Here’s how to spend a ‘romantic and hopeful’ full-day layover in Paris

Last week, we received a mysterious email from Will, asking for the ideal itinerary for a 12-hour layover in Paris. Oliver and Lina enthusiastically accepted this challenge, planning their own versions of the perfect one-day agenda. But how to fairly decide which plan was best?

We put the choice into the hands of our loyal Patreon and Substack supporters and they voted the winner to be……. Oliver’s! However, Lina’s itinerary was deemed to be more “romantic and hopeful”, so we’ve shared it in full below. Meanwhile, click here to read Oliver’s itinerary.

(And in this week’s podcast episode, you can hear Oliver and Lina go head-to-head, promoting their individual pans, all with some healthy rivalry! Listen below).

And a quick note: With very limited information about Will and his requirements, we allowed ourselves some artistic license. Lina admits that she pictured Will as a 1980s era Michael Douglas-styled businessman and her itinerary reflects that high-end, luxury image!

Oh yes, and for the first time we filmed the podcast recording for YouTube! Watch it here! OK, on with the itinerary.

How to spend the perfect 12 hours in Paris

8am – 9am 

Land at CDG and navigate the occasionally lengthy exit out of the airport. 

9am – 10am

Taxi into Place des Vosges. Avoid Ubers and scammers. Make sure you take an official taxi by following the official signs throughout the airport. Estimated cost: 56 euros

10am – 10.30am

A chilly October morning calls for one thing only – the classic hot chocolate with whipped cream at the famous café Carette. Don’t forget to have a croissant to set yourself up for the day. It’s a good start, you get a bit of people watching, you see the sun rise over Place des Vosges. Address: 25 Place des Vosges, 75004. Estimated cost: 18 euros

10.30am – 11am

There’s always time to be a flâneur in the Marais. Explore the charming neighbourhood streets and art galleries in the quiet hours before the city properly wakes up. Estimated cost: free

There’s so much to see and do in the Marais. Read all about it here.

11am – 11.45pm

The Marais is coming down with unique museums, but they don’t come much more unique than the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature. Wander over to this former aristocratic mansion, which is stuffed full of paintings, sculptures and taxidermy. Address: 62 Rue des Archives, 75003. Estimated cost: 13.50 euros

Read more about the smaller museums in Paris here.

11.45pm – 12.15pm

So many steps walked calls for a pick-me-up flat white at the Peloton Café. Chances are, you might even spy Oliver and Lina perched on one of the famous yellow Peloton stools. Address: 17 Rue du Pont Louis-Philippe, 75004. Estimated cost: 6 euros

Keep track of the best coffee shop in every arrondissement in Paris here.

12.15pm – 12.30pm

Drift down to the Île Saint-Louis to take some photos from the top of the island, at the charming Place Louis Aragon. Take a quick peek into the cheese museum and report back to us – we haven’t visited yet. Address: 39 Rue Saint-Louis en Île, 75004. Estimated price: 20 euros

Use this guide to go on the most idyllic walk around the Île Saint-Louis.

12.30pm – 12.45pm

Get your loafers onto an Uber bike and cycle up to the Luxembourg Gardens. Don’t forget to stop at the Red Wheelbarrow bookshop to buy a book (or four)! Address: 9 Rue de Medicis, 75006. Estimated cost: 60 euros

12.45pm – 1.30pm

Don’t stop at the pond of the Luxembourg Gardens, keep exploring deeper into the park. You’ll find tennis courts, chess tables, beehives and even an orchard! But don’t spend too long here, time is short! Estimated cost: free

1.30pm – 3pm

Lunch at Brasserie Lipp. The Choucroute is not to be missed at this Paris landmark, which offers a more enjoyable and authentic dining experience than some of its more famous neighbours. Address: 151 Boulevard Saint-Germain, 75006. Estimated cost: 26.50 euros

Discover more to enjoy in the 6th arrondissement here.

3pm – 4pm

Exit through the front door of the restaurant and hop straight into a taxi up to Montmartre, with a short detour at l’Howea florists for a flower and an impromptu chic photoshoot at the Eiffel Tower. Address: 18 Avenue Rapp, 75007. Estimated cost: 100 euros

4pm – 4.45pm

Ask your taxi driver to drop you at Place de Tertre and take your time browsing the huge variety of artworks on display around the square. Address: Place du Tertre, 75018. Estimated cost: free

There’s more to do around the Eiffel Tower than you might expect. Find out more here.

4.45pm – 5.30pm

Meander around to the Basilica of Sacré Coeur. Spend some time marvelling at and snapping plenty of photos of the incomparable view, “you see all of Paris from up there.” Estimated cost: free

5.30pm – 7.30pm

From the Sacré Coeur, make your way down the steps towards Pigalle. At the bottom of the steps, be sure to politely decline the gentlemen ‘offering’ to tie cotton bracelets onto your wrist. “Non, merci, continue.” Finish your busy day in the edgy neighbourhood of Pigalle. At Le Mansart, have a burger, a beer and a quick game of foosball before hitting the road back to the airport. Address: 1 Rue Mansart, 75009. Estimated cost: 25 euros plus 56 for the taxi

The last time we were in Le Mansart, it was with podcast guest Caroline de Maigret. Check out our chat here.

Total cost: 381 euros

Here’s the episode again. How many of Lina’s choices would be on your 12-hour stopover list?

If you want to keep your finger on the pulse of Paris and all things Earful Tower, become a Patreon member. You’ll receive our PDF guide to Paris for free, or, you can buy it here for even more Paris tips.

And here’s our video again. Enjoy!