The imposing Eiffel Tower, the intricately decorated facades of historic buildings, sipping café au lait at a sidewalk bistro table, and the charm of a cosmopolitan city steeped in history: Paris never ceases to fascinate me. But the city is huge, the most beautiful sights are right next to one another, and somehow you just don’t know where to start with your sightseeing itinerary. Experiencing Paris in a single day (and mostly on foot, at that) seems impossible, but I’ll show you how to make the most of your short trip or weekend in Paris, even if you’re short on time!
Quick Tips:
➜ Affordable Accommodations in Paris
➜ For Those Who Don’t Feel Like Walking: Get Around by Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus*
How to see Paris in one day
I had an overnight stay in Paris in early summer for the first time in years and the day couldn’t have been better: I wanted to see a lot of Paris on this one day, enjoy the city, soak up the flair, gather a little inspiration. My sightseeing plan was ambitious, I was highly motivated and willing to check off a long list of places I wanted to see again or get to know anew. But in the end, everything turned out differently.
The Eiffel Tower: The most important sight in Paris
I didn’t leave the hotel until early noon, so I even had a little less than a day in Paris. But if you have a full day in Paris, I advise you to start the morning at the Eiffel Tower. Especially if it’s your first time in Paris!
The Eiffel Tower is still the most important and impressive sight in the city! Even though I’ve been to Paris many times, the sight of it never ceases to amaze me.
You should definitely go up, and right to the top, of course to enjoy the full view over Paris!
Tip: The Eiffel Tower is very popular, and wait times can be extremely long! Especially if you’re short on time.
➜ Book your ticket for the Eiffel Tower here*
A day in Paris: Around the Arc de Triomphe
From the Eiffel Tower, you can then walk across the Pont d’Iéna to the other side of the Seine. At the Trocadero, you’d better take the metro for a few stops to Place Charles de Gaulle; you’ll definitely walk enough, as I did.
The metro stations can be real mazes, but the Paris Métro is so fascinating! For that reason alone I always enjoy riding a few stations in Paris. (For tips on riding the metro in Paris, see below!)
Take line 6 to the Charles de Gaulle Étoile station.
By the way, you can’t go wrong trying to find the right exit here, because the station is huge and you can exit at pretty much any of the entrances leading to the star-shaped Place de Charles de Gaulle. I can’t remember which exit I took, but it’s best to head toward Avenue des Champs-Élysées/Georges V; it’s actually quite well signposted. Once you’re above ground, you’ll immediately see another of Paris’s landmarks: the Arc de Triomphe.
If you like, you can also go up to the roof of the Arc de Triomphe*! The Arc de Triomphe may not be quite as high and spectacular as the Eiffel Tower, but the view of the huge traffic circle below and the magnificent Champs-Élysées is very impressive.
But here, too, the same rule applies (especially if you only have one day): Be sure to book your ticket in advance*
Strolling on the Champs-Élysées
This is where the famous Avenue des Champs-Élysées begins, and even if you’re not into excessive shopping, the huge flagship stores here are in a class of their own, and long-established brands like Guerlain, for example, turn their window displays into veritable works of art on the building facades.
At the end of the Avenue de Champs-Élysées is Avenue Montaigne, the street in Paris with the most famous luxury brands (incidentally, Marlene Dietrich spent her last years here). If you want to feel a little more glamorous, take a detour here. The many great storefronts alone are worth it!
Place de la Concorde
You’ll naturally find yourself walking along the Champs-Élysées toward the Place de la Concorde and the Luxor Obelisk—but be warned, it’s a long walk! I took the metro for the last bit, but there are also several buses that run that route.
Jardin des Tuileries
I had initially intended to head directly to the Louvre, but on a whim, I got off at Place de la Concorde and wandered through the Tuileries. It’s a fairly long walk, yet quite captivating: amidst the busy streets of Paris, the Tuileries stand out as a vast green oasis.
Louvre, the pyramid & Mona Lisa
By now, at the very latest, you’re already overwhelmed by the splendor and history; and then suddenly you find yourself standing right in front of the famous Louvre. Bam. If you have a little more time (and are even slightly interested in art), you should definitely visit the Musée du Louvre; seeing Da Vinci’s famous Mona Lisa in person is worth the trip alone. But the collection is incomparable in every other way, too.
➜ Buy your Louvre ticket in advance*
Unfortunately, a visit like that takes a lot of time, so if you only have one day in Paris, it’s hard to fit in museums. Which is especially a shame in Paris. If you have more time, be sure to check out the Centre Pompidou and the Musée d’Orsay in addition to the Louvre. I think these two museums are also well worth a visit.
Seine & Quartier Latin
Behind the Louvre, the route crosses the Pont des Arts. And here, with a view of the Seine, you’ll get that pure Parisian vibe all over again. The route continues along the riverbank toward the Latin Quarter. By the way, the next bridge is the famous Pont Neuf, the city’s oldest stone bridge.
At some point, the first bouquinistes start to appear—the booksellers with their charming little stalls along the Seine. Here you’ll find used books, coffee-table books, and prints.
