Best 3 Days in Paris: AI Guide Reviewed

COMING SOON! Planning a 3-day trip to Paris and considering if you should consult AI to help you plan? This guide is part of our larger adventure backpacking across Europe, where we're visiting 33 cities in 19 countries over the course of three months beginning June 3rd. Throughout the journey, we're putting AI-generated travel itineraries to the test following their recommendations, making adjustments based on real-world experiences, and sharing honest reviews of what works and what doesn't. In this 3 Days in Paris itinerary, you'll find our recommendations for the best attractions, neighborhoods, restaurants, transportation tips, and hidden gems to help you make the most of your time in France's capital city. As we travel, we'll continue updating this guide with firsthand experiences, practical advice, and lessons learned on the ground. Whether you're planning your first trip to Paris or backpacking through Europe, this guide is designed to help you maximize your time and budget. Be sure to check back regularly as we'll be updating our Europe backpacking series throughout the trip, reviewing AI-generated itineraries in real time and sharing what we'd recommend to future travelers.

explore it yourself:

The journey and accommodations:

We arrived by train from London on the afternoon of June 7th and stayed until the morning of June 10th. We arrived into Gare du Nard and we departed out of Gare de I’Est. We had to wait a bit for our check in so we utilized the Gare du Nord Train Station Lockers, which was $ _______.

Below is what AI recommended for accommodations:

1. The People Paris Nation (or Belleville) – Boutique Hostel

2. Hotel ibis Budget Paris La Villette 19eme

3. Hotel de la Terrasse (Porte de Clignancourt)

4. Residence Capitaine Paoli; this said permanently closed while researching

5. Airbnb Studios or Private Rooms

We ended up selecting an Airbnb here, because of the price and location. We found that all of the hotels and hostels listed above were more expensive than short term rentals. Our Airbnb was located near the Jardin Des Archives Nationales.

Note: * our additions to ai itinerary and exclusions are crossed out, also see our summary at the bottom.

Click here to check our instagram, weekends2world, for more pictures and videos.

Day 1: Montmartre & Artistic Paris

montmartre Exploration

Square Louise Michel*
Visit Sacré-Cœur Basilica (Incredible view of Paris)
Place du Tertre (local artists)
Walk the back Streets: Rue de l’Abreuvoir, Le Consulat (cafe), Maison Rose
Hidden Gems:
- Le Passe-Muraille sculpture (a man walking through a wall)
- Fotoautomat*
- Wall of I Love You*

markets and quirky finds

Explore Marché Saint-Pierre ~~(fabric market)~~; Out of the way so we skipped
Walk toward Pigalle: vintage shops, music stores
Stop by Musée de la Vie Romantique (small and serene); if we have time
Rue des Martyrs*

Note: dropped off bags at airbnb

Le Marais District

Explore Rue des Rosiers (Jewish quarter, falafel heaven)
Visit Place des Vosges – Oldest planned square in Paris
Pop into Museé Carnavalet – History of paris (free)

Dinner and river cruise

Le Mary Celeste (cool vibe, small pates, cocktails) or L’As du Fallafel (cheap and iconic)
Siene River Cruise – We booked with Vedettes du Pont Neuf for 9:45PM, $64
Optional night cap: Rooftop bar Le Perchoir Marais for views and local ambiance

Day 2: Eiffel Tower, Champs-Élysées & Art

Eiffel Tower & Surroundings

Go early to Eiffel Tower (book summit tickets in advance)
Stroll through Champ de Mars and take photos from Trocadéro
Quick Bite: Grab a crepe near Trocadéro from a street vendor. We opted for a pastry from a cafe as I have seen videos of the street vendors storing the crepe ingredients in the sewer drains (this is likely not true for most, but we still skipped)

Champs-Élysées & Lunch

Optional: Climb the Arc de Triomphe
Continue to Place de la Concorde and up the Champs-Élysées
Walk through the Tuileries Gardens
Place Vendome*
Jardin du Palais Royal*
Lunch at Le Fumoir (near the Louvre)

museums & Dinner

Choose 1 of 2 options (based on your interests):
- Louvre Museum (must-book ahead; allow 2–3 hrs) *We moved this from the morning to the evening based on local recommendations, note that it is closed on Tuesdays
- Musée d’Orsay (impressionist masterpieces)
Dinner at one of the below:
- Chez Janou (Marais, fun and local)
- Bistrot Paul Bert (classic bistro fare, 11th arrondissement)

Day 3: The Heart of Paris

Île de la Cité & Latin Quarter

Ile Saint-Louis*
Notre-Dame Cathedral (exterior only – interior still under restoration)
Sainte-Chapelle – Gorgeous stained-glass windows
Pont Neuf – Oldest bridge in Paris
Shakespeare & Company – Legendary English-language bookstore

Breakfast Tip: Grab a croissant and espresso from Au Vieux Paris d’Arcole nearby.

Latin Quarter Stroll

Panthéon
Jardin du Luxembourg – Beautiful gardens with fountains and statues
Sorbonne University area – Great atmosphere, student cafes
Lunch: Try Le Comptoir du Relais (get there early or expect a wait)

Saint-Germain & Seine

Walk along Boulevard Saint-Germain
Stop at Café de Flore or Les Deux Magots (classic literary cafés)
Explore Rue de Buci market street

Sunset and dinner

Sunset: Walk to Pont Alexandre III or Pont des Arts for amazing views.
Hidden gem: Rue de l’Université has picture-perfect Eiffel Tower views
Dinner:
- Le Procope (historic restaurant)
- OR hidden gem: Chez Fernand (cozy, traditional French)