Check out the best way to make the most of a 7 hour layover in Paris. Get out of the airport and experience all the top sites!
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Is 7 hours enough time to really see Paris? Yes! It may not be enough to get to all the great museums, nightlife, shopping and restaurants. However, it is definitely enough to experience the top sites and get a feel for the “touristy” stuff that even your kids have heard of: Arc de Triomphe, Champs Elysees, Eiffel Tower, the Seine River and even a glimpse of Notre Dame and the Louvre.
11 Time Saving Tips to Make the Most of Your Layover
Getting Out of the Airport (CDG)
The first step in making the most of any layover is getting out of the airport. You need a solid game plan ahead of time. Check (print or download) the airport map ahead of time and locate where you’ll be arriving, where luggage storage is, and where passport control is.
For a layover you won’t have to deal with your checked bags. But, you still don’t want to be bogged down by all your carry-ons. So, before you land be sure to separate the things you will need from the items you can leave behind.
Airport Luggage Storage in Charles de Gaulle Airport is located in Terminal 2 Level 4 (across from the Sheraton Hotel). The fee is charged based upon the size of the item and the duration for which it is left. CDG does not have 24/7 locker storage. Rather there is a manned and x-rayed facility, so be sure to allot sufficient time to check your items in and out. The facility recommends allowing 4 minutes for check-in and 5 minutes for check-out. Express check-out can be arranged at drop-off time.
Since this is a manned facility, it is important to be aware of the hours of operation (8AM-8PM daily). Hours are subject to change, so check the website. If your flight lands earlier than the facility opens, there are plenty of activities to keep you busy in the airport (massages, showers, meditation, video games, shopping, restaurants, art galleries, etc.). However, if you return to the airport after it closes, your baggage will be stuck in Paris.
To actually get out of the airport and tour the city, you will have to go through passport control. The amount of time to allocate to this will depend on several factors, the primary of which are:
- Your Nationality: your nationality will determine which line you go through as well as whether or not you will need a visa for entrance into France
- Time of Day/Week/Year: all these can significantly effect the length and speed of the line
- Size of your party: a larger party can take longer at passport control
Once you have exited the airport, it is time to get into the city. The train has advantages in that traffic is not a factor, it runs on a predictable schedule, and it can be less expensive for a small party. The drawbacks are that it may not take you exactly where you want to go. So, you will have to factor in walking time and ensure you have exact walking directions. Also, on a short layover when every minute counts, you may not want to wait for the train if there is not much traffic that time of day.
A side benefit of a taxi or Uber is that your driver may be knowledgeable, give you local tips, and play tour guide. During our Paris layover, I pointed out the Arc de Triomphe to my kids as we were driving by. The driver offered to pull over and take pictures for us in front of it–so we all ran across the 12 lanes of traffic for the shot (note: it was 8:30 on a Sunday morning).
Whatever your transportation choice, you want to allot 45-60 minutes to get into the city center depending on the time of day, week, and year. All will play a factor in traffic and public transportation schedules. Keep this in mind when scheduling your tours.
See the Sites
You are not taking the time to research your 7 hour Paris layover to just explore the airport and the route to and from the city. You want to actually get out and see the sites. This is where advanced planning will save you enough time to “get it all in”. Or at least as much as possible.
Nothing screams “Paris Tourist Attraction” more than the Eiffel Tower. But that also means LOOO…OONG lines. You don’t have time for long lines. So, what’s the solution? Skip the line! It may cost a bit more. But, when you are trying to squeeze in as much as possible into a limited amount of time, it is definitely worth a few extra dollars to save what may amount to hours of waiting. The time saved will allow you to see a few extra sites.
A Paris Hop-On Hop-Off Bus tour is a great option if you have a few extra hours and want to get around the whole city and even get to a specific attraction you’d like to see. But, keep in mind that you may not have time for such a tour if you only have a 7 to 10 hour layover in Paris and you want to include the Eiffel Tower and lunch or dinner in that timeframe as well.
A unique option for Paris is a Seine River cruise. A one-hour narrated tour around the city will give you some history, culture, and architecture of the city. It’s informative, enjoyable, unique, and relaxing. Depending on what time of day you will be in Paris, you could lunch on the river, do a sunset cruise, see the City of Light at night, or even take a dinner cruise.
We chose to do the combination Eiffel Tower and Seine Cruise. We did not do the summit of the Eiffel Tower tour since we wanted to be able to make it to a specific kosher cafe that was outside of the city center. Nonetheless, we enjoyed great views from the second floor. The narrated boat tour allowed us to see many Paris highlights including the Parisian Statue of Liberty, Notre Dame (covered in scaffolding after the fire), the Louvre, and many more.
If we have another layover in Paris in the future, we may consider a tour of the city by electric bike or tuktuk or even split up the family based on interest. We have done bike tours in the past, but in a big city, we would probably want to cover more ground in less time. We may also just pick a museum or attraction or spend the day exploring Versailles.
check out this simple to follow 3 easy step method to plan your day
Don’t Forget to Eat
Paris is a foodie city. In other cities in which you may have a layover, food may be somewhat of an afterthought. But this is Paris! So be sure to make time for a nice French meal that fits your budget and time constraints.
If you are still in the city center, you can find a nice restaurant along the world famous Champs Elysees. Enjoy the people watching and window shopping before heading back to the airport.
Of equal importance, especially when traveling with children, is to ensure that nobody gets “hangry”. So, enjoy a nice French pastry or baguette and French cheese picked up along the way. Try not to go for hamburgers and pizza when in Paris. Enjoy–and expose your children to–the local cuisine.
Layover Tips for Jewish Travelers
Getting Back to the Airport (CDG)
You’ve enjoyed a nice French meal, seen the great sites, and maybe even done some shopping. Now, you have to get back to the airport, collect your carry-ons, and get on the plane. Be sure to double check that your flight is actually on time. The last thing you want is to rush back and then realize you could have spent more time in Paris.
Your timing will determine your transportation choice. See the “getting out of the airport” section for pros and cons of using the train versus an Uber or taxi. Regardless of what you choose, be sure to get dropped off or disembark at Terminal 2 if you need to go to luggage storage.
Another tip to save a few minutes, is to familiarize yourself with the airport map ahead of time so you know exactly how to get where you need to go. When you want to maximize your layover time, every minute counts.
Relax
Now that you’re back on the plane, it is time to RELAX. You just enjoyed a jam-packed day in Paris. Take a break on the next leg of your flight.
I’d love to hear how you spent your time in Paris. Drop me a note and let me know. Hope these tips helped you maximize your 7 hour layover in Paris!
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