24 hours in Paris..
At any given time Paris is always a good idea.After all it’s probably a bucket list destination for many travellers around the world. Although it would take days and weeks to explore all of Paris’s quaint alleyways, terraced restaurants, and world-famous museums and monuments, there’s plenty you can see with only a full day to pack in a Paris itinerary.
Getting there..
Chances are you will be arriving into Gare du Nord train station or Charles du Gaulle airport, both from which you can easily catch a taxi or Uber outside to take you to your hotel. Taking the metro is a less expensive option, but is often harder to navigate and takes more time. Since you’ve only got 24 hours in Paris (and if you’re directionally challenged like me), Uber is probably the best way to go. You can enter your destination into the app, which helps you avoid butchering the French language and given you a better idea on pricing.
Make sure you have your itinerary ready beforehand with everything you need to know, including the metro stops if you need to use it or the street names if you’re walking.It will save so much faffing when you’re there, and you can enjoy having fun instead of stressing.
7 - 9 a.m. Breakfast!
Fuel up for the big day ahead by enjoying a quintessential Parisian breakfast - a slice of baguette with butter, a pastry, juice and coffee. Paris is known for its restaurants serving food outdoors at small round tables with chairs facing the street, perfect for people-watching and taking in the sights and sounds of the city (bonus points if the tables are facing the Seine). Wherever you’re staying in Paris, you’re never far from a restaurant that will serve breakfast and a hot drink al fresco.
If you’re too excited to get your 1-day Paris itinerary started or are not much of a breakfast person, the city is covered in boulangeries (bakeries) and patisseries (pastry shops) where you can purchase croissants or pain au chocolat for the road.
10 a.m. Take a morning walk stroll...
The morning in Paris is a sacred time because it’s when the tourists have yet to come out in full force at different attractions around the city. Start your morning sightseeing in Paris at either the Sacre Coeur, Paris’s pearly white hilltop basilica, with a cruise along the Seine River to get your bearings in Paris, or at the world-famous Notre Dame Cathedral and its neighbor, the Sainte Chapelle.
Sacre Coeur
Known as the Sacred Heart of Paris, this Roman Catholic church is located in Montmartre, at the highest point of Paris. The hilltop basilica is a beautiful place to witness the city waking up in the morning.
“Sacre Coeur” translates to “sacred heart” and is dedicated to the sacred heart of Jesus. The stunning interior includes a massive mosaic depicting Jesus Christ, world-class stained glass windows, a grand organ, and a crypt.
Entry to Sacre-Coeur Basilica is free (donations accepted) and visitors can pay extra to climb to the top dome of the Sacre Coeur for views across Paris. It’s open on Sundays and during mass throughout the week, but closed on religious holidays.
River Cruise on the Seine
The 1 hour river cruise on the Seine River is one of the most popular tourist activities in Paris, and for good reason. It’s the perfect way to see and learn about all the highlights of Paris first thing in the morning. View iconic Parisian sights like the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and the Louvre Museum from the Seine River, complete with audio commentary from an expert guide.
Tours depart every 30 minutes from 10 AM at the base of the Eiffel Tower. Book cruise tickets in advance to lock in your spot at the time you prefer.
Notre-Dame and Sainte-Chapelle
Notre-Dame Cathedral and Sainte-Chapelle are two of the most recognisable religious structures in Paris, located just a stone’s throw apart on the Île de la Cité island in the Seine River.
Following a tragic fire at Notre Dame in April 2019, the cathedral closed to the public, but the square in front allows you to see its famous gargoyles and two towers. Notre-Dame is expected to fully reopen in 2024, in time for the Paris Olympics.
Sainte-Chapelle is a lesser-known but no less spectacular gothic chapel that dates back to the 13th-century. It has one of the most impressive stained glass window collections in the world, most of which were installed for the chapel’s original construction. It is no longer considered a religious building, so tickets are required for entryexcept on the first Sunday of the month.
12 p.m. Technical stop at the bookstore or restaurant…
Depending on your hunger levels and how tired you are. Midday is a good time to stop for something to eat near the Notre Dame or head closer to the Louvre Museum for a bite. You’ll be spoiled with the variety of trendy restaurants in both neighbourhoods.
