Palais Royale
There is never enough time to see all that the City of Lights has to offer, but spending 36 hours in Paris is a good place to start.
Depending on your interests, you can begin your visit with breakfast at Cuisine de Bar, a great little cafe near St Sulpice. Once you have eaten, take a stroll through St Germain, visiting the Jardin du Luxembourg, the Pantheon, and the shops and markets along Rue Mouffetard.
From there you could spend an afternoon at one of the city’s top museums like the Louvre, the Musee d’Orsay, or the Centre Pompidou. If you’ve already seen them on a previous visit, there are plenty of smaller museums in Paris that are worth visiting. A few of my favorites are the Musee Rodin, the Musee Picasso, and the Musee Marmottan (for Impressionism). The Musee du quai Branly is another good choice for those that like indigenous art.
Exhausted from exploring museums, take a break at one of Paris’ best cafes or in one of the city’s parks.
Once you are refreshed, go for some shopping along the rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore, at the famous grands magasins, or in the city’s top boutiques.
After a long day of walking, you’ll have worked up an appetite. You can go to dinner at one of the city’s many great restaurants to refuel. Use this restaurant map to find one nearby.
If you still have energy left after dinner, you can explore the city’s nightlife scene. Paris has a great variety of bars and clubs to choose from, whether you want a quiet drink or a big night out.
The next day you can explore some of the city’s top neighborhoods. From Montmartre to the Canal Saint-Martin, there is more than enough to keep you busy for a day. If you get hungry, head to the rue des Martyrs, a street full of cafes, restaurants, and patisseries.
If you haven’t done so yet, you can also visit the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Sacre Coeur, or the Notre Dame for great views over the city.
When your 36 hours in Paris come to a close, head to one of the many locations of Relais de l’Entrecote to have a classic farewell steak frites for dinner before heading home.