Paris 3-Day Itinerary: Eiffel Tower, Louvre and Montmartre

This practical Paris 3-day itinerary gives each full sightseeing day one geographic focus: the Eiffel Tower and Seine, the Louvre and historic centre, then Montmartre with a flexible final neighbourhood. Book the two limited or timed priorities first, keep ordinary walks flexible, and avoid turning Paris into a chain of reservations.

Paris 3-day itinerary at a glance

This plan assumes three complete days, with arrival and departure handled separately. Move Day 2 away from Tuesday because the Louvre is closed. If a summit ticket, particular museum collection or performance is essential, secure it before choosing the final day order.

Day 1: Eiffel Tower, river views and a Seine evening

Choose the correct Eiffel Tower ticket

The official Eiffel Tower ticket options distinguish the second floor from the summit and stairs from lift access. Use the official rates and opening-times page, select the exact date, and read the access type before paying. Opening times and summit access can change because of weather, crowding or operational conditions.

Arrive with enough time for security. Large luggage is not accepted and there is no luggage storage at the tower. Stair and summit routes are not suitable for every visitor, so check the official accessibility information for your group instead of treating a lift ticket as completely step-free.

Keep the afternoon flexible and verify the cruise pier

After the visit, choose either Champ de Mars, Trocadéro or a relaxed lunch rather than another major timed entry. This buffer absorbs security, lift queues, photographs and a weather delay. If you add a Seine cruise, verify the operator, exact pier, boarding time, duration, commentary language and cancellation conditions. Different products do not all depart from the same place.

Worked example: a couple with a 10:30 second-floor ticket arrives early, finishes around lunchtime, takes a long break and books a river departure that leaves from a clearly identified pier after 18:00. They do not place a non-refundable museum slot between the tower and the cruise.

Day 2: Louvre, Tuileries and the historic centre

Plan a focused Louvre visit

The Louvre is open every day except Tuesday. The official hours and admission page lists later closing on Wednesday and Friday, with last entry one hour before closing. A time-slot reservation is recommended, including for visitors eligible for free admission. Check the live calendar and room closures when a specific collection matters.

Choose three to five works or one department before arrival. Enter through the access point stated on the current ticket, keep coats and bags manageable, and stop while you still have energy for the city. Attempting the whole museum in one morning makes the rest of the day less useful.

Continue through Tuileries to Île de la Cité

Rest in the Tuileries, then walk or use the metro toward Île de la Cité. Notre-Dame Cathedral is free to enter and does not require compulsory booking, although the official system offers free time slots to ease access. Conditions for the towers are separate. Check the current Notre-Dame visitor guidance and never pay an unofficial seller for cathedral entry.

If the Louvre runs long, shorten the riverside walk rather than rushing the cathedral. Finish in the Latin Quarter only if its return journey is convenient for the hotel.

• If Day 2 is Tuesday: swap it with Day 1 or Day 3.
• If art is the main interest: use a Wednesday or Friday late opening and remove the evening neighbourhood.
• If mobility is limited: verify the museum entrance, lifts and the actual metro exits before departure.
• If Notre-Dame has a long queue: enjoy the exterior and river setting, then return at a quieter time.

Day 3: Montmartre and a flexible final afternoon

Approach Sacré-Cœur with slopes in mind

Start in Montmartre before the busiest middle of the day. Sacré-Cœur and Place du Tertre are obvious anchors, but smaller streets, a café stop and one viewpoint make the morning feel less like a photo queue. The official Paris tourism district guide is a useful orientation.

Montmartre has steep streets and steps. The funicular can replace part of the climb, but it does not remove every slope. Choose the arrival station after checking the walking route to the first stop, not merely the station that looks closest on a map.

Stay in Montmartre or move to the Marais

Remain in Montmartre for lunch and a slower afternoon if you prefer fewer journeys. Choose the Marais only when Place des Vosges, independent shops or another neighbourhood is a real priority. Allow time for the cross-city trip and keep the final dinner near the area where you expect to finish.

Do not add Versailles or Disneyland Paris to the same day. Either excursion deserves a separate full day and should replace a city day or extend the trip.

Where to stay and how to use Paris transport

Check the exact hotel address, walk to the station, lift access, room configuration, noise comments, taxes and cancellation terms. A hotel beside one landmark is not automatically convenient for all three days.

RATP’s current Metro-Train-RER ticket guidance explains that the ticket can be loaded onto a Navigo Easy pass, smartphone or watch and covers metro, RER, suburban trains and the funicular within its stated conditions. Airport travel uses separate arrangements. Use the same approved device or pass throughout a journey and verify the route on the travel day.

For deeper neighbourhood and food planning, read our Paris travel guide. Add the Loire Valley guide or Mont Saint-Michel itinerary only with extra nights, then browse the Europe planning hub.

Paris booking checklist

1. Step 1. Check the Louvre calendar, avoid Tuesday and reserve the preferred entry time.
2. Step 2. Choose the Eiffel Tower floor and access method, then buy through the official channel.
3. Step 3. Place each fixed reservation on the map and remove any unrealistic back-to-back booking.
4. Step 4. Select a hotel by station access, late return and room details rather than district name alone.
5. Step 5. Verify the airport-to-hotel route and separate airport fare before travel.
6. Step 6. Add the cruise, restaurant or performance only after the main reservations are settled.
7. Step 7. Save tickets offline and recheck opening hours, transport notices and weather 48 hours before arrival.

• Carry: identification, offline confirmations, a charged phone, water and comfortable shoes.
• Avoid: unofficial ticket sellers, large luggage at attractions and consecutive timed entries.
• Allow: time for security, metro corridors, museum cloakrooms and a proper meal.

Paris 3-day itinerary FAQ

Are three days enough for Paris?

Three full days cover the Eiffel Tower, a focused Louvre visit, the historic centre and Montmartre at a reasonable pace. They are not enough for several large museums and day trips without major compromises.

What should I book first?

Book the hardest-to-replace priority first—usually an Eiffel Tower summit option or the Louvre time that fits the itinerary. Then arrange the other fixed entry around it.

Can I visit the Louvre on Tuesday?

No. The Louvre’s regular weekly closure is Tuesday. Recheck the official calendar for holidays, special closures and the precise hours on your date.

Is Paris easy without a car?

Yes. Walking, metro, RER and buses cover this itinerary. A car adds parking and traffic complications and is unnecessary for a central three-day visit.

Can I add Versailles?

Give Versailles its own day. With only three full days, replace one Paris day or extend the stay rather than attaching it to the Louvre or Montmartre day.

Last reviewed: 15 November 2026. Attraction access, transport, strikes and opening times can change; verify official sources before travel.

Featured photograph: Champ de Mars from the Eiffel Tower (July 2006), by Diliff, edited by Fir0002. Licensed under CC BY 2.5. Resized for display; archive thumbnails may be cropped.