3 days in paris -- what to do
Jan 14th, 2008, 04:05 PM
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3 days in paris -- what to do
i'm going with a tour group in early may to france. i'll have 3 days in paris, with 2 or 3 free half days & evenings. i don't want to take too many day trips because i'm there such a short time. which would be preferable--giverny or versailles? i know the latter is the "classic" paris day trip but i've heard good things about giverny.
i'll be staying in the mercure montmarte, close to the place de clichy station. any recommendations for how to spend free times would be appreciated.
bobbye
i'll be staying in the mercure montmarte, close to the place de clichy station. any recommendations for how to spend free times would be appreciated.
bobbye
Jan 14th, 2008, 05:28 PM
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Hey Bobbye,
just some quick answers. If you are a true Monet afficianado, then I suggest Giverny. If, on the other hand, you are just interested in France in General, I would choose Versailles over Giverny.
I saw on your 'planning' post that this will be your first trip.
I highly suggest an evening which includes dinner at the Eiffel tower, followed by a float down the seine on a bateaux mouche. I have done this more than once. Your tour company might offer that. but if not, you can book with www.parisvision.com...i am not affiliated with the company, but I have been to Paris numerous times and in fact went to school in Paris (graduate of the Cordon Bleu)..
I have used this company for the Beateaux mouches trip, for a day trip to Mont St. Michel, for the day trip to Versailles, and for the day trip to Giverny. Also a daytime city tour.
They are very reputable.
You can see Sacre-Couer since you are already staying in Montmarte. Incredible to see.
Happy to help out with any other questions.
Bon voyage,
just some quick answers. If you are a true Monet afficianado, then I suggest Giverny. If, on the other hand, you are just interested in France in General, I would choose Versailles over Giverny.
I saw on your 'planning' post that this will be your first trip.
I highly suggest an evening which includes dinner at the Eiffel tower, followed by a float down the seine on a bateaux mouche. I have done this more than once. Your tour company might offer that. but if not, you can book with www.parisvision.com...i am not affiliated with the company, but I have been to Paris numerous times and in fact went to school in Paris (graduate of the Cordon Bleu)..
I have used this company for the Beateaux mouches trip, for a day trip to Mont St. Michel, for the day trip to Versailles, and for the day trip to Giverny. Also a daytime city tour.
They are very reputable.
You can see Sacre-Couer since you are already staying in Montmarte. Incredible to see.
Happy to help out with any other questions.
Bon voyage,
Jan 14th, 2008, 06:00 PM
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wanderlust --
i understand night is the best time to go to the eiffel tower, but aren't the lines supposed to be pretty long then? also, i didn't know you could eat there as well.is it pricey?
yes, this is my first trip, and i'm really having to watch my euros! so i'll probably have to pass on a seine cruise.
i was a french minor in college, eons ago, and somehow versailles never appealed to me, maybe because of the opulence, which ironically makes it such an attraction. i'm not a monet afficianado but giverny just seems more real to me somehow.which did you like best?
i understand night is the best time to go to the eiffel tower, but aren't the lines supposed to be pretty long then? also, i didn't know you could eat there as well.is it pricey?
yes, this is my first trip, and i'm really having to watch my euros! so i'll probably have to pass on a seine cruise.
i was a french minor in college, eons ago, and somehow versailles never appealed to me, maybe because of the opulence, which ironically makes it such an attraction. i'm not a monet afficianado but giverny just seems more real to me somehow.which did you like best?
Jan 14th, 2008, 06:24 PM
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Bobbye7, I spent Christmas week in Paris and the lines at the tower for the elevators were insane. However, there was no line at all to walk up. So we walked up to the first level and then took the elevator to the second level and the top. We probably saved at least half an hour of line time.
You have mentioned watching your euros, one of the things I loved about my visit was going to the Monoprix gorcery store on blvd Clichy, just down the street from Moulin Rouge. We bought lots of chocolate for friends at home and had fun just seeing the different products.
Versailles was such a zoo I found it difficult to enjoy.
You have mentioned watching your euros, one of the things I loved about my visit was going to the Monoprix gorcery store on blvd Clichy, just down the street from Moulin Rouge. We bought lots of chocolate for friends at home and had fun just seeing the different products.
Versailles was such a zoo I found it difficult to enjoy.
Jan 15th, 2008, 04:36 AM
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The Seine cruises are all around 9-11€, in case you were thinking they cost more than that. A nice way is to take the one at the foot of the Eiffel (Bateau Parisiens) coupled with your visit to the Eiffel.
Dining on the tower is rather expensive - the restaurants have been renovated and reopened by Alain Ducasse.
Dining on the tower is rather expensive - the restaurants have been renovated and reopened by Alain Ducasse.
