So, you only have one day in Paris? The City of Lights is a truly beautiful place, and the sheer amount of things to do can be overwhelming. From cafes to stunning galleries and architecture, here is the one-day itinerary for Paris, France.
8:45 a.m. Pick a Cafe
Pick a cafe or bakery for breakfast–you won’t be disappointed. If your aim is to be in walking distance from a majority of this itinerary, you can consider wonderful cafes and bakeries such as Brasserie Les Deux Palais, Malongo Coffee, and the Breizh Cafe. It isn’t hard to find the perfect breakfast spot in Paris, the city is littered with delicious coffee and pastries.
My personal favorite (and where I ended up practically every morning) was a bakery close to my hotel called Paris Baguette. I started each morning off with a chocolate muffin with creme in the center (healthy, I know), but this bakery had some of the best pastries I’ve had in France. Once you’re finished with your breakfast, find your way to the Sainte-Chapelle Chapel.
9:30 a.m. Sainte-Chapelle and The Conciergerie
These are two must-see locations in the heart of Paris, a chapel and a prison. Sainte-Chapelle is a gorgeous chapel with a staircase that leads to a chamber of 1,113 stained glass windows. In other words, this chapel will take your breath away. Established in 1248, this stunning chapel is a preserved piece of history and gothic architecture.
The Conciergerie is another gothic relic, and its close proximity to Sainte-Chapelle deems the two structures a pair. The Conciergerie was originally a palace, but it eventually evolved into a prison that housed the oh-so-famous Marie-Antionette. This was a well-known prison during the French Revolution, and the history behind it is so interesting and archaic, but I won’t spoil the tour.
11:00 a.m. The Palais Garnier
This opera house is the definition of a must-see in Paris. If you book a guided tour you will have access to all of the nooks and crannies of one of the most glorious opera houses in the world. Any Phantom of the Opera fans in the crowd? If so, this is a stop in the itinerary for you. The setting of the famed musical is the Palais Garnier, with its underground lake and grandeur. If you’re lucky, you might spot a glimpse of the Phantom himself.
My favorite part of this tour was the long cascading hallway with rows upon rows of chandeliers. Built in the image of the Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles, this room has almost too many stimuli to take in–in a good way. Trust me, you don’t want to miss the Palais Garnier.
1:15 p.m. The Louvre
You can spend a month in the Louvre and still have more to see. Seriously, this is one big museum. Featuring the infamous Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo, the Louvre is chock full of art and history. The building itself is a work of art, and it is a former palace occupied by King Louis XV. The striking pyramids of the Louvre are iconic as well; this museum is truly an experience unique to Paris.
5:15 p.m. Shakespeare and Company
Grab a bite to eat and make your way over to Shakespeare and Company. This bookstore is every bookworm’s dream: historical, packed to the brim with books, and there’s a cat! Spend some time perusing the quaint and adorable bookstore that used to shelter aspiring writers. If you buy a book, make sure to have a cashier stamp the inside cover with their notorious stamp!
View this post on Instagram
6:15 p.m. The Eiffel Tower
You can’t go to Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower. Possibly the most iconic symbol of Paris, the Eiffel tower is a truly mesmerizing sight in person. Photos don’t do it justice, and being there and experiencing the tower was one of the most rewarding moments of my trip. Tickets to the Eiffel Tower allow you to not only view the tower but venture inside of it as well. There are two levels, the middle and the very top of the tower. I only made it to the middle (fear of heights!!), but I’ve heard that the top has some areas with glass floors. The tower also glitters and sparkles for the first five minutes of every hour. Oh! To make the experience even more enticing, they sell macarons and champagne in the tower. Who’d have thought?
