If you have 24 hours in paris, where do you choose to go?

Question

im going to paris just for a day, il probably go back some other time. but its my first time and i want to makesure i get it right. i enjoy sightseeing, so dont mention any clubs or anything.

Answer 1

The obvious place is the eiffel tower, although it is impressive, I would recommend the louve as the place to go. If you use the underground (which is alot better than londons) and come out at the louve museum stop, you'll come from underground up through the glass pyramid which is just so spectacular at night.

Answer 2

I would go straight back home. I am not a Paris person and the last time I was there it actually rained all day. Plus you could probably get some good bargains in the duty free.

Answer 3

The Opera House is a good place to visit and plenty of  good places to eat around there.

Answer 4

Buy a day ticket on a hop-on-hop-off sightseeing bus and I'd go to Montmartre, the bohemian part of Paris. There you can see the Sacre Coeur, have a very good view of the city and enjoy the pleasant atmosphere. Jump on the bus and ride down Champ Elysee, and get off and walk down the avenue and work my way to Place de Concorde. Take in the sights around there, including the Tuilerie Gardens, then hop on again and off to NotreDame. If you have time, you could hop on and just hop off as you fancy at the Opera House, Bastile Sq, etc. More than you can do in 24 hrs.

Answer 5

Forget the touristy stuff!  See the "real" Paris:

If I had just a Saturday in Paris I'd probably spend the morning at the African market in Belleville, then walk to nearby Pere Lechaise cemetary see Jim Morrison and Balzac, Oscar Wilde, Victor Noir, then metro to Saint Germaine de Pres and enjoy the afternoon market and snack on the foods at each stall or store, then to Saint Michele to walk through the Latin Quarter (eat dinner at Mirama - best asian food in Paris where lots of politicians dine - but a very informal/casual friendly place).  Then metro to Trocadero to see the eifel tower at night...

optionally if you have extra time, take metro to blanche station exit, go right, and walk up amelie poulain's street (touristy but fun), then walk along rue abesses towards the moulin's on the hill... then check out sacre coeur...

and if there's any time try to get to the Paris Mosque in the morning (unless it's Friday which in that case it's a completely other-wordly experience).  they have very nice tea room there (have some mint tea w/ snacks).  it's something that most tourists don't ever do and it's a beautiful experience.  The mosque itself is gourgeous.

Do not actually go into the eifel tower as you'll waste 2 hours waiting in line...

stay way from pigalle (seriously) but maybe check out place de clichy...

Have a great and extraordinary day!

p.s. I disagree w/ the poster's comment on Orsay.  Orsay is a great museum but has no modern art (it's all 18th, 19th century impressionists, classical, neo-classical etc).   It is my fav museum but leave it for another day... You can see just as much impressionist art in the U.S.!

Answer 6

Eiffel Tower

Notredam

Trip on the Sienne

Arc de Triomphe down to the Plas de Concorde

Then a night at a Paris Show

Answer 7

I would just wander around, as I normallyu do. I don't like rushing and crushing to see this and that.

Answer 8

i would go and try all the different types of food then i would go to the muzium there

Answer 9

Take the open-topped tourist bus and you'll get the highlights in a few hours.

I've been to Paris a few times and I would recommend the Musee d'Orsay, it's where a lot of the Modernist art is displayed. But then I'm weird that way.

Answer 10

I'd just make sure it's a Place thats open 24 hours. Pitty it would be if you went to the trouble of such a short visit and it was closed for ten more hours.

Answer 11

Firstly get an all day ticket for the Metro. This lets you get on and off as often as you like.

As you've never been I would visit the Louvre. To see some of the famous paintings first hand is often quite illuminating. The Mona Lisa for instance is actually quite a small painting.Its not just paintings though there are lots of other exhibits even if you do not like art.

On the evening try eating in the Latin Quarter. There are loads of inexpensive restaurants.

One place I would avoid is the Pompidou Centre unless you are really into modern art.

As its your first time try not to do too much.

