Hotels
A weekend in Paris from London: the perfect 48 hours
Leave St Pancras after work on Friday and you can be eating dinner in Paris that evening. Here is a plan for 48 hours in Paris from London, with the hotels to book at three budgets.
7 November 202610 min
Picolo Editorial
On Friday afternoon the departure hall at St Pancras fills with weekend bags. Two hours and a bit later you walk out of Gare du Nord, take the metro into the Marais and sit down for dinner. A weekend in Paris from London is one of the easiest city breaks in Europe, if you plan the hotel and the bookings well.
In short: a weekend in Paris from London
Travel: Eurostar from St Pancras to Gare du Nord, about 2 hours 16 minutes.
Where to stay: the Marais or Saint-Germain-des-Prés for a first visit.
Book ahead: the Eurostar, the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower.
Best hotel for a weekend: Pavillon de la Reine in the Marais.
Our first choice: Check availability and prices at Pavillon de la Reine
From London
Eurostar runs from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord in about 2 hours 16 minutes on the fastest trains. Eurostar asks Standard and Plus passengers to arrive 75 minutes before departure at St Pancras, and the gate closes 30 minutes before. You arrive in the 10th arrondissement, a short metro ride from every area on this page.
Book the Eurostar as early as you can, because the cheapest fares go first. Download your ticket to see the latest arrival time.
Friday evening: the Marais
Take line 5 from Gare du Nord to République or Bastille and check in. Walk to the Place des Vosges and have dinner in one of the bistros on the streets around it. The Marais stays lively late, and the falafel queues on Rue des Rosiers go on into the evening.
Saturday: the Louvre, the Seine and Saint-Germain
Start at the Louvre when it opens, with a ticket booked in advance. Walk through the Tuileries to the Place de la Concorde, then cross the Seine to the Musée d’Orsay or stroll along the river to Saint-Germain-des-Prés. In the evening, take a boat on the Seine at dusk or book dinner in Saint-Germain.
The Louvre
Book the Louvre in advance and arrive when it opens. Photo: Unsplash
Sunday: Montmartre and home
Go up to Montmartre in the morning, before the crowds reach the Sacré-Cœur. Have lunch in South Pigalle, then take line 4 or walk back to Gare du Nord for the train home. Montmartre is close to the station, so it makes a good last morning.
Where to stay for a weekend
Pavillon de la Reine, the Marais
Behind the Place des Vosges, with a small spa. Guests rate it 9.6 out of 10.
Check availability and prices at Pavillon de la Reine
Hotel Montalembert, Saint-Germain-des-Prés
A quiet street near the Musée d’Orsay, on line 4 from Gare du Nord. Guests rate it 9.2 out of 10.
Check availability and prices at Hotel Montalembert
Hotel Des Arts Paris Montmartre, on a smaller budget
Below the Sacré-Cœur, rated 9.8 out of 10 by more than 1,000 guests.
Check availability and prices at Hotel Des Arts Paris Montmartre
Hotel Flanelles, by the station
About three minutes on foot from Gare du Nord, rated 9.0 out of 10.
Check availability and prices at Hotel Flanelles
For more choice, see the best hotels in Paris, where to stay in Paris and hotels near Gare du Nord.
Picolo would choose
Picolo would choose: an afternoon Eurostar on Friday, two nights at Pavillon de la Reine and the Louvre first thing on Saturday.
Why: you lose almost no time, and the Marais is the best area to walk around in the evening. The trade-off: rooms in the Marais are small and book up early. Visiting in December? See Paris at Christmas.
Frequently asked questions about a weekend in Paris from London
How long does it take to get to Paris from London?
The fastest Eurostar trains from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord take about 2 hours 16 minutes. Eurostar asks Standard and Plus passengers to arrive 75 minutes before departure, and the gate closes 30 minutes before. Allow around four hours from leaving home in central London to reaching your hotel in Paris.
Is a weekend long enough for Paris?
A weekend is enough for one area, one big museum, a walk along the Seine and two good dinners. Choose a hotel within walking distance of the sights, book the Louvre or the Eiffel Tower in advance, and do not try to see everything. If you can, take the Friday afternoon off and travel back on Sunday evening.
Where should you stay for a weekend in Paris?
For a first weekend, stay in the Marais or Saint-Germain-des-Prés, so you can walk to the Louvre, Notre-Dame and the Seine. Pavillon de la Reine and Hotel Montalembert are our choices there. On a smaller budget, Hotel Des Arts in Montmartre is excellent, and Hotel Flanelles is closest to Gare du Nord.
Sources
Eurostar travel times and arrival advice come from Eurostar, last checked on 7 November 2026. Opening times for the Louvre are published by the Louvre, and we recommend checking before you go. Hotel ratings come from Hotels.com. The plan and the hotel choices are Picolo’s own.
This page contains affiliate links. If you book through them, Picolo earns a commission at no extra cost to you. Our picks are made independently by our editors.
Enjoy Paris
Picolo Editorial