One Day in Paris: The Perfect 1-Day Itinerary

We love Paris. It’s one of our favourite cities in Europe, and one we’ve visited more times than we can count. Ideally, we’d want you to spend as long as possible here, but we know that’s not always realistic. Sometimes you have a layover, a day trip from London, or just a single day slotted into a bigger European trip.

We’ve put together a step-by-step plan for one day in Paris, covering the sights most visitors want to see, in an order that makes geographical sense so you’re not wasting time criss-crossing the city. We’ve also included tips on getting around, saving money, where to eat, and how to get to and from the airports if you’re arriving by plane.

 

Paris in One Day at a Glance

Yes, you can see Paris in a day. You won’t get to all of it, but one well-planned day is enough for the sights that define the city, and you can do it without spending the whole time rushing. We’ve been to Paris more times than we can count, and the route below is the one we’d give a friend who only had a single day here.

Here’s the shape of the day:

• The route, in order: Sainte-Chapelle, Notre-Dame, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, a Seine river cruise, the Champs-Élysées, and the Arc de Triomphe to finish.
• Start at Sainte-Chapelle for its 9am opening. The day runs to roughly 7pm, and later if you stay at the Arc de Triomphe for sunset.
• It’s a compact, mostly walkable loop through central Paris, with the Metro covering the few longer hops.
• Booked individually and in advance, the attraction tickets come to around €108 (non-EEA visitor, high season). Skip the paid climbs and viewpoints and that figure drops a long way.
• One thing to check first: the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays. If your day lands on a Tuesday, swap in the Musée d’Orsay, which closes Mondays instead.

 

Paris in a Day: Our Itinerary

This is a full-day itinerary that covers our favourite Paris highlights. The stops towards the end of the day open late, so you can keep sightseeing into the evening if you have the energy.

It’s a suggestion, not a checklist. Drop anything that doesn’t interest you, and don’t feel bad about it. The best itinerary is the one that works for you.

One tip before we start: grab a coffee and a pastry from a local boulangerie on your way to the first stop. A fresh pain au chocolat from a Paris bakery is one of those small things that sets the tone for the whole day.

 

Sainte-Chapelle (~9am)

It took me several visits to Paris before I finally made it to Sainte-Chapelle. That was a mistake I regret. This 13th-century Gothic chapel has almost floor-to-ceiling stained glass windows, and when you step inside it’s like walking into a jewel box. I stood there, mouth open, for a solid minute before I thought to pick up my camera.

The chapel is small and the mandatory security checks create bottlenecks, so the queue can get long quickly. I’d recommend being in line ten to fifteen minutes before the 9am opening time. That way you’ll be among the first inside and can enjoy the windows without crowds.

There’s an entry fee of €22 (€16 for EEA nationals/residents). You can buy tickets on the official site, or browse guided tour options on the GetYourGuide Sainte-Chapelle page. Entry is also included on the Paris Pass Plus and Paris Museum Pass.

The nearby Conciergerie, where Marie Antoinette was imprisoned before her execution, is also worth a quick visit. You can buy a combined ticket covering both on the official site.

Getting here from the airports: From Charles de Gaulle, RER line B stops at Saint-Michel/Notre-Dame, which is a short walk from Sainte-Chapelle. A single Paris Region <> Airports ticket costs €14. From Paris Orly, you have two options: Metro Line 14 direct from Châtelet (25 minutes), or the Orlyval shuttle train to Antony then RER line B from there. Both cost €14. You can also book a private transfer from either airport.

 

Notre-Dame Cathedral (~10am)

Sainte-Chapelle is just a short walk from Notre-Dame Cathedral, one of the most recognisable buildings in the world. A devastating fire seriously damaged the cathedral in April 2019, but it reopened in December 2024 after a remarkable five-year restoration. It’s free to visit the ground floor, and you can find opening hours on the official website.

While you’re on the Île de la Cité, another spot worth a few minutes is the Mémorial des Martyrs de la Déportation, the moving memorial to those deported from France during WWII.

While you’re in this area, pop across the river to Shakespeare and Company, the famous English-language bookshop on the Left Bank just opposite the cathedral. It’s been a literary landmark since 1951, and it’s a lovely spot to browse for ten minutes.

