Paris in One Day Itinerary

This Paris Travel Guide includes some things you can accomplish in a day. This mini-guide also covers the major attractions and how to get around. You'll want to visit Paris in all four seasons to experience the enchantment of shifting colours, vivid blooms, and holiday fun.

If you want to explore all of the key sites, including the popular cafes and restaurants, I recommend staying for at least two days. Otherwise, if you only want to see everything from a distance and take photos, one day is sufficient.

First timer in Paris

There are several guides and activities in Paris, but without a plan, you will not be able to see much. As a result, I recommend going over what you like before deciding what you want to do and how much money you want to spend. Then figure out what you can do in a day or two so that when you arrive, you know what to expect and do.

Google Maps are your best friend, as I used this to get around everywhere, including transportation and walking. In addition, owning an e-sim card allows you to access the internet as soon as you enter the nation.

Tips for visiting

• Once you arrive, have something to eat for breakfast/lunch as you will need fuel to last the day.
• Drop off your bags/luggage at your hotel
• Use the Metro (trains) which costs £1.80 single ticket to save yourself from using Uber/Taxi
• Use Google Maps to navigate around the city
• Everything from the city is pretty much 20mins by metro, so you can plan what you want to see during the day or night
• If you wish to visit popular cafes like Angelina, Carette or Cafe De Flore head there early or late as the queue tends to be for hours during the day.
• The Louvre Museum is closed on Tuesdays
• Use international cards Starling/Monzo/Revolut to purchase items etc

You can have a look at the Metro map, which can take you all around Paris.

My Experience in Paris

As I arrived here for the first time by Eurostar from London Euston. I had no idea what to anticipate, but I managed to accomplish so much in a single day. As a result, as soon as I arrived, I was able to check in and place all of my stuff before setting out to explore the city.

The first thing I did was take the metro to Angelina Cafe. However, to my disappointment, the queue was crowded. As a result, I had to cancel this occasion and instead ate sandwiches from a random shop on my way to Galeries Lafayette Haussmann.

I noticed that the Louvre Museum was nearby, but it was closed that day. In some ways, this was a positive thing because the place was less crowded than it typically is on open days. I took a quick walk around the building from the outside and took a few photos. I saw a lot of individuals posing and taking shots for social media. Because the museum is located underground, you can take a glimpse of what's inside via the glass walls.

The Louvre is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. but closed on Tuesdays and public holidays.

Galeries Lafayette Haussmann

Before continuing to my next stop, Galeries Lafayette Haussmann. This is the Harrods of London. All of the major brands, perfumes, and designer apparel are available here. If you want to have a look or maybe give someone a present. There are several options to choose from, depending on your budget.

To me, the standout here was the Christmas tree right in the middle of the department store. It looked incredible and how huge It was from the ceiling to floating just above the stalls. They even had a viewing for the public to see from the balcony.

Next stop I went to see the infamous 'Arc de Triomphe'. I was there just before sunset, as it wasn't as crowded with cars and residents. I managed to capture a clear photo without any car interference, even though this location is congested.

The best place to capture the Arc is behind the building, as people tend to crowd the front area. Also, there aren't many people on the opposite side, so you'll have plenty of time to take a good photo. As I was taking photos of the building, someone asked me to take a shot of them, so I did.

As you go down, you will see a variety of branded buildings and shops. The side streets were crowded with people shopping and dining.

Eiffel Tower

You cannot leave Paris without seeing the iconic Eiffel Tower. The Eiffel Tower was the final stop during my visit here. The best time to visit was at night when the lights are most stunning. Regardless of how busy it is, if you have the patience, you can get some good images of it.

I was on my way to the tower, unaware that this was going to happen. I saw the sparkles on the tower light up for 5 minutes. This looked incredible to witness in person, as it stood from a distance. I photographed the tower across the bridge, as boats passed by. As you go near it, you can shoot from various perspectives.

However, going up the Eiffel Tower does get crowded. I wouldn't recommend it because it takes up a lot of time. Especially if you're just here for a short time. Furthermore, you cannot see the tower if you are inside at the top.

Front of Eiffel Tower

Witness the Eiffel Tower in front of you, as the roads are closed for people to admire the renowned structure. However, this location is always bustling with tourists, photographers, and vendors selling souvenirs, nuts, and professional pictures. I stood there for 10-15 minutes, trying to get a good image before making one final journey to the Trocadero at the top. That was all the energy I had before heading to the hotel.

Trocadero Paris

Trocadero is not distant from the Eiffel Tower and offers a spectacular view from a distance. However, you have to walk up a hill, which requires leg power after a long day of wandering about. Nonetheless, the views you get from the top are worthwhile! As you can see from the photographs I managed to get.

From here, the metro is only a few minutes away, so you can grab this to your hotel/next destination.

That's all, Folks! Although you can see many other things in a day. This is what I did and recommend for a day in Paris. When you don't have much time, you can see all of the major sights. I hope you found this mini-guide useful, whether you are a first-time visitor or returning to Paris.

I did go to Le Confidential for dinner, a halal restaurant that serves main courses and desserts, which I'll write about in my blog next. Until then, I'll be back in Paris next month, this time to visit my childhood fantasy, Disneyland Paris.

If you enjoyed this post, have a read through other places I've visited.

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