How to see Paris in a Day (and still feel WONDERFULLY satisfied)

How many days do you need in Paris, France? One, three, five or thirty. There’s no right answer. It all depends on who you are and how you like to travel.

But for now, let’s assume you have all the time in the world but want to see Paris in a day. Soooo…

Voyons Paris! Let’s see Paris!

(That’s it. That’s about as much French as I can confidently write…)

A chair by a window in Paris. One day in Paris

The perfect end to a day in Paris. Now, let’s begin at the start…

This post contains affiliate links. They cost you nothing, but we make a small commission. If you would like me to explain it further, please visit our disclaimer page.

Why Paris, Europe?

Contents show

I’m currently in Paris, Europe, with my 20-year-old daughter. We’re here for a month, living like locals. On vacation (mainly, I’m still working online).

The backstory is long (and best saved for another time), but in a nutshell, I’m a world traveller from New Zealand, and after losing both my parents last year, this trip marks the beginning of a healing, connecting, year-long family adventure.

My husband and son are in Norway while my daughter and I explore Paris.

In a month’s time, the four of us will meet in Greece for a month-long stay, and after that? I don’t know (join my weekly newsletter where I share private diary entries about life, all of this, and more).

So, why write a post about what to do in just one day in Paris?

Because, like you, I want to see everything… but I also want to do it slowly, intentionally, and meaningfully.

A mother and daughter spending a perfect day in Paris

me and my precious girl x

Spending Time in Paris, Europe

My experience may be different from yours — I have the luxury of time, and I can afford to take days where I do absolutely nothing. But like you. I still want to experience the best of Paris, and I want to do it in a way that feels joyful, not rushed or exhausting.

Just like you.

That’s why, instead of cramming every “must-see” into a hectic itinerary, I’ve taken the most magical moments from my time in Paris and woven them into a single, perfect day.

One that balances iconic sights with authentic experiences — slow, beautiful, and unforgettable.

I have also written about where to stay in Paris and given you some Paris travel tips, but you can read those later. For now, stay right where you are and let’s spend a day in Paris together…

First things first. How much of Paris do you want to see in a day?

If you are set on seeing AS MUCH as you can of Paris in one day (ie, museums, tour bus, climb Eiffel Tower, wine tasting, eating crepes, balloon rides, etc, etc), then you really can not beat the all-inclusive Paris City Pass.

The Paris City Pass will save you up to 50% off a whole bunch of the top attractions in Paris.

For those who wish to have the complete Paris experience, get the pass. It includes an All-Inclusive Pass to attractions (plus a Paris Museum Pass!)

Get your Paris city all-in-one pass here and save 50% HERE!

For those who like to take things slowly…

Start Your Day in Paris with the Tootbus Tour

Without a doubt, your day in Paris should begin with the Tootbus hop-on hop-off tour. This is the one thing that is not negotiable. I’ll explain why in a minute.

— The idea of traipsing around tourist sites shoulder-to-shoulder with thousands of people isn’t my vibe (and thankfully, not my daughter’s either). But the Tootbus is not your typical tour experience.

A mother and daughter in Paris spending the day

Me and Tess, about to start our day!

The Tootbus in Paris

The one-day in Paris ticket is valid for 24 hours, and the full loop takes about 2 hours and 20 minutes.

You’ll glide past all the major landmarks — the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre-Dame, the Champs-Élysées — with zero stress. You can hop off if you’d like, but honestly? I’d stay on, relax, and take it all in from the top deck.

This isn’t your standard shouty-tour-guide experience either. I’ve been on a lot of city bus tours, and this was by far the most chilled, relaxing one I’ve ever taken.

FYI: If you are only in Paris for the day, I wouldn’t bother with the added cruise option – save you money – you’ll see everything you want to see from the top deck of the bus.

Get your hop-on, hop-off tickets here.

Mother and daughter spending a day in Paris

Ready to start? The Tootbus is SUPER easy, affordable and very relaxing!

Tips for Enjoying the Tootbus Like a Pro:

Bring sunscreen — or do as we did and take an umbrella (just sit at the back of the bus so you don’t block anyone’s view).

Ride between 12 PM and 2 PM — most people are at lunch, and you’ll enjoy a quieter ride.

Grab a picnic — pop into a nearby Monoprix for a baguette sandwich, a takeaway coffee, or a bottle of sparkling water. Then sit back and enjoy Paris from above (the bus also stops halfway into the tour for about 10 minutes, some people jumped off for a toilet break and grabbed a coffee – we stayed where on the bus but it’s something to remember.

Truthfully, most of these famous landmarks look just as impressive from the bus as they do from the ground. I’ve tried both — and I’m telling you, this is the way to go.

Get your Paris Tootbus tickets here

Paris One Day Itinerary

Early Morning: A Croissant, Coffee, and a Park Bench

Your perfect day will begin, as all Parisian mornings should, with a flaky croissant and a strong coffee from the famous La Maison d’Isabelle in the 5th arrondissement.

This beloved bakery, tucked away near Place Maubert, is known for its award-winning pastries — and rightly so.

Square René Viviani & Oldest Tree in Paris (free)

With your breakfast in hand, cross the road to the tiny park across from the bakery, where you will sit beneath the branches of an ancient, gnarled tree.

