Friday - The Louvre by night and the Seine by night
5:00 pm - 9:00 pm: Musée du Louvre (Friday night).
Pyramide du louvre photo par Pavel L Photo and Video/Shutterstock.fr
Start your 3-day stay in Paris with the Musée du Louvre, the largest in the world. Take advantage of the Friday night opening, open until 9:45pm, to discover its masterpieces in the best possible conditions. On the program: the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, the Victory of Samothrace and the Galerie d'Apollon. The Louvre is a must for understanding French and world heritage.
👉 Louvre tickets
📍 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris (map)
🚇 Palais Royal - Musée du Louvre (L1/7)
→ 10 min walk to Tuileries
Psyche revived by the Kiss of Love at the Louvre / photo Paolo Gallo/Shutterstock.fr
09H00-09H30 PM : Jardin des Tuileries & Arc du Carrousel.
Le carroussel du Louvre/ Photo chosen by Monsieurdefrance.com : UlyssePixel via depositphotos
After your visit, exit through the Pyramid and stroll through the Jardin des Tuileries, André Le Nôtre's masterpiece. Its geometric paths, statues and ponds make it an ideal setting for sunset photos. The Arc du Carrousel, adjacent to the Louvre, completes the perspective towards Concorde. It's a perfect moment to appreciate the beauty of classic Parisian gardens.
Le jardin des tuileries / Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: depositphotos
📍 Jardin des Tuileries, 75001 Paris (map)
🚇 Tuileries (L1)
→ 12 min walk to Pont des Arts
9:30pm - 10:15pm: Pont des Arts and quays of the Seine.
Magnificent Pont des Arts by night/ Photo chosen by monsieur de France: depositphotos
Continue your first evening at the Pont des Arts, the iconic footbridge linking the Louvre to the Institut de France. At night, the reflections of Parisian monuments on the Seine offer one of the most beautiful panoramas of the capital. Then stroll along the UNESCO-listed quays, perfect for photos of Paris by night. A romantic stroll to round off your first day in style.
📍 Pont des Arts, 75006 Paris (map)
🚇 Pont Neuf (L7)
→ 10-15 min walk or 8 min metro to Châtelet
Les quais de Seine by night / Photo chosen by monsieur de France: depositphotos
Saturday - Excursion to Versailles and illuminated Eiffel Tower
Detail of the Hall of Mirrors at the Château de Versailles Takashi Images/Shutterstock.com
09:30 - 12:30: Château de Versailles.
Start the day at the Château de Versailles, symbol of the reign of Louis XIV. Visit the Grands Appartements, the Galerie des Glaces, the Chapelle Royale and the Salle du Trône. Each room bears witness to the splendor of the French monarchy. Online booking is essential to avoid queuing. Versailles is a must for any weekend Paris Versailles.
TIP: take out an annual pass. You'll make it worth your while by benefiting from a queue breaker that will save you a lot of time by not having to queue, and you'll be helping to maintain Versailles;
The Marble Courtyard with the facades of the first château, that of Louis XIII / Photo by Fotos593/Shutterstock.com
👉 Versailles tickets
📍 Place d'Armes, 78000 Versailles (map)
🚇 RER C Versailles Château-Rive Gauche
→ 5 min walk to the Gardens
The Hall of Mirrors and its famous flares
1:30 pm - 3:00 pm: Versailles gardens.
The afternoon continues in the Jardins de Versailles, André Le Nôtre's landscaped masterpiece. The Grand Canal, bosquets, fountains and statues create a grandiose setting. During the Grandes Eaux Musicales, the fountains come alive to the sound of Baroque music, recreating the atmosphere of royal festivities. This park, a World Heritage site, is ideal for a relaxing photo break.
Jardin et Château de Versailles / photo Vivvi Smak/Shutterstock.com
📍 Jardins du Château de Versailles (map)
🚇 RER C Versailles Château-Rive Gauche
→ 25 min walk to Trianon
Le bassin de Latone / Image par 365 Focus Photography/Shutterstock.com
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm: Trianon & Hameau de la Reine.
Then explore the Grand Trianon, a pink marble palace built by Louis XIV to distance himself from etiquette, followed by the Petit Trianon, where Marie-Antoinette liked to retreat. The Hameau de la Reine, a recreation of a country village, reveals a more intimate, bucolic Versailles. These places are the perfect complement to a visit to the estate, offering a different view of royal life.
The facades of the Grand Trianon/ Image by Mistervlad/shutterstock
📍 Domaine de Trianon, 78000 Versailles (map)
🚇 RER C Versailles Château-Rive Gauche
→ Return RER to Paris 40 min
The Marlborough Tower and the Queen's Hamlet / Versailles / Image by Takashi Images
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm: Eiffel Tower & Trocadéro evening.
