Paris In A Day
My trip to Paris was actually planned as a weekend getaway because my boyfriend was presenting at a medical conference and I was the lucky lady that snagged a trip to Paris out of it! We booked to go Friday to Monday in late September which meant it was difficult to judge the weather. Luckily we travelled by Eurostar so I could take a big suitcase prepared for all kinds of weather!
The first few days went going to the conference and the rain made it difficult for us to see many sights. But we were in luck - the autumn sun came out for our final day and we were ready to explore!
Somehow we managed to fit the majority of Paris in just under a day, (we ran to catch our Eurostar back to London that evening - I do not recommend), but it was one of the best experiences and probably the most efficient way to see the beautiful city. It is also a completely entry-fee free trip for those of you who are under 26 and from the EU (see more information on the attractions' websites).
This tour is a mix of walking, metro taking and even scootering around so hold on tight, don't forget your comfy shoes and your camera!
1. Sacré-Cœur
If you want to get an even higher viewpoint of Paris, feel free to go to the top of the church for a small fee applicable to all. You can find the entrance to the left of the steps.
2. The Sinking House in Paris
You've seen it on Instagram and now you're looking all over Paris for it when it's been right there in front of your eyes all along! This little photo gem is right next to Sacré-Cœur and you can find out more about it here.
Walk down Rue de Steinkerque and head to the Metro station Anvers and head to Concorde. Here you will reach Place de la Concorde - for the romcom fans, this is the fountain where Anne Hathaway dumps her phone and quits her job in The Devil Wears Prada 👀
3. Musée de l'Orangerie
This is the home of some of Claude Monet's incredible waterlilies. Here you can find 8 of some of the most mesmerising works of art I've ever seen - and I studied Fine Art fyi. Spend some time here to take in the vast scale and small details that have given these works the fame they deserve.
4. Jardin des Tuileries
The museum is conveniently located in the Jardin des Tuileries, a 17th century garden that bridges the Place de la Concorde and the Louvre. Have a stroll through here towards the Louvre and you will spot the Carrousel Arc de Triomphe where a 16th century palace once stood and the beautiful flowers.
At this point you may see scooters and bikes dotted around. I recommend grabbing a scooter - its a lot less work that riding a bike! - and setting it up on your phone. These scooters are a great substitute for walking - its easy to use and gets you places much quicker and lets you enjoy the sights on the way for a small fee.
Tip: wait till you get out of the gardens to ride your scooter or bike - it's not allowed within the gardens
Exit the gardens near the Louvre and follow the River Seine passing the museum buildings on your scooter. Look out to the Seine across from the Louvre and spot Pont des Arcs - the Love Lock bridge, which has now been replaced with glass panels.
Take the next right onto the bridge Pont Neuf to get onto Île de la Cité - a natural island and the oldest settlement in Paris where you can find Notre Dame and Sainte Chapelle.
You can now leave your scooter or bike here, unless you want to use it again later on.
5. Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris
Notre Dame gets pretty busy, even in the months after summer with long queues snaking around the grounds. If you, like us, aren't too fussed waiting an hour or so getting in then admire the building, the scenery and take some snaps then continue with this tour.
We decided to explore the island a bit more now we had a bit of extra time so had a wander through the park and gardens behind the cathedral. You can complete a full circle and admire the cathedral from every angle, then make your way to the other side of the island.
6. Saint Chapelle
Saint Chapelle is a 13th century Gothic chapel like no other. Make sure you go up the stairs to see the real showstopper - stained glass windows that fill the room. The photos don't do it justice!
Get the Metro from Cité, right by Saint Chapelle, to Bir-Hakeim.
7. Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is just a short 5-minute walk from the station. We didn't have time to go to the top but managed to get up close and take some pictures.
8. Pont de Bir-Hakeim
Head back towards Bir-Hakeim station and walk across the Pont de Bir-Hakeim. Recognise it? If you've seen the film Inception, this bridge might look pretty familiar. Not only is it architecturally beautiful but it also gives you a great view of the Eiffel Tower and its surroundings. On the left of the bridge you'll spot a Statue of Liberty replica, gifted to Paris by the U.S. in 1889. It sits on an artificial island, Allée des Cygnes, in the River Seine.
Contiue walking straight at the end of the bridge and head up the escalator to the metro station Passy. Take the metro to Charles de Gaulle and follow the exit signs to the underground entrance for Arc de Triomphe.
9. Arc de Triomphe
This is our final stop on the tour. If you followed the tour as we did it, it should almost be time for the sunset. We love watching a good sunset, especially from high up, which is why we saved the Arc de Triomphe for now.
Tip: if you're able to get in for free here, you will still need to queue up to collect your free ticket so head towards the ticket booth.
You'll have to queue for a little bit probably, but it's all run pretty smoothly and we were lucky to not get much of a crowd at the top - a lot of people race to the Eiffel Tower instead for the sunset.
By this point, we didn't even have time to be tired because we still had a train to catch! We took the metro back to the hotel to grab our things then raced to Gare du Nord just in time for our train.
Let me know if you follow this tour and what you thought of it, or if you have any questions in the comments below!
Happy travelling!
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