First Paris trip. Lodging in Marais District? What to see in Paris in 3 days?

What do you want to see in Paris? Why are you going? You must have some ideas of what you want to see. My priorities might not be the same as yours. I like museums and went to 5 during my week stay in the city. I visited the Marais district to see the Jewish quarter and had wonderful falafel there, but I don't know if you like falafel or are interested in seeing the Jewish quarter. Please tell us what your general interests are.

I think the Marais is a great location. There's easy access to the metro, interesting small shops, good restaurants, and you can walk to a number of tourist sites. It's also an enjoyable neighborhood in which to wander.

What you should do in three days depends on your interests. For example, I would spend at least one of those days at the Louvre, and I would also Visit few other favorite museums (Including the Roden Museum and the Andre-jacquemart). And I would reserve at least a half day for some of my favorite churches. But you need to decide what interests you.

I rented a studio apt in the Marais a couple of years ago - loved the area, perfect location for seeing all the major sights. Lots of restaurants and nightlife (depending on where in the Marais you rent) and fun to walk around in the evening.

Renting for 3 nights only might be a problem, many apartments want a minimum # of days of more than 3 days.
3 days is a short time for Paris.
Books have been written on what to see in Paris, and we can't cover that here.
For a summary of what to do/see, click below:
http://www.ricksteves.com/europe/france/paris

Hi, I stayed at the Castex Hotel, good location, pleasant staff. Check a guidebook to find your must-sees. For 3 days, mine would be the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, D'Orsay, and Notre Dame. Hope you have a great time in my favorite city!

First timers should take the hop on hop off bus the first two days. Gives you a great overview of the city and takes you to all the major sights, museums and attractions. Sit up top and take pictures along the way, and if the traffic is heavy...good, enjoy looking at Paris and soaking it in. Also pays for itself in saved taxi and metro fees. Spend the last day filling in the blanks or revisiting an area you really liked. At night take the boat ride on the Seine that leaves from next to the Eiffel Tower. Find a couple nice restaurants and you've had a great 3 days!!!

The HOHO bus is good for getting oriented, but with only 3 days, you don't want to spend 2 days on the HOHO bus.

Maybe not two days, but at least one to see a lot in a short time. You can always get off the bus and walk around an area of your interest, then get back on and go to the next that looks good to you, such as the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame etc.

Maybe not two days, but at least one to see a lot in a short time. You can always get off the bus and walk around an area of your interest, then get back on and go to the next that looks good to you, such as the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame etc.

The Marais is great. Go for it. I can't think of any cons.

What to see in 3 days - depends on whether you want to stay outside or be in museums. Don't feel like you have to spend a day in the Louvre or go to the top of the Eiffel Tower. There are great views from other places - and you get to see the Eiffel Tower from them. There are other great museums that aren't so overwhelming. In the Marais, stop in at the Carnavalet Museum, it's somewhat different and it's free. Walking in Paris is a very good thing to do - just keep your eyes open. There are self-guided walking tours you can get. Download Rick's free audio guides for Paris for a start. Frommers has 3 you can print out. Take a boat ride on the Seine (but not a dinner cruise!). The best time is around sunset.

Instead of the HOHO bus, take a bike tour with Fat Tire tours (they also have pricier segway tours). You'll see some of the top sights and not be stuck in traffic.

Of course " you don't want to spend 2 days on the HOHO bus." You HOP ON then you HOP OFF!!

It's where it takes you!! It is an efficient, orderly means of getting to what you want to see and do and seeing things along the way in an organized manner rather than seeing nothing in the Metro or waiting at every traffic light or intersection on a bicycle. I have done them all and IMHO it is the best way for a first time visitor to get oriented and experience all the great things Paris offers. Plus the second day only costs an additional 5 Euro.

HOHO bus would be a good idea for your first full day, assuming you're not too jet-lagged, and Brian makes a good case for a second day at 5 euros more. A Seine cruise is also a good idea, they leave from the Pont Neuf as well as the Eiffel Tower and take about an hour and a half as I recall. Evening (not dinner) would be a great time to do this, but daytime would also be worthwhile if you have other evening plans.

Try to minimize your standing-in-line time by visiting major sights when they open in the morning, and using the Museum Pass to bypass ticket lines (you'll still have security lines). It's a good value for the energetic and curious.

The Marais is a convenient, exciting, historic neighborhood, as good as any for your purposes. Can't think of any "cons" about it. You might have trouble finding a 3-day apartment but it's worth a try. If not, you can find many good hotels on booking.com. Use the "street view" feature in Google Earth to scope out the immediate surroundings of any place you'll sleep, beware of late-night cafes and bars and clubs nearby unless you know you'll be sleeping in the back of the building.

As others have noted, your list of sights should be yours. Look at a good guidebook (RS, Lonely Planet, others) and set your priorities. Group your choices geographically (or based on the HOHO routes if you're using that strategy) to save time. Don't try to see "everything" in three days, you'll do better to give each place time to enjoy and appreciate it, save the rest for the next trip(s).

Versailles is too much, I think, for such a short trip unless you're really enthused about it (I'm not). Deserves most or all of a day, the lines will kill you, and should be saved for a longer trip.