bab706

We are planning our first trip to Paris in April. Our flight from the U.S. will land at CDG in the morning and then we will head to our hotel in the 6th. After we check in, we plan on eating lunch and then sightseeing in the afternoon. What would you recommend we see during the afternoon of our arrival - keeping in mind we may be tired from the overnight flight? Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated.

Michael

Just walk along the Seine from the Ile de la Cité to the Place de la Concorde or farther if you feel like it. Or take a boat tour, although sitting down may allow you to fall asleep. I am not a fan of the boat tours because the views are restricted by the high walls along the river.

Michael

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...66287099/show/

Christina

I'd just sightsee around the immediate area, St Germain and Latin Qtr. YOu could walk over to the island and see Notre Dame, as that doesn't require a lot of energy, just to look at the church on the inside. Sometimes there are lines and sometimes not, but if you are tired, at least waiting in that line won't be taxing and it will be outside so you are in the daylight.

Michel_Paris

I would do only outside activities, no museums and no bus/seine cruises

A nice long walk might start at Luxembourg Gardens (depends on where your hotel is). I grabbed a takeout sandwich/drink/swett nearby, went to gardens and just sat and enjoyed the scenery.

Head to Boulevard st Germain, taking Rue de Seine, for example. Turn right. Have a look at Rue de Buci, Rue Ancienne Comedie. Left on Rue Danton and head to the Seine. At Seine turn right. You will now have Notre Dame before you across river. Check out the bouquinistes selling old books and magazines.

Cross over Pont St Michel (bridge before bridge in front of ND). On your left, spire of Sainte Chapelle. Keep going, will see gates of Justice Palace on left, and a bit further the round tower of Conciergerie, where prisoners were held during Revolution before going off to be guillotined (Marie Antoinette for example). At the gate of the Palace turn right and head to Notre Dame. Have a browse around the outside and head towards the back. Maybe a break at the little park. Deportation memorial nearby.

Cross over the bridge to Ile St Louis. A nice main street with some good shops, restaurants,etc.. Check out some of the ancient street signs. Perhaps a Berthillon ice cream?

Depending on time of day, could eat here, or cross over bridge back to Left Bank and wander back towards St Michel fountain (turn right). Lots of restaurants in this area. Dinner around 8, a browse by the Seine, in bed by 10:30.

chapla

Don't take a nap! Keep going as long as you can! Probably have lunch, stroll along the Seine and get your bearings.Then get a good night's sleep and an early start the next morning!

nwtraveler

Take this time to explore your neighborhood and the adjacent areas. In addition to the sightseeing pick up items like a carnet or weekly metro pass, a telecarte, museum passes if you plan on buying them, items for your hotel room, like bottled water. Learn which boulangerie and patisserie near you have the really good croissants, baguettes, and pastries. Yum.

However if you are really tired, take a short nap and go back out in the late afternoon or early evening. Because IMO you really won't enjoy the sightseeing half as much if you are struggling to stay awake even while walking.

chapla

NO to a Nap!!!!

amwosu

I love Jardin du Luxembourg on arrival day just to soak up the ambiance and to keep you moving. You can plop down in one of the green folding chairs and people watch when you need to take a break. I always stay up til at least 10 pm on day one which has helped me reset my internal clock.
Ann Marie

Michel_Paris

It may/may not be misery, but taking a nap will catch up with you on that first night.

You need to ignore your body's request to go to 'back home' time.

Or you adjust your body clock before going. I do that on shorter trips.

denisea

Agree with Michel_Paris itinerary!!

Also, no to the nap. I really think it is best to stay up as late as you can that first night, go to bed at a reasonable bed time in Paris. Get up ready to go the next day.

I will say that we have decided trying to plan a great first night dinner, is not worth it. Find some place you can just enjoy a quiet, easy meal...no big to do!!

Enjoy!

djkbooks

Agree with above. Stay outdoors and much as possible, keep moving as much as possible, and no nap.

It's fine to head for a place you just can't wait to see (such as the Eiffel Tower) or a smaller venue or museum on your list.

Take a walk around the neighborhood noting location of appealing cafes, restaurants, pharmacie.

Stop by a Tabac or metro station for transit ticket.

Nikki

I will be contrarian. I can't sleep on planes. I can not stay awake all night on a plane and then all day on the ground. So I take a nap. And I have never once regretted it. Do not feel guilty if you need to take a nap just because a bunch of other people don't need one.

The silver lining to this approach is that I feel more awake the first couple nights in Europe, and I can have late dinners and enjoy the nightlife before I adjust fully to the time change.

I would not make a particular plan for sightseeing the first day. Walking around the neighborhood will provide lots of interesting sights and you can be pretty spontaneous.

bab706

I'd like to thank everyone for the great ideas on first day activities for our upcoming trip to Paris!

Michael - Your pictures are stunning. I wish I was there right now! Thank you for sharing them.

Christina - Yes - we will likely want to walk around our area (staying near St. Sulpice) to get familiar with it.

Michael_Paris - Excellent ideas - and yes to the Berthillon ice cream!

chapla, nwtraveler, djkbooks, Nikki - Although this is our first trip to Paris, we have been to Europe on several occasions, so we know how to deal with the jet lag issue. Normally we stay up as late as we can on our first day to get our bodies in tune with the new time zone ... and normally no naps!

denisea - I agree, no big plans for dinner the first night. We will try to find a simple meal close to our hotel.

Again - thank you all - and if you have more ideas, please keep them coming!

qwovadis

Jet lag disorder — Comprehensive overview covers symptoms, remedies, prevention of this travel-related sleep saboteur.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/jet...SECTION=causes
For correct info eurocheap.com/paris many easy options do
a river cruise if a newbie lots of fun will help you get
oriented Parisvoice.com for hapenings it is a river town
at heart.

mamcalice

If you can possibly manage it, don't take a nap. Walk to the Seine or to Luxembourg Gardens and take it easy. Stop for lunch, stop at a cafe when you need to sit down but, if you can, keep moving and stay outside. Eat a light, early (7:30 or 8:00) dinner and go to bed about 10.

qwovadis

Seine river cruises ...
www.parisdigest.com/takingarest/bateaux.htm
eurocheapo.com/paris many other nice options

cornelius01

Nikki...I have to agree with you on the nap. I never sleep at all on an overnite flight so by the time we are settled into our apartment I am unable to function so always take a 2 hour nap then shower and go out for a late lunch or early dinner. When you deny your body sleep you are doing harm to your immune system which opens the door for a virus to sneak in and one of those nasty travel colds happens. We also take the no jet lag remedy during the flight and after for 24 hours or so and we get right on Europe time.

niente

I like Michel's Luxembourg Gardens itinerary if the weather is decent. Can't go wrong with that, IMHO.