So you’ve got 24 hours in Paris, and you’re not sure what to do? Lucky for you, Paris is full of sights worth seeing. The hard part is whittling down your list to an itinerary that will fit in just a day. While 24 hours in Paris isn’t enough time to see all the highlights of the city, if done right, it’s enough time to make a noticeable dent in the must-see list. If you have a layover in Paris, or you’re just passing through for a day, I’ve outlined the perfect itinerary for the best 24 hours in Paris.
When to Visit
Paris is a good idea almost all year round, though some seasons are better than others. I think fall is the best time to visit Paris because it offers the mildest temperatures + the city is so pretty under all the orange and yellow leaves. I’ve even written about 10 unique things to do in Paris in the fall, a testament to my preference for Paris during this season. If you want to visit during the fall, I would aim for October or early November for the best weather and fall vibes.
Summer (June & July) is also a great time to visit Paris. It is peak tourist season, but Paris has a particularly carefree vibe with everyone out and about due to the warmer weather. You’ll catch people strolling along the Seine, picnicking in the parks, or enjoying their meals on the restaurant terraces. The only summer month I don’t recommend visiting during is August as everyone in Paris is also on vacation. Many restaurants, bakeries, and bars will be closed. As vacation is practically sacred in France, it’s much better to visit Paris when the locals are also in town to get a feel for what Paris is really like.
December is also a great time to come to Paris. The Christmas decor around the city makes Paris particularly magical during this time. Plus, you can enjoy more seasonal activities such as trying raclette, drinking vin chaud, and perusing the Christmas market in Jardin de Tuileries. If you’re visiting in December, I also write about the best things to do in December in Paris.
If I were to recommend against any months to visit Paris, they would be January, February, March, and August. The first 3 months of the year offer nothing but cold weather and grey skies, so the city feels a little lackluster. August I’ve already covered as much of Paris is closed and the city is dead during this time.
Where to Stay in Paris
These arrondissements are organized in the shape of a snail, with the first arrondissement starting at the very center.
I love this map of Paris created by Clewel travel, which clearly depicts the arrondissements and the famous landmarks, parks, and museums
Ideally, you’ll want accommodation with easy access to all the main sights. Due to this, I recommend staying in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 6th arrondissements. Many people make the mistake of booking their accommodation in the Eiffel Tower area, but as you can see, the Eiffel Tower is a little bit farther away from the city center. It isn’t totally inconvenient to stay there, but there are better and more convenient neighborhoods to stay in, especially when you only have 24 hours in Paris. Below I’ve outlined a few hotels and Airbnbs to guarantee a comfortable and convenient stay in Paris.
- Le Haut Marais, Notre-Dame de Nazareth Street — 3rd arr. $$ ($150 – $200, Airbnb – highly rated studio apt in the Haut Marais)
- Beaubourg Le Marais — 4th arr. $$ ($150-$200, relatively new listing on Airbnb in the 4th arr. – no AC though so FYI for the summer!)
- Hôtel Jeanne d’Arc Le Marais — 4th arr. $$ ($250-$300, great area, clean and stylish)
- Turenne Le Marais — 4th arr. $$ ($250-$300, no frills, quality hotel steps in the heart of the 4th arr.)
- Charles V — 4th arr. $$$ ($300-$400, boutique hotel in the heart of the 4th arrondissement)
- Villa d’Estrées — 6th arr. $$$ ($400-$500, classically French hotel in the middle of the Latin Quarter)
- Pavillon Faubourg Saint-Germain & Spa — 7th arr. ($400-$500, another classic French hotel with a more modern twist close to the Latin Quarter)
For additional options, especially if you’re looking to splurge a little on a boutique hotel anywhere from $400-$600, Everyday Parisian has created a great blog on 10 Boutique Hotels in Paris.
Hot tip: Paris is not a cheap city, and hotels are no exception. If you’re looking to stay somewhere for below $150, I would opt for Airbnb. If you’re looking for something even cheaper, consider a hostel. Nomadic Matt does a great blog on the 9 Best Hostels in Paris.
How Much Can You See in 24 Hours in Paris?
There is a lot to see in Paris, and 24 hours is not nearly enough to see everything. However, you can definitely see quite a bit in 24 hours, especially if you’re mostly just sightseeing. As you’ll be sticking to the center of Paris, many things will actually be quite walkable, though be prepared to go well over 10K steps for the day.
24 Hours in Paris – What To Do, Where To Go, and Where to Eat
Breakfast + Eiffel Tower
We’re starting the day strong by knocking out the number 1 absolute must-see as the first thing you do today. Head to your nearest boulangerie and pick up a few croissants and pains au chocolat, then take the metro to Trocadero to see the Eiffel Tower in all its glory.
You can choose to start or end your day with the Eiffel Tower, and it really depends on your mood for what you want to do at night. The pro of seeing the Eiffel Tower at night is that you get to see the Eiffel Tower sparkle, and the sight truly is dazzling. But despite the Eiffel Tower being one of the most famous monuments in the world, the area around it gets pretty quiet after sunset. If you’re not looking to go out as part of your 24 hours in Paris itinerary, then consider ending your day with the Eiffel Tower instead.
