An urban legend tells of an American tourist who walked into the Paris tourist office (today it sits near the Hôtel de Ville), approached a clerk and said “I have 48 hours in Paris. What do you recommend I do?” “Madam,” the clerk replied, “I recommend you go sit on the banks of the Seine and start crying”…
I think of that story every time someone in the Francophiles Paris Tips group asks for a two-day itinerary in Paris. Personally, 48 hours in Paris feels like torture to me. I just got to the City of Light, I haven’t even had time to settle in, and I already have to leave?! No wonder my doctor prescribes a minimum dose of a week in Paris every time I go there (just kidding, mostly).
Still, that doesn’t mean I should ignore everyone who comes to Paris for a short time and wants to make the most of it. So I decided it was time my site had an itinerary like that, the way it already has a one-week itinerary for beginners. But then I realized one itinerary simply wouldn’t be enough.
Since we’re talking about such a short time, you have to stay focused on what interests each person most. The issue is that there are quite a few areas of interest, like art, food, history and so on, so one itinerary can’t fit everyone.
The conclusion is clear: I need to put together a series of 48-hour itineraries in Paris, each one built around a single theme. Luckily for me, over the years I’ve gotten to know a number of experts, many of them tour guides in Paris, who know nearly every stone and paving slab in the City of Light.
I asked each one of them to write me an itinerary from their area of expertise, and the result is a series of walking routes, at least one of which should suit you perfectly (and if not, feel free to mix and match). For each itinerary, I’ve added a hotel located in the area you’ll be exploring (or close to a métro station that can take you to the places you’ll visit).
So if you’ve landed in Paris with only 48 hours to spare, don’t sit on the banks of the Seine and start crying. Instead, pick one of the itineraries below and start exploring!
Two-day walking routes in Paris
More itineraries will be added over time, so it’s worth coming back to this article every once in a while to see if a new one has been added.
More information you’ll need to make the most of 48 hours in Paris
Flights
Every trip to Paris starts with buying a plane ticket. Whether you’re still looking for a flight for your short trip or you’ve already bought one and want information about the airport you’ll land at and depart from, you’ll find it in the article flights to Paris.
Where to stay
If the hotels recommended in each itinerary aren’t available, or you’re looking for a different hotel or a vacation rental, I recommend checking out these articles:
Tickets for attractions
As you’ve seen, many of the itineraries include various attractions like museums and monuments. I highly recommend buying tickets for these attractions in advance to save time and sometimes a headache (tickets for the most popular attractions sell out fast, and if you don’t book in time you might end up without any).
So if you’ve decided to take my advice and book your tickets in advance, here are the pages that will help you do it quickly and easily:
Getting around
Some of the itineraries can be done on foot (especially if you’re staying nearby), but chances are you’ll need to take the métro or the bus at least a bit. For information on all your public transportation options and the different tickets available, check out the article getting around Paris.
If you’ve decided to take a Seine cruise (a wonderful idea that lets you rest at the end of the day while also making the most of your limited time and experiencing a bit more of Paris), you can find information and tickets on that page.
Restaurants
I’ve tried to recommend restaurants along the route of whichever itinerary you choose (especially the culinary one), but I know that’s not enough. So it’s well worth checking out these two pages:
- Recommended restaurants in Paris: here you’ll find restaurants I’ve personally eaten at and loved.
- Kosher restaurants in Paris: in case you keep kosher and don’t want to wander around Paris hungry.
Nightlife
If you haven’t collapsed from exhaustion during your day and still have the energy to go out at night, let me recommend the following articles:
- Shows and cabarets
- Classical music concerts (for the culture lovers among us)
- Bars and rooftops (for the night owls among us)
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