See & Eat Through Paris in 3 Days

If you’re staying in the Champs-Élysées area, you’re right near the Arc de Triomphe, so you’ve already checked off one major monument to see. And what better way to start eating through the city than at a market! Head towards Marché Grenelle, which is located under the elevated Metro Line 6, giving it a cool urban vibe. The market is only open on select days of the week, so make sure you check in advance, but it features some of the best street foods—seafood, fried chicken, global foods, and, of course, pastries.

From there, walk through the gardens that lead up to the Eiffel Tower. Just behind the tower is the dock to take a boat tour with Vedettes Seine Cruises, which offers a one-way 30-minute cruise on the Seine river directly to the Notre-Dame Cathedral. This is a great way to see all of the beautiful landmarks that sit right along the Seine River. Once you disembark, visit both the beautiful Notre-Dame Cathedral to see the intricate details of the church, and the Sainte-Chapelle to see the colorful stained glass windows.

Touring these sights should work up an appetite, so, then, walk southward across the bridge to grab a sweet snack of gourmet handcrafted macarons from Richart Macarons. This area is very boutique with plenty of shops and cafes to explore, but don’t forget to stop into La Chambre aux Confitures, which sells jams that are perfect as gifts.

The next stop is to walk through Les Jardins du Luxembourg, a beautiful outdoor garden, and then mosey your way towards La Grande Epicerie de Paris, which is a beautiful grocery store filled with food, beverages, and gifts. From there, get lost in the windy streets, walk towards the direction of the Eiffel Tower, and eat a delicious meal at Les Cocottes, where you can relax with a bottle of wine and the beef stew, the star of the menu.

Take advantage of the European breakfasts that are served in the hotels; they will set your day up for success! But after breakfast, it’s already time for a snack, so we are starting at Stohrer, which is the oldest patisserie in Paris. For an establishment that has been running since the 1700s, you can’t go wrong with anything! But if you need to try a second bakery, fear not! Stop by Bo & Mie, which is a much more modern patisserie where everything is made fresh every day—as a note, their chocolate raspberry croissants are delicious.

From there, spend some time in the Louvre museum; the building itself with the iconic glass pyramid starts the journey through the majestic halls and historical treasures. Don’t be shy about getting lost amongst the different collections, but be sure to visit Mona Lisa at some point.

After spending the afternoon within the museum walls, you will be hungry for dinner. Make your way towards Le Richer Restaurant, a neighborhood bistro that serves unassuming, simple, and crafted meals. If you’re more in the mood for French cuisine, check out Bouillon Chartier Grands Boulevard, which is a long-standing restaurant offering regional fare.

We are trekking a bit further north on the third day, so get ready. Grab a sandwich at Au Levain d’Antan on your way over to the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre, where you can take in the beautiful mosaics and then climb up to the dome to enjoy scenic views of the city. You’ll need to work for that view, but you won’t regret it (just make sure you wear comfortable shoes)! And just a few minutes away is the Place du Tetre, where artists draw sketch portraits and tourists wander the park outside.

From there, walk towards the Galeries Lafayette on Boulevard Haussmann, a unique department store with a beautiful architectural dome and stained glass. Afterwards, make your way to the Palais Garnier, an Italian-style opera house with its ceiling painted by Chagall, and then don’t forget to stop by the Cedric Grolet Patisserie to enjoy some upscale pastries for a sweet snack.

Walk through Jardin des Tuileries, an outdoor garden, and then stroll leisurely along the Seine river to take it all in and see the sights. For dinner, eat at Le Campanella, a French brasserie featuring duck confit, beef bourguignon, and tarte tatin! Once you make your way back to the Champs-Élysées area, head to Jeff de Bruges to indulge in an ice cream cone to top off the trip!