Paris is one of those great destinations that are great to visit all year round. Winter brings the Christmas markets, ice rinks and even snow if you’re lucky. Autumn brings you orange leaves, bright colours and beautiful sunsets. In spring you get to see the pink flowers bloom next to dead trees that come back to life and in summer you get hot days, picnics in the park and warm nights. Paris will always be busy, but I found the queues small and fast in the wintertime. It will be difficult to avoid the queues entirely in any time of the year but don’t let that ruin your experience or your plans, there are ways around the large crowds affecting the charm of such a beautiful city.
When it comes to getting to Paris there are various options. From the UK we have the option of finding a cheap flight, the Eurostar, or the possibility to drive. The Eurostar worked out cheaper for me at the time but flights from airports such as Manchester or London are usually a bargain! Head to Skyscanner for the best flight times and cheapest prices.
Here’s what to do once you get there! There are so many options on how to spend your day in Paris, but these are the most popular and my personal favourites.
- Finding a tasty breakfast
If you get to the French capital early enough (or if you chose to spend the night in Paris before), set an alarm to wake up early and go on the hunt for a nice café for breakfast. I started the day at the TikTok-famous café “Carrete”. This café can be quite expensive to start the day (around 22€ per person) but it offers a unique experience and great atmosphere. For 22€ you can have their famous hot chocolate (a huge teapot of it!) with a big bowl of cream to stir in so it’s definitely worth it! With that you also get some toast and then a Croissant, Viennese Swirl or Raisin bread. I could not think of a better way to start the day.
- Nothing quite beats Notre Dame
There are many ways to get to the famous cathedral and thanks to her location it is very easy to arrive to all the following stops. Ubers are quite expensive in Paris but are a faster option (and easier if you’re not the best with maps). The Metro is really easy to navigate, and electric scooters are always a good and fun option if you are travelling with friends.
As of right now, Notre Dame is undergoing some construction, but it is still a beautiful location to visit and a must-see on your Paris itinerary. This tourist spot sits right on the river Seine which means you will be able to walk across the river and see all the art stalls while on your way to your next destination
- “So many books, so little time.”
If you are a reader like me, you will love The Shakespeare Company. This English-language bookshop is only a 4-minute walk from Notre Dame and along the river Seine. It is possibly the most famous independent bookstore in the world and was a must on my Paris to do list. There are thousands of books inside and you never know what you will find since photos are prohibited. I was left without words, it was beautiful. When you buy a book here, the inside of the book gets stamped, and with it you also get a bookmark included.
- What a view!
After the Shakespeare company we grabbed a bite to eat across the road. There are dozens of small cafés and restaurants where I got a savoury crepe and the biggest cone of chips I’ve ever seen for just €3.50. After getting carried away by the artwork being sold across the river Seine (of course I couldn’t resist!), we walked to the famous Ferris Wheel across from The Louvre. The Ferris Wheel is named ‘The View’ and, although it is €15 each (so a bit pricey) it was undoubtedly worth it. With a clear view of the heart of Paris, it was stunning especially in the day. You can see the Eiffel tower, the Louvre and even Notre Dame further in the distance. I would positively recommend this, as it also gives your feet a break from all the walking.
- “To create a work of art is to create the world.” – Kandinsky
You can’t go to Paris without seeing the Louvre, especially if it’s your first time visiting the city. The museum is world known for the Mona Lisa as well as so many other Renaissance pieces. A lot of people are not prepared for how big this museum is; it’s huge. If you are only spending one day in Paris, I would truly only recommend spending 2-3 hours here enjoying the art. There is so much to see and the museum itself is artwork on its own. To save some time, plan what you want to see in advance so you can make sure you are able to see the artwork you have on your priority list. Since I went in winter, the queue was fairly small and moved fast, but if you are going in the height of summer, I would recommend the ‘skip-the-line tickets’ to save some time. After this we did a bit of shopping and headed straight to our next stop, the Eiffel Tower.
- On top of the world
A trip to Paris would not be complete without a visit to the iconic landmark. If you have been following this list, it should be the early hours of the evening by the time you get there, and if you are lucky, you will be able to see it glimmer as the sun starts to fade away. If you have time, students’ tickets to go up are only around 8€ and that is if you get the elevator and not the stairs. After all the walking we decided to just get the lift to the top to enjoy the views- they were breath-taking. It was such an incredible experience, and I would recommend spending some time at the very top, by far one of my favourite experiences of the whole trip. As darkness sets in and the streetlights turn on, you will get an evening view of the French capital, being up there when the lights sparkle is a moment I will never forget.
- The belly rules the mind
End your trip in Paris with any of the beautiful restaurants in the area, the only problem is there are almost too many to choose from! We ended the day in an Italian restaurant just by the Eiffel Tower. In Firmine, the pizza and pasta options are endless and the views from outside of the Eiffel tower, incredible. A brilliant end to a wonderful day.
Paris in a day involves a lot of walking and a lot of planning but is easy to do and it can be done on a budget too. This city is one of the best trips I’ve ever taken, and I wouldn’t hesitate to see it all again. It is an incredible experience that you will never forget.
Written by: Evie Woodings
Edited by: Maria Rodriguez