 

The Louvre (~11am)

From Notre-Dame to the Louvre is either a short fifteen-minute walk along the river (which is very pretty) or about ten minutes on Metro line 7. We’d recommend walking if the weather is decent.

The Louvre started life as a 12th-century fortress, became the main palace of the French Kings in the 16th century, and has been an art museum since 1793. Today it’s the world’s largest art museum, home to a collection of roughly 500,000 objects with around 35,000 on display at any one time. The Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo are the big draws, but there’s far more here than those two highlights, from Islamic art to Greek antiquities to the gorgeous Napoleon III apartments.

You could spend a full day here and still not see everything, but with just one day in Paris, we’d suggest limiting yourself to about two hours. Pick the wings that interest you most, see the major highlights, and don’t feel guilty about skipping entire sections.

The Louvre is one of Paris’s most popular attractions, and the entry lines can be very long. There are usually two main queues outside the glass pyramid: a faster security line for those with advance tickets, and a slower one for people without. On particularly busy days (mostly in summer), entry is only available with advance tickets, so buying ahead is important.

Important ticketing change (2026): The Louvre now sells entry tickets exclusively through its official website. Third-party sites like GetYourGuide and Tiqets no longer sell standalone entry tickets. Booking a timed-entry slot in advance is strongly recommended, as the museum regularly sells out during peak periods. You can still buy on arrival on a quiet day, but booking ahead removes the uncertainty.

Entry costs €32 (€22 for EEA nationals/residents). It’s free for under-18s regardless of nationality, and for EEA residents under 26. The Louvre is closed on Tuesdays. If your day in Paris falls on a Tuesday, you’ll need to rethink the itinerary or replace the Louvre with another museum. The Musée d’Orsay (closed Mondays) would be a good alternative. See opening times on the official site.

If you have a Paris Museum Pass or Paris Pass Plus: reserve an entry time on the official site as well. The pass covers your admission, but a time-slot booking is strongly recommended, and on a busy day you may not get in without one.

If you’d prefer a guided experience, both Take Walks and GetYourGuide offer guided tours that include entry. We’ve done several Louvre tours with Take Walks over the years and the small group sizes and knowledgeable guides make a real difference. A guided tour is also a useful backup if the official site is sold out, as tour operators have their own ticket allocations, and GetYourGuide’s free cancellation on most tours is a nice insurance policy.

For more on pass options, see the section further down on saving money during your time in Paris.

On the walk from the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower, you’ll pass through the Jardin des Tuileries, the formal gardens that stretch from the Louvre towards the Place de la Concorde. If you need a breather after the museum, this is a good place to sit for a few minutes before continuing.

 

Eiffel Tower (~1:30pm)

You can’t visit Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower, and it’s something we visit almost every time we’re in the city. No matter how many times I’ve seen it, I’m still struck by just how big it is. When it opened in 1889 it was the tallest man-made structure in the world, at 324 metres to the tip, and it held that title for over forty years until the Chrysler Building overtook it in 1930. The top observation deck sits at 276 metres, which is still one of the highest urban viewpoints in Europe today.

You don’t have to go up to enjoy it. You can get excellent views of the tower from the Champ de Mars gardens (the landscaped park to the southeast), or from the Trocadéro on the opposite bank of the Seine. The Trocadéro view, looking back across the fountains to the tower, is the classic Paris photograph, and it’s completely free. If you’re pressed for time or not keen on heights, this is a worthwhile alternative to going up.

If this is your first visit though, we’d recommend going up. There are three floors you can visit, and the first two even have restaurants. If it’s near a meal time, eating inside the Eiffel Tower is a memorable (if pricey) experience. The more casual options don’t require reservations, but if you want to eat at the Jules Verne, book well in advance. We’ve eaten at all the tower restaurants over the years, and the Jules Verne was the standout. Try to request a window seat if you can.

For going up, we strongly recommend buying tickets in advance. The on-site queues get very long, and you can save a lot of time by booking ahead. Tickets are available from the official website, which has the best prices, though note that official tickets are non-refundable.

If you’d prefer a guided tour with free cancellation, this one on GetYourGuide with 2nd floor access is a good option. A guided climb to the second floor is also included on the Paris Pass.
The Eiffel Tower is also available as an option on the Paris City Card.

