Couple strolling arm in arm along a Paris street

One day in Paris

See a side of the city the guidebooks won’t reveal.

Seeing Paris in one day

You can see and do a lot with just one day in Paris, and you can do it without following a rigid checklist. Instead, you can use your limited time to forge your own path through the city. While you can follow the Seine past Notre-Dame and the Eiffel Tower, spend a quiet hour in the Louvre or the Musée d’Orsay, or lose yourself in a single neighborhood, the best part of the city is everything you’ll discover along the way. Whether it’s a warm croissant from a bakery you stumbled into, the reverent hush inside a centuries-old chapel, the perfect find from an antique market, or a hilltop view of the evening lights, you’ll make plenty of memories to bring back home. A local Airbnb Experiences guide can help shape the day around what you most want to see—and reveal some hidden gems along the way. It’s the easiest way to make the city feel like your own.

Top highlights for your visit

Icon of a croissant

A croissant worth waking up for 

Start your day the way Parisians do: with a butter croissant still warm from a neighborhood bakery. It’s the kind of small, unhurried beginning that will set the pace for everything that follows—and a reminder that some of the best moments in Paris are the ones you didn’t plan.
Musée d'Orsay Impressionist Gallery

World-class museums 

From the Louvre to the Musée d’Orsay, Paris museums hold some of the world’s greatest art collections. It’s worth building a visit to one into your day, even if you only have an hour or two to spare. A local Airbnb Experiences guide can direct you to the pieces you most want to see, so you can take in the art without losing your afternoon to the crowds.
Montparnasse Neighborhood

Montmartre on foot 

Climb cobblestone streets toward Sacré-Cœur, past the working artists in the Place du Tertre and the cafés that once drew the city’s painters and poets. From the basilica steps, you’ll get a panoramic view of nearly every arrondissement that’s more than worth the walk.
Normandy beach

The Seine at dusk 

As daylight fades, board a riverboat for a short cruise as Paris shifts to lamplight. On the water, you’ll see the city’s illuminated monuments from a unique perspective. It’s the perfect excuse to rest your feet after a full day of walking.

One day in Paris FAQs

Things to know before your day in Paris

Entry

  • Start early, ideally by 8 AM, to enjoy the biggest sights before the crowds arrive.
  • Decide what you most want to see, whether that’s landmarks, museums, or a single neighborhood.
  • Book tours ahead of time, especially in spring and summer when the best ones fill up.

What to bring

  • Comfortable walking shoes, since you’ll cover a lot of ground on foot.
  • A small backpack that’s easy to carry all day, water, and a light layer.
  • A charged phone to take photos and find your way between stops.

Important information

  • The Metro connects every major area, with central stations a short walk from the sights.
  • Many museums close one day a week, so check before you plan a day around one.
  • Say “bonjour” on the way in and “merci” on the way out of shops and restaurants.