Even though Paris is a city that deserves a whole lifetime, sometimes we do not have that long, do we? Layovers in different trips, short getaways, working trips…Any excuse goes to spend a few hours in town.
With this guide, you will discover what to see and do in Paris in one day, how to make the most of your time, where to eat and where to stay!
A perfect one-day itinerary in Paris
Here you are a one-day itinerary across Paris that encompasses the most important tourist landmarks in the City of Light, with no rush and optimising your time as much as possible: in the morning, the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, and the best of the Louvre Museum; in the afternoon, the Cité Island and, to call it a day, Montmartre neighbourhood.
Join one of our free tours to peruse Paris with us and make the most of your time in town!
Start your day off at the Eiffel Tower
Your day will begin at the Eiffel Tower, the prime example of Parisian culture and lifestyle.
Erected by the Gustave Eiffel, the “Iron Lady” was meant to be the main character of the 1889 Universal Exposition. Although the plan was to disassemble it once the event was over, the monument was so warmly welcomed by both locals and visitors, that it was finally decided to let it stand permanently. It is nowadays one of the reasons why many tourists visit Paris!
One of the best times to visit the Eiffel Tower is first thing in the morning, so you will be lucky if you start your day off here. Don’t forget to book your tickets online beforehand to skip the queues!
The Eiffel Tower is open every day of the year except for one-off closures. It opens from 09:00 to 23:00 in spring and summer, and from 09:30 to 23:00 during autumn and winter.
A walk through the Champs Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe
The Champs Élysées avenue and the Arc de Triomphe are barely half an hour away on foot, so we suggest that you spend your next hour visiting both this area as well as some highlights that you will find along your way.
Erected between 1806 and 1836, the Arc de Triomphe originally celebrated Napoleon’s military feats, especially Austerlitz in 1805. It is today a monument that spans all wars throughout the last two centuries and invites us to reflect on the nature of war conflicts and the possible ways towards peace.
The Arc de Triomphe is open every day from 10:00 to 23:00 (except on Tuesdays, when it opens at 11:00) from April to September. It closes down at 22:30 for the remainder of the year. For further peace of mind check its official website!
A cultural visit to the Louvre Museum
To finish off your morning, you can pay a brief visit to the very best of the Louvre Museum although, if you are a great art enthusiast, I suggest that you put it aside to spend an entire day there some other time.
If that is not your case, and you only wish to get to know the most important highlights in this picture gallery, you can visit it by metro and focus on works such as the Gioconda or Mona Lisa, the Victory of Samothrace, the Venus de Milo, Liberty Leading the People, The Coronation of Napoleon, or the Raft of the Medusa.
The Louvre is open from 09:00 to 18:00 on Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and up to 21:00 on Wednesdays and Fridays. It remains closed on Tuesdays. In order to skip the queues, go off season on Monday or Thursday, and book your ticket in advance!
Places to see between mandatory visits
During your walk between all of these monuments, you can briefly stop in the following points of interest.
Gardens of the Trocadero
The Gardens of the Trocadero are the perfect place to make a quick stop before dropping by the Champs Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe.
Created for the sake of the 1878 Universal Exposition, they consist of a series of wondrous promenades lined with art deco sculptures and ponds with vertical water jets. It has one of the best views of the Eiffel Tower!
Place de la Concorde
Paris’ Place de la Concorde can be found between the Champs Élysées and the Louvre Museum, next to the Tuileries Garden, and it is the second largest square in the country.
Formerly an execution place, which saw characters such as Louis XIV, Marie Antoinette or Robespierre lose their heads, it is today a venue for celebrations and an imposing tourist location where the views of the Champs Élysées and the Luxor Obelisks can be admired, the latter being brought in 1836 as a gift from the viceroy of Egypt.
Pont des Arts
The Pont des Arts, or Paris’ Artists Bridge, facing the Louvre Museum, is an ideal location to stop for a while, take a breath, enjoy the views of the river Seine, and take beautiful pictures of the surroundings.
Lunch in Paris: Where to eat during your visit
Here follow some suggestions of cafés and bistros in the surroundings of the Louvre Museum and the Cité Island, your next goal in your Paris day.
Cafés and bistros next to the Louvre
- Café Courtial La Crepe – 2 Rue Sauval
- JOZI Café – 67 Quai de la Tournelle
- Combo Restaurant – 29 Rue Dauphine
- Le Restaurant Vingt – 20 Rue Saint-Séverin
- Les Deux Colombes – 4 Rue de la Colombe
Public transport in Paris: how to move between tourist landmarks
Should you wish to abridge the distances between monuments in Paris, its public transport is ideal to do so. Both the metro and also the buses are user-friendly, affordable, and efficient. Here’s how to move around Paris by public transport!
How to use the metro in Paris
The best way to purchase metro tickets is on the self-service machines in the very stations. Once you have bought it, you just have to use it to get past the wheel, and pick it up again, since it will be useful for you to alight on your destination (or to avoid a fine within it). You can buy individual tickets or ten-trip bonds in order to save!
You can also make use of the Navigo Easy rechargeable card, which you can bind to your smartphone in order to pay more easily.