Have a good time

Answer 12

I would definately go to the Sculpture in the Open Air park on the banks of the River Siene. Loads of people picnicing and dancing, I really can't describe how amazing it is.  It starts up around nine at night or so, so everything will be closed anyway.  Get your bottle of wine, some baquette and a friend and you'll have an absolutely wonderful evening.

Answer 13

id go shopping!!

+

to see the Eiffel tower!.

Theres a trip along the river aswell which is really nice..

Answer 14

I would go to Notre Dame and look inside it, then go to the Arc De Triomphe, go see the original Statue of Liberty, then see Eiffel Tower, and go to Alltitude 95 on the Eiffell Tower for dinner.

Answer 15

Bonjour !

I believe you should avoid all the tourist traps if you are only staying for 24 hours ; no time to see anything correctly in such a  short time.

If you are good walker, decide of an itinerary, following a map,

and walk by in the streets, stop at some cafés and savour a glass of beautiful wine, enjoy watching the old buildings, sit on a bench and watch life pass by, feel the place and you'll see, something will happen, it always does  in Paris if only a smile from a 'passant' !.

After all, Paris is the most beautiful city in this world !

Amusez-vous bien !

Answer 16

Assuming you are fit and capable of doing quite a bit of walking you can see a lot of Paris in a day. There are many tourist "must see" sights in a long fairly narrow area on both sides of the Seine. Of course there will not be time to spend in any of the famous art museums but that will wait for your next trip.

Begin at the Place Tracadero  (metro stop Tracadero on either line 6 or line 9.



Across the Seine you will see the Eiffel Tower. Walk down and cross the river and have a look. Its really not worth going up. There are usually long lines and the view is really not that good. Turning your back to it you will see a large park. This is the Parc Champ de Mars.



Walk thru the park to the Ave. de la Motte Picquet. which will cross your path at 90 degrees. You will see a peace memorial and across the street the Ecole Militaire.



Turn left and walk up the Ave. de la Motte Picquet to the corner where the Ave. de Tourville crosses. Turn right and continue a few blocks and you will see the Invalides on your left. This was built by Napoleon as a hospital for his wounded troops. The French army museum is here. There is a large church on the right side of the grounds which houses the tomb of Napoleon and of his son the King of Rome. Both buildings are open to the public.



Continue down the street to the Blvd. des Invalides and turn left. the Rodin museum will be immediately to your right (cross street is rue de Varenne). When you get to the rue de Grenville the street you are on a street that takes a jog to the left and changes name but simply continue in the same direction until you reach the river.



Across the river you will see the Grand and Petit Palais, huge art deco exhibition halls.  They’ve recently been refurbished to the condition of their glory days a century ago when they were built. Crossing the river to your left is the Pont Alexander III, considered by many to be one of the most beautiful bridges in the world. (If you've seen the movie "Desirée" this is where Michael Rennie play Marshal Bernadotte meets Jean Simmons playing Desiree Clary)



Turn right along the Quai d'Orsay and the French National Assembly will be on your right. Continue walking and the Musee d'Orsay built in a refurbished train station will appear. This houses the Impressionists and is thought to be the best of the Paris Museums.



Keep walking and the Louvre will be seen across the river. When book stalls along the Seine begin to multiply you'll have reached the Latin Quarter and you will see Notre Dame in front of you.



Look for the Pont Neuf (the "new" bridge although its actually the oldest bridge in Paris) and cross over to the Ile de la Cite on which Notre Dame stands and which is where Paris began.



Once you're over the bridge you'll see a little park to your left. This is where Jacques de Molay, Grand Master of the Knights Templar was burnt at the stake. The little Tavern Henri IV that you will see to your front and slightly right is a nice place to stop for a glass of wine by the way.



Now just head for Notre Dame along the river. You'll pass Saint Chapelle on your left built by Louis IX in the early 13th century to house the Crown of Thorns and part of the True Cross. The original building is now surrounded by the buildings which house the Courts.



Continue on to Notre Dame. Entrance is free as this is a "working" church. This is the first place I go when I arrive in Paris. I also always light a candle at the Statue of the Virgin Mary in thanks for being in Paris again. (Odd given that I'm not a Catholic but what the heck).



