Here's How To Spend 3 Days In Paris At 3 Different Budgets

Whether you're on a tight budget or you have money to blow, here's the perfect long weekend in Paris for every type of traveler.

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Paris is one of the greatest cities in the world. Between the art and architecture, the fashion, the culture, and the food, it's hard to resist that certain je ne sais quoi you'll encounter in Paris. Whether you're traveling on a tight budget or you're looking to splurge, here's a three-day guide to Paris at three different price points.

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BuzzFeed

Morning:

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Check into the Generator Paris, located in the up-and-coming 10th arrondissement just a stone's throw from Gare du Nord. The popular hostel offers a mix of shared rooms with bunk beds and private quarters (prices start at $25 per night).

When you're hungry for some breakfast, walk over to legendary boulangerie Du Pain et Des Idées for one of their famous pastries. The pistachio escargot and chocolate croissants are some of the best in the whole city, and they're only just a few bucks. Then, take your breakfast and walk along the scenic Canal Saint-Martin.

Afternoon:

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Spend your first afternoon exploring some of the most iconic — and totally free — sites in the city. Start in the 3rd arrondissement and make your way to the right bank of the Seine. From there, explore Ile Saint-Louis and Ile de la Cité, taking in the sites of the Notre Dame Cathedral and the picturesque bridges Pont Neuf and Pont Saint-Michel.

Continue on the right bank to the Louvre. Even if you don't want to spend €15 on a ticket, it's worth checking out the incredible architecture and the glass pyramid (P.S.: If you visit on the first Sunday of each month, museum access throughout the city is free).

Next, pop into Aux Castelblangeois, a quaint bakery with delicious sandwiches like ham and cheese or chicken salad on freshly baked baguette. Then continue to the Jardin de Tuileries and walk around the gardens, admiring the ponds, gardens, sculptures, and flowers in bloom.

Evening:

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Head back to the 10th arrondissement for a little rest before dinner time. When you're ready for some food, make the 25 minute leisurely walk to Les Arlots, a warm and welcoming bistro on Rue du Faubourg Poissonnière. You'll find great, affordable wines starting at €5 a glass, and hearty French dishes like veal sweetbread, entrecôte, and sausage served over seriously decadent mashed potatoes. If you're looking for a nightcap, stop at Chez Adel where the locals go for cheap drinks and live music.

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Morning:

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Sit down for breakfast at Breizh Cafe, a hot spot for buckwheat crêpes filled with anything from Gruyère and mushrooms to strawberries and nutella. Then, it's time to explore The Marais, one of the city's trendiest and most picturesque neighborhoods. You could spend days window shopping along the boutique-lined streets of Rue de Turenne and Vieille du Temple. If you're looking for a little culture, visit the Picasso Museum, the Mémorial de la Shoah (The Holocaust Museum), or the Maison de Victor Hugo where the literary icon once lived. If you're really keeping an eye on cash, the Carnavalet Museum offers free access to its exhibits.

Afternoon:

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When your stomach starts to rumble, line up at L'As du Fallafel. There's almost always a line at this world-renowned Middle Eastern eatery on historic Rue des Rosiers. If you want to rest you legs, there's a sit down restaurant inside, or you can take your pita sandwich — generously stuffed with falafel, fried eggplant, cabbage, creamy tahini, and spicy harissa — to go from the takeout window. After lunch, make your way to the Place des Vosges, a public park and one of the most gorgeous, green squares in Paris.

Keep an eye on the clock because when 2:30 hits, join Discover Walks' free daily walking tour of the Marais where you'll see the very best of the neighborhood. End the afternoon with a scoop of Lebanese-inspired ice cream at Glace Bachir. You'll want to order the creme de lait, which is dipped in a coat of salty pistachio nuts.

Evening:

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After spending so much time admiring the chic yet expensive boutiques in the Marais, it's time for some actually affordable shopping. Walk a few minutes from the Place des Vosges and you'll arrive in the 11th arrondissement, a neighborhood full of secondhand stores, vintage shops, and trendy finds. You'll find some of the best shopping on the funky Rue Oberkampf.

The 11th arrondissement happens to have some excellent restaurant options, so stick around for dinner and grab a table at Ober Mamma. This bright and cheery Italian restaurant serves awesome (and super affordably priced) pizzas, pastas, and antipasti.

