The Perfect One Day in Paris Itinerary (How to See Paris in a Day!)

Ah, Paris: the architecture, the food, the art, and the iconic sights are legendary for a reason, and even one day in Paris can be an absolute dream of a quick getaway!

One day in Paris may not be enough to work through a long wish list of what to see in the city (we’re still going strong on ours about 10 visits later), but don’t worry–you can indeed get a fantastic glimpse of Paris in one day.

Planning to spend a day in Paris and want to make sure you have the perfect itinerary?

We’ve been lucky enough to visit Paris frequently enough that we’ve lost track of our number of trips, and we have a lot of thoughts on how to make the most of a short trip to Paris.

We’ve tried our best to curate a one day Paris itinerary that is ambitious, but doable (though I admit that it’ll be easier to pull during long summer days than short winter ones–Paris is still wonderful in the dark, though).

Here’s how we would advise our family and friends to see the best of the City of Light in 24 hours or less!

Want to plan a day in Paris the easy way?

The independent one day Paris itinerary we outlined below will show you many of our favorite places in the City of Light, from Notre Dame to the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower and beyond.

However, if you would rather not worry about navigating through Paris yourself, and your goal is to see as much as possible of Paris in one day, you can also consider signing up for this extremely well-reviewed tour.

Walks, the company that hosts this popular Paris in a day tour, is one of our favorite companies for small group tours in Europe, and we’ve used them in many cities (including on this Paris food tour).

While there are trade-offs to booking a full-day tour of Paris–the thrill of meandering aimlessly through the streets of St. Germain and being beholden to no one as you munch on a crepe in front of the Eiffel Tower is hard to give up–there are benefits to a tour, too.

The biggest one is that thanks to a knowledgeable and efficient tour guide, Walks’ tour covers an enormous amount of ground. Be prepared for sore feet, but a very satisfying day if you sign up!

Book your Paris in a day tour today!

The Perfect One Day in Paris Itinerary

Start at Notre Dame on Île de la Cité.

What better way to kick off a couple of days in Paris than to visit one of the city’s most beloved landmarks–that also happens to be built on Île de la Cité, the island where Paris was founded?

Notre Dame’s status as an icon of Paris and its convenient location in the center of the city (literally, you’ll find Point Zero in front of it) make it the perfect place to kick off your one day Paris itinerary.

That’s especially true now that the church (towers included!) is reopened after more than 5 years of being closed to visitors.

We were lucky enough to visit Notre Dame’s rooftop before the tragic fire, and it remains one of our absolute views of Paris (or from any monument in Europe, really).

Post-restoration, Notre Dame’s interior feels brighter, but is incredibly beautiful.

Visiting the interior of the cathedral is free, though booking a timed-entry slot is highly encouraged, and there’s no charge to do so through the official website. You’ll book tower tickets separately.

Personally, if you’re short on time, I’d rank climbing the towers above thoroughly touring the interior for this one day Paris itinerary, as there’s another church on our list for this morning.

If you’d prefer to take a guided tour of the cathedral and/or the official reservations are sold out, this guided tour of Notre Dame gets excellent reviews!

Book your guided tour of Notre Dame today!

Optional: stroll over to Shakespeare and Company.

5-minute walk from Notre Dame.

If you’re a bibliophile like us, you may not be able to resist stepping into one of the most famous bookstores in the world during your day in Paris!

Nestled in the Latin Quarter and just a short walk over the Seine from Notre Dame sits Shakespeare and Company, which is easily the most famous English-language bookstore in Paris.

Known as the haunt of Lost Generation writers like Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald, and later (in its current location), the gathering place of writers like Langston Hughes and Ray Bradbury, Shakespeare and Company has a storied history that includes many famous names, an eccentric owner or two, and even a closure during the Nazi occupation of France.

If you’re interested in the store’s long and storied history, this article is a great read.

Be sure to check out the view of Notre Dame through the second-floor window, and to purchase a book (they’ll stamp the title page with their seal at checkout, which makes for a wonderful Paris souvenir).

Be sure to avoid taking photos inside! They are explicitly forbidden, so stick with admiring the books in real-time instead.

