Assistance with detailed Paris itinerary
 

Hello, everybody:)
I know this is a very detailed itinerary, but I do not want to waste time worrying what's next, or how to get from point a to b.

I am HOPING TO KEEP all the points of interest on it, but I would APPRECIATE any suggestions in terms of order/route and also, ANSWERS to questions in italics (best route to Eiffel from Champs Elysees, whether or not to skip the Pompidou, and the best street to walk from Sacre Coeur to Moulin Rouge)
THANK YOU SOOO much!
Agnes
Here it is:
1)Wednesday
After lunch:
Subway from Mabillon to Palais Royal
Walk through Tuileries Gardens to Place de la Concorde
Walk down Champs-Elysees (walk towards Arc de T)
Then take metro (either at Franklin D Roosevelt or Charles de Gaulle stop to Ecole Militaire or Alma Marceau (WHICH is better? Or, is there a better way to get to Eiffel Tower from Ch-E?)
Walk to Eiffel Tower
Seine Cruise
2) Thursday morning: Louvre (selected artworks)
followed by Island Walk
(Pont Neuf, going east along Seine River, across Pont – au - Change, (notice Clock Tower), to Ille de la Cite, down Blvd du Palais, la Ste - Chapelle, rue de Lutece, right at rue de la Cite to Notre Dame, then Square Jean XXIII, to Pont St – Louis (Ile St – Louis), rue St Louis-en-l’Ile, to Pont Marie
Marais Walk
Take Rue St Antoine to Palais de Sully, then to Place des Vosges, (note: Maison de Victor Hugo) Then west along the rue des Francs Bourgeois from the Place des Vosges to the Pompidou
(OR:Should I skip the Pompidou?)

3) Friday
D'Orsay in the morning followed by Left Bank Walk
Rue de Bac to St Germain des Pres Blvd
Englise St Germain des Pres
Walk to Blvd St Michel (right) to Place de la Sorbonne
Luxembourg Garden
St Sulpice if time allows
Evening: Subway to M: Abessess (rue de Tuc) to Sacre Coeur (cable car)
Walk to Moulin Rouge (WHICH street is the nicest to take?! - to take an interesting, but maybe not the longest route)
Take subway home (M: Blanche)

4) Saturday morning and afternoon
Versailles
Evening: nothing! or maybe a nice dinner to wrap up the trip:)

THANK you, everybody!
A

I have never been to the Pompidou Center so I can't say whether to see it or skip it.

I would rethink that walk from Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe. That is quite a hike!

I would take the Metro from the Arc de Triomphe to Bir Hakiem. That will leave you off near the Seine just a couple of blocks from the Eiffel tower. Or take the Metro to the Trocadero and walk down the hill past the fountains to the Eiffel tower (a much longer walk but very scenic).

I am sure other posters will have better info.

The best way to get from the Champs-Elysses to the Eiffel Tower is the 42 city bus. There is a stop at Place de Concorde, another across from the Grand Palais, another at the Rond Point [near the FDR Metro].

Crossing the Seine from the Louvre I'd recommend the Pont des Arts. Just proceed to the eastern courtyard and go right.

The walk from Place de la Concorde to Arc de Triomphe is really not that long but is slightly uphill. From the Arc to the Place is an easier walk.

Thank you.
Please, offer more suggestions.
THEY ARE much appreciated, and I will be revising my itinerary.
Agnes

Hi Agnes,

Some comments:
Wednesday: consider also going to Palais Royal (right at subway stop). Nice old square. You will also enjoy walking under the arcades on Rue Rivoli. Nearby is Angelina's for famous hot chocolate and desserts. There are also a couple of english book stores and plenty of interesting shops on Rivoli. You can also take a tangent up Avenue de L'Opera to see Opera Garnier -exquisite building, and perhaps off Rivoli up Rue Castaglione to see Place Vendome (Ritz, high end jewellery shops). I have walked from this area to Eiffel, along Montagne (nice upscale area), but this would be from Place de la Concorde. This gets you to Place D'Alma, where you could have a look at the Lady Di memorial. If you were to do this, I would start your day at the Arche and then go down to Tuileries (from Mabilon, Metro to La Motte Piquet, then on to Etoile, or carry on past Place Royal to Etoile). I imagine you want to end the day at Eiffel. Alma is also one location where Seine cruises (Bateaux Mouches) leave from. If you do want to go to Eiffel by Metro from Etoile (Arche) Line 6 to Trocadero. When you come out, go thru middle opening of Palais Chaillot buildings and you will get a great view of Eiffel

Then walk across bridge to Eiffel.

