Hello - we will be stopping in Paris for 2 days enroute to Canada. Our flight arrives at Paris at 6 am on Dec 26th. We are not sure if it is a good period to visit however I am not sure how to plan.

We are planning to stay at the Hotel Du Cadran near the Eiffel Tower.

These are the things I know we want to do:

Eiffel Tower
Louvre (quick visit to see the highlights)
Notre Dame
L'Arc du Triomphe
Champs Elysée
Seine 1 hour river cruise
Walking tour of Montmarte
rue cler


Also should we purchase a museum pass and book all the activities ahead of time? Do you have any websites you prefer for booking?


Thanks for your help!

Prebook for the Eiffel Tower and Louvre. Use their web sites. If you want to take the Seine cruise before or after Notre Dame you can take the Vedettes-du-Pont-Neuf cruise and buy a ticket on the internet at a discount. There really isn't anything else you can book ahead.

If it's cold consider taking a bus from the Louvre to the Arch of Triumph. You can look at the Champs Elysees from the bus window and be warm.

Rue Cler is nothing special - just an area with a bunch of shops. I wouldn't go out of your way for it as there are markets all over Paris. As you're only in Paris for 2 days and staying in a hotel you won't want to buy produce.

You can visit the Eiffel Tower at night when the lights twinkle. It will get dark early that time of year and that will give you more time during the day to do other things.

"Louvre (quick visit to see the highlights)" Which of the thousands of 'highlights' are you interested in seeing?

I would not go UP in the Tower. Just take a look from many places you can see it, the Seine cruise being one. Skip the Champs--just a big wide avenue.

<< Skip the Champs--just a big wide avenue. >>

Given that they're going to the Arch of Triumph, Louvre, and Notre Dame they would need to go out of their way to skip the Champs Elysees. They could easily take the bus, see the street, and get to their next destination.

Was this street something to behold at one time? Why is it that so many people have a fascination for it? The name, perhaps, which belies the reality?

It is really not necessary to prebook the Louvre. If you plan to visit a few museums, get the 2-day museum pass to avoid standing in lines.

Yes< I DO think the Champs WAS something to behold at one time--just not now. I loved it 60 years ago at first sighting. It was exciting. When liberated in WWII--an exciting image on movietone news. Boring now.
And yes, the bus is a GREAT way to see it--from the Arc to Pl.Concorde, if that is something they want/must do. By "skipping", for a two day visit to Paris, I would not take precious time out to walk it.

The street is still something to behold in terms of urban design and is the center of the city. It is very important historically, so I can't imagine going to Paris and not seeing it, it would be very difficult. Yes, it has some chain stores on it now, and modern businesses, but it is still a grand avenue IMO. Just look at the photos of the Tour de France, it is still something in terms of its design. Anyway, you would have to blindfold yourself not to see it for most tourists, they will be in that area at some time.

The 26th is a lot better than the 25th to see stuff, anyway, for sure, as most is closed on Christmas. The Eiffel Tower is always open. If you are at the Cadran, you are right on rue Cler, so that is easy to see without much planning. You could do one day for rue Cler, Eiffel Tower (and really the Arc probably, and the avenue). Then Notre Dame and the Louvre the second day.

You might need to skip Montmartre, but if you only spend one hour in the Louvre, you could do that the afternoon of the second day. Not sure how enticing a walking trip of it will be at end of December. YOu could go up there and take the Montmartrebus around it and get off as you wish.

My thoughts: (Are you in Paris 2 days or 2 nights?)

The Louvre is really, really huge, so pick out the things you want to see, download the brochure from the website, and use the museum maps to plot an efficient course for a short visit.

Skip R. Cler. If you want to see a market street, Rue Montorgueil is probably better. Better yet, find one near your hotel on a convenient day (the following is just one website with info):

http://www.paristopten.com/places-to-shop/food-markets/

Unless you really must -- and have the time -- don't go up the Eiffel Tower. View it (on the hour when it sparkles) from Trocadero. If you must go up, do it at night...but only if the weather is clear.

Vedettes du Pont Neuf lets you book discount cruise tickets without committing to a date or time...crucial because the weather is changeable, and you want to do the cruise when it's not raining, if possible.

IMHO Montmartre probably does not make the A-list for a two-day visit. Instead, do a self-guided (or guided) walking tour of the left bank area across from Notre Dame (since you'll already be near there)or of the Marais area.

Normally I would say use the bus a lot...but if this is your first time in Paris, and it's only 2 days, you might waste a lot of time making the mistakes of someone not too familiar with the system. Use Metro and Taxis. (Maybe I'm wrong -- you might be the type of person with city bus experience and the willingness to do your due diligence beforehand. The RATP website has great bus route maps and schedules.)

SS

Thanks for your responses. I will be booking Eifflel tower ahead of time.I agree that we only probably need a quick ( max 2 hours) at louvre. Now good thing is that my wife has been to the city before ( although long ago) but nevertheless she has an idea.

I have not booked the hotel yet but I noticed into many hotels offer 2 queen beds. I was thinking of saving some money if my girls can share room with us. Any ideas on good hotels ( within the range of 250 - 300$ per night).

SS - we are there for 2 full days and 2 nights.

Robert - I am not sure of highlights of Louvre except Monalisa. Not sure what other things might interest girls (15 and 10). Any suggestions?

The Louvre has a huge variety of things to see. We love the 17th c. Dutch - de Hooch, Vermeer, Steen, etc...but this is really a matter of taste. As I said before, download the brochure so you can get an idea of what to do there.

It's also possible that the teenagers might prefer the Orsay museum to the Louvre.

SS

They might be interested in the excavations in the basement or in this sculpture.

http://musee.louvre.fr/oal/psyche/indexEN.html

The Louvre has so much to offer. They should take a look at the web site and decide for themselves what they are interested in.

Thanks. I am still looking for a Hotel with 2 queen size beds.. Is it just a North American thing and not common in Europe?

You should look for a quad room (or 2 doubles) since you're 4 people. For 2 nights I wouldn't focus on the queen size beds as your choices will be limited. Try to find something central as you have little time in Paris.

Definitely a North American thing, very uncommon in Europe. Look for a quad room like Adrienne suggests but the beds will most likely be doubles in your price range.

You can use www.bookings.com and input 4 adults in 1 room to see what is available and the prices.

Do you have any recommendations for hotels which are central and decent 3star +. Few more 100 $$ will not make a difference (few 1000 would though.. Lol)

You can't judge a hotel by the star rating system as that only tells you the amenities available (A/C, elevator, room service, restaurant, etc.), not the quality or charm of the hotel.

There are two threads on this board giving recommendations and there are many other threads with hotel recommendations. A search will yield these threads. Or do as jamikins suggested and look on booking.com.

Here's a recommendation in the 5th arrondissement. You could book 2 rooms that are within your budget. If your girls would like their own beds then book a twin room (2 beds).

http://www.balcons.com/