There are many places to get a great view of the Eiffel Tower, but there are only a handful of places to get a really great photo. I really recommend going to at least one of these spots to get that perfect Eiffel Tower picture. The locations are outlined below:
- Square Rapp
- Rue de l’Université
- Pont d’Iéna
- Pont de l’Alma
- Avenue de Camoens
- Pont Alexander III
- Trocadero
To beat the crowds, I recommend going extra early — like sunrise early if you have the energy. You only have 24 hours in Paris after all!
(Optional) Arc de Triomphe
The Eiffel Tower to the Arc de Triomphe is about a 35-minute walk. This is optional because it’s for those who are trying to fit in as many monuments as possible in this 24 hours in Paris itinerary. You really only need about 10 minutes to see the Arc de Triomphe, and then you can be on your merry way to the Jardin de Tuileries.
You can either take the metro directly from the Arc de Triomphe area (and skip walking down Champs Elysées) or you can walk down the Champs Elysées and take a metro at either George V (6 min walk from Arc) or Champs-Élysées – Clemenceau (20 min walk from Arc). By the time you get to Champs-Élysées – Clemenceau, you only have a 15-minute walk to the gardens, so maybe it’s worth skipping the metro ride and walking to the gardens.
Musée du Louvre + Jardin de Tuileries
The Louvre is another one of the absolute must-dos when you have 24 hours in Paris, though with this time constraint, I wouldn’t recommend going inside. The Louvre is huge and if it’s your first time visiting, you’ll want to block out at least 3-4 hours to properly visit the museum. If you do want to dedicate that much time of your day to visiting the Louvre, I recommend booking your ticket ahead of time so that you don’t have to wait in line. If you’re looking to maximize your time in the Louvre, I especially recommend this 3-hour guided tour so that you don’t get lost and can easily see the works you’re looking for.
The Tuileries Garden, or Jardin de Tuileries, is in front of the Louvre and leads into its entrance. You don’t have to explore the gardens, but it is worth strolling through on your way to the museum.
Notre Dame
From the Louvre, the Notre Dame is only a 20-minute walk, and while you can’t go up it at this time (re-opening is announced for 8th Dec 2024) it is still a sight worth seeing. The surrounding area is quite cute too, as Notre Dame is on one of the two islands in the Seine. Île de la Cité is where the Notre Dame is, and if you cross Pont Louis, you’ll find the very charming Île Saint Louis.
Shopping in Le Marais
What would a trip to Paris be without a little shopping? Le Marais captures the Parisian street shopping atmosphere so perfectly well, without being over-commercialized or too kitschy. In fact, if you come to Le Marais during the weekend, you will find many locals flocking to the streets to stroll, shop, eat, and enjoy. The main shopping street is Rue des Francs-Bourgeois, but I’ve also highlighted a few of my favorite shops in my Google Map at the end of this page. Place de Vosges, which you might recognize from Emily in Paris, makes for a picture perfect park in the heart of Le Marais. Grab a coffee, relax, and people watch while you rest your feet for a quick break.
Dinner & Drinks in Le Marais or Oberkampf Area
I’ve outlined in my Google Map below many restaurants, cocktail bars, and wine bars scattered throughout the 3rd, 4th, and 10th arrondissements. Here are a few highlights for each category, so you can get a better idea of what to choose:
- Food
- Chez Janou — Tik Tok famous southern French restaurant. Dish highlights are the duck (magret de canard au romarin) & chocolate mousse (mousse au chocolate)
- Brasserie Martin — Classic French brasserie. Dish highlights are the poulet rôti à la broche and the saucisse purée
- Au Bourguignon du Marais — Classic French restaurant. Dish highlights are the onion soup, escargot, and the boeuf bourguignon.
- Cocktail Bars (regular bars, restaurants, and brasseries will not often serve good cocktails – France is more beer and wine country when it comes to drinking. If you want a good cocktail, you’ll have to seek out a specialty cocktail bar.)
- Little Red Door — is on the list of the World’s 50 Best Bars at #6. This cocktail spot is a little pricey but has an amazing array of cocktails.
- Bar Bisou — there is no menu, you tell them what type of flavors/alcohol you like and their bartenders make it for you. Great concept and I’ve yet to have a drink there I didn’t like!
- Bar Nouveau — this is a relatively new bar that has popped up in Le Marais, and their drinks are fantastic. Even better — they are one of the few bars in Paris that does a proper dirty martini if that’s what you’re looking for.
- Wine Bars
- Septime La Cave — an extension of the restaurant Septime, a 1-star Michelin restaurant that is the highest ranking Paris restaurant on the World’s 50 Best list at #22. It is extremely hard to get a reservation here, but their wine bar, Septime La Cave, is much more casual. It’s quite small but if you can snag a seat, their natural wine selection and overall vibes to top off your 24 hours in Paris.
- Le 18 Oberkampf — a classic, natural wine bar that won’t let you down. They also offer jazz nights every Wednesday if this happens to be the night you’re in town.
- Folderol — Another TikTok famous spot that became known not just for their wine selection — but their ice cream as well. This makes for a great spot to split a bottle and grab a sweet treat with friends in the summer.
