what to do with 24 hours in paris

Paris is one of the most famous cities in the world. Known as "the City of Love", Paris is a romantic place to stroll the streets, have picnics under the Eiffel Tower, and sit outside swank cafes sipping an espresso or a glass of wine. While ideally you would want to visit this city over the span of multiple days, sometimes that is logistically not possible. If you have a 24 hour layover in Paris or you're visiting France and only have time for a single day before jetting off somewhere else, then this itinerary is for you. After visiting Paris this last November, I took all of the best activities my friends and I did over the course of 7 days and turned it into one EPIC day for you.

IS IT WORTH IT TO VISIT PARIS FOR JUST ONE DAY?

Paris has a population of over 12 million people, making it ranked as the 28th largest megacity in the world. There are 20 arrondissements, which means 20 little subsections of the city, and there are countless monuments, shops, cafes, and museums. Even though it is definitely recommended to spend atleast 3-4 days in Paris, it is possible to visit Paris for just one day and it is worth it if you are willing to follow a detailed itinerary for a long but amazing day.

WHAT IS THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO COME VISIT PARIS FOR ONE DAY?

The best time of year to come visit Paris for one day depends on your preferences. While spring and summer are beautiful times to come and visit Paris, they are also some of the busiest times. Winter brings many tourists to come and visit the Christmas markets, which start in mid November every year, and to see the city decorated for the holidays. Fall is a good time if you don't mind it being a little cold and there are less tourists since many families don't travel during these times because of school. Overall, if you are looking for the cheapest time to come and visit though it would be mid-November to mid-December, but the most beautiful time of year I would subjectively say is summer.

ITINERARY FOR VISITORS COMING TO PARIS FOR ONE DAY OR ON A LAYOVER

Ready for a jam packed day in an iconic European city? This itinerary covers EVERYTHING: from famous monuments and museums, to making sure that you stop at some of the most popular and beautiful places to grab a bite, and I truly believe that anyone who follows this will have an exceptional time. Ready to get into it? Let's GO!

1. START THE MORNING AT THE LOUVRE (THE EARLIER, THE BETTER)

The Louvre is a must-see spot in Paris. It's that simple. With over 35,000 items on display divided into eight departments including Egyptian Antiquities, Paintings, and Sculptures, there's so much to see and cover. Just make sure to get there early and have a rough plan of what you want to see! Since you're fitting all of Paris into one day, you're going to want to get the first time slot. Order tickets online in advance and go down into the underground entrance at Carrousel du Louvre about 30 minutes before your time slot begins. If you're unsure what you should go see, I recommend the Appartments Napoleon III, the Venus de Milo (a Greek statue of Aphrodite), and the Sphinx de Tanis. For more information on the Louvre including admission prices and my experience, click here.

2. WALK ACROSS THE STREET TO GRAB SOME BRUNCH AT THE FAMOUS ANGELINA'S

The best hot chocolate I've ever had in my entire life was at Angelina's across from the Louvre. I had seen this warm drink go viral on TikTok a few weeks before my trip, and as a chocolate enthusiast, I had no choice but to try it. Now, I will warn you- there is a line outside. You will likely have to wait outside in line for about 30 minutes, but once you get inside there is a HUGE brunch menu to choose from. Whether you're looking for a sweet breakfast or a savory breakfast, there are countless options to choose from. But don't forget to order yourself a hot chocolate!

Macarons are one of the most iconic desserts that Paris is known for. I personally love macarons and love to try different flavors so if you do like them or you've never had them, you should definitely give them a try in Paris. Lucky for you, there is a Laduree shop on the same block as Angelina's, so you can stop right after lunch! Some of the flavors they carry include vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, raspberry, coffee, citrus, caramel, lemon, rose, pistachio, and passion fruit.

4. SPEND SOME TIME AT THE DIOR MUSEUM

I know what you're probably thinking when you see this stop on the itinerary: what if I'm not into fashion? And the answer is that the Dior Museum is about much more than fashion. La Galerie Dior gives an inside look at famous French designer Christian Dior's life and how he came to be the successful, the craftsmanship behind each Dior piece, and more. There are some exhibits that remain throughout the year and some pieces that are brought in for special, limited-time exhibits. There are three glorious floors to go down and the experience starts with getting dropped off at the top floor and then working your way down through multiple levels of dresses and history in chronological order. There is also a cafe, a gift shop, and at the end you get to make your way down the most aesthetic and Instagrammable staircase you've ever seen in your life. This staicase features a glass wall composed of Christian Dior's handbags, shoes, and dresses in miniature versions that are arranged in rainbow order. If you're looking to learn more about my experience at La Galerie Dior to prepare for your experience, including ticket prices, how to book a time slot, etc, then click here.

