Paris is always a good idea, even if you've only got 12 hours to explore the whole city.
While it is large and chalked full of museums, landmarks, history, and shopping, if you find yourself with a long layover or a free day in Europe, Paris is an ideal place to spend it. With such a specific time crunch, you'll want to plan it out in advance, and make sure you make the most of your time there because you don't have a minute to waste! I've actually done this, so here's what I'd recommend!
1. Pick Your Top 5
Make a list of the top five things you HAVE to see in Paris. You can fill it up with other experiences along the way, but you don't want to lose track of time and realize you missed out on the things you wanted to see the most. Whether it's macarons from Lauderee, strolling through the halls of the Palace of Versailles, a selfie with Mona Lisa herself, or a few magical hours in Disneyland Paris, prioritizing ahead of time is absolutely necessary if you don't want to leave disappointed.
2. Map It Out
Paris is somewhat spread out, and you don't want to be backtracking and zig-zagging your way across the city all day long. Once you've got your list of places, figure out where they all fall on a map and try to do them in a logical order. The less time you spend running around in circles the more time you have for your checklist. Be sure to consider operating hours, start with the earliest open location, and work from there. Book your tickets in advance where you can to both save money and avoid long lines.
3. The Metro Is Your Friend
Don't be intimidated. The public transportation in Paris is extremely efficient, and you should be able to see everything using the train systems. Some of the longer journeys (Palace of Versailles and Disneyland Paris) will be taken on above-ground trains, while the shorter stops within the city are underground. Download an app for easier navigation (Paris Metro Map and Routes are the best, in my opinion) and you'll have a much more enjoyable experience.
4. Try To Avoid Tours
With such a time constraint, you don't need to spend 2-3 hours exploring every inch of these places, unless it is THAT important to you, at which point your list of five may need to be a little bit more realistic. Definitely go, definitely spend the proper amount of time at each place, but don't get sucked into the trap of a tour or other long bookings. Having the leisure to come and go as you please gives you more flexibility with the time you have to spend.
5. Go With The Flow
You will likely encounter a few unforeseen setbacks throughout your day, but you shouldn't let it interrupt your experience. If you miss the last train, try walking and enjoying the scenery along the way. If you planned to eat at a certain spot and they're full for the evening, ask a local where their favorite eatery is and improvise. You won't want to look back on your day in Paris and remember it being miserable because your carefully planned schedule wasn't followed to the letter.
6. Try eating on-the-go
Some of my favorite culinary experiences in Paris were street vendors or small cafes. There's nothing quite like roaming the cobblestone streets with a crepe or croissant and a latte. Spending less time on formal dining experiences allows you to fit in more sightseeing! Grab breakfast and lunch on the go between destinations and leave time to indulge in a nice dinner before heading out.
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