Jan 15th, 2008, 04:43 AM
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travelnut,
the tour group, goahead, offers an optional evening dinner cruise for $99. i opted out of that because i heard it wasn't that great. the cruise you suggested, coupled with the tower, sounds like it might be more reasonable. or have i got my math wrong?
also i checked the tour eiffel website & it looks like they have light meals like pizza and sandwiches.i'm thinking i'll be eating a lot of that sort of thing on my fixed budget!
bobbye
the tour group, goahead, offers an optional evening dinner cruise for $99. i opted out of that because i heard it wasn't that great. the cruise you suggested, coupled with the tower, sounds like it might be more reasonable. or have i got my math wrong?
also i checked the tour eiffel website & it looks like they have light meals like pizza and sandwiches.i'm thinking i'll be eating a lot of that sort of thing on my fixed budget!
bobbye
Jan 15th, 2008, 05:48 AM
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Hi B,
With such a short time in Paris, I suggest foregoing daytrips.
Take a look at these:
100 Great Things to Do in Paris
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...mp;tid=1277898
Degas’s Paris Walks
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34712768
Kerouac’s Ethnic Walk
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=35095155
With such a short time in Paris, I suggest foregoing daytrips.
Take a look at these:
100 Great Things to Do in Paris
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...mp;tid=1277898
Degas’s Paris Walks
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34712768
Kerouac’s Ethnic Walk
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=35095155
Jan 15th, 2008, 05:51 AM
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Versailles or Giverny? Given that you will be in Paris in early May, I would choose Giverny. Giverny is at its most beautiful in May and, if you are not a lover of Monet's paintings, you will be enchanted by the beautiful gardens.
I must tell you that I haven't been to Versailles on my last 4 trips to Paris as there are so many day trips to take and there is so much to see and do in Paris without venturing outside.
As for the river cruise, take the cruise without the dinner and pack a sandwich. All cruises provide wonderful views of Paris by day and night. We love to go at dusk so we can see the city in the daylight and watch the lights come on - magical.
Enjoy Paris
I must tell you that I haven't been to Versailles on my last 4 trips to Paris as there are so many day trips to take and there is so much to see and do in Paris without venturing outside.
As for the river cruise, take the cruise without the dinner and pack a sandwich. All cruises provide wonderful views of Paris by day and night. We love to go at dusk so we can see the city in the daylight and watch the lights come on - magical.
Enjoy Paris
Jan 15th, 2008, 06:02 AM
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These are all great suggestions. Ira, thanks for the links. I'll use them for myself as well!
Bobbye, a great book to buy is
A Great Weekend in Paris by Hachette.
It is a tiny book but loaded with great info and easy to take on your trip. If you are traveling with Goahead, you'll have a great time. I have traveled with them. Great company!
I agree with the others that I would probably skip Versailles. There is so much in Paris to experience that a day trip to a place you have already been to and didn't like would be a waste of time and money. I thought from your original post you wanted to go to either versailles or giverny, the way you worded your sentence.
Giverny has beautiful gardens and is really lovely.
My favorite tiny museum in Paris is the Rodin. It is awesome and you should try and get there.
The Orly is wonderful, just for the architecture alone. It is the remodeled train station and is beautiful.
For an off the beaten track kind of thing, the catacombs are weird and whacky. I liked them anyway. I have been a couple of times.
The Musee de Moyen Age is also wonderful. It is the "middle ages" museum and is very well done.
You might want to leave a little lee way in your schedule. It is highly likely that others in your group will have done research and found something fun to do, and you may want to tag along with them, so don't overschedule yourself. Paris is fun for just strolling and people watching too, so keep your time loose and flexible, and that is when the magic happens when you come across the unexpected adventure.
Bobbye, a great book to buy is
A Great Weekend in Paris by Hachette.
It is a tiny book but loaded with great info and easy to take on your trip. If you are traveling with Goahead, you'll have a great time. I have traveled with them. Great company!
I agree with the others that I would probably skip Versailles. There is so much in Paris to experience that a day trip to a place you have already been to and didn't like would be a waste of time and money. I thought from your original post you wanted to go to either versailles or giverny, the way you worded your sentence.
Giverny has beautiful gardens and is really lovely.
My favorite tiny museum in Paris is the Rodin. It is awesome and you should try and get there.
The Orly is wonderful, just for the architecture alone. It is the remodeled train station and is beautiful.
For an off the beaten track kind of thing, the catacombs are weird and whacky. I liked them anyway. I have been a couple of times.
The Musee de Moyen Age is also wonderful. It is the "middle ages" museum and is very well done.
You might want to leave a little lee way in your schedule. It is highly likely that others in your group will have done research and found something fun to do, and you may want to tag along with them, so don't overschedule yourself. Paris is fun for just strolling and people watching too, so keep your time loose and flexible, and that is when the magic happens when you come across the unexpected adventure.