Line 1, in colour yellow, will take you to places such as the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs Élysées, the Tuileries Garden, and the Louvre Museum.
Buses and alternative transport
Should you prefer it, you can also use Paris’ bus network. It costs as much as the metro, and it connects Paris’ monuments just as properly. However, do try to avoid rush hour because of the traffic!
The bus lines you may be most interested in to spend your day in Paris are number 38 (Cité Island), 68 (Louvre Museum), and 28 (Champs Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe).
Should you want to move around in a more sustainable way, try Velib’s electric bikes, there are thousands of pick-up points scattered across the city!
Accommodation in Paris for a short visit
If you only have one day in Paris and you need to stay overnight in town, it is best for you to choose your accommodation downtown to make the most of your day. Here are some options for all budgets!
Hotels close to main tourist landmarks
- Alberte Hotel – in the centre of Paris, barely a few minutes’ walk from the Eiffel Tower.
- Hotel Muguet – With views of the Eiffel Tower!
- Hotel Square Louvois – in district II, just a few minutes away from the Louvre Museum.
- Relais Hotel du Vieux Paris – facing Cité Island.
Budget accommodation options in Paris
- Au Pacific Hotel – a 15 minutes’ walk from the Eiffel Tower,
- Mary’s Hotel Republique – in district 11, seamlessly connected with five metro lines.
- The People París Marais – a lovely hostel a short walk away from Cité Island.
An afternoon in the Île de la Cité: Notre-Dame and Sainte-Chapelle
We suggest that you spend the first part of your afternoon in Paris exploring the Île de la Cité and its two finest monuments: the Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Sainte-Chapelle.
A tour across Notre-Dame de Paris
The Notre-Dame Cathedral dates back to the 1100s, and it is a jewel of European Gothic architecture. If you come as of December 8th (its reopening date following the devastating 2019 fire) you can’t miss out on a visit to its indoors to admire its architecture, its stained glass, and the famous gargoyles and chimaeras in its heights!
Visiting times to the indoors of the cathedral will be specified during the forthcoming month of November.
Admire the Sainte-Chapelle stained glass
Paris’ Sainte-Chapelle was erected in the 1200s to host the relics of the Passion of the Christ, such as the famous Crown of Thorns. Nowadays, it is a must-see in Paris due to its awe-inspiring stained glass, a prime example of French Rayonnant Gothic art.
The Sainte-Chapelle can be visited from 09:00 to 19:00 from April to September, and until 17:00 from October to March. Do not miss out on it!
An evening in Montmartre: Sacré-Cœur and bohemian streets
There is no better way to finish off your day in Paris than with a sunset from the Sacré-Sacré-Cœur de Paris Basilica and an evening walk along the bohemian alleyways of the Montmartre quarter.
Climb up to the Sacré-Cœur Basilica
The Sacré-Cœur Basilica in Montmartre was built in 1875 to honour the memory of the fallen in the Franco-Prussian War, and as an attempt to restore “Catholic moral order” following the socialist Paris Commune, which had its headquarters in this neighbourhood.
Even though the highlights of this location are its spellbinding, panoramic views of Paris, should you wish to do so, the indoors of the Basilica can be visited. It is open from 06:30 to 22:30 every day of the year.
Explore the artsy streets of Montmartre
You shouldn’t leave the picturesque Montmartre quarter without pursuing its quaint, cobblestone streets, or paying a visit to the Place du Tertre, the rue Lepic, the Saint Pierre church, the Moulin de la Galette, or the world-famous Moulin Rouge. It will be a perfect end to your day!
Dinner in Paris: where to finish off your day
Here are some of our suggestions on where to have dinner in Paris after an intense day treading its streets and monuments. There are options for all budgets!
- Le Poulbot – a charming restaurant serving traditional dishes in Montmartre. Mid-range prices.
- La Taverne de Montmartre – a traditional eatery in Montmartre. High prices.
- Poulette – an art deco style bistro next to the Centre Pompidou. Mid-range prices.
- Le Restaurant Vingt Spts – traditional restaurant in the Latin Quarter offering fine raclettes. Mid-range prices.
Tips to enjoy a day in Paris to the fullest
If you are going to visit Paris in a day, our best advice is not to fret, and always prioritise quality over quantity. It’s no use racing across the city if you don’t enjoy the experience!
If you think you won’t be able to visit all recommended locations in this article, which is very likely, prioritise your interests or preferred areas, get around quickly by means of the metro, book your tickets beforehand, and try to choose less-demanded time slots.
And join one of our free tours to get a global picture of the city and its potential, and gather tips which will come in super handy to you!
- Tips to avoid the crowds
The best way to avoid the crowds in Paris is to come off season, to visit the most touristy spots first thing in the morning or late in the evening, and especially to book your tickets as early as possible.
We hope you really enjoy Paris with our advice, regardless of the time you have to visit!
Frequently Asked Questions on what to do in Paris in 1 day
With only 1 day in Paris, you can focus on monuments such as the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Sainte-Chapelle, and take an evening walk across Montmartre.
It is impossible to see all of Paris in 1 day, but you can visit some of its most important monuments, and join a free tour.
