KatieManning

Doing the Louvre in half a day is a little ambitious. I would give it a little more time than that. I think you'll find yourself taking it a little easier than that. Not a foodie? You've never been to France. It will change your perceptions of food.

Take your time and wing it. That's what I do, and it always works out great.

Travelnut

Been to France about a dozen times now, still not a 'foodie'. I lean more toward the "eat to live" than the "live to eat" group. I enjoy my meals there but I don't seek out anything terribly special.

I definitely am "OC" - I have to plan to be spontaneous. I create a daily itinerary, basically for these reasons:
- I don't go to places that are closed that day
- I go to places that are close together in one trip
- I don't waste my time thinking "hm, what should we do today"

With my itinerary in hand, I can then be flexible - I know what I want to see the most, and what is ok to catch 'next time'. I never "complete" the list and don't ever plan to do so. Leftovers just go on the next trip's list, plus whatever strikes my fancy later on.

Having an itinerary or a list in no way prevents me from enjoying a garden, sitting at on a cafe terrace, or stopping to admire someone's dog.

nancy1652

If you love museums, don't miss the new Quai Branly. I worked in the museum world, and I found this place to be one of the best I've ever seen. It covers the arts of Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas and is just stunning. Closed on Mondays.

tumblingweed

Great suggestions...I appreciate the fact that everyone has taken the time to even read my long list, let alone reply! I see there is a consenus to slow down and I'll keep that in mind.
*bird of song: I expect I'll be skipping the catacombs, great suggestion about the penlight though, I'll toss one in my bag just in case.
*ekscrunchy: thank you, I was starting to wonder! I thought I was allowing time to wander around between museums and am trying to find pleasant areas to do so. If I find myself enjoying the wandering more than the museum visits then you know what I'll be doing!
*janicej: after further reading I see that Musee d'Orsay actually begins closing off some of the impressionist galleries at 5:30 even on late evenings! So I will need to buy my pass elsewhere, there must be a tourist info place somewhere near to Ile St Louis (where I'll be staying). Too bad that I won't be able to take advantage of their evening hours. Guess I'll have more time to just wander around my first evening and maybe see d'Orsay on the Sunday or sometime.
*St circ: what a kind comment!
*chicagolori: Glad I'm not the only one! I didn't think I was...lately trip research has taken the lines of a new hobby for me, I love it!
*Baubo69: interesting personification of Paris - a lover and a brute! Hopefully not at the same time? I laughed my head off at that one! Great suggestions about the Eiffel Tower, bet somebody else will benefit from that.
*nukesafe: I sort of had in mind more of a picnic lunch at Place des Vosges; I hope to stock up at the Monoprix for later since I'll have a kitchen. My rough plan is to cook early breakfasts and late suppers, stopping for snacks in between.
*JeanneB: thanks for the input...I think by moving my visit to the d'Orsay to another day I'll have more time my first evening to wander the immediate (to apt.) vicinity. Altho not "listed" I like to get up EARLY and walk around, take photos etc. before lots of people are out and about, and definitely want to do that in some of the more ancient neighborhoods. I expect to get lost early and often (you should have seen me in Bruges)!
*liveitup: nice suggestions...I'd love to spend days in the Louvre, but will probably limit myself to certain wings. This is coming from someone who spent nearly 12 hours at the British Museum, including lunch and a special exhibit that evening! And I may rent a bike at Versailles, depending on the weather.
*JefferyJ: I will consider Pere Lachaise, especially if the weather is particularly fine and I can't bear the thought of being in a museum. Nice tip about the metro stop.
*Travelnut: well said, my sentiments exactly!

lovelucy

I love Paris and the best day I had there was when I got lost !! I stumbled upon some residential area that I could never find again if I tried but it was so lovely. My least favorite place was Versailles. If you do go though, be sure to see the cottages on the property they are the nicest part.. My son was there this summer and he never saw them. I prefer Chenonceaux, but it is the total opposite of Verailles. Can't think of Napoleon's residence name, but that is lovely also. I chose just the areas of the Louvre that interested me the most as you cannot see it all, even in one day. I visited a vineyard and winery. I loved that . Have fun. You are way more organized than I am, but in a plce like Paris, with so much to see, I felt I didn't need a plan. I just walked and walked.

