How To See The Best Of Paris In 24 Hours

Paris Travel Guide: 1 Day In Paris Itinerary (Updated for 2025)

(Updated for 2025) Looking for the perfect day trip to Paris? Of course, we would all love to spend more time in this beautiful city, but sometimes that's just not possible. In this 1 day in Paris itinerary, we’ll share our favourite way to spend a day in the city, covering must-see sights, hidden gems, Instagrammable photo spots and some of the best places to eat in Paris on a budget. If you're planning a quick stop in Paris and need a day trip itinerary, you’re in the right place. Let’s explore!

Start Your Day By Watching The Sun Rise At Trocadéro.

Where else would the perfect day in Paris begin, than watching the sun rise over this beautiful city? Trocadéro is an incredible spot to watch the sunrise and also provides one of the best views of the Eiffel tower, making this our favourite way to start the day. Bonus points for visiting early in the day as this spot is popular and can get quite busy the later on. Location: Place du Trocadéro, 75016 Paris, France Nearest Metro: Trocadéro (Lines 6 & 9)

Grab A Delicious (and unique) Croissant From Pierre Hermé.

If you're a pastry lover, you cannot come to Paris without having a croissant for breakfast. Our top pick is the Ispahan, from Pierre Hermé. Only available at a small number of their stores (we usually pick up ours on Rue Bonaparte) the Ispahan is a rose, lychee and raspberry flavoured buttery croissant and is the tastiest, prettiest croissant we've ever eaten.

If raspberry and rose doesn't sound like your thing, grab (Lee's favourite) a delicious pain au chocolat & pistache from here to satisfy that sweet breakfast craving.

Whilst you're here, we also recommend picking up some (or a lot of) macarons and a delicious dessert for later.

Location: Rue Bonaparte, 75006 Paris.

Nearest Metro: Saint Suplice (Line 4) & Mabillon (Line 10)

Read Next: The Best Snacks & Treats You Need To Try In Paris

Indulge In A Hot Chocolate From Angelina.

Angelina is famous for their L'African hot chocolate and is often described as the best in Paris. It's very thick and rich, making it different to the sweet, thin drink we're used to in the UK. This is a completely indulgent, must have treat. If you have more time to spend in Paris, we recommend a visit to Angelina's popular tea room on Rue Rivoli. But with only 24 hours in Paris, grabbing a cup to go from Rue de Vaugirard is the perfect way to try the famous hot chocolate and at this location, you don't have to wait in a long queue to get it.

Note: Angelina's is hidden away as it's connected to a museum. You'll need to go through security (where there is generally no queue) and Angelina's is immediately on the left.

Location: 19 Rue de Vaugirard, 75006 Paris, France

How To Get Here: Only a 5 minute walk from Pierre Hermé.

Take A Stroll Around The Luxembourg Gardens.

Next door to Angelina, the Luxembourg gardens offer the perfect, peaceful setting to enjoy your breakfast. Take your time, watch the world go by and enjoy the peace and quiet for a while in one of Paris' most popular gardens. Location: 15 Rue de Vaugirard, 75291 Paris, France How To Get Here: Turn left out of Angelina and the entrance to the gardens is about 10 meters away.

Get Lost Among The Books At Shakespeare & Company.

A book lovers' day in Paris would not be complete without a visit to this world famous bookstore. Take a trip back in time as you explore the book lined passages and discover hidden reading nooks. Take the time to write at the antique typewriter or play a song on its beautiful piano. Film lovers will also recognise its eye-catching yellow and green exterior from films such as Midnight in Paris and Before Sunrise. Location: 37 Rue de la Bûcherie, 75005 Paris, France Nearest Metro: Saint-Michel Notre-Dame (Line 4)

Buy Some Souvenirs From Les Bouquinistes de Paris.

As you leave Shakespeare & Co, head towards the Seine, where you'll notice a row of green, open air stalls. These are know as Les Bouquinistes de Paris (the booksellers of Paris) and they sell all kinds of souvenirs, from second hand books, postcards, pictures and records. We have picked up a number of prints from these stalls depicting some of our favourite spots in Paris and plan on doing so again next time we're there. Make sure to pick up a souvenir or 2 to remember your trip. 

How To Get Here: As you exit Shakespeare & Co, you should spot them along the banks of the Seine.

Visit Notre Dame.

Opposite Shakespeare & Co, located on the Île de la Cité, stands one of the world's most recognisable religious buildings, Notre Dame. Before the fire that broke out in April 2019, visitors could go inside and admire its grandeur up close. But as restorations are still on going to save this national monument, visitors will have to admire its impressive exterior from a distance.

Update: After years of restoration, Notre Dame has officially reopened to visitors. Entry is free, and whilst there’s no ticket required to go inside, expect long queues. A limited booking system is available on the official Notre Dame website, but spaces fill up quickly. Access to the towers remains closed, but a planned reopening date is set for September 2025.

Read: 7 Beautiful Views In Paris You Can't Miss (New for 2025) Location: 6 Parvis Notre-Dame - Pl. Jean-Paul II, 75004 Paris, France How To Get Here: A short walk from Shakespeare & Co.

Website: www.notredamedeparis.fr

Time For Lunch.

