Only two days in Paris!!!!
 

My daughter and I are leaving for Europe next week, and only have two days in Paris to try and see as much as we can(crazy, I know). We are debating whether to spend a day at the Louvre, Versaille or just wander. Can anyone suggest a quick itinerary for two days for us?

Get on the hop on, hop off bus for a tour. Do all 3 of them. First. I'll be back.

Years ago I did the same for someone who had part of a day. They were coming in from the airport so I'll start at the same place.

Take the Air France bus from the airport to the Opera building (don't know if that bus still exists or if it stops there. Great first sight the Opera building.

Walk down to and through Plave Vendome and maybe pop in to the Ritz to see how "they" live.

Continue through Place Vendome and through/along side the Tuileries to Place de Concorde. This gives you a beautiful view all the way up the Champs Elysees.

From Place de Concorde walk about 100 yards to the left to the Bridge for a fabulous view of the Eiffel Tower.

Directly behind you down the Seinne is the Louvre, behind you to the left is the d'Orsay.

So, depending upon your interest and the time of day pick one or two of the above for a closer visit; the Louvre, d'Orsay, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomph. Or you can do the first two one day and the last two the next day.

The d'Orsay is on the Left bank and a short walk to St Germain for some atmosphere.

I'm a believer in working with what you've got. You only have two days? Well on each of our last two visit we were only there two days. After the first few visits what I've done is on the first day add something we haven't done then end with one of the old reliables.

Hope this gives you some ideas.

I would skip the Louve & Versailles. You really need a full day for Versailles and weeks for the Louvre.

Plan on seeing one major site during the morning & one in the afternoon. This will leave plenty of time for wandering. Try see two sites that are in the same general area. For example visit the Eiffle tower & Invalides. Then visit Notre Dame & St Chappelle.

Of course the sites you visit will depend on what you are intesested in.

I have been in Paris for only two days about three times. So I have been able to see quite a bit! I even made it out to Versailles on the last trip. However, I still have not been in the Louvre.

The Roissybus still stops near the Opera - we take it all the time to the airport.

I'd drop Versaille of try to see the Louvre and Versaille at night.

To sketch out an itinerary and maximize your time we need specifics: arrival and departure days and times =)

Rick Steves outlines how a brief visit to Paris might be spent - I think it would work well for you.

http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/desti.../parisitin.htm

Before you make the Louvre a priority, decide why exactly you want to go there. It is enormous, so you're not going to be able to see everything (or even most of it). I was in Paris last week, and the Musée d'Orsay was more interesting to me. I went to the Louvre for an hour and a half to see Mona Lisa and a couple of other things, but I enjoyed the Orsay more because I love Impressionism. Also, I know the Louvre does offer tours, so maybe that could be an option.

As far as Versailles, don't forget that it's not IN the city, and although it's not hard to get to on the RER (Versailles - Rive Gauche on the C line), it does take maybe an hour each way from city center, including walking and waiting for the train. RER trains don't run as frequently as Metro lines. That said, if you planned it right and left early enough, you could do Versailles and a couple of other things the same day, as long as you don't spend forever there.

It really just depends on how much time you generally spend at places. I'm a fast tourist, so I probably could do a lot in Paris in two days. Just make sure you PLAN before you go.

In two days, you can actually see a lot. I had two and half days my last visit. I agree with some other posters about skipping Versaille--a day trip. But I wouldn't necessarily skip the Louvre; perhaps just limit your time there. The paintings in the room just behind the Mona Lisa are worth seeing (like Napolean's coronation and Delacroix's "Liberty Leading the people"). You can limit your Louvre visit to those two rooms.

On my last visit I had a museum pass for one day, which allowed me entry to all the major museums without waiting in line. You can get the museum pass at metro stations, or order online. Mine was waiting for me at my hotel when I arrived.

I would recommend the following:
Musee d'Orsay (especially if you like the impressionists)

The Louve (Limit to a few rooms of paintings, otherwise you'll spend too much time)

St. Chapelle (medieval cathedral near Notre Dame -- beautiful stained glass.

Notre Dame

Rodin Museum (near Napolean's tomb). The gardens are great -- you'll see "the thinker" there.

Also visit the trendy areas of St. Germain and Latin Quarter (closer to Notre Dame).

And... if you don't mind being afloat with tourists and their cameras, take a Seine River cruise at sunset. It's quite picturesque and you will see all of these sites from a unique vantage point.

Last but not least, see the Arc de Triumph close up (by that I mean from across the street, not from a far distance). You might even want to ride to the the top for views of Champs de l'Elysses.

Hi go,

Have you looked up Paris under "destinations"?

((I))

Skip Versailles, but DON'T skip the Louvre----it is one of the city's treasures! Go online, decide which area has the most to offer you, and spend your time there. Just being in the building is itself a priceless experience, gofish!