English
Spanish
French
German
Norwegian
Portuguese
Swedish
Italian
Russian
Simplified Chinese
Japanese
With many of our Burgundy barge cruises offering pick-up and drop-offs in central Paris. Many of our guests choose to spend a little time in the city before, or after their cruise. To make this a special addition to your holiday with us, one of our tour guides has put together a few recommendations on for what to see and do whilst in the ‘City of Lights.
24 Hours in Paris: An insider’s Guide of What to See and Do!
The Eiffel Tower
Mais oui (but of course!) If it is a first visit to Paris especially, the Eiffel Tower is a must. Even if time does not allow to go up it, to go to the esplanade and simply view it is very special. Start in front of the Grand Palace Ephemere on Place Joffre and walk towards the Eiffel through the park.
Construction began on the Eiffel Tower in 1889 to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the French Revolution. A symbol of technological prowess in the industrial revolution, interestingly, it was not meant to last more than 20 years. Communication experiments and consequently its use as a radio tower saved it from destruction. A little-known quirky fact is that 72 French scientists and engineers’ names are engraved on the Eiffel Tower so as not to be forgotten to history.
Walk like a Parisian
One could argue that the French have perfected the art of walking. To truly see Paris like a local, take time to simply stroll, or ‘flaner’ in French. Meander along the cobbed streets, stop for a drink at a curbside café, people watch and simply take in the atmosphere.
Paris centre is compact and easy to wander about. It is considered one of the best walking cities in the world. With an easy-to-access metro system with the option to select English as a language, plus many English-speaking station personnel – it’s easy to escape the crowds and travel further afield andemerge in another area of discovery.
These days we are all about our ‘steps’ but in Paris everyone walks everywhere. They don’t typically measure, but it is known they easily walk on average 7,900 steps per day.
Le Marais
A favourite area to wander is Le Marais. This historic district of Paris has small, cobbled streets that twist and turn, revealing something new at every corner. It’s the perfect area to take a break at one of the multitude of bars or cafés to watch Parisian life walk by.
It is also a perfect area for some shopping, offering designer boutiques, trendy fashion houses, and iconic vintage stores. A real concentration of unique fashion gems!
Above all, Le Marais is a place full of history, culture, and diversity. Constructed on former marshland, the neighbourhood saw the arrival of thousands of Eastern European Jews in the 13th century, followed by the first wave of Chinese immigrants after World War I, and in the 1980s the LGBT community.
Shopping in Paris
The classic is Boulevard Haussman where you will find Galeries Lafayette. This famous department store began in the 1900s as a tiny space, but quickly grew both in size and concept. Uniquely at the time, customers were encouraged to browse and move along a variety of goods showcased in straight aisles, hence the name Galeries. In 1896 the owners purchased 1 rue la Fayette, as well as other neighbouring properties, giving us the name Galeries Lafayette,
If you wish a very different shopping experience, hop on the Metro’s Line 4, disembarking at Porte de Clignacourt. There you will find the famous and largest antiques market in the world, The Marche aux Puces. Guide’s Top Tip: visit on a week day and/or early morning and note that haggling is to be expected. The market is divided into different specialist sections, such as arts, fashion, music and of course antiques. If you don’t wish to spend too much time there, pick a section to focus on.
The Formule for lunch
Lunch is all about ‘the Formule’ the plate of day, with bookend options of starter and dessert. Menus outside of cafés, bistros and restaurants will tout their offer, with set prices for one, two or three courses. The set menu is the choice of Parisians as they showcase the most fresh and seasonal foods. Simply browse the streets and look for the Formule that makes your mouth water.
Tour Guide’s Tip – lunch for the French is from 12 noon to 2pm and has only one seating. So, it is best to decide where you wish to eat just before 12, and then see if you can be seated. You will most likely be asked if you have a reservation, but if they have seats available, they will fill them up to first come first served. Otherwise, eateries designed for tourists will serve food all day.
Weirdly Wonderful
Would you like to see a very different side of Paris? You can go under the city and explore its Catacombs. Created in the 1700s to transfer more than 6 million dead from the above ground cemeteries. Opened to the public in 1809, it is 20 metres deep with a total area of 11000 m2 (2.7 acres) and offers a walk of 1.5kms (just under a mile).
The Statue of Liberty was made by French sculptor Auguste Bartholdi and presented to the USA by France to honour the longstanding friendship. But did you know that Paris is home to an additional 5 Statues of Liberty? The one in New York is the tallest, the smaller replicas here in the city can be found on the Île aux Cygnes, in the Luxembourg Gardens, at the Musée d’Orsay, thee Musée des Arts et Métiers, and at place Michel Debré.
Wine tasting
France is known for its wines, and the large variety of different grape varieties, regions and styles available. Whilst in Paris, you can enjoy a wine tasting at Les Caves du Louvre. They offer a variety of ‘degustation’ including a wine and cheese pairing, a simple classic tasting, or even making your own wine!
If you would like to sit and enjoy a glass or two, check out the best wine bar in Paris, Ô Chateau. This bar has 50 wines by the glass to choose from, as well as a selection of over 1000 bottles on their menu. They offer wine tastings too. You can taste at the bar or book a table and enjoy your wine with a meal.
After Hours
As night descends, choose from a myriad of restaurants in the city. From cosy bohemian to elegance, casual bistro to the international food of your choice. Or how about the oldest Cafe in Paris? Le Procope opened in 1686 by François Procope and is particularly famous for its onion soup. Believe it or not, King Louis XV is credited with creating this classic French soup. Supposedly, late one night at his hunting lodge, he made it using just the three items he could find in the pantry: onions, butter, and champagne.
Should you prefer to eat after hours, consider the Au Pied de Cochon, a market restaurant that is open all night. It opened its doors in 1947 initially to night workers of the market, but soon was serving people from all walks of life and now is a must spot for those out for a late evening.
What to know before you go?
Travelling around Paris for a day is easy. Walking is the most popular amongst the locals, But if you wish to go further afield, try using the Metro, another very Parisian experience. It’s easy to purchase a ticket at the many kiosks you will discover as you head underground, even offering different languages to assist you. But if you have any difficulty, or questions, there are manned ticket booths and in the more populated stations helpful attendants who often speak English. The metro runs from 5.30am until 1am.
If you wish to stay above ground, you can opt for the buses.
Paris Perfection
Even with only a day, it is very possible to enjoy a quality taste of Paris. You can fill your hours with things to do and see, or just stroll around the city and absorb the atmosphere. The city of lights is a fantastic stopover for anyone – particularly if you’re about to embark on a luxury barge cruise, or perhaps – have just disembarked!
Browse our Burgundy barge cruises, where many guests enjoy a meeting point at the Hotel Westminster in Central Paris.
