Sprinting Through Paris

Paris draws millions of visitors each year, attracted to its cafes, museums, gardens and iconic landmarks. Even if your visit is brief, you can spend a weekend in Paris and have a good time. Paris is wonderfully easy to navigate by metro, bike or on foot. Ready to take a quick spin through the City of Light?

The fastest way to get around Paris is the Metro, an underground train system that runs frequently and has an extensive number of stops.

A weekend in Paris can give you a taste of all it has to offer and whet your appetite for a longer visit. Plan an agenda that includes attractions, experiences, landmarks and time to chill, making sure not to miss the highlights, such as the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and Louvre.

If you have just a day, decide on your focus–museums, parks, landmarks or shopping. Believe it or not, you can squeeze in all the top attractions in 12 hours of daylight by starting at Notre Dame at 9 a.m. and ending with a Seine River cruise at 7 p.m.

Even a layover can give you time to explore, if it’s more than four hours. You need to factor in time to travel to and from the airport and clear customs again. While it’s tempting to race through the city to see as much as you can, even fleetingly, focusing on one area or neighborhood can be more satisfying, such as Montmartre or Le Marais and Île de la Cité.

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First Stop: The Eiffel Tower, of Course!

The most popular tourist attraction in the world welcomes 6 million guests each year. Along with the views, there’s a Michelin-starred restaurant, champagne bar, exhibits and shops. The busiest season? July and August, naturally. Tickets are available up to two months in advance, but if they are sold out online, you can buy same-day tickets in person. Lines can be lengthy, so check the website for wait times and information on prices, hours and what to do.

What’s Nearby:

Walk across the Pont d’lena (bridge) to Trocadero Gardens, which align perfectly with the base of the “Iron Lady,” offering an ideal photo op! The complex includes museums, sculptures and Warsaw fountains.

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Shop the City’s Oldest Street

Rue Mouffetard is located in in the 5th arrondissement, better known as the Latin Quarter, which dates to Roman times. The narrow, cobblestoned street is lined with cafes and restaurants, cheese mongers, butcher shops and bakeries. It’s the Paris you’ve always imagined.

What’s Nearby:

For fans of the Netflix series Emily in Paris, you are near the Place de l’Estrapade, and many of the restaurants featured on the show. If Cafe de Flore seems familiar, it’s because this charming wisteria-covered cafe appeared on the show. Which means you won’t be the only fan trying to get a table to snap a selfie. Bon appetite!

You’re also within walking distance of the Pantheon. Once the highest building in Paris (before the Eiffel Tower was completed), its colonnade offers a spectacular view over the city. Or spend some hours at the Jardin des Plantes. Originally a place where herbs were grown for royalty, today it houses a zoo, garden and a gallery.

Head to the Island

Ile de la Cite is literally an island in the middle of the Seine River. Here you’ll find Notre-Dame Cathedral, which reopened in December 2024 following renovations after a devastating 2019 fire, and the famed flower market. This is also where you can see Pont Neuf, the city’s oldest stone bridge, connecting the island to the left and right banks of the Seine. The landmark has been featured in films like “The Bourne Identity” and “Midnight in Paris.”

What’s Nearby:

Au Vieux Paris d’Arcole, one of the city’s oldest restaurants.

Follow the Trends

Check out the Marais, a hip neighborhood lined with bars, clubs and restaurants – and which is also home to several important galleries and art museums including the Pompidou Centre and Musee Picasso. Don’t miss the imposing Hotel de Ville, which houses the Paris City Council. The Marais is the site of the city’s annual Gay Pride Parade in June.

What’s Nearby:

Paris’s oldest covered market, Les Enfants Rouges, dates to 1615. It’s filled with covered stalls selling produce, fish and meat. Find it near rue de Bretagne.

Looking for That Famous Pyramid?

Designed by I.M. Pei, the impressive glass Louvre Pyramid serves as one of the entrances to the equally famed Louvre Museum. Once a royal palace, it houses a collection that includes the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, Greek statues and Renaissance masterpieces.

What’s Nearby:

Pretend you’re a 16th century royal by strolling the formal gardens of Jardin des Tuileries, dotted with fountains and sculpture by Rodin.

For creative, contemporary art, visit the Jeu de Paume, which features photographs, films, installations and rotating exhibitions.

Shop Till You Drop

If you are looking for one of the best department stores in Paris, stop into Bon Marche Rive Gauche. Opened in 1852, it is France’s best known department store.

And don’t miss BHV Marais, which sells everything from housewares to handbags. The original building, which dates to 1866, has been joined by a menswear store and boutiques dedicated to brands such as Gucci and Moncler.

What’s Nearby:

The Champs-Elysees is made for strolling and browsing, dotted with luxury brands and middle market retailers. The broad, leafy avenue connects two must-see landmarks at either end: Place de la Concorde and the Arc de Triomphe.

Besides the The Champs-Elysees, among the best areas to walk in Paris are Boulevard St-Germain and the left bank of the Seine.

Get Out of Town!

These two monumental destinations are just outside the city proper. The Palace of Versailles is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and former royal palace with 2,000 rooms and a spectacular Hall of Mirrors. The trip to Versailles from Paris is worth it, if you have sufficient time; getting there and touring the palace and grounds can take almost a full day. For a different vibe, Disneyland Paris has all the magic you could want.

More Places to Eat

Besides the Emily in Paris restaurants, visitors have their pick of enticing dining spots, from Michelin-starred restaurants to market food stalls. Most bars and restaurants stay open until 2 a.m., so there’s time to explore. Here are a few suggestions:

Hanoi Paris is just steps from the Luxembourg Gardens and offers authentic Vietnamese pho and a kid’s menu.

Those colorful macarons you may have seen in “Gossip Girl” are from Maison Laduree. Check out its flagship store on the Champs-Elysees.

Looking for an authentic French brasserie? Book a sidewalk table at Au Pied de Cochon. Open since 1947, this classic Gallic spot serves up cassoulet, moules frites and escargot.

Need more to post to your Instagram? Get to Pink Mamma Paris early; the lines form well before opening at this buzzy Italian spot known for its fab decor and pasta with truffles.

And don’t forget the croissants! Considered a national treasure, you can find a good croissant in nearly any boulangerie in the city.

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