Twenty-four hours would never do justice to all the incredible gems that Paris has to offer. But the same could be said of a three-day Paris itinerary… or even a whole month for all it matters!
But if you only have a day, then it is essential to be well organized and have a solid plan not to waste a minute.
I’ve kept this guide to one day in Paris to a minimum, avoiding visiting any museum or exhibition and just offering an outside glimpse of the best landmarks in town.
You can always explore the Louvre or the Orsay Museum on a second visit, because I can assure you that once you visit Paris, you will long to come back.
Let’s get ready for your French adventure and check out with me the best things to see in Paris in a day.
This post may contain affiliate links and Solo Trips and Tips may receive a commission for purchases made through links. See our disclosure about affiliate links
Here we go! Let’s see how much you can do in Paris for the day.
Café au lait by the Tour Eiffel
No matter how much time you have to visit the city, the best thing to do in Paris is to start your day very early.
This way, you will be able to enjoy usually overcrowded sites without so many people around.
The Eiffel Tower is certainly one of those places.
Get up early and take the metro to reach the Trocadero; from here you will get the best early morning lights to enjoy the views of the tower.
Once in the area, you can walk towards the Iron Lady, crossing the gorgeous Pont d’Iéna, an elegant bridge over the Seine River built back in 1814.
Built by Gustave Eiffel back in 1888, the Eiffel Tower was originally built for the Paris World Exhibition of 1889, and it has remained the most iconic view in Paris since then.
LEARN MORE: Weekend in Paris Itinerary
Once you have explored the area surrounding the tower, Champs de Mars, you can pick one of the charming cafés in the area for a delicious breakfast made of fragrant croissants or baguettes and a coffee.
Sit at your table enough to soak in the stunning Paris views when the city is just getting up, but don’t relax too much.
There is still a long way to go.
LEARN MORE: 8 Best Day Trips from Paris
Arch de Triomphe and Place de la Concorde
Walk along Quai Branly until you reach the Pont de l’Alma.
From here, you can board bus 92 to reach another unmissable landmark, Arc de Triomphe.
The journey is about 12 minutes, especially that early in the morning, and during the ride, you can admire the gorgeous buildings on Avenue d’Iena, which ends right at the magnificent Arc de Triomphe roundabout.
Right after, you can take a pleasant walk along the Avenue des Champs-Élysées until the Place de la Concorde if you’re interested in shopping and at least looking at the windows of some prestigious Paris boutiques.
The walk takes about 30 minutes. However, if you’re trying to make the most of the day, you can take metro line 1 for only €1.90 and get off at Concorde stations.
A taxi is another quick alternative and not as expensive since the ride is quite short (less than ten minutes). If the traffic is heavy, stick to the metro and save some money.
Place de la Concorde is Paris’ biggest square, and it is still as relevant a historic place as it was the scene of political turmoil and state executions during the French Revolution.
Today, the square boasts beautiful fountains, statues, and an Egyptian obelisk.
LEARN MORE: Best Neighborhoods to Stay in Paris
Invalides, Musée d’Orsay, Jardin desTuileries, and Louvre
Head to the Seine River and cross the beautiful Pont Alexandre III.
You will be facing the magnificent Esplanade des Invalides as well as the Hôtel des Invalides, one of the most spectacular buildings in Paris.
This is a famous historical site housing a series of army museums, including a church as well as the tomb of Napoleon.
Walk a couple of minutes along the Seine until you find the spectacular location of the Musée d’Orsay, one of Paris’s most beautiful museums housed in the ancient Gare d’Orsay, a former train station.
Although you might not have time to enter the museum, the esplanade around the entrance features giant sculptures worth admiring.
If you decide to rob a few hours from your itinerary and visit, you can check out this tour with an art expert to learn about and admire the works by Van Gogh, Cézanne, Monet, and other Impressionist and post-Impressionist artists (most art inside this museum is dated between the nineteenth and the early twentieth century).
Look back towards the Seine and cross the river once more; this time choose the Ponte de la Concord, and you will be at one of the entrance gates of the Jardin des Tuileries, one of the city’s best-curated parks and the oldest garden in Paris.
Located between the Louvre Museum and Concorde Square, this is a typical example of a French garden based on symmetry, order, and perspective.
It was designed by the same landscape architect that created the magnificent gardens at Versailles.
A walk along the beautiful gardens, decorated with statues, fountains, and hundreds of colorful flowers, will take you directly to the main entrance of the Palace du Louvre, home to the most important museum in France… and the world!
We have not included access to the museum in this itinerary since a minimal visit to the most famous works of art can never take less than 2 to 3 hours.
However, some interesting organized tours were especially thought for those that visit Paris with time constraints, taking you directly to see the masterpieces that you long to see.
If you decide that giving such a tour a chance is worth your time and money, then check out the whole description of the experience here: Louvre Museum with Guidance to the Mona Lisa.
Also, do not forget to book at least a couple of days in advance, as this tour is extremely popular and sells out fast.
If you just want to snap a few pictures of the Louvre Palace, check out the glass pyramids at the entrance as well as a smaller version of the Arc de Triomphe, then accessing the museum won’t be necessary.
Pont Neuf and Lunch in the Latin Quarter
Head back to the Seine and continue walking until you reach either the Pont des Arts or the world-famous Pont Neuf.
Crossing any of the two bridges will reward you with stunning views of the city and the river.
