We've been planning our first trip to London and Paris for some time now, based on all the good advice from Fodor's. We're now at the end of the first half of our trip in London, and we're absolutely exhausted! We still have another six days in Paris ahead of us, which we're really looking forward to, but we're now realizing that it's crazy to be running around trying to cram as many sites into our trip as possible. Each stop in our London trip has been absolutely wonderful, but we're realizing that we need to be a little more reasonable to truly enjoy our stay in Paris. Can you please help us with a mellow itinerary for a first-timer... one that gives us a taste of the wonders of the City but still leaves us some time to just sit in a park and watch the world go by? (We're staying by the Musee d'Orsay). Thank you.

Nancy - we were so exhausted on our first time to Europe I swore I needed a vacation when I got home. I understand your pain. It is so hard when we want to do it all - being so excited!

What did you have in mind for your time in Paris?

I have only been once and planning a 10 night stay in December of this year so I will defer to the others on the board that are always so fantastic.

My only recommendation would be to not have a plan... sounds hard right? I would find out when the opening/closing times are for the things "on the list" and then play it day by day...

Take your guide book, highlight some of the things you would like to see, and then just play it by ear. Wake up in the morning, check the weather, and then decide over a leisurely breakfast where the day may take you. maybe start with a cruise along the Seine - a relaxing way to see some sights and get an idea of what is around.

Did you make a Paris itinerary that we could see and comment on?

Plan one ting in the morning and one thing in the afternoon.

Leave yourself time to sit down and have lunch in a pretty cafe.

AS you're traveling around the city if you see a cute street or area just go and explore it. Find a cafe, sit down, have a drink and spend an hour watching the world go by.

Go back to the hotel and relax, shower and change before going out to dinner.

Just don;t schedule so much - and you will enjoy everything more.

(Paris has been there for more than 2000 years. It's not going anywhere and you WILL be able to go back.)

visit ONLY one place a day :
museum, gallery , church ,etc.
Paris is a big city with numerous attractions ( after more than 20 visits, I still have a lot to see )

The rest of time walk around, sit in cafes, look at people and relax.
You'll be back!

I agree with 1 sight for AM and 1 sight for PM.

Just make sure you group the sights by the proximity to each other.

Also check the opening times/days for the sights before heading over.

I think you can do a little more than &quot;one sight&quot; am and pm, if you organize <b>a good mixture of the <i>types</i> of sights</b>. In other words, the Louvre followed by a stroll thru the Tuileries to Place de la Concorde. That is 3 sights but no strain to do.

Another might be the small-but-lovely Musee Rodin joined with a picnic/nap at Champ de Mars (Eiffel gazes). That's 2 sights with built-in relaxation.

I never make a real itinerary. I only put together the things I want to see and the hours they are open. If I have tickets for concerts or theater or whatever, those are the only things marked in for a definite time. Then I play the rest of it by ear, depending on how I feel. Sometimes that will make for very busy days, sometimes very relaxed ones.

I agress with danon. Every day plan one place to visit and one place to chill out.

On day 4 of our 5 days in Paris, I had minor culture meltdown, partly from exhaustion, I think. After that I decided that instead of rushing from a place where Parisians were relaxing (e.g., Tuileries) to another place that Parisians were relaxing (Champs de Mar), I would actually go to one and sit and relax like they were! One of the most enjoyable times we had was, on Friday night, we wandered over to the Louvre courtyard(s), and spent an hour or so just watching the people enjoying the nice weather and hanging out.

&quot;agree&quot; not &quot;agress&quot;

eesh! my proofreading skills are shot!