5. SIT DOWN TO ENJOY A TYPICAL PARISIAN LUNCH OUTSIDE

One of my favorite things about visiting Paris is the fact that it's completely normal to sit outside at a restaurant for any meal during the entire year. It doesn't matter if it's sunny and warm, rainy and cold, or even if it's snowing...outdoor seating is almost always available at restaurants in Paris. It's practically part of the culture! This is why I would advise that during your lunchtime after running around to two different museums in the morning and having a nice breakfast/brunch, you take some time for a late lunch. Choose a restaurant nearby that has decent reviews (preferrably with some French cuisine if you want to try it), and take an hour or two to enjoy yourself outside with lunch and a glass of wine. Some spots I would recommend that are in between the Dior Museum and the next stop in this itinerary include:

6. STROLL THE IDYLLIC STREETS OF MONTMARTE & SHOP

Montmarte was by far my favorite place I went in Paris to this day. If you're not going to go anywhere else that I've listed in this itinerary, please promise me that you'll atleast go here. When you picture the narrow, cobblestone streets of Europe, you're probably picturing something similar to this neighborhood. This is a great place to go whether you're alone, with a group of friends, or with family because there are cute little shops with souvenirs, quaint cafes and bistrots, and artists that can draw realistic sketches of you. Montmarte is also located higher up in the city, so there are amazing views, especially at sunset (which is around when you will be here!). You can even book a walking tour or a foodie tour!

7. HAVE DINNER AT REFUGE DE FONDUE

While my friends and I ate out pretty much every meal of our 7 day Paris trip and went to countless great spots, this was by far our favorite place for two reasons: the food and the atmosphere. Refuge de Fondue is a fondue restaurant with only a couple options on their menu and only a couple reservations per night. The restaurant is two large tables set up vertically from top to bottom of the restaurant, so there are only a couple reservations per night and everyone comes at the exact same time. My group had a 7:30 pm reservation and we found about 30 people outside waiting with the same reservation. We were all let in at 7:30 on the dot and helped to a seat at one of the two tables. You are then given a Kir Royale to start along with a little charcuterie board of cheeses, meats, olives, etc. Then you can choose between either the cheese fondue with bread or the meat fondue with potatoes, and for dessert a cheese souffle or a chocolate mousse. You are also given a large baby bottle full of red or white wine to drink during dinner.

During our time at this restaurant, we found ourselves sitting next to two different groups. One couple was from Colorado and they were on their last day traveling through Paris. The family on the other side of us was a Michelin star chef who had heard through the grape vine that Refuge de Fondue had the best fondue in all of Paris, so he brought his family to try it for themselves. Overall, everyone thought both the cheese and meat fondue were phenomenal as well as the desserts, and we loved meeting new people! The atmosphere of this little restaurant is so warm and welcoming, it feels like you are at a cozy dinner party with a big group. Just make sure if you want to stop here that you make a reservations as soon as you can!

8. STOP BY THE EIFFEL TOWER & SIT ON THE LAWN TO END YOUR DAY

Now that it's dark out and you're full of fondue and wine it's time for your final stop: the Eiffel Tower. You didn't think I was going to leave this out of the itinerary, did you?! Even though this is a great spot to visit during the day and you could fit it in during the daytime if you really wanted to, at night the Eiffel Tower is even more beautiful because it's lit up. If you go after it becomes dark, the tower will even SPARKLE at the top of each hour for 5 minutes until 1 am. You can then sit on the lawn of the Champ de Mars or you can enjoy the view from the top of the Jardins du Trocadero, which is where the photo above was taken. What a perfect way to end a night in Paris!

HOW CAN I ADJUST THIS ITINERARY FOR 24 HOURS IN PARIS WITH KIDS?

If you're traveling with children then I would suggest choosing to go to only one of the museums (the Louvre or the Dior Museum). My guess would be that children would likely enjoy the Dior Museum more because of the colors, but it depends on how old your kids are! I would also say if you have children I would NOT miss the Angelina's hot chocolate. They'll absolutely love it. Finally, I believe children would love shopping in Montmarte because there are a bunch of little souvenirs they can bring home that will make them happy without emptying out your wallet. Overall, if it were me I would start the morning at Angelina's for hot chocolate and breakfast, then hit whichever of the two museums you chose, then grab lunch, head to Montmarte to shop and stroll the streets, grab dinner at Refuge de Fondue (if your kids like cheese or meat), and then make a quick stop at the Eiffel Tower.

WHAT ARE THE CHEAPEST METHODS OF TRANSPORTATION IN PARIS?

The Metro is the cheapest way to get around the city, but biking is also an affordable option. There are bikes scattered in different areas across the city from companies like Velib, and this is a great way to be able to see a lot and stay outside while moving from one area to the next. Just remember that Velib bikes are not recommended for children under 14 years old. There is also a decent bus system that operates in Paris known as the RATP bus network. If you absolutely need it, there are taxis and Ubers, but these are the most expensive ways to travel throughout Paris.

IS THIS ITINERARY GOOD FOR TRAVELERS ON A LAYOVER?

Yes, this itinerary is PERFECT for travelers on a super long layover who are looking to get out and see Paris. If the layover is shorter and you don't have time for everything, I firmly believe anything on this list is an exceptional use of time because these were all my favorite things that I did during a full week long trip in Paris. If I had a short layover but wanted to see a couple of things from the list, I would personally pick one thing to do, one meal, and a quick stop at the Eiffel Tower. This means I would recommend either: 1. Angelina's, the Louvre, and the Eiffel Tower, 2. the Dior Museum, lunch, and the Eiffel Tower, or 3. Montemarte visit, dinner, and the Eiffel Tower.

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