Exploring Europe: My 3 Day Paris Itinerary

I finally visited Paris, the city of love! Well…technically, this was my second time in the city but my first “real” visit. As a child, I visited Paris for about 2 days, but didn’t get the opportunity to explore because my parents made me stay in the hotel. I remember walking to a mall nearby and having McDonald’s; so much for embracing French culture right? On the night we were supposed to leave, our flight was postponed to the following day due to some mechanical issues and the airline paid for us to stay in a hotel overnight. In the hallway next to our room was a glass window, I remember being so excited to see the Eiffel Tower lit up and I’ve been dreaming of seeing those twinkling lights up close ever since.

During my 3-week long Easter break in April I didn’t travel anywhere, so I was determined to go somewhere to celebrate the end of the semester in May. I came across tickets to France for £32 round trip and knew I had to visit. Whether traveling solo or with a friend, I couldn’t let such a great deal pass me by. After some extensive research, I realized that the reason for such a cheap flight was because the plane landed about 1 hour and half away from Paris, in a city called Beauvais and that I would have to take a bus to actually get into the city center. The bus was about £15 each way, so in total I spent a little more than £60 to visit Paris and I still think that was a steal! One random night in the kitchen, my flatmate and I happened to talk about how we both wanted to visit Paris. I had already started my research and told her to let me know if she was serious, because in true Derencia fashion, I would plan everything… and I guess you can say the rest is history.

To get the most of the city, we booked the first flight on Sunday morning and the last flight on Tuesday night. With less than 72 hours to explore, I had to make sure the itinerary included important sights like the Eiffel Tower, traditional French cuisine, a museum of course for some culture, and also some room for spontaneity, just in case I met the love of my life.

Here’s my 3 day Paris itinerary- where to stay, what to do and where to eat:

Where to Stay

The Originals Hôtel Paix République, Paris

I am an Expedia girl, true and true! I love that I can choose a location, set a budget and filter by ratings. On the occasion that I find an amazing place and don’t have all the money right at that moment, I love the “book now, pay later” feature. I especially like how all the fees are included and shown to you immediately. I’m never surprised with additional fees when I reach the hotel because everything is already paid for. While scrolling through Expedia, I came across Hotel Paix Republique. The reviews were mostly good, stating that it was conveniently located next to the metro and it was quite reasonably priced. Not until actually arriving at the hotel, I realized just how wonderful it was to be right in front of the metro. On the second day, when we walked about 16k steps this was truly a blessing! The staff were nice, spoke English and the bed was so comfortable. Additionally, Hotel Paix Republique is located in the 10th arrondissement which is surrounded by a lot of restaurants, which made finding a place for breakfast and dinner so easy. I would definitely stay at this hotel again and again.

What To Do

Eiffel Tower

Let’s be real, if you don’t visit the Eiffel Tower, did you even go to Paris? I don’t think so, and that’s why it was the first place to visit on my itinerary. After checking in, it was time to get ready to head to one of the most iconic locations in the world. We traveled via the metro and within about 30 minutes we exited the station and were graced by a stunning view of the Eiffel Tower. Sidenote: I definitely recommend using the Paris metro. It’s pretty easy to use, Google Maps is a great help and each ride is 2.15 euros. We kept walking closer towards the tower, of course taking 800 million photos along the way. When we finally arrived in the Champs de Mars, I could not fathom how massive the Eiffel Tower was and that I was standing right in front of it. As I sat in the park, watching the sunset behind the Eiffel Tower eating a french hotdog and a cinnamon crepe, I felt so grateful to be right there in that moment.

Seine River Cruise

Picture this, you’re cruising along the Seine River as the sun sets and the Eiffel Tower starts to sparkle and no you’re not dreaming, this is your life! I booked this particular cruise on Get Your Guide, but there are so many cruises to choose from, anyone should be fine. While the water is a greenish-black color and you definitely do not want to accidentally fall in, I realized that the Seine River symbolized so much for the French. There were so many people sitting with friends and lovers enjoying a meal, playing card games, talking and laughing. We even saw groups of people dancing and just having the best time. The river was a place to hang out and made me really appreciate that French culture embraces community and spending time with the ones you love. I absolutely enjoyed this experience.

