I am just starting to plan a trip to London next spring/summer. I'm thinking of spending 2-3 days in Paris also. Since I would only be in Paris for a short time, I would love to know what are the must-sees. Also, any budget friendly lodging advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

Highly recommend the Eyewitness Top Ten Paris for a first time visitor.

All hotels are budget friendly. What's your budget?

Thanks for the recommendation. Will definitely check it out. Would love to stay under $125/night. Is that possible in Paris?

Raid the travel and guidebook shelves of your library, take notes, search this Fodors site and the internet, buy good walking shoes and break them in, go to the gym to bulk up your legs, pick from this list in the order that appeals to you (everybody's tastes are different), and head on out:

• Bastille square
• Picasso Museum
• Pantheon
• Notre Dame
• Conciergerie
• Saint Chapelle
• The Invalides
• Pompidou centre
• Garden of Tuilleries
• Louvre
• The Opera
• Arc de Triomphe/Etoile
• Défense Eiffel Tower
• Sacre Coeur
• Versailles
• Orangerie
• Tuileries Gardens
• Place de la Concorde
• Musée d'Orsay
• Musée d'art moderne de la Ville de Paris

In just 2 or 3 days, you'll never see all the "must sees" the list the Fodor's page is a good start: http://www.fodors.com/world/europe/france/paris/


It is VERY possible to stay in Paris for under $125/night (much more so than other major European capitals). There are over a hundred right here -
http://www.eurocheapo.com/paris/ Search by neighborhood - closer to the river/islands is better:

I stayed in a TimHotel that was very affordable and nicely tucked in to the second. Not too touristy but still in the middle of everything. It was simple, clean and cheap.

Timhotel is one possibility. I stayed at the Jardin des Plantes one/ Good location, one block from Seine, in the university area, Left Bank.

The "what to do" question really depends on what your interests are. The Hop-On Hop-Off bus would give you an overview of the city. Cityrama and Parisvision also do multiple tours of the city.

With such a short time, breaking your days into areas might make sense.

Day 1: Louvre/Champs Elysee area
Day 2: Eiffel /Left Bank
Day 3: Islands / Right Bank

Within that you pack your days.

I stayed at the Hotel Victor Masse. Clean and cheap with a good location.
http://www.hotelvictormasse.com/

Thanks to everyone for the great advice!

Budget hotels I can recommend:

Familia Hotel - Latin Quarter, 5th arr:
www.hotel-paris-familia.com

Hotel du Champ de Mars - 7th arr, near Eiffel Tower
www.hotelduchampdemars.com

Not a personal recommendation, but gets good reviews:
Hotel Le Relais du Marais - 3rd arr, at Place de Republique, near Marais
www.hotel-paris-relaisdumarais.com

missmellie,

With 2 days I would suggest seeing some big sights on day 1, and then on day 2 picking one or two areas (like Montmartre and the area around the Lamarck-Caulaincourt metro stop; the Marais paired with some downtime at the place des Vosges; the Ile St. Louis; Montparnasse and a visit to its famous cemetary; or the Latin Quarter paired with a stroll in the Jardin des plantes) to just wander around at your own pace.

DK guidebooks and Fodors both offer nice walking tours; DK has a good one for Montmartre, as well as the area around the Canal St. Martin, if you want to go a little further afield.

The must sees are what is important & interesting to you. Some of my favorite time in Paris is just sitting at a cafe, so don't drive yourself crazy trying to cram it all in....that's not what Paris is about.

That said, the Louvre is amazing and massive!! For just drop-dead grandeur, the Opera Garnier offers tours and it is beautiful!! Notre Dame but many also love Saint Chappelle. My favorite museums are D'Orsay (but may be undergoing renovations) and Musee Rodin, especially if the weather is good.

I love to stay on the Left Bank and love the St Germain area. Enjoy your trip!! You will not see it all and you will want the built in excuse to go back!