145 on museums and the Eiffel Tower, €60 on the metro and €40 kept back.
Is 3 days enough for Paris?
Yes for the essentials — the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, Orsay, Montmartre and two or three good dinners. Versailles or Disneyland needs an extra day of its own.
When is the best time to visit Paris?
April to June and September to October. Terraces are open, queues are shorter than midsummer and hotel prices stay below the peak.
Do you need to book museum tickets in Paris?
For the Louvre, Orsay and the Eiffel Tower, yes. Timed entry is the difference between walking in and losing an hour in line.
Where should you stay in Paris on a budget?
The 11th, 12th or 18th arrondissements. All are on the metro, all have real neighbourhood restaurants and rooms cost noticeably less than the 1st to 7th.
How do I get from the airport into Paris?
RoissyBus or RER B from Charles de Gaulle, €11.80–€16.60, 45–60 minutes. If you would rather not carry bags on public transport: taxi at the fixed fare of €56 to the right bank and €65 to the left bank, 40–60 minutes.
Is Paris walkable?
Largely, yes — this plan is built so each day is walkable with at most a couple of short transport hops. A carnet of 10 metro tickets is €17.35 and works for both of you; Navigo Easy loads the same fares onto one card. Most of central Paris is walkable between neighbouring arrondissements.
Where should I stay in Paris?
Le Marais for central walking, cafés, museums (€150–200 a night); Latin Quarter for students, cheap dinners, the Seine nearby (€120–170 a night); Batignolles / 17th for calmer, better value, 15 minutes to the centre (€100–140 a night). This plan budgets €135 a night for two.

Working to a fixed budget? Read our step-by-step guide to planning a trip on a budget.

Thinking about another city?

Your dates, your budget

Wayfare builds the same kind of plan around your own dates, budget, hotel standard and interests — with booking links for every stay, restaurant and sight.

Plan my trip