Thursday....
From Louvre walk along top of Seine and visit bouquinistes (bookseller stalls). When you cross au Change, carry on Past Palais de justice on your right and you will see entrance, again on right, for St. Chapelle, which is rightly famous for its stain glass windows. Note that once inside, there are two levels, go upstairs. If classical music interests you, consider buying tickets for an evening concert here. On exit, trun left and go back, then turn right and head off to Notra Dame. There is a cafe here with patio that I have eaten at a few times, nice place to stop and people watch. I really like Ilse St Louis, you will enjoy the main street, the Berthillon ice cream. Around these two islands (on Left Bank) are steps down to the Seine nice to go down to get some views of Notre Dame. Also, just down a bit is the open ari scuplture garden, also on the left bank.

Place des Voges is great, Pompidou is something some love,some don't care for.
As you wander the Marais, try to fit in the Village St Paul which is an area with olrder buildings, narrow cobblestons streets and antique shops. Neat area. In Marais Hotel de Sens (and garden)is nice, Musee Carnavalet, Hotel De Ville. Once you leave Ile St louis, you could go to Sens, Village St Paul, Carnavalet, Places des Voges, on to Pompidou, then loop back to Hotel de Ville.

Friday..

Orsay another highlite. If you need a museum fill, the Rodin Museum is sort of nearby. A good walk or a few metro stops. Nice gardens there too. St Germain is a nice street to walk the lenght of. Chek out St Germain des Pres chrch. On that square is also the famous Cafe de Flore as well as Cafe Bonaparte, nice place for lunch. If you take rue Bonaparte from the Square you will get to St Sulpice, another nice church and square (and yes, a Da Vinci code location), then carry on down to Luxembourg Gardens, another highlite. Retutn to place St Germain des Pres. On your left you will come to Buci street and Cours de Commerce. very nice streets to explore, markets, oldest restaurant in Paris (Procope), covered passgeways,etc.. Further down St Germain, on your right, at St Michel is Musee du Moyen Age (Cluny), the medieval museum famous for its tapestries, and very interesting building since it is built over Roman ruins. From St Michel, you could take Metro Line 4 to Montparnasee, then Line 12 to Abbesses. Bit of a long ride. Fomr Abesses, take Rue Tardieu which gets you to the funiculaire, or steps. Once you see Scare Coeur, pass by (or stop) Place du Tertre for a portrait, then you could continue down Rue Lepic, either right back to Abesses, or take a right to Rue Caulaincourt which brings you to Blanche metro stop. Note that at 15 rue Lepic is Amelie's cafe (Deux Moulins) There is also the Montmartrobus (tourist trolley) that you can catch at Abesses

http://www.ratp.info/orienter/f_plan...bus&fm=gif

Hope this helps,

Mike

I don't think it's a long walk from place la Concorde up to the Arc -- I've done it a lot, and think it's enjoyable. It's only a little over a mile. It is a slight incline going up, but not really a hill or even that noticeable that it's going "uphill", in my opinion, but I like to walk around cities.

I don't consider any walk between Sacre Coeur and Moulin Rouge that scenic if it's very direct, nor any walking tour I would care to take. I do like the area around rue Lepic, Junot and over that area, but wouldn't have thought that on the way. It really depends on how much time you have for that walk, and time of day. You mention going to the Moulin Rouge which has shows around 9 and 11 pm, I think. rue Lepic doesn't run into place du Tertre, so not sure if you can follow that idea as Michel presents it. That's sort of the general route I'd do, I guess, although I'd go west from place du Tertre a little farther north and get oneto Ave Junot, which has some lovely houses and is a nice part of Montmartre. Then you could come down to rue Lepic around one of those old moulins at the west end, and come down rue Lepic from there to Blanche. If this is in the dark, I wouldn't necessarily do this, I'm not clear on when you plan this (month or what time of day for that Montmartre thing, you just say "evening").

You should skip the Pompidou if you don't like modern art. I don't like to advise people what museums they should or shouldn't see, I think they have to decide that for themself based on their interests, for the most part. There may be some really crummy museums that aren't worth it, but the Pompidou is a major museum and enjoyable if you like that kind of art.