I will note that in recent years, the lines to get in the store have gotten a bit absurd, especially during the summer!

Getting there around opening, which fits into this itinerary, can help. Shakespeare and Company opens at 10:00 AM–if you finish at Notre Dame well before then, you may want to visit Sainte-Chapelle first and then loop back there.

Grab a cup of coffee from a typical Parisian cafe.

Several gorgeous Parisian cafes are located within easy distance of Shakespeare and Company, and after an early start to your day in Paris, enjoying a traditional French breakfast (or mid-morning snack, as the case may be) is a great way to soak up the atmosphere of the city.

Here are a few Latin Quarter and Île de la Cité cafés that are nearby (and by nearby, I mean practically hidden in plain sight) that you may want to check out:

Odette

Famous for its beautiful building nestled into the corner of a cobblestone street near Notre Dame, Odette is a lovely and photogenic choice for grabbing breakfast on your first morning in Paris.

They specialize in (delicious) cream puffs!

A. Lacroix Patissier

This patisserie and cafe isn’t famous, but it is delicious, cozy, and boasts views of Notre Dame!

We’ve been eating here for years and can highly recommend it.

Shakespeare & Co. Cafe

Surprisingly affordable and home to delicious coffee, if you want to keep your 2 day Paris itinerary simple this morning, head next door to Shakespeare & Company for breakfast at their popular cafe by the same name.

(Odette is mere steps away from here, so if you’re a huge Parisian cafe lover, you could even visit both).

Au Vieux Paris d’Arcole

This one is more for the photo snappers and late risers among us, as it doesn’t open until noon and is a restaurant rather than a cafe, but Au Vieux Paris d’Arcole is worth mentioning here due to its location.

Famous for its gorgeous wisteria, this Parisian hotspot is practically next door to Notre Dame, is quite well known among places to eat in Paris, and is incredibly charming.

Check out the oldest clock in Paris.

8-minute walk from Shakespeare and Company or Odette.

On the side of the Conciergerie, mere steps from the Seine and affixed to the Tour de l’Horloge, sits the oldest clock in Paris.

Installed in the 14th century, the clock is both functional and absolutely stunning.

It also only takes a quick moment to stop to admire its beauty on your way to Sainte-Chapelle.

Make your way to Sainte-Chapelle.

3-minute walk from Tour de l’Horloge.

Soaring ceilings that reach 15 meters high and walls made almost entirely of intricate stained glass: the upper chapel of Sainte-Chapelle almost defies belief, and it is, in my opinion, one of the most magnificent houses of worship anywhere on the planet.

Built in the 13th century to house an impressive collection of Christian relics, including the Crown of Thorns, which now typically lives at Notre Dame, Sainte-Chapelle is a Gothic masterpiece.

The stained glass tells detailed stories from the Bible, and also happens to be around 70% original. That’s truly impressive when you consider the number of disruptive changes Paris has endured since Sainte-Chapelle was built!

It is colorful, magical, and absolutely beautiful–I haven’t seen anything quite like it anywhere else in the world, and it’s well worth fitting into your itinerary for Paris.

We recommend grabbing a timed-entry ticket in advance (we generally book through Get Your Guide) to save time in lines and ensure that this small and very popular attraction doesn’t sell out.

Book your timed-entry ticket to Sainte-Chapelle through the church’s website or Get Your Guide today!

Head to the Luxembourg Garden.

17-minute walk from Sainte-Chapelle.

Home to the beautiful Luxembourg Palace, the Luxembourg Garden is a perfect example of Paris’ iconic gardens.

Flowering and beautiful in the summer, it’s impossible to walk by during almost any kind of halfway-decent weather without seeing plenty of people gathered for a picnic, some gossip, or a quiet afternoon of reading.

If you’re trying to visit Paris on a budget, grabbing a baguette, some cheese, and a few other odds and ends at a shop on your way here and enjoying a picnic lunch is a great way to enjoy the garden.

Be sure to check the fountains for miniature sailboats in the summer, too: young Parisian children have a long tradition of playing with them there!

If you’d like to stray away from the beaten path when exploring the gardens, consider keeping an eye out for the beautiful Medici Fountain or looking for the garden’s beehives!

