What to do your first day in Paris
- Aimee Boudreaux MacIver
- 5 hours ago
- 4 min read
You just landed in Paris. Bienvenue! But when you’re exhausted from a transatlantic flight, do you have to sacrifice a precious day of your itinerary just to recover? No! Here's what to do for a rich, meaningful first day in Paris* even when you’re jet-lagged.
Start with water.
Take a hot shower, do your skincare, and put on real clothes so you feel most like your best self. We’re employing that time-tested “fake it til you make it” strategy here. You’ll feel ten million times better after brushing your teeth and washing your face. Also: start hydrating after a long journey. I like to bring electrolyte powder so I can immediately swig a bottle of refreshment.
Get outside.
Get some natural light as soon as possible. Your body follows the sun; it is genuinely amazing how impactful this strategy is. And this is Paris, which means that even a slow shuffle down the block offers a feast of beauty.
Pray at a neighborhood church.
Your first stop: step into any beautiful neighborhood church that catches your eye. Why a neighborhood church and not a famous one? Because these churches won't be overrun with queues and tourists you are not in the mood for. You also want to experience the most important churches on a full tank, not while you're numb and dull with exhaustion. In Parisian neighborhood churches, you’ll find restorative quiet, flickering candlelight, the peace of centuries of prayer, and incredible beauty. And there’s room for some wonderful surprises here. Some of our richest Paris discoveries have been completely random: a carved door we opened out of curiosity, a saint’s tomb we didn’t know was there. Bonus points if you can follow a little flock of local church ladies.
Leave intentions for your loved ones.
While you’re in the church, take time to leave prayer intentions for others. On a low-energy day, it’s low-effort, yet one of the most meaningful things you can do.
Eat something incredible.
Your taste buds are not jet-lagged. Don’t overthink it or worry too much about where the internet says you should eat. Find something delicious by following your nose. Pro tips: go a few blocks in from a main boulevard, listen for a lot of French being spoken, and look for people dining without taking photos and without carrying a lot of bags. Those are signs you've found a local gem.
Wander past sites you're okay just seeing from the outside.
A low-energy first day is actually a wonderful opportunity for “exterior only” sight-seeing. There are many landmarks that you don’t necessarily need to enter in order to appreciate. Walk by such sites on your first day—no tickets to buy, no guides to listen to, no queues to stand in, no straining to see something over someone else's head.
Go to a cemetery, park, or flower market.
Cemeteries and markets make excellent first-day strolls: you get history, architecture, beauty, and culture without having to invest too much energy. Paris also houses countless beautiful parks and squares. Pro tip: search your map app using the French terms: parc, place, marche des fleurs.
Scoop up goodies at the French pharmacy.
French pharmacies offer products that are genuinely excellent and either unavailable or significantly more expensive in the United States. This is a low-engagement, high-reward activity perfectly suited to a foggy first afternoon.
People watch and window shop.
Paris invented flaneur culture. Sit at a cafe just to watch an amazing, living museum of humanity. Wander into pretty and quirky shops just to look and laugh. Pro tip: Make sure you always say Bonjour and Au revoir in shops.
Visit another neighborhood church.
Pop into another neighborhood church and discover just how many saints are connected to Paris. Almost every neighborhood church houses some incredible relic or place of significance in a saint’s life. If you can visit between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m., you can often catch choir rehearsals or organ practice. There are few things more stirring than roaring organs echoing through ancient stone walls.
Choose only one major attraction (we have a recommendation).
If you just can’t wait to start seeing major attractions, choose only one on your first day. We recommend Sacre-Coeur basilica at sunset. Even though the queues look intimidating, they move very quickly. And the terrace in front of the basilica offers one of the very best "welcome to Paris" views in the entire city. All of Paris spreads out below like a pastel chalk painting. Pro tip: Sacre-Coeur makes a great spot for flattering golden hour photos.
If it’s a Wednesday or Friday, go to the Louvre after dark.
If your first day in Paris happens to fall on a Wednesday, consider the Louvre at night. On Wednesday and Friday evenings the museum stays open late, with dramatically thinner crowds than during the day. You'll move easily through the galleries, see extraordinary things, and feel nicely sleepy afterward—which is exactly what we want.
Head back to your hotel early.
Return to your room while it's still light enough to open the windows and watch the sun go down over the street below. Listen to the city. Notice with awe how the French are just sitting down to dinner at 9:00 p.m. How nice for them! For you, pas aujourd'hui! You’re going to bed early, and tomorrow, you’ll be ready to take on Paris.
*We're talking about Paris here, but you can easily adapt these same tips for any major European city. Bon voyage!
Are you dreaming of a more meaningful trip to Paris or another special place? Thy Ship would love to design a perfect itinerary and help you go differently. Let's talk!
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