Wow! Now I am a bit overwhelmed.
I will need to print out all the comments and slowly sort it out.
I do NOT like modern art, so I think I will just look at the Pompidou from the outside. I love the impressionism, though, so I might go to Museum L'Orangerie on Saturday if I am not exhausted.
Also, I wanted to go to Sacre Couer to see the basilica, and for the view, and maybe to get the feel for Montmartre. I do not intend to go to Moulin Rouge for the show (not my cup fo tea), but it was more for picture taking :) - it is quite famous after all. I would not mind going to the opera, but I would just be too much for 3.5 days in Paris, and maybe a concert at St Sulpice in the evening would be a happy medium, or finding a jazz bar if they do not have anything on the days we are going to be there (July 12-16, arriving Wed at 11 am at CGD, and leaving Sunday morning from CDG)

One more thing - how much time should I allow for the Island Walk, and the Marais walk - would 5-6 hours be enough for both?
On Wednesday - would 4 hours of walking cover the walk from Place Vendome to Tuileries to Place de la Concorde towards Arch de T, to go to Eiffel? I do not mind catching the subway, or reversing order of the walk, starting at the Arch and walking towards Place V, and then commuting to the Eiffel Tower...

Thank you AGAIN! Please, share more VALUABLE info.

Hi again,
if you like impressionism, you'll love the Musee Marmottan. It's a bit out of the centre of Pais, in the 16th. Great Monets! Metro Muette, then about a 10-15 min walk, nice neighbourhood also, nice to see a less touristy area of Paris.

For your Island walk, apart for a potential wait at St Chapelle, I could see you spending 1-2 hrs on Ile Notre Dame, another 1- 1 1/2 hours seeing Ile St Louis, Seine...then 2-3 hours waling around Marais, so yes, that should be doable. Of course, you may need a little cafe time somewhere in there!

Four hours should may be OK for Tuileries, Arc area, then to Eiffel. If you do a visit/tour of Opera Garnier that could add a bit of time, otherwise it's all 'outdoor' stuff.

If you are interested in organized walking tours, there is always:

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pariswalking/



Mike

Thank you, Michael. Thank you, everybody.
On Wednesday we might take a subway to the Arch, and then walk down Ch-E to Place de la Concorde, through the Tuileries, then to Place Vendome, and then, take a subway to Eiffel Tower, followed by a Seine Cruise.

Friday: We might go to Montmartre around 6 pm...If we are too tired, we might do it on Saturday after we come back from Versaille - is it a good idea? Or, should I keep it as planned?
Does our Friday look too busy?
We do not mind walking a lot, but I do not have the feel for time in this case...
Any suggestions are welcome and greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
Agnes

The main problem with detailed itineraries are that they never go as planned.

Walk from Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe, then down to the Eiffel Tower; don't bother with the Métro.

The Pompidou Center is modern art; if you don't like modern art (a lot), skip it. The exterior is interesting to see if you are in the area.

The Orsay Museum doesn't have a D' in front of its name, by the way, any more than Independence Day is the Of July. Note that it's real easy to spend a lot more or a lot less time in a museum than you had planned, so beware.

The boulevard right in front of the Moulin Rouge (boulevard Clichy) is the best way to approach it at night. During the day, if you're on the Butte, you can wind down the rue Lepic towards the showclub and look at the stores and houses.

It's possible to see Versailles in half a day, depending on how much you like Versailles and when you start out. Trips outside the city can easily gobble a full day, though, just because of the logistics of getting around.

Another general rule is that just about everything will take longer than you expect. This is especially true for meals, if you're American.

Since you will be in Paris on Bastille Day, there will be a big parade lots of tanks etc on the Champs, street balls (put on my the firemen) fireworks and sometimes concerts. Watch out for random firecrackers in the metro!

..Please listen to Anthony. Your trip is incredibly detailed. I really can't see a reason for it unless travelling with a huge group. Try to be flexible ie switch things around depending on weather, jet lag, ect. That being said, you need to do your homework (which you have done in spades!) so that you are aware of what is open when ect. I am so afraid that you will feel disappointed if you don't follow this list and check off the sites ect. Don't please feel free to wander and wonder-let Paris seduce you!

whoop should read Don't! Please...

Well, you finally used a "we" so this is not a solo trip.

I am very concerned. If there is a city on this planet that would suffer from a "marching plan" it would be Paris. If you are traveling solo, I see SOME benefit in having such a detailed itinerary. But, if you are traveling with someone else, you are creating a problem.

Relax. No city is more "walkable" than Paris. Make a list of what you think you would like to see. Schedule some time to see those things - you won't see them all, even with 2 weeks in the city.

Save the rest of the time to stroll the streets of Paris - and fall in love with the city.

