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Help me plan what to do with what in Paris....
We are now trying to plan what to do each day In Paris...We don't want to plan to the minute what to do but we want to have a structure of what to group together for each day.
We have 10 full days in Paris but the first day we only plan to settle into our apartment in the 15th and buy some groceries and do some laundry as we will have been in France for over a week by this point. Day 2 and 3 we will have tickets for the Hop On Hop off bus (L'Open Tour) and this is when we plan to try to do some of the smaller things on our list. So for Day 4 to 10 we would like your help to group these sites in manageable bites. We figure one of these days to be solely taken for Versailles. So if anyone wants to take a stab at filling the other 6 days, please....we are open to suggestions. Here is a list of the activities we would like to do if time permits. (we are a couple in our late 30's) I know this is asking a lot...but we would really appreciate any expert advice you can give us. -Night cruise on the Seine -Eiffel Tower in late afternoon and into the early evening -Pere Lachaise cemetery -Notre Dame -Sacré Coeur and area -Le Louvre -Le Musée Orsay -Centre Georges Pompidou -Rodin Museum and Garden -Sainte Chapelle -Saint Séverin -Saint Sulpice -Walk along les Champs Elyssées -Arche De Triomphe -Catacombs Is this feasible in 6 days? Is anything on this list that you would do on the Hop On/Off bus days? We were going to use the Open Tour to get acquainted with the City but we can do a few things on those days. We are looking for a relaxed but fulfilling vacation. If anyone can give us their reasons why they would group certain things together, that would be WONDERFUL... |
When are you going to Paris? That would help in making recommendations on what to do.
Notre Dame is about two blocks from Sainte Chappelle so you can visit them together. Go to Sainte Chappelle and the Rodin garden on a sunny day. If you go to Saint Sulpice on a Sunday you can hear the organ - which I highly recommend as a real treat. There may be special concerts at this and other Paris churches that you can be on the lookout for. The lines at the Eiffel Tower are almost always humungous. I got there a few minutes after it opens at 9AM and only had to wait about 20 minutes to get a ticket. Then I went straight to the top before it got too crowded. I hope this helps. |
sorry...I forgot to mention it's for October.
We would be flying home on November 2nd. |
You can easily do these sights in 6 days and perhaps more than you have on your list.
First you need to get a map of Paris (I use Streetwise Paris) and flag each sight. Then you'll have a better understanding of where you're going. Notre Dame, Ste-Chappelle, St-Severin are all near each other. Why St-Severin? Add St-Julien-le-Pauvre to the list as it's around the corner from St-Severin. If you're interested in medieval art add the cluny museum (lady and the unicorn tapestries, stained glass, heads from notre dame, etc.). Also add the Deportation Memorial and possibly the Concieragerie. I would split up the museums into different days, if possible. The Rodin and the Orsay are near each other and the Rodin is small so you might be able to do these together w/o overload. The Rodin has a lovely garden and cafe to relax in between museums. When you're at Beaubourg I would explore other things in the Marais. Picasso, Carnavelet, Lock and Key Museums, and lots more. Also some nice churches in the area. Maybe take a walking tour. Arch, Champs-Elysees, Louvre are in a straight line and you can walk from the Arch to the Louvre. After the C-E walk through the Tuileries to the Louvre. Pere Lachaise is off by itself as are the catacombs. You can combine Pere Lachaise with Montmartre and Sacre Coeur. And you need to find time for the Orsay. Anyway...get a map and plot these things. Decide what is the most important and when things are open. I've never had a desire to do a HOHO bus anywhere so can't help you there but you can check the routes on their web site. My opinions is that I would never spend 2 days on a bus. Part of the wonderfulness of Paris is walking. |
Aren't you going to visit Deyolle? Hediard? Galleries Lafayette? Laduree?
Colette? I hope you are and dear wife (or husband if you are a gay couple) are going to wear beautiful coats in Paris. Do you want any fashion advice from Thin? Thingorjus |
Do Versailles and the Eiffel Tower on the same day. I did this once and it worked out well. Get off the train and walk across the street to the RER C. You'll be at the ET in minutes.
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Forgot to answer about why group things together. The only answer that makes sense is to group things geographically (same as any place else) so you're not wandering around helter skelter and losing time getting around.
If you go to the Eiffel Tower in the evening the lines will be shorter. |
Quote..."Aren't you going to visit Deyolle? Hediard? Galleries Lafayette? Laduree?
