Itinerary Suggestions Needed - Paris
 

Our trip is set. Lodging, flight and most of our transportation is booked. Now the enjoyable struggle with what to do, what to see and where to eat can begin. A little help with our itinerary would be greatly appreciated.

We will be in Paris, Thursday July 7th - Wednesday July 13th. My wife and I arrive first, on Thursday morning, with the other three members of our group arriving Friday and Saturday mornings. I am the only one of the 5 that has experienced Paris (and I for a brief 2 nights). We are staying in an apartment in the 11th, between the Bastille and Voltaire metro stops.

Saturday through Tuesday, we will do many of the "can't miss" of Paris (Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Notre Dame. . .). One of these days, we would like to visit Versailles also. Suggestions on the best use of our days would be appreciated, especially Sunday and Monday when some things are closed.

Thursday, my wife and I will be alone and would love to do something a little different. Has anyone taken a hot air balloon over Paris? We thought about doing this and exploring a different neighborhood than Montmarte, Marais or the Latin Quarter (which we hope to do with the group). Or, if the full group will miss one of these, we will explore that neighborhood. We are budget conscious, but will spend some money to experience something wonderful.

Friday, when two more members of the group arrive, we are considering exploring Montmarte. Saturday morning is when the final member of our troup arrives. We are all adults in our early 30s. Our pace could be called leisurely active, hoping to experience as much as possbile while taking some time to reflect, digest and smell the roses.

Any and all suggestions on how to organize our days would be greatly appreciated.

Hi eu,

Have you looked up Paris under "Destinations"?

In your mix, consider adding a Paris Walk. They are a cheap but good value way to get someone to take you around a neighbourhood and give you a little insight.

Last trip I took one of their Marais walks in the morning. It finished at lunch time near Place des Vosges, a fantastic place to see and have lunch.

The Passages, near the Louvre, is another neat way to pass a few hours. Essentially, the predecessor to indoor malls. Some nice shops and alleyways.

I might schedule Versailles for a weekday, unless the fountains are a must. Are you going on your own or with a coach tour? It could fill a whole day, depending on how much time you want to spend in the gardens/grounds. Some coach tours combine it with Giverny.

Museums on your list?

A Seine cruise would be a must. I would do a nighttime one, since the bridges and buildings are lit up. A good one is Vedettes du Pont Neuf, on Ile de la Cite. You could do Notre Dame, Ile St Louis, St Chapelle, some Left Bank stuff...then dinner on Left Bank, and walk over to the cruise

Note that dinners at restaurants are 7:30'ish

Have never heard of a Hot air balloon tour over Paris but what aboat the fat bike tour? Another suggestion for something different is to do a day trip to Giverny or Chartres. We took a hot air balloon tour over the Loire Valley some years ago. It could be done as a day trip from Paris.

Park André Citroën has a hot air balloon.