Overview
Most "Paris in 3 days" guides are exhausting checklists. This one isn't. We've designed it for couples who want to actually enjoy each other, not race between monuments. You'll cover the must-sees (Eiffel, Louvre, Notre-Dame from the outside while restoration finishes), but built around long lunches, an afternoon nap if you need one, and dinners worth remembering. Stay in the 6th (Saint-Germain) or the Marais (3rd/4th) — both walkable to everything that matters and full of small wine bars. Skip the bus tours. Walk everywhere you can; Métro the rest. Best for couples on a romantic weekend, anniversary, or pre-engagement trip. Honeymooners should consider extending to 5 days and adding a Champagne or Versailles day trip.
Day-by-Day Plan
Arrival + Saint-Germain wander
- Land at CDG, take the RER B to Saint-Michel (~50 min) — taxis are €70 flat rate
- Check in to your hotel in the 6th — Hôtel Récamier or Hôtel d'Aubusson
- Late lunch at Café de Flore or Les Deux Magots — overpriced but a real Paris ritual
- Walk through Jardin du Luxembourg — sit by the Medici Fountain
- Aperitif at Bar Hemingway (Ritz) or Le Comptoir du Relais
- Dinner: Semilla (modern bistronomy) or Allard (classic Alain Ducasse)
Right Bank — Louvre, Tuileries, Marais
- Louvre at 9 AM sharp — book the timed entry, head straight to Vermeer + Mona Lisa, leave by 11:30
- Walk through the Tuileries to Place de la Concorde
- Lunch in the Marais — Breizh Café (galettes) or L'As du Fallafel (worth the line)
- Wander the Marais — Place des Vosges, Musée Carnavalet (free, often empty), Merci concept store
- Late afternoon: rooftop drink at Perchoir Marais
- Dinner: Septime (book 3 weeks ahead) or, walk-in, Le Servan in the 11th
Eiffel + Seine + a slow last evening
- Breakfast at Du Pain et des Idées (Republique) — best pastries in Paris, full stop
- Métro to Trocadéro for the classic Eiffel Tower photo
- Walk along the Seine, cross Pont Alexandre III to Invalides
- Lunch at Café Constant or a brasserie in the 7th
- Afternoon: shop the 6th (Le Bon Marché) or stroll Île Saint-Louis (Berthillon ice cream)
- Final dinner: Clamato (Septime's wine bar — walk-in only) or Le Petit Vendôme for a classic last bite
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Budget Breakdown
Plan CAD $500-900/day per couple. Boutique hotels in the 6th or Marais run CAD $350-700/night (Hôtel Récamier, Le Pavillon de la Reine). Two-Michelin lunch ~CAD $200/person; bistro dinner ~CAD $80-120/person; wine bar tabs ~CAD $40-60/person. Métro: get a Navigo Easy card, ~€2.50 per ride.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time for a romantic Paris weekend?
May, June, and September are perfect — warm but not crowded, terraces open, gardens in bloom. Avoid August (locals leave the city, half the bistros are closed). December has its charm if you want Christmas markets and lights.
Where should we stay for a romantic weekend?
Saint-Germain (6th) for classic Left Bank, the Marais (3rd/4th) for boutique-hotel character and great food. Both are walkable to everything. Avoid the touristy areas around the Eiffel Tower or Champs-Élysées — beautiful to visit, less charming to sleep in.
Do we really need to book Septime weeks in advance?
Yes. Septime takes reservations exactly 3 weeks ahead at 10 AM Paris time and they vanish in minutes. Easier alternatives: Clamato (Septime's wine bar, walk-in), Le Servan, Verjus, Frenchie Bar à Vins.
Is the Eiffel Tower worth going up?
The view from the 2nd floor is fine; the summit is a 90-minute time investment for a more distant view. We usually recommend skipping it and getting the better view from Tour Montparnasse, or seeing the Tower itself from Trocadéro and Champ de Mars.
How much should we budget?
Couples can do a comfortable romantic weekend on CAD $1,500-2,500 for the 3 days excluding flights — boutique hotel, two excellent dinners, lunches at bistros, Métro everywhere. Add CAD $400-600 for one Michelin lunch.
Should we do a Versailles day trip?
Not on a 3-day romantic weekend — it'll burn most of a day. Save it for a 5+ day trip. If you want a day-trip feeling, do an afternoon walk in the 11th or a half-day in Île Saint-Louis instead.
Is it safe to walk at night?
Central Paris (1st-8th, 11th) is safe to walk at night, including for couples. Avoid the immediate area around Gare du Nord late at night. Pickpockets are the real risk, not violence — keep phones away on the Métro.
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