Jan 15th, 2008, 06:38 AM
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Do you have an itinerary of what the tour will cover in Paris? The Eiffel would, I assume be included? And Notre Dame,and...?
Another option for Seine cruises is Vedettes du Pont Neuf, located at Sqaure du Vert Gallant, the western tip of Ile de la Cite.
Since you tour will probably cover the main sites, perhaps something less likely to be on the tour. I could see a pleasant walk on Ile St Louis, and then a wander along the Seine, checking out the book sellers and then heading over to Blvd St Germain, Luxembourg Gardens, Musee Moyen Age, and ending up back at Seine would be a nice day.
I'd also want to see Place des Vosges, one of the oldest and most scenic squares in Paris. Follow that by a walk through the Marais.
More central, Palais Royal and the surrounding area is a nice area to spend time. The Tuileries gardens, Opera Garnier, Place Vendome, rue Rivoli,etc..
Since you like Monet, the Marmottan museum would be a must. It's locate in the 16th arrondissement, a nice upscale area of Paris. Take the Metro, and you'll get a taste of Paris that is not visited by a lot of tourists, slice of Parisian life.
Another option for Seine cruises is Vedettes du Pont Neuf, located at Sqaure du Vert Gallant, the western tip of Ile de la Cite.
Since you tour will probably cover the main sites, perhaps something less likely to be on the tour. I could see a pleasant walk on Ile St Louis, and then a wander along the Seine, checking out the book sellers and then heading over to Blvd St Germain, Luxembourg Gardens, Musee Moyen Age, and ending up back at Seine would be a nice day.
I'd also want to see Place des Vosges, one of the oldest and most scenic squares in Paris. Follow that by a walk through the Marais.
More central, Palais Royal and the surrounding area is a nice area to spend time. The Tuileries gardens, Opera Garnier, Place Vendome, rue Rivoli,etc..
Since you like Monet, the Marmottan museum would be a must. It's locate in the 16th arrondissement, a nice upscale area of Paris. Take the Metro, and you'll get a taste of Paris that is not visited by a lot of tourists, slice of Parisian life.
Jan 15th, 2008, 06:49 AM
#11
Since you say Versailles never appealed to you, there is no need to go there. I went once, and now I can say I saw it, but I would not put it on a must-see list for anybody who wasn't interested.
Jan 15th, 2008, 07:35 AM
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Travelnut:
Laughing aloud at myself. That is what I get for trying to rush my thoughts while trying to get to my other duties around my castle - such as ironing.
Thanks for pointing out my goofball mistake! Of course I meant the Orsay. Silly me!
Laughing aloud at myself. That is what I get for trying to rush my thoughts while trying to get to my other duties around my castle - such as ironing.
Thanks for pointing out my goofball mistake! Of course I meant the Orsay. Silly me!
Jan 15th, 2008, 09:33 AM
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The day of arrival there's nothing but a welcome dinner in the evening.
The next day includes just one morning of escorted sightseeing -- motoring along the champs-elysee and viewing sights like the Eiffel Tower, Arc De Triomphe, Opera House, Place de la Concorde, the Louvre, the Seine & Notre Dame. Much of this will probably just be drive by or photo op.
That afternoon and evening is free. The next day I'll go to Giverny for half day then have the rest of the day/night free.
The next day includes just one morning of escorted sightseeing -- motoring along the champs-elysee and viewing sights like the Eiffel Tower, Arc De Triomphe, Opera House, Place de la Concorde, the Louvre, the Seine & Notre Dame. Much of this will probably just be drive by or photo op.
That afternoon and evening is free. The next day I'll go to Giverny for half day then have the rest of the day/night free.
Jan 15th, 2008, 11:42 AM
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If it is not included in your tour, I would highly recommend that you see Ste. Chapelle. It is on Ile de la Cite just a stones throw from Notre Dame and best seen on a sunny morning or afternoon so that the sun shines through the amazing stained glass windows.
Jan 15th, 2008, 11:49 AM
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Paris has a tour bus that has 5 routes through out the city. You can purchase a two ticket and get off and on when and wherever you choose. It is a reasonable price and saves a lot of walking time and energy. One of the routes is on the river which is an added bonus.
Jan 15th, 2008, 11:56 AM
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I could see you free full day doing Notre Dame, St Chapelle, Ile St Louis,Seine, and Left Bank.
On the half day, possibly Right Bank/Marais (Place des Vosges and area)...or Louvre area (Tuileries, Palais Royal,etc)
On the half day, possibly Right Bank/Marais (Place des Vosges and area)...or Louvre area (Tuileries, Palais Royal,etc)