Even with pre-booked tickets, you’ll still go through security screening, as with all major Paris attractions.

Getting to the Eiffel Tower from the Louvre involves either a lovely forty-minute walk along the Seine, a thirty-minute Metro ride, or a twenty-five-minute bus ride. For more tips, see our complete guide to visiting the Eiffel Tower.

 

Seine River Cruise (~3:30pm)

After all that walking, a Seine River Cruise is a very welcome sit-down. Several operators depart from right next to the Eiffel Tower, making this a natural next step.

A standard sightseeing cruise takes about an hour, heading along the Seine past Notre-Dame, the Louvre, and the Musée d’Orsay before looping back. Commentary varies between operators, from pre-recorded audio to live guides, and in different languages. Jess has a detailed post comparing Seine River sightseeing cruises that’s worth reading if you want to understand all the options.

Longer cruises with meals are also available, which could make a nice way to end your day. We have a comprehensive guide to Seine River dinner cruises if that appeals.

For an Eiffel Tower departure, we’d recommend Bateaux Mouches or Bateaux Parisiens. The Bateaux Parisiens cruise is also included on the Paris Pass and the Paris City Card.

You can also browse cruise options on GetYourGuide.

 

Champs-Élysées (~5pm)

From culture to consumerism. The Champs-Élysées is the most famous shopping street in Paris, stretching over a mile from the Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe. You’ll find everything from luxury fashion houses to flagship car showrooms to French macaron shops.

It’s also one of Paris’s great ceremonial streets. The Bastille Day military parade passes down it every 14th July, and the Tour de France has finished here almost every year since 1975 (with a one-off exception in 2024, when the finish was moved to Nice so Paris could host the Olympics).

The Arc de Triomphe sits at the western end, making this a natural walkway towards our final stop. You don’t need to spend long here, but strolling at least part of the Champs-Élysées is part of the Paris experience.

 

Arc de Triomphe (evening)

The Arc de Triomphe is our recommended final stop for your day in Paris, and it’s one of our favourite viewpoints in the city. This massive monument at the western end of the Champs-Élysées was commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 to honour those who fought and died for France, and took thirty years to complete.

You can admire the arch from below for free. But for the best experience, pay the entry fee and climb to the top (or take the lift). From the rooftop, twelve avenues radiate out in every direction, and you get views across the whole of Paris including the Eiffel Tower and La Défense. On a clear evening, with the city lights starting to come on, it’s a brilliant way to end the day.

Important: to reach the arch, use the pedestrian underpass. The traffic circle has twelve lanes of cars trying to murder each other at all times, so crossing it on foot is not an option.

Entry costs €22 from April to September (except Wednesdays), and €16 from October to March and on all Wednesdays. Free for under-18s and EEA residents under 26. It’s included on the Paris Pass Plus and Paris Museum Pass. You can also buy a skip-the-line ticket on GetYourGuide here.

The Arc de Triomphe is open late, which is why we’ve put it at the end of the day. You can visit well into the evening and still get the views.

If you time your visit for around sunset, the experience is even better. As the daylight fades and the city lights come on, the Eiffel Tower starts its famous twinkling light show, and you can watch the whole of Paris transform from day to night. It’s one of the best sunset experiences in the city.

 

Map for One Day in Paris

Here’s a map of the itinerary so you can see how it all fits together. The route forms a rough loop through central Paris, keeping travel distances manageable. You can also view this map on Google Maps.

 

Where to Eat in Paris

Even with just a day, you should try to squeeze in at least one proper sit-down meal. Paris is packed with great restaurants at every price point, and eating well is part of the experience. France is a country that takes food seriously, and even casual neighbourhood bistros tend to serve food that would pass for a special occasion elsewhere.

For a budget-friendly classic, we love Bouillon Chartier, particularly the Grands Boulevards location. They don’t take reservations and they get busy, but the food is good and the prices feel like a time warp for Paris. It’s a proper old-school Parisian dining room, the kind of place where the waiter scribbles your order on the paper tablecloth.

If you’re looking for something near the Latin Quarter (close to our first few stops), Le Vieux Bistrot near the Panthéon does solid traditional French food at reasonable prices. In Le Marais, Le Café des Musées does a beef bourguignon we come back to every visit. It’s on a quiet side street and feels like a proper neighbourhood bistro.

