Is 3 weeks too long to stay in Paris?

Question

Going to Paris on holiday. How long should I stay in Paris in order to be able to experience the people and culture? I don't want to do a rushed, touristy trip where I see all the main sights and not take time to experience this beautiful city. Is 3 weeks too long? I don't want to take too much time off work either.

Answer 1

In my opinion three weeks is plenty but then again for how long can you afford to stay in paris? If this was me it would only take me around 2 weeks to see the main sights of paris (well the ones i would want to see anyway).

Answer 2

I think 2 weeks is enough.

Buy the "Time Out Book of Paris Walks". It's the best way to start to get to know this exciting, quirky city.

Answer 3

You can stay as long as your money holds up, and as long as you like it there.

Answer 4

No, 3 weeks is not too long at all. I went for 3 weeks this past summer and got to see everything that I wanted to. I even had days when I could sleep a bit and not have to get up to see everything. Staying for that long makes it a bit more relaxing and calm. You get to experience the culture and surroundings more. But of course it all depends on money. Make sure you have enough to do everything. Have fun!

Answer 5

Stay there until you run out of moonay. Then stay a bit longer.

Answer 6

who girl take as long as you want in paris lots to see!!!!! 3 week will get you omewhere but to get the great expeericane take about a year

Answer 7

nope.

id go for like 4-5

but 3 is deff. good

Answer 8

I guess it depends on what all you are interested in, how much money you have etc.  3 weeks is only 21 days- it's not as though you can do much in 21 days.  So for me, no, 3 weeks would not be too long to stay in one place.

Answer 9

You can get a feel for the city in 3 weeks, but getting to know the people?  If you speak perfect french, maybe you can get some locals to talk to you, but you are a complete stranger to them so it will be very difficult.  You have to build a relationship first, to get to know anyone.  Three weeks is too short for that.  Perhaps you can make a friend quickly and then hang out with them as much as you can.  But short of that you can only sit and observe.  Interactions with locals, even shopkeepers, will be tough.  The service staff in the tourist trades will be polite and give you information but that is not what you are wanting if I understand your question.  If you really want to "know" Paris, you're going to have to live there for a while, make some friends, and see what life is like that way.  It can't be done in 3 weeks, but you can try.

Bon voyage et bonne chance!

Answer 10

This gives you time to go to places outside :

               - Giverny - Monnet

               - Chartres - Cathedral

               - Rouen - 1hour /train

               - Auvers-sur-Oise - Van Gogh

               - Fontainebleau forest, castle, and Barbizon painters

                 village

               - Troyes, Provins, Epernay and Reims cathedral +

                  champagne cellars visits

               -  etc

Most of those places you can go by train - trains are great, also a way to be close to people .

Answer 11

I think it would depend on your personality.  You should be done with all the major sites and museums after a week or so.  If you are happy just to stay and enjoy a place then stay.  If you have a hunger to see as much as possible in a compact time, then 3 weeks would be too long.  Two weeks would be fine to get a good feel on Paris.  If you are happy enough there, then stay the third week.  If not, then maybe take off and go to the Riviera for the third week or some other area.  If I were to stay in Paris for 3 weeks I would want to plan a few day trips outside of the city.  I would do one or two a week.  For example I'd want one day in Versailes, another to see Chartres and then maybe a third in the Loire Valley.

Answer 12

No.  You could spend a year in the Louvre alone.  Take your time and take it all in.  Order a peach ice tea at any street cafe.  It's intoxicating.

Answer 13

so... i'm in paris for 6 yrs... think gonna leave in 2-3 yrs...

3 wks is NOT too long.

Answer 14

I've spent a total of 5 weeks in Paris, with another trip of 1.5 weeks coming this fall.  Your trip sounds great and not too long at all.

Answer 15

no. it's not too long...

Answer 16

I could stay in Paris forever. 3 weeks will be just fine.

Answer 17

it's a lovely city. take as much time as you can afford. i am not much of an art lover but my friend told me just louvre itself can take days if you are art lover. been there, one thing is for sure, it is HUGE and i spend almost a day there - by rushing that is. i was on a shoestring budget and didn't get to stay that long but yes, please take your time. it really is a city worth spending your time in.

Answer 18

hey!

three weeks is definitely not too long to experience paris. if anything it's too short, there is so much to see and experience and familiarize with that it could take years but three weeks seems to be a good amount of time to get a real good taste of what paris is like. i think another way to really feel like you're experiencing paris the real parisian way is staying in a cute parisian apartment too rather than a hotel. when i came to study in paris i felt it really changed my experience and made me feel so much more immersed in the culture in staying in an apartment. and i have friends who have come to paris to visit for a week or so and rented an apartment and absolutely loved it - being able to get their own groceries and cook and have their own parisian apartment. i recommend to you a great company a lot of my friend's have used and loved, called Parisian home (www.parisianhome.com) that made the process really simple and for a great experience! best of luck and hope you have a wonderful time in paris.

Answer 19

Paris has ingredients to satisfy every taste any visiter

may have. Whatever your intrests are you will find plenty

of it in Paris. Visiting the country side for few days is, I

think, a good idea.

Answer 20

No, though I'd venture out of the city a bit as well if possible: Château de Versailles, Château de Fontainebleau, Château de Chantilly, etc. That's assuming you're limited to the Paris area. If you're not, France of course has a wealth of things to offer, including but not limited to castles of the Loire Valley, vineyards near Bordeaux, small villages in Provence, etc.