8 nights in Paris itinerary
 

Hi all! :)

I'm planning on being in Paris from the 26th of May until the 3rd of June and need some help with my itinerary! I feel like I may be too ambitious some days as I originally had a couple more free days planned in Paris but had to cut them out. What can I improve on logistically or is there anything I should add or remove? Thanks in advance.

Day 1 (flying in from Prague) - Thurs
- Eiffel tower
- Champ de mars park
- Rodin museum if have enough time

Day 2 - Fri
- D'Orsay museum
- Pont Alexandre III bridge
- Arc de Triomphe

Day 3 - Sat
- Luxembourg Gardens
- Pantheon
- Cluny museum
- Holy Chapel (St Chapelle)

Day 4 - Sun
- Dali museum
- Place du tertre
- Sacre Coeur Basilica
- Notre Dame

Day 5 - Mon
- Disneyland

Day 6 - Tues
- Petit Palais
- Printemps
- Galeries Lafayette
- Moulin rouge

Day 7 - Wed
- Louvre museum
- Tuileries Gardens
- Place de la Concorde
- Palais Garnier opera

Day 8 - Thurs
- Palace of Versailles
- Orangerie museum?

Day 9 (leaving) - Fri
- Montparnasse Tower
- Latin Quarter if enough time

The big problem I see is Day 8. If you tour Versailles and the grounds I think it's unlikely you will also make Orangerie.

I expect that like a lot of people things will drop off as you wander around.

It probably makes more sense to see St Chapelle and Notre Dame the same day on that Saturday since they are very close together. And most of the things you want to see that day are basically in the Latin Quarter so that might help you out for the last day when you leave.

The Pantheon, Cluny, etc. are in the Latin Quarter so have a wander around on that day. Haven't been up the Montparnasse Tower but understand it's a great view.

Versailles is pretty much a full day if you want to see the gardens, trianons, hameau, etc.

I've never seen the permanent collection at the petit palais, will be interested in your opinion.

Moulin Rouge is close to Sacre Coeur. Do you want to see it from the outside or go to a show? The general opinion is it's quite expensive for what it is, advice is if you really want to see the shoe, avoid the dinner and just go for the show.

There's so much to see in Paris, you are missing out on the Marais, Place de Voges, Picasso museum, etc., but there are only so many hours in the day!

cathinjoetown is right the Marais is the "big area" not covered. You might try this:

Day 3 - Sat Latin Quarter /ile de la Cite
- Luxembourg Gardens
- Pantheon
- Cluny museum
- Holy Chapel (St Chapelle)
- Notre Dame

Day 4 - Sun
- Dali museum
- Place du tertre
- Sacre Coeur Basilica
- Moulin rouge


Day 6 - Tues
- Petit Palais
- Place de la Concorde
- Palais Garnier Opera
- Printemps
- Galeries Lafayette


Day 7 - Wed
- Louvre museum
- Tuileries Gardens
- Marais down to Bastille-Place de Vosges

try to include the Picasso Museum if you are visiting the MARAIS. The museum was "redone" recently, & I think very special. I was there years ago, & then recently since the "re-opening" and LOVED IT....
TrendGirl2

At least you have a basic "game plan" to use as a guide.

Thanks so much for all your help! I've added Marais and Picasso museum and removed a few museums :)

Cathinjoetown, I do want to see the Moulin Rouge show since I'm there but if I don't have time, it's not really a must see for me. If anyone has any other suggestions, that'd be great!

Does this plan seem better now?

Day 1 (flying in from Prague) - Thurs
- Eiffel tower, Champ de mars park

Day 2 - Fri
- D'Orsay museum, Pont Alexandre III bridge, Arc de Triomphe

Day 3 - Sat
- Luxembourg Gardens, Pantheon, Holy Chapel (St Chapelle), Notre Dame

Day 4 - Sun
- Place du tertre, Sacre Coeur Basilica, Moulin rouge

Day 5 - Mon
- Disneyland

Day 6 - Tues
- Petit Palais, Place de la Concorde, Palais Garnier opera, Printemps, Galeries Lafayette

Day 7 - Wed
- Louvre museum, Tuileries Gardens, Marais, Picasso museum

Day 8 - Thurs
- Palace of Versailles

Day 9 (leaving) - Fri
- Montparnasse Tower, Orangerie museum (if time permits)

The Tuileries garden is where l'Orangerie is located, and it's a small museum, so you might as well go while you're there.

Many people expect to see something more spectacular when they arrive at Place des Vosges, and are frankly disappointed when they see just a nice city square. It's nicer there if you have time to sit on the grass and have a picnic. Otherwise, head to Carette and have a nice lunch. Afterwards, head directly to the Picasso museum.

True, it's nothing like the Place de la Concorde or Etoile but that is why I like it.

"Originally known as the Place Royale, the Place des Vosges was built by Henri IV from 1605 to 1612. A true square (140 m × 140 m), it embodied the first European program of royal city planning. It was built on the site of the Hôtel des Tournelles and its gardens: at a tournament at the Tournelles, a royal residence, Henri II was wounded and died. Catherine de Medicis had the Gothic complex demolished, and she removed to the Louvre Palace.". From Wiki

Linspiration, check out some photos and decide for yourself whether or not you want to see it.

We all have favorites, of course, and two of mine are the Cluny, Rodin, Marmottan, and the Carnavalet, particularly the latter. It is the history of Paris in art, which in its art, is depicting Paris at the time of the artist's rendering. If you love Picasso, then that is fine also.

Gretchen, That's four, but when it comes to Paris, who's counting!

My all-time favorite is the Carnavalet.

Wouldn't you know my least favorite of that bunch is the Carnavalet! That is why it is hard to give advice to people you don't know well or don't share your same interests. I have returned multiple times to the Cluny, Rodin and Marmottan but twice to the Carnavelet was once too much for me, LOL.

Unless you are on the early Transavia or Air France flights, you will arrive at the airport in Paris in the mid-afternoon. By the time you retrieve your luggage, travel from the airport to your hotel, and unload your luggage, it will be late afternoon. For Day 1, I recommend going first to the Rodin Museum while it is still daylight, and visiting the Eiffel Tower at night, when it (and the rest of Paris) is lighted. If you plan to carry all your clothes, etc. in your backpack or carry-on roller bag and take same with you to explore Paris (i.e., no need to dump luggage at your hotel before exploring), ignore everything I just said.

I agree with fuzzbucket-orangerie and montparnasse aren't that close together so it makes more sense when you are at the tuileries.

The only other thing you might enjoy is the bateaux mouche tour. It is something fun to do at night when you are exhausted after playing a tourist all day :)

http://www.bateaux-mouches.fr/en

Thanks everyone! you've been a great help :) I've decided to leave orangerie for next time and maybe just go for a cruise down the Seine instead of Moulin Rouge.

But you'll be at the Orangerie, nearly, on the wednesday when you do Tuileries gardens etc.


I think looking at a Paris map and grouping the sights differently, more clustered, would make for much less running around from sight to sight.

For instance, on your Saturday, that's your day for the Latin Quarter also, since it's all in the same area.

Don't miss the Carnavalet Museum if you have any interest at all in the history and culture of Paris. It's a gem.

I would understand skipping it for the A-list places (Eiffel, Louvre, ND, etc.) if you only had two or three days, but with eight nights...it's a must-see.

Also, unless you are burnt out on cathedrals, check out St. Denis...burial place of most of the French kinds back to the 6th century...and purportedly the very first Gothic cathedral.

ssander