Continue on past Notre Dame and at the tip of the Island you'll find the Memorial to the Deportees. Take a moment to visit. It’s a moving experience.



Next cross the river on the Pont d'Arcola. (Just follow the bend of the Island around). On your right is another small island, the Ile St. Louis. This has some gorgeous architecture and is the home of Berthillion, the iconic ice cream maker but it can wait till your next visit.



When you cross the Pont d'Arcola you'll see the ornate city hall (the Hotel de Ville) to the front and right. Turn Left and walk along the river. As you pass the second bridge you'll see the Conciergerie back on the Isle de la Cite on your left. This is where Marie Antoinette was imprisoned before the Revolutionaries cut her head off.

Take a right on the rue du Pont Neuf and walk until you reach the Forum Les Halles. This modernist shopping center stands on the grounds of the former main market of Paris (since moved to the suburbs). Turn left and you will see the Church of St, Eustache, a 16th century construction, across the area of the Forum (which is primarily under ground)

Turn left on the rue du Louvre and in a  few more blocks the Louvre will again come into view. You’ll cross the rue de Rivoli, a high end shopping street and see an entry into the Louvre complex.



As you pass thru the first courtyard the now famous (or infamous) glass pyramid by Chinese American architect I.M. Pei will appear and beyond that the Arc du Carousel. This is a smaller triumphal arch that more or less lines up with the Arc de Trimphe and the modernist Arc de la Defense on the western edge of Paris.



Continue walking and you'll be in the Jardin des Tuileries, all that remains of what was once the site of a palace built in the 16th century by Catherine de' Medicis, widow of King Henry II. (The palace burned down in 1871). Eventually you'll see the Place de la Concorde infron on you and on either side the Orangerie and the Jeu de Paume. The latter were once a green house (in which oranges were grown) and a Tennis court. They both now house small art collections.



You'll exit the gardens at the Place de la Concorde. This is where the guillotine stood in revolutionary days and where the King and Queen along with hundreds of other Royalists were executed. Today there is an Egyptian obelisk on the spot. Look up the street to your right and you'll see twop identical and ornate buildings. One is the Ministry of Marine and the other the famous Hotel Crillon (720 euros a night gets you a room).



On the other side of the Place de la Concorde is the beginning of the Champs Elysee. The Elysee Palace, the official residence of the President of France will be on your right. You can walk along the Champs to the Arc de Triomphe (or you can take Metro line one which has a station at the north side of the Place de la Concorde).



Under the Arc (which Napoleon ordered built to celebrate his victories) you'll find the French memorial to the Unknown soldier with its eternal flame. There is also a plaque dedicated to the troops of the American Expeditionary Force of WWI.



You have now just about completed a grand circuit of the sights close to the Seine.

Answer 17

Don't bother waiting in line for the Eiffel Tower (I waited 3 hours), just walk around it. If you are initerested in museums, skip the Louvre (too big, takes too long) and go to Musee D'Orsay, which has a great selection of Monet and VanGogh. The Arc de Triomphe is also a nice sight and fun to climb up. Make sure to eat at a cafe on the Seine!

Answer 18

Get a map of the metro and a day ticket.

You can get the Eiffel tower, Notre Dame & Champs Elysees done in a day with a bit of walking.

My friend lives over there so with her as an expert guide, we got to see the Louvres (From the outside) and the Palace of Versailles (with the magnificent gardens). Versailles is a bit of a train trip out of Paris (About 30 mins) but worth it.

Good luck and enjoy. Remember to sample to food too.

Answer 19

The airport?  What a dive.  How can the major airport in a major city be in that state?

Anyway.  I'd go to Disneyland.  Been to Paris itself and, apart from them driving like maniacs, it was a case of "there's an old building" and "ohh there's another old building!".  Yawn!

Answer 20

The airport

Answer 21

Just make sure you go to a really good restaurant.  You'll get the city's flavor just by walking around.  Don't cheap out on food.  Splurge and have a really good meal.  Seriously.  You'll remember it more than anything else you do.