A useful tip: most restaurants in Paris offer a “menu du jour” (set menu of the day), which is usually the best value. These tend to be cheaper at lunch than dinner, so if you’re trying to save money, make lunch your main meal.

If you want to eat at one of the more popular restaurants, book in advance. We use TheFork (La Fourchette in French), the most popular restaurant booking platform in France. It’s easy to use and handles reservations in English, which is handy if you don’t speak French.

If you’re interested in a more structured food experience, we’ve done the Take Walks food tour through Le Marais and can recommend it as a great introduction to Parisian food culture.

 

How to Get Around Paris

Paris is easy to get around. For much of this itinerary you’ll be on foot, with the Metro filling in for any longer hops. The Metro network covers the whole city and is fast and frequent.

Paris has moved to an electronic ticketing system. The old cardboard tickets are being phased out, and you now need either a Navigo Easy card (€2 to buy, then load with tickets) or the IDF Mobilités smartphone app. Both are easy to use, and tickets can be bought from machines at any Metro station. The machines accept cards and cash and have an English language option.

For everything you need to know about Paris transport, see our detailed guide to how to get around Paris.

 

Getting To and From Paris Airport

There are two main airports serving Paris. Charles de Gaulle (CDG) is the primary international airport, and Paris Orly handles mostly European and domestic flights. Both are reachable by public transport with a single flat-rate €14 Paris Region <> Airports ticket.

From CDG, the RER B train takes around 35 to 45 minutes to central Paris, depending on how many stops your train makes. The old RoissyBus service from Opéra was discontinued in March 2026, so if you don’t want to take the train, the main alternatives are now a taxi (flat fares of €56 to the Right Bank, €65 to the Left Bank) or a pre-booked transfer.

From Paris Orly, Metro Line 14 now runs direct to the airport and takes 25 minutes from Châtelet-Les Halles. Alternatively, you can take RER B to Antony and transfer to the Orlyval shuttle train for the final few minutes. The Orlybus service, which used to run from Denfert-Rochereau, was discontinued in March 2025. Taxis are flat-fare at €32 (Right Bank) or €37 (Left Bank).

If you’re travelling in a group or with heavy luggage, a taxi or private transfer may work out more cost-effective.

 

Walking Tours of Paris

If you’d prefer to see Paris with a guide rather than navigating on your own, we recommend Take Walks. We’ve used them for walking tours in cities all over the world, and the small groups and expert guides always make a difference. Some of their Paris tours we’ve done and can recommend:

• A full-day walking tour of Paris covering the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, and a Seine River Cruise
• A three-hour tour of Sainte-Chapelle and Notre-Dame
• Their Ultimate Paris Food Tour through Le Marais

Other options include this food tour through Le Marais on GetYourGuide, this Hemingway walking tour with Context Travel, or this Montmartre walking tour.

 

Where to Stay in Paris

If you’re spending a night in Paris, you’ll have more time to fit things in and won’t have to rush off for a flight or train. You might even want to add a few extra sights from our 2-day Paris itinerary or 3-day Paris itinerary.

Paris has accommodation at every price point. For this itinerary, we’d recommend finding somewhere central, ideally within easy walking distance of a Metro station, to minimise time spent travelling.

Our go-to for finding accommodation is Booking.com. They usually have the best prices and the widest range. Here are some places we’d suggest:

• The People – Paris Marais, a well-reviewed hostel in Le Marais, one of our favourite parts of Paris to stay
• Hôtel Eiffel Turenne, a well-rated 3-star hotel within a ten-minute walk of the Eiffel Tower
• Hôtel Dress Code, a highly reviewed 4-star hotel just a few hundred metres from the Opéra Garnier
• Hotel France Louvre, a well-rated 3-star hotel on Rue de Rivoli near Le Marais and the Louvre

If you prefer an apartment, we recommend Plum Guide. They curate their listings carefully, so the quality tends to be high across all price points. We’ve stayed at several of their properties, including a beautiful Paris apartment with Eiffel Tower views. See their Paris listings here.

If you can’t find what you want from those options, we have a whole post on Airbnb alternatives with more ideas. We also have a travel resources page with our tips for getting the best deals on accommodation.

