Is a Day Trip from London to Paris Worth It? (+ the best way to go)

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It can be tempting to tack on a trip to Paris if you’re already in London. It’s just across the English Channel, anyways, right? Wouldn’t it be incredible to experience both England and France in the same vacation?
What many visitors don’t realize is that, while it might seem like a quick trip, the trek can be more of a journey than you anticipate. We’ll help you answer the nagging question: is a day trip from London to Paris worth it?
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Can you do Paris as a day trip from London?
Yes, it is possible to do Paris as a day trip from London – with a caveat. It’s going to be a long day. Each way on the train takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes. Tack that onto the fact that you’ll need to arrive at St. Pancras Station or Gare du Nord 90 minutes prior to your departure for immigration on either end and you’re looking at a 4-hour journey – each way. That’s 8 hours total of travel time!
Considering that it would take a similar amount of time to fly, including getting to the airport and checking in, going by train is a much more relaxing and fun experience. You’ll also have the added bonus of arriving in the very center of the city versus landing in the outskirts, going through immigration, and then taking a train or taxi into the center. Learn more about taking the Tube around London.
Is a day trip from London to Paris worth it?
So is a day trip from London to Paris really worth it?
The answer? It depends. If you have a day to spare in London (or Paris) and you just can’t resist the temptation of seeing another city, and another country for that matter, this could be worth it.
However, be warned. It will take you around 4 hours each way to go from London to Paris. That means that it’s going to be a very long day and you’ll only get to see a sliver of the City of Lights. If you have the energy to get up at the crack of dawn and go until late in the evening, then a day trip might be worth it!

If a day trip just doesn’t seem long enough, and you have flexibility, check out our 3 day Paris itinerary.
How much does a day trip from London to Paris cost?
Your biggest cost of a day trip from London to Paris will be your train ticket. Eurostar tickets are released 330 days in advance for the London – Paris route and you’ll want to book them at least a month in advance, if not more during the summer months or around holidays.
If you book far enough in advance, you can usually find tickets for £44 ($56) each way but these costs can increase dramatically. Last minute, it’s not uncommon to find prices that are £169 ($213) each way.
Aside from the cost to purchase your Eurostar tickets, you can do a day trip to Paris from London on a minimal budget – or treat yourself to a splurge. We’ve estimated the costs of what a full day in Paris with a few activities and food will be per person below.
Estimated Costs Per Person (If you plan ahead!)
Eurostar Tickets: £88 / $110
Food: £50 / $65
Bike Tour: £40 / $50
Walking Tour: £24 / $30
+Many walking tours are offered for free but you’ll need to factor in a tip of $10 to $15 per person.
Seine Boat Ride: £13 / $16
+Boat rides on the Seine can range wildly in cost but if you just want a simple cruise via the popular Bateaux-Mouches, it’s $16 per adult and $6.50 per child.
Total: £215 / $270
Guided Tour: $330
+You can also opt for a full day, guided tour of Paris if you feel like taking a more comprehensive approach. This option is great if you don’t mind being a little spendy as you won’t have to do as much planning or worry about getting around on public transportation.
These costs can vary dramatically depending on what activities you want to do, how many meals you plan to have, and an endless list of other factors. As a general rule, we think this is a safe bet as to how much it could cost for a day trip to Paris.
Related reads:
How Much Does a Trip to London Cost? (real prices and data)
How Much Does a 5 Day Trip to Paris Cost?
Is it Better to Fly from London to Paris or Take the Train?
While you could easily fly from London to Paris in a day, taking the train is faster and more convenient. The Eurostar leaves right from London’s city center and drops off in the heart of Paris, unlike either city’s airport which is on the outskirts of town.
There are also more frequent trains than flights every day, leaving approximately once an hour. Eurostar train service from London to Paris begins at 6 am and the last train leaves Paris around 9 pm. On top of all this, the train is much more comfortable and environmentally friendly than flying.
To compare, if you did decide to fly from London to Paris instead of taking the Eurostar, the cost is roughly the same. While Ryanair might be the least expensive option, Easyjet is your best bet as their flights transit through the city’s main airports like Charles de Gaul and Gatwick versus Beauvais or Stansted which are far outside the city limits.

With transportation in mind, you also may be considering a rental car in London (our advice, don’t).
How to take a day trip to Paris from London?
Instead of going through security and cramming onto a flight, we highly recommend taking the Eurostar train from London to Paris.
The first Eurostar of the day from London to Paris leaves right at 6 am and arrives in the City of Light by 9:30 am. It’s an early start but a good option if you want to make the most of your time in Paris. Paris is actually 1 hour ahead time wise than London so while the train only takes 2 hours and 20 minutes, you’ll be arriving in Paris at 9:30 am instead of 8:30 am.
A Eurostar train leaves every hour from London (sometimes on the half hour, for example 10:30 am) following the 6:00 am start until 8:00 pm in the evening. When making your way from Paris back to London via the Eurostar, the trains also leave every hour but the timing isn’t as consistent (for example departures at 6:09 pm, 7:39 pm, and 8:09 pm).
Make sure to grab coffee and breakfast either before you head to the station or once you’re there. You’ll also need to bring along your passport and arrive 90 minutes early (that means 4:30 am for the 6:00 am train) to make it through passport control.
You’ll hop the Eurostar at London’s St Pancras Station and arrive in Paris’ Gare du Nord station. This is about a 20 minute walk from Sacre Coeur, north of the Seine. Once you’re outside the Gare du Nord station, you’ll most likely want to find a Paris metro and head towards the heart of the city.
Plan your first stops in Paris ahead of time and look on the Paris Metro Map to see which lines you should take. There are several stations nearby including the Gare du Nord, La Chappelle, and Poissonnière metro stops. Poissonnière (Line 7) will take you straight to Le Louvre or the Pantheon, while Gare du Nord (Line 4) takes you to the Ile de la Cite, aka Notre Dame. You’ll need to switch lines at least once if you’re headed straight for the Eiffel Tower.
You can buy metro tickets in advance using your phone or grab them from the ticket machines in the metro station when you arrive. If you know you’re going to ride the metro more than a few times throughout the day it could be worth it to purchase a 1 day pass.