Colette? I hope you are and dear wife (or husband if you are a gay couple) are going to wear beautiful coats in Paris. Do you want any fashion advice from Thin? Thingorjus" What on earth was this about...???? Have I offended you in any way? Weird |
Oh, and BTW...I am female. I am a photog who collects teddy bears so that is where my name comes from...Hubby and I will not be wearing Pretty Coats in Paris...LOL
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You have the nerve to call me weird??????????
You are now in Fodor's Siberia. You are on permanent ignore. The Great and Powerful Thingorjus |
Thank goodness....I thought it would be harder to get rid of you...Whewwww.
Now, back to the regularly scheduled program...LOL |
You can do all that you have listed and more in 6 days without turning this into an expedition. I did that much in the past three days, and apart from the fact that I wore through the soles on one pair of sandals logging about 13 miles a day on foot, it wasn't exhausting. And I've got two decades on you.
Just get a super-detailed map (I like the Paris par Arrondissement or Plans de Paris books) and plot your routes so you group things that are close by (or, better yet, on the same métro or linking lines, or same or linking bus lines). Do wear pretty coats. It's so much fun to look nice in Paris, even if your sandals are falling apart. |
You could even add the wonderful Musée Jacquemart-André to the mix. THe museum is part of a beautiful old mansion, and the collection (even some Rembrandts) is simply amazing. The café is a good place for breakfast or lunch, and getting to the museum will let you see some of the Haussmann grands boulevards.
The conciergerie is quite close to Notre-Dame and is worth a short visit. The déportation memorial is just behind the church and is extremely moving. You can only see the interior behind a grille; so it doesn't take a long time. |
To help you organize your days, look at ACCESS Paris, a guidebook which is arranged by neighbourhoods. Each chapter starts with a map and the numbers next to the entries correspond to the number on the map. The text is colour coded to the kind of place it describes: restaurants, hotels, shops, sights, parks. At a glance, you can identify what is in the neighbourhood(s) you want to visit. From there you can map out your day.
As suggested, it is much more efficient to go to the sights that are close together or are easily connected by metro or bus. BTW - I always take ACCESS Paris when I travel. Good luck with your planning! 2010 |
Personally, I would skip the catacombs, which is of no particular historic interest.
You will probably see the Arc several times, bopping about Paris, no need to make a point of seeing it. It is nice to see the Eiffel Tower, but there is no need to stand in line to go up it. I would also skip a night tour on the Seine unless you feel in need of guided tours. Use the Batobus instead. Walking along the Champs Elysees is more fun at night than in the day, and even then, not all that much fun. It's more fun to walk along the Seine. Apart from D'Orsay, I would visit museums at night, when they are less crowded. Things not on your list that I think are unique to Paris: The Musee Marmottan Monet (in the 15th) Basilica St Denis (combine with Sacre Couer) Jardin des Luxembourg The Passages (for rainy days) http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/11/tr...S_GRAPHIC.html I can appreciate a desire to do laundry after a week of travel, but if you get to Paris and the first and only thing you want to do is laundry, something is terribly amiss! |
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I was scolded on another thread for failing to note that the history of the catacombs includes their use in WWII by Nazis and Resistance fighters. Those with an interest in that aspect of Parisian should know, however, that the areas used by the Nazis are, as far as I know, not open to public view.
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Quote"Personally, I would skip the catacombs, which is of no particular historic interest.
You will probably see the Arc several times, bopping about Paris, no need to make a point of seeing it. It is nice to see the Eiffel Tower, but there is no need to stand in line to go up it. I would also skip a night tour on the Seine unless you feel in need of guided tours. Use the Batobus instead. Walking along the Champs Elysees is more fun at night than in the day, and even then, not all that much fun. It's more fun to walk along the Seine. Apart from D'Orsay, I would visit museums at night, when they are less crowded. Things not on your list that I think are unique to Paris: The Musee Marmottan Monet (in the 15th) Basilica St Denis (combine with Sacre Couer) Jardin des Luxembourg The Passages (for rainy days) http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/11/tr...S_GRAPHIC.html I can appreciate a desire to do laundry after a week of travel, but if you get to Paris and the first and only thing you want to do is laundry, something is terribly amiss! "end quote... Actually, We REALLY do want to see the Catacombs. I think it would be very interesting as well as a unique things to do. We really want to see the view from A top the arche so it's a must do for us. Since it's my husband's first trip to Paris, I think he would be very disappointed if we did not go up the tower... I was just hoping people would give me a few examples of days they did and what they grouped together...I think our list is valid. These are the things we decided to do with our vacation. I guess everyone is different. |
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