The French Capital in a Nutshell: 24 Hours in Paris
LAST UPDATED: APRIL 13, 2025 | TRAVEL DATE: MARCH 2023 + APRIL 2024 + JULY 2024 | EST. READING TIME: 13 MIN
IN THIS GUIDE ✺
So you find yourself in Paris for just one day and want to make the most of it?
Maybe you're staying in London and decided to take a spontaneous day trip to Paris, France. Or you have a long layover connecting through Charles de Gaulle—or you’re studying abroad and have to maximize the weekend! Whatever the reason, you've got one day to make the City of Love count.
Traveling from London, my best friend and I decided to take the “Chunnel” to Paris for the day because it's cost-effective, but also because, who wouldn't want to say they've traveled through the bottom of the English Channel?
24 Hours in Paris Itinerary
In a hurry? Here’s a time-stamped overview of how to spend 24 hours in Paris:
6:01 - 9:30 AM: 🚆 Travel from London to Paris via the Eurostar train service (2 hr 29 min)
9:45 - 9:55 AM: ⛪ Admire the glistening white Sacré-Cœur façade (10 min)
10:00 - 11:30 AM: 🎨 Brunch at Au Cadet de Gascogne in Montmartre, the bohemian district (1 hr 30 min)
11:50 AM - 12:00 PM: 🙏 Snap a photo of the medieval Catholic cathedral, Notre-Dame (10 min)
12:10 - 12:35 PM: 📚 Curl up with a good book inside Shakespeare and Company (25 min)
12:35 - 1:45 PM: 🛍️ Stroll down the Latin Quarter and shop on St. Germain (1 hr 10 min)
1:50 - 2:20 PM: 🥖 Snack on a baguette under the Eiffel Tower (30 min)
2:30 - 2:40 PM: 🇫🇷 Circle the Arc de Triomphe roundabout (10 min)
2:40 - 3:25 PM: 🌳 Walk back down the tree-lined Avenue des Champs-Élysées (45 min)
3:25 - 3:45 PM: 💐 Smell the flowers around the Tuileries Garden (20 min)
4:00 - 6:00 PM: 🖼️ Spot the Mona Lisa inside the Louvre (2 hr)
6:30 - 8:30 PM: 🥗 Enjoy a one Michelin star Mediterranean meal at Mavrommatis (2 hr)
9:11 - 10:30 PM: 🚉 Return back to London from via the Eurostar train service (2 hr 19 min)
How to Get from London to Paris?
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FROM: London St Pancras International (6:01 AM BST) (Euston Rd., London N1C 4QP, United Kingdom)
TO: Paris Gare du Nord (9:30 AM CET) (18 Rue de Dunkerque, 75010 Paris, France)
TRANSPORTATION: Eurostar train service via Trainline (2 hr 29 min, direct route, $104)
I woke up at the crack of dawn to make the most of my day trip to Paris from London, catching the Eurostar train from London St Pancras Int’l to Paris Gare du Nord at 6:01 AM.
Arriving at the station just 10 minutes before departure is highly discouraged—passport control is enforced since the route crosses national borders. I talked my way onto the train, but it's better to be safe than sorry.
The journey offers an opportunity to grab some much-needed sleep or catch up on work. I brought an eye mask, but actually falling asleep was much easier said than done. The $104 roundtrip train includes food, drinks, chargers – every essential needed to enjoy the ride, and the roomy seats are much more comfortable than a cramped flight. Plus, you can sidestep any airport hassle! The ride is a breezy two and a half hours with a time change to consider, so you'll roll into Paris around 9:30 AM.
What to Do With 24 Hours in Paris?
FROM: Gare du Nord (18 Rue de Dunkerque, 75010 Paris, France)
TO: Sacré-Cœur (35 Rue du Chevalier de la Barre, 75018 Paris, France)
TRANSPORTATION: Gare du Nord → Château Rouge via Métro 4 (3 min, 2 stops, €2.15)
After exiting the metro, walk 10 minutes west to reach Sacré-Cœur in the 18th arrondissement. Alternatively, embark on a 20 minute walk from the train station and skip the metro.
Sacré-Cœur
This white Roman-Byzantine basilica dedicated to the “Sacred Heart” of Jesus with a perpetual adoration of the blessed sacrament overlooks the city from 130 meters above ground, adorned with thousands of love locks on the handrails.
Inside is one of the world's heaviest bells—the 19-ton Savoyarde—plus a panoramic viewpoint. Spot the Eiffel Tower in the distance and notice it's not as tall as it seems up close amidst the grandeur of Paris.
