This is my Paris travel guide to experience Paris in 48 Hours

I was lucky enough to experience Paris, France, and Europe as a whole for the first time this year. Given I only had 48 hours, I wanted to maximize and see as much as I could in a short time. These are my recommendations on how to do just that.

 

Essential Paris Travel Tips

First up, I arrived in the morning after taking an evening east coast flight. Upon arrival, I had issues with my cellphone, so I opted not to Uber and instead to take RoissyBus from Charles de Gaulle to the city center, aka Paris-Opéra. It costs 16.20 Euros – visa as well as Euros accepted – I found it easier to use cash in this instance. A couple tips that helped me navigate this new city: Practicing French in Duolingo leading up to the trip, downloading Google Translate to easily scan menus or signage with my camera and translate, Citymapper to find the easiest ways to metro and navigate the city, Bounce to stash your luggage affordably and safely before hotels open, and lastly Google Maps – be sure to download the city so you can use your map offline (this was probably the most helpful).

Day 1: Art, Architecture, and a Royal Palace

8 am – 12 pm

Traveled to Paris-Opéra and upon arriving, I walked to Galeries Lafayette Haussmann and went to The Gourmet Market. This was the perfect spot to get my bearings, get on WiFi, and get a snack. From here, I walked to a bounce spot to store my luggage before walking into the city.

12 pm -2 pm

Walked along the River Seine and eventually made my way to the Petit Palais – a free art museum and café located in the 8th Arrondissement. This museum is fantastic and a less crowded spot to take in some art and get out of the sun. The garden area outside is also lovely and relaxing. From here, I went to check out the Eiffel Tower from one of the best viewing points – Rue de l’Université.

2 pm -6:30 pm

Through Get Your Guide, I booked a skip-the-line tour to Versailles. I met my small group at the metro, and we took the train to Versailles, which had AC and chargers for my phone via USB. From there, we had a tour guide who took us around the gardens for 2 hours and around Château de Versailles for one hour before heading back to Paris.

6:30 pm – 10 pm

Picked up my bags from bounce and headed to meet my sister at Gare Montparnasse, the nearest metro stop to her. We got dinner at a little outdoor café and then crashed hard.

Day 2: Culture, Croissants & City Views

8 am – 12 pm

Headed to the 1st arrondissement to start the day. I walked around and went to Stohrer, the oldest patisserie in Paris, which was founded in 1730 by King Louis XV’s pastry chef, Nicolas Stohrer. I got the babka, strawberry tart with Chantilly cream, and a pain au chocolat. Although, upon further research, it is recommended to try the baba au rhum, which they are famous for, and I sadly did not try. After a nice treat-filled breakfast, it was time to take on the Louvre.

For the Louvre, I booked skip-the-line tickets through Viator, which also came with a river cruise that could be used any time during the day/evening. I opted for the early timeslot for the Louvre to avoid waiting in long lines, and it was super easy to get in quickly.

There is so much to take in at the Louvre, so make a list of what you want to see. One of my best friends gave me that advice, and it was so helpful. I opted to prioritize seeing the following: Mona Lisa, Winged Victory of Samothrace, Liberty Leading the People, The Napoleon III Apartments, and Martin Desjardins, Four Captives. While there, I also went to the café to grab coffee and a yogurt – I loved the French yogurts and ate a few during the trip. It was a quiet space to eat outside and observe people coming and going from the museum. You can book a river cruise and Louvre experience through Get Your Guide here.

12 pm – 5 pm

After the Louvre, I made my way to Montmartre. I walked the streets, and since it was a Sunday, I explored the market that happens there every Sunday. I also took the time to climb the stairs to experience the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre. This was the only place I noticed people trying to scam for money using the friendship bracelet tactic. I was able to give a firm “non” and walk away, and was not bothered. After the church, I did a food tour through Viator and Secret Food Tours. The Montmartre walking food tour was one of my favorite things I did in Paris. I got to try a ton of foods on my list and meet some wonderful people. During the tour, we tried macarons, chocolates, drinking chocolate, baguette, cheese, meats, crepe, eclairs, and various accompaniments like jam, butter, and mustard. We also got to try red and white wine.

5 pm – 9 pm

After the tour, I left with a family I met, and we walked by the  Moulin Rouge and eventually made our way to the Arc de Triomphe. The Arc was a relatively quick climb to the top and provided stunning views of the Eiffel Tower and Paris as a whole. Definitely worth adding to the list! From there, I made my way to my river cruise, which I definitely recommend doing around sunset. To close the day out, my sister and I snacked on some more eclairs in our hotel room.

Travel Day: A Final Stop at Sainte-Chapelle

9 am – 11 am

On my way out of town, I wanted to sneak in one last site. I booked the early time slot to experience Sainte-Chapelle. I definitely recommend getting your ticket in advance and also going during an early timeslot. While out that way, I also grabbed some coffee and a donut from Motors Coffee before heading to Gare du Nord to take the Eurostar to London. Ultimately, it was a quick but also really enjoyable experience in Paris. I didn’t feel overly rushed despite fitting in so many activities.

Happy Adventuring!