3 great days in Paris
As a global capital of art, fashion, cuisine, literature, film, and philosophy, a weekend in Paris is a tour of the finest things in life. And in summer 2024, it’s the place to be
Your weekender guide to the best things to see and do in Paris, France. Find more travel inspiration for your next Vrbo vacation here.
The French capital is one of the world’s most spectacular cities, with sweeping, history-saturated boulevards, magnificent monuments and museums, and the sort of cultural confidence that comes from centuries of effortlessly seducing writers, artists, and thinkers such as Renoir, Van Gogh, Degas, Chopin, Picasso, Wilde, de Beauvoir, Hemingway, and Fitzgerald, to name a few.
But what makes Paris such a rewarding weekend break is that behind the fables and facades, there’s something even better: the pulsating creative energy of a city that continues to innovate and inspire. Paris’ energy will infect you at every turn, especially in its big sporting year.
Sip orange wine in the trendy Marais district, wander artists’ studios at 59 Rivoli, eat your way through the city’s patisseries, bistros, and restaurants. Gaze in awe at the treasures of some of the world’s greatest museums—including the legendary Louvre—and appreciate architecture that veers from the opulence of Place Vendôme to edgy contemporary flourishes like the Pompidou Centre. And then top it all off by heading back to your very own Vrbo appartement—scroll to the bottom for some of our favorites.
Your ultimate weekend itinerary
Friday
9am: Take in epic art
Reserve a ticket in advance for the Louvre (pictured), which houses countless instantly recognizable works including the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. From here, stroll west along the Right Bank of the Seine through the sculpture-dotted Jardin des Tuileries to Place de la Concorde.
1pm: Hit the shops
Embrace the French passion for fashion with lunch at Galeries Lafayette; try the roof terrace in the summer for spectacular views, or cozy up in the Le Gourmet department, where you can choose between 20 top-notch vendors. Suitably revived, dip into Printemps and Le Bon Marché, before window-shopping designer stores on Rue Saint-Honoré.
6pm: Indulge in a ritzy dinner
Splash out at the Ritz Paris, where the opulence of the interiors is matched by the property’s starry history. Coco Chanel called this 18th-century townhouse hotel home for 34 years, while Marcel Proust ate dinner here almost every night. The cocktail bar still bears the name of legendary drinker (and writer) Ernest Hemingway; queue at the door for the most memorable martini of your life.
Saturday
9am: Go bohemian
Make for the winding alleyways and sidewalk cafés of Montmartre; a walking tour of the 18th arrondissement—where Picasso and Dalí once lived—delivers the Paris you traveled to see. As well as the magnificent Sacré-Cœur Basilica (pictured), this hilly district offers beautiful views of the city below, as well as the infamous Moulin Rouge cabaret. Grab coffee or a bite at the café given cult appeal by the movie Amélie, Café des Deux Moulins.
Midday: Markets and museums
Travel southeast in time for lunch in the hip, LGBTQ+-friendly Marais district, at the city’s oldest food market: Marché des Enfants Rouges was first opened in 1615 and is now a multicultural hub for food vendors. If you feel like absorbing some culture, the Picasso Museum and Carnavalet Museum are both nearby.
7pm: Bring on the vin…
By now you’ve earned yourself a wine-bar crawl, and the Marais is just the place to do it. Start with ice cream or a wine—or both—at Folderol, sip a natural wine with some cold cuts at Aux Deux Amis, and dine at the much-loved Clown Bar. If you’ve saved enough energy, there’s a late-night party scene right here in the Marais, but also in Bastille and Oberkampf, where international DJs play industrial venues like Nouveau Casino.
Sunday
9am: Hunt for treasures
Paris’ flea markets are the stuff of legend, and Porte de Vanves (7 a.m.–lunchtime on Saturdays and Sundays) offers a manageable and charming experience. Scour stalls for antiques, first-edition books, trinkets, and vintage Chanel… before settling down with your spoils for a croque monsieur at Arthur & Juliette.
1pm: See it from the Seine
Yes, it’s touristy, but a one-hour sightseeing cruise down the Seine (pictured) is a restful way to course through the heart of the city, offering views of the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the Musée d’Orsay, the reconstruction works at Notre Dame Cathedral, and more as you sip a glass of something cold.
2pm: Repair to the Rive Gauche
After disembarking in the Latin Quarter, explore the Left Bank, dipping into iconic bookstore Shakespeare & Co, opposite the Gothic masterpiece of the Notre-Dame. From here, you can choose between the Impressionists at Musée d’Orsay or Museé Rodin’s Kiss sculpture.
8pm: Bask in café culture
It’s only fitting to wrap up your cultural weekender in a literary café like Les Deux Magots, a favorite with Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre, as well as Ernest Hemingway, Albert Camus, Pablo Picasso, James Joyce, and James Baldwin.
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Anna Hart is a culture writer specializing in adventure travel and positive-impact tourism. Her work has appeared in Grazia, Vogue, The Wall Street Journal, and Condé Nast Traveller, and she is the author of the travel memoir Departures.
