How to Spend an Overnight Layover in Paris
Do you have a long layover in Paris and are you wondering how you can make the most of it? The City of Love brings over 30 million visitors per year. But what do you do when it brings you for just one night?
When Andrew and I went to Morocco in February 2020, we had an overnight layover on our way home via CDG in Paris. We decided to make the most of our layover in Paris and see the sights from the outside. (PS - these photos are from before I started my blog and iPhone X night photos were not great, so bear with me 😂)
eiffel tower at night lit up in yellow lights
Eiffel Tower
What you need to know
If you land at CDG, it takes about 45 mins for an Uber to get from the airport to the city center. Make sure you take the travel time into account, you want to be able to eat somewhere in the city! Also, it takes about double the time (so 90 mins) to get back to the airport in the morning. Plan ahead!
France's currency is the Euro, but we had no issue paying with a credit card at the restaurant we went to.
Stay in the touristy areas to find people who speak English, and make sure to walk in well-lit areas especially late at night! I highly recommend taking self defense classes when you aren't traveling so you can always ensure your safety.
What to do on an Overnight Layover in Paris
So here's what to do on an overnight layover in Paris:
Eat dinner at a cafe. We ate at Le Beaujolais right across from the Eiffel Tower. It was SO CUTE and the food was AMAZING, especially the creme brulee! Make sure to try some French wine while you are there, it's definitely a must!
chicken alfredo, duck, red wine, and beer sit on a wooden table ready to be eaten
Le Beaujolais main course
string lights and greenery hang from exposed beams under a red tarp roof on the outdoor patio of a cafe in paris
Decor at Le Beaujolais
creme brulee and chocolate lava cake with powdered sugar sit waiting to be eaten
Dessert at Le Beaujolais
an empty restaurant with wooden tables and chairs
Le Beaujolais
Next, go see the Eiffel Tower. If you head over there at the top of the hour, you will get to see it sparkle! Fair warning, there will be people harassing you and trying to get you to buy their stuff. Keep your valuables hidden, stay alert for pickpockets, and don't fall for any scams!
If you want to see Notre Dame (from the outside, it was at night and at the time was still closed to the public), so we took an Uber from the Eiffel Tower to Notre Dame. It is about a 20 minute walk if you want to explore the city between the two.
notre dame cathedral at night with bright lights in the foreground
Notre Dame
After walking around the cathedral, wander down the Seine River towards the Lourve and take in more of the beautiful buildings at night.
The Lourve is close by, so go explore the outside the Lourve as well, and the building is just as beautiful at night. However, we encountered dozens of homeless sleeping in the area, so be mindful of your surroundings, watch where you are going, and be kind ♥️
the lourve in paris stands against a red light sky
Outside of the Lourve
If you have some extra time, take an Uber over to the Arc de Triomphe for more stunning night photos. We didn't make it that far because I was getting tired and wanted a few hours of sleep before our long flight the next day. Which brings me to my last tip...
Where to Stay on an Overnight Layover in Paris
Hotel Britannique is right in the city center, close to Notre Dame, the Lourve, and the riverfront. I would totally stay there again if we went back to Paris for a few days!
Unfortunately, it was late and I did not capture any pictures of our room, but it was cozy and had a mini balcony that opened to the street below and was so pretty in the morning. Some rooms even have an Eiffel Tower view!
It was definitely affordable for an overnight layover stay too. Its location is hard to beat for someone who wants to explore on a long layover in Paris!
the Conciergerie in paris framed by the seine river
Outside of the Conciergerie
Final Thoughts
Overnight layovers can be so fun, especially because you get to see a different side to wherever you are staying. Paris is a great one because there will be a lot less people than in the daytime!
For more info about our trip to Morocco, you can check out this post: