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48 Hours in Paris: The Ultimate 2-Day Travel Guide
- Alyssa
- Sep 16, 2024
- 6 min read
Updated: Nov 14, 2024
Join us on a spontaneous 48-hour trip to Paris! We had initially planned to fly to Rome to celebrate Elijah’s birthday, but all the flights sold out the night before, leaving us with only a few hours to come up with a new plan. We noticed there was an open flight to Paris in the morning and decided to seize the opportunity and head to Paris within a few hours! After the 48 hours were over, we would then head to Rome to experience our originally planned trip! (Check out our other posts for information on Rome)
Our Plan and Landing In Paris with Only 48 Hours To Use:
Since the trip was so spontaneous we did not have any plans for what to do or what to see besides the mandatory trip to the Eiffel Tower! Sometimes we enjoy not having a plan and just organically wandering around cities and finding cool things as we go. So for this trip, we decided to just take it easy, not plan anything, and take in the city and its sights as we walked around.
We landed at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) around 9:00am, but by that point, we had been up for close to 20 hours and were exhausted. The idea was that we would get in early and be able to have all day to explore the city. We made it to the hotel around 10:00am and we were able to check in early. We ended up paying an extra €100 to check into our room early, and at that point, we were so tired we would have paid anything to be able to sleep.
Where We Stayed:
Since our plans were up in the air, we did not book anything until we were actually on the plane heading to Paris. This approach can be a bit stressful, especially when traveling internationally without any accommodations secured in advance. Before making a last-minute travel decision, we always make sure to check that there are multiple hotels with available rooms to avoid getting stranded.
We chose to stay at the Hilton Paris Opera (full hotel review here) because it looked great in the photos and was one of the more affordable options with available rooms. Although we did not realize how far it was from some of the main tourist attractions at the time, it ended up working out well for us!
We agreed that once we had checked in, we would shower, order some room service, take a quick nap, and then start exploring the city in the afternoon/evening. However, one of us (definitely not me) fell asleep for over 10 hours! In my defense, I was exhausted, and jet-lagged! While I slept Elijah went out and walked throughout the city (15 miles) and was able to see almost everything in just a few hours. He said that he felt pretty safe walking through the city by himself even though it was dark and he got lost down a few dark desolate alleyways.
On his way back around midnight he went to the McDonald’s across the street from our hotel and ordered some menu items that we do not have in the U.S. By the time Elijah got back to the hotel room I had finally woken up from my extended nap just in time to steal a few french fries! We sat in bed eating french fries listened to the sounds of the city through our cracked window and tried to figure out what we wanted to do the next day
Jet Lag to Eiffel Tower:
Since our first day was a little rough due to jet lag, we knew we had to make the most of the time we had left. Determined to shake off the fatigue and dive into the city’s charm, we planned to start fresh the next morning.
We decided that we would wake up early, stroll through the streets of Paris, and visit the Eiffel Tower, grabbing breakfast at a café along the way. We wanted to immerse ourselves in the city's ambiance and see what surprises the day would bring. After an unexpectedly long nights sleep, we finally felt recharged and ready to embark on a self-guided walking tour of the city.
Elijah mapped out a rough route that would take us to a few different places and I followed along! Outside our hotel in the morning there was a lot of busy commute traffic, people walking, bikes zooming, and cars honking. We must have left right at the peak commute time, there were so many people out hurrying to work and school! We tried our best to stay out of everyone's way and kept a quick pace so we did not congest the sidewalks.
Our first stop on our self-guided tour of the city was the Arc de Triomphe. We arrived by 9:30 AM, and to our delight, the area was practically empty, with only a few stray tourists. This gave us the perfect opportunity to take pictures and videos without the usual crowds. We even took a moment to sit on a bench and watch the bustling traffic circle around the Arc.
From there, we made our way to the Eiffel Tower, stopping for a quick breakfast at Café Belloy. We both opted for the classic breakfast, which included a hot beverage, fresh bread (we chose croissants), and orange juice. Elijah had a coffee, while I indulged in a hot chocolate—both were delicious. The service at Café Belloy was excellent, and our friendly server even helped us practice our French.
We left Cafe Belloy and headed towards the Eiffel Tower. It did not take us long to get there, and we were able to see it from both sides. Both sides offer great views, and it was not hard to get from one side to the other. We got there around 10:45am and there was a small crowd but it was still pretty empty. We stayed in the area until around 11:30am and there still was not a huge crowd formed yet. We went in early January, but I am sure towards the summer there will be more crowds! There was also a lot of construction work in this area, especially the park side of the tower since they are preparing for the Olympics!
We sat in Champs de Mars, taking in the sights and enjoying the crisp winter air while we tried to figure out where to go next. We eventually decided to head back towards the hotel and saw multiple uniquely designed buildings and artwork all through the city.
Discovering Paris on a Dessert Tour:
We decided since it was still early in the day that we should see if we could find tickets for a food tour. After a quick search, we were thrilled to discover that there was room for two more on a chocolate and dessert tour with Secret Food Tours (full experience review here). The idea of sampling Parisian sweets was too tempting to pass up. The tour started around 3:00 PM, so we went back to the hotel to warm up and relax for about an hour or so before heading out again. It was the perfect way to recharge and get ready for an afternoon filled with delicious treats.
The meeting place for the tour was near the Moulin Rouge, so we left a little early to explore the iconic area before our tour. The neighborhood was bustling with life, and it was fascinating to see such a famous landmark up close. We had an amazing time on the food tour, sampling eight different sweets from seven unique spots around the city. Each stop offered something special, but the éclair we had from À la Mère de Famille was truly life-changing! I had never enjoyed an éclair before, and I almost gave my piece to Elijah—but I'm so glad I didn't! The rich, creamy filling and perfectly crisp pastry made it an unforgettable treat. We were so full from the tour that we ended up skipping dinner that night, opting instead to relax back at the hotel. Exhausted but happy, we fell asleep early, content with our delicious day in Paris.
Wrapping Up Our Paris Adventure:
We woke up at 3:00 AM to head to the airport and catch our flight to Rome, feeling exhaustion and excitement for the next leg of our adventure. Despite the early hour, we could get an Uber within seconds, and the quiet streets of Paris meant we didn't hit any traffic on our drive. Our trip to Paris was quick, but we made the most of every moment (when we were awake), soaking in the sights and flavors of the city in less than 48 hours. We explored iconic landmarks, indulged in delicious pastries, and even managed to squeeze in a spontaneous food tour. Hopefully, next time we visit, I won’t sleep through half of our stay! There’s still so much to see and experience in this incredible city.
Did we miss anything that we have to see the next time we are in the city? Let us know below!