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Morning:

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Get an early start this morning and make your way to the Eiffel Tower before the crowds wake up. On the way, grab some fresh croissants and cappuccinos at Boulangerie Poilane on Boulevard de Grenelle. Then head over to the Champ de Mars and marvel at the Eiffel Tower.

When you're done snapping your Instagram photos of Le Tour Eiffel, it's time to head to Montmartre, a bohemian and artsy neighborhood perched above the city in the 18th arrondissement. You can take the subway, but the hourlong walk uphill is a great way to see some underrated parts of the city and work up an appetite for your next meal.

Afternoon:

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Once you've arrived at Montmartre, walk to the top of the Sacré-Cœur basilica for some of the best views of Paris, now sprawled out below you. You could spend hours walking the hilly, serpentine streets of Montmartre with its picture-perfect cafés and tiny boutique shops.

There's a great North African food scene in Paris, and Le Petit Bleu is one of the absolute best. The best part of all: It's incredibly affordable, and most of the huge plates of couscous and tagines filled with merguez sausage, prunes, and stewed vegetables are under €10.

Evening

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Stick around Montmartre so you can see the sunset over the entire city beneath you, then pop into Glass, a trendy bar with reasonable prices that boasts cocktails on tap and a great beer list.

Take the metro to the Latin Quarter on the left bank of the Seine. This neighborhood is located just near the Sorbonne and is full of college students and lively streets lit up with ethnic restaurants, jazz clubs, and pubs. When you're ready for some food, walk into La Bête Noir for a Mediterranean mezze-style meal your stomach and wallet will love. Round out the night with a €5 pint and live rock music at Le Piano Vache, a popular hangout among French students.

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BuzzFeed

Morning:

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Book a room at Hotel Jean d'Arc, a boutique hotel in the Marais neighborhood just a short walk from the Place des Vosges (prices start at around $120 per night).

Take a leisurely 30-minute walk through the 3rd arrondissement until you've worked up an appetite, then grab a table at Holybelly, an Australian-run café on Rue Lucien Sampaix in the 10th arrondissement. The food here ⁠— dishes like fluffy pancakes topped with crispy bacon and fried eggs ⁠— are as tasty as they are Instagrammable.

Afternoon:

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Spend the afternoon exploring the Marais neighborhood. You could easily spend weeks browsing the clothing boutiques, craft chocolate shops, jewelry shops, and the picturesque serpentine streets of the 3rd and 4th arrondissement. Don't worry about getting lost, just wander and be prepared to stumble on unexpected gems. Spend some time relaxing and people watching in the Place des Vosges and then take in the smells and sights of the Marché des Enfants Rouges, one of the city's oldest covered markets full of stalls selling everything from Camembert cheese to Japanese bento boxes.

When you feel your stomach growling, have lunch at Chez Janou, a Provinçal-style bistro where classic French food gets a Mediterranean twist like plates of creamy seared scallop risotto and buttery moules gratinées.

When you're done with lunch, it's time to get cultured. Luckily, there are a handful of museums nearby like the Centre Pompidou, a huge collection of modern and contemporary art housed in a building unique enough to be a work of art itself.

Evening:

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From the Pompidou, follow Rue du Renard directly to the Seine. Pick up a bottle of wine along the way and grab a spot on the left bank to watch the sunset with your glass of vin. From your spot, you'll also be able to get a nice view of the Notre Dame Cathedral.

If you're in Paris, you're there for the food. Finish the day with a classic French meal at Le Colimaçon. A meal at this charming little bistro feels like you're having dinner in someone's personal wine cellar, and the food is stellar. Expect plates like steak tartare with raw egg and crispy frites and duck breast with scalloped potatoes.

Before you call it a night, pop into Candelaria, a Mexican restaurant-meets-dimly lit cocktail bar for excellent yet heady margaritas.

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Morning:

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Today it's time to explore some of the city's most iconic sites from the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower. First, buy a Batobus ticket, so you can explore Paris all day with hop-on-hop-off access to the Seine River boat. But first, have some breakfast at Ten Belles Bread, a carb-heavy eatery near Canal Saint-Martin, where you'll find things like avocado toast and buttery pastries.

