aamclean

Hi All,

Wanting some advice on the following rough itinerary I have made for our first trip to Paris. We are a couple in our early twenties. We are wanting to wander and experience Paris! We are not interested in art.

We have three full days. I still have some space left on the last full day, which I am hoping you can advise whether there is too much going on the first couple of days and I can move it to the last day or whether it is very doable going at a steady pace?

Staying at Hotel Eugenie in the 6th. Breakfast is not included at the hotel so breakfast will be had at cafes/stands. Plan to be out of the hotel room by 8:30 / 9am each morning.

Tuesday - September 10
-Arrive from London on the Eurostar at 4:47PM
-Catch RER to St Michel and walk to hotel (300m)
-Explore the local area around hotel and have dinner

Wednesday – September 11
-Walk along the Seine to Eiffel Tower, passing Pont Alexandre III
-Eiffel Tower 3rd floor climb (will pre-purchase tickets for 10:30am – will we still have to queue with a pre-purchased, timed tickets?)
-Arc de Triumph
-Walk down Champs-Élysées
-Refresh/Relax back at hotel
-Explore the Latin Quarter for the evening and have dinner

Thursday – September 12
-Notre Dame
-Saint Chappelle
-Pantheon
-Luxemburg Gardens
-Seine cruise at night (Bateaux-Mouches)

Friday – September 13
-Catacombs - arrive at 9:30am to queue (early enough?)
-???
-Sacre-Coeur
-Refresh / relax back at hotel
-Moulin Rouge 9PM show

Saturday – September 14
-Grab breakfast and check out of the hotel.
-Catch the RER to Orly to depart at 12:35PM to Rome.

Andrew

I don't think you have too much going on at all on these days. September 12, everything you are seeing is close to each other and you can probably see it all in half a day, easily. Of course, the Luxembourg Gardens are the kind of place you should simply sit and enjoy, especially on a nice day. Try to be flexible on that; if it's going to rain part of one day, do your indoor stuff then and try to enjoy the Gardens in good weather.

The best time to climb the Eiffel Tower is at dusk/night, though the queues will be longer then. (Pre-pay? Not sure if that helps or not; it's been years since I climbed it, no idea how that works today.) You'll want to SEE the tower at night, at least, when it's all lit up. I never really thought walking along the Seine that far was that special, so I wouldn't think walking all the way to the tower is required; there's a bus, I'd probably take that from Place de la Concorde to the Tower and use your walking time somewhere else. (But the Pont Alexandre III is very nice and worth walking ON if you are nearby; the bus to the Tower passes it as well.)

aamclean

Thanks for your advice Andrew.

I have made a few changes. Does this sound better??


Tuesday - September 10
-Arrive from London on the Eurostar at 4:47PM
-Catch RER to St Michel and walk to hotel (300m)
-Explore the local area around hotel (Latin Quarter) and have dinner

Wednesday – September 11
-Catch Bus to Eiffel tower
-Eiffel Tower 3rd floor (will pre-purchase tickets for 10:30am – will we still have to queue with a pre-purchased, timed tickets?) (14.5E each)
-Arc de Triumph (8E each) (Climb to top)
-Walk down Champs-Élysées
-Cross Pont Alexandre III
-Refresh/Relax back at hotel
-6:30PM Louvre tour – anyone recommend a company? My Louvre Tour, My Parisian Tour?

Thursday – September 12
-9:00am Notre Dame (climb 387 steps to top)(free)
-11:00am Saint Chappelle (6E per couple)
-Explore Ile de la Cite
-Have lunch
-Luxemburg Gardens
-2:30PM Paris Walks – Marais (12E each)
-Seine cruise at night (Bateaux-Mouches) (12.5E each)

Friday – September 13
-Catacombs - arrive at 9:30am to queue (early enough?) (8E each)(audio guide 3E each)
-????
-2:30PM Paris Walks – Montmartre (12E each)
-Climb up Sacre-Coeur Basilica (can’t find cost for entry)
-Refresh / relax back at hotel
-Moulin Rouge 9PM show (website down currently)

Saturday – September 14
-Grab breakfast and check out of the hotel.
-Catch the RER to Orly to depart at 12:35PM to Rome.

go_laura

I liked your original plan better We all travel differently, of course, but it just sounds more relaxing. Certainly if in between your destination points, you want to sit at a café and people-watch, wander in and out of narrow winding streets just to explore, etc., your original Thursday's fine. Yes, of course you could technically see all those things in a half day, but why do that? You'll be in Paris!! Enjoying the ambience is part of what it's all about (a big part, imho), and from your original post, sounds like what you're looking for.

Also, I think your second version Thursday has more back and forth than you need to do, and that would make it quite rushed.

Another thought could be, perhaps since you're staying in the 6th, just put Luxembourg Gardens in whichever day it turns out you have good weather and a little extra energy either beginning or end of day, or just before you relax back at your hotel. There are many different options for when that might work out. Remember, it'll stay light out, late.

You mentioned not being interested in art, but then in your second plan, you put in a Louvre tour. I'm curious as to what made you decide that? If you're not big art-lovers, but want to put one museum in, I think you might be happier with one of the smaller, more accessible museums (i.e. Rodin Museum, or D'Orsay which is not small but compared to the Louvre it is!, or many other choices)

aamclean

Hi Laura!

I think I will still go along with the first plan, and on the day if we have time on our hands could decide to do a tour then.

The Louvre I spose is a typical tourist "Must see"... We are not interested in art and did not want to waste daylight hours in there, But I now see they do a late tour. although this is costly. Again, I may leave it until on the day to decide.

I feel as though we haven't got much in the first itinerary... But then when I look back and compare like you have, I like it more! So excited to just wander and soak up the atmosphere and ambience everyone raves about!

Thank you for your effort in your reply. Much appreciated!