Layover in paris: A Layover Adventure
Imagine this: Your plane just landed in Paris, and you have a few hours before your next flight. With the City of Light tantalizingly close, if you’re anything like us, you might fantasize about zipping into town to get a quick dose of Parisian goodness and make it back in time for your connection. With a little planning, your Paris layover can turn into a fun mini-visit, and we’re here to help you make the most of every minute. Welcome to the great Paris layover adventure!
There are pros and cons to a dashing layover adventure, but we’ve broken it all down for you. So let’s dig in.
Is a layover in Paris adventure right for you?
To decide if a layover excursion is a good option for you, answer these questions:
- How long is your layover? If it’s less than a 4 hours long layover in Paris, we don’t recommend leaving the airport. We explain why below.
- Do you need to go through passport control? The answer is yes, if you’re arriving from the US or countries outside the Schengen Zone (which now includes the UK). Expect it to take anywhere from 30 – 60 minutes depending on the time of day and season of the year.
- Is your luggage checked through to your destination or are you traveling with carry ons?
- How far in advance do you need to check in for your next flight? Flights from Europe to the US require 3 hours. For flights within Europe, the recommendation is usually an hour. But double check your airline’s requirements to be sure.
- What’s your stress tolerance? Leaving the airport, figuring out transportation, and getting back on time can add tension to your travels. It may be worth it to have a delightful experience, but only you know what you can tolerate.
- Remember airport security? If you leave, you’ll have to go through it all over again, so factor that into your planning as well.
How to plan your adventure
To plan your excursion, work backwards from when you need to be back at the airport, allowing for retrieving any stored bags, going through security, and getting to your gate.
How much time will you actually have? Let’s do the math to figure it out. Here are our estimates for how long it will take to get out of and back to the airports.
- Passport control (if needed): 30 minutes
- Luggage drop off & pick up: 30 minutes
- Transit to & from Paris: 1 hour each way (2 hours total)
- Airport security: 30 minutes
This adds up to 3.5 hours of transit time. Things might go faster, but they might go slower too, and you want to make your connecting flight. So, for example, if you have a 6 hour layover in Paris, you will have about 2.5 hours to explore.
Under 4 hours layover in Paris? Stay put.
If your layover is under four hours, we do not recommend leaving the airport. Sorry! There just isn’t enough time. The good news is that both airports have plenty of good food, comfy lounges, and fantastic shopping. In fact, some of the most famous shops in Paris have opened stores at the airports, so you can sample delicious treats and find great gifts as if you’d been right in the city.
Flight delay? Stay put.
It’s a fact of traveling that sometimes flights get delayed. If this happens to you, we do not recommend leaving the airport. Timing can shift – the weather can clear, the replacement part can arrive faster than expected – and your departure time just got moved up. You don’t want to get that text while you’re in the Metro or sitting down to a great meal.
Go deep or do everything? You decide.
Whether this is your first trip to Paris or your 71st, there’s always something to see, so narrowing down your approach will help you make the most of your layover.
Here are two ways to think about a layover adventure (recommended for 7 hour layover in paris or more):
- Option 1 – Go Deep: Pick a neighborhood or core experience you want to have (like visit a museum or have a meal), and do that.
- Option 2 – Do Everything: Try to see as much as possible in the time you have.
Plenty of videos show you how to do Option 2. But to be honest, this approach involves as much time on the Metro as anything else. If using the public transit system makes you uncomfortable, or you have mobility issues – there can be a lot of walking inside the Metro – we recommend Option 1. It’s a more relaxed way to sample what Paris has to offer and make a beautiful memory.
Ready to explore? The ideas below are ideal for someone with a 6-8 hour layover in Paris. With a longer layover, you can combine options to fashion your perfect Paris sampler. If you have an overnight layover, we have some special ideas just for you at the end of this article.
Explore an iconic neighborhood
Paris is a city of neighborhoods, each with a distinct feel – and of course, food, cafés and shops to explore. Wander the streets, savor a coffee, and you’ll feel like a true Parisian. Here are some of our favorites.
Saint-Germain-des-Pres
In the 6th Arrondissement, this popular area was once the haunt of famous writers and artists. Sip coffee in the same spot where Hemingway enjoyed his – Les Deux Magots cafe on the Place Saint-Germain-des-Pres.
Get there: RER B train at the Saint-Michel–Notre-Dame stop
Learn more:
Why is this neighborhood so popular with families?
We tried 12 of the best food stops in Saint Germain
Montmartre
The highest point in Paris is located in the 18th Arrondissement. Here you’ll find the Basilica Sacre Coeur, a magnificent church at the top of the hill. It is also where many artists lived in their young days. The artistic tradition continues at the Place du Tertre where today’s artists sell their wares. It’s touristy but still fun – and to walk along the side streets from the Place is to enter a quiet neighborhood blessed with beautiful views, quirky shops, and delicious eats.
Get there: RER B, transfer at Châtelet–Les-Halles to Metro Line 4; exit at the Chateau Rouge station. Learn more:
Le Marais & Île de la Cité
These two neighborhoods bump up against each other in the 1st and 4th Arrondissements, and are among the oldest parts of the city. Just like it sounds, the Île is an island in the Seine river. Here you can see Notre Dame cathedral, a masterpiece of the French Gothic style. From there, you can wander the winding streets of Le Marais to see an intriguing mix of high style and historic architecture. This was also the Jewish quarter of Paris, and you can still find specialty bakeries and delicatessens, as well as amazing middle eastern food.
