Paris doesn't need an introduction — it invented the idea of the perfect city break. But knowing where to go, when to go, and how to dodge the queues makes all the difference between an average trip and one you'll talk about for years. This 3-day plan skips the tourist traps, keeps your mornings sharp, and leaves room for the kind of afternoon that turns into an evening you didn't plan.
Arrive before the crowds and take the stairs to the second floor for the best views. The first lift run is quieter and the morning light on Paris is something else.
Walk across the Champ de Mars lawn toward the Seine, then cross Pont d'Iéna to the Trocadéro esplanade — the best photo angle of the tower, bar none.
The most famous café in Paris has earned its legend. Sit outside, order a café au lait and a croissant, and watch Saint-Germain-des-Prés wake up. Sartre used to write here.
The world's greatest collection of Impressionist art, housed in a stunning 19th-century railway station. Monet's Water Lilies studies, Van Gogh's self-portraits, Rodin sculptures — budget at least 2 hours.
Head down to the UNESCO-listed riverbanks and walk east toward Île de la Cité. Stop at the bouquiniste bookstalls — green wooden boxes full of vintage prints, maps and old paperbacks.
A stunning Art Nouveau brasserie from 1906, serving classic French bistro food at honest prices. Duck confit, steak frites, escargots — this is the real deal, not a tourist copy.
The world's largest art museum. Don't try to see everything — pick a wing. The Denon Wing has the Mona Lisa (crowded), Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory. Richelieu Wing has the Dutch masters and less crowds.
The most famous falafel joint in Paris, in the heart of the Jewish quarter of Le Marais. Queue outside (it moves fast), eat standing on the street like everyone else. The crispy fried version is the one to get.
Paris's oldest planned square, built in 1612. Beautiful symmetrical red-brick arcades surround a tree-filled garden. Sit under the arcades, browse the art galleries, or just enjoy the most elegant lunch spot in the city.
The inside-out building that shocked Paris in 1977 now houses Europe's finest collection of modern art. The rooftop view of Paris is stunning and often overlooked.
The most beautiful Gothic chapel in the world, built to house the Crown of Thorns. The upper chapel has 15 stained glass windows covering 600 square metres — on a sunny afternoon the light is extraordinary.
The smaller of Paris's two islands is one of the city's best-kept secrets — no major museums, just 17th-century hôtels particuliers, quiet streets and Berthillon ice cream. Walk the perimeter quays as the sun sets.
Climb the steps to the white domed basilica at the highest point in Paris. The panoramic view of the city stretching to the horizon is one of the great views in Europe. The interior is quiet and free.
Wander the steep cobbled streets of the old village — the Lapin Agile cabaret, Rue Lepic, the vineyard, the artists' studios. Place du Tertre has portrait painters but is touristy; the real Montmartre is in the streets around it.
A proper neighbourhood bistro on Rue des Martyrs — one of Paris's best food streets. Classic French menu, daily chalkboard specials, mostly local clientele. No tourist prices here.
The most opulent building in Paris, built by Charles Garnier for Napoleon III. Even if you're not seeing a performance, the self-guided tour of the Grand Foyer, marble staircase and Chagall ceiling is unmissable.
Paris's most famous department store has a free rooftop terrace with a sweeping panorama over Haussmann's rooftops to the Eiffel Tower. Far better views than many paid attractions — and totally free.
End the trip at the top of Paris's most iconic monument. The view down the Champs-Élysées and across the city at sunset — with the Eiffel Tower lit up in the distance — is the perfect Paris send-off.