Are you planning a trip to Paris? Do you have three days to visit the city of lights? I will tell you what we did in three days when we visited Paris on our last trip to France and perhaps give you some ideas of what to include in your itinerary.
To learn more about this trip and a previous one, read my previous post, “Paris – The City of Lights – Day 1,” and read the other posts from this trip on the France page.
We were travelling independently in France with a car as we are confident travellers and speak a bit of the language. However, if you prefer to be part of a tour and to have everything organised for you, I advise you to book a complete tour with Tourradar.
Tourradar has different kinds of tours that will fit your time and budget. If you book it via my links you can get a discount by using this code: RoseG50.
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The plan for Day 2 was to visit “Musée d’Orsay” in the morning and to take the train at lunchtime to “Versailles” as we had a guided tour booked for 2:30 pm to visit the palace.
Below is a map showing the places we visit in Paris Day 2:
Before telling you about our day, let me tell you a little bit about Paris:
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT PARIS
Paris, the capital of France, is a city that captivates the hearts of millions with its timeless beauty, rich history, and undeniable charm. From the iconic Eiffel Tower to the cobblestone streets of Montmartre, every corner of Paris tells a story.
History & Culture
Paris is home to some of the world’s most famous landmarks. The Louvre Museum, housing masterpieces like the Mona Lisa, is a paradise for art lovers. The Notre Dame Cathedral, despite its tragic fire in 2019, remains a symbol of French Gothic architecture, not forgetting the Champs-Élysées, leading to the majestic Arc de Triomphe.
Culinary Wonderland
Parisian cuisine is an experience in itself. Savour a freshly baked croissant at a local café, indulge in French wine and cheese or treat yourself to the delicate flavours of a macaron from “Ladurée”. Whether it’s a cosy bistro or a Michelin-starred restaurant, Paris is a dream for food lovers.
Romance & Inspiration
Known as the City of Love, Paris has been the backdrop for countless romantic stories. A sunset cruise along the Seine River, a stroll through the artistic streets of Montmartre, or simply sitting at a café watching the world go by—there’s an undeniable magic in the air.
Fashion Capital of the World
Paris is synonymous with high fashion. Home to legendary designers like Chanel, Dior, and Louis Vuitton, it’s a paradise for fashionistas. The city’s elegant boutiques and the grand “Galeries Lafayette” offer the ultimate shopping experience.
Whether it’s your first time or your tenth, Paris always has something new to offer. Spring and fall bring perfect weather, while winter is magical with Christmas markets. From hidden cafés to world-class museums, there’s no shortage of adventures waiting for you.
VISITING PARIS – DAY 2
- Musée d’Orsay
The “Musée d’Orsay” is in a former Beaux-Arts railway station that had been re-purposed to be used as a museum. Its architecture, with a grand glass ceiling and ornate details, is as impressive as its collection.
The collection incorporates works of Monet, Van Gogh, Degas and others, as well as an impressive collection of Rodin works. They also had a beautiful collection of Art Nouveau furniture that will dazzle you with its beauty.
We spent the morning exploring the museum, and at about 1 o’clock, we left for “Musée d’Orsay” station and took train C on the yellow line to Versailles. Please note that it is the train, not the metro, that takes you from there to Versailles.
You can book a guided tour of the museum that will last one hour and 45 minutes. It will take you to the most important areas of the museum to see the iconic works hearing the history behind them. Book this tour HERE.
Alternatively you can book the tickets in advance HERE with digital audio guide.
Or if you just want to book your skip-the line ticket, it can be booked HERE.
- Palace of Versailles
On arrival at Versailles station, we met our group and guide at an office almost in front of the station. As we were a bit early, we had time to sit at a café and have a quick lunch before the tour started.
The guide took the group to the entrance with skip-the-line tickets. This was another place that was packed with people, and it is so big that it is very difficult to navigate and see the best bits in only an afternoon on your own. A guided tour is the best thing to do if you don’t have much time and are not sure what to see there.
The Palace of Versailles, originally a hunting lodge for Louis XIII, was transformed by Louis XIV into a symbol of absolute monarchy. Completed in the late 17th century, it features the opulent Hall of Mirrors, lavish gardens designed by André Le Nôtre, and the royal apartments.
Versailles became the political and cultural heart of France until the French Revolution in 1789. Today, it stands as a UNESCO World Heritage site, showcasing Baroque grandeur and the extravagance that fuelled revolutionary discontent.
The tour lasted one and a half hours, and the guide took us to the main parts of the palace including the estate apartments, the King’s Bedroom and the Hall of Mirrors.
To book the same tour that we had which will provide you with skip-the line ticket with a guided tour of the palace. The garden is included but you visit it on your own. You can book this tour HERE.
