Long Paris Layover,What To Do?

What a treat to get a little time in Paris on the way to Lisbon. I think if I were to have that short a time to be in Paris, I would take a taxi to the Left Bank, have breakfast at a cafe, and just walk all around the area. Maybe stick my head into Notre Dame or just a few galleries along rue du Seine, or just walk along where the bookinistes are and soak up some Paris air ~
Eat again before leaving for the airport..maybe grab some postcards and write them on the plane
Whatever you do, enjoy~

I think Scarlett's idea is a good one, except for one thing.

Instead of a taxi, take the RER into town. At that time of morning, the roads into Paris, and in the city itself, are going to be clogged. The train will be quicker and less expensive, though packed with people.

I agree about using RER gouing in to Paris. What you might then do is head by taxi to the Musee D'Orsay and see its marvelous paintings. You could have a nice lunch at the Museum and then take a taxi back to CDG at about 1:15. Watch your time as getting on board requires extensive security checks, crowds, etc.

Good luck.

I'm with Scarlett on this one, if I had just 6 hours or so, I wouldn't spend them in a museum, much as I love them, unless there were a special exhibition I was dying to see.
I'd walk the Champs and have breakfast or lunch at Laduree (they open early) or
visit Ste Chapelle if it's a bright day, or Notre Dame, or browse around Boul St Germain. Or, pick the one sight you missed on your first visit (we all have at least one) or one you visited and loved to bits, even if it is a museum, and go there for a special treat, preceded or followed by breakfast or lunch.

Using the RER will save you a minimum of a half-hour each way. If you aren't in a museum or walking mode, you might want to board the #42 bus at Gare du Nord and ride to the Eiffel Tower. Then take the #69 back to Châtelet and out to CDG. Another way back to the RER line would be the #82 through Montparnasse to the Luxembourg station in the Latin Quarter.

Your total time on these bus routes will be about an hour, so you can make stops totalling about four hours along the way. You can always save a few minutes here and there by diving into the nearest Métro, but it's not as scenic.

Buy a one-day, five-zone Paris Visite card for all your transport. For .75€ more than a round-trip on the RER, you get access to all bus and Métro lines.

Thanks everyone!!! I love this site, you people out there are so helpful.

We like the Scarlett/Elaine idea to go to St. Chappelle and Left bank, and have printed a RER map and will follow Robdaddy's suggestion to take the train into town.

Any Left Bank eatery favorites for either breakfast or lunch any favorite Left Bank stops in general?

Again, thanks everyone!!!
Keep on Truckin'

There's a Laduree (you can see I like them) on rue Bonaparte in the 6th.
It's not that the regular food is so outstanding, but it's good, and the desserts (pastries and cookies) are wonderful. They can become quite busy at lunchtime.

We just did a similar layover.
But before I respond, can you tell me how long your flight to Paris will take , and wether you can check your bags all the way through to Lisbon?

Thanks, G

Cafe Deux Magot is good for a break/people watch while resting your feet. Anything from wine to hot chocolate or a meal is good.
Second Laduree...lovely.
There are SO many small and good places to eat, you will not have any problem finding one that appeals to you..
IF you are in the Luxembourg Gardens, there is a little glass house where you can have lunch. I love this place! cozy, warm and great waiter..omelets that melt in your mouth all warm and cheesy and good wine
ahhhh, I can feel it coming over me, time to see Paris again LOL

Response to Guaranteed...

We leave San Fran. at 7:30am to Atlanta then to Paris arrive Paris at 7:45am Paris time. I guess that works out to 16 hours. Wife and I are both pretty good at getting shut eye on planes, so hopefully we arrive in Paris with some get up and go.Vacation adrenaline is my friend.
Our bags are checked through to Lisbon (says Delta).
Thank you for your interest

You probably won't get into central Paris before 10am, if you are really lucky. And I would want to be back to the airport by 1pm.
For the sake of 2 or 3 hours, forget the angst.
I found the RER trains into Paris a bit of a sweat. The line ups at terminal 3 and also the signs through me off.
I would not want to do it for a 3 hr thing in central Paris.

The Travelodge at terminal 3 had a lay over deal at 10 euros an hour, during the day. Go for that, or just read a good book. The trip into Paris is not as easy as people pretend it to be, esp when you can only max 3 hrs or so.

Since you don't have to mess with luggage, French douane may give your carryons a desultory peek, but if you don't look like smugglers, both they and immigration will almost certainly wave you through. You might well be downtown before 9:00.

If you can get your boarding passes from a kiosk before you leave the airport, the only thing you have to worry about when you get back is security. One hour before departure time should be plenty.

So your time in Paris won't be two or three hours - it will be more like five.

Go for it.

Buy your Paris Visite pass from raileurope.com before you leave, so you can get off the plane and right on the RER (train).

Shop the duty free and relax. You can't go into the city.

We are in our taxi within half an hour of getting off the plane in CDG. We always arrive in the am around rush hour and still manage to be on the Left Bank within the hour.
In your case, you will get out of the cab or train and start walking, no hotels to check into, just take off!
I am optimistic, I think you will have plenty of time to enjoy the day..

