Museum Pass itinerary
 

I wonder if someone would like to help out with grouping together some of the monuments and museums for rmy trip to Paris. I would like to see the following and I am not sure how best to group them. I am thinking of starting it on a Thursday. I can then use it over the weekend for Versailles. I would like to be at Versailles over a weekend. How best to do this? Am I better off leaving something off? I will be buying a 4 day pass. Should I leave off Rodin and do that on my own?

Notre Dame
de l'orangerie
Arc de Triomphe
Cluny
Louvre
Rodin
d'orsay

and a day for Versailles.
I am hoping I can get some advice - starting to get excited for this trip!

With the exception of Versailles they are all within a few minutes on the metro, so you can sort of take your pick. For me the Louvre is an early morning stop, not as crowded and gives you plenty of time to wander. The Arc de Triomphe looks very cool at night with the champ d'elysees light up as well.

The Rodin should be done in daylight I think but I don't think you need a special time as it's not nearly the crowd draw as the d'Orsay. Notre Dame is a couple of hours at most and a day time take as is St Chapele on the isles.

Have a great time, I'm sure you will.

A few things to consider...make sure nothing is closed during the 4 days you plan to use the pass. Closings are usually Monday or Tuesday, so I think you are OK but confirm that.

You can map out the sites you want to visit on the Paris Museum Pass to see where they are located and group them that way. Look for ease of Metro access or bus line service.

You might consider also if you want to group similar art or opposites...

Maybe:
Cluny/d Orsay
L'Orangerie/ ADT/Rodin
Notre Dame/Louvre (are you climbing the towers...be there well ahead of opening to avoid long lines)

OR...
Louvre/L'Orangerie/ADT
Rodin/D'Orsay
Notre Dame/Cluny

Good luck and have fun!

Is Saturday a terribe day to be at any of the larger museums or are they always busy and crowded?

I usually avoid the museums on Saturdays. If you do, choose the smaller ones on Saturday and go early.
Rodin, Cluny and L'Orangerie would be better Sat choices. Cluny will be the least busy, I would think.

For the Louvre, you could try going late afternoon. Enter through the Carosel mall entrance to the avoid long lines at the Pyramid entrance.

I think I will tweak my dates as I am concerned that the weekends might be just too crowded. Although I would love to be at Versailles on the weekend, I guess I can always go back if I really love it. Thanks for your suggestions - much appreciated.

we went to the Cluny on a sunday and there was really no-one much there.

you should consider adding the St. Chappelle to your list - just across the road from Notre Dame.

you should also remember that the Louvre closes on Tuesday and the Musee D'Orsay on Monday.

Annig - I am going to a concert at St Chappelle! Quite excited about that too! I will keep the Cluny in mind for the Saturday. I have so much I want to do and see but I want to pace myself and enjoy just being in Paris

kelsey - lucky you!

you should enjoy that a lot. but if it is a night-time one you still might like to go to St. Chappelle during the day as daylight shining through the windows makes a huge difference.

I thought about that. I am going to go to the concert - I believe it is early enough so there is still daylight.

I forgot about the Concergerie - too much to see and do!

Ste Chapelle really should be seen in daylight. It really makes the stained glass sparkle.

I wouldn't recommend the Conciergerie, if you are short on time. I was disappointed in it...not much there. The Tower of London is much more sinister and that's what I was expecting.

Thanks!

If I wanted to see these places on a 4-day Museum Pass, these pairings would work fine. Note that the Arc de Triomphe is open late in the evening and might be a nice view for nightlights… Probably start on Wed and go thru Saturday for the 4 days..

1. Notre Dame (if climbing the towers get there *early*)
Cluny
- - then walk through the Jardin de Luxembourg

2. Louvre
- - walk through the Tuileries
Musee de l'orangerie

3. Musee d'orsay
Musee Rodin (you could see the nice gardens and have lunch then go into the museum)

4. a day for Versailles.
Arc de Triomphe in the evening

you can easily start on Tuesday as long as you don't plan the Louvre for that day.

1. D'orsay, Rodin, Cluny
2. Versailles, Arc
3. Louvre, Orangerie
4. Notre Dame, Ste Chapelle

Or move Versailles to last if you want to see it on the weekend. It is likely to be more crowded on a weekend.

personally, i would put the Cluny on day 4 after St. Chappelle.

D'Orsay and Rodin would wipe me out, and the Cluny is right the other end of St. Germain. [nice and close to Notre Dame].

if you still have some energy, I'd go to Les Invalides - right next to the Rodin.

Your suggestions are much appreciated and noted! I can't imagine what I would do if the Picasso was open! :)

Not much at the Concieregie but an evocative tour of the horrors of the French Revolution, including the cell where they kept Marie Antoinette until her execution. One of the great sites of Paris. We visit every time I'm there.