Best 24 hour Paris Itinerary: How to spend one day in Paris
Are you looking for the best 24 hour Paris Itinerary?
Paris, the French Capital, is one of the most visited cities in the world. Millions of travelers embark on a journey to discover its iconic landmarks, explore its ancient streets, and experience its vibrant culture. But with so much to see and do in Paris, it can be difficult to decide what to prioritize in a single day.
I will show you how to make the most of your 24 hours in Paris with this amazing itinerary!
From seeing the Eiffel Tower to spending your evening at the Moulin Rouge, you’ll get a taste of the city’s highlights without compromising on quality or quantity.
Ready to spend 24 hours in Paris? Let’s go!
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A Quick Guide to a 24 Hour Paris Itinerary
Is this your first time visiting Paris? Check out this guide on visiting Paris for the first time to get the most out of your trip or this guide if you’re visiting Paris solo for the first time.
Dawn: Watch the Sunrise With a Croissant at the Eiffel Tower
A 24 hour Paris Itinerary would not be complete without a visit to one of the most famous landmarks in Europe, the Eiffel Tower. One of the best times to visit is at sunset.
Even on a cloudy day, it is a great time to get a great view of the Eiffel Tower and often there are fewer tourists around at this time of day.
I recommend passing a bakery on your way to the Eiffel Tower and picking up a croissant or even a cake if you like cakes early in the morning.
My favourite bakery near the Eiffel Tower is the Maison Bergeron, the baguettes aux céreales are amazing!
Sitting in peace and quiet in front of the Eiffel Tower is an amazing experience.
Morning: Go for a walk around Île de la Cité
Île de la Cité is one of the two remaining natural islands in the River Seine.
Île de la Cité is also home to the world-famous flower market and of course, along the Seine River, you will find Bouquinistes.
These are booksellers that sell used and antique books as well as paintings and today, some tourist souvenirs.
One of the main reasons people head to the Île de la Cité is the iconic Notre Dame.
The Notre Dame Cathedral is free to visit and a must on your one day in Paris itinerary.
There are often long lines but unlike other attractions, these lines move pretty quickly.
When visiting Notre Dame you must see the Crown of Thorns and admire the Gothic Architecture.
Sadly, Notre Dame was destroyed by fire on the 15th of April 2019. When writing this, construction is expected to be complete by 2024.
Lunch Time: Enjoy a Picnic for Lunch
One of the best things to do in Paris for one day is to visit a supermarket, stock up on some amazing cheese, meat, and of course a breadstick, and then head to a Park or the banks of the Seine and enjoy a picnic.
Don’t forget to purchase a bottle of delicious French wine on your travels to enjoy with your lunch. I highly recommend La Vielle Ferme it is reasonably priced and a great everyday wine.
Two amazing places to enjoy a picnic are the Luxembourg Gardens and the Tuileries – Luxembourg Gardens are my favourite to relax.
Afternoon: Explore Montmartre
Montmartre is one of the coolest districts in Paris and again, a must on your 24hrs in Paris itinerary.
One of the most obvious and famous sites in Montmartre is Sacré-Coeur.
It is free to visit the Basilica and entry is available from 6am and 10:30pm.
If you would like to climb the dome you need to enter to the left of the Basilica but be warned there are 300 steps to climb.
At the front of Sacré-Coeur, you will get one of the best views across Paris! At night, you can glimpse the Eiffel Towers light show!
You must also check out the Sinking House of Paris – although it is more of an optical illusion than an actual sinking house.
Place du Tertre (or artists square) is a great place to hang out, catch the artists at work, sit in one of the cafes with a drink, and soak up the atmosphere.
I would leave Montmartre until the end of the day as it is easy to lose track of time wandering around the cobblestone streets, eating crepes, and exploring the shops.
Evening: Dinner in Montmartre
I recommend having dinner in Montmartre on your way to the Moulin Rouge unless you want to have dinner at the Moulin Rouge.
La Taverne de Montmartre is a great place to try some traditional French Cuisine, even snails or the famous Beef Bourguignon.
If you would prefer to eat in a Cafe I recommend Le Café de la Poste as is a great local place and uses ingredients from local fishmongers, bakers, and patisserie. As for an added bonus, it is reasonably priced.
Another good option (especially if you like meat) is Sacrée Fleur. Sacrée Fleur is a tribute to the sacred cow, a prominent feature on the menu. Once again, the prices on the menu are relatively good.
If it is snowing in Paris, Montmartre is the perfect place to see the snow.
Night: See the famed Moulin Rouge
I feel as though I have said this a lot already in this post but a 24 hour itinerary to Paris would be incomplete without seeing a show at the Moulin Rouge.
The show is iconic, and to are the building and the Windmill are on top of the Moulin Rouge.
You should book your tickets in advance to ensure you do not miss out. It wasn’t until my third trip to Paris that I could get tickets to the Moulin Rouge.
When purchasing your tickets you have a few options, you can have dinner before the evening show if you would like.
However, the Moulin Rouge is not cheap!
