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.

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.

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