JeanneB

You mentioned Musee Jaquemart-Andre. While in the area, walk through Parc Monceau...in my opinion, the prettiest park in Paris.

sglass

I hesitate to add my recommendations here among so many experts, but I did have three days in Paris recently, am not much into food or shopping and also was a woman traveling solo! So I will jump in. As you said, being by myself meant that I could spend the days as I chose, which for me meant not stopping to sit down and eat very often! I have to say one of the highlights was getting a melted cheese panini at a takeaway place just within the gardens at Versailles and meandering down the paths...this was a Sunday and although the Palace was closed the gardens took me many happy hours. I spent over an hour just sitting and looking at every detail of the Cluny Lady tapestries- but even so (I looked at everything!), the museum is very small. In fact, I took the train from the Cluny subway station to Versailles that same day- it was very easy- you might be able to combine them, too, if you are there when it opens. (Getting back was a little trickier- I didn't pay enough attention to how I got from the station to Versailles, it seemed like just one street at the time...so pay better attention than I did!) Also, I loved the Orangerie, and again looked at everything there, but was still able to combine it with both Notre Dame and Ste. Chapelle. The Museum Pass is a wonderful time saver. I adored Pere Lachaise cemetery, easy to get to on the metro and totally free of charge and if you like to take photos you will be so very happy there. All the tragic angels! And some moving monuments, too- also, it was nice a break from the city streets. You don't mention the Luxembourg Gardens. People watching was a lot of fun, just sitting on a bench in the sun and feeling a part of things. I liked how different age groups seemed to stake out different territories and patches of grass and it was another good place to chomp on a takeaway panini! I was able to wander the Left Bank and look at the book stalls and the Pont Neuf and stop in a cafe and don't think it was longer than a couple hours to do so, along with the rest of the Ile de la Citie glories. What an amazing trip you will have- enjoy every second, lucky you!!!

jammin68

Much good advice here. Personally, I would even skip the Louvre if your time is limited so you can "hang out" more. I spent a whole day just hanging around the Eifel tower and I was amazed at how many personalities the area took on as the day progressed - even the color of the tower changed as the sun moved. Not to mention the surreal feeling of listening to the street musicians, the clanking of dinner plates, watching the rollerbladers doing their tricks, and all the other free street entertainment. I think if you stick yourself in a museum like the Louvre, you'll miss the subtleties of Paris, which in my opinion is the best part. Also, I wasn't a foodie until I went to Paris- now I can't stop thinking about the incredible food I had. (Try Duck l'Orange at Chez Toinette in Montmartre!) You might want to think twice about missing that part of Paris.

Mohawk

Your itinerary is pretty full and covers the important stuff. But i"ll tell you, you got to set aside time for just hangin at the great cafe's and having a glass of house vin. Also, the city is so pretty, just strolling the bridges and walking along the Seine. We've been to Paris twice and are returning after a 4 year break in July and I'm looking forward to just blending in. The food is great and is everywhere, trying the language can be fun, and of course, I enjoy the vin with steak and pomme frites. The bakeries everywhere are terrific. You got to go up to at least the second stage of the Eiffel tower. Have a cocktail at the George the V and you'll likely see a celebrity. Always a cool touch. I guess I can go on and on, but the point being; take your time and drink it in slowly. Its all great. M

SAnParis

Too much ! relax & enjoy your trip...keep a journal, wander & meander through the Luxembourg Gardens, hang out w/the artists in Montmartre, enjoy a good glass of wine & book at a cafe, visit the American book store Shakespeare & Co., take a ride on the Seine, have ice cream @ Berthillon, visit the zoo, visit the Rue Cler first thing in the morning for breakfast....