The Latin Quarter is Paris’s traditional student and nightlife district. Numerous restaurants, cafés, and bistros line the streets here. But the Latin Quarter is also quite the tourist trap. If you’ve stuck with the whole itinerary so far just like I did, by now your stomach is probably growling, and you probably don’t care which lousy tourist spot you end up in—I know that feeling all too well 🙂 So avoid Rue de la Huchette and try your luck in the side streets.
I can recommend Shiso Burger —fresh burgers with an Asian twist. The little place is located right on Quai Saint-Michel, a bit off the beaten path from the usual tourist traps.
Notre-Dame & Île de la Cité
Cross the Pont Saint-Michel to reach the Île de la Cité, the large island in the middle of the Seine—and, as a bonus, you’ll have a fantastic view of Notre-Dame Cathedral from here.
I enjoyed a lovely break at Brasserie Les deux Palais, mostly because I wanted to sit by the street at a charming bistro table and savor a café au lait, just like in Paris. I’d say I definitely achieved that goal! Oh, and I also stumbled upon a wonderful tip for experiencing a classic old-school Parisian brasserie.
Tour Saint-Jacques
On the other side of the Seine, I discovered a true treasure (and, to be honest, felt a little disappointed that I hadn’t thought to bring a picnic, like many others relaxing here on their Saturday afternoon). The charming Square de la Tour Saint-Jacques, with its lush, shady trees, surrounds the Tour Saint-Jacques. It’s a lovely spot for a quick and peaceful break!
Marais Quarter
I could have spent the whole day in the Marais: Strolling, drinking coffee and looking at gorgeous people. The Marais is the Jewish center of Paris, and here there are lots of exciting stores, the streets are bubbling over with neighborhood life, and Paris is exactly how I always imagine it to be.
I’ve put together a few tips for the Marais district here:
Chanel Beauté Marais: a small Chanel boutique dedicated exclusively to beauty products
Laize Bubble Tea Shop for minimalists
Mariage Frères a Parisian tea house classic!
End the day in Paris: Tips for a successful evening
Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur
If I hadn’t gotten so completely lost in the Marais, I actually would have made my way up to Montmartre. If you’ve already been to the Eiffel Tower, you’ve already seen Paris from above—which I consider an absolute must. But the atmosphere at sunset at the Sacré-Cœur Basilica on Montmartre is something truly special!
So if you have some more time and your feet are still up for it, you should head toward Montmartre from here. It’s best to take one of the metro lines heading north and then transfer to Line 2 to the Anvers station. From there, it’s just a short walk to the Montmartre Funicular, which will take you up to the gleaming white basilica with its pretty towers and the most beautiful sunset.
Evenings on the Seine
Or you can take a romantic boat trip on the Seine! These cruises are quite touristy and anything but an insider tip – but also really beautiful. Seeing the sparkling Eiffel Tower in the evening while sailing through one of the most beautiful cities of all time is a unique experience.
As with most attractions, the same rule applies here: It’s best to buy your ticket in advance—that way, you’ll avoid long wait times.
The most popular Seine cruises
Budget: Seine cruise starting at the Eiffel Tower*
Mid-Range: Evening river cruise with music*
Fancy: 4-course dinner cruise on the Seine with live music*
Advertising / *affiliate link
Tips for a short trip to Paris
How to get there
With a huge international airport like Paris Charles de Gaulle nearby and one like Paris Orly a little further away (this is where mainly budget airlines arrive), you’ll find a great selection of direct flights even from overseas.
But there are also great connections from Germany with the French TGV high-speed train. From Cologne, Frankfurt or Stuttgart, for example, you can arrive in the middle of Paris at the Gare de l’Est in less than four hours!
Public transport in Paris
Getting around Paris by bus and metro —it works like a charm! The metro stations may sometimes feel like an entire city underground, but you can get anywhere pretty quickly.
For my day in Paris, I bought a day pass for all forms of public transportation, which actually wasn’t necessary at all. The only advantage of a day pass is that you don’t have to wait in line at a ticket machine every time. But since I walked so much, individual tickets probably would have been a better deal.
Tip: At the ticket machines, the tourist day pass will be displayed first. Aside from a few discounts that nobody needs, it’s nothing more than a regular day pass, but it costs a few euros more. Just scroll down one page, and you’ll find the regular day pass for 10 euros.
Note: The Paris Métro can really get on your nerves, though, if you’re not familiar with the individual stations. Getting lost can sometimes be quite time-consuming, and the walk to the actual line is often long.
It’s definitely more comfortable to get around above ground, and if you’re not quite that adventurous, just take a hop-on-hop-off bus. Yeah, I know—they’re embarrassingly touristy and expensive to boot—but in cities like these, it’s just worth it, especially since they stop right at the main attractions and you don’t have to worry about changing buses or anything like that. And you’ll save yourself some precious time.
Food Drinks
Paris is an expensive city, and going out isn’t cheap. It’s best to steer clear of tourist traps—they only offer mediocre food and grumpy waiters who’ll just ruin your trip to Paris. But otherwise, Paris, like any big city, is full of great spots just waiting to be discovered.
Where to stay in Paris
This time I was in Paris on business, so luckily I didn’t have to worry about finding a place to stay. That can sometimes be quite an adventure there, especially when you’re on a tight budget.
Map for your short trip to Paris
This map shows all the locations at a glance; you can also download it to your phone—it’s handy for checking while you’re out and about!
