[…] I would pay good money to relive this day, but I’d rather put that money toward a trip to return to my beloved France. I tackled as much as a girl could during 12 hours in Paris, and I walk you through it step by step in my Paris city guide. […]
I know what you’re thinking. It simply can’t be done. Pas du tout ! Listen here: if a day is all you have, take it and don’t look back. I was on a Europe tour, and France wasn’t on the list. Being the wannabe francophile I am, which shouldn’t come as a shock, I squeezed in a quick trip to the country I consider my second home. We left Brussels in the morning and made it back to our hotel later that night. Here’s a run down of how we saw the City of Lights in about 12 hours. Here’s how to spend a day in Paris. And if you have more than a day, scroll to the bottom for bonus ideas.
7:45 a.m. Take train from Brussels
There were earlier options, but I’m still haunted by the 5:45 a.m. train I missed because the metro wasn’t open and I took the wrong line. (You can read about it in my book.) Also, if you wake up at the crack of dawn, you might be too miserable for the big day ahead of you. It’s up to you, but make sure you know you can make it to the train station in time. Erica, Hongyu and I decided to Uber, and it was worth every penny.
The train ride is about two hours, so I listened to music and a podcast to pass the time. I also sipped on the free coffee I got from my hotel that morning.
9 a.m. Arrive in Paris Gare du Nord
From there, we made a restroom stop and found our way to the metro. We went the wrong direction (my b), but we made it to Notre Dame by 10:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m. Explore the grounds and church of Notre Dame
And it’s free! We wandered around Notre Dame and oohed and awwed at the incroyable stained glass windows. You can also get a great view of the Seine River right outside of the church.
11 a.m. Make your pilgrimage to Shakespeare and Company bookstore
When you’re exiting the front of the church, take a left and cross the river. It should take you maybe five to 10 minutes to reach this iconic English bookshop. Ladders lean against shelves of thousands of books, and a cat named Aggie strolls about at her own leisure. (She’s very kind!) It’s an old building and is full of nooks. Poetry lines the steps heading up to the second floor, and cushions are conveniently placed throughout the store if your nose gets stuck in a book.
11:30 a.m. Go find lunch
We wandered about until we found Le Parvis, a niceish sit-down restaurant with French cuisine. I ordered an omelette mixte (ham and cheese), salad, French fries and an Orangina, of course. The staff was kind, and although not earth-shattering, the food was good.
12:30 p.m. Head to the metro near L’Hôtel de Ville
And be sure to snap some pictures of this stunning city hall. We hopped on the metro and headed toward the Louvre.
1 p.m. Arrive at the Louvre
You could easily spend two to three days here alone, but if you’re only in Paris for a day, try your best to cut it down to two to three hours. Some must-see items on your list: Mona Lisa (La Joconde) by Leonardo da Vinci, Venus di Milo by Alexandros of Antioch, Liberty Leading the People by Eugène Delacroix, the glass pyramid, the grounds and indoor sculpture courtyards. We bought our tickets ahead of time online, and I definitely recommend it.
3:30 p.m. Head over to the Eiffel Tower
4 p.m. Arrive at the Eiffel Tower
But buy tickets ahead of time! This saved us hours of waiting; we walked past a long line of people. To me, it’s worth it to go up the Eiffel Tower; we took the elevator both ways. But when I went to Paris five years ago, I took the elevator up and the stairs down. They have a cute gift shop, and I paid a pretty penny for some macarons but it’s Paris so get over it.
5 p.m. Leave the Eiffel Tower and head over to famed macaron shop Ladurée
This is arguably one of the most famous macaron shops, so you must make a stop. We went to the store near La Rue Cler Market, which is about a 20-minute walk from the Eiffel Tower.
5:45 p.m. Dinnertime
Get lost and find a nice spot for dinner. We dined at La Terrasse Ecole Militaire, which was very pleasant. It was a very fancy restaurant, but we were surprised that the prices weren’t as bad as we’d anticipated. Cushy red chairs filled the restaurant, and the quick service shocked us. My chicken and mashed potatoes were great.