 

How to Save Money in Paris

With just one day in Paris, we don’t think any of the multi-attraction passes offer great value for this specific itinerary. Here’s why.

The 1-day Paris Pass costs €99. From our itinerary, the pass covers the Eiffel Tower guided climb (around €35), Seine River Cruise (€17), and… that’s about it. The total comes to around €52. Unless you added several other included attractions like the hop-on hop-off bus or wine tasting, you’d actually spend more on the pass than on individual tickets.

The Paris Pass Plus (which adds the Paris Museum Pass for Louvre, Sainte-Chapelle, and Arc de Triomphe access) isn’t available in a 1-day version. The minimum is 2 days.

The Paris City Card from Tiqets bundles various options including the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, and a Seine cruise, and may be worth comparing to individual ticket prices depending on current pricing.

Our recommendation for a single day: buy individual tickets for each attraction in advance. This gives you the most flexibility and is likely to be the cheapest option.

Here’s what the attractions in our itinerary cost individually, as of April 2026. Note that many French national monuments now have two-tier pricing: a standard price for non-EEA visitors, and a reduced price for EEA nationals/residents.

• Sainte-Chapelle (€22 / €16 EEA). Buy on the official site.
• Louvre (€32 / €22 EEA). Buy on the official site only. A timed-entry slot is strongly recommended.
• Eiffel Tower (€14.80 for the stairs to the 2nd floor, with guided 2nd-floor tours from around €35). Buy on the official site, or browse guided tours on GYG.
• Seine River Cruise (€17 with Bateaux Parisiens). Book on Tiqets or GetYourGuide.
• Arc de Triomphe (€22 Apr-Sep / €16 Oct-Mar). Book on GetYourGuide.

Total for individual tickets (non-EEA, high season, stairs to Eiffel Tower): around €108. That’s less than the 1-day Paris Pass (€99) plus the Louvre and Sainte-Chapelle tickets you’d still need to buy separately.

If you’re staying longer, or planning a different mix of attractions, the passes may well make sense. In that case, compare the following:

• The Paris Pass (see our review)
• The Paris Museum Pass (see our review)
• The Paris City Card
• The Go Paris Explorer Pass

A few other ways to save: on the first Sunday of every month, most museums in Paris offer free entry (though popular spots like the Louvre get extremely busy). EEA residents under 26 get free access to many attractions with ID. And always check opening days before visiting to avoid turning up to a closed museum.

 

Practicalities for Visiting Paris

 

Power in Paris

France uses the 220v standard with 2-pin European plugs. Travellers from the UK and US will need an adapter. US travellers should also check that their devices support 220v (it’ll be printed on the power adapter). Most laptop, phone, and camera chargers are dual-voltage and will work fine. Larger devices like hair dryers usually aren’t.

For more on choosing the right adapter, see our guide to the best travel adapters.

 

Currency in Paris

Paris uses the Euro. You can get Euros from ATMs, banks, and currency exchanges. Credit cards are widely accepted and there’s no need to carry large amounts of cash.

 

Internet Access in Paris

WiFi is widely available in hotels, cafes, and public spaces around the city. If you want mobile data while exploring, check with your carrier about roaming options before you travel. Many carriers now include European roaming at no extra cost.

If your carrier doesn’t offer good roaming, an eSIM is a convenient alternative. We’ve used Airalo and found it works well for staying connected without swapping SIM cards. You can also pick up a local SIM if you have an unlocked phone.

For more, see our guide to getting online when travelling. We also have a guide to picking the best travel router.

 

Drinking Water in Paris

Tap water in Paris is safe to drink unless otherwise posted. We usually travel with a reusable water bottle. We love our Klean Kanteen bottles because they’re lightweight, easy to clean, and the company is a certified B Corp.

 

Safety in Paris

Paris is a safe city in our experience, though it does have a reputation for a few common scams. Most are easy to avoid once you know about them. Keep your valuables in a front pocket (with a zip if possible), keep your bag in view at all times, and avoid anyone who approaches with a clipboard or tries to give you something “for free”. The bracelet sellers around the Sacré-Cœur and the petition signers near the Eiffel Tower are the most common ones you’ll encounter.

