Paris Day Trip: How to Make the Most of a Single Day in Paris, France

What do you do when you’ve flown to London for a week and you happen to have a day completely free? You spend it in Paris, of course! A Paris day trip seemed like a no-brainer to me. Obviously I was going to hop on the train and go see the apparent city of my dreams. (I can now confirm since going: it is the official city of my dreams.) There was no way I was flying all the way to Europe and not going to Paris. That would just be wrong.

So, I grabbed my THEIT bag, my camera and hopped on the train to spend a whirlwind Paris day trip. It was pretty hectic but I managed to see just about everything that I wanted to. Well, at least the major attractions with a few local activities as well. I crossed macarons, sidewalk cafes and the Eiffel Tower off my list.

In case you missed the memo, this was my first time to Paris ever. I’d been wanting to go ever since I started reading Vogue Magazine over a decade ago, but the chance to go to Europe hadn’t come up in my life. I felt like I was the last person on earth who hadn’t been. Even though my time in Paris was obscenely short, I managed to find a few fabulous things to do that I think everyone needs to experience when you only have a single day in Paris! Prendre plaisir.

5 Ways to Make the Most of Your Paris Day Trip

1. Be a tourist and go to the Eiffel Tower

Yes, it’s swarming with tourists of all kinds and locals probably cringe at the sight of everyone obsessing over a selfie with the Eiffel Tower, but when you’ve never been, it’s definitely necessary. I felt all giddy being there—like Carrie Bradshaw when she first goes to Paris and sees the Eiffel Tower from her hotel room. Even though Chloe has to burst her bubble by saying it’s hideous. Ugh, you guys know what I mean.

2. Check out the view from Montmartre

The view of the city from the top of Montmartre is phenomenal. Plus, all the stairs counted as my workout of the day too. There were tons of people there (obviously) but there was still plenty of room to sit on the steps or grass and have a picnic and glass of wine! Next time that’s what I’ll be doing. Who’s in?

3. Buy macarons from a tiny cafe

Of course everybody has heard of Ladurée, but what’s the fun in something everyone already knows about? It’s better to find the hidden gems. I picked up a pack of macarons from a tiny cafe that was also serving sandwiches, coffee and other baked goods—and oh my god, they were delicious! I felt bad wolfing them down when I got back to London in front of my friends who were trying to be on a diet, but, you gotta do what you gotta do.

4. Visit and shop at local markets

You never know what you’re going to find—especially in a city as fashionable and historic as Paris. No matter where I go, I’m always a fan of the local markets. Unique pieces no one back home will have? Yes, please. I found a really cute vintage market (don’t ask me to remember where it was, I just wandered for ages) that had vendors selling antiques, home wares, vintage clothing, books—you name it, they had it. I could’ve spent hours there! But unfortunately, a Paris day trip forces you to move on quickly.

5. Chill out at a sidewalk cafe

This is the perfect way to end, start and take-a-break-in-the-middle-of your day. After trekking up the endless steps to the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur, I needed a break and so I wandered through the cobblestone streets until I found an empty table at Clairon des Chasseurs to have a beverage. I ordered a Teqroni From Paris which had tequila, aperol and vermouth rosso. So delicious! Then, after visiting the Eiffel Tower I was ready for another drink and snack. I found a relatively empty cafe with almost no tourists in sight! There I enjoyed a meat & cheese platter, a glass of wine and felt like a true Parisian.

I’m convinced I must live in Paris at some point in my life. It’s true that there are only two kinds of people who go to Paris—the kind that love it and the kind that hate it. I’m insanely, madly, wonderfully and completely in love with it. I could spend a thousand days in Paris and still not have seen everything.

Au revoir Paris! Check out more of my city guides about Miami, London and Vancouver.

WHAT I’M WEARING:

Making the Most Out of a Single Day in Paris, France