The Luxembourg Garden is on the boundary between the Latin Quarter and the neighborhood of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, which are two of the best neighborhoods to explore with a couple of days in Paris!

In other words, feel free to meander a bit on your way here from Sainte-Chapelle, especially if you got an early start this morning.

A slight detour will also take you past the Pantheon, if you’d like to get a glimpse of it!

Make your way to the Louvre through Saint-Germain-des-Prés.

18+ minute-walk from the Luxembourg Gardens to the Louvre.

Saint-Germain-des-Prés is widely considered to be one of the most iconically Parisian neighborhoods, and for good reason.

With its lovely buildings, shuttered windows, and wrought-iron balconies, St. Germain feels like quite the Parisian postcard.

If you didn’t eat in the Luxembourg Garden, this is also a great time and place to grab lunch!

Le Prince Racine is close by and a favorite of ours (it’s technically outside of St. Germain, but barely), and Restaurant Polidor is both tasty and served as a Midnight in Paris filming location! We also really enjoyed Eggs & Co. (did you know that omelets are traditionally a lunch or dinner food in France, not a breakfast one?).

And, though it isn’t technically lunch, Laduree (makers of some of the best-known French macarons) has a beautiful store at 21 Rue Bonaparte.

The walk from the Luxembourg Gardens to the Louvre is technically under 20 minutes, but depending on how much you want to meander around the neighborhood, it could take quite a bit longer!

Dive into the Louvre.

Giant, overwhelming, and incredibly iconic, stepping inside the is an incredible way to round out your one day trip to Paris.

There’s absolutely no way you could possibly see it all–we’ve been several times for many hours each and still feel like we’ve barely scratched the surface!

With only one day in Paris to work with, strategy and prioritization will both be important to making the most of your time in the Louvre.

We recommend booking timed-entry tickets in advance (there’s no extra fee) and then spending about 2 hours here depending on what time it is when you arrive and how quickly you have moved during your day in Paris so far.

Keep an eye on the time of sunset: you don’t want to miss seeing the Eiffel Tower before dark!

If you’re exploring independently, start by heading directly to the piece or collection that is most important to you. maybe that’s the iconic Mona Lisa, maybe it’s the Venus di Milo, maybe it’s the Egyptian artifacts. Who knows!

The Louvre publishes these helpful visitor trails that can be helpful for planning your route.

Alternatively, you can book a tour like this to ensure you see the best of the Louvre in an efficient way!

It took us a few trips to Paris before we splurged on a Louvre tour, but we’re so glad we did.

With only one day in Paris, we recommend this condensed Louvre tour with Walks (one of our favorite companies and the one we booked our Louvre tour through), which will introduce you to the museum’s highlights in only 2 hours!

Book your guided 2-hour visit to the Louvre today!

Prefer to explore independently?

Lines at the Louvre get notoriously long–we do not recommend showing up without having a ticket or tour booked (reservations are required from June through August).

You can book your visit through the Louvre’s website, or book timed-entry tickets through Get Your Guide like us!

… or check out a different museum in Paris.

I chose to highlight the Louvre on this itinerary for Paris for a simple reason: it is the most iconic museum in the city, and if you’re trying to sample as many of Paris’ highlights as possible in 24 hours, it’s hard to imagine skipping it.

… But it’s also true that the museum is overwhelmingly large and far from the only incredible art museum in Paris.

If you’d prefer a smaller-but-still-iconically-Parisian alternative, consider opting to visit the Musée d’Orsay or Musée de l’Orangerie.

The Musée d’Orsay is particularly known for its impressionist works (think Monet and Van Gogh), and is set in a gorgeous former train station built at the end of the 19th century, complete with the famous clock on the top floor that provides a unique view of Paris.

Many first-time visitors to Paris walk away saying that it, not the Louvre, was their favorite art museum!

Meanwhile, the Musée de l’Orangerie is home to Monet’s famous water lilies, as well as many works by Matisse and Renoir.

It’s one of my favorite museums in Paris, and while very famous, is far less crowded and overwhelming than either the Louvre or the Orsay.

Both of these alternatives make decent geographic sense for this itinerary, too.

Book tickets to visit the Musée d’Orsay or Musée de l’Orangerie today!

