I'm with HappyTrvir on this one. I can't conceive of having only three hours anywhere, but Paris?

How can a cruise ship even suggest that they are taking their passengers ro Paris with this 3 hour option? That cruise is a total rip off.

If you are happy to walk:

Through Tuilleries to the forecourt of the Louvre; out to Rue de Rivoli; walk along here the continue along rue St Antoine to the beautiful Hotel de Sully near St Paul in the Marais. Walk through the Hotel de Sully , and exit via the back corner into the magnifcent Place des Vosges.

Wander and wonder at the magnificence of this square, then exit back to rue St Antoine.

Head back to St Paul area taking any of the streets on your left but keep moving towards the Hotel de Ville (grab a map or look on Google). From here, go to the Seine and admire the incredible view. Cross a bridge to Ille de Cite. Enter Notre Dame - enjoy! Others on here will say that you should also see St Chapelle if it is sunny.

Cross to the Left Bank - wander back towards Tuilleries while ou observe the great sweep of central Paris, and browse at the market stalls set up along the River.

Cross the River at Pont Neuf and make your way back to Place de la Concorde.

(You will, of course, have paused for coffees, pastries, atc as appropriate or required on the way!!)

Boy, is this a signal to why a "cruise" in Europe sucks bigtime! Me? I'd would SO miss the re-embarking and let the ship go on wherever it's bound. Bye-bye!

Ste Chapelle was my first thought. Definitely NOT a waste of time indoors (as longs as it's sunny).

http://sainte-chapelle.monuments-nationaux.fr

After I shed a few tears because I only have three hours in Paris, :(( I would console myself with a gelato as I strolled along the Seine, all the while plotting how to accidentally 'miss' my bus back to the ship..sniff, sniff

Drink Champagne at Café de Flore, and then pop into LV.

From place de la Concorde I wiould cross the Seine and and make my way to Musee Rodin, one of my favourite small museums in Paris.

You would then have time to stroll through the Tuileries and visit l'orangerie.

I like bendigo's ideas too.

I couldn't sit in a cafe or a garden for 3 hours knowing that all of Paris was at my feet.

The queue for st chapelle can be really, really long, no offence, but I don't think it's a good idea in this instance.

OK - skip Ste Chapelle, and instead pop into Shakespeare and Co, buy a copy of Arthur Miller's "Tropic of Cancer" (that you should get them to stamp). When you are back on that cruise ship you can read the book and realise what you could have done if only you'd stayed in Paris longer!

>>if you had three hours in Paris what would you do? <<

Walk around the streets, talking to Julie Delpy's character, Céline...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Before_sunset

Great idea bendigo!

I love this thread. I've never been to Paris and have often wondered what all the fuss is about. The big attractions one reads about in tourist brochures I often find anticlimatic and not worth the crowds and time standing in lines. But you have given an intimate view of Paris and its charms and I'd happily spend three hours there, given the chance.

<i><font color=#555555>"That cruise is a total rip off."</font></i>

<i><font color=#555555>"Boy, is this a signal to why a "cruise" in Europe sucks bigtime!"</font></i>

You sure do have to wonder why some people come here to comment, year after year, day after day. What exactly is their motivation? Their joy? Maybe I'm going blind, but I simply can't see one atom of helpful advice in the comments above.

I know from experience, if you spend too much time on these boards, you can begin to feel you own them. And with playpen ownership, you risk thinking every fellow playpal should do as you do, since you've anointed yourself "leader." That's not being helpful. That's being selfish, self-absorbed, and self-indulgent.

I come from a family of boaters, but it would never occur to me to take a cruise. But that's me. I know many people who love cruising, especially those Seabourn excursions. Everyone who cruises knows, you get a limited amount of time in some ports.

Some people on this board think Paris is heaven. I've owned property in Paris and I've been working there for almost 30 years, so my perception of the city is more grounded. I know too many Parisians who are very unhappy with their life in that city that rarely changes.

Yes, if the weather is good, sitting outdoors and savoring some goodies as you people watch can be a fun way to kill three hours. If the weather is not good, I would treat myself to a fabulous lunch or treat my eyes to some really great art. If you know how to organize your time and take advantage of opportunity, three hours can offer a ton of joy in Paris.

Good luck deciding.

Another vote for incorporating a short visit to the Musee de L'Orangerie into your day. Given your time constraints, I would just go to see Monet's Water Lillies, which are spectacular, and not try to see the rest of the museum. The msueum is not large, but that will give you time to do some of the other suggested things.

sallyky,
Whatever you decide to do, just relax and don't race around, as I fear this will give you an unfavorable first impression of Paris.

Think of these three hours as a little taste of Paris. Hopefully this quick visit will just whet your appetite for a return visit, when you can fully understand why so many of us here have fallen in love with this city.

That bus tour you mention...are you on the bus the entire time?

If good weather, I'm very happy to get a nice meal at a terrace cafe...a pichet of wine...or just walk around and about.

I've a $1.00 you'll go back.

3 hours in Paris? that's like saying you can only have 3 bites of a succulent spit roasted rack of lamb prepared by a master chef. hmmmmmm... i'm liking the idea of a hop on hop off bus to get an overview. not a big fan of those but with so little time it's a convenient way to see a lot.

Bendingo made an itinerary for you; however, I think that it is too long for 3 hours. I would select some parts of it; I would not visit any museum in a so short time, but make sure to stay at a cafe, drink a Kir Royale and have a Barthillon ice cream.

Enjoy Paris

The trick is to do something so awesome that when you get home you will say, "When I was in Paris I . . ."

Suggestions: "Had a glass of champagne at a sidewalk cafe." (Or, even better, go with valtor's idea: Kir royale, which is champagne with cassis liqueur.)

"Found this little patisserie and got this fantastic . . ." (My choice would be a fruit tart or barquette aux marrons.)

"Took a ride on a ferris wheel."

Because you can't do much in 3 hours in a place you don't know, but you can do one cool thing!

My suggestions:

If you're not super paranoid about time first go to Ste. Chappelle (if it's sunny, as others have said). If you don't get lost it will be a nice 15-20 minute walk, mostly along the Seine. The security line can be long, though, but there's a chance you'd still have enough time to hit L'Orangerie--at minimum to see the Water Lilies. It's a small, easy-to-digest museum. Afterward, that would put you right back around where your bus should be.

If you want a more leisurely time, just go to L'Orangerie. They also have great exhibits in addition to their permanent collection. Also, unless you have a Museum Pass, the wait can be long to get into the L'Orangerie, so since the bus will drop you off there you can check out the situation first before deciding.

As much as I love the Marais, I wouldn't suggest it if you have a bus to catch. It's too easy to get lost in those windy streets if you're not familiar with the Marais.