Roaming with Red

Paris – the city of love and fashion and food. Paris is a maze of interesting things to see, so much so that it takes much more than a day to truly experience this city. While not my favourite city in Europe, it is still well worth experiencing what makes Paris so intoxicating for so many people. However, if like me, you find yourself with only a short day to spend in Paris while you wait for your next onwards journey, here are a few things to do to see as much of the city in as short a time as possible.  

Do as the Parisians Do and People Watch

What could be more classic Paris than a coffee and croissant to start your day? If you find yourself in this city in the early hours of the morning, find a café and sit for a bit. Order a croissant and an espresso, or something else if you don’t drink coffee, and simply watch the world go by. Paris is well known for its people watching culture and there is something so enchanting in watching people simply go about their day in this elegant city.

Walk Everywhere

Paris has so much to see and it’s simply not possible to see everything in one day. While potentially an unpopular opinion, if you’ve only got a short layover, I would suggest skipping the famous museums and simply walking the city instead. Famous museums and art galleries like The Louvre and Musee D’Orsay are absolutely well worth a visit but need a day solely dedicated to them. If, instead, you want to see as much of Paris as is physically possible in a day, just talk a walk.

My suggestion, start at Saint-Chapelle and spend half an hour in this stunning chapel. The stained-glass windows are, quite simply, breathtaking. Bathed in blue and purple hues, this is honestly a must see attraction where you can skip the long entry queues. From there, pop past Notre Dame and see as much of the façade as possible considering the restoration work.

Next, cross the Seine and make your way back past the Louvre (at least you can say you’ve seen the outside of the museum) and onwards to the Jardin des Tuileries and Place de la Concorde. This iconic Paris vista is well worth a visit, as the Eiffel Tower paints the horizon.

Keep walking towards the Arc de Triomphe before choosing your adventure – the Eiffel Tower or Montmatre and Sacre Coeur. Both equally beautiful and both equally worth visiting but unfortunately on opposite ends of the city so would suggest doing one and doing it well.

A walking itinerary like the above will take you through some of the most iconic parts of Paris and lets you enjoy much of the stunning architecture and culture this city is so well known for.

Spend a Slow Afternoon with some Retail Therapy

This may seem like a strange suggestion on such a short visit but please stay with me. Seeing so much in such a short time is exhausting, especially if you are still in transit to your final destination. The Galeries Lafayette are pieces of art in and of themselves and allow you to relax during the afternoon rather than rushing to see all the sites.

Firstly, make sure you visit the food hall for a nice, long lunch with food options galore. You can even pick up a few goodies to bring with you and remind you of your time in Paris! Most importantly, however, is a visit to the main building. Here, the dome is the centre piece. Towering over the shopping mall, the ceiling is a beautiful piece of glasswork that makes this place seem so special. Enjoy browsing the many floors within the department store, sip on a coffee in one of the many cafes and eventually make your way to the rooftop terrace. The terrace provides sweeping views over the Paris skyline with pop-up restaurants and bars making an appearance during the summer months so you can enjoy a champagne as Paris glitters before your eyes.

One day is simply not enough time to fully enjoy what Paris has to offer. A city steeped in history and culture, there is so much to experience here, from breathtaking gardens to fascinating museums and stunning architectural beauties. While you may not be able to see everything in a day, it is enough time to understand why Paris is one of the most famous destinations in Europe.