Whether you have an overnight layover or are simply short on time, seeing Paris in a day might be your only option. So, what do you do? Is it possible to spend a day in Paris and still get a sense of the city?
I’ve visited Paris a few times, and recently, I was on a short trip that gave me only a day and a half to explore. So, I decided to put it to the test—how much of the city could I comfortably enjoy without feeling too rushed or overwhelmed?
And through that experience, I came up with this 1-day Paris itinerary for first-time visitors wanting to see Parisian highlights in such a short time. Let’s dive in!
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Can Paris be done in one day?
Paris is a large city and many of its most famous monuments are spaced apart. While this is nice because just about anywhere you stay in Paris you’ll be close to a landmark, it’s not so great if you are on a short trip to Paris.
With that being said, this itinerary gives you the best round-up of Paris including everything from museums to the Eiffel Tower to a short break at a sidewalk cafe. I came up with this 1-day itinerary as part of a larger 2-week Europe itinerary I was planning.
And while it’s not possible to really see Paris in a day, you can enjoy a Parisian day out as a tourist if you follow this guide.
And trust me, you don’t want to run around taking taxis from monument to monument just to snap a picture for the clout. Instead, see some of the major highlights, sip wine or coffee at a sidewalk cafe, eat a delicious croissant or macaron, admire the Eiffel Tower, walk through gardens… Yep, you’re doing it all with just 1 day in Paris!
How to save time in Paris
If you want a unique experience, you can rent the Paris city bikes to speed up your time going from place to place. For example, walking from the Louvre to Notre Dame takes 20 minutes by foot but only 10 minutes by bike.
Cycling is actually one of the most efficient ways to get around Paris. While I’ve cycled in the city and had a blast, it might not be for everyone’s taste.
If that’s the case, you might like to take advantage of the Hop on Hop Off Bus or the Paris metro system.
Pro tip! Beyond getting from place to place, make sure you have tickets and reservations in advance. This will prevent you from wasting time in long lines. I will link to all relevant skip-the-line tickets below.
Where to Stay in Paris, France
- Hotel Rivoli: Excellent, budget-friendly hotel by Notre Dame
- Hotel Britannique: 3-star hotel with balconies near the Louvre
- My Maison In Paris Invalides: Cozy, mid-range hotel by the canals
- Generator Paris: cool, budget hostel in 19th arr.
1 Day in Paris Itinerary Outline
Here are all the details to help you plan an AMAZING one day in Paris itinerary.
The Louvre
Paris’s most famous museum, and the most visited museum in the world, is your first stop of the day. However! I do not recommend going inside (despite being home to the Mona Lisa). I know, you’re visiting a museum without going inside… what’s the point?
The point is, you’ll see that one of the most famous parts of the Louvre (besides the Mona Lisa) is outside of the building.
The Louvre is where you’ll see that iconic glass pyramid, a popular photo spot for tourists in Paris.
You’ll need just about 10-15 minutes here to see the exterior of the building and admire the pyramid in the plaza.
Notre Dame
Another one of the most famous places to visit when seeing Paris in a day is Notre Dame Cathedral on Île de la Cité, an island on the Seine.
The cathedral is still temporarily closed due to the fire in 2019. However, you can still admire the facade and capture some fantastic photos of the gargoyles and intricate Gothic details of this landmark.
Shakespeare & Company Bookstore
Cross the Petit Pont (bridge) to reach the Shakespeare & Company Bookstore, the city’s most famous English-language bookshop located in the Latin Quarter. It’s just a 4 minute walk from Notre Dame, making it the perfect next stop of the day.
You might have to wait in a short line to visit the bookstore if it’s very busy. However, it’s worth visiting if you’d like to pick up a Parisian bookish souvenir, find a read for your travels, or simply take a wander.
Church of Saint-Séverin
If you’re not much of a reader and want to skip the bookstore, or you have the time, I highly recommend a walk through the Church of Saint-Séverin (Église Saint-Séverin).
It’s one of my favorite free places to visit in Paris and a beautiful alternative to Sainte-Chapelle. The church has moody lighting with loads of stained glass windows, similar to the chapel.
I didn’t actually plan to visit this striking church the last time I was in Paris. We had planned to visit Sainte-Chapelle (which is nearby) but when we got there, we saw a HUGE line. (We made the mistake of not getting tickets in advance – don’t be us!)
So, we just continued walking and I stumbled upon this building and decided we should stop it. I was so glad we did because I was in awe of it.
Lunch in the 5th arrondissement
Here you’ll find many lovely places to eat while seeing Paris in a day. I most recently had lunch at Pepita Paris, which serves delicious and budget friendly Mediterranean dishes. However, I’ll give a little breakdown of my recommendations to help you decide.
- La Petite Bouclerie: organic crepes (savory or sweet) and other classic dishes
- Le Chalet Saint-Michel: Rustic French restaurant with vintage vibe (might not be as fast as other restaurants, so keep this in mind)
- Pepita Paris: Trendy spot with sidewalk seating serving pizza and Mediterranean food
Parisian Sidewalk Cafe – Café de Flore or Les Deux Magots
Have a quintessential Parisian experience by stopping by a sidewalk cafe on your way to the next destination. You can have a glass of wine, a coffee, a sweet treat – whatever suits you!
