How to Plan A Perfect Day in Paris

It’s hard to resist the charms of Paris, a city where there’s something to see around every corner and you or your clients could easily spend weeks exploring. But if your clients have just a single day to explore Europe’s City of Light, there’s no need to worry. Here’s our guide to seeing Paris’ highlights in one day.

Morning — Icons and Art

Your clients can begin their day with a cafe au lait (coffee with milk) and a perfectly buttery croissant or pain-au-chocolat at a Paris café, such as Carette or Le Peloton. Afterwards, they can head to the Eiffel Tower to begin their adventure with Paris’ most iconic must-see sight. The tower opens at 9:30am, and your clients can ascend to the top for a sweeping view of the city—the best bet is a guided priority-access tour that will allow them to skip the line, save time, and head up to the viewing platforms.

Once they’ve descended the tower, your clients can take a scenic stroll through Les Invalides, a complex of ornate, 17th-century buildings that opens up onto the Seine. Then they can walk toward Place de la Concorde, the largest public square in Paris, to admire its ancient, gold-tipped obelisk from the Luxor Temple in Egypt, as well as the two ornate, neoclassical, 19th-century fountains.

Have your clients continue on to see one or two of the most renowned museums in France. There’s the Louvre Museum (Musee du Louvre), with its extensive art galleries that include Da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” and the famous Greek “Venus de Milo” sculpture. Suggest your clients to come armed with a skip-the-line pass to bypass the crowds. Or, if you prefer, check out the impressive Impressionist collection at the Musee d’Orsay. Be sure to prebook skip-the-line tickets here too.

Afternoon — Picnics and Parisian Chic

After all that your clients would probably like to take a break from the sightseeing to enjoy a picnic lunch along the Left Bank of the Seine River or at the splendid Luxembourg Gardens (Jardin du Luxembourg), an oasis of greenery in the middle of the city. With even the most typical of markets stocking delicious cheeses and baguettes, it’s easy to have an inexpensive and scenic meal outdoors. You can also book them a food and wine tour that includes lunch to skip any guesswork.

Once your clients are satiated, they can stroll through the perfectly Parisian neighborhood of St-Germain-des-Pres. This historically artistic and intellectual area, famous for an association with philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre and writer Simone de Beauvoir, is characterized by charming cafes, chic art spaces, jazz clubs such as Cafe Les Deux Magots, and the famed Church of Saint-Germain-des-Pres. If your clients fall in love with the neighborhood and time permits, they can consider extending their time here with a 4-hour walking tour to dive deeper into its bohemian culture.

Evening — Sunsets and Supper

As the sun starts to sink, your clients can catch the Metro or take a hop-on hop-off bus to the Montmartre neighborhood. The area is crowned by the epic hilltop Basilica of Sacre Coeur—your clients can linger up here as the sun sets for a vibrant view overlooking Paris, or ascend to the top of the basilica’s dome.

With dinnertime approaching, your clients can stick around Montmartre and pop into a restaurant such as Le Reciproque or La Mandigotte, or, if they’re up for one more neighborhood, suggest them to get back on the Metro and make their way to lively Le Marais for some nightlife.

Top Selling Destination Guide: Paris

Paris is a city that is well known for its pretty-as-a-picture Hausmannian boulevards, world-class art museums, opera houses, boulangeries, cafes, and Michelin-starred restaurants.

Holidays in Paris and Benelux

The winter holidays are some of the best times to visit Europe and brave the cold. Lights and holiday cheer are abound, and with that comes plenty of opportunity for memorable experiences for your clients.

New Paradis Latin Show

One of Viator’s longest-standing suppliers, the Paradis Latin in Paris, has recently launched a brand new Cabaret show!