Optional: add on a visit to the Palais Garnier.

17-minute walk from the Louvre.

To be honest, I strongly debated whether I should keep the Palais Garnier on this itinerary–not because I don’t think it’s worthy of visiting (it is), but because it’s a bit out of the way and your day in Paris is already extremely full without it!

In the end, I decided to leave it on, because it offers a different sort of Parisian monument to admire–but if you’re visiting Paris in the winter and/or are not an extremely fast and ambitious sightseer, I’d recommend choosing between this and Sainte-Chapelle during your day in Paris.

That being said, while one day in Paris definitely isn’t enough time to visit Versailles, you can get a small taste of similar Parisian glitz and glamour at the Palais Garnier (also called the Opera Garnier).

Paris’ iconic opera house is gilded and stunning. The incredible Grand Foyer might just make you think you’ve stepped into a smaller version of the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles!

While the interior of the theatre itself is a bit standard, the rest of the building, from the Grand Staircase to the Loggia, is truly remarkable.

And while there’s unlikely to be a phantom under the opera house, some of the legends connected to the famous story do hold true, including a deadly accident involving the famous chandelier in 1896 (though in the real story the counterweight, not the chandelier itself, fell to the ground).

Though the lines are not typically as long at the Palais Garnier as opposed to the Louvre and Notre Dame, we still recommend purchasing timed-entry tickets ahead of time at no additional cost to ensure your one day in Paris runs as smoothly as possible.

Booked timed-entry tickets through the official website or Get Your Guide today!

Head to the Trocadero Gardens and enjoy iconic Eiffel Tower views.

23 minutes from Palais Garnier via metro line 9.

No one day Paris is complete without enjoying an iconic view of the Eiffel Tower!

The Trocadero Gardens offer the best view of the Eiffel Tower in all of Paris–so grab a crepe from one of the nearby vendors if you’re so inclined (we always are) and get ready to soak in some beautiful views.

Though you can no longer walk under the tower, if you’d like to wander closer, feel free to make your way through the Trocadero Gardens, past both the carousels, across the Seine, and to the Eiffel Tower itself.

Wrap up your one day in Paris with a Seine river cruise.

To be perfectly honest, it took us many trips to Paris before we signed up for a Seine river cruise… and after taking one, we can’t believe that we waited so long!

Yes, they’re a bit touristy, but there’s nothing quite like admiring Paris and its many gorgeous monuments from the water.

Add in the possibility of a sunset, and the view is even better.

Many Seine river cruises leave from very close to the base of the Eiffel Tower, too, making taking one an easy addition to this one day Paris itinerary!

Want to splurge a bit for your first night in Paris?

You can even sign up for a full dinner cruise if a standard one-hour cruise doesn’t sound like quite enough time on the Seine.

Book your Seine river cruise today!

Where to Stay For One Night in Paris

In a city as large and dense as Paris, deciding where to stay (especially when you only have 24 hours in Paris to work with) can be quite daunting!

Paris is famously divided into 20 arrondissements, or neighborhoods, that are named via a number system that starts with 1 in the center of the city (where you’ll find the Louvre) and circles outward like the shell of a snail.

After roughly 10 trips to Paris, we’ve stayed in many neighborhoods spread across the city, from Montmartre (we loved this aparthotel) to the Bastille area (an underappreciated place to stay, and this hotel was wonderful).

And, while everyone has their own opinions about where to stay in Paris (there’s no one right answer) we love and highly recommend Saint-Germain-des-Prés (6th arrondissement) or the Latin Quarter (5th arrondissement) to travelers visiting Paris for the first time and frequently choose to stay there ourselves.

In these areas, you’ll be within walking distance of attractions like Île de la Cité (home of Notre Dame and Sainte-Chapelle), the Seine, the Luxembourg Garden, the Louvre, and many more.

Here are a few hotels we’ve personally stayed in and loved in the 5th and 6th, arranged more or less from most budget-friendly to most luxurious (though if it’s Parisian charm you’re after, this one is the clear winner).