Back in Paris, admire the Lit-up Eiffel Tower. Climb to the 2ᵉ floor or the top for a unique panorama of the capital. From the Trocadero, the view is spectacular, especially when the Tower twinkles every hour. It's one of the most anticipated moments of a Paris 3-day stay and a memorable souvenir.
The color of the Eiffel Tower today is "Eiffel Tower Brown" photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: Samos via Depositphotos.
👉 Tour Eiffel tickets
📍 5 Av. Anatole-France, 75007 Paris (map)
🚇 Champ de Mars - Tour Eiffel (RER C) / Trocadéro (L6/9)
→ 25-30 min return Châtelet
The Eiffel Tower seen from the Trocadero. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com : phototraveller via Depositphotos.
Sunday - Marais, Notre-Dame and cruise on the Seine
9H15-10H30 AM: Le Marais and Place des Vosges.
La place des Vosges and its very own architecture / Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com : masterlu via depositphotos
The Marais is one of Paris' most charming historic districts. The Place des Vosges, the capital's first royal square, seduces with its regular arcades and elegance. Here you can visit the Maison de Victor Hugo and the Musée Carnavalet. Its medieval alleyways, private mansions and trendy boutiques make the Marais a lively place where history meets modernity.
📍 Place des Vosges, 75004 Paris (map)
🚇 Saint-Paul (L1)
→ 12 min walk to Hôtel de Ville
10:30am - 12:00pm: Hôtel de Ville & Centre Pompidou.
Paris City Hall pavoisé. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: Lindrik via depositphotos.
The Hôtel de Ville, with its neo-renaissance façade, dominates the eponymous square. Just a few steps away, the Centre Pompidou, a veritable architectural manifesto, houses one of the world's largest collections of modern and contemporary art. From its panoramic terrace, enjoy a breathtaking view over the rooftops of Paris. It's a cultural stopover that enriches any weekend Paris.
👉 Centre Pompidou tickets
📍 Place Georges-Pompidou, 75004 Paris (map)
🚇 Hôtel de Ville (L1/11) / Rambuteau (L11)
→ 10 min walk to Notre-Dame
Le center Pompidou / photo chosen by monsieur de France; depositphotos
1:15pm - 3:00pm: Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral.
Notre Dame de Paris on the horizon /Photo chosen by Monsieur de France depositphotos
The Cathédrale Notre-Dame, a Gothic masterpiece, remains a must-see. Although still under restoration, its forecourt and facade attract visitors from all over the world. The gargoyles, rose windows and towers are a reminder of medieval grandeur. Its interior reopening is scheduled for the end of 2024, but it remains a symbol of the spirituality and history of Paris.
Notre dame de Paris is not the largest cathedral in France. Notre Dame d'Amiens is twice as large in surface area. Nor is it the tallest cathedral in France, that being Rouen at 151 meters. It is, however, the most famous and most visited cathedral in the world. Photo chosen by monsieur de France: by LoneWombatMedia de Pixabay.
👉 Infos Notre-Dame
📍 6 Parvis Notre-Dame, 75004 Paris (map)
🚇 Cité (L4)
→ 5 min walk to the Seine
When we go into Notre Dame. Photo chosen by Monsieur de France: gilmanshin via depositphotos
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm: Cruise on the Seine.
End your Paris 3-day stay with a cruise on the Seine. From the Pont Neuf or the Port de la Bourdonnais, embark for a magical hour: the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay and the Conciergerie reveal themselves from the water. It's the perfect way to admire Paris's monuments from a different perspective and round off your weekend in style.
👉 Bateaux Parisiens
📍 Quai de la Bourdonnais, 75007 Paris (map)
🚇 Pont Neuf (L7) or Bir-Hakeim (L6)
→ Return to Châtelet in 25 min
Practical tips for visiting Paris
1) Bring good walking shoes.
A stay in Paris in 3 days involves a lot of getting around on foot: Louvre, Marais, gardens and quays of the Seine. The distances between two monuments can be long, even if the metro makes the journey easier. Opt for comfortable, breathable shoes suitable for urban walking, so you can enjoy your visits to the full without fatigue.
Paris is always a lot of walking / Photo chosen by Monsieur de France; depositphotos
2) Dress for the season.
Parisian weather can be changeable. Pack appropriate clothing: a compact umbrella or raincoat in spring and autumn, a warm jacket in winter, and a hat with sunglasses in summer. Layering is a good way to stay comfortable, especially on outdoor visits such as Versailles or the Tuileries Gardens. An umbrella is never useless;
3) Organize your tickets and reservations online.
Landmarks such as the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower or the Château de Versailles attract thousands of visitors. To save time, book your tickets on the official websites before you leave. This ensures rapid access and allows you to better manage your day.
