You could spend days or weeks discovering a new arrondissement, within which each street offers its own quaint beauty.
Whichever season you choose to plan your visit, Paris will offer you a memorable trip filled with museums, department stores and lots of cheese.
If you are planning a short city break to Paris here is how to spend the perfect 24 hours:
Morning - Champs Élysées
Head to the Champs Élysées which is one of the most visited areas of Paris for many reasons, amongst which are the abundance of designer shops, from Cartier to Louis Vuitton.
This is not the cheapest street to get your family’s souvenirs but there are lots of cafes and places to get a tasty breakfast.
At one end of the Champs Élysées is the Arc de Triomphe, which was built over 200 years ago. You can actually climb to the top of the Arc de Triomphe, so make sure you carry some ID with you as it is currently free for those in the EU under the age of 26.
Although not the highest point of the city, the view from the top is truly spectacular, with panoramic views of the Eiffel Tower, Sacré-Cœur and La Défense.
Afternoon - Montmartre
The cobbled streets of Montmartre will make you feel truly Parisienne, and after climbing what seems like an endless amount of stairs, you will reach the highest point of the city: The Sacré-Cœur.
This is one of the most popular tourism attractions in Paris, and somewhere you need to add to your sightseeing itinerary.
You can start your ascent to the historic Roman church from the closet metropolitan station, Abbesses, or if you want to try and work of some of the pain au chocolat, start from Boulevard Clichy near the Moulin Rouge.
The area surrounding Montmartre and the Sacré-Cœur are always very busy, so be aware of pickpockets as there are often many crowds gathering here.
Place du Tertre is a café-lined square and is home to many artists who are selling their work. This is also the place to get a caricature, if you so wish. Montmartre is definitely a tourist hotspot, so the prices or crepes and coffees are much higher than some of the surrounding areas.
If you head back down towards Boulevard Clichy, you will find some much more reasonably priced cafes on some of the side streets.
Evening - Seine & Sightseeing
A walk along the Seine at sunset is really not to be missed, with views of the Notre Dame, Hôtel de Ville and the Louvre, you will feel immersed in to Paris culture. This is one of the best free things to do in Paris.
After exploring the museums along the river, what better way to indulge than a trip to Laurie Bonaparte in the 6th arrondissement.
The macaron counter is something of dreams, from vanilla to pistachio, and new flavours being added all the time. Take a macaron with an espresso for Parisienne afternoon tea, bon appétit!
Night - Eiffel Tower
You can’t visit Paris without going up the Eiffel Tower, this is one of the most iconic things to do in Paris and one of the most visit places in Europe and the world.
Night is one of the best times to go up the Eiffel Tower and you will get to see the city lit up for miles around.
After a full action packed day sightseeing you will likely to be pretty exhausted, but if you do fancy a night out there are lots of great bars and clubs which are open till the early hours.
Getting to Paris
You can reach Paris by plane, bus, car or train. It takes just over 2 hours to get to Paris from London via the Eurostar, and this is one of the easiest and best ways to arrive in the center of the city. You can also search cheap flights on Skyscanner.
Tips for Planning Your Trip
Paris is a wonderful city to visit no matter what the season is, you can eat sorbet in the Luxembourg Gardens in the sun or explore the famous Christmas market of La Défense in winter. Here are some things to consider:
- Check websites like Eurostar Snap where you can get really great deals to visit this amazing city.
- Make sure you have the right travel documents with you, including a EHIC card if you are from the EU or travel insurance in case of emergencies!
- Plan in advance to get the best deals on accommodation for a memorable trip away. Booking.com is usually the cheapest website to search and compare hotels, hostels and appartments.
- If you have more time search day trips from Paris to see more of the area.
Bon voyage!
By Lucy Stretch
Do you have any recommendations for a short break to Paris? Leave feedback in the comments sections below.