Hotel Abbatial Saint Germain (Centrally Located & Cozy)

We love this cute boutique hotel in Paris, mostly because of its truly unbeatable location less than a 10-minute walk from Notre Dame and therefore an easy walk away from much of the attractions of Île de la Cité (and a metro stop, of course).

Despite the super central location, the streets outside were still quiet at night, a huge benefit, and the views during the day were lovely.

The customer service was excellent, the bed cozy, and the room, while still very small by global standards, was a bit roomy compared to what we’ve gotten used to in Paris.

We’d be happy to stay again!

Check rates & book your stay at Hotel Abbatial Saint Germain!

Relais Hôtel du Vieux Paris (Classic Parisian Charm)

Located on a quiet street less than a block from the Seine and Île de la Cité, Relais Hôtel du Vieux Paris offers all the advantages of a central location while maintaining its peace and quiet.

… and it does all that while still managing to have one of the most charming interiors we’ve experienced in a Paris hotel!

The ceilings, wallpaper, and overall decor never let you forget that you’re in the City of Light, and we loved every second.

The breakfast is also delicious, served at the table, and includes a generous selection of pastries as well as fruit, cheese, orange juice, coffee, and tea.

Check rates & book your stay at Relais Hôtel du Vieux Paris!

Citadines Saint-Germain-des-Prés Paris (Modern Amenities + Kitchens on the Seine)

Located right on the Seine in one of the most convenient locations in Paris, the crisp and modern Citadines Saint-Germain-des-Prés Paris offers ease at every turn.

And, that includes the fact that studios and apartments here include kitchens or kitchenettes!

If you’re looking for a peaceful retreat from sightseeing in Paris, a chance to enjoy an occasional dinner of cheese and baguette you picked up at the market, and a bit more elbow room than is traditional in the City of Light, this is the place for you.

We loved our stay here–and, thanks to the hotel being pet-friendly, so did Ranger.

Check rates & book your stay at Citadines Saint-Germain-des-Prés Paris!

Tips for Enjoying One Day in Paris, France

Don’t let simple mistakes cost you time during your one day in Paris!

These Paris travel tips will help you make the most of your limited hours in the city!

Get started early.

We are the absolute opposite of early risers, but with one day in Paris, we would be amiss to suggest anything but an early start.

The earlier you head out, the more time you can spend enjoying Parisian cafes, shops, and views, and the most ambitious among us may even want to squeeze in one more attraction or museum along the way.

For those who like to stay out late and want to expand their one day Paris itinerary a bit further, here’s what to do in Paris at night!

Strategize your metro use.

For most of this itinerary for seeing Paris in a day, the best way to enjoy the city is on foot.

You’ll experience the neighborhoods, the sights, the cafes, and so much more on a different level by spending as much time on your feet as you can!

For that reason, we’ve only suggested one metro ride in this guide to spending one day in Paris.

However, if your feet are aching (even one day in Paris could mean many hours of walking), the weather is terrible, or you’re short on time, you can definitely consider adding more metro rides into this itinerary.

Timed-entry tickets are your best friend.

Without planning in advance, one day in Paris during the popular summer months could easily mean spending your whole day in line!

Pre-booking timed-entry tickets is absolutely the way to go in Paris.

We use them ourselves whenever we visit, and they often don’t cost even a penny extra!

Based on the itinerary sketched out here for one day in Paris, we recommend purchasing timed-entry tickets for Notre-Dame (the interior and/or the towers), Sainte-Chapelle, the Louvre, and, if you plan to visit it, the Palais Garnier.

You’ll also want to book your Seine river cruise in advance to make sure you end up with the time slot you want.

Embrace the weather.

Paris is a cloudy, rainy city–there’s just no getting around it.

For that reason, we recommend planning your one day in Paris expecting the weather to include thick clouds with the occasional rain shower.

That leaves you room to be pleasantly surprised with a beautiful day, but lowers the risk of disappointment with a dreary one.

Regardless of what the weather is like when you arrive in Paris, try not to let it get you down–Paris is beautiful in the rain!

While a particularly rainy day may make you swap the Luxembourg Gardens for some extra time at the Louvre, overall this plan for one day in Paris is pretty rain-proof… especially if you bring an umbrella.

Dress with Paris in mind.