Even if it is only 3 hours in Paris, it's worth it. Make sure you take the express train from CDG into Paris. It's not that it's so fast, but it doesn't make as many stops. If you are worried about time on the way back and it's not rush hour, you could always take a cab. I would head over to Place des Vosges for breakfast and then walk thru the Marais over to Pompidou down to the river over to Ile St. Louis over to Ile de la Cite. If time allows then head back on the RER or take a cab. I would allow myself 2 hours to be on the safe side to be back.

As always opinions will vary, but I never miss a chance to spend some time in Paris, even if it is just a few hours. If it is on my return flight I usually make a stop in a Parisian grocery store (or two) to stock up on some favoriote things. On an inbound itinerary, there is nothing like sitting in a Parisian cafe or brasserie for breakfast/lunch, just strolling and people watching.
I have had good and bad luck with taxis and traffic, but usually do well with the RER. The first time you use it the signage may be a bit confusing, but after that it is quite easy.

The RER fare is 8 euros each way and includes any metro connections you may need.
It runs every 10 to 15 minutes.
It takes between 20 and 35 minutes depending on how direct the train is.
It is more dependable than the traffic on the autoroute du Nord.

Repeat: the Paris Visite pass costs 16.75€ and includes not only the ride from CDG and back, but also unlimited Métro and bus transport. Only if you are going to a single destination and back is an RER ticket cheaper. Plus you can have the pass in hand when you arrive by buying it in the US.

There's no point to waiting for an express RER train, because it won't get to Paris any sooner than a local. Take the first train even if it makes intermediate stops.

Be sure that the Paris Visite you purchase is for zones 1-5.
RailEurope web site lists a price of USD 26 for this; concierge.com is USD 27.30. The price on www.ratp.info/informer/anglais/paris_visite.php is 16.75 Euro (USD 20.50 at today's rate) if purchased in Paris. Not sure if the Visite is sold through the kiosks or only at the counter at CDG - anyone know about this? There are times that the line at the counter can be slow, so it may be worth the additional cost to have it in advance.

This is a little out of the way for truckinbob, but the RATP has a boutique at JFK:

http://www.ratp.fr/corpo/evenements/jfk/

opaldog is full of it.
Ya sure go into Paris for 3 hours.
You will spend a lot of looking for the Express.
And to ask someone is a joke.
Get into the city, and if you are late take a cab?

HELLO?


STAY AT THR AIRPORT AND SPARE YOURSELF A LOT OF GRIEF

G

You don't have to do any searching for the RER. Directions to the station are clearly marked in French, English, and Italian, all over Terminal 2 (See picture):

http://en.parisinfo.com/guide_paris/

Leaving Paris-Charles-de Gaulle by RER B

To get to the RER station closest to your arrival terminal:

Terminal 1: Take the ADP shuttle (line 2) at exit 22, Level (Departures).
Terminal 2A & 2C: Take the ADP shuttle (line 3) at exit 8 of terminal 2A and exit 6 of terminal 2B, then get off at the stop "Gare TGV/RER".
Terminal 2B & 2D: Take the ADP shuttle (line 3) at exit 6 of terminal 2B.
Terminal 2E & 2F: Take the ADP shuttle (line 3) at exit 2.06. Take the ADP shuttle (line 3) at exit 2.08, Level 2 (Departures).
Terminal 3: Take the pedestrian walkway (approx. 250m).

Getting to Paris-Charles-de Gaulle by RER B

Take the RER B in the direction of Paris-Charles-de Gaulle Airport. To get to your departure terminal:

Terminal 1: Get off at airport station Aéroport Charles-de Gaulle 1 and take the ADP shuttle (line 2).
Terminal 2: Get off at airport station Aéroport Charles-de Gaulle 2-TGV and take the ADP shuttle (line 3) on Level 5 or the lift or escalator on Level 4 to get to your terminal via the moving walkway.
Terminal 3: Get off at airport station Aéroport Charles-de Gaulle 1 and take the pedestrian walkway (approx. 250m).

It should be obvious that if you don't do a little research beforehand, you will be at a disadvantage. But if you arrive prepared and allow plenty of leeway to get back in time, you'll still have several hours in which to explore.

Enjoy Paris.

Wow, there's nothing like a well-thought-out and well-articulated response to help out our fellow travelers. Too bad that wasn't one, it was 'guaranteed' to merely disagree and mislead.
I'd take a solid 3-4 hours in Paris over that time spent in the airport anytime, if I could.

Hi Forum Folk,

We took the RER to Notre Dame and St. Chappelle and enjoyed the left bank.We stayed for over three wonderful hours and made it back to the airport with time to spare.
We bought the Paris Visite pass and saved a few bucks and the travel time was forty minutes to the city and maybe a few mins. less back to the airport.
We were completely wiped out by the time we made Lisbon but it was WELL worth it. Thanks again!!
P.S. we loved Lisbon and the Azore islands and really, everywhere we visited in Portugal and would love to answer any Q's anyone has about our stay in Portugal.
bobstar1@comcast.net

Before you decide whether to go into Paris, find out what time the next flight after yours leaves for Lisbon, just in case...