Entry is free of charge between 6:30 AM - 10:30 PM, however the masses of visitors to this major Catholic pilgrimage site means there’s typically a wait to enter. Patience is rewarded with one of the world's largest mosaics—the intricate "Christ in Majesty”—which covers the choir and depicts Christ with outstretched arms.
Montmartre
Walk a quick 5 minutes to vibrant Montmartre, the bohemian district of Paris. In the wee hours of the morning, find older gentlemen setting up their paint easels in the open terrace. Place du Tertre is the heart of local artisans with a repertoire of masterpieces for sale, making Montmartre the place to be when collecting bona fide paintings as travel mementos.
With increased notoriety the once inexpensive village has become a bit touristy, but nevertheless this rich center of artistic inspiration in one of the oldest parts of the city is absolutely worth exploring—especially since it was the home of greats like Picasso, Van Gogh, and Toulouse-Lautrec!
Stroll through the terrace until a piece catches your eye or watch a local favorite play the accordion while his loyal cat sits perched atop the instrument!
Brunch — Au Cadet De Gascogne
Around 10:00 AM, you may not be in the mood for breakfast, but when in Paris you have to try escargot—Yes, I'm talking about snails! I dined at Au Cadet de Gascogne and paired my snails with beef stew for the ultimate French brunch experience.
It's a delightful spot with outdoor seating that allows you to watch the artists at work, and the escargot, sizzling in butter and garlic, is a must-try. The friendly waitstaff even tried to strike up a conversation with us in French, which was the biggest compliment ever considering she didn’t immediately know we were American!
Notre-Dame
FROM: Au Cadet de Gascogne (4 Pl. du Tertre, 75018 Paris, France)
TO: Notre-Dame (6 Parvis Notre-Dame - Pl. Jean-Paul II, 75004 Paris, France)
TRANSPORTATION: Château Rouge → Châtelet via Métro 4 (11 min, 3 stops, €2.15)
Lace up your walking shoes, the rest of the day will be a trek through the city. From Montmartre, head towards the 4th arrondissement, but first grab a baguette to snack on from Paris Baguette Châtelet near the metro entrance.
After arriving, walk eight minutes towards the famous medieval Catholic cathedral, Notre-Dame. While you may know this site from Victor Hugo's 1831 novel, "Notre-Dame de Paris," today this landmark serves as the seat of the Archbishop of Paris rather than the home of a hunchback!
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is recognized as a fine example of French Gothic architecture with flying buttresses, ribbed vaults, gargoyles, and 3 large rose windows. After a catastrophic fire in April 2019, renovations are now complete and tourists can once again view the interior for free from 8:15 AM - 7:00 PM with a timed reservation.
Shakespeare and Company
Make your way across the Seine to Shakespeare and Company, a historic bookstore where iconic writers of the “Lost Generation” gathered. Photography is discouraged to give privacy to readers, so you’ll have to go inside yourself to see the interior! The shop is a haven for book lovers with antique novels and cozy corners to curl up and read in—an ideal escape for a moment of reprieve during this long travel day (even though there's typically a wait to get inside).
If the line looks intimidating and you don’t have the time or patience to wait, check out the bouquinistes, or green book seller stands lining the Seine! A designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, the 900 or so riverside book boxes contain rare and used novels, posters, modern illustrations, postcards and other printed materials alongside souvenirs to peruse!
Latin Quarter
Continue through the Latin Quarter and stroll by the high-end shops of Saint-Germain to head to the next iconic landmark, the Eiffel Tower, which takes about forty-five minutes of walking.
Snack - La Parisienne
Stop to grab the essentials—baguettes—which will later be devoured in front of the Eiffel Tower for a truly quintessential French experience. La Parisienne at 85 Rue Saint Dominique was named for the best baguette in 2016 with crunchy, warm loaves pulled fresh out of the oven—everything you can hope for in this simple delight.
From there, walk 15 more minutes to the tower. Rue De Monttessuy is a particularly scenic avenue with the Eiffel Tower as your backdrop and a baguette-child cradled under your arm.
Don't hesitate to shop at the numerous gift stores along the way and embrace your tourist status—buy a blue beret, why not?
Eiffel Tower
Within the Eiffel Tower Gardens, find a bench, savor your baguette, and admire this architectural marvel. Pair your bread with a cold drink from one of the many vendors in the park.
