Bonjour! I just got back from a whirlwind weekend in the city of romance… Paris! What a wonderful city it is. I feel like everything I’ve been told about the city is true, from the delicious croissants to the accordion street musicians. I truly wish I could have spent more time here, and I wouldn’t recommend trying to tackle all of Paris in one day. It’ll leave you wanting more!

However, should your schedule/budget insist, here is my itinerary for a full day in Paris.

Notre Dame

Starting off with this magnificent church is a great way to begin your day. This cathedral was built between 1160-1260 and is one of France’s greatest example of gothic architecture. I loved visiting. Not only is the outside stunning, but the inside has stained glass windows and great vaulted ceilings.

It’s hard to capture how massive this cathedral is. Even the doorways towered over me. And I know the front of the building draws all of the tourists, but don’t forget to walk around back and see the gardens that surround the building.

The Lourve

Up next is another one of Paris’ greatest attractions. The Lourve is a world-famous art museum, most well-known for housing the Mona Lisa, painted by Leonardo da Vinci in the early 1500s. It’s amazing that over 6 million people come to see her each year, and this year I was one of those tourists!

Besides the Mona Lisa, this museum has thousands of pieces of art from all over the world. I love this museum because not only is the artwork wonderful, but the building itself is incredible. Because it used to be a royal palace it has grand halls, detailed architecture and a court yard.

You could easily spend an entire day here, but in order to tackle everything on this itinerary, I’d suggest spending 2-3 hours here.

The Tuileries Garden

Just outside the Lourve are the royal gardens. When the weather is warm and the sky is blue there is no better place to take a stroll, especially imagining how the royals would have done the same thing a few hundred years ago!

The Ferris Wheel

Part of the Tuileries Gardens includes the Paris Ferris Wheel. This was my favorite part of the afternoon because the view from the top is so breath-taking. I didn’t realize how large Paris was! It fans out as far as the horizon, and you can see all the great landmarks including the Eiffel Tower, Sacré-Cœur, The Lourve and the Arc de Triomphe.

Avenue des Champs Elysées

The walk from the Lourve to the Arc de Triomphe is wonderful! Pass through the gardens, see fountains and an Egyptian Obelisk, and most importantly, go shopping on the Avenue des Champs Elysées. This is the most famous shopping street in Paris, with stores like Louis Vuitton, Sephora and even an H&M so there’s something for everyone. This is a very crowded part of the city, but certainly something not to miss!

Arc de Triomphe

Up next is the Arc de Triomphe! This monument was constructed for those who fought in the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. Beneath is lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and hanging from the middle is a French flag.

Right outside the Arc are numerous crepe carts and I highly recommend getting one here. They’re cheaper and better than crepes you will buy in a restaurant. I loved the banana and Nutella crepe!

Eiffel Tower

Up next on our walking tour is arguably Paris’ most iconic landmark. The Eiffel Tower is something everyone must see on their first trip to Paris. It’s a great spot to hit in the evening because you can bring a blanket and watch the sun set or you can ride the elevators up and see the sunset from the top floors of the tower!

You will definitely want to bring a blanket if you plan to stay because the ground beneath the tower is almost all dirt after being trampled on by tourists every day. I enjoyed the view from the river more than the park around it.

This is the perfect spot to end the day, grab a bite to eat and then walk around and listen to music from the cafes or see a show if you’re up for it. There is so much to do here in Paris that I can’t wait to come back and explore more.