Strolling Through Aesthetic Parts of Paris: Day 3 Itinerary
No matter the length of your trip to Paris, get inspiration from this 5 day itinerary of Paris for strolling through the most aesthetic parts of the city. These spots are perfect for any time of the year.
The locations on each itinerary are within walking distance. However, depending on your comfort level, you may choose to have your own transportation to make it easier for you.
I also want to encourage you to explore on your own. Use this itinerary as a guide, but go to what interests YOU.
Make your trip the most unique experience and stroll through Paris like you are actually part of it.
For day 3, we’ll be exploring the oldest part of Paris. This is without a doubt probably the most aesthetic and peaceful section of the city, so prepare for a relaxing day with a lot of walking. Let’s begin!
Itinerary
Île Saint-Louis
Pont Marie
Square Barye
Le Flore en l’Île
Pont Saint-Louis
Notre Dame
Shakespeare and Company
Square René Viviani
Musée de Cluny
Pantheon
Luxembourg Gardens
Square du Vert-Galant
Morning
Île Saint-Louis
Let’s visit some of the oldest spots in Paris. We begin our day on the island of Saint-Louis. Here you’ll find some of the most beautiful architecture in Paris on the island with a wealth of history and charm. Take a walk along Quai de Bourbon to get the best out of the Seine and the beautiful streets of Île Saint-Louis. This quaint little island offers the most adorable shops with plenty of produce and sweets, and aesthetic little cafes as well. Make sure you stop for some of the famous Berthillon ice cream on the island.
Pont Marie
An important spot you cannot miss is Pont Marie, as it is a lover’s bridge. It’s also an adorable, peaceful little bridge with great views of the island and the river.
Square Barye
Make your way down to Square Barye, and just simply enjoy a relaxing morning on this peaceful island on the Seine. Have brunch at Le Flore en l’Île, a cute corner café with a beautiful view, in a peaceful location on the island. From there, make your way over to the next island of Île de la Cité by way of the Pont Saint-Louis.
Afternoon
Notre Dame
On Île de la Cité, you’ll find the treasured Notre Dame. As most know of the fire in 2019, there is still quite a bit of reconstructing to be done. But it is still the historical gem that it had always been. As one of the most beautiful sights in Paris, counting back to the 12th century, you cannot miss the Notre Dame cathedral. In every moment in time of Notre Dame’s existence, it has been a sight of significance for the history of Paris. It is also possibly the most visited monument in the city.
Shakespeare and Company
If you are a lover of books or even if you have absolutely zero interest in reading, you must check out the famous bookstore Shakespeare and Company. Just as you cross the bridge of Île de la Cité, you’ll find the aesthetic green book shop facing the island. Both aesthetically old and beautiful on the outside and the inside, it’s a wonderful literature landmark for readers all around the world.
Square René Viviani
Right next to the bookshop is a little park, Square René Viviani, which provides the perfect place to rest with a view of Notre Dame across the Seine. Sit among the pigeons and flowers and take in the experience of wandering the oldest arrondissement of Paris. There are excellent little bookshops in this area if you want more than just the Shakespeare and Company experience. Most of the books in Shakespeare and Company are printed in English, however if you shop at the other local bookshops, you’ll find more authentic French literature of varying topics and genres. I would recommend The Abbey Bookshop and Library de Cluny.
Musée de Cluny
A popular museum in this area you shouldn’t miss is the Musée de Cluny. Visit the website for information on times and pricing. It is a museum of the middle ages with medieval art and the famous tapestries of Lady and the Unicorn. Also a part of the museum is the ancient remains of the Gallo-Roman thermal baths.
Evening
Pantheon
Up the hill to the Pantheon, you’ll pass another gorgeous 14th century church, Église Saint-Éphrem-le-Syriaque, and parts of the oldest universities in Paris. It’s an absolutely stunning section of the Latin Quarter that is well worth the walk up to the Pantheon. This Pantheon is not exactly the ancient one you’ll find in Italy, but still an impressive monument and museum of Paris you should visit. This is another popular spot for history fanatics, but really it’s a fascinating piece of history to discover for anyone traveling the Latin Quarter. There are many notable figures in French history who are buried in the crypt of the Pantheon, and The Panorama offers another excellent view of the rest of Paris.
Luxembourg Gardens
From there, make your way over to two of the best parks in this lovely part of Paris for a relaxing evening, the first being the Luxembourg Gardens. This park is a rather large area full of fountains, flowers, lined trees and lawns, leading up to the Palais du Luxembourg.
Square du Vert-Galant
The second park is the Square du Vert-Galant, which is on the Île de la Cité, the perfect place to circle back to at the end of the day. Before entering the park, get a breath of fresh air and take in the atmosphere of the little square across the street called Place Dauphine. It is a great place to wind down and read a book, or even have a cute dinner picnic. Across the street is Square du Vert-Galant, a little park looking out to the Seine. Here you can sit under the willow tree watching swans and ducks swim by amongst the boats on the river. An absolutely perfect way to end a day of walking around the beautiful old Latin Quarter of Paris.
Maeve
Welcome to our little corner of the internet!
Just an American girl living in India and exploring the rest of the world on the side. Most of my joys come from traveling beautiful places, good old fashioned handwritten letters, fresh flowers, and a warm cup of chai.
So allow me offer you a cup of tea (with a spoonful of chini, of course!) as you join me in sharing about travel tips for discovering the most beautiful locations, insights into life as an expat in India with my wonderful Indian husband, and discussions about navigating long-distance relationships.
Join me for stories filled with wanderlust, cross-cultural love, and the little joys of life. Whether you’re an aspiring traveler, in a multicultural relationship, or just curious about life abroad, there’s something here for you.
Our Long Distance Story
We are Maeve and Kart – a long distance married couple from America and India.
To all kindred spirits out there trying to navigate a multicultural or a long distance relationship, you’re not alone. Learn from our own experiences of how we finally found each other from across the world and remain together living with a blend of both cultures and languages.
Get a cup of tea and a spoonful of chini and take in the advice from those who have successfully created a strong cross-cultural relationship from a distance.
