So you ran around following my one full day in Paris itinerary yesterday, got 6 or 7 hours of sleep and now you’re up and out by 7 or 8 am the second half of your full day in Paris. Where should you go? You can’t do it all, but one of the favorite places in Paris is Montmartre. It’s the highest point in Paris and has a lovely view of the whole city below.
The first time I visited this area of Paris, was during my study abroad time and I was on a “date” with a French guy named Noel. Noel was from Arles originally and he had somewhat of a different accent than Parisians. Plus I didn’t speak very good French. We met while I was window-shopping on Boulevard St. Michel with my American friend from home, K. Here is a photo of me and Noel the day we met lol.
So anyway. Noel decided to take me up to Montmartre and we had a nice afternoon wandering around up there and then just sitting on a bench, holding hands, not speaking (my bad French, remember?) while the sun set. Kinda romantic though, no? Oh yeah, and Noel was a boxer 🙂 🙂
So YOU will now visit Montmartre. To be close to the best view, I suggest taking the Metro to the Abbesses stop. This will take you to the funicular to the top, OR you can walk up the steep staircases. See photos below. Either way, get yourself to the top where you can visit the Sacre-Coeur (Sacred Heart cathedral) and even take a walk to the top of that, for an even better view.
On the way to the Sacre-Coeur, the magnificent view and the steps down to the carousel, you can stop at Place du Tetre where artists set up their easels in the square. This will be VERY crowded, almost impossible to navigate, later in the day (I had to navigate through here the last visit with a torn meniscus and a hiking stick and I could barely get through the crowd) so getting there early is a good idea. If you have enough time, you could even make a stop (about an hour and a half visit) to the Musee Dali quite close to Place du Tetre. Not necessary but if you’re into Dali, it’s worth it. When I visited years ago, the musee dimmed and brightened the lights while playing surreal type music as you wandered through–pretty neat.
Okay now you’ve reached the Sacre Coeur and the steps down to the Carousel area. Here’s some pics from that view and walk down the steps in front. I’d recommend ignoring and not engaging at all with the people trying to sell bracelets or other items. They are scammers and will waste your time and distract you. Just keep moving or tell them to get away.
Okay you’ve enjoyed your view, taken a slow walk down the steps, and found yourself by the carousel. Now there’s an area of souvenir shops, cafes, jewelry shops, patisseries, etc. Maybe pick up a few last souvenirs, stop for a snack or cafe au lait or espresso, and then you’ll head back toward Abbesses and go further to Pigalle.
Pigalle is traditionally the more cringy area of Paris, but it’s more young and hip at night. It’s the home of the Moulin Rouge and the trademark windmills. So if you’re interested in that area, head over to Pigalle.
If not, hop back on the Metro at Abbesses and go to pick up your luggage and head out to your train station or airport, depending on how you’re leaving Paris.
There you have it! 24 hours in Paris—think of all you were able to do! This is just one itinerary to get a taste of a lot of different places and experiences. I’ll focus on specific types of activities in later posts.
What happened between Noel and me, you ask? Well, I met Hamid, for one, and he was able to speak French I could understand. Noel and I realized the language barrier was just a little too much 🙂 But he was sweet!
Take Me to Paris 