Paris is likely one of the hottest cities in your complete world. It is the type of place individuals romanticize of their minds and dream of finally visiting.

And whereas most individuals will undoubtedly plan to spend a minimum of a number of days exploring Paris, I notice there are different instances whenever you is perhaps tacking Paris onto one other journey, or maybe together with it in a whirlwind tour of Europe.

If you end up with only a evening or two in Paris however nonetheless need to see as a lot as doable, then it’s worthwhile to know that there are alternatives on the market that can assist you expertise the most effective of Paris in simply someday!

Can you actually see Paris in someday?

I imply, technically no, there is not any option to see ALL of Paris in simply someday. However it IS doable to see a heck of numerous Paris’ highlights in about 12 hours.

You are able to do it by yourself when you’re up for some very cautious planning. Or, you are able to do what I did and e-book a Paris in a Day tour, and have another person work out all of the logistics for you!

And simply WHO would need to squeeze the most effective elements of Paris into someday of sightseeing? Maybe…

• Individuals who solely have a layover or 1-2 nights in Paris earlier than touring elsewhere.
• Individuals who need to get all the main sightseeing out of the best way first, after which take the remainder of their Paris go to extra slowly.
• Individuals who get overwhelmed by the sheer variety of museums, landmarks, and actions in Paris and who would love for somebody to only cherry choose the most effective issues for them.
• And folks like me, who’re interested in how a lot you actually can squeeze into someday in Paris!

On my most up-to-date go to to Paris, I made a decision I wished to check out one in every of these “Paris in a Day” excursions for myself, to make my very own judgment name on whether or not they’re price it or not.

And the decision? I believe that, in the proper circumstances, taking a guided day tour round Paris generally is a nice concept! Learn on to search out out why.

Paris in a Day Tour with Walks

The particular Paris in a Day tour I selected to e-book was this one, with an organization referred to as Walks that I’ve used many instances prior to now in cities like Rome and Venice and even London. Walks hires native guides who give you insider data – and generally even particular entry – that make their excursions price each penny.

The Paris in a Day tour promised to be equally superior, masking all of the Paris highlights from the streets of artsy Montmartre to the Louvre and Eiffel Tower.

My husband Elliot and I took this tour in mid-Could, and although our day ended up being about 10 hours lengthy, it actually felt like one of many extra relaxed excursions I’ve ever been on!

Here is what to anticipate…

Paris in a Day tour highlights

1. Morning in Montmartre

Our Paris in a Day tour started simply earlier than 9 a.m. within the 18th arrondisement, often known as Montmartre. We met our information, Violette, and the remainder of our small group (group measurement is capped at 15) exterior a Metro cease, and shortly started a leisurely strolling tour across the artsy neighborhood.

Beginning this tour in Montmartre was good. It is probably the most standard neighborhoods in Paris, however is normally sleepy and quiet when you go to earlier than 10 a.m. Despite the fact that I knew it might be teeming with vacationers later within the day, we did not run into very many different individuals as we walked round.

We started by taking the funicular up the hill to go to Sacré-Cœur Basilica, after which strolled as Violette informed us about all of the well-known artists who used to name the realm dwelling. We additionally walked by the charming Place du Tertre, the place native artists have been simply beginning to arrange their cubicles for the day.

The tempo was really relaxed – we even stopped at a cute little cafe away from the touristy spots for a espresso and pastry. The right option to begin a morning in Paris.

2. Île de la Cité

From Montmartre, we hopped on the Metro (tickets offered as a part of the tour) and headed over to the Île de la Cité, the island in the course of the Seine the place the town of Paris was first based.

Right here, we walked by the well-known Notre Dame cathedral (it is nonetheless being restored after a 2019 hearth, so you possibly can’t go inside), and handed by the town’s first hospital and former royal palace. Violette shared a ton of historical past as we walked, finally main us again throughout the river into Paris’ Latin Quarter.

3. The Louvre

We had a short 1-hour break for lunch (simply sufficient time for a grab-and-go from a bakery; if we would deliberate forward, I might have maybe packed a picnic lunch to take pleasure in in a close-by park), after which met again at The Louvre.

The Louvre is probably the most well-known and most-visited artwork museum on the earth – and likewise the most important. It is housed in a former royal palace on the Proper Financial institution of the Seine, and shows 35,000+ items of art work (out of a group that totals greater than 500,000 items) in tons of of rooms.

Even when you had per week, there is not any approach you might see every thing within the Louvre. So it was nice, due to this fact, that we had such an knowledgeable information for the two hours we spent contained in the museum.

I am going to admit that I am not normally one to spend so much of time inside artwork museums, however two hours contained in the Louvre completely flew by. Violette made positive we noticed all probably the most well-known items (just like the Venus de Milo and the Mona Lisa, in fact), but additionally identified numerous different notable issues and a few of her private favourite items.

May we’ve got spent extra time right here? Undoubtedly. However a 2-hour introduction was nice, and loads of time to tick off numerous issues from our must-see checklist.

4. Eiffel Tower

From the Louvre, we then made our option to the seventh arrondisement and the Eiffel Tower.

