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Paris is an incredible city with so much to do and see. From the very famous Eiffel Tower to the lesser-known parks and neighborhoods, there is so much to take in. While 48 hours in Paris does not seem like enough time, sometimes that is all we get, so we have to make the most of it. Here, we will ensure you get to see the most popular things Paris has to offer in an optimized way to make the most of your time in this magical city. Hopefully you’ll come back to France and visit for longer next time.
48 Hours in the Paris Itinerary
We assume you landed the day before and will, therefore, spend a full 48 hours in Paris.
Day 1 – The famous landmarks
PRO-TIP: If you want to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower, then you need to book your tickets 60 days before the day you want to climb the tower. They sell out FAST! Due to this, there is limited (if any) availability to buy tickets in person on the day of. You’ll likely spend all day in line and still not get tickets, especially during the height of tourist season. If you can’t get tickets, then we recommend tickets to the top of the Arc de Triomphe, where you get a great view of the Iron Lady.
Breakfast- Maison D’Isabelle & Notre-Dame
Head over to Maison D’Isabelle to get some breakfast. I do not recommend the coffee here as it comes out of a machine and isn’t made well. Instead, I’d recommend some pastries (definitely the award-winning croissant) and stopping at a coffee shop as you walk your way across the bridge to the island where Notre Dame lives. I recommend popping into Odette for a coffee or hot chocolate (although for the best hot chocolate, we will take you elsewhere). You cannot bring food into Notre Dame. Remember, it is a church, please be respectful.
Notre Dame is free to enter, and you do not need tickets to reserve a spot. You’ll go through security, then enjoy this beautifully restored Cathedral. There is a little gift shop inside if you want to buy something. We absolutely loved going to Notre Dame. We recommend heading here early, as the line can get really long to get in. On this island, you’ll find Sainte Chapelle. Sainte-Chapelle is a small and beautiful remnant of a church. It is known for its famous stained glass windows. If you want to visit Sainte-Chapelle, you’ll need to buy tickets.
Sainte-Chapelle (optional)
To get into Sainte-Chapelle, you will need to purchase dated tickets. You’ll line up on the side of the time on your ticket. Then you’ll go through security before walking through a courtyard to get to the chapel. It’s a little odd, but the Paris courthouse buildings were built around this chapel. You’ll enter the downstairs part of the chapel, which discusses the history of Sainte-Chapelle. There is another gift shop here. Then head upstairs to see the incredible stained glass windows. There is a pamphlet area near the exit stairs that has pamphlets explaining each of the vignettes.
Batobus to the Eiffel Tower
We recommend taking the Batobus as a way to get around Paris, where you can hop on and hop off as you please to explore different parts of the city. It was perfect for us as we got to see Paris by the Seine while enjoying the boat ride. If boats are not your speed, then I’d recommend enjoying your 48 hours in Paris via the Big Bus Paris. You won’t need a 48-hour pass on either the Big Bus or Batobus.
From Sainte-Chapelle or Notre Dame, we will take the Batobus down to the Eiffel Tower to start our visit to some of the most famous monuments. Check our protip at the top of this day before deciding what to do at the Eiffel Tower. We did buy tickets to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower. Unfortunately, the day we were scheduled to go, it was so windy that they had to close the top. They did refund us the difference because we decided to go to the middle of the tower. It was truly a spectacular view, even if it was ridiculously windy. Entering the Eiffel Tower plaza is free and does not require a ticket. You will go through security to enter the plaza, then again to go up the tower.
Lunch- Le Relais de l’Entrecôte then Arc de Triomphe
If you’re starting to feel peckish after exploring Trocadero and the Eiffel Tower, then we recommend hopping back on the Batobus and heading down to the next stop to go for a little walk to lunch, then continuing on to the Arc de Triomphe. We went to lunch at Le Relais de L’Entrecôte to eat the iconic steak frites in Paris. It is very popular so if you don’t want to wait in line (because no they don’t take reservations) we’d recommend going elsewhere. After lunch, we will walk off the steak by heading to the Arc de Triomphe. If you’ve decided to climb to the top to see the city from this point of view, you’ll want to take the tunnel to the middle, where the arch is, as this intersection around the arch is a nightmare.
