jngrant28

I wanted to get some Fodorites takes on our Paris trip itinerary. We will arrive in Paris at 7am on Wednesday, September 24th.

Here is what I am currently planning:
Wed: Notre Dame & Ile St Louis
Thu: Musee Rodin & Eiffel Tower
Fri: Musee d'Orsay & the Louvre
Sat: Arc de Triomphe & Champs Elysees
Sun: St Sulpice & La Seine Boat Trip
Mon: we will head to Munich

We are staying on R.C. Delavigne near Jardin du Luxembourg and the Latin Quarter.

Thank you!

yk

I would not do Orsay & Louvre the same day.

YOu can do - Orsay + Eiffel one day
then
Louvre + Rodin on a separate day

Nikki

I wouldn't go to the Musee d'Orsay the same day as the Louvre. I would move one of them to Sunday, as it won't take that much time to see St. Sulpice and ride the boat on the Seine.

On Wednesday, I would add Sainte Chapelle, quite near Notre Dame.

I have no great interest in the Champs Elysees and have not been tempted to go to the Arc de Triomphe in my several trips, but if you are interested, then do it by all means. But if it were me, I would want to wander through one or more market streets and explore one of the neighborhoods you are missing, such as the Marais or the Latin Quarter.

jngrant28

I was curious what would be said about Musee d'Orsay & the Louvre day. We would hit the Louvre after 6pm on Friday and go back on Saturday morning if we wanted to see more of it (which we both assume may happen!). I do not actually want to see the Musee Rodin, but want to hang out in the Gardens. We will not be missing the Latin Quarter. We will be able to roam around there most mornings and a couple evenings.

How does the jet lag usually effect the first day in Paris?

yk

Jet lag affects different people differently. Where in the US are you flying from? Are you in business class or economy?

I've taken many trans-atlantic overnight flights, and I seem to do worse as I get older (though I'm only in my 30s). The economy seats are uncomfortable, and the flight from the E coast of USA to Paris only takes 7 hours or so. The actual time that one can sleep is about 4-5 hours max between the 2 meal service (dinner upon take-off; breakfast before landing).

Many people object to what I do, but I usually take a nap for 2-3 hours as soon as I arrive. But even with the nap, I tend to be in a fog on my first arrival day.

Having said that, I think Notre Dame and Ile St Louis are still very do-able on your arrival day. Not sure if you're planning to climb the Notre Dame towers. If you are, expect to stand in line for a while. There's no line to enter the church itself.

I enjoy visiting art museums a lot, and I can (and have) spend an entire day in one museum. But I find myself having the most attention and concentration first thing in the morning. By the mid-afternoon, I'm usually quite tired and going to museums that late in the day is not enjoyable IMO. Of course, it'll be different if you plan on returning to your hotel during the day (after Orsay) for a rest/nap, recharged, before hitting the Louvre.

nytraveler

You need to mix things up more. Don't do 2 major museums the same day - mix it in with walking a cute neighborhood or something.

Also - the Arc de Trioomphe and the Champs Elysess can be seen in about 2 hours - you have alot more time that day to do other things - some cafe sitting - or the d'Orsay - or even one of the smaller musuems.

Also - you don;t mention Monmartre at all.

And, what is this mania with St Sulpice - I just don;t get it.

kygirl59

jngrant28,
If this is your first time to Europe, I would bet your adreline will be pumping and you will feel much better than you anticipate. In fact, your excitement would keep you from resting. My first time, I arrived in Paris after an 8 hour flight, dropped bags off at hotel by 10:00 am. I went sightseeing with someone I met while buying my train ticket at the airport. She and I did quite a bit of sightseeing had lunch and then more sightseeing until she had to catch her connecting flight at the airport. I don't think I went to bed until 10:30 or 11:00 pm and was up early the next day ready to go. You are in for a fantastic time.

mamc

I agree with those who say to visit only one museum each day. Museums are tiring and keep you inside.

Don't miss Ste. Chappelle which is very near Notre Dame and can be visited on the same day.

If you are an art fan, you should consider the Orangerie which has reopened after being closed for nearly 7 years for renovation. It has wonderful Monets.

We like the Seine tour late in the day so we can begin in daylight and see the lights coming on in the City of Lights - beautiful.

Spend lots of time walking - combine your trip to the Louvre with a walk through the Tuilleries. Be sure to see Luxembourg Gardens. Take a stroll along the Seine.

You will have jet lag but the best cure is to walk around Paris in the fresh air and enjoy the city - there is no place like it! I wish you a wonderful visit and great weather. We'll be there at the same time!

dwzemens

Have a great trip! Paris is a terrific city and you will be delighted with your first venture into Europe being in Paris.