We have been going to take a bus, however on account of tremendous crowded buses attributable to a Metro line closure (line closures and strikes will not be unusual in Paris!), Violette made the choice for us to take the Metro as a substitute. Once more, having an area information who might shortly give you an alternate plan was invaluable!

Tickets to go as much as the second stage of the Eiffel Tower are included on this tour, however the guided a part of our day ended right here. Violette walked us proper as much as the doorway of the Eiffel Tower, handed over our remaining tickets for the day, after which we stated our goodbyes. I could not consider it was already after Four p.m.!

Eiffel Tower ticket timings can fluctuate barely relying on the day, however ours have been for simply earlier than 5 p.m., so we received proper in line for the elevators to go as much as the second ground of the Eiffel Tower.

You may pay further to improve your ticket to go as much as the summit of the tower, however I actually do not assume it might be price it. Actually, I do not know that I would suggest paying to go up the Eiffel Tower by yourself in any respect!

It is cool and all to say you’ve got accomplished it, however the line for the elevator may be lengthy (fortunately on this tour we did not have to attend in a further line to purchase tickets!), and I do not really assume the Eiffel Tower presents up the most effective view in Paris.

Why? As a result of whenever you’re up the Eiffel Tower, you possibly can’t SEE the Eiffel Tower within the skyline! (For the most effective views, the Arc de Triomphe and Montparnasse Tower supply the most effective paid views, in my view, and the rooftop deck on the Galeries Lafayette shopping center presents up a good free view.)

Having this Eiffel Tower ticket included within the tour, although, was excuse to test it out, and general I am glad I can a minimum of say I’ve accomplished it now!

5. Seine cruise

The tour did not finish there, both! Yet another factor is included: a ticket for a one-hour cruise on the Seine River.

You technically do not have to make use of this ticket on the identical day as your tour, however Elliot and I made a decision to go for it. We ended up getting on a ship at 6:30 p.m., and we loved the cruise greater than we anticipated to.

Touristy river cruises aren’t all the time one thing I like to recommend in large cities, however in Paris the Seine is simply so stunning that I DO assume one is price doing right here. The cruise we did was not narrated, however there was a very good audio commentary you might hearken to free of charge through a smartphone app.

Our boat was fairly full, however there was sufficient outside seating on the highest deck for everybody to have view.

And, as a result of the cruises start/finish proper throughout the road from the Eiffel Tower, you would possibly even be capable of time it proper to have a picnic dinner on the Champ de Mars and stick round for the tower to “sparkle” after darkish. (Simply notice that the Eiffel Tower is not lit up till properly after sundown, which may be 10 p.m. in the course of the summer season months!)

What an ideal option to finish a really full day in Paris!

E-book this tour right here: Paris in a Day Tour with Walks

Why take a guided day tour of Paris like this?

Do you NEED to take a Paris tour like this? Maybe not. You would definitely do all of this stuff individually and by yourself. However listed below are a number of causes you would possibly need to e-book this tour anyway, even when you’re not particularly quick on time in Paris:

1. Having a wonderful information

With a view to even be capable of lead excursions inside museums and monuments in France, tour guides need to have a college (or grasp’s) diploma, undergo a 1-year information coaching program, and converse a number of languages. So ANY tour information you will have in Paris goes to be skilled and know their stuff.

Our information on this tour, Violette, occurred to have a grasp’s diploma in artwork historical past, which was fortunate for us within the Louvre particularly!

I’ve taken many excursions with Walks in several European cities, and so they all the time rent tremendous knowledgable {and professional} guides who know so much in regards to the metropolis they’re guiding in.

2. Ease of getting round

Should you seen, we traveled between a number of completely different Paris neighborhoods all through the course of the day utilizing public transport. However we did not need to stress about navigating the Metro system or studying bus timetables on our personal. Our information dealt with all of that, and even had all our transit tickets bought for us forward of time.

It is a nice option to introduce vacationers to Paris’ public transport system, and likewise is simply probably the most environmentally-friendly approach for a tour group to get round.

3. Skipping the strains

Occurring a tour like this implies not having to face in any ticket strains or entrance strains, which in itself might be definitely worth the value of the tour! Apart from ready in line for the elevators on the Eiffel Tower, we did not stand in line for something all day – speak about maximizing your time!

Is a Paris in a Day tour price it?

In my view? Sure!

Elliot and I weren’t pressed for time in Paris (in truth, we had practically 5 days there), however we each agreed that this tour was a good way to examine off among the main highlights and get an general really feel for the town all of sudden.

And, like I already stated, this tour managed (someway; I am nonetheless impressed) to not really feel too rushed – with possibly the exception of the one hour for lunch.

You may e-book the identical tour we did right here: Paris in a Day Tour with Walks

One caveat to all my reward is that this tour does require a LOT of strolling. I am unsure what number of miles we walked in whole between Montmartre, Île de la Cité, and contained in the Louvre, however my toes have been undoubtedly hurting by the top of the day! So undoubtedly put on good strolling sneakers.

Different Walks excursions I’ve accomplished you can examine embrace:

Would you need to see Paris in a day like this?