8 Hours in Paris
What to do on your long layover in Paris.
The hallmark of a well-versed traveler is the tendency to take advantage of every opportunity for new experiences on their journeys. Making the most of long layovers on multi-leg trips is undoubtedly no exception.
Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport is an international layover hub from the US to many European, Middle Eastern, and Asian destinations. As my fiancé and I were en route back to Atlanta from Dubai, we decided to switch our original itinerary plans from a 6-hour early morning layover in Amsterdam to an 8-hour layover in Paris. We knew we could get more bang for our buck, especially since we’d prefer to spend our time exploring whichever city we ended up in instead of spending it in the airport or crunched for time.
Remember that if you’re planning to leave the airport, your layover should be at least 8 hours. This will ensure you have enough time to explore around and check back in through security upon your return to the airport to catch your departing flight. Here’s a rough breakdown of how our time was spent:
30 minutes: deplaning, customs, and immigration process
30-45 minutes: Rideshare to the city center; the train is also a reliable alternative during the daytime operating hours
4 hours: exploring Paris
30-60 minutes: return to the airport
1.5 hours: security check-in, locating your gate, and boarding for departure
Read on for how we spent sunrise in Paris, and for tips on things you should consider for your next Paris layover.
Research Luggage Holds
If you’re traveling with carry-on luggage, you’ll want to lighten your load for exploration of the city. There is a luggage hold facility conveniently located inside Charles de Gaulle Airport in Terminal 2 near the railway station. You’re able to stow away your luggage securely for as long as you need, just be aware of the operating hours of 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. daily. If you need to drop or retrieve your bags outside of these times like we did, you’ll need to find an alternative.
We had an early morning arrival, around 6:45 a.m., so we used the LuggageHero app to find a hotel near our desired sightseeing spots in a very walkable area. The rates are pretty great too, we paid around €15 for 4 bags to be safely stowed for 4 hours. It was a posh place too, so we had little concern about the safety of our valuables.
Leaving the Airport
We opted for ride-sharing since it was the most available and reliable option for us given the early hour. We set our destination to the hotel that we booked to hold our luggage which was very close to the Arc de Triomphe. It was about a 30-45-minute ride into the heart of Paris. Once our bags were dropped, a short, 5-minute jaunt to the monument and our time exploring the city began.
Walking Tour of Paris
If you’re like us, and enjoy getting to know a destination intimately, there is no better way to do so than to walk the streets! It was incredibly quaint perusing the city in the quietest hours of the morning. Starting at the Arc de Triomphe at 7:30 a.m., the sun was just starting its ascent to gently awaken the city of love.
Sightsee the Best of the Best: The Eiffel Tower
From there, we walked for approximately 30 minutes to catch sunrise at the most renowned landmark of Paris, the Eiffel Tower. It was more crowded than you would typically expect for the early morning, as the 20km de Paris was on its final day, hosting nearly 31,000 runners for the annual marathon.
It was still awesome to see from afar, and although we didn’t go beneath the tower, we went to the best location nearby for photo opportunities, Place de Trocadéro. It was just as magical as the nighttime lights show, if not more so for us (I’ll be back for a longer stay to test out my theory to be sure though!).
Dine at a Parisian Café
Our next stop was a café for a spot of breakfast, and what better place than an authentic Parisian café? Carette was just at the top of Trocadéro, and it was picturesque. Exactly how you’d imagine the finest French café experience.
Carette is a patisserie and more, with the most indulgent-looking confections, cakes, and freshly baked bread. Brush up on your French for a seamless seating and ordering experience, and we certainly suggest asking the staff for their best recommendations. Of course, we opted for croissants, both plain and au chocolait. Dipped in the richest hot chocolate in the world! We were on cloud 9. Per the staff, the side of whipped cream is a must – and indeed it was. You’ll pay a little extra for it, but you will not regret it!
Roll with the Punches
By this time, we still had around 2 hours left of time to explore. Our inclination was to head to the Louvre, however, the majority of the main roadways leading in that direction had been closed or detoured for the marathon. It’s crucial to be aware of potential mishaps and to also be flexible in your plans when exploring on a layover. You don’t want to risk longer travel times and consequent setbacks in making it back to the airport in time. It’s better not to rush or risk anything, and simply look forward to the next time you return! Besides, there are so many fun things to do, how could you go wrong with any?
While we pondered what to do, we ended up moseying along the river Seine to contemplate our next move.
Shop the Champs-Élysées
The shopping in Paris is unmatched. With plenty of high fashion and couture houses calling the city home, the selections are almost otherworldly. It is recommended to do a spot of shopping in Europe if designer items pique your fancy – the pricing is way more affordable than back in the States. Just a few extra steps to declare your goods and pay the VAT tax on your way back home through the airport, and you’ve got yourself truly authentic and most times exclusive goods to return with. Talk about top-notch memories and souvenirs!
At just over a mile of shopping each way, it’s a definitively good way to spend your layover in Paris. We essentially shopped til we dropped – and luckily for us, we were in the perfect position to head back to our luggage hold, pack away our findings, and head back to the airport.
Cheers to your next layover journey!
all the best,