You will now be standing on the left bank of the Seine, locally known as Rive Gauche, the perfect area for a short stroll to find a small bistro or an affordable brasserie for your Paris lunch break.
You won’t be far from the Latin Quarter, where there are tons of delicious restaurants for you to choose from.
Alternatively, you can walk along Quai Saint Michel, where there are also dozens of restaurants.
You can pick a formule (fixed menu) while taking in the views of Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral, your next stop after a restoring meal and a strong cup of espresso (trust me, you will need it).
Once known as the intellectual district of Paris, the Latin Quarter got its name from the ancient habit of speaking Latin that the students of Sorbonne University, in the same area, used to have.
If you’re interested, one of Europe’s best museums of the Middle Ages is the Musée de Cluny.
Not far from the area, you can also check out the Jardin des Plantes, the massive local botanic garden.
A note on lunch in Paris
Take your time.
Since a one-day Paris itinerary tends to be jam-packed with things to do and places to see, you will spend several hours of the day walking or standing on the metro; don’t think of an hour-long lunch as a waste of time.
Instead, consider it more as a moment (maybe the only one you’ll have during this short visit) to fully immerse in the local culture and share at least a little of the Parisian routine of enjoying your meals while watching the world go by.
Besides, your legs and feet will thank you!
LEARN MORE: Bucket List Foods to Eat in Paris
Notre Dame de Paris
The most iconic church in France’s capital is this impressive Gothic cathedral with two characteristic squared towers with hundreds of gargoyles and massive stained glass windows.
It is located in the middle of the Seine River, on the so-called Île de la Cité, right opposite the Latin Quarter.
Since it is currently not possible to visit the cathedral, this will be quite a short visit.
Now you will have the rest of the afternoon free to jump on the metro to spend a few hours wandering around the bohemian alleys of Montmartre, Paris’ most traditional neighborhood.
Afternoon in Montmartre
From the metro station Cité, just meters from the cathedral, take line 4 to Château Rouge station and then walk to the Sacré Coeur Basilica, in the heart of the Montmartre District.
Expect to spend from two to three hours wandering around this charming quarter of Paris, where time seems to have stopped centuries ago.
Sacré Coeur and Place de Tertre
The first thing to do once you get to this district in the eighteenth arrondissement is to climb the stairs or take the funicular (priced as the metro) to reach the unique Sacré Coeur Basilica.
One of the most famous churches in Paris, the basilica was built on Montmartre from 1876 to 1919.
Its white dome is a highly visible landmark in the city, while the views of Paris from the area are simply stunning.
Access to the Basilica is free; please remember to dress modestly to pay a visit.
If you have been fascinated by the architecture of Paris’ churches, then you can also drop by another lesser-known church in the district, also on the hill of Montmartre.
Saint Pierre de Montmartre is a religious building built back in 1147 that worked as the church of the prestigious Montmartre Abbey.
Although the abbey was destroyed in 1790 during the French Revolution (and its convent demolished), the church of Saint Pierre was saved.
No more than 5 minutes walking down the road from the church, you will find another beautiful landmark, Place the Tertre, the square where several local artists gather and paint portraits as well as landscapes.
In this area, there are also several picturesque cafeterias where you can sit for an afternoon coffee or a drink.
Different iconic sights have put Montmartre among the top places to visit in Paris, including the Moulin Rouge cabaret, the dozens of souvenir shops, and the Wall of Love, famous for having the phrase “I love you” written in over 250 languages.
In the area, some restaurants have made it to several Hollywood films, including Le Consulat and La Maison Rose, two favorite spots for those who enjoy photography.
Evening Sailing the Seine and Dinner
Although it could make sense to stay and enjoy the evening in Montmartre, since you only have 1 day in Paris, I suggest taking the metro back to the city center to take up one last activity that will perfectly end your day in the city, a cruise on the Seine.
This has become quite a popular activity among tourists.
Since, for a very affordable price (if you pick the basic one-hour cruise), you can see all the sights along the Seine and beyond and discover all those places that you did not have the time to admire during the day.
If you want to splurge, there are also Seine cruises offering dinner; some of them are truly excellent, and one of them even features a Michelin-starred chef.
Estimate your budget and choose which is your best option.
Most popular and affordable option: Seine River Cruise onboard Vedettes du Pont Neuf
Value for Money: Seine River Guided Cruise and Snacks Options by Vedettes de Paris
Gastronomic ride: Bateaux Parisiens Seine River Gourmet Dinner & Sightseeing Cruise—this one is extremely popular and usually sells out.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, it is totally possible to see the best of Paris in just one day. Keep these guidelines at hand, though:
- Get up (very) early to make the most of your day.
- Wear comfy shoes; you will easily walk over 20.000 steps in less than 24 hours.
- Don’t stop at every café, but when you do, take at least a good one hour to rest and enjoy a meal; this will give you the energy to keep going.
- Use the metro when moving between distant points in town; it is the fastest means of transport, but try to walk or use the bus to cover shorter distances; this way you will be exploring and enjoying some unexpected sights that you would otherwise miss.
Save this to Pinterest for later!
About the Author
Gabi Ancarola is a translator and travel journalist living in Crete. She regularly writes about Europe for several magazines about travel, gastronomy, and hospitality. She has published several travel guides about Greece and plans customized trips to the Greek islands. She loves cooking local dishes, taking photos, and driving on the mountain roads of Crete.