Champs-Élysées and Place de la Concorde
The main street taking you back to the siene from Arc de Triomphe is Champs Elysées. This is one of the most famous and iconic streets of Paris, so it’s definitely a must meander during your 48-hour visit to Paris. It is known for its high-end and expensive stores as well as restaurants. There are some tourist shops here and there, but remain vigilant of pickpockets.
Champs Elysées ends at Place de la Concorde, which is a very nice little part area with Jardin des Tuileries. If you have time, we recommend exploring and walking through. You can either get on the Batobus stop at the Place de la Concorde or keep walking through and hit the Louvre. There is a Batobus station there, too.
Batobus
As you come to the end of the Batobus, we recommend taking it all the way to finish up the loop so you really get the most out of the views. From here you’ll see Musee d’Orsay, the Louvre, Notre Dame, and even La Sorbonne. If you’re feeling up to some more walking before dinner, get off at the Notre Dame stop and head south to the Panthéon. It is a notable mausoleum to house notable French citizens.
Dinner- Montparnasse
From the Panthéon, you can either take the subway (metro) or walk down to the neighborhood of Montparnasse, where we will stop for dinner. There are a couple of options depending on what you’d like. For less expensive traditional French food, we recommend going to Bouillon Chartier. It is very popular and has a line, but it moves quickly, especially if you’re there early. If you’re interested in crêpes for dinner, check out Rude du Montparnasse for a street full of crêperies. We liked La Crêperie de Josselin.
Montparnasse Tower
Walk over to the Tour de Montparnasse to get some incredible nighttime views of Paris. The 56th-floor observatory has a panoramic view of the city. It is one of the tallest towers that you’ll see in Paris, which is why it promises such great views.
Pastry Shops, Bakeries, and Coffee Shops:
Here is a list of different bakeries, pastry shops, and coffee shops you’ll pass throughout the day that are worth stopping at:
- Maison D’Isabelle (breakfast stop)
- La Parisienne (bakery)
- Chapon Chocolaterie Saint Sulpice (chocolate mousse)
- Berthillon (Ice cream)
- Angelina (hot chocolate/touristy)
- Bake & Blend (coffee shop)
- Parallel Coffee (coffee shop)
Looking for a list of all the best French food to eat in Paris? Check out our post here!
Day 2 – Montmartre & Le Marais
Breakfast- Mamiche
This delicious bakery makes everything in-house. It is definitely a must-stop for breakfast. They have all sorts of delicious goodies to take as you go explore the rest of Montmartre. Remember that Montmartre is very hilly, so expect to be walking up and down hills, especially as we make our way to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart.
Basilique du Sacré-Cœur & Funiculaire Ride
One of the most famous churches in Paris after Notre Dame is the Basilique du Sacré Cœur, which is at the top of the hill in Montmartre. You can climb all the way up the hill either by walking along the street on the sidewalks or by taking the stairs straight up the side of the hill to the Basilica. Personally, we decided to go the lazy route and took the funicular up the side of the hill (and then back down). Riding funiculars is so fun and definitely worth it. Plus, then you can get your Metro Day Pass and start using the Paris Metro.
This church is an active church that celebrates Mass multiple times a week and several times on Sunday alone. So be sure to check the schedule online in order not to disturb mass. If you’d like to see a mass, I’d highly recommend it. Aside from the beautiful church, they have an amazing dome that you can visit to get an incredible view of the city. You don’t have to pay to enter the church, but you do have to pay to go to the dome. To get to the top, you’ll have to climb stairs; there is no elevator option. Note that you do have to go through security to enter the church, even for mass, so plan some extra time for that.
Fun Fact: The Basilica of the Sacred Heart has the longest continuous adoration in the world. You can participate in this chain of adoration. They are always looking for people to go to adoration overnight. The Basilica offers housing to those participating in overnight adoration.
