Okay so I’ll try to condense the best of Paris into one day only. Yikes- hard to do because there’s so much! What always makes me feel better when I know I can’t do everything I want, is that it’s a reason to return!

This list will be for the traveler who wants to experience a little bit of everything. I’ll be doing another post for art lovers, one for photogs, and other topics (shopping perhaps?).

Anyway. This is my suggested list of activities if you have one full day- 24 hours- in Paris. Make sure you have $$, credit card, metro map & nowadays Google street maps are invaluable for seeing what’s around you at any given moment. I’d suggest orienting yourself to where you are before heading out- and making a list of places to visit in the order they are closest based on your map and location. Bring a portable shopping bag or small backpack for goodies. Bring an extra backup charger for your phone and a water bottle.

First! Get out/up as early as you can! Head to the nearest cafe for a quick sip of caffeine & croissant. Sit outside if you can! Yum, coffee is so much better in Paris 😀

Second! Find a boulangerie (they are plentiful) on your way to Sainte Chappelle or your next stop- pick up baguettes/sweets for your day.

Pro-tip: upon entering any establishment greet employees with “Bonjour Madame or Monsieur” even if you think they don’t see or notice you.

Third: the first place I would go is the the stunning all stained glass chapel Sainte Chappelle. The light is good in the morning (hopefully it’s a sunny day) & it’s much less crowded first thing when it opens. Not a long line to get in first thing either. I never go to Paris without going here. It never fails to take my breath away.

Plan to be stunned & also if you get too loud, you’ll be shushed by the security guard 🤣

It’s quite close to Notre Dame (still closed) so you can also take some outdoor photos of Notre Dame on your way out (when exiting- go to your right and a few blocks away you should see Notre Dame).

Option: right next door (on the left when exiting) to Sainte Chappelle is the Concergerie- the old prison where Marie Antoinette was held before being beheaded at Place de la Concorde. Interesting for history buffs but not imperative.

Fourth: next up you want to head to the Seine (back toward Notre Dame) (after having the best ever omelette across the street if you skipped step one- caffeine). By now some of the booksellers should be open along the river, you can snap some shots of Notre Dame from a distance, and shop for all kinds of old papers, books, art prints, postcards, etc.

Fifth: since you are so close to/in the Latin Quarter (5th arrondissement) you may want to head to the Jardin du Luxembourg (6th I think?) where you can relax in the quintessential French green lawn chairs, while munching your baguette/pain au chocolate & drink your very French bottled water- save the bottle as you can fill up from free sparkling fountains throughout the day).

On your way there pass the the Odeon theater and some cool antique bookstores (start from the Odeon metro station area to head toward the park).

Sixth stop: The Pantheon- stunning building where the French honor their intellectuals, writers, artists. Also just outside is the spot where the main character in Midnight in Paris is picked up at midnight for his rendezvous.

Stop # Seven (tired yet? I’d say an hour for each of these activities- it should be around 2 in the afternoon now- time for a lunch break). Hop over to Rue Mouffetard where you can find tons of little cafes. Choose one and sit outside to people watch while you consume your prix fix meal. Tipping is not necessary, they will not bring you a bill until you request “l’addition s’il vous plait” and they will not be constantly checking back with you like they do in the U.S. so if you need something just say excuse moi (do not say garçon!). Also, if you want tap water (it’s safe to drink!) ask for “une carafe d’leau”

Stop # Eight: as you start to find your way back toward the Seine (where you’ll board the hop on/off boat or catch the metro or an Uber) you can make a brief stop at the old Roman ruins on the way (Lutece Metro stop outside) (small area- 15 min to view)

And walk through the botanical gardens (Jardins des Plantes) (Metro Jussieu) on your way back toward the Seine (about 20-30 min walk)

Now you’re ready to see the major sights you’ve dreamed of, no?

Afternoon/early evening to include: outside of the musee de Louvre/rue du rivoli, Jardins due Tuileries, musee de l’orangerie, place de la Concorde.

Let’s start with Place de la Concorde & work our way backward on this list. Take the metro or an Uber to Place de la Concorde (metro stop has the same name). Check out the fountains, far away view of la tour Eiffel (don’t worry, I didn’t forget it) and then head into the grand gates of Jardins du Tuileries.

To your right will be the musee de l’orangerie- a small but excellent museum housing Monet’s water Lilies among other masterworks. Plan a couple hours for this. Much more doable than the Louvre.

Next meander through the spectacular gardens, hang out at the fountains, step over to the Seine river for more views, come back to snack on more bread & patisseries you’ve purchased along the way- there’s also an outdoor cafe there if you need more sustenance. Wander through the arch to the pyramids at the entrance to the Louvre. Hope you have a lot of battery left on your phone or camera.

Although the Louvre of course is amazing, it will be very crowded by this point in the day. Purchasing tickets ahead of time on your phone can help but there’s no way to see a lot in just a few hours. However, if you HAVE to see the louvre- I’d schedule this first thing in the AM and flip activities- start here & go backward in the itinerary I’ve laid out.

Depending on what time it is now- early evening? Dinner hour? You can find a place on Rue de Rivoli or the Champs Elysee to eat. I was never a big foodie in Paris so I’m not the person to recommend fancy restaurants, etc. I always just looked for a reasonable menu & waited for a table. Taking a quick metro ride from Louvre back up the Champs Elyysee toward the Arc de Triomphe will give you some more grand views of Paris & you should be able to find a place to eat as well.

So finally, when will you see the Eiffel Tower??? I’ve saved it for last because for me, the best views are at dusk, and nighttime. Why? Because Paris lights are so beautiful and the tower lights are so much fun in the evening.

You have a few choices as far as the Eiffel Tower goes. Take the metro to Trocedero stop where you will see it from afar and can walk down toward it to go up (hopefully you’ve purchased your tickets ahead of time!).

Pro tip: once dusk begins, the towers sparkling light show goes on every hour at the hour. It’s fun to see it happen the first time in the evening as the crowd cheers, oohs, and ahhhs. Bring a self stick or it will be hard to fit it in a selfie shot!

Exhausted yet? Take an Uber back to your hotel/Airbnb and prepare for your quick jaunt to the highest part of the city in the morning!!