I'm taking a bus trip sponsored by the Spouses Club from my home (near Trier, Germany) to Paris. We will go on a three hour walking and driving tour of the city, and in the evening take a cruise of the Seine. We will have approximately 10 hours to do whatever we please. This is my first, but not last, trip to Paris. I will be traveling with four other women. <BR> <BR>What would you choose to do with your first 10 hours in Paris (on Bastille Day)? <BR> <BR>Linda

Bastille Day is not the best day to be in Paris. Most retail stores and many restaurants will be closed. Your free time would also depend on what you saw on your tours.

Linda: <BR>Go to the La Samaintane Department <BR>Store to the top floor and check the <BR>view and get a cheap bite to eat. <BR>Go also to Lafayette Department Store <BR>and walk in the door and see the Stained <BR>Glass and balconies on each floor. <BR>Do not forget to go to the top of the <BR>Eiffel Tower and climb the last steps <BR>when you get to the top. <BR>If you have time go to Ile St. Louis ( the island next to Notre Dame and walk the length of it as well as walking around the banks of the Seine. Lastly <BR>it sounds weird but go on the sewer tour it was great. <BR>Ellen Have fun.

Not a very good day to go to Paris as parts of it are, of course, closed off due to the parade in the morning. I suppose you can do your driving tour in the afternoon, perhaps that is the plan. I don't understand this trip very well as your activities are going to be severely limited by the holiday. Forget dept stores, it's a national holiday, stores are closed as are some museums, but not all. I am guessing you are getting there around noon and leaving at 10 pm, as noon is about when the parade ends. It's really hard to advise you without knowing timing of your tour and the cruise. Other than those tours, I would just spend my time around the Iles (although you will probably see them on those tours), seeing Notre Dame, Sainte Chappelle, Conciergerie and walking around; maybe take metro over to see the Eiffel Tower and that park (Champde Mars). If you've seen some of those things on your tours, I'd probably go to one of the wonderful art museums that will be open as I love museums (I'd go to the Orsay, not the Louvre, both are open). It depends on what your interests are, choose a museum to your taste. If you see the Eiffel tower and whatever you want on the islands during your tours, you could go up to Montmartre and see Sacre Coeur and walk around there a bit (get some walking tour guide to the area, it's more than just the church and tourist-filled square). You won't have any trouble finding restaurants open.

Thanks, Christina. We will arrive in Paris by 8am, and have our walking/driving tour until 11:30-noon. Then we have approx. 10 hours to wander. I was planning on the Orsay, maybe a quick peek in the Louvre. I didn't know what else I could squeeze in during the free time that would be around the museums and Eiffel Tower. <BR> <BR>Even thought Bastille Day might not be the best day to visit, the bus tour is cheap -- $65, which includes both morning and evening tours. Can't beat that! <BR> <BR>Linda

With lots of stuff being closed, I'd: <BR>Watch some of the parade, visit the Louvre or d'Orsay, walk through the Tuileries, pay my respect at les Invalides and the St Louis Chapel, go to the Picpus cemetery in memory of those who died during the Reign of Terror and Lafeyette, then the Bois de Vincennes for the beautiful flower gardens and the chateau.

Hi Linda <BR> <BR>We were in Paris for Bastille Day last year -- waited in line about 2 hours for the Eiffel Tower. You may just want to see it from afar instead of actually going up it. <BR> <BR>Watch lines -- they will eat up a lot of your time if you're not careful. The Louvre has several entrances, the one on the Seine side seems to be the quickest. <BR> <BR>Personally, I'd rather wait in line for the towers of Notre Dame -- an hour or two wait -- instead of the Eiffel Tower. I think you get a better perspective of the city than from the Eiffel Tower. <BR> <BR>Notre Dame isn't too far from the Louvre (with St. Chappelle in between, very pretty), and the Louvre isn't too far from the Musee d'Orsay (that stretch from Notre Dame to the Musee d'Orsay is walkable, if you're up to it).

Thank you all for your help!<BR><BR>Linda