london_paris2011

My husband and I will be in Paris from next Wednesday to Saturday night (flight Sunday am). This is our first trip to Paris so I would like some input about the tentative itinerary. We are staying in the Montparnasse area and arriving from London on the Eurostar around 11 am.
Wednesday:
• Go to hotel
• Get lunch
• Visit Catacombs
• Walk around
Thursday:
• Versailles (be there at 8)
• Walk around when back in city (possibly Sacre-Coeur)
• Orsay open until 9:45
Friday:
• Eiffel Tower
• Walk Champs Elysees (Arc to Louvre)
• Stop in Louvre
Saturday:
• Notre Dame
• Ice cream at Bertillon
• Stroll around Luxembourg Park
• Pantheon
Thank you for your help! Also if you have any restaurant recommendations I would appreciate that as well. If I am forgetting any sights that you personally feel are must see please let me know. Thanks!

greg

If you want to see the fountains running at Versailles, go there on Saturday:

http://en.chateauversailles.fr/prepa...ndes-eaux-1-en

DownUnder

Two things I would add: A guided tour of the Opera Garnier, it really is a wonderful building and the roof top cafe at Printemps gives you the best view of Paris including ET and SC (and its free).

london_paris2011

DownUnder- Thanks for the heads up about Printemps I will definitely add that to the list.

Greg- It is tempting to switch Thursday and Saturday thanks for that info.

mamcalice

I would include Sainte-Chapelle on the same day you visit Notre Dame. It is very close by.

StCirq

I can't fathom visiting the Catacombs the day you arrive with jet lag. The last thing you want to do is be in a dark underground place after an all-night flight. Frankly, with such a short time in Paris, I can't fathom even including the Catacombs at all.

I can hardly believe you'll be at Versailles at 8 am on your first "real" day in Paris (although maybe you won't have jet lag if you've been in England for a bit). Also think including Montmartre, which is way out of the city center, on that day, makes little sense.

Walking down the Champs Elysées is a bore IMO, and something that can easily be tossed out on such a short trip. Surely you can do more on Friday.

Saturday looks OK.

valtor

I think that Versailles, Sacre Couer and Orsay is too much for one day. As StCirq said, it is not only Sacre Couer, is Montmartre. You need time there to walk, to sit down in a small restaurant, to look at the painters, etc.

I was many times in Paris, but I did not include yet the Catacombs in our plans. Probably there will be not included also in our next visit.

You have a day with Tour Eiffel, Ch. Elysees, Louvre. I would start with Louvre and then just relax walking on Ch. Elysees and going to Eiffel Tower. But as DownUnder suggested, if you go to roof cafe at Printemps,there is a beautiful view of Paris, you do not need to go up in T.Eiffel (which need time and money).

Near Louvre, enter Angelina Cofe for a hot chocolate (on Rue de Rivoli).

Walk in Tuileries Gardens between Louvre and Place Concorde.


Near Opera is the famous shop La Fayette. Enter inside just to see the beautiful cupola.