Generally, I think your itinerary is OK. Good call spending enought days in Paris to get a good feel for the city.

I personally love the area around St. Sulpice. It is a beautiful area, very near to the Luxembourg Gardens, walking distance to the Seine and Notre Dame, the Latin Quarter, etc.

The church itself is beautiful, as is the plaza in front of it. Sit across the street at the cafe (Cafe Therese - I think that's the name) and enjoy some wine, or a coffee, and watch the world go by.

Have a wonderful trip!

adrienne

"what is this mania with St Sulpice"

I'm a St-Sulpice lover. It's a beautiful church with a great organ. There's lots of free concerts and I love the fountain.

jngrant28 - do you like churches or are you only planning to see 2 of them in Paris? If you walk down rue Bonaparte (toward the river) you can see St-Germain-des-Pres church which is lovely. It's painted inside which is rare.

You have a very light itinerary so you'll have lots of time for walking around and enjoying Paris.

lupinelady

I too enjoy St.Sulpice and the
immediate area....the seine river trip early evening is delightful and i agree that perhaps taking in the orangerie would be nice. You have
left lots of room for meandering and
being a true flaneur........
You may want to get a 2 day museum pass.....Enjoy your trip, and if there
is an organ concert at St. Sulpice.....go!! On Sunday Notre Dame
generally has a free concert in English......

jngrant28

Thank you for all the help! Yes, I was aiming to plan just a couple things each day so that we had lots of time to meander about and see other things that catch our eye.

We are late 20/ early 30 somethings and are flying over from KC in economy class. We aren't especially church or museum specific people - just whatever seems interesting at the time! I will look into seeing a couple more churches and hitting the Orangerie. St Sulpice is a couple blocks from our hotel and looks beautiful - hence the reason it made our list!

I can't wait to go. You all make it sound wonderful!!!

Cathinjoetown

Hi jngrant28--I live in St. Joe so feel like I'm writing to a neighbor. You will love Paris. I briefly scanned all the mails and am not sure anyone answered you about walking around in the Latin Quarter--don't know your street without looking on a map but if you are near the L. gardens, you can easily walk to many of the places you want to see and all around the Latin Quarter. A museum I love is the Cluny, at the intersection of the Blvds St. Germain and St. Michel-it focuses on medieval Paris and on ruins of a Roman bath that are part of the museum and visible in the gardens. Also, the museum houses a lovely set of the Lady and the Unicorn tapestries. Bon Voyage and Bonnes Vacannes (or is that bonne vacannes?) from cathinjoetown.

annhig

hi jng,

another thing you could do on day 1 which is not too strenuous, is trip on a bateau mouche - they go from the quay near notre dame up to the eiffel tower, so if you are feeling up to it, you could combine it with that too.

have a great trip,

regards, ann

MademoiselleFifi

I agree about moving the Seine boat ride to the first day-- lets you get an overview of many sights without having to walk too much when you're still tired from jet lag.

jngrant28

I have been looking at getting the 2-day Museum Pass. Will I be able to cram in the Louvre, Musee de Orsay, Musee Rodin (probably just the gardens), Notre Dame, St Chapelle, and the Arc de Triomphe in 2 days?

I was thinking we'd have the most energy for this kind of sight seeing on Thurs & Friday September 25&26. Then we could just hang out in the quarters, walk along the Seine, visit the Eiffel tower on Saturday & Sunday.

Is there anything that I should remove? Can you help me pick which museums to visit each day - not positive on ease of walking to and from each?

Thanks again to all the Fodorites who have helped me plan my first European vacation!

dmlove

Actually, I think a boat ride on your first day will put you right to sleep. We slept through the first play we ever saw in London (first night there), a boat ride on Lake Lucerne, and others. As much as I loved boating down the Seine, I'd do something more invigorating the first day.

jngrant28

Thanks for the tip! I was kind of thinking that would be better for the last day of our trip since we will know more about the places we are floating past.

Shanti

Definitely go to St. Sulpice on Sunday. You can listen to the magnificent organ before and after the 10:30 service. Also check for special concerts. When I was there in June, I was lucky and there was a special concert on Sunday afternoon.

The garden at the Rodin museum is only 1€ so it really doesn't matter is you use a museum pass. The garden, IMHO, is the best part of the museum. Just make sure you go there, and Ste. Chapelle on a sunny day.

"I can't wait to go. You all make it sound wonderful!!"

It IS wonderful.

ira

Hi J,

>Fri: Musee d'Orsay & the Louvre

Are you sure that you won't get museumed out?

Are you leaving out the Impressionists at the Orangerie on purpose?