Paris in 3 days is just about scratching the surface. The city is extensive enough to command atleast a week or two. But if you’re hard-pressed for time, like most tourists nowadays are, it’s important to make the best of what you have in terms of time. Here’s a quick guide to get you going on a roundabout tour of the city of Love, Lights, Romance and Fashion:
Day 1
Start your sojourn in Paris by munching into a macaroon at any of the patisseries in the city. Try the best of French cheese with a baguette baked fresh by a neighbourhood baker. Once you’ve satisfied your appetite, slip on your walking shoes and head out to explore the neighbourhoods of the city such as Marais, Montmartre, etc. Walk upto the white chapel or Sacre Coeur at Montmatre, visit the alleys and watch Parisians go about their daily routines. Take the metro while on your return to the hotel. Observe carefully. The metro will open up before you the daily lives of ordinary Parisians and take notice of the numerous street musicians and beggars who will throng the trains for a penny or two. As evening dawns, head to the Opera to the numerous cafes to do what Parisians do best: people-watch.
Day 2
Head out early morning by the metro to the Notre Dame Cathedral. Take in the charm of this landmark structure. As you head to Notre Dame, soak in the beauty of the bridges built over the Seine. Sit by the river side munching a baguette with cheese. Grab a crispy hot crepe freshly-made from one of the roadside eateries. Once done with the foods, start walking by the Seine where bookstalls line the riverside. Admire the Haussmann styled buildings that dot Parisian streets and walk towards the Bastille and the weekend market that flourishes, if you happen to be there on a Sunday. Buy the freshest produce from the weekend market, including homemade wines, cheeses and breads. For the second half of the day, head to the Champs de Mars with a bottle of wine and watch the Eiffel Tower glitter away to glory.
Day 3
Explore Chinatown today. Walk up to Parc Belleville, the highest park in Paris from where you can catch a distant glimpse of Eiffel Tower. You can observe older folks doing Tai Chi or youngsters practicing plays at the park. Head next to the Galeries Lafayette, an upmarket departmental store in the 9th arrondisement. Shop to your heart’s content and then grab a Lebanese meal at any of the eateries lining the Opera. Head next to the Tuileries garden, post which you can take a long walk to the Concorde and the Champs Elysees; before heading to the quay for a ferry ride on the Seine, to watch the romantic city twinkle by dusk.
