Paris activities that fit a layover

Best 24 hour use of the city

The Marais on foot

A guide is optional. The neighbourhood works alone. Take the tour if you want the history and a person to stop you adding a second district.

Timed, and only one museum

One museum ticket

Louvre or Orsay, not both. Buy the timed entry. Arrive when it says. Leave when you are hungry rather than when you have 'finished'.

If the Louvre feels like homework, switch the search to the Musée d'Orsay and do that instead.

One hour, any layover that reached the river

A Seine cruise

The most reliable booked hour in Paris. Sit down, look at the banks, get off, eat.

Dinner cruises eat the evening. Skip them when you need an early RER.

72 hours, middle of the day

Versailles

Tickets, a morning train, and a hard stop in the afternoon. This is a different day from the museum day.

Do not buy this for a 24 hour CDG connection.