We’ve never had any problems in Paris ourselves, but a bit of awareness goes a long way. For more detail, read our guide to avoiding Paris scams.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Can you see Paris in one day?

You can see the major highlights of Paris in one day, including the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre-Dame, and the Arc de Triomphe. You won’t be able to do everything, but with a well-planned itinerary and advance tickets, you can cover a surprising amount.

The key is buying tickets in advance so you’re not wasting time in queues, and being realistic about what you can fit in. Start early and prioritise the sights that matter most to you.

 

What should you see in Paris in one day?

If you only have time for a few things, we’d prioritise the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and Sainte-Chapelle. The Eiffel Tower is the icon everyone wants to see, the Louvre is world-class even for a short visit, and Sainte-Chapelle has the most jaw-dropping interior in Paris.

If you have time for more, add Notre-Dame (free), a Seine River Cruise (relaxing and covers a lot of ground), and the Arc de Triomphe for sunset views.

 

Is the Tour Montparnasse still open?

No. Tour Montparnasse closed on March 31, 2026 for a major renovation that is expected to last several years. There is no confirmed reopening date, and it has been removed from the Paris Pass.

For sunset views of Paris, we recommend the Arc de Triomphe rooftop (included on the Paris Museum Pass) or the Trocadéro, which offers a free view of the Eiffel Tower.

 

Do I need a Paris Pass for one day?

Probably not. The 1-day Paris Pass costs €99 but only covers a few of the attractions in a typical one-day itinerary (the Eiffel Tower guided climb and Seine cruise, mainly). The Louvre, Sainte-Chapelle, and Arc de Triomphe require the Plus version, which isn’t available for just one day.

For a single day, you’re likely better off buying individual tickets in advance for each attraction. It’s cheaper and more flexible.

 

How much does one day in Paris cost?

Budget somewhere around €150 to €200 per person for a full day, and less if you keep things simple. The five ticketed attractions in this itinerary come to about €108 for a non-EEA visitor in high season, and less again if you are an EEA resident or skip some of the climbs.

On top of tickets, allow roughly €40 to €70 for food across the day: a coffee and pastry, a good-value lunch from a menu du jour, and a sit-down dinner. Add a few euros for Metro journeys, and €14 each way for the RER if you are arriving by air.

You can also do the day for far less. Notre-Dame’s ground floor, the Trocadéro view of the Eiffel Tower, and a walk down the Champs-Élysées are all free, so a budget day built around them costs little more than your meals.

 

Do I need to book Louvre tickets in advance?

We’d strongly recommend it. Since 2026, Louvre entry tickets are sold only through the official website (ticket.louvre.fr), and third-party sites no longer offer standalone entry tickets. A timed-entry slot isn’t strictly mandatory, but the museum regularly sells out in peak season, so booking ahead is the safe choice. On a quiet day you can buy on arrival.

If you have a Paris Museum Pass, reserve a time slot on the Louvre website as well. The pass covers your admission, but on a busy day you may not get in without a reservation.

 

What is the best way to get from CDG airport to central Paris?

The cheapest option is the RER B train, which takes 35 to 45 minutes depending on how many stops the service makes. A single Paris Region <> Airports ticket costs €14 and covers the full journey.

For groups or those with heavy luggage, a fixed-price taxi (€56 to the Right Bank, €65 to the Left Bank) or pre-booked private transfer may be more convenient and cost-effective. You can book a transfer in advance through GetYourGuide.

 

Further Reading for Your Paris Visit

We’ve been to Paris many times and put together a lot of guides from our trips. Here are the most useful for planning:

• Our 2-day Paris itinerary and 3-day Paris itinerary if you decide to stay longer
• My guide to the best photography locations in Paris
• Guides to choosing a Seine River cruise and Seine River dinner cruises
• How to buy Paris Opera tickets, attend a fashion show at Galeries Lafayette, and save on Michelin-starred restaurants in Paris
• Our Paris Pass review and Paris Museum Pass review
• A complete guide to visiting Galeries Lafayette
• The definitive guide to the best afternoon tea in Paris
• Our Moulin Rouge guide
• If you want a guidebook, we recommend Rick Steves Paris and Lonely Planet Paris

And that’s our guide to making the most of one day in Paris! If you have any questions or tips of your own, let us know in the comments below.