Paris in 24 hours
 

Hi there. I am going to make a very very very fast trip to Paris. So I would like to know if somebody could help me telling me what should I do or where should I go (and specialy how: bus or metro - which station) in Paris if I have only 24 hours to visit it.

Thank you everybody!!!
Hugs!
Peace.

A whole 24 hours? Gee, why bother?

Where are you coming from? Is this en route to somewhere else? It's not much time but you can still see a little bit. Tell us what time you arrive and leave. Where will you be staying?

The metro is very efficient in Paris. The stations will depend upon what you wish to see and where you are staying. Do you want to see the Eiffel Tower, the Arc di Triomphe, Notre Dame?

If you are passing through Paris anyway for some reason, it depends where you are coming from and how you are leaving for people to tell you which metros to use, etc. But frankly, if someone has to tell you that, that implies to me you don't know how to use an underground/metro system as you shouldn't need anyone to tell you, you just look at the map and decide how to get where you are going by the lines and the stops.

We will be "stuck" in Paris for 24 hrs, too. A layover. We plan to send our bags on home so we won't be encumbered by them. We'll get an airport hotel and then take the RER into the city. Plan to walk around, maybe visit a museum, and have a great meal. Take the RER back, have a good sleep, and get on the plane for Seattle in the morning. I lived in Paris for three years so won't be doing any tourism, per se, but there is a lot to see. Try to hit the major sights so you'll be inspired to return. Enjoy!

Is this a side-trip from somewhere like London, or is this a stopover on route to a new destination? Where are you staying? And how are you arriving and departing?

Thank you Robert2533, Thank you michele_d, Thank you Christina, Thank you Bedar and Thank you Apres_Londee for answering!

Well.. I am going to Paris from LONDON. After Paris I would have to return to London. Actually I dont have exactly 24 hours. I am going to have much less than this.

Let me explain to you all: I am going to travel for business to London, but I would like so much to visit Paris. I have only 1 day off to visit Paris. So I was thinking to catch a train or a airplain (which one do you think is better?) to go to Paris. At morning. And then I would have to go back to London at night. That's why I have less than 24 hours in Paris.

So I would like to know which places should I visit in Paris and what should I do in Paris to have a good time in Paris if I dont have much time at all.

Thank you all, again!!!

This is a very DIY group so my suggestion might be anathema, but why not hire a guide?

Definitely take the Eurostar - it is city centre to city centre. Book as far in advance as you can at www.eurostar.com

I think you should take Eurostar rather than fly because airport transfers in both cities will cost more time than the transfers to/from the train stations.

I suggest that you take a train to Paris in the evening the day before, if possible, and spend the night in Paris. You can start exploring Paris in the morning and leave Paris in the evening, as you have planned.

Why don't you give us a list of attractions that you very much want to see or things you want to do as a starting point?

It would also be helpful to know which day of the week you plan to visit so we don't suggest things that might be closed.

I'm with the others regarding the Eurostar. Taking the train is the way to do it. You'll depart from St Pancras station in London and arrive at Gare du Nord in Paris.

The next question is, what are your interests? Are you hoping to see some of the iconic monuments, or spend time in a museum? Are you interested in food markets, or art, or history, or ????

The more you share about your interests and expectations, the better the suggestions people can give.

There have been other threads about taking a daytrip to Paris- you could try doing a search for them, you might get some good ideas.

Catch the eurostar as mentioned; book early to get a good deal.
Use an open top bus for your transport and then work out what you might like to see

http://www.parislopentour.com/paris-accueil.php?lng=gb

Approx 2 hours from London to Paris city center. Kind of activity depend on what do you want and your category of interest. For first timer , it's always a great idea to spend a day visit popular tourist attraction such as Eiffel Tower and Louvre and any other main attraction in Paris. Paris is a compact city and has great public transportation system so you will easily transport from one attraction to another one.

Thank you TDudette!
Thank you jamikins!
Thank you Gina_07!
Thank you michele_d!
Thank you Apres_Londee!
Thank you theotherside!
Thank you jh2011!

Thank you all again for traying to help me. You guys are awesome and that's why I am so happy!

My day off in London is going to be May 18th 2012. That's the day that I would like to go from London to Paris.

I am not going to have much money for this fast trip to Paris so I could not hire a guide. Besides that I think it would be very expensive to buy tickets to Eurostar at this time (almost 2 weeks from today).

About the interestes.. well.. let's say that there is a book called "100 places you should visit in Paris"... then.. let's say we reduce this book to "10 places you should visit in Paris"... which places should be these 10 ones? Im pretty sure that Eiffel tower should be one of these 10 places. hehe

I need more help, please, people!

If it were me, I'd start at an art museum (d'orsay for me), then have lunch and stroll towards the Eiffel Tower.

How much are the tickets by train you are looking at?
When in Paris No one on the list for me would be Notre Dame Cathedral (free entry).
I would also try and include Sainte Chapelle not far from Notre Dame.
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/f...ainte-chapelle

If you do decide to use the subway a mobilis card for zones 1 and 2 is only 6 euro 40.

http://www.transilien.com/web/site/a...obilis/lang/en

If you are pushed for time and the lines are long at the Eiffel Tower, the Montparnesse tower is another option and also gives a really good of the city.

If you want to visit a museum and you like the impressionists and 20th century paintings, then consider the Musee de l'Orangerie. It's centrally located and small, and therefore manageable in a short amount of time.

http://www.musee-orangerie.fr/

Or, the Musee Rodin is small and near the Eiffel Tower

http://www.musee-rodin.fr/

I would see Notre Dame and climb the towers, and plan a walk either in the Marais on the right bank or through St Germain or the Latin Quarter on the left bank. If money is tight you can really experience a lot just by walking through the neighbourhoods. If the weather is nice you can grab a sandwich and head to a park, either behind Notre Dame or the Tuileries beside the Orangerie (or somewhere else), grab a bench and have a seat and eat lunch while people watching.

The thing is, you have less than 24 hours.
Don't do anyone else's version of what YOU think Paris is going to be. Google Paris and tell US what you want to see.
We can help you plan the best use of your time but don't spend anyone else's favorite day in Paris.

Thank you LSky!
Thank you theotherside, again!
Thank you Apres_Londee, again!

LSky, I didn't Google it because Google is a not a human being. All I need are suggestions gave by real human beings, like you all.

I like the idea of visiting the Notre Dame Cathedral and Eiffel Tower. I would discard arts places like Museums and stuff only because I like so much paintings and I would need much more time to "appreciate" the paintings ("more time" which I'm not going to have).

Any other suggestion, please?

Since I don't speak french at all ("bonsoir" and "bonjour" is all I know), people in Paris speak english too?