Make your first stop a visit to the Louvre before it gets too crowded, and buy your ticket online to save time. Don't expect to conquer the whole museum in one visit. Rather, choose a few parts to devote your time to. Next, continue to the Tuileries Garden and walk around the landscaped grounds before gazing at Monet's Water Lilies at the Musee de l'Orangerie.

Afternoon:

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When you're finally museum'd out, refuel at Ellsworth, a cozy spot for small, shareable plates just minutes from the Tuilleries Garden. You probably didn't expect to find incredible fried chicken in Paris, but if there's one must-order item on the menu, it's the perfectly crispy chicken served with pickles and buttermilk ranch.

Next, make your way to the Batobus and take the scenic water route to the Eiffel Tower. If you want to rest your legs, take a seat on the Champs du Mars lawn for a great view of the Tour Eiffel. From there, take the Batobus past the Musée d'Orsay and over to Saint-Germain-des-Prés on the left bank. This upscale neighborhood is full of great shopping, art galleries, department stores, and antique shops. Stroll around the Jardin du Luxembourg and, if you're not too tired, stop at the Musée Rodin, a small but lovely (and mostly open-air) sculpture museum.

Night:

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By now, you've had quite a day of exploring and you're probably ready to relax...or have a drink. Make your way to Tiger, a highly photogenic bar that specializes in gin (there are over 130 kinds) shaken with tonic, liqueurs, fruit, and herbs.

For dinner, think tapas at L'Avant Comptoir, a compact and always crowded eatery where locals and tourists alike gather for small, Spanish-inspired plates of croquettes, charcuterie, and grilled squid, all paired with juicy wines.

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Morning:

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Start the day with coffee and seriously soft scrambled eggs with buttered toast at Fragments, a short walk from the Hôtel Jean d'Arc. Then, make your way to Montmartre in the 18th arrondissement, once a favorite of artists like Matisse, Picasso, and Renoir. Spend the morning exploring this boho neighborhood with its cobblestone streets, basilicas, charming bistros, and iconic cabaret club.

Afternoon:

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By now, you might be craving a little change from French fare. Babalou is a retro-looking Italian trattoria with bright floral-print tabletops and bookshelves filled with bottles of wine. Start with a plate of prosciutto and mozzarella or truffle salami before moving onto the thin crust pizzas topped with cherry tomatoes and homemade chili oil.

If you're looking for a place with a view, make your way to the Terrass Hotel for cocktails or coffee. Perched on the seventh floor, the rooftop bar offers panoramic views of the city.

Night:

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Make a dinner reservation at Constant Café, a warmly lit and homey restaurant for no-frills, rustic French dishes like garlicky escargots, beef stew and coq au vin. When dinner is over, you're still in for a treat. Walk five minutes from the restaurant and you'll stumble upon the Eiffel Tower twinkling in the night sky.

Before you head to bed, grab one last drink at Little Red Door, a clandestine and unmarked entrance at 60 Rue Charlot in the Marais. Unlike some more intimidating cocktail bars, this one is extremely welcoming, and the bilingual bartenders will help you navigate the drink specials.

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BuzzFeed

Morning:

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Morning: Check into your room at Pavillon de la Reine, a five-star hotel housed in a vine-covered 17th century mansion, right smack in the Place des Vosges (prices start at around $360). Before you start exploring, fill your stomach with coffee and flaky croissants or a freshly baked quiche at Carette.

Now it's time to spend the morning exploring the neighborhood surrounding your hotel, the fashionable Marais. Whatever kind of souvenir shopping you have in mind, you'll find it as you browse the stylish shops in the 3rd and 4th arrondissements. Merci is a trendy concept shop complete with clothing, accessories, home decor, and a café and at White Bird, you'll find gorgeous designer jewelry. Don't forget to pick up some sweets for everyone back home (or to hoard for yourself): For fancy French chocolates, pop into Jacques Genin, for artfully crafted macarons there's Pierre Hermé, and for the best éclairs in town stop into L’Éclair de Génie.

Afternoon:

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Sit down for lunch at Grand Coeur, a brasserie hidden in a Marais courtyard. (P.S.: It's owned by Mauro Colagreco, chef of the so-called best restaurant in the world, Mirazur in Menton, France). The menu is small but mighty, offering plates like grilled sea scallops with radicchio and yuzu and safron risotto.