6:45 p.m. Head back to the Eiffel Tower to see it all lit up at night
This was entirely worth it; it is even more magical at night. It sparkles and is just the most stunning sight. It’s true what they say: Paris is enchantingly romantic. Whether you have a boo or not, Paris is sure to sweep you off your feet, and the place that gives me butterflies is the Eiffel Tower at night as it glitters. Those moments remind me of why I moved to France: the romantic experiences that can’t be tasted through a history book or social media.
8:30 p.m. Take train back to Brussels
This is barely a lick of everything wonderful to see in Paris. But if you have time, other things to consider: Montmartre and Le Sacré Coeur, Arc de Triomphe and Champs-Elysées, Versailles and the Latin Quarter. If you opt not to go to the Eiffel Tower twice (to see both day and night), you could rearrange your schedule to fit one of these.
Note: I’ve heard raving reviews of Musée d’Orsay but have yet to visit this spot myself.
What if I want to spend more than a day in Paris?
I’m glad you asked because there is entirely too much to do in Paris. I’ve done several mini trips to Paris over the years, and each time I like to keep trying new places. I originally published this post in 2019 but have since returned to Paris several times for short stints. And I wanted to include several other spots you should visit.
Arc de Triomphe
Another classic icon of Paris, the Arc de Triomphe is another monument to add to your Paris bucket list. I’ve passed this monument multiple times, but on my fourth visit to Paris, I finally went up the Arc de Triomphe. There’s a small museum inside the massive arch, and the views at the top are unbeatable.
Musée d’Orsay
I’d already been to the Louvre several times — it’s casual — and I wanted to explore more of the rich art scene that Paris has to offer. I visited the Musée d’Orsay, which is known for its Impressionist pieces. Although I still recommend going to the Louvre because it’s a classic, I also strongly recommend stopping by the Musée d’Orsay. I wandered through the haunts of Degas, Monet, van Gogh and Cézanne. I absolutely loved Cézanne’s “The Gulf of Marseille Seen from L’Estaque.” Seeing artist’s renditions of cities and monuments that I’ve visited is surreal, and I taught English in a school at Estaque. I took the bus to this suburb of Marseille for a year, and Cézanne’s piece captured a small piece of my life.
Angelina
Perhaps you’ve seen this stylish café serving up hot chocolate on the ‘gram. Angelina has been on my Paris bucket list for years, but it wasn’t until my fourth time to Paris that I could finally indulge in Angelina’s thick hot chocolate. Robin and I waited in a long line and ordered our hot chocolate to-go since we just missed the end of dining service. But we sipped on our hot chocolate soup as we walked through the Tuileries and searched for a spot to watch the Eiffel Tower in all her glory. Be sure to get reservations at Angelina, or if not, get there with ample time because there very well may be a line.
Le Franc Tireur
My friend Robin suggested that we eat at this spot not far from her place. The classic French restaurant sits on a relatively quiet street corner. My food at Le Franc Tireur was memorable and packed with flavor.
Little Nonna
Hello, gluten-free goodness. On my train ride to Paris, I looked up gluten-free restaurants in Paris and saw that Little Nonna wasn’t far from where I was staying. And friends, it was one of the best meals I’ve had in France. I ate the entire gluten-free pizza, and my non-gluten-free friend Robin said it tasted the same as a regular pizza. They also served gluten-free bread on the table, and I complimented the waitress so much that on my way out, she handed me a loaf of bread for free. Pizza, pasta, tiramisu, cheesecake – everything at Little Nonna is gluten-free.
Pierre Hermé
I mean Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl is a fan of this macaron shop, so you should be one, too, right? Yes, I’m a big fan of Ladurée; I even have their macaron keychain on my purse at all times. Although with less fanfare and with a chiller vibe, Pierre Hermé offers an amazing selection of macarons, too.
Can Paris be seen in a day? The truth is no, but if you have one day, you might as well use it!
You might also like A Road Trip in the South of France.
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