If you are afraid you won't "see everything" buy a hop-on, hop-off tour bus pass and use it to get everywhere on your list. Take the Fat Tire Bike tour - preferably at night - to see most of it again from a different perspective.

See the "Loose Game Plan" post for some great ideas.

Hello Agnes,

when walking on Champs Elysees, watch out for the FNAC store located there. In its basement, you will find a biletterie or ticket store, where you can buy tickets for Le Louvre in advance.

These tickets bought in advance will allow you to cut the waiting line at the pyramid, as you will use an entry for groups aside.

With only 4 days and packed as they are, I would leave Versailles.
I'd trade the Pompidou for an outside table at a cafe to have a glass of wine and people watch.

Hi, We just got back from 8 days in Paris. this was our third time there in 6 years. My advice to you is to walk and walk and chances are you will see everything you plan on seeing. I would skip Versailles (big disappointment in my book and it will take up most of the day). Pick a general area and see all you can that day. For example, we stayed in the 7th. We walked to the Marais and back and saw tons along the way. Paris is such a beautiful and walkable city and I fear you will miss its charms if you keep to your plans. If you are like us, you will return!

Plumbers, I am curious: why were you disappointed with Versailles? What did you expect and did not found?

Agnes, as you know, I just returned from Paris. As this was my fourth trip there, I had things I definitely wanted to see and other things I thought I didn't want to do again. I had tried to schedule things logically, but sometimes either your mood, the weather or something unexpected (an urge to shop for craft supplies, in my case!) can make you throw the plans out the window and do something different. One day, I just decided to go sit under the Eiffel Tower in the sunshine. That meant I didn't make it to a museum I wanted to go to, but I think I got more enjoyment out of the trip to the Tower than I would have the museum.

My suggestion is to just have a general list of things you want to see and do and not feel compelled to tick them all off. Wake up in the morning, take a look at the weather, and do what you feel up for that day. Honestly, the days I forced myself to do something on the itinerary, I didn't enjoy it as much (fell asleep at Gregorian chants, for example...I was too tired to enjoy!)

You have the right idea ruling things out that you have no interest in, but really, I think it's tough to time how long you'll be someplace. The Orsay, for me, is someplace I could spend the better part of a half day easily, but the Louvre I find better in smaller bites.

If you love Paris, you'll go back someday and hit the things you miss this time...trust me!

Hi Agnes,

Some good advice above, especially regarding your very, very, very overplanned short visit. Make a list of things that you must see (Pompidou isn't one of them) and leave a lot of time for serendipity.

I also suggest skipping Versailles this time, and spending the day in Paris.

For your visit to Montmartre, I suggest that you take the Metro to Pl Pigalle, cross Rue Clichy and get on the Montmartrebus (no 18) on the left side of the pl. The bus winds its way up to Sacre Coeur and down to Pl Jules Joffrin and then back to Pigalle. You can get off on the return at Sacre Coeur and then walk down to Pigalle and the Moulin Rouge.

About 1E for the bus.

Paris will still be Paris when you go back.

Have a nice visit.

((I))

Thank you, everybody. I will revise our itinerary. I am going with my husband, but he leaves all the itinerary plans to me.:) Hence, it is easy to use a singular pronoun.
By the way, a few times he complained I overdo it, and once when I planned absolutely NOTHING, he asked me to keep up the planning:)
I will skip the Pompidou then, be selective in the Louvre, and let myself enjoy Orsay. (Sorry about the d' - this is how I saw it spelled a few times)
My husband LOVES formal gardens, so I am not inclined to skip Verseille,even if we FOCUS on the gardens.
I guess I was going a bit crazy planning.Maybe I will keep the main points on my agenda and I will enjoy myself on the way to see them.
IS Place de Bastille worth seeing, or can I skip it as a minor attraction?
(I know the prison does not exist anymore, of course)
Thank you again for your time!
Agnes

Hi Agnes,
I'm split on this one. It it the eternal "My first time there I want to see as much as I can...It's Paris!!!"...versus a relaxing breathe it all in visit. Yes, the magic of Paris is amplified in those moments where we go "off schedule", where you see an interesting small park and take an hour just to watch the kids play, or find a well located cafe where time flies by while you people watch, or coming on to a small street market to observe the locals, get some supplies for a picnic...all of these are an integral part of my enjoyment of Paris. What I like about your itinerary is that you are spending a large percentage of it outdoors, which I think is good. The question is the pace and distance to be covered each day. Here is a second, more relaxed take on it...

