How to Spend 3 Days in Paris and Disneyland Paris

Paris is by far is one of my favourite places in the world to visit. It has romance, great food and amazing sights to see making it the perfect weekend get-away. But what if I told you, you can also combine your Paris weekend with Disneyland? Yup, you heard me! It is perfectly possible to do both in the same weekend and I can’t wait to share this tried and tested guide (by me and 2 friends) with you!

I’ve put together a full day of sightseeing in Paris, a full day exploring Disneyland and the last day being up to you on what you would like to see.
 
But remember this is just a guide, so feel free to change things around! Want to spend day 1 at Disneyland first? Go for it! Don’t want to see Louvre? No problem! Feel free to pick and choose from this guide and skip the ones you don’t want to see.

If you only have 3 days and really want to explore Paris and Disneyland Paris (like we did hehe) then this is the guide for you. So grab a notebook, pen and drink (wine, juice, coffee, you take your pick) and let’s get into it!

Travel Day to Paris

We decided to travel to Paris on Day 1 and head straight to exploring the city.

Looking back, it would have been better to travel to Paris the night before and start fresh the next day.

So if you can, try dedicating half a day as a travel day into Paris. Check into your hotel, get a good night’s rest and be up and ready to go the next day!

Day 1: Exploring Paris

Day 1 is going to be a busy day full of ticking off bucket list sights. If you’re travelling into Paris on the day (like we did!) try getting a good rest the night before. Especially if you can’t sleep on planes or public transport like me.

Ideally, you want to arrive in Paris early morning. We aimed to be at our hotel for 10.00 am in Paris so we could have the full day to explore. So if you do manage to get to your hotel in the morning then check-in, relax and freshen up!

Unfortunately, most hotels have check-in times that are in the afternoon, but you can leave your luggage with them (which they will keep safe), freshen up in the hotel bathrooms and get out there to explore. Just check beforehand if your hotel allows the option to leave your bags with them.

Tip: If you are feeling hungry, you’re bound to find a local cafe near you! You can use Google Maps or ask the concierge.

The Louvre: 2 Hours

The Louvre is the largest art museum in the world! Home to the famous Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa this is a great place to explore in Paris.

I recommend exploring this first as the queues can be super busy. Plus the sheer size of the museum means there is just soo much to see.

Getting There:

You can opt to walk there or take the Metro. If you take the Metro, I recommend getting off at ‘Palais Royal-Musee du Louvre.’ You can access Louvre from this underground Metro stop and the queues are a little quieter!

Give yourself roughly 30 minutes to get there. If you get lost, don’t be afraid to ask! We found the metro workers to be really helpful.

Booking Louvre:

As mentioned before, the queues for Louvre can be crazy busy so it’s best to book in advance. The online price for the Louvre is 17 Euros.

You can book tickets directly from Louvre.

Tip: Good news for some! You can get into Louvre for free at any time if you are between the ages of 18 to 25 and from the European Economic Area. And for all aged 26 and under, you can visit the museum for free every Friday from 6.0 pm-9.45 pm.

Seeing Louvre:

The size of Louvre is so large that you will not be able to see the whole museum in a few hours, let alone a day! It’s best to pick only a couple of sights that you really want to see at the museum and see those first. If you have more time to explore, great!

For example, we really wanted to see Mona Lisa, Winged Victory of Samothrace and Venus de Milo (typical Instagram shots!). We saw these all first which then allowed us time to explore other parts of the museum and have a mini photoshoot in the outside courtyard!

Tip: The outdoor courtyard is a great place for photos and is free! So if you’re not up for seeing the inside of Louvre, you can skip it completely. There is a coffee shop called Cafe Mollien where you can get some amazing pictures of the courtyard. Keep in mind that this cafe is pricey!

Champ- Elysees and Arc de Triomph: 2-3 Hours

Getting There:

From Louvre, you can walk to Champs-Élysées which is about a 30-minute walk. If you do walk, you can even pass other spots like Place De La Concorde and Place Vendome! For us, we took the Metro to Champs-Élysées – Clemenceau Metro stop which took us around 15 minutes to get to.

Looking back on the trip, I do wish we walked instead! It’s only 15 minutes more in travel time and we could have seen much more of Paris.

Explore Champ-Elysees and Arc de Triomph:

Champ-Elysees is full of restaurants and shops and is known as the world’s most beautiful avenue! We actually stopped at one of the outdoor bars on our way there and had a bite to eat (and a few cocktails of course!). Just remember that if you do decide to eat here, it will be a little pricey as you’re in a prime tourist spot.

The Arc de Triomphe is a famous and huge monument in Paris, making it one not to miss! We only admired it from outside so didn’t spend too long here, but I wish we did.

