How to Visit Paris in 24-hours Flat

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By Joyce Mann
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Twenty-four hours in Paris. The Eiffel Tower is a must-see.

Visiting Paris within a twenty-four hour window is not ideal. How can it be? But if you find yourself in circumstances that allow for just a smidgen of Parisian sightseeing, here are some tips guaranteed to elicit an oo-la-la or two.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

valid passport

Step 1

A central location is best.

Get a centrally located hotel room. Twenty-four hours implies you'll need some time for sleeping and freshening up. Also, you don't want to waste time commuting from an out-of-the-way hotel to see the major attractions such as La Tour Eiffel, la cathedrale Notre-Dame and L'Arc d triomphe. They even sound better in French, don't they?
Step 2

How may I help you, madame?

Make friends with the hotel's concierge. Be polite, gracious and make eye contact with the person at the front desk no matter how jet-lagged or train-drained you may be. In other words, prove to that person you are the exception to the stereotype of the Ugly American.
Step 3

She's got a ticket to ride -- to the Moulin Rouge.

Once you've developed a rapport with the concierge, it's time to seek his recommendations. Since you've proven yourself to be a decent human being, he'll be more likely to suggest the best of the short excursions and tours available for your one-day visit. In most cases, a tour bus or van picks you up right at your hotel.
Step 4

Notre Dame along the banks of the Seine.

You can't see everything, so pick two or three excursions. Here are some suggestions:

A. There's good reason Paris is known as the City of Lights, so take a tour that drives you past all the major sites and monuments lit up in all their splendor.

B. Dine at a restaurant inside the Eiffel Tower; often times this excursion can be combined with a tour of Paris at night.

C. The Palace of Versailles is a bit out of town, but its opulent interior is jaw-dropping and its gardens world famous. On the way back to your hotel, ask the driver to drop you off at Notre Dame Cathedral instead. You can tour this magnificent Gothic cathedral -- flying buttresses and all -- on your own. If your timing is right, you may arrive as the mass is being said in French.

D. Take a stroll a few blocks away from the tourist area. If you speak very little French, it's great fun to take a seat at a local cafe, place your simple order, then pretend you understand everything going on around you.