It’s no secret that Paris is a city that’s a feast for the eyes (and our Instagram feeds!)
For that, packing everything you’d like to see and do in 24 hours is difficult to plan. And factoring the time it takes travelling to and from the city, it’s probably more like 10-12 hours, with much needed breaks in between.
Having recently visited Paris with my mum after too many years, I wanted to see all the sights again and, if I was lucky, find my own personal Paris.
Of course, that wasn’t my experience at all.
While I technically had three days and two nights in the city of light, when you factor in the early train I had to catch (meaning less sleep) and the early evening train on the way back, I probably had closer to two days. And when you consider just how much sleep deprivation can affect your energy levels, I probably had closer to a day and a bit.
Paris isn’t an especially large city, but it holds so many sights to see and things to do. I’ve visited the city a number of times in my life and while I’ve done many of the touristy things, I haven’t managed to tick off all the museums, galleries and churches I’d like to visit, nor have I been able to enjoy all the patisseries that have caught my eye, etc. And with only one day in Paris, you’re really not going to see everything you might want to.
With that, I suppose it’s little surprise that one of my better days there was our final day, when due to lack of time and fear of missing our train if we were too daring, we decided to play it safe and chill out in one area. That happened to be Saint-Germain-des-Prés, a central location in Paris, in the 7th arrondissement.
Saint Sulpice Church
Checking out of our hotel in Saint Mandé (in the eastern suburbs of Paris) after 11am, we took the metro to Saint Sulpice church, our first stop in the area.
Saint Sulpice Church
It wasn’t a great day weather-wise; considering it was mid-November, I suppose it’s no great surprise that it rained for most of our trip. For it, I was glad for the break from the rain by taking a look inside the church.
Only slightly smaller than Notre Dame Cathedral, Saint Sulpice is perhaps best known for being featured in Dan Brown’s ‘The Da Vinci Code’. As a fan of elaborate ceilings, beautiful carvings and generally anything aesthetically pleasing, the interior of Saint Sulpice was a beautiful sight to behold – and a delightful break from the rain.
Les Deux Magots
Back out in the rain, we wandered down the street, popping into a macaroon patisserie that we’d heard great things about. But having tried a selection, I wasn’t too impressed, so, alas, the hunt for the best macaroon goes on.
Les Deux Magots
Getting a bit tired from the constant rain and generally feeling like drowned rats, we headed to the nearest café in sight, which just happened to be: Les Deux Magots.
At that point, I’d made the active choice not to bother going to Les Deux Magots. For those who don’t know, the café was opened in 1884, playing host to some of the most celebrated writers, artists and intellectuals of the 20th century, and remains an iconic café in Paris. For this, I’d already written Les Deux Magots off as an overpriced tourist trap that I’d do well to avoid.
But perhaps I was tired, perhaps I was just glad to be out of the rain, or perhaps I would have realised the error of my ways in any case. While my mum sipped her café au lait, I enjoyed several cups of their Viennese hot chocolate, which – when considering other coffees and cafés I’d experienced in Paris, as well as the iconic setting – was reasonably priced.
Needless to say, Les Deux Magots is certainly worth a visit and somewhere I’ll undoubtedly return to during my next visit to Paris.
Using Public Transport to Get Around Paris
With the rain unrelenting, we decided to hop on a bus. When visiting a new place, I love to go off the beaten track away from the touristy areas and try to experience life as the locals do. I’m a strong advocate that the best way to really see a city that doesn’t involve hours of walking is to take their local public transport, in particular buses. With buses, you’ll see much more of Paris than the more popular option of taking the metro.
When we’ve previously visited Paris, we have always stayed in the centre so have always ventured out on foot (another great way to explore the city). But staying in the suburbs as we did, we were a little bit out of the inner city so frequently had to take public transport to get back into the thick of things.
Gallerie Vivienne
One last pit-stop before we headed back to Gare du Nord to catch the Eurostar back home, we jumped off the bus and headed to a small shopping centre called Gallerie Vivienne.
It’s a great way to pass some time if, like us, you’re trying to hide from the rain, whether that’s just for a wander around to admire the architecture of the mall, or perhaps to pick up a souvenir or two.
Of course, if you’re hoping to see all the sights in Paris all in one day, be prepared for some serious cross-city dashing. Personally, I’d never say no to spending just a day in Paris, but honestly, one day isn’t going to cut it. If you really want to experience Paris, give yourself at least a few more days so you can take your time and explore the city. And even then that’s probably not enough!
And then, as the saying goes, you may just find your own Paris.