Tip:  If you have the time, climb to the top of Arc de Triomph for some breathtaking views of Paris. Although some people say the queues aren’t that long, if you wish to avoid them you can book here.

Notre Dame:1-1&1/2 hours

Getting There:

Notre Dame is further out than the other places in Paris. So if you decide to see Louvre in the evening, you can switch it around and see Notre Dame first.

The closest stop is Cité which you can take via RER and then walk towards Notre Dame. It was tricky for us to find, so it’s best to ask someone or use Google Maps!

Exploring Notre Dame and River Seine:

Notre Dame (a beautiful medieval cathedral) is being re-built with the intention of re-opening in 2024 after the unfortunate incident in April 2019.

But I have still kept it in this guide for those who want to visit. You can still see some of the beautiful Gothic architecture and the surrounding area is worth a visit!

Plus it is so close to the River Seine so you can walk along the River and explore the area. We found this to be sooo peaceful, especially in the late afternoon. 

You can choose whether to continue exploring around Notre Dame or head back to the hotel to freshen up! We decided to head back as we wanted to take a nap and then get all glammed up for dinner! If you are feeling peckish there are lots of places to eat, especially along the River.

Eiffel Tower

I’ve saved the best till last, trust me! At night is when the Tower sparkles and it is amazing to see!

Getting There:

The Eiffel Tower sparkles every hour on the hour in the evening for 5 minutes until 1.00 am (where it will sparkle one final time for 10 minutes).

I recommend taking a taxi for this part from wherever you are! It’s the quickest way to get there plus if you’re like me all dressed up in heels, it’s deffo the better option!

We decided to go after 9.00 pm as this gave us enough time to have dinner! We then found a spot about half an hour before to take some photos (and found the crowds were quieter at this time as they pick up closer to the hour!).

Where to Find a Spot:

We really wanted to find a spot at Parc du Champ de Mars and sit there to watch the Tower sparkle but we never ended up finding it (mainly because we didn’t know it was called Parc du Champ de Mars).

So now that you know the name, if you are taking a taxi or Uber, ask the driver to drop you at Parc du Champ de Mars! That way you’re not wasting any time and can find a nice spot before it starts to get busy.

Tip: Alternatively, why not head to Place du Trocadero to watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle? You’re then able to tick two things off your bucket list instead of one and will have an amazing view. This is something I will deffo be doing when I return!

Day 2: Exploring Disneyland Paris

It’s here, the day has finally arrived where you can finally go to the most magical place in Europe, Disneyland Paris! Yaaaaaay!

Booking Disneyland Paris:

Disneyland Paris is made up of two parks, Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park.

I recommend buying both park tickets for the day that way you can experience both the parks.

If you HAVE to pick one, I would go for the Disneyland Park as it has a bit more ‘magic’ to it. Also, don’t forget to purchase a day ticket that provides fast passes so that you can skip the long queues for certain rides and enjoy the day more! We bought our tickets from Picniq.

Getting to Disneyland from Paris:

There are plenty of options for you to get to Disneyland from your hotel in Paris, we opted for Metro and RER.

From Paris, you want to get to Line A of the RER system as this is the line that terminates at Marne-la-Vallee Chessy station and pretty much takes you to the front of the Disneyland Parks! The journey from Paris to Disneyland can take around 45 minutes or so. 

Get to Disneyland for when it opens to the public so you can be one of the first to enter! This differs depending on when you are visiting, so be sure to check the opening times a few days before going. 

Walt Disney Studios Park: Opening Time-1pm

Check out Walt Disney Studio Park first as it is a smaller park out of the two (and closes earlier). I recommend heading straight to Crush’s Coaster and getting this out of the way as this is one of the busiest rides and you could be waiting hours in the queue! 

After that, if you are feeling peckish you can grab a bite to eat, or continue exploring Walt Disney Studio Parks and head on more rides! My favourite ride in Walt Disney Studios is Tower of Terror, a must-see for all you thrill seekers!

Next, I recommend checking out Disney Village, for an hour or so. Here you can grab a bite to eat at some well-known restaurants (like McDonald’s and Rainforest Cafe) and shop around to grab some souvenirs.

Disneyland Park: 2pm-Closing Time

Disneyland Park consists of 5 lands. To make the most out of your day trip I highly recommend picking up a map of the park. You can grab this as soon as you enter the park after you’ve gone through security.  

When you enter Disneyland Park you’re welcomed by Main Street! Here you have some more shops and places where you can grab a bite to eat, so you could always do this instead of browsing around Disney Village.

Exploring Sleeping Beauty’s Castle:

The next thing I recommend doing is checking out Sleeping Beauty’s castle. As you walk through the castle you’ll see a shop inside and just opposite this are some stairs which take you up into the castle where you are able to have the story of Sleeping Beauty told to you through stained glass windows.

