Paris is as much a myth as it is a modern city, and with 130 museums and more than 44,000 restaurants joining its emblematic monuments, it’s no wonder that so many visitors find themselves overwhelmed with choice. But in truth, the French capital is deceptively approachable, and in just three days, you can cover quite a lot of ground.
Most of Paris’ must-sees lie along the Seine, in arrondissements 1 to 8. A wander along the riverbanks (or a boat trip down the river itself) makes it easy to take in the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, and newly reopened Notre-Dame Cathedral from afar. The central arrondissements are also home to a host of classic bistros and some of the city’s most picturesque parks and gardens.
You can easily zip across the city thanks to accessible public transport: A €2.50 (just over £2) ticket will get you anywhere you need to go. Foodies should definitely venture into the eastern 11th and 20th arrondissements to discover a host of exciting contemporary restaurants and wine bars, while those looking for a quainter image of Paris would do well to visit the hilltop former village of Montmartre, rendered immortal by the countless painters who found their inspiration there.
Jardin du LuxembourgGetty Images
Day One
Morning
Start your Paris exploration on the picturesque Left Bank, the historic heart of the city. A typically French breakfast includes coffee and a viennoiserie, but unfortunately for visitors, rare is the spot that excels at both. Instead, grab a warm croissant from Maison d’Isabelle, named Paris’ best in 2018, and walk four minutes to Jozi for an excellent craft coffee to go. Enjoy both on the Square de l’Ile de France, a tiny park at the southern tip of Ile de la Cité with exquisite views of Notre-Dame’s newly restored spire.
To visit the cathedral’s interior without waiting in hours-long queues, you’ll definitely want to book a timed entrance online (it’s free!) But if you lack the time, patience or planning, even an exterior visit is breathtaking, and thanks to bleachers on the parvis, you can sit and admire the medieval porticoes for as long as you like. From there, walk up the boulevard Saint-Michel to the Jardin du Luxembourg, the most quintessentially Parisian park, for a morning stroll in Ernest Hemingway’s footsteps: In his memoir A Moveable Feast, the Lost Generation novelist recalls crossing the garden to visit with Gertrude Stein.
