Three Perfect Days: France

2 ~~~ How to Spend 3 Days in Paris — Luxury Hotels, Natural Wine Spots, and Under-the-radar Museums Included


From picturesque walks to souvenir shopping, a longtime Francophile shares her ideal three-day Paris itinerary.

On a recent layover in Paris, I spent 15 minutes weeping outside a boulangerie, hands clutching my croissant like a stress ball as I spiraled into decision-paralysis mode.
How do I make the most of 24 hours here? I asked myself, my mind racing over how to fit a week’s worth of explorations into one day.
The answer ended up being: Stop stressing.
Walk around. Eat the crushed croissant, and drink a glass of wine with lunch.

Paris provides endless temptations: art and architecture, Michelin-star restaurants, unrivaled vintage shopping, four-euro wine.
There’s no way to do it all, so allowing yourself some grace to wander aimlessly — the French call it flânerie — is key to making the most of your trip.
To that end, I suggest basing yourself around the incredibly walkable Marais, which marries classic Parisian architecture with hip restaurants and shops.
I’d spring for the new cool-kid hideaway, Le Grand Mazarin, a maximalist hotel that boasts an indoor pool and hammam to revive you after a long day.

Here, I’ve curated a jam-packed three-day itinerary for a quick trip to Paris, in a bid to prevent myself and everyone else from ever ruining a perfectly good croissant out of choice-anxiety again.
Pick what works for you, skip what doesn’t (but not Musée Bourdelle).
Keep in mind that much of the city’s attractions and restaurants close on Sunday and/or Monday, so be sure to check their hours in advance.
Whatever you do, I hope you people-watch at a cafe somewhere, lingering long enough to convince yourself you might be picking up French by osmosis.
I hope you notice how the limestone avenues absorb the light, and maybe a little piece of you, too.


www.travelandleisure.com/3-days-in-paris-itinerary-8409996?

4 December 2023