Top-rated restaurants and cafes near each Paris landmark include..
Near Notre Dame
Hebe - This high-end French restaurant was founded by a two Michelin-starred chef and serves a variety of seasonal French dishes.
Comme Chai Toi - Located just across the Seine River from the Notre Dame, enjoy lunch with a view at this traditional French restaurant that serves duck and bass filets, grilled octopus, and of course escargot.
Near the Louvre
Happy Caffe - A budget-friendly creperie with crepes and sandwiches for less than €10.
Les Antiquaires - A rustic French restaurant serving escargot and foie gras, as well as steaks and burgers.
You’ll also notice that strolling through Paris always brings with it surprises in the form of vintage shops, flirtatious cafes and bookstores! If you haven’t yet taken a break, take a break at Ofr., in the heart of Le Marais, a small book paradise where you will find an attractive selection of volumes and magazines of fashion, design, photography, architecture and art.
They also have original postcards, limited edition fanzines and fashion accessories. Don't miss the gallery in the back, where they hold private sales, events and temporary exhibitions.
4 p.m. Visit an exhibition..
Spend your afternoon in Paris at one or more of it’s unmissable museums and galleries. Paris is recognised globally as a capital of the arts, and the city’s museum district is where the most famous art museums are concentrated. The cultural offer of Paris is unfathomable but with a full day in Paris, it’s possible to see one or two of these art museums. We recommend that you stay close and visit the Louvre and the Pompidou Centre..
Visit the Louvre
The Louvre and its distinctive glass pyramid is the most visited and largest museum in the world. The 650,000+ square foot interior is home to treasures like the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo statue, and 35,000 other works of art. Tickets are required for entry, and due to long lines it’s best to purchase a skip-the-line ticket ahead of time.
Visitors spend 2-4 hours on average at the Louvre, and passionate art fans will be able to spend the entire day there (restaurants, cafes, and gift shops are also available on-site).
Pompidou Center
This contemporary and modern art museum is housed in a peculiar-looking building that opened in 1977. Its inside-out architecture was designed by the now world-famous Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers. The building contains a modern art museum and various temporary exhibits, a public library, and an acoustics research center. Playful statues and fountains are located at the front of the building, which is popular with street performers.
Work from renowned artists like Frida Kahlo, Henri Matisse, and Pablo Picasso can be found at the Pompidou Center. A rooftop terrace also allows visitors to see some spectacular views over Paris. Tickets are required, so make sure you buy skip-the-line tickets to save time here as well.
Other museum options in Paris worth noting include the Musée de l'Orangerie and the Rodin Museum, Musée National Picasso Paris, Musée d’Orsay and sculpture gallery. If you’re planning on visiting 3 or more museums during your day in Paris, consider purchasing the Paris Museum Pass. It gives you entry to many Paris museums and attractions, so it could save you money after a few visits.
If spending time at art museums isn’t your cup of tea during your day in Paris, consider joining a unique tour to either the Paris catacombs or Paris’s famous Père Lachaise Cemetery. These both allow you to experience the quieter side of the city for a few hours during your Paris itinerary, as well as giving you access to the city’s many stories and long history.
20 meters below the busy city streets of Paris are the catacombs, a labyrinth that makes up one of the world’s largest underground burial sites. The skeletons of over 6 million people are located in this unique system of tunnels, which was established in the 18th-century when the city’s surface graveyards were overflowing and affecting public health. The catacombs are a great place to experience some Parisian “dark tourism”, and escape the midday heat during the summer (the tunnels stay cool year-round).
Available booking times vary by day, and visitors are limited to 200 at a time, so be sure to secure tickets online ahead of your visit.
4 - 7 PM Time to eat..
Start closing out your day in Paris by enjoying a beautiful French dinner on the Seine River. Joining a river cruise complete with dinner is a glamorous, romantic, and fitting end to your full day in Paris. The City of Light looks completely different from the Seine at night than it does during the day, so you can reminisce on your time in the city from a completely different perspective as you see all of the city’s landmarks one last time.
7 - 9 PM Stay up late..
Staying up late? Good, because your options in Paris are limitless! The Bastille district is crowded, but offers a good mix of things to do. We recommend doing as the Parisian students do — gather in the Latin Quarter, a bustling area full of cafes.