Originally constructed for the 1889 World's Fair, groundbreaking engineering materialized the lightweight yet durable lattice structure, showcasing France's industrial prowess on a global stage. At 1,063 feet, it was the tallest man-made structure until the completion of the Chrysler Building in 1930.
Arc de Triomphe
From the tower, hail a taxi for the 7 minute ride to the Arc de Triomphe to take in yet another architectural marvel. Symbolizing French national pride, the monument honors those who fought in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. The names of 558 generals and 102 notable military figures are inscribed, with underlines indicating those who died in battle.
Open daily from 10:00 AM - 11:00 PM, gain access to the monument and surrounding terrace for €16—or if under 26 this experience is free! 284 steps lead to the top, from which there’s an elevated look over the delightful gardens and city streets you’ll soon traverse.
Tuileries Garden
Continuing down the Avenue des Champs-Élysées for 40 minutes—‘the world’s most beautiful avenue’ full of—familiar designer and global brands like the Louis Vuitton flagship, will take you along the Seine to the Tuileries Garden. The meticulously manicured lawns, elegant tree-lined avenues, and stunning fountains are classic examples of French formal garden design, originally created for the royal residence of French monarchs.
Admire blooming flora while strolling the winding paths or embrace the present moment by taking a quiet seat in the publicly available chairs around the seasonal flower beds and water features.
Musée du Louvre
Adjacent to the Tuileries Garden, is the Musée du Louvre, where you can see the one and only Mona Lisa. A €22 ticket with a timed reservation still involves waiting in a substantial outside the museum, which is open daily from 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM except on Tuesdays. Arrive early to ensure you get inside on time.
Enter through the infamous glass pyramid to descend into the center of the museum, from which the many exhibits sprawl outwards in three wings.
For a first time visit, begin on the Denon wing ground floor to admire Roman antiquities and European sculptures like marble statues and greco columns, most notably The Dying Slave chiseled by Italian Renaissance artist Michelangelo. From there ascend to halls filled with exquisite paintings from the United States and Europe—including Miss Mona Lisa herself.
At the end of this passageway is The Winged Victory of Samothrace, with her headless body situated at the top of the stairwell in a nod to her original lofty home, and the dazzling French Crown Jewels. This is a satisfactory amount of artistic inspiration for one day, but if you’re craving more exhibitions head across the courtyard to the remaining Sully and Richelieu wings.
Even with this brilliant, time-stamped plan in hand, the 2023 French pension protest promptly shut down all railways, which meant there was no train back to London. Missing my Louvre visit, I scrambled to book the next available flight back to avoid getting stuck in the city altogether!
Feeling despondent about missing the Mona Lisa, I consoled myself with a macaron from Ladurée inside the airport. You don't have to suffer the same fate; find these delectable treats at various locations around the city—there’s even a Ladurée below the Louvre.
Dinner - Mavrommatis
FROM: Ladurée (99 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France)
TO: Mavrommatis (42 Rue Daubenton, Paris, 75005, France)
TRANSPORTATION: Palais Royal - Musée du Louvre → Censier-Daubenton via Métro 7 (11 min, 7 stops, €2.15)
With a single day in Paris, you have to go all out—and by all out I mean indulging in a Michelin meal at Mavrommatis. After being awarded a star in 2018 from the French company for their distinguished, high-quality concoctions, the Cypriot Mavrommatis brothers continue an enchanted Mediterranean interlude in the heart of the capital from 7:00 - 10:00 PM, Tuesday through Saturday every week.
Dine in a minimalist private lounge, an understated lair which serves as the perfect foil to food that varies according to the season and whims of the chef. The delightful secret of fine dining is that you’re often served more courses than the selected offering enumerates on the menu—the “five act” Discovery menu truly amounts to eight courses including the amuse bouche, additional starter, and extra dessert.
While €110 for dinner is pricey, I felt much better about this splurge when I realized the total only amounts to ~€14 per dish, and I certainly left stuffed! Although the inspired presentation of each dish deserves recognition in itself, the masterfully creative preparations are what truly make this establishment special. I’ve never enjoyed a precisely layered watermelon and feta sandwich anywhere else before, let alone a faux cherry tomato bursting with sorbet!
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The benchmark for Hellenic gastronomy in Paris since 1993, each dish from the three tasting menus is inspired by classic Gallic traditions and uses the best Greek ingredients prepared with French technique in this global culinary adventure.
