Paris: A Long Weekend in the City of Lights
Paris is one of those cities where even a few days can feel too short. On our Easter weekend trip, we had just about two-and-a-half days to explore the city, so we focused on the major landmarks, Disneyland Paris and a few neighbourhoods rather than attempting to see everything.
Getting to Paris
We flew to Paris on a late Friday evening and arrived at Charles de Gaulle Airport close to midnight. As it was late and we were tired, we opted for a taxi to our hotel rather than public transport.
The taxi journey to Hotel Ibis Glen Villiers took around 40 minutes and cost approximately €51.
With limited time in Paris, staying somewhere with convenient access to the Metro proved useful.
Day 1: Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées & Eiffel Tower
We had planned to spend the first and third days exploring Paris, with Disneyland Paris scheduled for Day 2.
From the hotel, we took the Metro to Charles de Gaulle–Étoile, the station near the Arc de Triomphe. The journey took around 40 minutes, including one change.
Arc de Triomphe & Champs-Élysées
Our Paris sightseeing began at the magnificent Arc de Triomphe. From here, we took a hop-on-hop-off sightseeing bus, which was a convenient way to get an overview of the city in a short amount of time.
The route took us past several of Paris’s major attractions, including:
- Champs-Élysées
- Place de la Concorde
- The Seine
- Eiffel Tower
- Notre-Dame
- Louvre Museum
With only a few days available, the bus provided a good introduction to the city’s main sights.
Louvre Museum
We got off near the Louvre Museum for a quick break and lunch. Although visiting the Louvre was on our list, we decided against entering because of the queues and the amount of time required.
With limited time in Paris, we preferred to use the afternoon to explore more of the city.
Eiffel Tower
From the Louvre, we headed towards the Eiffel Tower.
Seeing the tower from a distance is impressive, but standing beneath it gives an entirely different perspective. The area was extremely crowded, particularly because of the Easter weekend.
We wanted to go to the top, but the queue was several hours long. Rather than spend most of the afternoon waiting, we decided to explore the surrounding area and return later.
As evening arrived, the Eiffel Tower was illuminated. We stayed to watch it sparkle after dark—a memorable way to end our first day in Paris.
Day 2: Disneyland Paris
We had dedicated the second day to Disneyland Paris, travelling from central Paris by train.
For someone who grew up imagining what a Disneyland experience would be like, the first impression was unforgettable. The entrance, Disney Hotel and Sleeping Beauty Castle immediately created the atmosphere of a classic Disney park.
Rides & Attractions
Because we arrived relatively late, we first grabbed a quick meal before planning our day around the park map.
Some of the attractions we experienced included:
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
- Star Wars
- Disney parade
- Various themed attractions and rides
Queues can be long, particularly during holiday periods, so planning which attractions to prioritize is important.
The Indiana Jones ride was particularly memorable, with its twists and loops providing one of the day’s biggest thrills.
Disney Parade
The afternoon Disney Parade was one of the highlights. Visitors gathered along the route as Disney characters including Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and others made their way through the park.
The parade lasted around 40 minutes and attracted a huge crowd.
Disney Village
We also visited Disney Village, the entertainment and dining area outside the parks.
It has restaurants, pubs, shops, McDonald’s, cinemas and other entertainment options. Even here, queues were long during our visit.
Our experience also made one thing clear: one day is not enough to experience Disneyland Paris comfortably.
If Disneyland is an important part of your trip, staying in the Disneyland area for a full weekend would allow considerably more time for the parks and Disney Village.
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Paris by Night
After leaving Disneyland, we took the train back to Paris and got off near Place de la Concorde.
From there, we walked along the Champs-Élysées towards the Arc de Triomphe. The avenue remained lively late into the evening, with restaurants, pubs and crowds filling the streets.
The illuminated Champs-Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe made the late-night walk worthwhile.
Day 3: Eiffel Tower & Notre-Dame
Our final day began with another attempt to visit the top of the Eiffel Tower.
Unfortunately, the queues were still extremely long because of the Easter weekend. With a flight to catch later in the afternoon, we decided not to risk spending several hours in the queue.
Instead, we explored the area around the Eiffel Tower, taking photographs from different viewpoints.
La Défense
We made a brief visit to La Défense, Paris’s modern business district.
The Grande Arche, surrounded by modern office buildings, provides a striking contrast to the historic architecture of central Paris.
Notre-Dame
From La Défense, we headed towards Notre-Dame.
This was our final sightseeing stop before heading to the airport. We also met a friend at Café Panis, located opposite Notre-Dame, before making our way to Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Our flight departed on time, bringing our short Paris getaway to an end.
Paris in Three Days: What We Learned
A long weekend is enough to experience some of Paris’s most famous landmarks, but not enough to explore the city in depth.
For a short trip, prioritizing the major attractions makes sense:
Day 1:
Arc de Triomphe → Champs-Élysées → Louvre → Eiffel Tower
Day 2:
Disneyland Paris → Disney Village → Paris by Night
Day 3:
Eiffel Tower area → La Défense → Notre-Dame → Airport
Tips for a Short Paris Trip
- Plan your sightseeing by area to reduce travel time.
- The Metro is useful for getting around the city.
- A hop-on-hop-off bus can be worthwhile for a first overview of Paris when time is limited.
- Expect long queues at the Eiffel Tower, particularly during holidays and long weekends.
- If you want to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower, allow several hours during busy periods.
- Avoid trying to cover too many museums in a short trip.
- If visiting Disneyland Paris, consider spending at least two days in the Disneyland area.
- Walking along the Champs-Élysées at night is an experience in itself.
Paris rewards both slow exploration and quick city breaks. We had only a few days, but by concentrating on the city’s iconic landmarks and adding a full day at Disneyland, we were able to experience a memorable snapshot of Paris.