After lunch, it's time to experience the artistic side of the Marais. Book a private art tour through Airbnb where an art historian will take you around the neighborhood to incredible street art and historical buildings you wouldn't find on your own. To round out the afternoon, buy a ticket to the Picasso Museum (€14) and see a handful of works from the artists' personal archives.

Evening:

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Hopefully you've snagged a reservation at Septime weeks in advance, because this neo-bistro is one of the best meals in town. Every night, there's a new seven course tasting menu featuring local, seasonal ingredients. Opt for the wine pairing and you'll enjoy your meal with some unique, natural wines you've probably never tried before. On any given night, you might be served deep fried eggplant with miso dressing or cured bonito with rose oil.

End the day with a late cabaret show at Le Crazy Horse (€87). Between the plush velvet seats, the mirrored walls, the flowing champagne, and the ceilings clad with small disco balls, it's an experience to remember.

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Morning:

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Fill up for the day ahead at Frenchie To Go, a casual cafe that serves a great breakfast. The bacon, egg, and cheese on a fluffy english muffin is stellar, as is the full English breakfast if you're really hungry.

Now it's time for some art, but you can go ahead and skip the ridiculous lines at the Louvre. Just book a one and a half hour private guided tour and walk right into this giant museum ($125). You can customize your tour to your interests to your guide takes you to the exhibits and parts of the museum you really want to see.

Before you move on to the Tuileries Garden to see Monet's Water Lilies at the small and manageable Musée de l'Orangerie, step into Angelina, an elegantly decorated tea house, for the most decadent hot cocoa you've ever tasted.

Afternoon:

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Head to Pierre Sang in Oberkampf for an inventive lunch of French and Korean flavors. Pick from three set lunch menus — two, three, or five courses — that might include anything from smoky prawns with mashed wasabi peas to onglet steak with kimchi foam.

Next, visit Cimetière du Père Lachaise, the city's largest cemetery and a popular tourist and cultural site, where famous playwrights, artists, and musicians like Jim Morrison, Marcel Proust, Amedeo Modigliani, and Frédéric Chopin are burried.

After, walk to Le Perchoir, a rooftop bar on the seventh floor of an industrial building offering picture-perfect views of the city. Order the cocktail of the day and watch the sun go down over Sacre Coeur in the distance.

Evening:

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Dinner tonight is at l'Ami Jean, one of the most beloved classic French bistros around. It's perennially popular and always lively inside, so try to book weeks in advance. If you're feeling adventurous (and hungry), go for the chef's tasting menu (€80 per person), which will feel like a steal given how much food you're about to consume. You'll taste a parade of hearty plates like fall-off-the-bone pork shoulder, white asparagus with béchamel, and heavenly rice pudding for dessert.

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Morning:

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This morning, it's time to explore Montmartre. Go hungry, because the first activity is a three-hour Secret Food tour of the hilltop neighborhood. As you walk around the storybook Montmartre area — taking in the cobblestone streets, quaint cafés, and closet-sized shops — a tour guide will take you into local patisseries, boulangeries, and boucheries where you'll try everything from macarons and crêpes to cheese and charcuterie.

Afternoon:

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With a very full stomach, head back to the 1st arrondissement to explore the city's most upscale shopping street, Rue Saint-Honore. Forget the Champs Élysées, this is where the city's rich and glamorous shop, along the blocks lined with luxury like Hermès, Christian Louboutin, and Cartier.

From there, cross the Seine to Saint-Germain-des-Près and walk around this boutiquey neighborhood. Rue de Grenelle, which snakes all the way through the 7th arrondissement, is a great place to start. Some other sites to see while on the left bank include the Rodin Museum and Le Bon Marché, a sprawling department store with an incredible, high-end food court in the basement.

Evening:

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After a long day of walking, you've probably worked up quite the appetite. Abri, a Japanese-French fusion restaurant, is one of the toughest reservations in town, and for good reason. The menu is an omakase-style five course menu, so you don't know what you'll be eating until it's on your plate. But whether it's duck breast, cured mackerel, or guinea hen, it's going to be fantastic.

End the evening with a show at 38 Riv, a tiny jazz club housed in a stone cellar on rue de Rivoli. Every day of the week it hosts jazz shows or live jam sessions.