Long time lurker, first time poster - a couple of weeks ago DBF and I booked a VERY short trip (7 days) to Amsterdam, Brussels, and Paris, leaving us only 3 short days in Paris. I was wondering how to best organize the things we would like to see in Paris without too much backtracking...

We're staying in the 5th by the Sorbonne and we arrive next Wednesday (early) afternoon from Brussels - I believe the Lourve is open until late on Wednesdays? So I was planning on going that afternoon/evening. Other than that, Im open to suggestions! We depart Paris on Staurday monring

Here are the things we would like to see/do/eat most:

Pere Lachaise
Eiffel Tower
Sacre Couer
Notre Dame
Ste. Chapelle
Arc di Triomphe
Seine River Cruise
Laduree macarons
Pierre Hermes
and...Picnic somewhere

We're in our late 20's/early 30's and realize that it's not ideal to only have 3 days in Paris, but would really like to see all of these things - and we're open to any other suggestions

Thanks so much for your help!

Geographically speaking,

Laduree
Arc de Triomphe
(add in Place de la Concorde, Tuileries Gardens,outside of Louvre, Palais Royale, Opera Garnier)

Notre Dame
St Chapelle
Pierre Hermes
(do Vedettes du Pont Neuf Sein Cruise)
(add in Ile St Louis, walks along Seine)

Eiffel Tower
(could do Seine Cruise from this area)
(add in Place Trocadero as starting point for views of ET. Add in Champ de Mars for picnic, possible walk to Rodin museum, Ecole Militaire for napoleon tomb, Orsay museum)

Pere Lachaise

Sacre Coeur
(add in Funicular, Place du Tertre)

A start...


Day 1
Notre Dame and Left Bank. Dinner Left Bank

Day 2
Eiffel Tower and Arc Dinner Right Bank

Day 3
Pere Lachaise and Sacre Coeur


Much more you could do. I'd maybe plan on going to Place des Vosges after Pere Lachaise...just to see one of the more beautiful squares in Paris..then maybe dinner in Marais area

Just came back from exactly the same trip. Got very unlucky with thaylis from Brussels - there was a fire near the Paris train station and the train took about 4 hours. This was our 2nd trip to Paris so we were a bit more relaxed by not running around and seeing everything quickly.
Day 1:
Train to Montmarte and Sacre Couer, Moulin Rouge. Metro to Madeline area to check out all the specialty stores that are there. Walk down toward Place Concord, Touliers gardens, to the Louvre. and hotel.
Evening - train to eiffel tower, trocadero, dinner at Cafe de L'homme - overlooking the eiffel tower, beautiful. make sure to stay for the 10 pm light show.
Day 2:
Louvre ( 5 hours ), La Halles area, Pampado Center.
Evening - train to st. germain area and dinner at L'epi Dupin - the best meal.
Day 3:
Ile st. louis ( wonderful ice cream ), notre-dame, pont alexander, grand and petit palace, champs elyse.
evening at Marias area and dinner at L'Ambassade d'Auvergne - i would not recomand unless you love meat ( especially pork ). they do have the best mashed potatoes which they do with garlic and cheese.
So thats our trip in Paris this time. Do try to take the time and just sit at a caffe and people watch, eat Laduree macarons ( they are delicious ), have a picnic at any of the many city parks, and enjoy.

I think you have some good suggestions here, but since you will be near the Sorbonne I would suggest a picnic in the Luxembourg Gardens(should be walking distance from where you are staying).

On my first trip I did more than this in three days and also spent half day in Versailles.

For your information Ladurée has a store next to Madeline on rue Royal. If you do go their visit Fauchon's behind Madeline.

I also recommend the Palais Royale, Opera Garnier. The Palais Royale is directly across from the Louvre on and can be done in 20 minutes. The Louvre can eat your time, so have a schedule and keep to it.

Before you go get a guide book and a good map of Paris. Most of the areas you want to see are in the center of the city and you can walk and metro most of it easily.

I have taken the Batobus trip on the Seine, but feel it could eat more of your valuable time. If your next destination is near, walk, otherwise take the metro.

If possible try to see the Muse d'Orsay and try to plan it to be there for lunch. They have a beautiful dining room and reasonable prices for lunch. Check their web site for pictures and prices. There are long lines to get into the Muse d'Orsay, so check out the options available to get around the lines.

I also agree that you take the Metro to Trocadero for your first view of the Tour Eiffel. You will see it all in it's full glory.

p.s. the "light show" at the Eiffel occurs on the hour, starting after dark and goes for about 10 minutes. I don't know what time the last one for the evening happens.

If you go on the night Fat Tire Bike Tour, you also will go on a Bateaux Mouches river tour and get to see the lighted up Eiffel Tower. The tour (lasts from 6-10 or 10:30 p.m.) gathers at the Eiffel Tower at 6 p.m., so you could go up in the tower beforehand. Also, the bike tour stops for ice cream at Berthillon, and stops outside of Notre Dame and Sainte Chapelle and the Louvre.