The Ultimate Guide TO 48 Hours in Paris
Paris is one of the greatest cities in the world. There is so much history and culture that it's tough to run out of things to do. However, most of us don't have weeks on end to spend in the city of lights. My most recent trip to Paris was only 48 hours, and I wanted to make sure I was able to see as much of the city as possible. In a whirlwind 2 days, I was able to take in everything on my wish list and not break the bank!
My 48 Hours in Paris
A few hours before my backpacking trip, I posted on Facebook looking for recommendations for each of the cities I was planning on traveling to. Within a few hours of posting, I had a full itinerary for 23 days of backpacking, solely based off of friends' recommendations. Of all the cities, Paris had the most recs and after narrowing it down to the ones that were realistic to accomplish in 48 hours (the day trip to Versailles would have to wait), I grabbed a map of Paris and my travel notebook and hopped on my red-eye. By the time I landed in Paris the next morning, I had a full itinerary and was set to hit the road. After dropping my bags off and grabbing a quick lunch, I was ready to be the ultimate tourist.
La Conceirgerie
Standing in awe of the nearly 6,500 square feet of stained glass dating back to the 13th century.
Within walking distance of my hotel was La Conceirgerie, which wasn't on my list of must-do's in Paris. However, it was on the way and offered free admission with a student ID, so I decided to check it out. The medieval royal palace was turned into a prison at the end of the 14th century and became one of the principal places of detention during the French Revolution, with the installation of the Revolutionary Court. Its most famous prisoner was Marie-Antoinette. After getting my French history lesson out of the way, I continued next door to something that was on my list.
Sainte-Chapelle
After stalking pictures on Pinterest, Sainte-Chapelle was definitely on my must-see list and it did not disappoint. Arranged across 15 windows, each 15 meters high, the stained glass panes depict 1,113 scenes from the Old and New Testaments recounting the history of the world until the arrival of the relics in Paris. While the glass is restored periodically, it still maintains the 13th century craftsmanship that's not to be missed.
Notre Dame de Paris
Up close and personal with the Notre Dame gargoyles overlooking the Seine River and the Eiffel Tower.
When I was younger, my little brother and I were obsessed the Hunchback of Notre Dame. My brother used to run around with his t-shirt pulled up over the back of his head insisting he was Quasimodo. When we took a family trip to Paris that past winter, I was insistent on going to the top of Notre Dame, not just going inside the cathedral. My family stood in line for nearly 3 hours in the December cold and it was still the highlight of my trip. When I came back in the spring and noticed the line to climb to the top was significantly shorter than over Christmas, I insisted on climbing to the top once again. Being face-to-face with the gargoyles that I had been obsessed with as a child was unreal. The view from the top also provides my favorite view of Paris. If there is one thing to do in Paris, this is it, regardless of the wait.
If you are waiting in line with someone else, take turns going into the cathedral (free entry) while you wait. There are also souvenir shops and creperies along the line, so grab a crepe while you wait!
Memorial des Deportes
Adjacent to Notre Dame sits the Memorial des Deportes, a World War II memorial. This beautiful tribute to those who lost their lives is a painful reminder of the past, but offers hope for the future that nothing like that will ever happen again. While this is not included in most Top 10 Guides of Paris, it is definitely worth squeezing into your itinerary!
Walk along the Seine
One of the best things to do in Paris is people watch, and the Seine is the perfect place to do so. The Seine happened to be along my route back to my hotel and it was full of laughter, love, and a lot of French that I didn't understand.
Jardin de Luxembourg
The Luxembourg Gardens were less than two blocks from my hotel, and I walked through them as often as I could. These picturesque gardens offered the perfect backdrop for some photos and the sunset. This is also a favorite spot for locals, which is always a good sign in my book.
Church of Saint-Sulpice
Inspired by the Da Vinci Code (and the fact that I was already walking by), I found myself inside of the Church of Saint-Sulpice. Saint-Sulpice is a historic Paris landmark, with remarkable architecture and amazing art. If you're already in the neighborhood, definitely take a look inside. However, if you only have time for one religious building in Paris, Notre Dame is your best bet.
Musee Rodin
The Rodin Museum was very highly recommended, so since it was along my route to the Eiffel Tower, I decided to stop in. It was awesome! I have never been artistic, and art museums often confuse and/or frustrate me (how is THAT art? I could do that, etc.). However, the Rodin Museum was so different from a typical gallery. The sculpture garden was impressive and the landscape and architecture were just as artistic as the sculptures. While the Louvre and the Musee D'Orsay are highlighted more often in guide books, the sculpture museum and gardens definitely more my style and allowed me to be outside and enjoy the June weather.
Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is one of the most iconic landmarks in Paris. A trip would not be complete without viewing it up close. My family was proactive and planned ahead when we were there the previous December and had a scheduled "skip-the-line" tour. However, my second time around, I was not as organized and shuddered at the long line to get on the elevator. Then I had an epiphany: stairs! There was no line for the stairs and I was able to climb to the top in about 10 minutes (albeit quite winded). I not only saved time, but also was able to save money by choosing the stairs ($5 vs. $15 to take the elevator to the top). I also got a crazy amount of steps on my FitBit, which was a bonus.
Seeing the Eiffel Tower during the day is a must, but definitely plan on going back at night. Every hour (on the hour), there is a spectacular, dazzling light show that's not to be missed!
Arc de Triomphe
As if I hadn't gotten enough stairs in, I decided to head to the Arc de Triomphe immediately following climbing the Eiffel Tower. I beat the crowd and had no wait to climb additional stairs to take in another view of the Eiffel Tower (I'm a little obsessed, what can I say?). Take some time to take in the amazing history in between flights of stairs.
Jardin des Tuileries
Enjoying yet another crepe and view of the Eiffel Tower from the Jardin des Tuileries
Grab a crepe and walk through the Jardin des Tuileries on your way to the Louvre. This garden was built in the 16th century and still features the garden style designed by the famous gardener of King Louis XIV, André Le Nôtr in 1664. There are often different festivals occurring, including the Fête des Tuileries that was going on while I was there.
Louvre
The Louvre closed early on the day that I was there, so unfortunately, I was unable to go inside, but the architecture of the museum is amazing! Check the hours ahead of time and fight the crowds to see Mona Lisa's smile.
Tips and Tricks
Paris is a super walkable city, so make sure you pack comfortable shoes
Most museums and attractions have discounts for students and people under 26, so take advantage of those
If you are planning on going to some of the bigger tourist attractions (Eiffel Tower, Louvre), get your tickets early and minimize time standing in line
Look at a map ahead of time and determine which points of interest are in proximity to one another
Some things are worth standing in line for (Notre Dame), and some things are not (in my opinion, Mona Lisa) - determine your priorities ahead of time and know that many attractions will have significant waits
Don't forget to simply take in the beauty of the city as you rush between attractions - sometimes simple is best
Make sure to take advantage of the amazing food and wine! When a glass of wine is cheaper than water, you can't go wrong - there are also no open container laws, so grab a bottle of wine and stroll along the Seine or through some of the gardens I mentioned above
The subway/train system is super easy to navigate and is a great and affordable way to get across the city - it also can take you out to Versailles if you have the time
Paris has Uber (!!) so for those of you whose only knowledge of French came from a single semester back in second grade, this is a great way to ensure that your driver knows exactly where you're trying to go