And don’t forget to find the dragon hidden somewhere underneath the castle!

Next, go ahead and explore the park and rides! My personal favourites are Big Thunder Mountain, Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain (which both provide fast passes) and Phantom Manor.

Tip: On the map, there will be a small ‘F’ symbol next to some rides which means you can grab a fast pass for these!

Stars on Parade:

The Stars on Parade is a must-see at Disneyland Paris. It usually starts at 5.30 pm (although check on the day you go!) but it is best to find a spot about half an hour before so that you can get a good view and not have anyone stand in front of you.

Restaurants:

When it comes to eating, it’s always best to sit down and eat at a restaurant. The only problem is, it’s almost impossible to walk in and get a table when it hits lunch or dinner time.

It’s best to book a table in advance at one of the restaurants so that you can head straight there to eat.

Honestly, I wish we did this as we wasted time walking around trying to find a restaurant that had a table for us and ended up heading to Main Street to grab a hot dog and it wasn’t very filling. So learn from my mistakes and book a restaurant!

The ones I recommend are:

Restaurant Des Stars: A buffet located in Disneyland Park

Captain Jack’s Restaurant Des Pirates: Perfect for seafood lovers and located in Disneyland Park

Bistrot Chez Rémy: French cuisine restaurant in Walt Disney Studios Park

Disney Illuminations:

Disney Illuminations is a beautiful 20-minute firework display to end your magical Disneyland Paris experience. This is shown near the castle when the park closes (we visiting in the summer and the show started at 11.00 pm but check on the day!). 

Try to find a place in front of the castle half an hour before the fireworks are due, but in the summer months, you may want to make that an hour!

In fact, we found a spot in front of the castle and sat there for over 1 1/2 hours!

Oh and bring a cardigan, even if you are going in the summer!  I was feeling chilly in the evening and had shorts and tee on and although it was warm, I wish I had something to get cosy in!

Leaving Disneyland Paris:

When the fireworks end, everyone rushes to the shops or to the trains and it feels like a lifetime to try and get out of the Park.

If you have the budget for it, it’s best to get a taxi to your hotel, because you’ll be so exhausted and just want to sleep.

You can take the train back, which is what we did, but just keep in mind it is very tiring and busy. By the time we got back to the hotel I was exhausted and my legs were aching, so it would have been better for us to have taken a taxi back.

Tip: If you do take the train, try waiting for the next available train to avoid the rush. For us, we managed to get the last train to Paris at 12.25 am but double check on the day what time the last train is and try taking that train as you’ll find it to be a little quieter than the one before it.

Day 3: Exploring Paris

Day 3 really depends on when your flight is. If you don’t have a morning flight, use this day to relax and do something that you really want to do.

We had an afternoon flight so decided to head to the Eiffel Tower to see it in the day!

Why not stroll along the riverside, where you can sit, have a drink (or cocktail) and enjoy the wonderful view of the Eiffel Tower?

Or how about going to a local supermarket, packing a picnic and heading to the riverside for a romantic picnic? Use this day to wander and explore at your pace, well until you have to rush back to the Airport!

Tip: As check-out times are usually in the morning, ask your hotel if they are able to store your luggage, that way you can pick it up on your way to the airport and not have to stroll around with it the morning!

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Things to know before your trip to Paris

I recommend before every trip to check out the Government Travel Advice or Guidance on the country you are visiting. You will find information on safety, local laws and customs and so much more. It is usually very up to date and is something I always check before booking a trip.

Information

Languages: The main language spoken is French. Although English is widely spoken, I highly recommend learning a few key phrases before going, we found locals really appreciated the effort made! I recommend learning how to say the following: Hello, Thank you, Goodbye, Do you speak English, Can I get the bill please etc. We found these to be really helpful.

The Currency and Tipping: The currency in France is the Euro. There is no obligation to tip in Paris, however if you wish to tip you can either round up the bill to the nearest Euro or leave a 5%-10% tip of the bill, so it’s best to have some change on you just in case.

Safety: Whilst travelling in Paris we were told by many working at the metro that pickpocketing is quite common. Although we didn’t experience anything, it’s always best to stay vigilant. To check on the latest safety advice, it is best to check out your Government Travel Advice page which can be found online.

Planning Your Trip to Paris and Disneyland

Best Time to Go:

Now this really depends on preference and budget!  

January-March: This is the low season for both Paris and Disneyland however the weather will be colder (although you can get the odd day in March where it is warm!).

April-May: These dates vary from mid-season to high-season for Disneyland, but if you plan it right you can miss the crowds! For Paris, you may find warmer weather and fewer crowds. In my opinion, this is one of the best times to visit both places (provided that you visit Disneyland on a non-holiday week like Easter!).