If you just want to pre-book the ticket in advance to a certain time you can book it HERE.
At the end of the tour, we still had time to explore more of the palace and the Royal Gardens. We headed outside and strolled around the garden, which was simply exquisite.
When we had enough of the palace and gardens, we took the train back to Paris and got off at the same station we departed from, Musée d’Orsay.
It was a beautiful day, and we decided to cross the river to the “Jardin des Tuileries” and from there to have a look at “Place de la Concorde”. However, when we arrived at “Place de la Concorde,” it was all boarded in preparation for the Olympics that was going to take place there in July/24.
We continued our stroll via the river up to “Pont Alexandre III” and turned right to see the “Petit Palais” and the “Grand Palais”. After some photos, we pressed on and arrived at “Avenue Champs-Élysées”.
After that, we took the metro and went to Bouillon Saint Julian for dinner. We didn’t have a reservation but decided to try our luck and see if we could get a table there.
Bouillons in Paris are traditional restaurants that originated in the 19th century, offering affordable, hearty French cuisine in a casual setting. The first, Bouillon Chartier, opened in 1896, serving simple dishes like beef broth (bouillon), roast meats, escargots, and crème caramel at low prices.
These eateries were designed for the working class but became popular across social classes. Many bouillons feature Belle Époque decor, with grand mirrors, chandeliers, and bustling atmospheres. Recently, they’ve seen a revival, blending nostalgia with accessibility making these restaurants very popular.
We’ve been to Paris many times but never tried one of those bouillons, so that evening we wanted to try it. When we arrived, we were given the last table in the restaurant, as every other table was occupied.
The restaurant was beautiful and had a great atmosphere. The menu was small but with good choices, and we all chose the same thing: the pea soup as a starter (delicious!) and the beef steak with roasted potatoes. The mains were also very good, and we were all happy.
Dinner was very good value for money, and we spent a fraction of the price we spent in other restaurants, including wine. Definitely a good choice for dinner in Paris.
When dinner was over, we took the metro and headed back to my friends in Châtillon.
Below is a reel from The Travelling Surveyor account showing our Day 2 in Paris. Check it out and follow me on Instagram as well.
The following day would be our last day in Paris, so we had an early night to be well-rested for the next day. I will tell you all about it in my next post.
I hope this post will give you some idea of what can be done in half a day in Paris and will help you plan your own visit there.
HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR VISIT TO PARIS
Below you will find a list of what to visit, where to stay and where to eat in Paris. I classified each place as follows:
BOLD – Visited, tried and recommended
NOT BOLD – Not visited or tried, but planning to visit or try and heard very good reviews
RED – Visited and tried but do not recommend, avoid or be cautious
*** – Excellent
** – Good
* – OK
£££ – Expensive
££ – Fair and affordable
£ – Cheap
PLEASE NOTE: Every hotel, restaurants and attractions I mention on my blogs are not sponsored reviews and we always paid the full price when visiting. We give our own opinion of the place and detail our experience, good or bad.
THINGS TO DO IN PARIS
ATTRACTIONS IN PARIS – DAY 2
1 – Musée d’Orsay – ***
2 – Versailles Palace – ***
3 – Jardin des Tuileries – ***
4 – Place de la Concorde
5 – Pont Alexandre III – ***
6 – Petit Palais – ***
7 – Grand Palais – ***
8 – Avenue Champs-Élysées – ***
WHERE TO STAY
ACCOMMODATION IN PARIS
1 – Hotel Les Bains Paris – 5* – £££
2 – Château des Fleurs Hôtel & Spa – 5* – £££
3 – Hotel des Carmes by Malone – 4* – £££
4 – New Hotel Roblin – 4* – £££
5 – Hotel de L’Empereur by Malone – 3*
6 – Hôtel Vendome Saint-Germain – 3*
If you prefer to look for your own accommodation, search and book via the below widget:
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BEST PLACES TO EAT IN PARIS
RESTAURANTS IN PARIS
1 – Bouillon Sant Julien – *** – £
2 – Pur – £££
3 – Passionné – £££
4 – Le Tout – Paris – £££
5 – Kong Bar Restaurant – £££
6 – Orgueil – ££
If you tried any of my recommendations above, please send me a message and tell me about your experience good or bad, so I can update the list accordingly. Thanks!
If you enjoyed reading this post you might also like to read:
On this trip to France:
1 – Lyon – Day 1
2 – Lyon – Day 2
6 – Saint-Tropez/Port Grimaud/Grimaud
7 – Monaco
8 – Cannes
10 – Camargue and Arles
11 – Avignon
12 – Dijon
13 – Fontainebleau
14 – Paris – Day 1
15 – Paris – Day 2
16 – Paris – Day 3 – Coming Soon
USEFUL SITES
2 – Paris Je t’aime
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