Get there: RER B; exit at Châtelet–Les-Halles
Learn more:
Why is this neighborhood so popular with tourists?
5 affordable restaurants in Le Marais
Visit a Museum
Good for a 8 hour layover in paris
While it wouldn’t make sense to go to Le Louvre or the Musée D’Orsay on a layover, Paris is full of smaller museums that will reward a short visit. The ones here are easy to get to from the RER, but check museum websites for opening times and other details.
3rd Arrondissement (Le Marais)
- The Musée Histoire de Paris Carnavalet is full of fascinating gems gathered from all the layers of Parisian history. Here you can see old shop signs, artifacts from the Gauls and the Vikings, and so much more.
- Photography lovers will enjoy the Henri Cartier Bresson Foundation, which contains prints and archives from the master of street photography, as well as rotating exhibitions.
Get there: RER B; exit at Châtelet–Les-Halles
6th Arrondissement (St.-Germain-des-Pres)
- If you are a Medieval history buff, check out the Musée de Cluny in the 6th Arrondissement. It has an incredible collection of art and objects from the middle ages, including the magnificent Lady and the Unicorn tapestry.
- Located in the artist’s home, the Musée National Eugène Delacroix showcases works from this influential painter in a setting that gives you a glimpse of a bygone era.
Get there: RER B train at the Saint-Michel–Notre-Dame stop
For more museum ideas, check out this video featuring 8 different options.
See a Sight (or 2!)
Nothing says Paris like the Eiffel Tower! Designed by Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 World’s Fair, construction started in 1887 and didn’t finish until the night before the fair opened! You’ll want to purchase tickets online, and be aware that there are different tickets for using the stairs versus the elevator. Also, there are options for “skip the line” tickets. They cost a little extra but on a layover, it might be worth it.
Get there: RER B to Saint-Michel Notre-Dame, transfer to RER C, exit at Champ de Mars Tour Eiffel
The Arc de Triomphe commemorates those who died in the French Revolution and in the Napoleonic wars. Beneath it lies the tomb of the unknown soldier from World War I. It was commissioned in 1806, but it wasn’t finished until much later, between 1833-36.
Get there: RER B to Châtelet–Les-Halles, transfer to RER A, exit at Charles de Gaulle Etoile
Visit Les Invalides to see the magnificent tomb of Napoleon as well as military equipment from the middle ages to World War II. The collection includes an Enigma type cryptograph, canons and plenty of swords.
Get there: RER B to Saint-Michel Notre-Dame, transfer to RER C, exit at Invalides
Interested in more must-see sights? Check out our video on what we think are the top 12.
Stroll Through a Garden
Paris is fortunate to have many public parks and gardens.The fresh air and serene landscapes will revive you after a long flight. And bonus, many have cafés where you can sip coffee and watch the world go by. Heaven!
The Jardin du Luxembourg, in the 6th Arrondissement, dates back to 1612. It borders the French Senate buildings, and is over 58 acres of glorious garden free to enjoy.
Get there: RER B, exit Luxembourg
Nearby, in the 5th Arrondissement, you’ll find the Jardin des Plantes, a delightful botanical garden with a greenhouse and a zoo. Some of the trees here were planted in the 1600s. The zoo is home to over 150 different kinds of animals, many endangered.
Get there: RER B, exit Luxembourg
On the opposite side of the river you’ll find the Jardin des Tuileries, situated between the Louvre Museum and the Place de la Concorde, in the 1st Arrondissement. Enjoy the sailboat pond, where children (and the young at heart) rent toy boats and use long sticks to move them across the water. There are sculptures by Rodin, Mailol, and Giacometti amid the graceful and classically French garden design. Get there: RER B to Châtelet–Les-Halles
Arrange a Paris Layover Tour
If you prefer, you can leave the logistics and planning to an expert and set up a layover tour. Some companies will work with you to build a custom itinerary, while others have a set route. There is of course a cost for this, but it does take the hassle out of the process and allow you to just enjoy the experience. So it could be a good option. Check out these tour options.
An Overnight Layover in Paris
If you have an overnight layover, you can explore the city in greater depth and even enjoy a good night’s sleep in a hotel! There are good hotels at or near the airports if you have an early flight the following morning. If you have a later flight, consider booking in town. We’ve put together our list of preferred hotels. These are comfortable, well run properties in the most interesting parts of the city – and we also published a hotel guide.
Another fun option for an overnight layover is a night tour of the city. Paris comes alive after dark, with astonishing light shows like the one at the Eiffel Tower. You’ll see famous monuments and churches in a whole new way.
Of course, you’ll want to eat, and Paris is nothing if not a great place to have dinner. Food is one of our favorite subjects so you’ll find lots of videos about it on our YouTube channel, and we’ve gathered some resources on this food & drinks page as well. Bon appetit!
We hope that with these tips, your Paris layover will transform a few hours into a host of cherished memories. Share your experience in the Les Frenchies Facebook group and help other travelers enjoy a layover adventure too!
