We're heading to Paris in 2 weeks with our daughters (ages 15 and 23). I would appreciate help as to whether this itinerary will work:

Arrival Day (Sunday):
Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
Notre Dame
Ice Cream at Berthillon

Monday:
Champs Elysees
Eiffel Tower Lunch/Cruise (already booked)
Arc de Triomphe

Tuesday:
Musee d'Orsay
Jardin du Luxembourg
Catacombs
Musee Rodin

Wednesday:
Day Trip to Mont St. Michel (Yes, I realize that this will be a LONG day, and we have already booked it.)

Thursday:
Louvre
Pont-Neuf
Sacre Coeur

Friday:
Versailles
Shopping later in day

I'd also like some (lots of?) time at Monoprix. Which day would that fit in? Thanks for all your help. I have learned so much from this site already and just cannot wait for our trip!

If you skip the catacombs, your Tuesday will be do-able. You really need a half day for the Orsay, with the other half for the Luxumbourg Gardens at the Rodin museum. You won't want to stay out late because of an undoubtedly early start on Wednesday.

Sounds fine to me, and you will just decide when the time comes what you might want to skip and what you might add in on the spur of the moment.

Most Monoprix stores in Paris are now open until 10 or even 10:30 p.m. (the one on the Champs Elysées is open until midnight, and, alternately, the small one in the Gare du Nord RER station opens at 7 a.m.).

I think this is pretty good. I'd suggest trying for the Orsay and/or the Louvre one of the nights they are open late, if you wanted to fit more in.

Also, try to see Paris from the Tour Montparnasse rather than the ET, as you will miss the view of the ugly Montparnasse in favor of the beautiful ET.

If you like impressionism, try the Orangerie or the Marmottan.

Finally, can I hijack this thread with a question of my own: where is Berthillon? I looked all over for it last time in Paris. Is it a store, or just a kind of ice cream that is served various places? I think I might have had it at a cafe, but I've heard such good things about it!

Oh, also take a stroll through the Marais and esp. the Place des Vosges.

I am a bit biased against Hop-on-Hop-off tours.

If you like the idea of doing it, I would recommend you move it away from the first day. Why?

The general feeling is to do that the first day because you're tired. For exactly that reason I recommend you do something that requires more walking and less sitting. You don't want to give yourself a chance to yawn and just close your eyes for a second to rest them.

I also believe you don't want to take a nap during the day of arrival. If you can manage the first day and get to sleep at the regular time, you'll be fine the next morning.

The only parts of your schedule that are set in stone (prepaid) are the lunch cruise and Mont St. Michel. By all means, _try_ to follow your itinerary, but once you get there, use it only as a guide. you will constantly find new and unexpected things to do.

It is always nice to just sit in a park, relax, have a picnic lunch, and watch the children play and enjoy the flowers.

After Notre Dame, walk across the foot bridge to St. Louis for your Berthillon ice cream, but take time to walk around the lovely island and check out the wonderful little shops - especially Pylones. Leave the Sunday hordes on the main street and walking around the small island, along the Seine. Cite (the island where Notre Dame is located) has the Sunday bird market - not a must see but since you will be right there, a fun thing to do. Ille Cite also has loads of other sights.

IMHO, the Champs Elysees is not worth a special trip on it's own, unless you want to see the Disney Store, and lots of touristy shops etc... and it is always very crowded. Although Saphora is worth a peek if you are nearby. You'll be at the Arc, so you will be able to judge for yourself how much time you want to spend in that area.

You may find (as we have from trip #1 even after numerous subsequent trips), that you will never cover your list, and will add more things to it. Always a great excuse to return to Paris over and over.

You've obviously done a lot of research and are excited about your trip. You will probably see things on your Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour that will capture your interest and you may stay longer than you thought. The Eiffel Tower takes a long time going up and down (crowded), but is certainly worth the trip

Fellow travelers or the people at your hotel will give you even more suggestions....

Relax, visit your own personal highlights, and be sure to stop to smell the wonderful bakeries and flowers, visit the small one of a kind shops and the major department stores.

I personally guarantee you will not be bored or standing on a street corner saying ....'hmmmm, what do we do next?" Paris will answer that question for you.

Enjoy - looking forward to your trip report.

Nina

Many thanks for your helpful responses. If I move the catacombs to another day, which should it be? I think it's only open limited hours. JoeTro, Berthillon is somewhere in Ile de la City, near Notre Dame, I think. Anyone know the exact location? There are apparently others somewhere in the city as well. Maybe we'll switch the Louvre to Thursday night - that would give us a chance to see the city illuminated afterwards. Any other suggestions?