Explore Montmartre
After going to the Basilica, we are going to do some exploring of the Montmartre area. It has many little winding streets that are easy to get lost in. Here you’ll find stylish shops and many, many restaurants. If you’re visiting on a Friday-Monday, I recommend taking the metro up to the Flea Market, also known as Marché aux Puces de Paris Saint-Ouen. There are always so many cool things to see and explore in Paris flea markets.
Lunch- Amonē & Head to Le Merais
Before heading south to Le Merais, we recommend taking the metro from the flea market to Amonē to get your own handheld cordon bleu. If you’re not a fan of cordon bleu, then we recommend going to Disco Burgers to get a disco burger. They seal the bun around the burger, and it’s delicious! After lunch, we will head to Le Merais using the metro. On our way from Montmartre to Le Marais, we will pop out of the metro to go to Plaq to get incredible hot chocolate. They make their chocolate in store, it’s amazing.
Interested in eating more pastries and having more chocolate?
Include a pastry and chocolate tour to see some of the local favorites!
Place de la Bastille
This is the famous monument commemorating Bastille Day, or the French Revolution, and the end of their monarchy. On the weekend, you can enter the bottom part of the monument for 2 euros. They also offer guided tours. From this square, you may want to stroll along the Faubourg Saint-Antoine. It has picturesque courtyards and passageways such a passage du Chantier, cour de l’Étoile d’or, cour des Trois Frères.
Explore Le Merais
From Place de la Bastille, you’ll continue down Rue de Saint-Antoine until it becomes Rue de Rivoli. Along the way, you’ll see the Village of Saint Paul to explore. I recommend going down streets that interest you and having some crepes along the way. There are also plenty of pastry shops and chocolate shops to see in Le Merais. There are also many shops and things to see in this area.
Dinner
Now, one of the iconic things to do in Paris is to have dinner under the Eiffel Tower or with a view of the Iron Lady. There are several restaurants that have views of the Eiffel Tower, and many are quite expensive. If you’re interested in a splurge, head to Giraffe and you’ll get views of the Eiffel Tower. Personally, I don’t love fancy French food that much, so we went to Au Bon Accueil, which was amazing. If these are both out of budget, then I recommend picking up some sandwiches at a boulangerie and then having a little picnic at the Trocadero Park.
Pastry Shops, Bakeries, and Coffee Shops:
Here is a list of different bakeries, pastry shops, and coffee shops you’ll pass throughout the day that are worth stopping at:
- Mamiche
- Carette
- Plaq Chocolat
- Boulangerie Utopie
- The French Bastards
- La Pâtisserie Cyril Lignac
- Tapisserie- Charonne
- Yann Couvreur
- Boulangerie-Pâtisserie Terroirs d’Avenir
Extra Time? Check Out These Fun Activities for Your 48 Hours in Paris
Palace of Versailles
One of the most amazing places to visit while in Paris. Technically, the Palace of Versailles isn’t in Paris; it is a very close train ride. So, really, you’re looking at a great day trip to Versailles. Not only is the palace absolutely incredible and beautiful, but the grounds and gardens are incredibly manicured. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world. Another great thing to do when visiting Versailles is to book a tea time. It is one of the most magical afternoon teas in France. You should book tickets and the tea ahead of time.
The Louvre
The most visited museum in the world is The Louvre. It houses some of the most famous artworks in the world, which naturally include Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and Winged Victory. If you love art, then it is definitely worth adding to your trip to Paris, but it is such a large museum that it would take all day to explore, and it is simply too long for 48 hours in Paris when there’s so much else to see. The famous pyramid is found on the Cour Napoléon with the Sully Pavilion and Denon Wing. Even if you’re not interested in all the artwork, I’d recommend walking in the courtyard.
PRO TIP: Get either very early tickets to the Louvre or Skip The Line Tickets in order to avoid very long line or crowds.
Bibliothèque nationale de France
One of the most beautiful libraries in the world. It is the national repository of all that is published in France. Some of the extensive collections include books and manuscripts, but also precious objects and artworks. It is absolutely beautiful and striking to explore and enjoy. Not only is it a public library, but there is also a museum to explore. There is an entrance fee to see the library and the museum.
