thereyet

I have seen this mentioned before, and have never been to Paris, but is this a realistic day trip from London?

Beside the expense, would it be just too hectic to enjoy?

My DW and son are skeptical about France in general, and I think this might be one way to get them over it...or not.

If you went, what would be your top three destinations for a taste of Paris?

Would you venture to Versailles, or just stick to the Louves and other places in Central Paris?

Just wondering.

thereyet

greg

Yes, it costs money. Whether it would be hectic is how you plan the trip. The trip to Paris is not inherently hectic.

Versailles is a tough one. It is a full day trip even if you start from Paris. It would be an hectic trip no matter how you plan it.

You did not indicate in what way your DW and son are skeptical about France. I have no shortage of acquaintances who do not believe there is anything worth going to France for.

None of them have ever been to outside the U.S.

scrb

Well you can't make them like it.

What are they skeptical of, better weather, cheaper prices?

thereyet

Well, to be diplomatic...my son has pre-conceived notions of the French, based solely on one stop over at CDG.

The cost is not the major concern.

We will likely do one day trip, and I am just wondering if this would be the "richest" one as far as experience is concerned.

If we did do this, what would be the top three things to see in such a short period of time (ten hours or so).

And I am not talking about leisurely sightseeing. Think more whirlwind.

thereyet

thereyet

The "better weather, cheaper prices" is a really great start.

thereyet

thereyet

Honestly, for DW it is the language barrier...I think.

thereyet

greg

Language barrier, hmm, I thought I had more language problems in London; I needed to remember to order a lemonade when I wanted a 7-up and crisps when I wanted potato chips

Top three?

Top three museums.
Top three restaurants.
Top three cafes.
Top three parks.
Top three shopping areas.
Top three walks.
Top three boat rides.
Top three cathedrals.
Top three popular tourist sites (by visitor count, by travel writers, etc)

For such a short time, you need to focus visit to match your interests, between site travel time considerations, day of week and time of the year considerations affecting closures, etc.

I don't know how old is your son. Is older than 50? I wouldn't fight my kid's preconceived-notions. They would want to find it out themselves.

kerouac

Top 3?

I think I would go with Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower and Sacré Coeur for 3 completely different ambiences of Paris. If the day is sunny, the Sainte Chapelle should be visited as well, as it is very close to Notre Dame. Any extra time should be used just walking around, for example in the Tuileries gardens.

nancicita

Yes it is possible to do a day in Paris (from London) but you would have a very tight itinerary and the only type of experience you could get from one day is the

"I was at the Eiffel tower for 30 minutes before I went to the Louvre, saw that the line was too long, and decided to go to the Musee d'Orsay and realized that it was closed because it was Monday. So then I thought of walking down the Champs Elysee to see the Arc de Triomphe but then it was lunch time so we decided for lunch on the boulevard where unfortunately all the restaurants are over-priced and with waiters who didn't speak English (which probably would feed your son's skepticism towards the French). Since we didn't know the area well, and we didn't speak any French, we settled for the expensive touristy restaurant for our meal. After lunch we took the metro and walked to the Montmartre, lugging our luggage uphill to the Sacré Cœur (we forgot to keep our luggage in a locker at the train station), and stood at the top of the steps of the basilica while worrying about pickpockets on the walk back down. Meanwhile, we decided to do a "side-trip" to Versailles so we ran back to the metro station, purchased tickets to Versailles, and got there right before it was closed at 6pm. We missed the last English tour, so we hurried quickly through the beautiful château, took a couple of pictures to say that we went there, and rushed back to the train station to head back to Paris. By then, it was well-past dinner time, and since we had missed dinner, we decided to just eat at the train station while waiting for our train back to St. Pancras station. We wondered if we should have gone to Brussels for the DAY instead."

...type of experience.


Whirlwind? You are right!

scrb

I don't know depending on when you arrive, you could be in queues for a long time.

I guess you could try to buy tickets in advance for venues like the Louvre, which would let you cut into lines.

Can't imagine the lines at the Eiffel Tour could be avoided.

Champs Elysee looks good but it's not the real Paris. One of the most stunning views is the Invalides as seen from the bridge. A walk along the river (criss-crossing it) from say the Champs de Mars to Ile de la Cite would be much better.

And Sacre Coeur is not one of the best moments in history.

zeppole

I think you are well advised to skip it. If your son came to conclusions about the French during a layover, he is likely to have his negative impressions intensified with an attempt to get anything out of Paris on a day trip of the sort you are mulling.

JayMazz

IMO, I don’t think a day trip to Paris would be a series of follies as listed above, nor do I think you should skip it b/c it is only ONE DAY.

If you plan your time for the day based on when you arrive and depart you should be able to catch a whirlwind self guided day tour (as you wish) and be able to do it successfully. If at any time you are feeling it is too hectic, stop and hang out at a café. You are obviously on your way to good planning if you are checking things out ahead of time online; loose planning would be key and a back up list would help you.

I would stay away from both Versailles and Louvre b/c they are time consumers unless they are #1 and #2 on your lifetime list of must experience.

My best guess is to plan for a city hike and use the metro when needed. You will get your whirlwind tour and a slightly spontaneous tour of the city at the same time.

Are you asking for what others would recommend? You mentioned the top three, but like Greg mentioned above I think most ppl would need you to narrow things down by telling more about yourself & family. Then others could toss out some ideas.

If I only had 10 hours in Paris I would…
cry b/c I only had 10 hours, but that would waste time,
pay homage to the Eiffel tower from afar,
hang in the Marais and have a small lunch of pâté en croûte and a glass of 1664,
spend a couple hours at a “smaller”/less popular museum that I would pick at random BEFORE departing for Paris (Pompidou, Rodin, or d’Orsay would work),
strike up a conversation with someone anywhere (or at least try if your French is broken) and enjoy the experience,
buy a pashmina off the street and wonder if the content label is accurate but wear it with gusto either way if it isn't too warm outside,
buy a red balloon and photograph it in an alleyway in the 20th,
walk walk walk… and let Paris unfold before me!

