The Perfect 3 Days in Paris — Destination Dreamer Diaries

If you’re new to the blog, let me catch you up: Paris is my favorite city. In the world.

It was the first place I ever traveled abroad to, and the way that I saw Paris for the first time was amazing: as my (at the time) cousin’s girlfriend who was living there showed me the city on foot. I will forever be grateful. And now – I can share the route in which she showed me Paris on my very first day abroad ever, with you!

I know Paris is usually a must on any back-packer’s list throughout Europe, or really… on anyone’s list. Having been there three times, I can tell you that in 3 days, you will not see or feel all that this soul-enticing city has to offer.

But you can and will get a damn good glimpse – and I’m here to make sure that happens.

Feel free to switch things out with what’s on your own sightseeing list, but the way I saw Paris for the first time, was a mix of all the touristy places, as well as places only a local would know of – and that’s how I want you to see it for the first time, too.

Day 1:

On your first full day in Paris, get out there. Put on your walking shoes and get ready to see the city that is talked about around the globe.

Just a couple hours after landing at Charles de Gaulle, my cousin’s girlfriend picked me up, we rode into the city on the RER train (It’s blue and called ‘RER B’ – you take a lift from baggage claim at the airport to the trains, and they cost a little over €10, and will get you to the city center in 35-45 minutes).

Once we dropped off my things, we set out on foot. By all means, please take advantage of the Paris metro system if you prefer – but I wanted to move after being airborne for seven hours.

I was staying in the 2nd arrondissement in Paris, so we first walked through Le Palais Royal, a quiet and non-touristy garden in Paris. Those cliché, apparently-Instagram-worthy-black-and-white-blocks, otherwise known as Les deux plateau, are right by here in the event you want to check them out (though in my opinion, there isn’t much to it and I would skip this).

We then went straight to the Louvre. I didn’t go in on this day, but you can – just prepare yourself that the line for a ticket is long and that you should aim to do it before noon. The earlier you go, the better.

The Jardin des Tulieries is right there, and if it’s not freezing – I strongly suggest taking a stroll.

After that, we made our way towards the famous “love locks” bridge, otherwise known as Pont des Artes. The love locks are now completely gone; but it’s still worth a stroll to see the view of the seine.

The seine from Pont des Artes in May of 2017

You’re not far from the Notre Dame now. As much as I would love to tell you that this is what you’re going to see…

… this, is what you’re going to actually see – if you’re reading this before the year 2024 (which is when the President of France has currently vowed to have the spire restored by). However, it is still, absolutely, worth a visit.

You’re not far from Jardin du Luxembourg now. I can’t speak for the winter, but in the spring, it’s just stunning.

My cousin’s girlfriend then took me on a train to see the Eiffel tower like this for the first time.

My first Eiffel Tower sighting in May 2017

I’m not even sure which train this was, but if you’re looking for another outstanding Eiffel Tower reveal, this is what I recommend. Hop on the metro from Jardin du Luxembourg to the Arc de Triomph.

Pop out, walk around, grab a bite, shop – whatever you need to do.

Then, get back on the green line metro going towards Nation. Stay on until Dupleix to see this.

Passing the Eiffel Tower on the seine on Metro Line 6 going towards Nation

Afterwards, you can hop back on the other way to finally sit on Trocadero gardens and bask in the story book image you’ve wondered for your whole life what would look like in person.

Or maybe that’s just me? Okay, nah – that’s cool too… but I know you’ve thought about it at least once!

Okay. It’s been a long day, and you’re exhausted – but you’re not done. You must take yourself to dinner and eat crepes. I mean, try escargot if your heart really desires so… (but my sweet-tooth-self really recommends that you eat a crepe).

Day 2:

First thing this morning, is I sat in a picturesque café and enjoyed my coffee at leisure after the chaos of the previous day.

I highly recommend you do the same.

My cousin’s girlfriend then took me down to the Bastille Market. I lost all my pictures and videos (damn snapchat before it’s auto-story-save-feature!) of the fruits, breads, cheeses, and baked goods…

…but I do have this one of the flowers.

Flowers in the Bastille Market on a Sunday morning; May 2017

It’s worth a trip down there if you want to feel like a local; to feel like a Parisian shopping for the week.

After that, she took me walking the Le Marais: it’s a funky, cultural part of Paris that screams character. There are so many places there to grab a bite; and then you can sit in Place des Vosges – another smaller, lesser known park in Paris.

By this point it was late afternoon, and we already did our running around yesterday. So, today – is a good day to sit by the seine and soak it all up.

You should do something more chill this afternoon, or do something else that’s on your Paris must-see list before you head to dinner. My tour group chose the Latin Quarter, or the 5th arrondissement, and it was fun – because I hadn’t really explored that side of the city yet.

Afterwards, some friends and I rallied and hopped into an Uber to see the Eiffel tower at night.

Me at the Eiffel Tower at night in May 2017

Day 3:

As this was my last day in my first trip to Paris, I wanted to take it easy – but still tick off the last, big things I hadn’t done yet.

First thing on that list, was to head back to the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa.

Even at 11 in the morning, the line was long – so like I said: the earlier, the better. She’s quite small in person, but I can now sing the lyrics, “I’ve turned the Mona Lisa…” to Hot Chelle Rae’s song “Radio” and actually mean it, so it’s all good.

Next, I made my way up to the 18th arrondissement to the Sacre Coeur. I didn’t even know of the cable car that can take you up to the top, so feel free to do that if you’re not down for walking up a thousand steps like I did.

But I gotta say… those thousand something steps, were worth the view.

I’d like to do it at sunrise next time; it’s supposed to be amazing!

But beware – unless you’re a maniac walker like me, there will be guys trying to sell you bracelets (they’ll be aggressive and even tie them onto your wrist and then demand you pay them).

Just be vigilant like you would be anywhere else. I was an 18-year-old girl by myself when I did this, so I’m sure you can manage, too.

Afterwards, I took a river seine cruise.

This is a good option if you want to see the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame without walking too much, but it’s only a good option if the weather is nice.

The view of the Eiffel Tower from a seine river cruise; May 2017

I then got scammed near the Eiffel Tower.

Piece of advice; if you’re walking around the iron lady, and someone comes up to you with a clipboard asking to donate money to deaf kids, just say, “No Merci”.

I was eighteen, it was my first time abroad, and I was stupid.

I said, “Of course!” and wrote my name on the signup sheet, alongside my email and a $5 donation… but I was wondering, “How was I supposed to donate?”

She pointed to my dollar sign on the clipboard and mumbled something in French to which I looked at her in all my naïve persona present and said, “Oh… you want Euros?”

She smiled to play me,

“Oui.”

I then (like the idiot I was) flipped my backpack around and pulled out my travel wallet: where my passport, cards, and cash were completely exposed.

All of the sudden, her accomplice came out of nowhere. The smallest bill I had was a ten, and it all happened so fast – they somehow scammed me forty euros. I was annoyed, but I was so grateful that all they wanted was my money and not anything else.

Long story short, there is one vital phrase you must learn before going to Paris, and it’s “No Merci!”

After this, I headed to Tower Montparnasse, which I learned about from my tour leader, and met two other girls on my tour group there.

Hint, inside the nearby train station – there’s an ATM in the event you get scammed or pit pocketed.

I closed out my first time in Paris by sitting at the Eiffel Tower Lawn. For me, it was the perfect place to finish the trip – but you should go enjoy whatever last bit of Paris you fell in love with on that last evening.

And those were my first three days in Paris that I would recommend as a first-time-trip itinerary. If you’re looking for more things to do in Paris, click here.