Are you headed to Paris and looking for an itinerary that indulges in your love of history? Check out the sample three-day itinerary below for your time in Paris that will highlight and indulge your fascination. It covers the breadth of medieval to modern. Tweak this as you like and add in meal breaks where they make the most sense for you. The days will keep you roughly in the same area or along the same metro line, but itineraries are best when customized. It’s open for you to make this work however you like!

Day 1

• Musée de Cluny
  
  Your day starts off with the medieval. This museum near Île-de-France is typically not very busy (and though its ornate doors are hard to miss, it’s an unassuming building that you might walk right by). Between the swords, the tapestry, and the stained glass, it’s a historical start to the day that will get you in the mood to learn more.

  

  Visit information can be found here.

• Conciergerie
  
  For the history buff who enjoys architecture, a bit of royalty history, and seeing how justice operated in years gone by. The Conciergerie, on Île de la Cité, is your next stop. It’s a little bit of a walk, but you shouldn’t need the Metro yet.
  
  Visit information can be found here.

  

• Louvre
  
  The Louvre has exhibits and options for no matter what type of history you’re interested in — and even arts. If you’re into the Napoleonic or the Renaissance or Persian Arts, there’s something for you to discover. Once you’ve wandered over to the Louvre, spend the bulk of your day here admiring the antiquities (and just know that no matter how long you spend, there’ll still be plenty to come back for).

  

  Visit information can be found here.

Continue on to Day 2

• Château de Vincennes
  
  Venture further afield, and reap the rewards of Château de Vincennes, a former fortress that’s remarkably still intact. The fortress was also a royal residence in the past. Plan your visit by getting more details here.

  

• Carnavalet

  The museum itself is a piece of history, being the oldest museum in Paris (open since 1880!), and beyond that, there’s ample history for any period you might be interested in (from Napoleon I to items from the revolution to Marcel Proust and so much more).

  

  Get details for your visit here.

  Bastille Monument

  A quick stop now, before you proceed, to see the Bastille monument, which marks the former spot of the Bastille (the prison, not the band as you can imagine).

• Sorbonne

  Onwards to the Sorbonne, where you can mill about with other students who are seeking an education just like people have for centuries in that same location.

• Pantheon

  Next, you’ll be visiting the Pantheon, home to the burial sites of many of France’s most famous (whether born & raised, or whether they immigrated there). You’ll find Voltaire, Marie Curie, Alexandre Dumas and more! You’ll also be able to visit the pendulum, which is more science than history, but still a fun stop.

  Get information for your visit at the website here.

  

Finish Strong on Day 3

• Hôtel National des Invalides
  There’s more to the Invalides than Napoleon’s tomb, but if you’re headed there, you won’t want to miss it. Today’s historical ventures begin with with a more military bent, with a visit to Les Invalides where you can see items from multiple past wars.

  Get information about a visit to the Musée de l’Armée’ here.

  

• Musée de l’Homme
  Continue on your journey as you venture past the Eiffel Tower and Trocadero to this next stop. Home of Lucy, an integral part of our evolution, and who is 40% intact. You’ll also get the chance to explore its temporary & permanent exhibitions.

  Get more information at the website here.

  

• Musée National de la Marine
  History turns nautical in the next stop. Mere steps from your last venue, you’ll find your next historical sight. This one has something for those who love marine history, whether it’s artifacts or art.

  Visit the website here for more details.

  

• Quai Branly
  You’ll finish off the day by learning about histories that stretch beyond what most museums typically feature. The focus here is on Asia, Africa, the Americas and Oceania, and you’ll also get to marvel that the impressive architecture of the museum, which takes great inspiration from the natural world.

  Visit the website here for more details.

Hopefully this fills your mind with some starting ideas of exploring Paris with a specific focus on history. Play with the itinerary to plug and play other sights and stops, and you’ll come of it amazed at how much you’ve learned in just three days!