Things to do on a day trip to Paris:
Do a Bike Tour
Most of Paris’ sites are concentrated along the Seine but walking distances can be deceivingly long (walking from Notre Dame to the Eiffel Tower takes over 1 hour). That being said, Paris has a very bikeable center with mostly flat roads. Biking is one of the best ways to get around quickly and what better way to see the sights than by zipping around with a local guide?
Most bike tours follow the flat pathways along the Seine River and range from 3 to 4 hours in length. A few tours include a stop for coffee or a quick crepe to fuel up for your adventures around town. Electric bike tours are also becoming more popular which will really make your ride a breeze – and you’ll still have the energy to walk around on the hunt for more delicious food afterwards!
Skip the Museums: Don’t Waste All of Your Time Inside
Sure, Paris’ museums are world renowned and many visitors travel just to see them. Unfortunately, most of them are huge (looking at you Musée du Louvre) and can take hours and hours to explore. We recommend skipping them if you’re in Paris for only one day and opting instead for experiencing more of the city – and mouth watering Parisian cuisine.
If you just can’t help yourself, some of the small museums that are worth a breeze through include Musée de l’Orangerie (located at the foot of the sprawling Tuileries gardens) or Musée Rodin. The Louvre, Pompidou, and the Musée d’Orsay are rightly deserving of their blockbuster status but will all take a huge chunk out of your day to see.
Have One Excellent Meal: Plan for a Great Lunch at a Bistro
It wouldn’t be a trip to Paris without a fantastic meal! Choosing just one place to eat on your only day in Paris might feel overwhelming, but you really can’t go wrong with lunch or dinner at a classic French bistro. A typical menu du jour is great value and usually includes a glass of wine and two to three courses depending on the restaurant.
Just a few of the most famous, and delicious, bistros include Bistrot Paul Bert, Bistrot des Tournelles, and Bouillon Pigalle, but we encourage you to try and find your own hidden gem while you’re wandering around. If hunger (ahem, hanger) starts to strike, simply stop off for a crêpe and continue on your journey to seek out a lunch spot.
Also keep in mind that many restaurants in Paris require reservations – especially for dinner! There’s always the chance you’ll get lucky but with only one day, you might want to do your due diligence and research so that you can book ahead of time. If you find your way to the Latin Quarter during your trip, there are some really phenomenal restaurants over there!

Take a Walking Tour
Paris is overwhelmingly chock-full of incredible sights – some that you would walk right past without realizing. The best remedy for seeing the highlights and learning as much as possible? A Paris walking tour!
Paris has many free walking tours (don’t forget to tip!) but a paid walking tour is also worth your while. Some are specific to certain neighborhoods, like Le Marais or Montmartre, or specific sites. You can find some that are themed or explore a certain era of Paris’ history like walking in the footsteps of Coco Chanel, discovering street art, or gastronomy focused tours from chocolate to cheese.
Get out of the city another way:
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An Early Evening Cruise on the Seine: Before Heading Back to the Train Station
While it might seem a little touristy, hopping on a cruise down the Seine is one of the most romantic – and fun – ways to experience Paris. There are several options to choose from but most of the evening cruises are similar in what they offer.
Along the way you’ll see the Notre Dame Cathedral, Louvre, Palais de Justice, Arc de Triomphe, and of course the Eiffel Tower, just to name a few.
These cruises also give you an opportunity to catch your breath after a full day of walking around the city and soak in some of the most iconic sites, like the Eiffel Tower, all from the water. If you happen to be visiting during a time of the year when the sun sets early, this experience is made all the better as the buildings and lights reflect off the surface of the Seine.
Most cruises last anywhere from 1 to 3 hours and you can go bare bones or luxury, depending on your preferences. The popular Bateaux-Mouches cruises leave every 30 to 45 minutes depending on the time of day and season, with each journey lasting an hour and 10 minutes. There’s also the option to book one of their cruises that includes lunch or dinner with prices ranging from $64 to $167 per person. These typically last from 1.5 hours to 2 hours and 15 minutes.

Looking for more to do?
We’ve compiled some great lists from London’s best museums to London’s hidden gems, plus we have great itineraries for both London and Paris so you won’t miss out on the best sights even if you’re short on time!

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