Paris has lots of nicknames, like “City of Lights” or “City of Love.” For me, it’s the “City Where I Once Spent Just 24 Hours”—and where I had the most magical time, stuffing my face with croissants, watching a racy cabaret performance, and visiting the Louvre (but not to see the Mona Lisa). While I hope you get to spend more time here than I did on that visit, if you only have one day you’ll be able to see a lot more than you think.
For this one-day itinerary, I’m focusing on the tried-and-true attractions that will appeal to both first-time visitors and those who have been to this capital city once or twice. I’ve also worked in spots along the way where you can take a load off, whether it’s a boulangerie where you can enjoy a just-baked croissant or a brasserie where you can sit on the sidewalk and watch the world go by. And don’t worry, there’s also some after-dark fun. To make sure your rendezvous in Paris is très bon, I’ve included highly rated picks from the Tripadvisor community that pretty much guarantee that you’ll fall in love with Paris.
MORNING: Croissants and cathedrals in the Latin Quarter
You’re skipping the leisurely breakfast at the hotel—that’s non-negotiable on a one-day visit. Get an early start in the Latin Quarter, easily accessed by Metro via the St. Michel station. On the Left Bank of the Seine, the neighborhood is a tangle of narrow streets and cobblestone alleyways lined with cute shops and eateries.
There are plenty of local bakeries where you can order a flaky croissant or a rich pain du chocolat. Try the Boulangerie Moderne (made popular—sometimes too popular—after its appearance in Emily in Paris) or either of these two favorites of Tripadvisor reviewers, A. Lacroix Pâtissier or La Maison d’Isabelle. Or buy a baguette and some cheese from a couple of shops and put together your own petit déjeuner (breakfast).
Enjoy your meal in the Luxembourg Gardens, a beautifully manicured spot that’s at its best in the early morning before the crowds appear. The stately Luxembourg Palace, the meeting place of the French Senate, sits on the northern edge of the gardens.
A few minutes’ walk east is the 18th-century Panthéon, which for centuries has alternated between a house of worship and a patriotic monument, depending on who was leading the government at the time. Many historical figures are buried here, including Marie and PIerre Curie, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Victor Hugo, Émile Zola, and Alexander Dumas. Buy tickets in advanced to avoid the inevitable long lines.
Once you’ve explored the Panthéon, stroll past the handsome buildings of one of the world’s oldest universities, the Sorbonne (where students once spoke Latin, giving the neighborhood its name). You’re on your way to one of the most famous bookshops in Paris, Shakespeare & Company, where the storefront is decorated with chalkboard signs telling the building’s history. There will probably be a line to get inside, but don’t worry, it moves quickly.
After some light browsing among the stacks, take a five-minute walk north to the Île de la Cité, the island in the Seine where you’ll find the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris. Built in the 12th century, this cathedral hosted the crowning of King Henry VI in 1431 and the coronation of Napoleon I in 1804. There’s no time to explore the interior—which is fine, because it’s still not open to the public after a catastrophic fire in 2019—but take note of the twin bell towers, the flying buttresses, and the slender spire that was unveiled in 2024.
LATIN QUARTER AREA TOUR OPTIONS
- If you prefer to have a knowledgeable guide leading the way, consider the highly rated Latin Quarter Guided Walking Tour. Limited to eight people, this small group tour covers the Panthéon and many of the other sites mentioned in this itinerary.
- Walking past so many food shops is sure to make you hungry, so treat your inner foodie to a three-hour Latin Quarter Food Tour. Highlights include locally owned shops selling the best cheeses, breads, and wines.
- Hop on a baby-blue bicycle and explore the streets on this Bike Tour of the Latin Quarter and Le Marais. The tour focuses more on neighborhood haunts, so you’ll stop at a quaint bookstore and a couple of cute cafes.
AFTERNOON: Skip the lines—all of them—at the Louvre
After Notre-Dame, head north across the Pont d’Arcole and you’ll be in the bustling neighborhood of the Marais. I suggest lunch at a brasserie called Le Ju’, which you’ll recognize at a glance from the multicolored umbrellas hovering outside. (Get there a little early and you might be able to snag one of the coveted tables on the sidewalk.) The welcome is warm, the food comes quickly, and the prices are more than reasonable—no wonder it earned Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Award.
A few minutes away is the first of three museums we’ll hit this afternoon: the Louvre. Snap some pics in front of the glass pyramid in the courtyard—one of the truly iconic sights of Paris—and then move on. Wait, we’re not going inside to see the Mona Lisa? Here’s the thing: There are lines to get into the museum, more outside the gallery where it’s hanging, and even more inside the gallery as you inch forward to get a closer look. It could take you a couple of hours just to see one surprisingly small painting. Trust us that you should save this one for a future trip when you have more time to savor this great museum.
Down the street from the Louvre is the much more manageable Musée de l’Orangerie. It was built to accommodate the one showstopper here—Claude Monet’s Water Lilies—but there are also plenty of Picassos, Cessnas, and Renoirs. The whole place will take you maybe 45 minutes. Afterward, spend some time walking around the flower-filled Jardin des Tuileries (Tuileries Gardens).
Travelers say: “[The Musée de l’Orangerie is] worth it for the water lilies alone. They’re stunning—I was not expecting them to be so massive and extensive. They are showcased beautifully, and the lighting in the museum is gorgeous. I will say it’s a very small museum that could easily be seen in less than an hour, but the water lilies make up for the admission prices alone.” —@Sarah D
The third stop is the stunning Musée d’Orsay, in an incredibly ornate railway station on the other side of the Seine. The building itself is a work of art, and you shouldn’t miss the chance to stare through the face of the huge glass clock on the fifth floor. (The view is across the river to the Jardin des Tuileries, where you were strolling a half an hour before.) The clock is on the same floor as the museum’s stunning collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works, including a famous self-portrait by Vincent Van Gogh, Luncheon on the Grass by Edouard Manet, Dance at the Moulin de la Galette by Auguste Renoir, and The Card Players by Paul Cezanne. If you’re short on time, focus on these masterworks, then head out.
EVENING: A cruise along the Seine and a cabaret moment in Montmartre
From the Musée d’Orsay, hop on the glass-topped Batobus river cruise at the Musée d’Orsay stop and head down the Seine. You’ll see the lights of the city start to flicker on as you make your way to the Eiffel Tower.
You won’t have time to go up the Eiffel Tower—the lines will be long, even if you’ve already bought tickets online. Besides, your best pics will be the ones from the ground, not those taken from the top. This is especially true when the sun starts to set. Stroll through the Champs-de-Mar Garden, where you’ll find plenty of photo ops. There are also great views from a couple of nearby streets, including Rue de l’Université and Avenue Silvestre de Sacy.
Hop on the Metro and make your way to Montmartre, known for its winding streets, spectacular nightlife, and the hilltop Basilique du Sacre-Coeur, the gleaming white church visible from almost everywhere in Paris. It is also where you’ll find Les Apotres de Pigalle, a tapas-style restaurant known for its surprising yet tasty mix of Central and South American dishes with plenty French influences. The macaroni au fromage (mac and cheese, served here with some earthy truffles) is a standout.
For a little post-dinner entertainment, you can’t beat cabaret. You could try to get into a show at the world-famous Moulin Rouge, but the reviews these days are definitely mixed. Take a few pics of the neon-covered windmill outside, then keep moving. A better bet is the lively Au Lapin Agile. If you wonder what the local music scene was like back in the ’60s and ’70s, this “cabaret artistique” conjures up those glory days with performers who remember them well.
