Hi Everyone

I am going to Paris next week and was wondering about my schedule
Sunday - Flea Market do you know of any where to go?

Monday - Mini bus tour of Paris, Montarnasse Towers sightseeing.

Tues> Grand Louvre 1/2 day guided tour
Orsay Museum 1/2 day guided tour

Wed. Checking out Parisian Program
Market, cooking lunch, shopping for clothers, and tea.

Thurs.Illuminaton of Paris, cruise and city drive mini bus at night to see the lights

Friday: Versailles 1/2 tour

Sat. Early train to London, hop on hop off tour, river ride, shopping back on train
back to Paris.

Sun. Leave for USA

Just for a start, the Louvre is closed on Tuesday.

Are you disabled? I don't understand all of the minibus business.

Hi

My wife and I went to Paris last year. Here is a trip report with pictures and links http://gardkarlsen.com/Paris_France.htm . Maybe you can find some useful information there Have a great trip to Paris.

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

For the flea market you can go to the enormous permanent flea market at the Puces de St-Ouen by taking the metro to Porte de Clignancourt. Leave the metro station and walk under the Peripherique highway, pass the vendors selling clothes and stuff, that's not the real flea market. Turn left on rue des Rosiers.

From rue des Rosiers you can turn right into the winding alleys of the Marche Vernaison, or go left on rue Paul Bert and then right into the Marche Paul Bert, for two options. There are outdoor stalls with more affordable and vintage stuff, and also many indoor shops here that sell higher end merchandise.

For lots of information, history and maps, go to the flea market web site:
http://www.parispuces.com/en/Default.asp.

For a more temporary flea market set up on tables, go to the Porte de Vanves. There is not the breadth of offerings you find at Clignancourt, but there is a fun atmosphere and plenty to look at.

Do not expect any bargains at either venue.

I've a question. Do you mean Montparnesse Tower or Montmartre church? The Tower is neat to take an elevator to the top and gasp at great views for oh...about 25 minutes, unless you're there at a lovely sunset.

You're blessed being able to go for whatever reasons...I'm envious! <GRIN>
Enjoy a fabulous trip!

We leave for Paris in 13 days. This will be our first visit to the city of lights (7 days and 6 nights) and I sure hope we see more of the city then your "schedule" I bought us public transportation passes so we would not be tied down to a mini bus tour. Just a few Euros.. a bus ticket and the dreams of a life time that we're finally there.

You seem to have many tours arranged. I don't really think you will see as much this way. And you will spend a LOT of money. Especially the "illumination" tour.Just my opinion.
The vanves flea market will be closed by noon. If you are arriving Sunday it isn't worth it to go to Clingnancourt.
I think I am getting the impression that this is a "highlights" tour--as in "I went to Paris and London and saw the Eiffel Tower and Big Ben. Oh, yes, and Versailles too".
In a nutshell, your "schedule" is poor for enjoying a wonderful city.

Ill take a swag at this

One of the best ways of seeing Paris...is on foot. And one of the best ways of absorbing Paris..is freqeunt cafe breaks.

So, as one change, if you really want guided tours, I'd pick Paris Walks and do one or more of their very good walks.

Skip Monparnasse. Not worth your while to spend time going there...if you want view of Paris, go up Eiffel Tower or go to Montrmartre/Sacre Coeur.

You can easily do a tour of Louvre and Orsay..,.for example Rick Steves guide book has a Louvre toru that many here have used.

What's a Parisian Program Market?

No to a nighttime minubs tour. As ohters stated, unless it is a mobility issue, or that you have $$$ to burn. For a cruise, go to Vedettes du Pont Neuf on the west end of Ile de la Cite. You can print a discount ticket online. Or, if you go to Place D'Alma, there are larger tour boats there. For Eiffel at night, take Metro to Trocadero, then walk between Palais Chaillot buildings and wham, there is Eiffel tower, twinkling (or stay till it is!).

Versailles...OK for tour. But you could do ti cheaper on your own (take RER, buy a forfait loisir ticketing package), get there before tour buses, spend time in gardens, and be back...on your own schedule.

So..I see no Eiffel Tower on your list, no Maris, no Places des Vosges, no Palais Royale, no Notre Dame, no Ile St Louis, no wandering down blvd St Germain, no Champs Elysee (not a must but..) no Seine walks...

Hi Bonsoir,
I see from another thread that you are traveling with your 85 year old mother. If that is correct, tnen you may want to do the hop on hop off bus Paris. You can do the 2 or 3 day one. This would get you to the sights you are missing as well as provide a little commentary.

My mother really enjoyed the Lido, its expensive but she just loved it.

Also don't be afraid to take taxi's if you need to, they really do not cost too much.

I would just do one of the river cruises at night and skip the illumination tour.

Have a great trip! We will also be there next week.

Ah, that changes things a lot. How mobile is she?

I'm not sure I'd do both the Louvre and Orsay in one day. You could easily be museumed out after the Louvre and I'd want a clear head to savor the Orsay on its own. Particularly if you're doing guided tours, you're kind of stuck to their timetable and paying attention to what they are saying, which can be overwhelming even to the most interested of us.

There's nothing wrong with minibus tours. Even if you could (which you can't), doing the two major museums in one day would be a bad idea. Not sure about the sightseeing on Monday -- sightseeing in general, or around the Montparnasse tower? It's not that exciting around there compared to some areas you might want to do more sightseeing instead (like the islands, Latin Qtr or some other historic areas). The Tower can be fun just to go up to look at the view and probably not as much of a line as the Eiffel Tower for that.

I think the Illumination of Paris drive is a good idea. I know I've read several posts on here by folks who really enjoyed that. I even thought of doing it myself but haven't gotten around to it as I go in summer and it's very late when dark. There really isn't any other way to do that (see a lot of the lit buildings at night). You see a lot more than you would even on the Seine night cruises, of course, because they only go by the buildings by the river.

Going to the 58th floor of the Tour Montparnasse will use up 90 minutes maximum (more like 45 minutes). It is very nice to go at night.