Jardin du Luxembourg
Found in the 6th Arrondissement, these gardens are inspired by the Boboli Gardens in Florence. It covers 25 hectares of land and is split into the French gardens and English gardens. There is an orchard with a variety of apples, an apiary to learn about bee-keeping, and greenhouses with breathtaking orchids. The garden has a rose garden and 106 statues spread throughout the park, including the famous Medici fountain. Additionally, there are many activities and facilities for children and adults. Everything from chess, tennis, bridge, and even remote control sailboats. It is truly such a lively place and center of community.
Sainte Maria Madeleine
This church, also known as La Madeleine, is the focal point of the Madeleine neighborhood in Paris. It is a beautiful church inside and out. Inside, you will find brochures that explain everything inside the church and its history. The brochure also explains the facades outside. Another cool thing about this church is that it regularly hosts concerts. You’ll find incredible musicians playing classical and worship music. If you’re in Paris during one of these concerts, definitely stop by.
Le Moulin Rouge
We love a local dance show and dinner. We’ve done this in Peru, Argentina, and Ireland. Of course, if you’re in Paris for 48 hours or longer, we recommend checking out the infamous Moulin Rouge show. The show is a whirlwind of feathers, sequins, and rhinestones, emblematic of Parisian cabaret. The Moulin Rouge takes you on a journey through an enchanting universe while enjoying a delicious dinner. There are several curated menus to choose from when selecting your tickets.
Les Halles
As you might have noticed from our trip to Spain, we love going to explore local markets. Les Halles is a great central fresh food market in Paris. It is wonderful to explore. While a modern shopping mall was built largely underground, topped with a canopy, it is really a giant market also known as “the stomach” of Paris. It is attached to one of the busiest metro stops in Paris, which adds to how popular this market truly is. There are many lights, colors, doors, and escalators. Adjacent to the pavilion is the beautiful Gothic cathedral of St. Eustache, which has the largest organ in France! Truly such a unique area to explore.
Galeries Lafayette Haussmann
Galeries Lafayette Haussmann is one of the most popular, famous, chic, and distinguished shopping centers in Paris. While Galeries Lafayette shops are completely out of our budget, there are two really cool things to visit in the mall. The first is the incredible ceiling made of stained glass. There is an internal balcony that allows you to take a photo with an unobstructed view of the ceiling in the background. Once you’ve done that, you want to keep going to the roof, where you can take in the most incredible views of Paris. From this high up, you see the Eiffel Tower and many other monuments.
Le Bon Marche
Along with Galeries Lafayette, you have Le Bon Marché to check out. Another mall that is out of our budget, but it is fun to explore. It unfortunately doesn’t have a beautiful view or ceiling, BUT it is connected to a market. Inside the market (the part we like the most), there is a cafe, many things to taste test, a flower shop, and a fake market with cute fake food. Additionally, the bottom floor has a giant wine cellar with thousands of wines. The market has plenty of different foods, snacks, and unique things to shop for and bring home.
Catacombs of Paris
Far below the city of Paris are the catacombs. After going down many, many stairs, you will get to learn about the history of the catacombs of Paris before seeing the actual catacombs. Remember, these are real people in their resting place. Given how old many of these bones are, you are not allowed to touch them. Additionally, the catacombs are always the same temperature regardless of the time of year. There are miles of catacombs below Paris, and you’ll only see a little bit of it. If stairs are challenging for you, then this is not the activity for you.
Things to Know About Spending 48 Hours in Paris
How To Get To Paris?
How To Get Around Paris?
Where To Stay In Paris?
Wrap-Up: 48 Hours In Paris
As you can see, there are simply so many things to do in Paris! 48 hours in Paris just doesn’t feel like enough, but it is a great way to get your feet wet in France. However, we recommend staying longer, at least 7 days in Paris. There is so much to do, and we recommend finding what you enjoy most to make the itinerary what you enjoy. While enjoying all the sights of Paris, make sure to eat plenty of the different foods Paris has to offer.