Café de Flore is one of the most iconic. It’s been around for a long time and is even frequented by celebrities. It was really busy when I was there so I didn’t get to sit in one of the “picture perfect” sidewalk tables. We were under a covered terrace.
Nonetheless, the waiter was kind and helped suggest a good white wine. I had the Sancerre and it was divine!
Otherwise, Les Deux Magots is right across the street and it’s an excellent alternative.
Keep in mind both are a little pricey, so feel free to just stop for one drink. Besides, there’s still plenty to see during your 1 day Paris itinerary!
Musée d’Orsay
On the left bank of the Seine River, the Musée d’Orsay is one of the coolest museums to visit with one day in Paris. It’s set in the old train station (built in 1900) and you can look out of the giant clock at the top of the building. Stunning!
It’s not as large as the Louvre, but is still full of unique rooms and loads of Monet, Van Gogh, Renoir, and other iconic European artists. The place is a mix of paintings, sculptures, furniture, and photography.
The museum also has a stylish cafe and a rooftop terrace with views overlooking Paris and the river.
Hours are from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. (open until 9:45 p.m. on Thursdays). Closed on Mondays! Grab Musée d’Orsay tickets in advance here.
Note: If you are visiting on a Monday, you could switch Orsay out for Musée de l’Orangerie. It’s known for the Claude Monet Water Lilies room, which can be seen in as little as 15 minutes. Get tickets for l’Orangerie here.
Rue de l’Université
Of course if you’re seeing Paris in a day, you’re going to want to get some cool portrait perspectives of the Eiffel Tower. One of the best spots is on Rue de l’Université, close to the landmark.
It offers a really clear view of the Eiffel Tower from up close with residential architecture on either side and a bit of tree foliage.
Plus, it’s easy to get to after visiting Musée d’Orsay, so don’t skip out on this stop if you want pictures in front of the Eiffel Tower.
Eiffel Tower
From there, you can walk along Jardin de la Tour Eiffel to get some different perspectives of the Eiffel Tower.
With this 1 day Paris itinerary, I don’t recommend going up the Eiffel Tower. While the views of Paris are cool, you’ll be standing on the most iconic part of the skyline so it’s not my favorite when it comes to Paris viewpoints.
In 2018,glass partitions were put up surrounding the bottom of the Eiffel Tower. It makes it seem like you need to pay to stand under the Eiffel Tower, but you don’t! You just need to go through entry 1 or 2 security.
Macarons from Carette
Either enjoy a 15-20 minute walk or take the metro from Bir-Hakeim (by the Eiffel Tower) to Trocadero. The walk to the metro plus the ride is about 10 minutes.
Carette is located along Place du Trocadero, where you’ll get some of the best views of the Eiffel Tower. But – you’ll be coming here after dinner to watch it sparkle. So, stay tuned!
For now, I recommend visiting the famous pâtisserie that offers some of the best macarons in Paris. They have flavors like pistachio, chocolate, or rose. Have some now and grab a box as a souvenir!
If you have extra time before dinner, you can grab a drink from Café du Trocadéro or one of the other restaurants here. They all have cozy outdoor seating.
Dinner near Trocadero
For a cozy dinner near Trocadero, Aux Cocottes is a great choice. The restaurant offers elevated French dishes in an intimate space; the prices reflect the quality and relaxed setting.
For example, the mains range from €27 to €48 a dish. On the cheaper end, I had a delicious mushroom gnocchi.However, there were plenty of options for meat eaters as well.
Restaurant recommendations near Trocadero include:
- Mokus l’Écureuil: Italian joint with pizza, pasta, and burgers
- Café du Mexique: French neighborhood bistro with great food
- Golden Spoon: Quality French cuisine in a chic space
- Aux Cocottes: Cozy, intimate restaurant with upscale French food
Alternatively, if you prefer a more budget-friendly evening, pick up some wine, cheese, and a baguette and enjoy a riverside picnic by the Seine. Do this after visiting the Eiffel Tower and before going to Carette to get macarons.
Trocadero Esplanade
For iconic views of the Eiffel Tower lit up and sparkling at night, go to the Esplanade de Trocadéro. It’s considered one of the best places to see the Eiffel Tower at night.
As soon as it’s dark out, the Eiffel Tower will illuminate that warm, buttery glow – thanks to some 20,000 light bulbs!
What’s really special, however, is when it sparkles. It sparkles for the first five minutes of every hour until the lights turn off for the night. (This is 11:45 p.m. or 1 a.m. depending on the time of year).
If you are visiting Paris in summer or French holiday periods, the lights will remain on until 1 a.m.
Seeing Paris twinkle in the night is one of the absolute best ways to spend 1 day in Paris, so whatever you do, don’t go to bed before seeing this spectacle!
Night Time Seine River Cruise
If you are still feeling lively and want more views of Paris at night, I suggest doing a night cruise on the Seine.
I find Paris to be the most spectacular after sundown. The lights beneath the bridges illuminate, building facades glow, the Eiffel Tower gleams – it’s just… magical!
Should you be interested, check out the Evening Seine River Cruise. It’s typically available every hour from 7:30 p.m. with the last ride beginning at 10 p.m.
It could also serve as an alternative to Trocadero if you don’t have enough time and would rather see the sparkles from the river rather than the hill.
And if the night is still young, consider seeing a show at the Moulin Rouge or visiting a jazz bar.
Buy me a coffee