Deciding what to wear for one day in Paris requires taking a few things into consideration–even for those who aren’t particularly concerned about fashion.

Be sure to wear comfortable clothes (especially shoes!) that are easy to wear for an entire day.

Shoes are by far the most important part of your Paris outfit. If your feet are incredibly pained by noon, your day in the city won’t be nearly as fun as it could be!

If you want to do as the Parisians do, so to speak, consider wearing something classically fashionable with dark and/or neutral colors, flattering cuts, and simple lines.

Most important is that you feel comfortable (physically and otherwise) in what you wear: if that stands out in Paris, so be it!

If you’re visiting Paris in winter, consider reshuffling this itinerary.

If you don’t mind gray weather, winter in Paris is a dream (it’s actually one of our favorite times to visit), but it’s undeniable that you’ll have less light to work with then!

If you’re going by daylight hours, one day in Paris on the longest day of the year in June will net you about 16 hours of light… and on the shortest day of the year in December, you’re looking at less than 8.

That’s not necessarily a problem–Paris shines in the moonlight–but it does mean that winter visitors will want to condense their outdoor activities to the daylight hours.

The Louvre, for example, is open until 6:00 PM on Monday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, and until 9:00 PM on Wednesday and Friday.

If you shuffle your Louvre visit to the end of your itinerary, you can enjoy the museum with reduced crowds and focus your attention on outdoor activities during the daylight hours.

If you’d like to visit the Louvre in the evening with a guide, this Closing Time at the Louvre tour is a great option!

More Than 24 Hours in Paris?

If you’re lucky enough to have more than one day in Paris, you have so much to look forward to!

With a little extra time–say an afternoon or a morning–consider adding on a visit to the Arc de Triomphe and Champs-Elysées, or a visit to the Musée d’Orsay.

To enjoy a different side of Paris, consider heading out to the gorgeous and wildly popular neighborhood of Montmartre, which is home to some of the most charming streets in the city (not to mention phenomenal views from the Sacré-Coeur).

If you have a few days in Paris, be sure to check out our detailed 3 day Paris itinerary to help you find the best sights.

Our full Paris bucket list and guide to exploring Paris off the beaten path have dozens of ideas for additional things to do in Paris too!

Getting Around During One Day in Paris

We’ve intentionally structured this one day Paris itinerary to include a lot of walking.

Walking directly between every attraction before heading to the Trocadero Gardens will require about an hour and 20 minutes of walking total, but that doesn’t include time spent on your feet in places like the Luxembourg Garden and the Louvre, or any meandering you do to explore neighborhoods along the way.

When heading to the Trocadero Gardens, we definitely recommend hopping on the metro.

Generally speaking, the metro is not only cheaper but faster than taking a car/taxi between destinations.

You’ll want to purchase a Navigo Easy Pass at a metro station or download the RAPT app to buy (and validate) tickets on your phone.

You can get details on setting up the pass and/or your phone here.

Alternatively, if you’d like to avoid as much walking as possible, a hop-on, hop-off bus tour can help.

Getting Into Paris From the Airport

To get into the center of Paris from the Charles de Gaulle airport, take the RER B line into the city.

If you’re arriving in the morning ready to start your one day in Paris, you won’t even need to make any changes!

The Saint Michel – Notre Dame metro stop is on the same line, so you can jump on the train at the airport and get off right at Notre Dame.

Travel time is about 40 minutes, though I’d recommend allowing an hour for any delays.

Coming from the Orly airport, you’ll follow almost the same directions as arriving from Charles de Gaulle.

The only difference is that you’ll need to hop onto a train called the “Orlyval” first, which will take you over to pick up the RER B line.

The signs are very clear, so don’t worry–getting into the center of Paris is the goal of just about everyone arriving at the airport, so the directions are designed to be easy to follow.

Travel time is about 40 minutes, just like Charles de Gaulle, and I’d recommend allowing an hour for any delays here, as well.

One Day in Paris Itinerary Map

Take This Map With You! Click each highlight to pull up the name of the destination. To save this map to “Your Places” on Google Maps, click the star to the right of the title. You’ll then be able to find it under the Maps tab of your Google Maps account! To open the map in a new window, click the button on the top right of the map.