June-August: This is the high-season and you’ll find a lot of tourist places and Disneyland to be heaving! This is the time we actually visited, and although it was busy we were still able to do and see so much.

Bear in mind that this is usually the time Parisians go on holiday, so some of the non-touristy places will be closed.

As for the weather, it can vary! When I visited Paris with friends in August, it was hot and sunny. But when I re-visited exactly a year later, it was wet and chilly! It’s best to check the weather beforehand, so you know what to pack!

September-December: September you may be able to get that warm weather with a smaller crowd than the summer months (especially from mid-September) but it will start to pick up during October in Disneyland as the Halloween season will begin. Disneyland is usually very busy during the Christmas period because it is just that little bit more magical!

Tip: Check out European school holidays and see whether they clash with your desired dates. This is especially so with Disneyland Paris as it can get very busy!

Better yet, try going away during the week rather than the weekend to avoid crowds, especially during the high-season.

Getting Around Paris:

Much of Paris can be seen on foot however there are plenty of public transport options available if you need them. The ones I recommend are:

Taxi or Uber: This is slightly pricey but if you are tired or have lots of luggage, this is the best option!

Metro or RER: The Metro covers the city centre while the RER travels out a little more to the suburbs. This is a much cheaper option and really convenient if your hotel is nearby to a stop. This was our favourite and most used mode of transport whilst in Paris!

Tip: Download offline maps of Paris, Metro and RER to help you get around. We found Google Maps to be really helpful, but it’s good to have a backup in case your internet is down.

Overall Budget:

You can travel around Paris on a budget,but I found it to be expensive because we went to tourist areas.

I spent roughly 66 Euros per day which was spent only on food, drink and travel.

If you are going on a budget, like I did, I highly recommend planning out your money and eating at local restaurants further away from some of the tourist spots. 80-90 Euros per day is safer, as it allows you that extra room to splurge (that’s if you are like me and love buying souvenirs!).

However, for your Disneyland Paris day, take extra money as you’ll be tempted to buy souvenirs and if you eat at one of their restaurants, it will be very pricey.

Staying In Paris

Places To Stay

When finding a place to stay, there are a number of factors to bear in mind in order to make travelling around to these places a little easier (and quicker!).

Disneyland or Paris: I recommend staying in Paris rather than in Disneyland Paris when following this particular guide. The hotels at Disneyland can be pricey and you’ll be spending more money travelling back and forth from there.

Location: You’ll want to stay somewhere close to any of the places you visit, with good transportation links.

We decided to stay in the heart of the 7th Arrondissement area.

It was 10 minutes walk away from a Metro stop and close to the Eiffel Tower (you can see it as soon as you stepped out of the hotel!). It also had cute coffee places nearby, which of course was a big yes for us!

I’ve heard the 8th Arrondissement area is also a great spot. It is ‘in the middle’ of the attractions and has amazing transportation links.

Book in Advance: I cannot stress the importance of booking in advance. We booked about 3 weeks before leaving for our trip (yikes!) and almost gave up because there were hardly any hotels available. In the end we found a beautiful boutique hotel which I still can’t believe was available: Hotel Thoumieux.

The following hotels I have not stayed at but really want to stay in next time:

Where to StAY:

Budget:

As always I usually compare the prices of all hotels and go with the cheapest one that is nearby and has awesome reviews.

Mid-Range:

• Pullmans Hotel Paris: This has always on my bucket list as some of the rooms offer a balcony with the view of the Eiffel Tower and I finally managed to stay here in 2022! Book a room with the balcony for some epic Insta-worthy photos. (4 stars).

• Splendid Etoile: Some of the rooms offer a view of the Arc de Triomph (4 stars).

Luxury:

• Four Seasons Hotel George V: A luxurious landmark hotel located near Champs-Elysees (5 stars).

What Else To See in Paris

Didn’t like some of the attractions I listed? No problem, check out these options that you may want to squeeze in instead. There are plenty of other places to see in Paris, which I will 100% be visiting in the near future. Those are:

Sacré-Cœur: This is a beautiful Roman Catholic church and Basilica.

Montmarte: The area around Sacré-Cœur is a cute area to explore

Musée d’Orsay: An amazing art Museum. I know many people have seen this instead of Louvre which could be an option for you if you wish!

Latin Quarter: A historic Paris neighbourhood with restaurants, gardens, bookshops and so much more.

Rodin Museum: Here you will find the famous ‘The Thinker’ statue. This is something I really wanted to see but didn’t get a chance to!

Palace of Versailles: Perfect for when you have an extra day as it is slightly out of Paris.

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There you have it, 3 epic days in Paris, including Disneyland! Perfectly doable, especially if you really want to do both! Let me know if you’ve tried something similar and what you favourite places in Paris are, I’d love to know.

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