12 Hours in Paris

Those are just a few qualities that visitors alike think about when they think of the famous French capital. I have dreamed of visiting Paris ever since I was a little girl when my grandmother would tell me numerous stories of her visits to the beautiful city. I always knew I had to see this elegant spot with my own eyes, and could not wait for that opportunity to arise. I finally had the chance to make my dream come true when I was living and studying in London, England. Unfortunately, I only had twelve hours in this magical place but thankfully with a little bit of planning and a lot of energy, it is truly possible to get a taste of everything the city has to offer. Here are my few tips and tricks for seeing the most magical city in the world in just a few hours!

1. Take the Eurostar to get to and from Paris. Tip: ​Take the first train out in the morning from London & the last one to leave at night in order to get the full amount of type allowed to explore! In order to complete Paris in one day, it is important to take the most efficient and quickest option. Unfortunately, many times this does not mean the most inexpensive option, but the time you save is worth the money. The train is also a great mode of transportation, because there are many time options as well as, the locations of the stations are right in the center of city, giving you many options to get to your next destination.

2. Make a plan & pick your Top 5 Must Sees.

Tip: ​If there is a sight you have to visit, make sure to buy tickets in advance so you don’t waste a good portion of your day waiting on lines! With only 12 hours in this enchanting city, you must not waste a single minute trying to decide where to visit. There is truly no way one can see everything in one day, so your best bet is to make a game plan of the sites you are planning on visiting. It allows for you stay organized and to plan a route of how to see everything. It would also be extremely beneficial to make a list of your top 5 must sees, to allow for yourself to make sure to visit those sites before you leave. It would definitely be in one’s best interest to make a schedule of what you are seeing and how you are getting there. If you have a game plan, there is no reason one can’t visit and see all of the must see attractions!

3.Try some of the city’s famous to-go delicacies.

Tip: ​While it may seem like a time killer, make sure to spend a bit of time trying all of the famous Parisian treats, it is definitely a major part of visiting Paris! Not only is Paris known for their tourist attractions, beautiful architecture, and trendy fashion scene, but their food is unlike any other! Whether you are in the mood for something sweet or savory, Paris has both and everything in between. While the cafes in Paris are a huge part of their culture, it might not seem wise to spend the few short hours you have their sitting down. My recommendation is to take the various treats with you while you are touring the beautiful city. It is quite easy to take in the sights, while enjoying a croissant or baguette!

4. Take advantage of public transportation

Tip: ​Make sure to press the button to open the door, they do not always open automatically! While, you will only be visiting for a short period of time, taking advantage of the city’s vast public transportation network would be beneficial to seeing all of the amazing sights! Paris is a much larger city than a lot of other European cities and is not as walkable as others. In order to see everything quickly, it will be much easier to hop on the metro to get across town than spending over an hour getting from Notre Dame to the Eiffel Tower. The metro is easy and gets you everywhere in a fraction of the time, what is not to like?

5. Block off a few hours to relax and enjoy the city

Tip: ​Spend an hour at the end of your day to watch the sunset at the Eiffel Tower & see the Tower light up! Even though there is so much to see in such a short period of time, it is extremely important to make sure you are enjoying the city. The charm of Paris is just strolling through the cobblestone streets and admiring the beautiful architecture. While it may seem necessary to run from one tourist attraction to another, one of the best ways to see the city is to just wander around the streets themselves. If you are a fashion lover, take some time to enjoy one of the best fashion cities in the world and indulge in some shopping. If food and wine is more of your speed, take some time to eat and drink at one of the many unbelievable restaurants in the city. By taking a few hours to do something that you enjoy, while visiting will make your time spent in the city that much more special!

#travel #Paris #France #tips