One Day in Paris France – 24 Hour Travel Guide
What to do if you only have one day in Paris? Here are my best tips and spots for your perfect day.
This can easily be converted into a 2-3 day itinerary or even more. If you want to do as many of these things as possible.
Top 12 Main Attractions Of Paris
To help you know what to expect when you visit Paris for the first time, here is a little overview of some of the main sights.
1. Eiffel Tower
324 meter high iron lattice tower and landmark of Paris.
2. Musée du Louvre
Art museum in the historic Louvre Palace.
3. Musée d’Orsay
Art museum in the former Gare d’Orsay train station.
4. Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris
Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Paris.
5. Avenue des Champs-Élysées
1910 meters long boulevard with numerous shopping opportunities.
6. Arc de Triomphe
Monument built from 1806 to 1836.
7. Jardin du Luxembourg
Formerly royal, now state-owned palace park in Paris’ Latin Quarter.
8. Sacré-Coeur
Roman Catholic pilgrimage church built in neo-Byzantine style.
9. Panthéon
National Hall of Fame of France and the burial place of famous French personalities.
10. Place de Vosges
Oldest of the five “Royal squares” and considered one of the most beautiful squares in Paris.
11. Palais Garnier
One of the two Paris opera houses under the state institution Opéra National de Paris.
12. Le Centre Pompidou
State Art and Culture Center.
One Day Itinerary For Paris
Morning
Breakfast at
Aux Arts Etc… Café Galerie d’art
Start your day with breakfast at Aux Arts Etc… Café Galerie. Coffee, croissants, and art, what could be better?
Brunch at Le Loulou
If you like brunching, Le Loulou is worth a visit. They offer a big variety of food items in a cozy hipster atmosphere.
Walk along the Seine
After your breakfast go for a walk at the Seine. The Seine is the river that flows through Paris. During your walk, make a stop at the Cathédrale Notre Dame. The Cathedral is also the most visited monument in Paris. That’s right, it’s not the Eiffel Tower. (For the curious ones, it’s: Notre Dame, Sacré-Coeur, Louvre and the Eiffel Tower on place 4)
Museum 1: Louvre
One of the best activities you can do in Paris is to visit a museum. You can choose your favorite one, or spend the whole day museum hopping. It’s up to you. A famous choice is the Louvre. For a bit more information see my facts about Paris post.
Museum 2: Musée d´Orsay
Another good choice is the Musée D’Orsay, which used to be a railway station.
Museum 3: Musée de l’Orangerie
Round your trip up with a visit to the art gallery of impressionist and post-impressionist paintings.
Good to know: Young people under 26 from the EU can visit the museums free of charge. As of 2020, everyone can visit the Louvre for free on the first Saturday of the month. And the Musée D’Orsay and L’Orangerie the first Sunday of the month. But you might have to register to reserve a time slot.
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Afternoon
Lunch Option 1: Le Soufflé
Both lunch spots are close to the museums. Le Soufflè, as the name would suggest it, offers different delicious souffle variations.
Lunch Option 2: Le Petit Vendôme
Le Petit Vendôme is a french restaurant. THere you can enjoy local food in a charming bistro atmosphere.
What would Paris be without shopping? Here are some options to consider for a shopping spree. Not a big shopping fan? I would still give some of those places a chance, as some of them have a unique architecture to offer (they are also nice places to take a picture, or two). If this is not your cup of tea at all, just jump to the next activity.
Shopping 1: Galerie Vivienne
Galerie Vivienne is one of those places with unique architecture. Perfect for a little bit of window shopping.
Shopping 2: Passage de Panoramas
Go back in time with the Passage de Panoramas, the oldest covered passage in Paris. Lovely old rustic charm.
Shopping 3: Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann
Another place where it is worth going in just because of the building. The design of the ceiling is especially amazing.
Tip: There is a free viewing platform on the roof of the passage. Yes, you can see the Eiffel Tower from here!
Shopping 4: Avenue des Champs-Élysées
This is Paris’ most famous shopping street. You might have heard about it in an equally famous song. Here you can find everything your shopping heart desires. Small boutiques, mainstream, and luxury stores. At the end of it, you can also visit the Arc de Triomphe.
Shopping 5: Shakespeare and Company
You are a bit of a bookworm or just like an antique ambiance? Visit the famous bookstore Shakespeare and Company.
They sell new and second-hand books. And is also a free reading library open to the public.
Shopping 6: Librairie Galignani
Still not enough books? Visit Librairie Galignani which claims to be the oldest English bookstore on this continent.
Coffee break at Fragments
As a lover of coffee, you definitely should visit one of Paris’s many Cafés. One hot spot at the moment is the Fragments
Pastry break at Ble Sucre
Not only coffee but also pastries are worth a try. Just go to a Parisian bakery and try some of the freshly baked goods. For example at the Ble Sucre.
Tip: Both Fragments and Ble Sucre are not too far away from Paris’ most colorful street the Rue Cremieux. Great picture spot!
Wander around in Montmartre, Montparnasse or the Quartier Latin
You don’t want to do the typical sightseeing but immerse yourself in Paris and the French culture?
Wander around one of those Neighbourhoods and soak in the atmosphere. Montparnasse is known for its crêperies and historic bistros. Already writers like Ernest Hemingway visited this area. Montmartre is an artistic neighborhood and also the home of the Sacré-Coeur and the ‘I Love You Wall’. The historic alleys of Quartier Latin are particularly popular with students.
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Evening
Dinner Option 1: Pink Mama
Pink Mama is hip. Hip Interieur, hip location, hip food.
Dinner Option 2: La Crêperie
La Cêperie offers… Crêpes. But in each variation possible! From sweet to savory, every Crêpe you’ve ever dreamed of.
Dinner Option 3: Chez Marcel
Chez Marcel is the traditional choice if you want to enjoy some French cuisine.
Dinner Option 4: Café Procope
Also traditional, in fact very traditional, the Café Procope. The oldest Café in Paris.
See the Eiffel Tower Light Show
The Eiffel Tower sparkles light from sundown to 1 a.m., at the beginning of each hour, for five minutes. What a romantic way to end the day.
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