I would like your comments on my proposed itinerary. We will arrive in Paris on October 14th and depart on October 18th so we will have most of day on Thursday and Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
Thursday- arrive CDG, van to hotel, check in and call Paris Walking for a 10:30AM walk around St Geramin des Pres area Then back to hotel for nap and then early dinner before an evening boat ride (Vedettes de Paris).
Friday- Take Cityrama Bus Tour for city orientation and lunch in area of Louvre which we will do short tour (2 hours?) and then to Ile de la Cite and Ile St Louis for usual sites. Return to St Germain area for dinner.
Saturday- breakfast at Les Deux Magots? Visit Markets in St Germain and rue Buci and then take Metro to Champs-Elysees and then refresh at hotel and early dinner with Eiffel Tower for tonight?
Sunday- breakfast in area of hotel and stroll to Luxembourg Gardens and then Metro to Montmarte. I have time left on Sunday PM and evening- suggestions for this and for my plan? Doable?

Hi oberost,

What hotel in the 6th?

Brakfast at Deux Magots will not be inexpensive.

YOu seem to be pretty heavy on St-Germain. I'd want to see something else, myself. It seems like you are mainly spending Thursday there and a lot of Saturday, also. I don't know what kind of markets you want to see there on Saturday, but I'd probably do something else myself.

I kind of wonder if you can do a 10:30 am walking tour of St Germain on the morning of your arrival. Are you coming from somewhere near France so you will be rather fresh and peppy? Some of those walking tours can be rather tiring if they last several hours and you are constantly on your feet for that time. Not sure who Paris Walking is, but Paris Walks doesn't require reservations.

I just wouldn't do your arrival thing, as you follow that two hour walk up with a nap for quite a while. I understand you may be tired and maybe this is your system for jet lag, but I think it might be better to do more laidback things that first day rather than an immediate 2 hr walking tour, but not crash all afternoon.

I suggest you add Musee D'Orsay and Ste. Chapelle to your list of sights to visit. Also, if you are staying in St. Germaine, you might want to have breakfast at Cafe Bonaparte one morning.

On your free evening I suggest you think about a boat trip on the Seine. Enjoy!

I agree with Christina, DO not think that St. Germaine is the top. The real Paris is not only there, I would spend more time in places like the Invalides area, the Etoile, the rue Rivoli, Place Vendome, well so many places.......the last time we were in Paris we stayed in St Germaine but frankly I found too many tourists, so we are going in November and we chose a hotel near Ecole Militaire mainly to enjoy many resonable but good restaurants at night and being close to the hotel. 

If you get to the hotel and the room is ready, do a short nap (2-3 hrs) and then press out all afternoon.

We do not take a nap upon arrival--and I know everyone is different. We leave our luggage, go to Metro and buy our Carte Orange or carnet and museum passes. By then it is about time for lunch so have some soup and salad. Walk around a bit--one trip we were with friends who had never been so we got on the l'Opentour bus for an overview. Even went to Paristoric. Then we have an early dinner at a brasserie and go to bed. By the next day we are pretty much on Paris time and ready to go.
I much prefer the Orsay to the Louvre but this is of course, also personal.
There are MANY really nice restaurants inthe 7th--near the Eiffel Tower, at that. For your Sunday evening dinner you might want to consider reservations as many are closed that night.
Ste. Chappelle would be in the area of Notre Dame so you could tack that on there.
And I think there is NO way you can do a walking tour at 10:30AM. You may not even be at your hotel by then quite honestly.

Thank you all for your prompt replies. What I wanted was construtive criticism and you all came through! Last time I was there (from USA) we took a bus ride and fell asleep so that is why I inserted a walk? We will arrive at CDG at 7:40AM. We are staying at Hotel Pas des Calais which is same hotel we stayed at last time. We could do a walk around St Germaine des Pres (on our own?) and forget about Paris Walks? We are taking our grandchild so question is do I cover most of the "must see sites" for her first trip to Paris?

Hi oberost,

>We could do a walk around St Germaine des Pres (on our own?) and forget about Paris Walks?

Surely.

>We are taking our grandchild so question is do I cover most of the "must see sites" for her first trip to Paris?<

For just 4 days, I think that you have a very nice plan.

I suggest the D'Orsay over the Louvre.

You will not be far from the Rue Bonaparte where two of the best pastry/chocolate shops are located: Pirre Hermes near St Sulpice and Laduree near the rue du Four.

There are many moderate-priced restaurants on Rue Guisard, off Pl St Sulpice.

How old is your grandchild?

A nap on the day of arrival pretty much ruins the entire trip for me - I never get on schedule. So I've learned to plan a first day that is not ambitious but that keeps me moving until about 10 pm. May not work for you, though.
In any case, I would not say that you have covered what I would consider the "must sees" for a first visit. Also, it seems to me that your days are pretty "light" - I would be packing a lot more in, but maybe that's just personal style. Saturday in particular seems pretty thin. Markets don't take that long to browse through, and the Champs Elysées can be walked down in about 10 minutes.
I would want to explore some other neighborhoods and sites - like Ste-Chapelle, the Musée d'Orsay, Les Invalides, the Marais, the Latin Quarter, the rue de Rivoli area, etc. Paris is a compact city. I think you can do more than you have planned, assuming you're up for it.

Some St Germain walks (self-guided):

http://www.paris-eiffel-tower-news.c...stsulpice.html

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34454443

We just returned from a week in Paris and the highlight for me were our walks and lunches at the Tulieries.

For part of Sunday, change venues and walk through the Marais area. Most shops are open (and busy!) and the area is charming. End with a walk through Ile St Louis for icecream, and a great view of Notre Dame.

The St. Chappelle must be seen when the sun is bright. You will know why after you see it.

Carte Orange is not useful for such a short stay -- use carnet tickets.

Pick up a guidebook that includes walking tours to help you decide some other areas to see. You don't mention any museums so I guess that's not your thing.

Plan an alternative day's plan for the day it is raining.

The great thing about Paris for tourists is that the easy walking and public transport means you can get anywhere easily. Don't lock yourself into a firm plan.

Well, far be it from me to correct Ira, who always gives such good information, but Laduree is actually on the corner of rue Bonaparte and rue Jacob. Wouldn't want you to miss those macaroons!

I agree that a walking tour immediately upon arrival is a bad idea. From your hotel I would suggest a walk to the river and on to the Tuileries/Louvre (don't go in) and a lunch in the area, preferably outdoors for the light, which helps minimize jet lag. After lunch a ride on the Vedettes du Pont Neuf and then a short nap if you need it. A little bit later dinner, and the day is done.

If you really want to visit the Champs Elysees, I'd do it one evening before going to the Eiffel Tower rather than take the time during the day. Better spend that time in the Marais/Palais Royale/Place des Vosges.

By the way, Oberost, can you tell me a bit about the Hotel Pas de Calais? Friends are staying there next month and I hope it's nice, as I suggested it for its location.

Shellio- this will be the second time we will have stayed at the Pas des Calais. Hope it is as nice as first time in summer 2002. Very convenient to St Germain des Pres area. Rooms are typically Parisian size but nice with nice bathrooms.