How to See Paris in 48 Hours

The truth is that 48 hours is not enough time to see all of Paris. I’m not sure a week is even enough time to see all of it. There’s a reason it is one of the most visited cities in the world. With so much history and art, so many iconic landmarks and a distinguished culinary scene, planning a short trip to Paris might feel a little overwhelming.

Read this article to help you plan two wonderful days in the city of love.

How to get to Paris:

Paris is located in the northern central region of France. Depending on your starting location, you can get there by plane, train, car, or even bus. Take a loot at Omio for train and bus options.

There are three main airports for traveling to Paris.

The largest and busiest is Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). It is the farthest away from the city center but there is an extensive train system to get you where you need to go. Most international flights travel through CDG.
The medium-sized airport is Orly Airport (ORY). It is situated closer to the city center. It is a quicker trip from the ORY to Paris using RER train and bus connections. This airport generally serves European and domestic flights.
Beauvais–Tillé Airport (BVA) is the budget-friendly airport located furthest from the city. It takes quite a bit of extra time to get from BVA to Paris using shuttle bus or train. Ryanair and Wizz Air frequent this airport.

Where to stay in Paris:

Paris has an extensive metro system, so as long as you stay within the city limits it shouldn’t take you long to get anywhere that you need to go. If possible, try to stay somewhere within the 13th, 14th, or 15th arrondissement for the easiest access to all of the important attractions.

Hostels are the most affordable option in Paris. You can find top rated hostels on Hostelworld.

Here are some affordable and highly rated stays:

If you’re traveling with a group, you may be able to find a good deal on Booking.com as well.

Weather in Paris:

What time of year should you visit? I have been to Paris in mid-November and late-January. Both times, the weather was cold (for a Californian) with partly cloudy skies. The temperature ranged from high-30s to low-50s (F), which is about 2 to 11 degrees Celsius.

If you want to visit Paris when it is slightly less crowded and not too chilly, you might consider going between March and May or between September and October.

You’ll experience the warmest weather between June and August, but this is also peak season and therefore the most expensive time to visit.

Day 1:

1. Angelina for breakfast

It would be sacrilige to start your trip to Paris without a French croissant or pastry. Head to Angelina, the world-famous 1903 bakery.

2. Visit Louvre Museum

Just a 10 minute walk from Angelina is the world’s most visited museum. Once a royal palace, the Louvre now houses over 350,000 artworks. Some of the museum’s iconic works include the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and Delacroix’s Liberty Leading the People. Book tickets ahead of time to avoid a super long line.

3. Lunch at Ober Mamma

Sister restaurant of the famous Pink Mamma, Ober Mamma is a lovely Italian restaurant with tree branches and plants adorning the walls and ceiling. It’s about a 25 minute metro ride from the Louvre. We could only get a lunch reservation, but it’d be a lovely spot for dinner as well.

4. Walk around Tuileries Garden

Metro back over to Tuileries Garden (Jardin des Tuileries) to walk off all the pizza and pasta. Eventually we claimed some lawn chairs for a golden hour view of the Eiffel Tower.

If you have time before lunch, it might make more sense to go to Tuileries Garden first since it’s right next to the Louvre.

5. Stroll down Champs-Élysées

From Tuileries Garden, we continued down Champs-Élysées, the iconic avenue known for its high-end shops and restaurants. It is also the most direct path to the Arc De Triomphe.

6. Go see the Eiffel Tower

Ride the bus from Champs-Élysées – Clemenceau (Line 42) for 12 stops until you reach Parc du Champ de Mars. Hop off at Rapp – La Bourdonnais. If you need a little extra help navigating Google Maps, check out this article.

In Parc du Champ de Mars, you’ll have the perfect view of the Eiffel Tower. We went after sunset to see it all lit up. The crêpe trucks, carefully positioned around the edges of the grass, sent the sweet scent of crêpe batter wafting through the air. They were the perfect Eiffel Tower-viewing snack.

7. Dinner at La Felicità

If you still have room for dinner, head to La Felicità. The trendy food market was created by the same people that run Ober Mamma, Pink Mamma, and a few other Italian restaurants in the city. There are plenty of options, from pizza and pasta to burgers and poke, and even an impressive uplit bar in the center of the hall.

Day 2:

1. Breakfast at Café Du Trocadéro

We had to start Day 2 with a hearty breakfast, so we made our way to Café Du Trocadéro. You can take a peak at Place du Trocadéro or Jardins du Trocadéro for views of the Eiffel Tower before grabbing a table.

We each ordered some version of the “Trocadéro Brunch.” It came with an overflowing platter of fresh french bread, butter and jam, eggs and ham, and coffee and orange juice.

2. Walk to the Arc De Triomphe

The Arc de Triomphe is a symbol of French military victories. It is also at the center of 12 major avenues in Paris. It’s a popular photo op for tourists in Paris. If you want to climb to the top, you can purchase tickets here.

3. Go to the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre

Take the 24 minute metro ride from the Charles de Gaulle – Étoile stop by the Arc de Triomphe to Sacré-Cœur. Ride Line 2 for 9 stops and get off at Anvers. It’s a 10 minute walk uphill to the church. If you need help with navigation, read this article on how to use google maps for public transportation.

The Basilique du Sacré-Cœur is the second-highest point in Paris. It is an important piece of Parisian architecture and history with a panoramic view of the city.

4. Lunch at La Pétaudière

Montmartre is a dreamy Parisian neighborhood. After visiting Sacré-Cœur, we explored the narrow, winding streets lined with boutiques and macaron stores. I couldn’t resist the Le Petit Prince postcards and paraphenalia in the gift shops.

We stopped for lunch at La Pétaudière, a traditional French restaurant and piano bar. We ate at a table upstairs, surrounded by a gallery of eclectic art hanging on the walls.

5. Wander around the Artists' Square, Place du Tertre

At the heart of Montmartre, you’ll find Paris’s beloved Artists’ Square, also known as Place du Tertre. The artists have to go through a competitive application process to secure a spot. You can take a look around at the artwork or even sit for a portrait of your own.

6. Listen to music on the Sacré-Cœur steps

On our way out of Montmartre, we stopped at the steps of the Sacré-Cœur. We sat for almost an hour listening to a guitarist singing duets with shockingly talented audience members. A crowd of 100+ people were gathered around the “stage.” It was a touching display of art and humanity, framed by the illuminated city under a November night sky.

7. Dinner at L’As du Fallafel

L’As du Fallafel is a historic establishment in Paris’s Jewish quarter. If you like falafel, you have to try their classic Fallafel Special. It is served in a warm pita pocket with hummus, tahini sauce, and vegetables.

The simplest way to get there is to ride 9 stops on the metro Line 4 from Château Rouge to Châtelet. Transfer at Châtelet to Line 1, and ride 2 stops to Saint-Paul. L’As du Fallafel is about a 5 minute walk from there, located on Rue des Rosiers. If you need more help with Google Maps, check out this article.