The principle: Paris rewards walking, not ticking off monuments. Three days is enough for the essentials if you group each day by district — central, Montmartre and the Left Bank, then Versailles or Disneyland if you want one big excursion.
Before you go
- Visa: Schengen visa. Apply 45–60 days ahead; processing is 15–20 working days.
- Insurance: Schengen requires €30,000 medical cover for the full trip. We issue compliant policies instantly.
- Metro: buy a Navigo Easy card (€2) and load a carnet or day pass. Avoid buying single tickets on board.
- Bookings that genuinely sell out: Eiffel Tower summit, Louvre timed entry, Orsay, Versailles palace interior.
- Safety: pickpockets work the Metro (especially lines 1, 2 and 4) and the area around Sacré-Cœur. Keep phones zipped, not in back pockets.
Day 1 — Central Paris and the Eiffel Tower
- Morning: Notre-Dame area and Île de la Cité, then Sainte-Chapelle for the stained glass (worth the queue).
- Late morning: Louvre timed entry — pick one wing well rather than racing all three. The Denon wing (Mona Lisa, Italian painting) plus Egyptian antiquities is a solid three-hour plan.
- Afternoon: Tuileries Garden walk to Place de la Concorde, then Champs-Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe rooftop (better view of the city than the Eiffel Tower, in our opinion).
- Evening: Eiffel Tower. Book the last daylight slot — you get daylight, sunset and the sparkle on the hour, all in one visit.
- After: Seine river cruise (one hour, departures until 10:30 PM) or dinner in the 7th arrondissement.
Day 2 — Montmartre, Marais and a museum swap
- Morning: Sacré-Cœur and Montmartre's lanes, Place du Tertre, and the Wall of Love. Go early — it is unbearable by 11 AM.
- Midday: Métro to Le Marais — falafel on Rue des Rosiers, Place des Vosges, and the Picasso Museum if time allows.
- Afternoon: Musée d'Orsay (Impressionists, in an old railway station) instead of a second Louvre day, or the Rodin Museum garden if the weather is good.
- Evening: Eiffel Tower sparkle from Trocadéro, then dinner in Saint-Germain or a wine bar in the 11th.
Day 3 — Pick one: Versailles, Disneyland or a relaxed city day
- Versailles: RER C from central Paris, 45 minutes. Allow a full day for the palace, gardens and the Trianon. Book the passport ticket in advance.
- Disneyland Paris: RER A, 40 minutes. One park is a full day; two parks need two days realistically.
- Relaxed day: Montmartre you have done — instead try the Latin Quarter, Luxembourg Gardens, Panthéon, and Shakespeare and Company, then Galeries Lafayette for the rooftop view (free).
- Evening: a farewell dinner or a show at the Moulin Rouge (book 3–4 weeks ahead).
Realistic daily budget (per person, excluding flights and hotel)
| Category | Budget | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|
| Food (café breakfast, bistro lunch, dinner) | €35 | €85 |
| Transport (Metro day pass) | €8.50 | €20 (with taxis) |
| One attraction per day | €18 | €45 |
| Total per day | ≈ €62 (₹5,700) | ≈ €150 (₹13,800) |
Five mistakes first-timers make
- Climbing the Eiffel Tower and expecting the best view. The tower is the view you want to photograph — the Arc de Triomphe and Montparnasse give you the tower in frame.
- Trying to do the Louvre in two hours. It is 14 km of galleries. Choose a wing.
- Eating near the Eiffel Tower or Champs-Élysées. Walk two streets back and the food improves and the bill halves.
- Buying single Metro tickets. A Navigo day pass or carnet is far cheaper.
- Leaving Versailles for the last morning. It is a full day, and you will miss your flight.
Want it arranged? Our 10-day Europe Highlights package starts with two full days in Paris (city tour, Eiffel Tower 2nd level, Seine cruise) before Switzerland and Venice — from ₹1,32,999 per person with Schengen visa assistance.