Visit Paris in one day

Paris is renowned for its unique concentration of historical sites and monuments. The city also has many museums, parks and gardens. In addition, there are restaurants, cafés, brasseries and shops of all kinds... There are so many places of interest to explore and so many activities to do in the capital, that you think you will never have time to visit Paris in 1 day, or even 2 or 3... It's true and false at the same time, it all depends on what you mean by visiting, even on a short stay! Find for example in this article a tour of the unmissable sites that you can discover in one day in Paris.

Having breakfast on the Champs-Elysées

The ideal starting point for discovering the capital would be the Place du Rond-Point, at the Champs-Elysées-Clémenceau metro station (lines 1 and 13).

Start off gently with breakfast on the most beautiful avenue in the world. You can choose from a number of renowned establishments. For example, there is the restaurant La Table du Huit (8, rue Jean Goujon, 350m from the metro) or the Ladurée tea room (75 Avenue des Champs-Élysées, 50m from the metro).

Then take a leisurely stroll up the Champs-Elysées to the Arc de Triomphe. This will allow you to discover the many brands established on the avenue, from chain stores to luxury window displays, such as Cartier or Louis Vuitton, as well as renowned restaurants and fast-food outlets.

From the Arc de Triomphe to the Eiffel Tower

Continue with a half-hour walk in the direction of the Eiffel Tower. This walk will allow you to discover various emblematic places such as the Place de l'Etoile, the Avenue Kléber or especially the Place du Trocadéro and its beautiful fountains. Going down this esplanade where Parisians usually gather, you will arrive at the Iena bridge which will lead you to the feet of the Iron Lady.

If possible, take the time to climb to the top to enjoy a panoramic view of the city. If the stairs take you up to the second floor, the third floor can only be reached by lift.

15 minutes walk to reach the Place d'Alma

It actually takes less than fifteen minutes to reach this place halfway between the 8^th and 16^th boroughs. It's the perfect place to take a gourmet break. You can choose from several renowned restaurants. For example, you can enjoy a seafood platter at Marius and Jeannette's restaurant, taste sandwiches or salads prepared at Bret's, or sit down in a chic and contemporary setting at 6 New York.

Take advantage of your visit to the area to make a detour to the Museum of Modern Art and the Palais de Tokyo, a five-minute walk away.

Stroll in the Tuileries gardens

The Tuileries are fifteen minutes away by metro and twenty-five minutes on foot. Catherine de Medici's castle no longer exists today. But we still have its sumptuous gardens. One can only rave here about the perfect symmetry of these gardens. We recognize here the imprint of André le Nôtre, to whom we also owe the gardens of the castles of Versailles and Vaux-le-Vicomte.

The gardens of the royal family now offer the public a relaxing and exotic setting. At the same time, it is a place of culture that brings together three major museums: the Orangery Museum, the Jeu de Paume (devoted to contemporary art) and the Louvre, the best known and most visited in the world.

Discovering the Ile de la Cité

We now propose you to discover the Ile de la Cité, half an hour's walk from the Tuileries or twelve minutes by metro (plus a six-minute walk after the last station). It's a place that is easy to fall in love with. The Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral is located here. The most emblematic religious building in France remains closed to the public during construction. This does not prevent you from getting close to it to admire one of the most beautiful achievements of Gothic art, with its sculptures, gargoyles, carved doors...

The Opéra Garnier district

The metro ride from the Ile de la Cité takes fifteen minutes. At the exit of the metro, you can admire the beauty of the façade of the Opera Garnier. Treat yourself by visiting this emblematic Parisian monument; you can also attend one of the many ballets performed there.

The Opéra Garnier district is also appreciated for its numerous shops, especially on the Boulevard Haussmann side. They offer the public a wide variety of items reflecting the French lifestyle: from leather goods to jewellery, including treasures of French perfumery, clothing and household linen. These typically Parisian establishments also house many small gourmet stands.

Stroll in Montmartre

The next stop is half an hour by subway. Montmartre is one of the most famous districts of the capital. To discover all its attractions, spend an hour or two, if not more. In any case, take your time to soak up the special atmosphere of this old village in the heart of Paris. For the price of a metro ticket (1.90 €), you can easily reach the basilica by taking the funicular. Or you can climb the 222 steps that lead to the top of the Butte. This effort should not put you off if, after the walk along the Champs-Elysées, you have taken the stairs up to the second floor of the Iron Lady.

When you get to the top, you will wander through charming narrow streets lined with art galleries and atypical shops, as well as restaurants serving traditional cuisine. These picturesque alleys will lead you to the cemetery where many personalities rest, and even to vineyards. The escapade is also an opportunity to discover the famous "Wall of I Love You", one of the places that symbolize the city of love and romance that is Paris.

Paris is also known to be a city where art is omnipresent, through monuments, museums and streets in particular. The capital's landscape is partly shaped by street art; some streets are animated by talented artists: jugglers, dancers, singers... Street artists can also be found in Montmartre. The designers of the Place du Tertre are particularly appreciated by tourists. After a detour to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, have a portrait or a caricature drawn for you. It will be one of your most beautiful Parisian memories.

Dinner in Montmartre

The escapade will have allowed you to appreciate all the attractions of this authentic village in the heart of Paris; you will have discovered the charm of its peaceful alleys, admired the architecture of its basilica, appreciated the talent of its street artists... No doubt, Montmartre is one of the best places to finish in beauty the discovery of the city of love.

Let yourself be tempted by typically French dishes at Le Miroir, a bistro that bears the colours of Montmartre, just a stone's throw from Abbesses station on line 12. The establishment has a wine cellar across the street. The bistro serves, among other things, organic vegetables, beef with porcini mushrooms and homemade Liège chocolate.

If you prefer Mediterranean cuisine, we can recommend the Corsican restaurant Casa Livia, on the side of rue Lamarck, in the 18th district.^thwhich you can easily reach by taking the metro Lamarck-Caulaincourt (line 12). In this delicatessen, treat yourself to local Corsican products, from chestnut terrine to omelette to brocciu and fiadonne, among others.