Among other surprises, expect ingredients like sauce vierge, Volos olives, ewe's-milk yoghurt jus, and feta crumble topping each artfully plated offering entailing dishes like roasted line-caught sea bass, cockles, carabineros, and chanterelle mushrooms.
À la carte dishes are only available from Tuesday through Thursday, so prepare your appetite for a multi-course meal if you dine during the weekend!
For refined cuisine on a tighter budget, check out Le Christine in the 6th instead, which is similarly featured on the Michelin Guide but without a formal star designation.
After this life-changing meal, head to the train station or airport to catch your ride home, which concludes your whirlwind adventure in Paris.
How Much Does One Day in Paris Cost?
If you’re spending only 24 hours in Paris you’re in luck—you don’t have to pay for a hotel room! Following the above itinerary cost me $354.27 as a young college student on a budget:
Transportation
$104 - Eurostar round trip train ticket between London and Paris
€4.20 - two Metro one-way tickets to Montmartre and then the Notre-Dame
€10 - taxi ride from the Eiffel Tower to the Arc de Triomphe
Food
€32 - escargot and beef stew breakfast at Au Cadet de Gascogne
€4 - baguette, water, and Coca-Cola from La Parisienne
€110 - Discovery menu five-course tasting at Mavrommatis
Activities
€17 - single admission Louvre ticket
Souvenirs
€20 - small painting from Montmartre
€5 - blue beret
$31 - 8 macron-box from Laudrée
If you’re already in Paris, forgo the train ticket expense. On a tighter budget, opt for one smaller souvenir—and you certainly don’t need to splurge on a Michelin star meal (but it’s more fun if you do!).
Assuming you don’t find yourself in the middle of a transportation strike, factor in the cost of dinner, plus transport back to the train station.
What to Wear in Paris?
Paris fashion screams sophisticated class—embody haute couture like you’re walking Paris Fashion Week! Here less is more and elegance is all in the details. Whether you’re strolling the Tuileries Garden, visiting the Musée d'Orsay, or enjoying a café au lait at a Champs-Élysées café, your thoughtfully curated ensemble will ensure you do so with stylish grace.
Regardless of personal aesthetic or budget, anyone can style a classic black and white ensemble. Think old money chic, timeless wardrobe staples that exude effortless taste with clean lines from well-tailored silhouettes. These pieces easily transition from daytime sightseeing to evening dining, embodying the versatility that Parisians are known for. Choosing neutral colors like black, white, and beige ensures your look will be sophisticated while easy to mix and match. Comfortable footwear is crucial in Paris—where walking is a way of life—while luxurious accessories will complete your look with an added hint of glamour. Balance a refined appearance without overly flashy items—instead, focus on quality fabrics and impeccable tailoring. Pull these pieces from your closet to craft the perfect outfit when planning a trip to Paris:
Timeless Tops
craft a timeless silhouette with cuts that won’t go out of style — tuxedo vests, corset bustiers, and sleek tanks
Basic Bottoms
don’t overcomplicate things with silk skirts, pleated trousers, and simple yet sophisticated flowy culottes
Dainty Dresses
think easy, breezy, beautiful (CoverGirl!)—spaghetti straps, tulle, and classic curves are key
Jet Black Flats
ballet slippers, Mary Janes, and slingback kitten heels will keep your feet from aching through each arrondissement
Luxe Accessories
chunky gold jewelry and a dainty handbag make you feel as luxurious as a Palace of Versailles princess
Fine Fabric Accents
silk ribbons, lace bows, and rose appliqué— pull in pops of jewel tones like ruby to exude old money elegance
Is Paris Overrated?
My initial 24 hours in Paris experience was a bit underwhelming, but that’s not to say I don’t plan to return. The strike severely soured my experience, leading to mountains of pungent trash on the street and last minute transportation cancellations which cut my one day stay short. I find the most rewarding travel experiences to be those which forge unlikely friendships through group excursions and activities; however, this itinerary for a single day in Paris is moreso geared towards sightseeing to look at famous structures. On the other hand, how could you visit Paris for the first time and not see the Eiffel Tower? It almost feels sacrilegious.
That said, I’m now of the opinion that at least one more day is required to have a rewarding Parisian experience, so I’ll have to revisit this ranking once I get the chance. Out of the 13 countries I’ve visited as of March 2023, I’m ranking France a tentative #6 for now—but there’s still SO MUCH of the country I have left to experience, so take this assessment lightly.
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Hi, I’m Ashley. I’m determined to see the world. All of it. Are you coming with?
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