It is one of those small Parisian moments that you will never forget — birdsong, fresh bread, the hum of the city waking up.

Getting onto your Paris Tour Bus

From the park, it is just a short walk to Notre-Dame Cathedral, where you will hop onto the Tootbus.

📍 Stop: Notre-Dame – Quartier Latin (easy to find, and clearly marked)

Get your Paris Tootbus tickets here

People outside Notre Dame in Paris for one day

Why spend hours in a line to see the Notre Dame when you can spend your day in Paris seeing everything from the top deck of the Toot Bus?! Save this for another day :)))

Set on seeing Notre Dame?

I understand, and yes, we have been inside the Notre Dame and it is mindblowing. But, with only one day in Paris, I would highly recommend paying for the hour-long skip-the-line and guided tour option.

It will give you the opportunity to see this gorgeous Cathedral at your leisure without having to wait, wait, wait and then push and shove you way around.

Get your skip-the-line Notre Dame tickets here.

Avoid the horrendous queues (which never seem to go down) and get whisked through with your 1 hour guided tour!

Next for your Paris in one day itinerary….

After your relaxing ride around Paris on the Tootbus, it’s time to stretch your legs — and where better than the Bastille Market?

Hop off the bus at the Louvre – Rivoli stop and jump on the Métro Line 1 (yellow line) toward Château de Vincennes. Just a few stops later, get off at Bastille — right where the market action is.

We used our Navigo Easy metro pass (so handy for short-term visitors), and the Bonjour RATP app helped us navigate the route with no stress at all.

The Bastille Market in Paris, Europe (FREE)

The Bastille Market, held every Thursday and Sunday, is one of the largest open-air markets in Paris.

With everything from fresh produce and rotisserie chickens to flowers, cheeses, and scarves, it’s easy to lose yourself for an hour or two.

Indulge in a piece of roast chicken, a warm baguette, and a wedge of cheese, or do what we did and buy oysters and prawns from the seafood stall (along with a bottle of 3 Euro wine from the plonk stall – he gives you glasses) and sit in the shade with the locals.

There’s something wonderfully grounding about a market lunch: no queues, no menus, no pressure.

A Riverside Walk Along the Seine (free)

After lunch, hop back on Line 1 at Bastille and return to Notre-Dame. From there, set off on one of the most magical parts of your day — a slow, sunny walk along the Seine.

No agenda, no hurry.

Stroll past booksellers, watching boats float by, and soaking in the golden light that Paris does so well.

You don’t need a plan for the Seine. Just start walking and let it carry you.

Paris. The walkway along the river Seine

Walking from the Eiffel Tower to Notre Dame along the River Seine. There is nothing better.

An Afternoon at Musée d’Orsay (approx $18)

The very beautiful Musée d’Orsay

After your riverside walk, stop at one of my absolute favourite Paris museums — the Musée d’Orsay.

Don’t bother with the Louvre (this time). It’s massive and far too overwhelming (especially if you only have one day in Paris), but you must make time to see the famous Musée d’Orsay (you’ll be so glad you did).

What a joy it was to see Monet, Degas, Van Gogh, and Renoir.

Again, I had to twist my daughter’s arm to join me in the museum (she would rather shop…) but eventually, she was wowed by the beauty (and decided it would make good TikTok material!!)

We booked Skip the Line tickets to the Museum. You can get them here.

My daughter filming a particular painting that took her eye…

Entry is incredibly good value. Get your skip-the-line Musée d’Orsay ticket here. Considering the quality of the collection and the relaxed experience, it felt like a hidden gem compared to the busy Louvre or Musée de l’Orangerie.

What will you especially love?

It is less crowded, and the space itself — high ceilings, natural light, that grand station clock — makes it feel airy and unhurried.

Take your time wandering through, stopping often, with no pressure to “see it all.”

Get Your skip-the-line Musée d’Orsay ticket HERE (It is worth every cent not to have to queue!)

Buy a pre-booked ticket, and the only line you will face is the one to collect your audio set! (SO worth it by the way!)

*Added Museum tip

Don’t worry if you have a big bag that you don’t want to lug around the Museum.

They provide FREE lockers where you can store your things worry-free.

Lockers are provided free of charge in the Museum. Yay!

Back on the Tootbus — A Peaceful End to the Afternoon

From Musée d’Orsay, you can walk a few minutes to Place de la Concorde, where you can hop back onto the Tootbus for one last loop around Paris.

Note: The last boarding for the Tootbus is at 5:00 PM, so make sure to hop on before then.

It is the perfect way to unwind after a full day — sun on your face, gentle breeze, and a view of all the spots you’ve passed earlier, now glowing in the afternoon light.

Get Your Paris Tootbus Tickets Here

Next, You Could Read:

Paris Travel Tips

Where to stay in Paris

Don’t forget to join my email list!

We have just left New Zealand to travel the world for a year. We are having the year away — living the dream!

We work online remotely, something that I have worked hard to achieve over the last five years. Digital nomad life isn’t just for the twenty-somethings!

You can join my inside circle, Frontrow newsletter, here.

We have a YouTube channel where we’ll be documenting our travels. I also have a podcast with my husband, and I write a newsletter or three.

You can find our YouTube channel here.

You can find our latest podcast, “Our BIG news”, episode here.