Maybe not so extreme 😅 Yesterday I found a Eurostar deal for £39 each way, so £78 return, London to Paris on the same day.
That felt perfect for another extreme day out.
This series is about finding cheap travel deals and seeing what kind of day I could squeeze out of them — where I’d go, what I’d see, and what I’d eat.
The rules
- Same-day return
- No hotel
- No big plan (well… maybe Paris is the exception 😉)
Just seeing what kind of day I could get out of a cheap ticket.
The Eurostar deal
I came across this when searching Eurostar:
- Route: London St Pancras → Paris Gare du Nord
- Price: £39 each way (£78 return)
- Outbound: London 06:01 → Paris 09:29
- Inbound: Paris 21:02 → London 22:30
That gives a full day in Paris without needing a hotel.
Getting into the city
Eurostar arrives at Gare du Nord, so you’re already in Paris. From there, you’ve got a few options.
From there:
- Metro – fast and easy for most central sights
- Walking – a great way to see the streets and soak up the atmosphere
- Bus – slower, but scenic and lets you see more of the city as you travel
- Taxi – handy if you want to save energy or avoid stairs, though traffic can slow you down
I’d probably walk and take the Metro to save time.
What I’d see on an extreme day out
- A. Lacroix Pâtissier – start the day with coffee and a couple of their cakes or pastries. I love cakes, so I’d definitely go for them. Right across the Seine from Notre-Dame.
- Notre-Dame – go inside as well. It’s free, but I’d still book a time slot in advance to avoid queues. Walk around the outside and take photos, stand by the Seine for a bit.
- Seine boat or Metro – if time allows, take a boat (Batobus) to the Eiffel Tower. If not, take the Metro.
- Eiffel Tower – photos from the ground, take in the views from below.
- Galeries Lafayette Haussmann – explore the stunning glass dome, check out the food hall, maybe grab a little something, and enjoy the rooftop view.
- Opéra de Paris (Palais Garnier) – it’s right next door, so even seeing it from the outside is worth it. I probably wouldn’t have time for a full self-guided visit on a same-day trip.
- Champs-Élysées & Arc de Triomphe – a quick wander along this famous avenue, stopping to admire the Arc de Triomphe from afar. One day just isn’t enough to see it all!
- Paris streets & cafés – wander nearby streets, maybe stop at a café for a drink or pastry, enjoy the atmosphere.
- Back to Gare du Nord – take the Metro, enjoying the city until the 21:02 train.
What I’d eat and drink
I’m normally easy-going, but if I’m in Paris, I want to eat properly and enjoy it. This isn’t the place to rush meals. I’d probably do a bit of research into good pâtisseries, cafés, and bistros and let the day flow around food:
- Coffee and cakes at A. Lacroix in the morning
- A French lunch — something casual and classic from a café or bistro
- Another sweet stop in the afternoon — hard to choose when Paris has so many great pâtisseries
- Dinner or a savoury snack while wandering, wherever looks good
I’d just eat whenever it felt right — hope I can squeeze in everything!
Final thought
£78 return on Eurostar for a same-day trip to Paris is hard to ignore. Early start, long day, no hotel — but being in Paris and starting the day with a proper pâtisserie by Notre-Dame makes it all feel even better. Paris is a big city and there’s so much to see, it’s impossible to do everything in one day. This is what I’d do with the time I have, but if I had longer, there are a few more places I’d love to visit.
Another extreme day out, done purely because the ticket was cheap.
Prices mentioned were correct at the time of writing and may vary. Just a reminder: this is how I’d do it — everyone’s experience may be different, so use it as inspiration rather than a strict plan!
