Paris needs little introduction to any keen traveller or even to the stay-at-home Francophiles who are beguiled by its panoramic cityscape. If you choose to holiday on the banks of the Seine, even just for a single day, you can see and experience many of the wonders of France’s capital city in all their glory. Of course, it goes without saying that there is more to France than just the Eiffel Tower, Champs-Elysees and the other famous landmarks that everyone knows about. Below, we offer you a few examples on the attractions you must check out if you’re to enjoy the perfect 24 hours in Paris.
1. Notre Dame Cathedral guided tour (from USD 21.69)
There can be few more famous cathedrals in all the world than the remarkable Notre Dame de Paris - it is one of the centrepieces of Paris’ rich architectural pedigree and also noted for its part in one of the great French literary classics - The Hunchback of Notre Dame, by Alexandre Dumas. The exterior of the church is epic and imposing and the interior is even more visually stunning. On-site, you’ll meet guides with a love of history and culture who are ready with the facts, figures and backstory of this building, which has had such deep cultural import for so many.
Notre-Dame, Île de la Cité, St. Severin Church Guided Tour
Duration: 1.5 hour
2. Bateaux Parisiens - Seine River sightseeing cruise (from USD 17.0)
Like most of the world’s great cities, Paris is on the banks of a famous river and, by taking a boat trip along the Seine, you will get to see Paris in a novel way. As you embark from the area of the Eiffel Tower, you can prepare for an hour of sightseeing at a leisurely pace, accompanied by audio commentary on the significant landmarks you will pass. There is plenty to see, too, as you can take in not only the tower, but the Notre Dame, Louvre and the city’s most recognised bridge, the Pont Neuf.
Take a trip in the morning to see the city as it wakes up and build up your appetite for lunch. Or, you could book a night cruise and see the City of Lights as darkness falls. The choice is yours!
Paris Seine River Sightseeing Cruise with Commentary by Bateaux Parisiens
Duration: 60 to 80 minutes
3. Catacombs of Paris - Small-group walking tour (from USD 142.0)
If you have a taste for the macabre, this tour will be right up your street - or, to be more accurate, under it! There isn’t much we can say about this attraction without sounding at least a little ghoulish, but to give you an idea…in the late 18th century, Parisian authorities transported human remains from the overcrowded cemeteries of Paris to stack them in the limestone quarries around the city. Since then, as the city became more built-up, the bones lying below have become literally part of Paris itself. Not a trip for the faint-hearted, this is an attraction which will certainly live long in the memory. Don’t have nightmares!
Paris Walking Tour with Skip-the-Line Catacombs Admission
Duration: 2 hours
You might be interested in these Airbnbs!
4. Moulin Rouge show (from USD 151.0)
Perhaps the world’s most famous cabaret and the subject of songs, literature and movies, the legendary club in the Montmartre district of Paris is one of the city’s longest-standing entertainment venues. Pay a little extra in advance and you can enjoy a gourmet dinner with champagne and watch the dancers, enjoy the enthusiastic music and bask in a little bit of history. Visitors can enjoy the famous cancan and other dances. The colour, noise and atmosphere all go together to make this an unforgettable experience.
Paris Moulin Rouge Cabaret Show with Champagne Only or Dinner
Duration: 2 hours
5. Skip-the-line Arc de Triomphe rooftop tickets (from USD 17.26)
The famous arch that sits at the top of the Champs-Elysees is one of Paris’ most recognised landmarks and one of the most celebrated structures in France and indeed the world. It’s more than just a stunning piece of architecture, however, as a short trip inside will take you to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the nation’s tribute to the 1.3 million soldiers from France who lost their lives in World War I. An eternal flame which marks the tomb is ceremonially rekindled at 6:30, each evening. A flight of 284 stairs, meanwhile, takes you to the very top of the Arc, from where you can see Paris sprawling out all around you.
Paris: Arc de Triomphe Rooftop Tickets
6. Eiffel Tower guided tour with ticket (from USD 30.0)
While Paris is indisputably about so much more than “just” its landmarks, it is also true that no trip to Paris is complete without a trip to check out perhaps the world’s most iconic building, the Eiffel Tower. After being picked up in the morning from your designated meeting place, you’ll be taken to the awe-inspiring iron structure that watches over Paris and you’ll have the chance to climb to the second floor, from which you can look out over this incredible city.
You’ll learn the many stories of the tower, its construction, conceptualisation, facts and fiction about its history and come home thrilled with the experience.
Eiffel Tower Admission Ticket with Guide
Duration: 1 hour
7. Panthéon admission ticket and self-guided tour (from USD 14.1)
In 1755, building began on the Cathedral of Saint Genevieve, the most notable work of the much-admired French architect, Jacques-Germain Soufflot. Fittingly, a retrospective of his work forms part of the major exhibition in the Pantheon, the attraction that now stands within the cathedral walls.
Part museum, part mausoleum, it is here in the Pantheon that countless key figures from France’s cultural and scientific history have their final resting place. Notables including Marie Curie, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Alexandre Dumas were laid to rest here and visitors can either show themselves around or follow a guide, who can inform them about the figures and the exhibits they will see.
Paris: Panthéon Admission Ticket
8. Louvre Museum: Timed entrance ticket (from USD 18.43)
While some will recognise it for the great glass pyramid that marks its entrance, the true art lover will respond to mention of the Louvre with just a few words: the Mona Lisa. Known by different names in different languages, one of the world’s most recognised works of art hangs here. A much older piece sits nearby in the form of the iconic Greek statue, the Venus de Milo, by Alexander of Antioch. These are just two of several thousand exhibits to be found in the museum, which is divided into eight different sections: Paintings, Islamic Art, and Greek, Roman and Etruscan Antiquities, among them.
Paris: Louvre Museum Timed-Entrance Ticket
9. Paris bar crawl (from USD 24.0)
During the day, you can sample the splendid food, wonderful shopping and jaw-dropping landmarks of the city of Paris. In the evening, though, it is well worth experiencing the nightlife for which the city may not be so well-recognised, but which is a part of real Parisien life. Sign up for this irreverent tour of the most popular nightspots in Paris and not only can you jump the queue at each stop, you’ll also be treated to discount cocktails and free shots when you get inside.
After experiencing the history of the city, it’s only right to finish by seeing Paris the way a young Paris resident sees it - and here, you’ll get to meet Paris’s revellers in large numbers.
Paris Bar Crawl with Complimentary Drinks
Duration: 5 hours
10. Latin Quarter walking tour (from USD 16.0)
This tour of one of Paris’ most culturally significant areas is unmissable for any visitor with an appreciation of fine art, literature or Paris’ magnificent Left Bank. As part of this tour, you will see where greats, like Ernest Hemingway and Salvador Dali, lived and worked. Your time will also take in stops at the Luxembourg Gardens and the world-renowned Sorbonne University.
Bohemian Paris: Latin Quarter Walking Tour
Duration: 2 hours
Bon voyage: A day and night to remember in a city you won't forget!
Everyone has their own favourite stopping point when taking a break in this amazing, influential and often bizarre city. It’s a certainty that you’ll have yours and if there is one thing we can absolutely guarantee, it is that when you’ve spent 24 hours in Paris, you’ll want to come back for another, longer stay to see the rest of the city. You’ll also find yourself drawn to doing all of the above things again, having fallen in love with them the first time around!
History
Get Trip101 in your inbox
Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
24 Hours In Seattle - Updated 2024Maria Cristina -
Create an account to