An option...you could do a Parisvision/Cityrama tour of the City just to get a quick view of everything, then start on foot.

On the face of it Wednesday looks reasonable to me, and the pace does not have to be hurried. If you are jet lagged, this might be more challenging. Seine cruises, in my opinion, are better at night, so having dinner 7:30/8 and making it to cruise seem OK, once again assuming you won't sleep through it!. The cruise can be moved around to another night (Saturday?). I assume you won't be going back to hotel to rest or change.

Thursday bit more crammed..so.. breakfast at a cafe, couple of hours at Louvre, leisurely lunch, then walk around Islands will get you to 5-6 PM. You could then start on the Marais, or just cross over to the Left Bank, browse around, find a restaurant, and fit in a concert that night.

Friday, breakfast, be at Orsay for opening. Spend a couple of hours. Lunch somewhere along St Germain. After lunch, continue and finish St Germain, St Sulpice, Luxembourg. Skip Rodin, skip Cluny unless really interested. This will bring you to around 5-6PM. Metro to Abesses. Take Montmartrobus (or funicular) to see view from Sacre Coeur. It's dinner time, find a place in Montmartre area (Moulin Rouge before/after?).

Saturday. If Versailles is really your thing, then go. You can either do it as a tour, ro go on your own by the RER (for example from St Michel). When you get back, it would probably be late afternoon, could head to Marais and start scouting out a restaurant, fill time by walking around.

Or, you may decide that there are more things to see and do in Paris, and there always, always is :) Alternative....breakfast, go to Marmottan to see the Monets , eat lunch in 16th, or Metro back to Marais area, then lunch there. Wander around Voges, Village St Paul, Pompidou...That night, hand around bridges bu Notre Dame/Ile St Louis...views, memories...

I've been 8/9 times, so when I go, it's more to hang out, breakfast at a cafe, in the afternoon visit one/two sites, rest of time is just walking around, planning dinner.

Hope this helps.

Mike

Mike, thank you.
I am hoping we will not be suffering from jet leg. We are flying to Warsaw on July 7, and then going to my home town to see my parents, and to leave the kids :) :) :) with them.
We are flying from Warsaw on the 12th.
The flight is 2 hrs or less, so we should be ok by then.
I LOVE your suggestions. By the way, last year, we did have an ambitious plan in Rome (we even went to Venice - took a train early morning and came back late at night)
We do not mind walking a lot, and I was hoping to limit my museum time to enjoy the city. So, if we feel it is too much, we will adjust.
And, a cruise on a Saturday night seems like a great idea! We'll just see how we feel on Wed night.
Thank you again.
Agnes

There isn't any Bastille to see. There are marks on the pavement that outline the location of the fort. There are a few scraps of stone in one of the Métro stations. And there's part of the base of a turret relocated to a park nearby. None of this merits a special trip, but if you happen to be in the area it's worth looking out for.

Just to add another POV--I, along with thousands of other people, found Versailles amazing. The gardens are really spectacular, and the palace itself is rich in a way that's hard to match (though of course the Hall of Mirrors is now under construction).

But if you do end up going, for heaven's sake why not go Thursday or Friday? It's packed on weekends.

One last note, however--if your husband loves formal gardens, he will get plenty of them in Paris.

Agnes,
Yes, what happens when people, myself included, create an itinerary for a new city, we want to see it all, pack the days, because we don't know when we will return. So a holiday can turn into a checklist that somehow, if we don't complete it, makes it seem like we somehow "wasted" part of the vacation..."what, didn't see the Louvre and Mona Lisa???, we can go tomorrow at 9:45AM, and then..." For myself, I'm always thinking of Paris, and I know I'll be back, and if life goes well, perhpas live there too...

Place de la Bastille has a few nice outdoor cafes for lunch, the Opera house, a market nearby...

...and it's been a pleasure to talk about your trip...if ever you need a french speaking guide, my rates are rock bottom :)

Hi Agnes,

Some gardens in Paris:

Parc Monceau - goes back about 300 years - metro Monceau.

Jardin des Plantes - metro Jussieu - not far from the Arenes de Lutece, a 1st C Roman ampitheater and the

Jardin de Navarre - a very formal square.

Place des vosges - Metro Bastille - built around 1615.

Hope this helps.