I recommend that when you book your tickets, you choose the champagne option. After all, you cannot visit France and not enjoy some real champagne.
💃Book Your Tickets For the Moulin Rouge Here
Getting around Paris
Paris is easy to get around. One of the best ways to get around Paris is to walk.
By walking you will find so many hidden gems and pretty little streets that you wouldn’t notice if you were to wizz by on a bus or in a car.
However, Paris is a very big city and if you visit Paris in a day you will likely try to fit in as much as possible.
Another option for getting around Paris in one day is to rent a bike.
If you are travelling and do not have your own bike, hiring a bike through Velib is a popular and cheaper way to go.
There are more than 1,800 stations around the city to collect or drop off a bike.
When hiring a bike, the first half hour is free. If you can pick up and drop off your bike within half an hour you will not pay anything, once you have returned your bike you can take out another bike.
Where to stay in Paris for one night
If you are in Paris for one night you will want to maximize your time. I suggest you stay near the train station.
Staying by the train station will be handy if you are leaving Paris by train or if you are heading back to the airport.
Gare du Nord:
Hotel:
Le Matissia: is a cross between a hotel and an apartment and contain apartments from one bedroom apartments to penthouse suites. Le Matissia is located less than 1km from Gare d’Nord.
Hostel:
Vintage Paris Gare du Nord by Hiphophostels is situated 500m from the Gare du Nord train station and a 15 minute walk from Montmartre. Each room has a private bathroom which is a huge bonus when staying in a hostel!
Storing your luggage
If you in Paris just for the day and not staying the night you can find plenty of luggage storage options around Paris.
Stasher Luggage storage is a fantastic option, it costs 6€ per day per bag and each item is insured up to 1,000€.
You can store your bags at several train stations including Gare d’Nord, Gare Montparnasse, Gare d’Austerlitz, Gare de l’Est and Gare de Lyon.
Both airports also have Stasher Luggage storage facilities. So if you have a stopover, you don’t have to take your luggage into Paris with you.
🚂 Book Your Luggage Storage Here
Getting to Paris
Airport
If you fly into Paris you will land at either Charles De Gaulle or Orly Airport.
Both of these airports are located roughly 45 minutes from the center of Paris via taxi or Uber – this does depend on traffic.
Taxis are readily available from both airports, however, they are quite expensive (it is Paris after all!).
Taxis from Orly will cost roughly 25 euros and from Charles De Gaulle will be around 50 euro.
There is a 30% surcharge between 7pm and 6am and a charge of 1.50 euro per suitcase.
A much cheaper option, although a more time-consuming option, is to take public transport.
From Charles De Gaulle, trains run from 5:30 am until midnight every 15 minutes from the airport and go to Gare du Nord, Chatelet Les Halles, and Luxembourg train stations.
From Orly airport, there is a shuttle bus which will take you from the airport to the train station.
The train then runs from 5:30 am until 11 pm and leaves every 15 minutes. The train goes from the airport to Gare d’Austrelits, St Michel/Notre Dame and Invalides stations.
If you are flying with Air France, they provide a bus service to and from both airports.
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Train
If you are travelling around Europe by train (or at least to Paris by train) you will most likely arrive in to Gare d’Nord. The Euro star from London arrives to Gare d’Nord and the train station is pretty centeral.
From Gare d’Nord it is quite easy to find the metro and head to your accommodation or the first stop on your 24 hour Paris Itinerary.
🚂 Book Your Train Tickets Here
Drive
The roads in Paris are relatively easy to navigate, especially if you have Google Maps.
If you do not have a car, you can hire one from most European cities and towns.
London is a four-and-a-half-hour drive to Paris via the Eurotunnel, Amsterdam is 5 hours from Paris and Brussels is 3 hours from Paris.
FAQs: Paris in 24 hours
What can you do in 24 hours in Paris?
There are plenty of things you can do with one day in Paris. Most people prefer to check off some bucket list items during a 24 hour layover in Paris.
Watch the sunrise with a croissant at the Eiffel Tower
Go for a walk around Île de la Cité and the Notre Dame
Enjoy a picnic for lunch in a Parisian garden
Explore Montmartre and the Moulin Rouge
Is 1 day in Paris enough?
There is so much to do in Paris that you may never see it all. However, you will be able to see a fair bit of “classic” Paris and get a good idea of what the city offers.
Is one night it Paris worth it?
Absolutely! My philosophy is that any time in Paris is better than no time. One night will most likely give you two half days, enough time to see some of the major sights like the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Montmartre and the Champs-Élysées.
Final Thoughts: One Day in Paris
Paris has an incredible amount to offer and can be a great way to spend 24 hours!
Whether you do all of it or just pick a few highlights, the city will amaze you.
If you’re looking for a fast-paced adventure full of culture, great food, and sightseeing opportunities, look no further than Paris!
With this 24 hour itinerary, you’ll have a fantastic time exploring the city in a short period of time. Bon Voyage!
Looking for the best Layover Tour in Paris? This Paris Layover Tour will show you all the city has to offer in a short amount of time.