If you're looking for a tasty (budget-friendly) lunch, look no further than L'As du Fallafel. Located in Paris's old Jewish quarter, L'As du Fallafel is home to the world famous - you guessed it - falafel. It's hard to miss this spot, just look out for the long line of customers against its vibrant green exterior. Tasty falafel isn't all that's on the menu here. We have also tried the shawarma and it was delicious too.

We like to get our lunch to go and enjoy it in the Rosiers Joseph Migneret Garden - a small public garden a 5 minute walk away. Alternatively, walk another 5 minutes to the beautiful Place des Vosges to enjoy your lunch in a more opulent setting.

Location: 34 Rue des Rosiers

How To Get Here: 15 minute walk from Notre Dame

Nearest Metro: Saint Paul (Line 1)

Get Lost In The Louvre.

The Musée du Louvre is one of the world's largest and most visited museums. It's home to some of the world's most famous works of art including, Mona Lisa, Winged Victory and Venus de Milo. Before heading inside, take some time to admire the architecture of this beautiful former palace and take some pictures of its famous glass pyramids. Save yourself some time and buy your tickets in advance, especially if you're travelling during summer. We'd also recommend making a list of the pieces of art you'd like to see and plan a route to find them all. Location: Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France How To Get Here: About a 20 minute walk from L'As du Fallafel. Nearest Metro: Palais Royal Musée du Louvre (Lines 1 & 6) Website: www.louvre.fr/en

Or Visit The Beautiful Musée d'Orsay.

If you have visited the Musée du Louvre before and would like to try something new, we highly recommend the Musée d'Orsay.

Set inside a stunning former railway station, the Musée d'Orsay is home to world-famous masterpieces by artists such as Van Gogh, Monet and Renoir. The museum also features a large sculpture gallery with works by Rodin and Camille Claudel as well as sections dedicated to early photography, decorative arts, period furniture and more. The museum also retains some stunning original features of the station, which make for some great photos.

Be sure to book tickets in advance and check out the beautiful views across Paris through the large station clock - it makes for a great photo (pictured below)

Emily in Paris fans will also recognise Musée d'Orsay as the spot where Gabriel and Camille become engaged.

​Location: 1 Rue de la Légion d'Honneur, 75007 Paris, France

Nearest Metro: Solferino (Line 12)​

Website: www.m.musee-orsay.fr/en/home.html

Take In A View Of Paris

Take in a view of this beautiful city you've spent the day exploring. We've written a more comprehensive guide to the best viewpoints in Paris: 7 Beautiful Views In Paris You Can't Miss, but here's a quick overview of three of our favourites for a first visit to Paris: ​ ​• The Eiffel Tower. A trip up the Eiffel Tower is on most people's bucket lists. If you have always wanted to go up Paris' most iconic monument, now is a great time to do it. We recommend buying your tickets in advance to avoid the queues. And make sure to grab a glass of champagne if you're brave enough to visit the very top.

Location: Champ de Mars, 5 Avenue Anatole France, 75007 Paris, France Nearest Metro: Trocadéro (Lines 6 & 9) or Bir-Hakeim (Line 6)

​• Steps Of The Sacré-Cœur, Montmartre. If you have a little more time to spare, we highly recommend visiting Montmartre and exploring this charming neighbourhood. Sat at the highest natural point in Paris, the steps in front of the Sacré-Cœur Basilica in Montmartre offer some of the most beautiful views of the city. While you may not be as high up as the summit of the Eiffel Tower, the steps of the basilica provide sweeping views across Montmartre's charming rooftops, with Paris laid out below.

Check out our post 1 Day in Montmartre Itinerary for some ideas on what to see, do and eat if you decide to visit Montmartre.

Location: 35 Rue du Chevalier de la Barre, 75018 Paris, France

Nearest Metro: Anvers (Line 2) & Abbesses (Line 12)

• Galeries Lafayette Rooftop. If you're visiting Paris on a budget you'll be happy to know that this viewing spot is also free. Take the (many) escalators up to the top of the beautiful Galeries Lafayette to look out across this beautiful city. We visited this spot midday and it was a little busy, so be prepared for large crowds at sunset.

Location: 25 Rue de la Chau. d'Antin, 75009 Paris, France

Nearest Metro: Chaussée d'Antin — La Fayette (Lines 7 & 9)

Read Next: 7 Beautiful Views In Paris You Can't Miss (New for 2025)

Evening Picnic By The Eiffel Tower.

Our absolute favourite way to end a day in Paris is sitting on the grass by the Eiffel tower (Champ de Mars) and watching the sun set behind the tower. There's a great atmosphere here as everyone waits for the tower to light up and is a great time to take out all the goodies you've picked up throughout the day and enjoy the last few moments of daylight. It's the perfect place to rest your feet and end the day.

If you have a little more time to explore Paris, we highly recommend visiting Montmartre and exploring this charming neighbourhood. Read our post 1 Day in Montmartre Itinerary for some ideas on what to see, do and eat if you decide to visit this beautiful area of the city.

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We hope you've enjoyed reading our itinerary for the perfect day in Paris. Is there anything you think we've missed to make this day even more special? Let us know down below. If you're planning your own Paris adventure, make sure to check out our latest Paris planning guides here.

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Read Next: The Best Snacks & Treats You Need To Try In Paris (Updated for 2025)

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(Jardin du Luxembourg photo by Valeria Kodra | Notre Dame photo by Hannah Reding)