((I))

When you're in Montmartre, do visit the Musee Montremartre. It's in a little house that was inhabited by many artists. Has a charming little garden, and a wonderful gift shop. It's not expensive, is small, and "doable" in an hour. It overlooks the small vineyard in Montmartre. It's not too far from Sacre Coeur, and people don't know about it, so it's not crowded (in my experience). I've been living in Paris for 5 months and I love the small intimate museums. The art is very representative of the "bohemian" life of the artists in that area in the late 1800s.
Have fun!
Zamba

I also plan very detailed trips so I think your schedule looks fine. The others have provided great transit info so I am just adding my HO.

Do take the bus as much as possible - 42 is a good suggestion.

I find the walk from M° Concorde to the Arch de triomphe boring in the beginning; maybe take the bus partway ie across the place...

Musée d'Orsay DOES have an article (in French); you are correct ;)

The Cluny Museum is my all time favourite museum, it's small and the tapestry is wonderful (very French and close to your base).

I like Versailles; they will have special water and night shows on the 15th.

I would change your Wednesday schedule to Friday IF you want to see the parade, fireworks etc.

Do sneak a peak at the Eiffel tower (the view from Trocodaro is great) before the crowds on Friday though.

Visit any big site as early in the morning as possible, then spend the rest of the day strolling.

I prefer Sacre Coeur in the morning unless you are planning to hang out at the bars at night.

Everybody,
Thank you soo much :)

MIKE: Are you going to be in Paris in July? Just asking, in case we do need a guide. Please, share your contact AND rate info (whichever contact info you are comfortable sharing.) We will be staying in the 6th at Hotel Le Clement.
My email address is: [email protected] (THANK YOU)

Imelda, I want to go to Verseille on Saturday because this is the day when the fountains are on (supposedly), and it was suggested.
Parades and fireworks are not of interest to me.

Anthony, I do know Bastille is long gone;) - that is why I was asking if it makes sense to go in this direction,

OR: SHOULD I CHOOSE a different route through Marais (from the Islands - Pont Marie or Pont Sully.)???
Maybe there is a better way from Place de Vosges through Marais to Pompidou Place Vendome?

Moxie, thank you for the reassurance:)
I was getting overwhelmed, as I mentioned.

Zalma, I might stop by at the small museum in Montmartre.

EVERYBODY,
Thank you again.

Saturday is a GREAT day to visit Verseille! Get there EARLY! Lines will be LONG!!! It opens at 9am (I think). i would get there 30 mins before opening. Visit the rooms first (try to get an audioguide).

Then visit the gardens. The fountains & music will start playing at about 11 or 11:30am. Take the tram (it's cheaper than the horse-drawn carriages) to the lower gardens. GREAT photo opportunities in the gardens!!!

I'm looking at October. Funny...no I'm not a guide, just a devotee of Paris. My low rates (when I'm not planning on going) are simply a flight and hotel room ;), otherwise if I'm there, a cafe creme!

From Place de la Bastille, you could go down St Antoine, then do side trips to Voges, Village St Paul, Carnavelet (nice old mansion, turned into a museum) and from there on to Pompidou. From there back to the Seine to see Hotel de Ville (nice City Hall building) or carry on to Les Halles which is a park with lots to see.

Michel,
If money was no object, it would be a pleasure to fly you there:)
Too bad you are not going to be there in July :(
Thank you for all the valuable info.
I truly appreciate your time,
And, of course, everybody else's time.

Travelinsue,
I will try to be in Verseille early. I hope that I can avoid the longest lines by purchasing a museum pass.

Everybody, who responded to my posting, thank you.
IF ANYTHING ELSE comes to mind, please, let me know.
Agnes

Not to start an argument, but below is copied straight from the museum website: Musée d'Orsay

The Orsay is open late on Thursdays. That is usually a nice time to go. (Last Thursday was not because it was the last days of a special exhibition, but usually it is.) Going then might free up some time for you.

Just so you know, since you mentioned the Orangerie...I went there last Thursday and the line was TWO HOURS LONG. That was without a museum pass. There was a reservations line, but I do not know if that included a museum pass or was only for advance internet reservations. I have to say, I enjoy the Musee Marmatton more than the Orangerie.

I went to Versailles for the first time last Friday and loved it. I bought the 'forfait' one-day pass (available at RER stations) which was a great deal.

Well, I might re-think my itinerary and go to museums in the evening, but I am conerned that at the end of the day I may not have the will;)
I may be tired from all this walking.
I am willing to stand in line not more than 30-45 minutes - I will not change my mind even for the Louvre. So, I will buy a museum pass and hope that the wait should not exceed 40, maybe 50 minutes max.
Agnes