One day in Paris: a walking route
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- 2 of 4 free; paid: Sainte-Chapelle, The Louvre
- Duration
- 8 h 10 min · 09:30–17:37
- Start and finish
- Notre-Dame de Paris → Tuileries Garden
- On foot
- ≈ 37 min in total
- Transport
- none — all on foot
- Lunch
- around 11:38
- With kids
- fine: short walks
- Best time
- Spring and autumn; the Louvre at opening time or in the evening.
The plan, stop by stop
Times include walking and lunch. Drag a stop by ≡, remove it with the cross or add one nearby — the plan updates.
Paris09:30–17:37 · 4 places · 8 h 10 min
Notre-Dame de Paris
· 1 h · Free
- 8 min on foot
Sainte-Chapelle
· 1 h · Timed ticket, online
- Lunch · 1 h
- 16 min on foot
The Louvre
· 3 h 30 min · Timed ticket, online
- 13 min on foot
Tuileries Garden
· 1 h · Free
Add nearby
Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.
What the route costs
2 of 4 are free; 2 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.
| 1 | Notre-Dame de Paris | 74 | 1 h | Free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Sainte-Chapelle | 57 | 1 h | Timed ticket, online |
| 3 | The Louvre | 62 | 3 h 30 min | Timed ticket, online |
| 4 | Tuileries Garden | 51 | 1 h | Free |
| Total | 6 h 30 min | 2 of 4 free |
Tips for each stop
- 1
Notre-Dame de Paris. The Gothic cathedral on the Île de la Cité with its rose windows and gargoyles. Free entry, best with a free timed booking.
- 2
Sainte-Chapelle. Louis IX's chapel, walls almost entirely of 13th-century stained glass. Timed ticket, security check at the entrance.
- 3
The Louvre. The world's largest museum: the Mona Lisa, the Winged Victory, the Venus de Milo. Timed ticket online; closed Tuesday.
- 4
Tuileries Garden. Le Nôtre's royal garden between the Louvre and Concorde: ponds, green chairs, statues. Free.
Who this route is for
- A first look at Paris
- A layover or short stop
- Museum lovers and walkers
- Going up the Eiffel Tower: see the 2-day route
- Versailles needs its own day
Spring and autumn; the Louvre at opening time or in the evening.
What to see in Paris in one day
The route runs west along the Seine from the Île de la Cité. From Notre-Dame it's 5 minutes to the Sainte-Chapelle, then 15 minutes across the Pont Neuf and along the quay to the Louvre pyramid, and the Tuileries lead straight from the Louvre to the Place de la Concorde. Book the Sainte-Chapelle and the Louvre for set times.
Don't try to see the whole Louvre: pick the Denon wing with the Mona Lisa and Italian painting plus one or two other wings, and three hours is enough. For lunch, try a café near the Palais-Royal or on Rue de Rivoli.
You can remove any stop with the cross, reorder with ≡ or add another nearby, and the timings update.
Where to eat
Start with coffee and a croissant from a bakery on the Île Saint-Louis or in the Latin Quarter. For lunch, use the cafés inside the Louvre or a bistro by the Palais-Royal with a weekday set menu.
After the Tuileries, dine near the Place Vendôme or head up to the Madeleine with its gourmet shops. Parisians dine from 7:30 pm.
If you have time left
With an evening to spare, take a Seine cruise from the Pont Neuf or walk to the Eiffel Tower, which sparkles every hour after dark.
How to do it right
- Timed tickets for the Louvre and Sainte-Chapelle.
- Pick 2–3 Louvre wings.
- Watch your things by the cathedral and on the metro.
- Many Paris museums close on Monday or Tuesday, so check the closing day before you go.
- France uses the euro. Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere. Book the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and the Sainte-Chapelle ahead on their official sites, which list entry times and closing days.
Questions
What can I see in Paris in one day?
Notre-Dame, the Sainte-Chapelle, the Louvre and the Tuileries with the Place de la Concorde.
Can you see Paris in a day on your own?
The central highlights, yes; they're all walkable along the Seine.
Can I fit in the Eiffel Tower in one day?
Swap the Louvre for the tower, or walk to it in the evening after the route.
Where should I eat in central Paris?
Bistros by the Palais-Royal, cafés on the Île Saint-Louis and Rue de Rivoli.
How do I pay in Paris?
France uses the euro. Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere. Book the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and the Sainte-Chapelle ahead on their official sites, which list entry times and closing days.
Sources and fact-check
- Prices, opening hours and time on site come from each place's page, with its own sources and check date
- UNESCO: Paris, Banks of the Seine (no. 600)
