One Day In Paris, What Do You Do? Take the Quiz and Find Out!

Paris is the most visited city in the world! I discover something new each time I go, and I still get excited about every trip despite having been over twenty times. But what would I do if I only had one day in Paris?

That’s a good question, and the answer is that it all depends on what you enjoy doing and whether you’ve been before. Are you a history buff or more of an art aficionado? Do you prefer strolling around a covered market or spending time in high-end stores?

And those questions are just the start. Where you stay overnight is important too, because you want to be in easy reach of everything. Trust me, you’ll be doing enough walking in Paris without making it any harder than it needs to be.

I recently spent a day in Paris and purposely avoided all the big tourist spots because I’ve done them before. Instead, I went to the 12th arrondissement, to the Bercy neighborhood of Paris.

This was mainly because I wanted to go to the Musée des Arts Forains (Fairground Museum), which I’d seen in the movie Midnight in Paris. One of my favorite movies set in Paris.

Take the Quiz: One Day In Paris!

To help you make the most of your time in Paris, I’ve created a quick quiz to determine where to base yourself and which arrondissement might be the perfect one for you. 

I’ll be sharing all sorts of fun things and insider secrets in the results, so let’s see which one you get when you take the quiz.

Understanding the Paris Arrondissements

Paris is divided into 20 arrondissements, arranged in a spiral shape that resembles a snail’s shell, called a l’escargot. This spiral starts in the city’s center and winds outward clockwise. Each arrondissement has its unique vibe, history, and landmarks.

Here’s a brief overview:

1. 1st Arrondissement: Home to the Louvre and Palais Royal, it’s a historic and central spot.
2. 2nd Arrondissement: Known for its business district and covered passages.
3. 3rd Arrondissement: Part of the Marais, filled with museums and charming streets.
4. 4th Arrondissement: Includes the trendy Marais and Île de la Cité with Notre-Dame.
5. 5th Arrondissement: The Latin Quarter, known for its universities and ancient Roman ruins.
6. 6th Arrondissement: Famous for Saint-Germain-des-Prés, literary cafes, and the Luxembourg Gardens.
7. 7th Arrondissement: Iconic for the Eiffel Tower and Musée d’Orsay.
8. 8th Arrondissement: Includes the Champs-Élysées and the grand Arc de Triomphe.
9. 9th Arrondissement: Home to Opéra Garnier and trendy shopping areas.
10. 10th Arrondissement: Known for its canals, like Canal Saint-Martin.
11. 11th Arrondissement: A lively area with vibrant nightlife and cafes.
12. 12th Arrondissement: Offers green spaces like Bois de Vincennes.
13. 13th Arrondissement: Known for its Asian district and modern buildings.
14. 14th Arrondissement: Features Montparnasse Tower and the Catacombs.
15. 15th Arrondissement: A quieter residential area close to the Seine.
16. 16th Arrondissement: Elegant and affluent, with large avenues and museums.
17. 17th Arrondissement: Offers a mix of chic and family-friendly neighborhoods.
18. 18th Arrondissement: Famous for Montmartre’s artistic vibe and Sacré-Cœur.
19. 19th Arrondissement: Features parks like Parc des Buttes-Chaumont.
20. 20th Arrondissement: Known for its diverse community and Père Lachaise Cemetery.

Each arrondissement’s postcode is linked to its number, for example, 75001 for the 1st, 75002 for the 2nd, and so on. The last two digits of the Paris postcode correspond to the arrondissement, making navigation easy.

Five fun facts about Paris that might surprise you:

1. Paris Once Had a Different Name: Before becoming Paris, the city was known as Lutetia. This ancient name dates back to the Roman era, when it was a small settlement on the Île de la Cité.
2. Street Art on the Seine: Hidden pieces of street art can be found along the banks of the Seine, especially on bridges and embankments. Look for small, colorful mosaics inspired by the Space Invaders video game, placed by an anonymous artist known as Invader.
3. There’s a Vineyard in Paris: Montmartre’s Clos Montmartre is a small, working vineyard tucked away behind the Sacré-Cœur. It produces a limited number of bottles yearly, with the proceeds going to local charities. The vineyard’s roots date back to the Middle Ages, though the current version was replanted in 1933.
4. A Fake Building Hides a Ventilation Shaft: At 29 Avenue Rapp, near the Eiffel Tower, there’s a building that looks like a typical Parisian apartment from the outside—but it’s actually a facade disguising a ventilation shaft for the city’s metro system. It’s one of several “false” buildings in Paris.
5. There’s an Underground City Beneath Paris: Beyond the famous Catacombs, Paris is built over an extensive network of tunnels, quarries, and underground spaces. This carrières system helped build the city above, and in some places, these ancient quarries run under streets and buildings, adding to the mystery of the Parisian underground.

How to Get Around in Paris

In all honesty, the best way to navigate Paris is to walk. You definitely don’t need a car, as driving in Paris is a nightmare, and finding somewhere to park is impossible. The Metro in Paris is really simple to use once you know how, and it will easily get you from one end of Paris to the other.

If you’re venturing to Versailles, you’ll need the RER C line, which travels directly to Versailles Château Rive Gauche station, just a 10-minute walk from the palace entrance. The journey takes about 40 minutes from central Paris. 

If you need help negotiating the metro or finding your way around Paris, there are some fantastic apps that will help you do just that.

FAQs Spending a Day in Paris

Don’t Forget to Take the Quiz