to ask what to do in Paris?

[1nightinparis]

I'm going to Paris! I've always wanted to, and now I'll be there for a little over 24 hours...

So:
What must I see, do, wear...
Where shall I eat and what should I buy?

When you are going could make a difference as to what is best to do.

Go up to Montmartre
Galeries Lafayette with the beautiful glass dome
if you are there long enough take a trip to Versailles
I have avoided some tourist areas since we went a while ago when DD was spooked by the amount of people aggressively begging and pickpockets etc

I got back from a few days there last night. The biggest tourist attractions (Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Musée d'Orsay) have long queues, so if you only have a day - don't do them, unless you're really keen.

I did an open-top bus tour, which I find usually gives a good sense of where the main attractions are in relation to each other. There are 3 or 4 different operators, but I think they all do similar routes. I did the Big Bus tour, which I think was about 2.5h in total.

Depends partly what you're interested in. I spent pretty much the whole time in art galleries - after a couple of days in Amsterdam doing the same. That would be far too much for many people. It also depends on the weather. A stroll down the left bank will be better in sun rather than rain...

Wear shoes you can walk in for a long time. Pretty much all the tourist were n some version of trainers. Was in my walking shoes that I've been hiking in.

Eat - L’ami Jean, 27 rue Malar
See - a show at Crazy Horse cabaret
Do - Musee d’Orsay if you like art museums,
Boat ride along the Seine

I was there 2 weeks ago and we picked up the open top bus tour at the arc de triomphe think it was 50 euros each which included a cruise down the Seine, the whole tour is 2hours 20mins but you can get off wherever you want and as many times as you want for the whole day, it's very touristy of course but we saw far more than we would have on foot and really enjoyed it (weather was lovely too) and the cruise was nice, had no trouble with beggars or pickpockets, and it was very busy as Easter hols here and most of France

Walk down the champ de elysees, look at the shops, visit one the many cafes, museums if that's your thing, le louvre, was great. There's so much to see in Paris. Eiffel tower was nice to look at from the ground but wouldn't of wanted to go up it, especially if you don't have much time.

Comfortable clothes and the weather is pretty much the same here.

Another yes to Montmatre where there is the Sacre Coeur. I don't know if it's worth paying to go inside but it is amazing seeing it from the outside and you also get fab views of Paris as it is on a hill. Lots of outside cafes and restaurants around Montmatre too.

Maybe boat trip along the Seine to take in a lot of the Paris scenery.

Wear comfortable shoes!!
Go to Eiffel tower, Ile st louis, Monmartre, La Madeleine/Opera area, have a coffee on the Champs Elysee, stroll around the tuileries.

You are so lucky. It is a wonderful city. Enjoy.

And as pp said if you want to go up Eiffel Tower, or the arc de triomphe etc book well in advance, also moulin rouge etc was fully booked when we went

Since you're there only for a day I'd steer clear of attractions that take a long time (Versailles, the Louvre) and anything with a long queue (Eiffel tower, it's not worth the wait imo).

I'd recommand :

• Montmartre, it's beautiful and there's no wait, bit of climbing but if you have mobility issues there's a funicular
• You can see the Eiffel tower from Trocadero, nicer view from there than up close
• Arc de Triomphe and Champs élysées
• St Michel and walking along the Seine
• The catacombs are really nice but there is always a HUGE line so if you want to do that, go maybe 30min before the actual opening time.

Don't go up the Eiffel Tower. The best view of Paris is from the top of the Montparnasse Tower. It's becoming more known about but the queue is still nothing like what it is for the standard tourist attractions.

24 hours isn't long. Do you wish to 'see' as many of the main sights as you can or focus on a couple of them in more detail?

There are three hop on/Hop Off companies operating straight outside the Eurostar terminal.

In terms of actually visiting places, Montmartre is lovely (many bistro-type places to eat with reasonably priced lunch menus - it's hard to go wrong). The Louvre Pyramid is interesting to photograph (even better if you make it inside - buy skip the queue tickets in advance if that is your sort of thing).

You can wear what you like really but avoid the 16ieme fashion district if you are in Daisy Dukes (which I'm sure wasn't the plan anyway!)

If the weather is nice the boat trips along the Seine are a good shout.

Eating wise there's a whole bunch of small restaurants near St Michel. It's touristy but still nice. Personally I'd go for Raclette (if the weather is cold) or crêpes and cider (if the weather is nice).

Whereabouts will you be staying?

I think if it’s only 24 hours I’d do the bus tour, and walk and soak up the sights. It’s a lovely city just to meander around.

A walk along the Seine, stopping off at cafes for a glass of wine. Angelina’s in the Rue de Rivoli for fancy hot chocolate, after window shopping.

wear dark coloured clothes if you’d like to blend in with the locals.

Really comfortable shoes. Water bottle.
Galleries Lafayette has a roof terrace, amazing views. Store is beautiful too. It’s near the Opera.
Then either boat trip or bus tour.
Then choose one place to visit which will have other things nearby.
Sacre Couer.
Or the Louvre has the site of the original guillotine nearby and the Rue de Rivoli.

“Hidden” Paris has the flea market and antiques market in the northern part of the City ( Metro and a walk) or lots of different shopping arcades. www.theguardian.com/travel/2012/mar/02/paris-hidden-passages-shopping-shops

Wear comfy shoes and do the Sandeman's Walking tour. It takes 3 hours (with a break in a lovely, affordable cafe in the middle) and you'll see most of the sights and have an unforgettable time.

If you do it in the morning you can get a real feel for what you love about Paris and you can ask your guide for the best things to do with the rest of your day. The guides live in Paris and have the most up to date info on how to avoid queues and get good deals.

I go to Paris around twice a year and still do the walking tour every so often as it's always brilliant fun and it's the best way to pack so much in to such a short time.

Paris | Free Walking Tour & Activities | SANDEMANs NEW Europe (neweuropetours.eu)

This is brilliant stuff. Thank you, I'm taking notes!

Went a few weeks back and not a beggar in sight, lovely to stroll down the Sienne and round the beautiful city
.I found it very friendly

There is only one spot in Paris that you cannot possibly miss, and that is the Sainte-Chapelle.