To see Paris in just one day is impossible as even Parisians do not protest to have sampled the full delights of the city. It is therefore a case of prioritising and visiting the key landmarks in Paris.
Firstly one must buy a day rider ticket on the Paris metro because to walk around the city, or even run, round the city in a single day requires Olympic pace. Also all the most famous landmarks in Paris have a metro station close by.
Notre Dame Cathedral is a great place to start the day. It is both romantic and breathtaking and is less busy in a morning than the rest of the day. A walk around its grounds and its interior takes about an hour and fills you with a sense of how special Paris is. It is also free, barring an optional (recommended) donation to the maintenance of the Cathedral.
After Notre Dame Cathedral it is easier to stay on the island and get one of the many boats that travel along the river to the Eiffel Tower. The trip will pass the Louvre and give a good view of the beautiful buildings and scenery that Paris has to offer.
The Eiffel Tower, a symbol of all things Parisian, is a must and at its summit gives a bird’s eye view of the entire city. There are two ways of scaling the tower; these are by stair or by one of the two lifts. In the interest of saving time, it is worth paying to get a lift to the top because it can take up to an hour on foot.
After the tower the closest place to visit is the Louvre. The Louvre is home to famous works such as the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. It is so large that one could spend a whole day admiring the array of art work and so it is advisable to keep on the move at all time if one is intent on walking round all four of the museums expansive wings. There is a café in the museum where one can have lunch and relax.
From the Louvre, one can catch a metro link to the Champs-Élysées allowing for a look round some of the many famous flag ship stores such as Hagen Dazs, Mercedes and Citroen. Like most places in Paris, spending a day on a single street is not enough time to take all there is to be taken from it and working to an itinerary will leave visitors wanting more. Indeed Paris is one of the most ‘moreish’ citys in the world.
At the end of the Champs-Élysées is the famous Arc de Triomphe which requires an amount of bravery to actually stand next to. This is because it is in the centre of one of the busiest city road networks in the world and one would not be forgiven for taking pictures of it from across the road. This is also the best option for saving time because one can jump on a metro the next must-see location Monmartre.
The whole area has a very small town artistic feel. The square at Basilica is a great place to grab a spot of afternoon tea and makes one feel very much a part of Paris. It is not a place where people will be taking lots of photos but more of a place to absorb in the moment and avoid the hustle and bustle of the rush hour traffic.
By the time rush hour has died down it is a short trip back to the metro station where the final sight seeing destination is only a few stops away. I am of course referring to The Moulin Rouge and the trademark windmill that sits on its roof. If money isn’t tight, then watching the show is a great end to the day and both food and champagne are included in the price of a ticket. The show itself is unforgettable and a great way to end a day in Paris.