Berthillon is on Ile St. Louis, which is the island behind Ile de la Cite (where Notre Dame is). The shop is on the main street, which I believe is Rue St. Louis en l'Ile. Don't forget, closed Mondays and Tuesdays!

Just found the website (French only)

http://www.berthillon-glacier.fr/

Definitely did NOT eat here the last time in Paris. Now I know!

Hi,
I'd add St Chapelle, maybe on Thursday. It's very close to Notre Dame, but I'm looking at your Sunday and it may be busy.

If you want to do Louvre during day, maybe move it to Monday. Champs Elysee is "bounded" by Arc and Tuileries Gardens of the Louvre so grouping them together might make sense.

Tuesday, walking Left Bank, rue St Germain..like it. As stated, if you really like impressionism, the Marmotan museum is great for Monets, and is located in one of the outer arrondissements of Paris, so you could get to see another less touristy side of Paris (reachable by Metro)

Thursday, not sure if Pont Neuf might not be better placed with St Chapelle or Notre Dame, since it is a block away.
For Scare Coeur, you can take the metro to Abbesses, then either the funicular or the tourist bus.

As other stated, Paris is appreciated as much in the times that you are doing nothing as in the times you are doing something. Find your favorite breakfast spot, your end of day cafe, the next patisserie competiting for the best pain au chocolat...

Enjoy

Mike

The walk up the Champs Elysee to the Arc is well worth it if you stop at Laduree for a macaroon.

What great suggestions! I guess I should have made it clear in my question that I do want to make sure that I have time to do and find the unexpected, relax, sit at a sidewalk cafe, and just take in the atmosphere. My plan for the first day's Hop-On Hop-Off Tour is to get off when we feel like it - or not, if we decide to just ride.

Oh Carolyn.... I had forgotten about Laduree's macaroons.

They are expensive, but well worth it because they have no calories, fat or carbs ;-)

I always keep neat shopping bags, either small or large depending on the purchase, to use for my crochet or needlepoint projects at home.

One of my many projects, a scarf, is in my lovely mint green Laduree. The macarooms are on my hips ;-) Baccarat bags are great too - nice and thick

Sorry didn't mean to get OT.

Nina

Is Laduree located on the Champs Elysees or on a side street?

You won't miss Laduree. It is located at 75 Ave. des Champs Elysees.

http://www.laduree.fr/public_en/mais...ps_accueil.htm

After spending 2 weeks in Paris last month my #1 piece of advice is not to worry about seeing everything but rather to spend time enjoying the things you have time to see. We went with a chaotic itinerary in mind and all it did was become stressful. Our most enjoyable days were picking one or maybe two things to do and spending the rest of the time just walking around, sitting in the parks, sitting in the cafes. If you do too much you just can't enjoy Paris for what it is.

Our #1 favorite thing we did the whole time was visit rue Cler (street near the Eiffel Tower) picked up fruit, bagettes, wine, etc. and had a picnic in Champs de Mars looking at the Eiffel Tower, taking it easy, people watching.

The Musee Rodin is neater outside than in if you like roses, gardens, etc. The inside is alright but you really have to be a sculpture lover and the museum isn't near anything much so it might not be worth going out of your way for unless you really really want to see it. I am an art major and enjoyed my time wandering the sculpture gardens but was somewhat bored inside.

Champs Elysees as some have mentioned is just ok. It was very overcrowded with young teeny boppers out with their friends...the top of the arc de triomphe is a really neat view but don't expect too much from the actual street...I would suggest doing the Eiffel Tower stuff and then doing a little of Champs Elysees and going up Arc de Triomphe at dusk...it's got great night views of the city and you can see the Eiffel Tower sparkle on the hour from there.

One of our greatest disappointments of the 2 weeks was Versailles. This summer about half of it is under construction (hall of mirrors, the whole back half is under scaffolding) and it was just massive and ok compared to Veaux de Vicomte and Fontainbleu (2 other chateaus outside Paris). For your last day in Paris I would definitly skip Versailles and save that day for something you will surely find along the way you will enjoy better. JMHO.

What you are missing that is in my opinion one of the best parts of Paris is spending a day around Notre Dame wondering...Saint Michel, Ile de la Cite, Latin Qt., the area around the Seine is true Paris and we spent several days wandering all the areas and would still go back again. You'll want to spend more than just half a day there seeing Notre Dame.

Just my scattered thoughts on an amazing time in Paris. You'll love it!! I would go back in a heartbeat.

Great information! Thanks!