Visit Paris in 1 day? Of course it won't be enough but with good organization, a good itinerary and a good program, it is possible to do a nice walking tour to enjoy the most beautiful monuments of Paris in one day.
I share with you my self-guided walking tour to visit Paris in 1 day. Simply open the attached map to follow the route which allows you to discover the main tourist sites of the beautiful French capital on foot. I recommend downloading the map in advance in order to use it offline when you are in Paris.
And in addition to the walking route to follow to visit Paris in 1 day, I also tell you the program of the day, the details of the visits with photos and advice.
How to visit Paris in 1 day?
To discover or visit Paris in 1 day, you have several possibilities, everything will depend on your desires:
- Panoramic tour of Paris + cruise on the Seine + visit to the Eiffel Tower
- Private tour of Paris with a guide
- Discover Paris by bike
- Tour of Paris by tourist bus
- Visit Paris on your own by following my self-guided walking tour which allows you to see the essentials of Paris in 1 day.
It was during a professional internship that I extended for a day that I was able to experience this tourist route. But be careful, this tour of Paris in 1 day Strolling along was really very sporty! This is why I have arranged it below to make it more pleasant and less tiring.
What to visit in Paris in 1 day?
Visiting Paris in 1 day does not allow you to discover the city in its entirety, but it still allows you to visit the city's most emblematic sites:
- Champs-Elysees
- Arc de Triomphe
- Eiffel Tower
- Pont des Arts
- Holy Chapel
- Notre-Dame cathedral
- Louvre Museum
- Orangerie Museum
- Montmartre
- Sacred Heart
- Moulin Rouge
Paris in 1 day – Self-guided walking tour
Here is the circuit that you can follow on foot:
Itinerary to visit Paris in 1 day
My visit to Paris begins with the most beautiful avenue in the world (forgive my chauvinism…): the Avenue des Champs Elysées.
Eiffel Tower
Take advantage of a 30-minute walk to go leisurely to the Eiffel Tower. To get there from the Champs-Élysées, you have to take Avenue Montaigne (known for its luxury boutiques) to Place de l'Alma.
Then you will have to follow the Seine via Avenue de New York to Place de Varsovie. You will have to cross the Jena bridge and you will arrive at the Eiffeil Tower, emblem of Paris! Inaugurated during the Universal Exhibition of 1889, at its 324 meters height, the Eiffel Tower overlooks the banks of the Seine and the Champ-de-Mars.
Pont des Arts
There, it's a shame not to walk but the day will be long, so I recommend taking the bus to go from Eiffel Tower until Pont des Arts (lovers bridge).
You have to go to the middle of the Champs de Mars at the Rapp – la Bourdonnais stop and take bus 69 in the direction of Gambetta Mairie du 20nd. Allow about 15 minutes and ask the driver (at 11nd stop) to stop at the Pont des Arts. After a few photos, return to the Quai de Conti and follow the Seine to the Pont Neuf.
Holy Chapel
You will be on the Ile de la Cité and can go in 10 minutes to the Sainte Chapelle, which I advise you to enter to admire the magnificent and gigantic stained glass windows.
Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral
Then take the Quai du Marché Neuf to arrive at the Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral in a 10-minute walk. An emblem of Gothic art, this magnificent Cathedral still proudly sits in the center of Paris despite the flames it was able to withstand...
Louvre Museum
From Notre Dame de Paris walk 10 minutes to the Pont Marie Metro crossing the Pont Saint Louis and the Pont Louis Philippe. Take Metro line 7 towards 8 Mai 1945 station. Get off at Palais Royal – Musée du Louvre station.
It is one of the largest and most beautiful museums in the world which houses, among others, the Mona Lisa, the Raft of the Medusa and the Venus de Milo. Corn, if you only spend 1 day in paris, there is no need to take tickets to visit the museum. It's so huge that you won't have enough time to enjoy a quick visit. On the other hand, if you come back for a visit, here is where is the Mona Lisa in the Louvre.
So after a few photos of this magnificent Palace, you can then go via the Quai des Tuileries to the Musée de l'Orangerie on foot (15 minutes).
Orangerie Museum
This is one of my favorite museums in Paris because at the entrance the walls are magnificently painted by Claude Monet who created the superb frescoes of the Water Lilies.
Montmartre
To go to my favorite district of Paris, the Butte Montmartre and its picturesque little bistros, you will have to take a taxi or the metro. To get there by metro, allow around 30 minutes. From the Musée de l'Orangerie, go to Métro Concorde (5 minutes) then take line 12 Front Populaire. It is a direct line that will take you to Abbesses station where you will have to get off.
How to visit Montmartre on foot?
From Abbesses station, you can take a short tourist circuit on foot which will allow you to visit the most beautiful sites of Montmartre:
Located 50 meters from the Abbesses metro station, go through the Mur des Je t’aime:
Then head towards Place du Tertre to admire the painters of Montmartre.
From Place du Tertre, take rue Novrins then rue Du Mont Cenis. You will turn into rue du Chevalier de la Barre to arrive at the Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur. It is accessed by the Funicular or by climbing the large stairs which lead to the Basilica.
Dining in Montmartre
Then you will have the choice between a nice dinner in Montmartre or a dinner show at the Moulin Rouge.
If you choose the restaurant option, I recommend the restaurant le POULBOT which offers a wide selection of craft beers and a carefully selected wine list. In this restaurant, you can taste typical French dishes in a very Parisian atmosphere!
If you prefer the French Cancan flans of the beautiful Parisians, the show at the famous Montmartre cabaret the Moulin Rouge awaits you.
Paris in 1 day - What a hotel in Montmartre
Only 10 minutes walk from the Sacré Cœur, I recommend my favorite hotel in Paris: theHotel 29 Lepic (Rue Lepic).
With its ideal location in the heart of Paris, its romantic atmosphere, this is a dream hotel for a stay in Paris. Its rooms are comfortable, clean and very well equipped and the breakfast is generous and delicious.
If you have the chance to spend 2 days in Paris, here is my circuit to visit Paris in 2 days and my good plans for shopping in Paris.
And if you want to go sightseeing around Paris: My weekend around Paris or visit Paris for a stopover: Visit Paris in 1 afternoon
I calculate with your explanations and the hours that you note on your circuit. thank you
hello thank you for sharing your travels. I am preparing a little tour of France by car with my family, my husband, my 2 children 7 and 9 years old and me. I am inspired by your itineraries, for the visit of Paris on foot can you tell me approximately how long you have to walk? it is to best adapt the circuit for my children. thank you and good luck noemie
Hello Noémie,
I must tell you that my itinerary and the times given are really made for adults who like to walk. I think with kids you will probably have to adapt it so that it is not the race for them. In any case, I hope you enjoy Paris and have a good stay with your family!