IM95

Do you like my Paris Itinerary? Any changes I should make or add anything? Any suggestions would be appreciated. I decided to skip the Louvre and save it for another trip because of the short time I have. Here it is:


Day 1

• Take the Taxi to the hotel from the Nord Train Station and Check In and get settled
• Explore the Latin Quarter
• Notre Dame Cathedral
• Sainte Chappelle
• Muse D’Orsay


Day 2

• Champs Elysees
• Explore the Tuileries Gardens.
• Rodin Museum (Napoleons Tomb)
• Arc de Triomphe Museum
• Eifel Tower (Sunset)


Day 3

• Palace des Bastille
• Explore the Montmarte Area
• Tour the Sacre Coeur
• Luxembourg Gardens

Day 4

• Versailles Town (Domaine de Marie-Antoinett)
• Take an evening cruise along the Seine

Any suggestions for cafes and places to eat would be nice. I will be taking the bus to many of the places for transportation.

IM95

I don't know if it's realistic. Is it too much or too little?

suze

Why wouldn't you do Luxembourg Gardens when you are in the Latin Quarter (day 1 instead of day 3)?

IM95

Well the hotel is in the Latin Quarter so that would not be a problem anytime. It's actually like 10 minutes away from the Gardens. So I would be in the Latin Quarter everyday basically lol.

Southam

Can you clarify "Palace de Bastille"? I'm guessing you might mean the Place de Bastille, a major intersection with a towering monument in its centre. No Palace, though, unless you consider the bleak new Opera Bastille. The fortress at Bastille, once used as a prison for the king's enemies, was torn down by the crowd in 1789. It's a lively neighbourhood, on the edge of the Marais, with the Arsenal yacht basin to gaze at and plenty of bistrots etc. It would be worth a stroll, perhaps heading west along St-Antoine/Rivoli towards Les Halles and the Louvre, if you had plenty of time to spare. But you are in a hurry and Bastille is on the opposite side of the city from Monmarte.

nytraveler

I have no idea when they moved Napolean's Tomb to the Rodin Museum. And you are bouncing back and forth across the River - with the Rodin Museum and the Invalides (where Napoleon's Tomb is) on the south, then the Arc de Triomphe on the north then back to the osuth for the Eiffel Tower. And why not do the Arc de Triomphe at the same time as the Champs Elysess - which it is at the end of?

I really think you need to get a good map and see where things are in relation to each other.

TPAYT

Welcome to Fodors. You have come to the right place to ask your questions. I agree that you must get a good map.

Here are my questions for you:
What time will you be settled in your hotel? Where is your hotel? It makes a difference for walking or Metro. What time of year?
The lines can be long at all of your 1st day choices.

Day 2
You are flip-flopping across the river.

Day 3
You are all over the place.

Day 4
Versailles is an all day thing, yes you could do a river cruise at night, but I would think you'd do that in the beginning to get your berrings in the city.

All of us who love Paris would be happy to help you, but you must do more research.

latedaytraveler

IM95

Where will you be arriving from on your first day? If you are getting off a trans-Atlantic flight, your agenda sounds VERY ambitious…

valtor

I would visit Orsay Museum, Rodin Museum and Napoleon Tomb (Dom Les Invalides) in the same day as they are not far each from other.

Rastaguytoday

First of all, you did not say when you are coming to Paris. The month and day makes all the difference in the world.

My assumption is that you are coming from the U.S.

I then have to agree with Suze - you have to be outdoors on your first day or you will be disoriented for several days. The Luxembourg is a great place to acclimate on Day 1. Get some sun, not for getting sun, but for getting your body's rhythm on Paris time.

Depending on the season, ND, StC and MuDa could be very crowded. If not in season, do STC and ND early, walk along the Seine to MuDa. On one of my trips with a business companion, we managed to hit the first Sunday in the month and there was no charge for all 3.

azzure

MuDa? Does this (somehow) mean Musee D'Orsay?

IM95

Honestly, I wrote this pretty fast so there's some spelling errors lol. Sorry about that. No not "Palace" it's actually "Place de Bastille" I meant. Sorry I wasn't specific. I looked on Google map, I thought some of this was possible with metro but I guess not. I was going to take the metro from the the arc de Triompe to the Eiffel Tower. I was also going to take the metro from the Place de Bastile to Montmarte. No I'm not from the U.S. I am from Canada . I will be in Paris in July. I know it will be a crowded tourist season. Sorry I thought Napolean's tomb was around the Rodin Museum. I realize now that it is not. Thank you for all the suggestions so far! Great ideas. If anyone else has something to add it would be appreciated. It seems like I have too much in little time. I don't know if there is anything I should take out?

mamcalice

We who know and love Paris sometimes get a bit picky in our responses. It took us a while to know the city so well that we could plan a perfect itinerary.

The Invalides is across the street from the Musee Rodin. You can see its golden dome over the head of Rodin's "The Thinker". The gardens at the Rodin and the Invalides are lovely.

With just a little research and a good map, you can rearrange a few things and have a great 4 days in Paris. If you have to leave something out, eliminate the Place Bastille or Montmartre. Both are worth a visit but you can see them next time.

Have fun planning and have a wonderful visit to Paris!

valtor

You did not understand well, IM95. Rodin Museum is not far from Invalides (where Napoleon's tomb is).

HappyTrvlr

Rodin is across the street from Invalides, Napoleon's Tomb.

iffy49

I too made a detailed plan of my days in Paris. When I got there I threw it away, redid it and didn't do all of that either. You may want to allow more strolling time, that's one of Paris' charms. Unless you are a total museum freak, one museum a day is quite enough.
My only thoughts about restaurants is make sure you make a reservation ahead of time for any really nice place. I splurged on a Bistro called Les Papilles near the Luxembourg Gardens. NO ONE got in without a reservation even though the place seemed quite casual.

suze

I've only been in Paris once, but we went with no plans. We got a great city street map free from the hotel (arrondisements clearly marked, all the major monuments and museums tagged).

Each evening after dinner we'd decide on one 'main' attraction (like the Eiffle Tower) then planned the day around getting to that (metro) then walking back across the city, seeing other things along the way. We did this for a 4-5 days stay and it worked out great.

I'm not big on advance itineraries because who knows how you'll feel and what the weather will be on any given day.

suze

... or you see something interesting (shop, street, market, whatever) that you want to make note of and go back another time.

We also were in the Latin Quarter. Luxembourg Gardens is great. And the Tuilleries.

IM95

Thanks everyone! Yeah I did make a few changes. I will skip the Place de Bastille for this trip. I will also visit the Montmarte right when I arrive straight from the train station because it's really close by and it will save time and a Bus Trip. Thanks again!