How to spend one day in Paris

Sometimes the best flight deals from the US to Europe involve lengthy layovers in cities like Paris, London, or Madrid.   It usually happens on your way home, and it’s not a dealbreaker for me.

I’ve had a couple single days in Paris, and always enjoy a nice walking tour of the city.

From Charles de Gaulle (CDG), I like to get either dropped off by a car, or take the train to the Bastille area (at least 45 minutes from the airport).

Walking west along the Rue de Rivoli will take you through Le Marais, one of the city’s trendiest (and nicest) neighborhoods.   It’s full of restaurants and shops.  I like to pickup a sandwich at one of the boulangeries to take with me for lunch later in the day.

Turning south will take you over the beautiful Post Marie bridge, across Ile Saint-Louis, and into the Latin Quarter.   Again, it’s a neighborhood full of cafes, stores, and art.

The area is also home to the famous Shakespeare & Company bookstore.   The iconic shop was founded after World War I.   It served as a meeting place for writers like Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein, and Sylvia Beach (who established it).   These days, it’s jam-packed with two-stories of books.

From the Latin Quarter, you’ll see Notre Dame across the bridge.  You can head there to check on reconstruction status. 

Scrolling through the photos below (from August of 2021) you can see they built an exhibit in the plaza outside the cathedral with information and photos of the fire, and updates on the rebuilding process.

Crossing the Seine heading north, you’ll arrive at the Louvre.  

(Of course, art-lovers would just spend their entire layover at the Louvre or other museums, but this is just a single-day walking tour of the sites.)

Heading west from the Louvre, along the banks of the Seine, you’ll just enjoy the stunning city views as you arrive at the Jardin des Tuileries.  It’s an expansive public garden, which opened to the public after the French Revolution.   This is where that sandwich from the boulangerie comes in.  I love sitting on one of the benches, snacking, people-watching, and relaxing before moving on.  

Continuing west, past the Place de la Concorde, you’ll see the Eiffel Tower in the distance.   

Head up the famous Champs Elysees toward the Arc de Triomphe.  This is where you’ll get (what I think is) the best view of the city.

For a few Euros, you can climb the stairs to the top of the monument (built to honor Napoleon’s war victories) and gaze across Paris, with the Eiffel Tower in the background of all of your photos.

The photos below are taken from underneath the Arc, and from the observation deck on top.

This is already a full day, especially if you’re stopping for glasses of wine or shots of espresso at the cafes along the way.

You could detour for another great view of Paris from Montmartre.   It’s a hike from the Metro stops nearby, but you’ll wind up on the steps to the Basilica of the Sacre Couer (Sacred Heart).   You'll find touristy cobblestone streets behind the church, full of shops.

These photos show Montmartre from near and far.

Wind your way down to find Rue Lepic, and stop the market and cafe (Cafe des Deux Moulins)  made famous in the movie "Amelie."

Keep walking downhill and you'll end up at the Moulin Rouge.

I haven’t included the Eiffel Tower.  I’ve always found it more enjoyable to visit at night.   After you walk around under it, I think the best photos come from the Trocadero, across the river.  It’s less chaotic, though still crowded with tourists. 

Any time of day, you can take the Metro to the Alma/Marceau stop, and emerge to a beautiful spot for photos with the Tower and Seine behind you.

I’ve never accomplished all of this in a single day, but this is what I’d recommend especially for a first-time visitor, or someone who hasn’t been to Paris in a long time.  

You really can’t go wrong with a day in Paris, even if you skip the touristy spots and just fill it with wine stops at cafes, and pastries from the boulangeries!