Please help with Paris Itinerary

Anyone??

Hi elcon,

I think your itinerary looks great. On the first night, don't be surprised if you're too tired for the Musee D'Orsay. If you make it great, but if not you'll fit it in somewhere as itineraries have a way of shifting around once you get there.

On Friday, where you want to fill in space- I'd say leave it as is because you will have no trouble filling your time once you are there.

On Sunday, it might make more sense to see the Rodin Museum and the Invalides one after the other, before the Eiffel Tower.

I'd recommend getting tickets to see a performance at the Palais Garnier, either the Paris Opera Ballet or an opera which they sometimes do there as well. The theater is gorgeous and something to be seen.

http://preview.tinyurl.com/daur3r

What...no (few) churches on your agenda?
You're probably going to be tired the day you arrive so don't plan too much. If you can get to the Orsay in the evening that's fine. Here's what I'd recommend (you may have too much to do here but you can choose).

Thursday:
Notre Dame - free and wonderful tour at 2:00
Cluny Museum (Medieval art)
St-Severin church
St-Julien-le-Pauvre church
Luxembourg gardens
Orsay

Friday:
Ste-Chappelle
Conciegerie
Pantheon
St-Etienne-du-Mont church
You might want to move the Lux gardens here

Sunday:
- Pere Lachaise first thing (you have it with the Marmatton which is at the other end of Paris.
- Rue Mouffetard - it's so much better on Sundays. Around noon, at the bottom of the street, are accordian players and people sing in French (sheet music is distributed) and dance. It's a joyous event!
- Mosque (near the bottom of rue Mouffetard) and tea in the lovely garden after seeing the building
- Rodin
- Maillol museum (if you like sculpture - his works are very different than Rodin's and it's interesting to visit the 2 museums together)

You can plug in whatever you didn't get to on Tuesday.

For evenings you can go to the Eiffel Tower, Orangerie (open until 7PM), St-Germain-des-Pres church, St-Sulpice church. Then have dinner after.

You won't be able to do everything in a week so you'll plan to return again and again.

I second the Cluny Museum, which is fascinating, and also Rue Mouffetard. Place des Vosges in the Marais is beautiful, and Victor Hugo's apartment is there and open to the public for visits. Definitely don't miss Luxembourg Gardens and the Tuileries. Also, Chateau de Vincennes is a very well-preserved castle on the outskirts of Paris, reachable by Metro-- we loved this and it was also a nice rest from the hustle-and-bustle of downtown Paris.

Third vote for the Cluny, it's one of my Paris favorites. It's small and is a short walk from your neighborhood. Another favorite is the Marmottan, also small and charming, but not within walking distance for you.

May in the Luxumbourg Gardens should be lovely and there may be an interesting exhibit.

I think you may become saturated with museums and if the weather is nice you'll want to be outside more, so you probably need to prioritize your museum visits. The Pompidou and the Musee d'Art Moderne are larger and will require more time than the Orsay, Cluny and Marmottan.

Be flexible with your plan but don't miss Ste Chapelle and Notre Dame. And while you're in the neighborhood, spend a few minutes at the Deportation Memorial near the bridge at the back of N.D.

Walking around Isle St Louis is one my favorites in Paris; however, if you like ice cream and gelato try Amorino as well as Berthillon. I think it's every bit as good, if not better than B.

Your plan reads like one of mine several years ago. I dashed around Paris with a to do/see list and one day was passing through the large square in front of the Palais de Justice and glanced over at a sidewalk cafe. Everyone looked so relaxed sitting at outside tables watching tourists dashing about. I thought "I want to do that" and slowed down.

Which reminds me, you might a enjoy a visit to the flower market near N.D.

Fun evenings?
http://www.frenchfling.com/?cat=57

I like the look of Cafe Charbon!

Versailles is closed on Mondays, so yes, you will have to switch that day.

Oops, thanks Gundy. Is Versailles crazy on Saturdays? The website says Sat. is a good day to avoid long lines. I would have thought Saturday would be very busy.

Take the Seine river cruise on your first day because you will be too tired for a museum.

I guess I will just play some things by ear. I generally do not get jet lag and don't sleep much at all while away. I stay up late and get up early. It's pretty much full throttle for me all day. So I will see about my first night and what will fit in. Thanks so much for the suggesstions Adrienne. I do like churches and am hoping to pass some by on my way to other sights and pop in. Since everyone votes for the Cluny, I will definitely try to fit it in. I wish I had more than six days!