Jardin du Palais Royal

In episode one of Emily in Paris, Emily and Mindy meet in this beautiful garden filled with green trees and I knew from that very moment, I had to see it in real life. I’m not the nature loving outdoorsy type, but that image stuck with me and there was no way I would visit the city without making my way there. The Jardin du Palais Royal was stunning. The trees were freshly manicured, the garden boasts of pink, white and purple flowers blooming, and there was even a fountain surrounded with people either having lunch, reading or hanging out with friends. In the 2 days that I had been in Paris, I really enjoyed how the French spent their time. Their culture seemed to be all about making the most out of your time and enjoying it with others. There were couples and groups of friends everywhere I looked and even the people that were alone seemed to be enjoying themselves no matter what they were doing.

Louvre Museum

The Louvre Museum is home to the famous Mona Lisa painting by Leonardo Da Vinci. However, with only 3 days to spend in Paris, I did not have time to spend on the extremely long lines to enter the museum or see the painting. Everything I read prior to visiting said that to fully enjoy the museum, you could easily spend hours or the entire day exploring. I decided it was best for me to do that on another trip. However, I did see the marvelous pyramid in person and attempted to take the iconic Louvre photo.

Galeries Lafayette

For a breathtaking view of the city and the Eiffel Tower, you have to visit Galeries Lafayette. It’s a huge shopping center filled with luxury stores and free access to a rooftop, perfect for photo-taking. Earlier this year when I created my vision board, I included a rooftop photo of Paris with the Eiffel Tower in the background and here’s to visions coming true!

Petit Palais

I love visiting museums, it’s really one of my favorite things to do. While scrolling through TikTok one night, I came across Petit Palais. It is a free museum in Paris and I thought it would be a great way to conclude my trip, and it was. The artworks displayed were provocative, thought-provoking and quite French in the best way possible. If you’re ever in Paris, be sure to visit for a true taste of French culture.

Where to Eat

Bouillon Republique

In Paris, there are a lot of Bouillon restaurants and one was conveniently located 5 mins away from our hotel. After a day of exploring, it was 11:30pm and we hoped that the restaurant would seat us as they were supposed to be closing at 12am. To my surprise, not only were they still allowing walk-ins, but the restaurant was full- we literally had to sit between a couple and a group of friends. The seating was so close that we were basically on their lap lol, but it was fine. It was at this moment that I realized that everything that I had heard about the French eating really late was true. I already knew I was ordering the steak and frites but still scanned the menu for a dessert and beverage. I ordered a red wine and a creme brulee to accompany. I enjoyed everything I ate. I thought that the red wine I ordered was just a glass of wine, but it turned out to be a small bottle, for only 3 euros! The steak was tender and covered in a peppercorn sauce that complimented it really well and the creme brulee was delightful. My entire meal was less than 20 euros and delicious. It was the perfect ending to the first day in Paris!

Amorino Gelato Al Naturale

I really was practicing my french at Amorino. Although, the servers did speak English, I knew a few french words and I was determined to speak it. I ordered 3 scoops of gelato in a cup, “Vanilla avec dulce de leche avec framboise, merci beacoup” and that is how a bilingual does it! The gelato was so tasty and refreshing, especially after walking up 10 flights of stairs exiting the Montmartre metro station (don’t be like me, take the elevator).

Holybelly

Holybelly is an American style breakfast and lunch restaurant with delicious food! It has been such a long time since I’ve been to a brunch and I was so happy I came across this recommendation on TikTok. I ordered the pancakes, bacon and fried eggs with a chai latte and my friend ordered the English breakfast with sausage, beans and halloumi. You know me, I have to try a little of everything and I was so surprised that everything was so good. The foodie in me was dancing and I would definitely visit this restaurant the next time I’m in Paris.

If it isn’t clear by now, I had a wonderful time in Paris. For some reason the city felt so familiar and I would visit again in a heartbeat. Have you visited France before? If so, where did you go? I really want to visit the South of France next, so maybe 2025!