Paris in 48 hours? Madness. But let’s do it anyway. You’ll need coffee, comfortable shoes, and a willingness to pretend you’re not exhausted.
Wake up early, because Paris waits for no one. Start at a boulangerie – any boulangerie, really, as long as the croissant is flaky and the coffee strong enough to make you believe you can actually power through the day. Now, straight to the Seine. Wander along the river as if you’re in a black-and-white film, then cross the Pont des Arts and feel very pleased with yourself for being here. Take a few smug photos for posterity.
Head to Île de la Cité. Notre-Dame is still standing (though in a perpetual state of repair), so give it a nod before sneaking into Sainte-Chapelle. Stained glass that looks like someone went wild with a kaleidoscope. If you don’t audibly gasp, check your pulse. And while you’re here, take a stroll around the flower market—because you deserve to feel like you’re in a movie.
From here, saunter over to the Marais. It’s Paris at its most effortlessly cool – historic mansions, trendy boutiques, and people who look like they just stepped out of a fashion editorial but somehow insist they “just threw this on.” Pick a café, order a café crème, and eavesdrop shamelessly. This is Paris, and that’s part of the charm. If you’re feeling peckish, grab a falafel at L’As du Fallafel, because even in Paris, street food is a thing.
By now, you’ll be hungry. Get thee to a bistro. A classic one, where the waiters are slightly grumpy but the food is divine. Steak frites? Duck confit? Something that pairs well with a glass of red wine at noon because this is France, and that’s perfectly acceptable. Follow it with a crème brûlée, because you are in Paris, and self-control is for another time.
An afternoon in Montmartre. Ignore the touristy chaos at the base and power up the hill, pausing to catch your breath and pretend you’re admiring the view. Sacré-Cœur is the prize, but so is the panorama of the city sprawled beneath you. Wander the cobbled streets, resist the urge to buy an overpriced painting, and pop into a tiny bar for a glass of something French before heading back down. Visit the Place du Tertre, where artists set up their easels and try to convince you to commission a sketch. Even if you don’t, soak up the atmosphere—it’s one of the most charming corners of the city.
The evening is for the Left Bank. Find a jazz bar, or a wine bar, or anywhere that makes you feel like a lost character in a Hemingway novel. Drink, talk, and try not to think about how much walking you have to do tomorrow. If you can, squeeze in a stop at Shakespeare and Company, because nothing screams ‘Paris’ like a tiny bookshop stuffed with literary history and English expats.
48 hours in Paris: Day 2
The second morning begins with more pastries because you’re in Paris and it would be rude not to. This time, sit in a café and linger. People-watch, sip slowly, pretend you’re Parisian. Then, the Louvre. No, you can’t see it all. Yes, you’ll try anyway. Mona Lisa? A must, even if she is smaller than expected. But don’t miss the lesser-hyped wonders – the Winged Victory, the Venus de Milo, the dramatic coronation of Napoleon. And if you’re an art glutton, swing by the Richelieu Wing for sculptures that will make you reconsider how talented humanity really is.
Refuel with a decadent lunch, somewhere old and grand where the walls have stories and the ceiling is gilded. Bouillon-style restaurants are a winner – old-school charm, no-nonsense food, and the comforting knowledge that generations before you have eaten the same soupe à l’oignon. If you want to be fancy, book a table at Café de la Paix and revel in the Belle Époque grandeur.
An afternoon of indulgence awaits. Shopping in the grand passages if that’s your thing, or art-gazing at the Musée d’Orsay, home to the Impressionists who made Paris look like a dreamscape. Walk along the Champs-Élysées, just to say you did, then turn towards the Seine for a final stroll. If there’s time, duck into the Palais Garnier and marvel at the opulence.
The final act of your 48 hours in Paris: dinner with a view. Whether it’s a rooftop, a riverside terrace, or a tiny place tucked away in Saint-Germain, raise a glass to Paris. Maybe finish the night with a late-night crêpe from a street vendor, because that’s how all great Parisian adventures end. You’ve crammed two weeks’ worth of magic into 48 hours. Your feet hate you, your bank balance is in denial, but admit it – it was worth it.
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