I already know what I like and don’t like about Paris (admittedly the “like” list is much longer than the “don’t like” list), so it is hard for me to imagine it being my first time AND only having 10 hours.

~Jay

BKP

We did Paris as a daytrip from London with my parents and really enjoyed it. We decided to do it last minute so we flew but if you plan in advance I think taking the train is a better option -- less time, money and hassle getting to and from the airports.

We were towing a 3 year old with us but we still managed to see Notre Dame, the Tuilleries, the Champs Elysees, the Arc de Triomphe (which we climbed), walked along the Seine, the Jardin de Luxembourg, the Eiffel Tower and two of my favorite patisseries, Gerard Mulot and Lauderee.

It was a beautiful day so we spent most of our time outside just strolling. If we didn't have my son we would have stopped by an art museum -- the D'Orsay not the Louvre though.

I think the trick to doing a whirlwind day, for me, is to stay well fed and well hydrated -- and that is easy to do in Paris! Know what you want to see in advance and make a plan.
Have fun!

thereyet

<<Are you asking for what others would recommend?>>

Exactly. Since I have never been, I would like to know where YOU would go with YOUR tastes.

thereyet

avalon

I'd take the metro from Gare du Nord to St Michel. Walk across the bridge to Notre Dame, if sunny I might visit San Chapelle. Then either walk down along the Seine on the left bank, more interesting IMO than the right toward The Louvre. I wouldn't go in but just admire the courtyard and pyramid. Then head out thru the Tuileries toward the Arc de Triomphe. The Champs Elysee holds no interest to me so I'd probably catch a bus fron Pl Concorde stop to the arc. Go to the top of the Arc for a super view over paris that includes the Tower. From there I'd head to Trocadero and cross over the bridge there to the Tower and the Champs du Mars. You might make time for a visit to Napoleon's tube. From there it's a short walk to the Rodin. Even just visiting the gardens is a pleasure. Take time for some lunch and wine at a sidewalk terrace. Metro or bus back to Bastille and a stroll thru the Marais , stopping at Pl. de Vosges. By that time you'd probably have to head back for your return train

Go for it . A few hours in Paris is better than none at all and maybe you'll change a few minds and get back there soon

isabel

I agree with the others who say go for it. And I think kerouac's suggestion is very good.

I'd start at Notre Dame, it's free to go inside and no line. I probably would not spend the time to climb the tower with just one day. Walk around the Ile de la Cite, to the tip (Square du Vert Gallant), a park with great views. Then walk around to the back of Notre Dame and cross the bridge to the left bank and stroll down it a ways (even better views of Notre Dame), then cross the next bridge over to Ile St Louis. It's tiny, you can't get lost, just walk around and soak up the ambiance. Then cross the bridge to the right bank (Pont Marie) and stroll around the Marais for a while. You obviously should get a map before you go and kind of map out a route, but don't worry about sticking to it too closely. I would spend about three hours in this area.

Then take the metro to Montmartre where Sacre Coeur is located. Spend a couple of hours walking the streets of Montmartre, have lunch.

Then take the metro to the Eiffle Tower. I would end the day there. If you have time I'd either go to the Musee D'Orsay for an hour (way too short, but if you only have a day...) and then walk across Pont Alexander and up to the Eiffle Tower - or- I'd go to the Arc du Triomphe and then walk to the Eiffle Tower. I personally don't care too much for the Arc du Triomphe and Champs Elysees area but alot of people don't feel they've seen Paris without it.

This is not how I would spend one day in Paris, but I've been quite a few times. This is how I would suggest someone who has never been spend the day.

zeppole

I'm surprised no one has suggested taking the batobus on the seine as a very pleasant way to take in many of the sights.

Some places I would skip on a short visit to Paris: Sacre Couer, Montmartre, going up the Eiffel Tower (I'd just look at it from the river). No museums or the Champs Elysees or Les Invalides (Napoleon's tomb).

I would take taxis over taking the Metro just to stay above ground and see things.

zeppole

but PS: I still wouldn't go for a day, unless I just did the glamorous thing of going for lunch, with no other plans.

Nikki

Lots of good ideas here. I would avoid anything that has a long line, unless you are dying to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower. I think it's enough of a thrill to see it from afar. I would go to Sainte Chapelle, even if it isn't sunny, because I remember seeing the slides in French class in high school and being blown away by the beautiful stained glass. Not quite the same if it isn't sunny, but still beautiful, and you're only there for the one day. And while in the neighborhood, I would go to Notre Dame.

I would not go to Versailles. That would eat up too big a chunk of your day, and I'm not really a big fan of palaces anyway. Your mileage may vary.

I would eat French food.

I would go to the Musee d'Orsay. While it is not small and uncrowded (at all!), it is more manageable than the Louvre and contains art which is mostly French and of the style that many people find most accessible. And the setting in a former train station is stunning. If you are not a big fan of Impressionist art, however, I would skip it. If you do go, I would get tickets or the museum pass ahead of time to avoid the line.

If you love modern and contemporary art, the Pompidou Centre is fun and there is a great view from the external escalators, as well as street performers and the amusing Stravinsky fountain. But I would not go to more than one museum.

I would walk around a charming neighborhood, likely the Marais, where the old street patterns were not reconstructed into the wide boulevards found in most of Paris.

I would eat French food. Yes, I know I said that already, but you're there for ten hours, you should do it twice.

kerouac

If you do want to go up the Eiffel Tower, consider this before you think about getting in line: <b>is it a clear day or not?</b>