Paris-3rd trip
 

I have spent almost 3+ previous weeks in Paris and have seen the "must see" sights. Any suggestions? We are leaving Feb. 29th and will be there 8 days.

After may short trips to Paris over the years, I took a few days trips out of the city. If you haven't done these yet, you might consider them:

Normandy and the invasion beaches
Brugge, Belgium (quaint city with many waterways)
Reims (Champagne)
Loire Valley
Giverny
Vaux le Vicomte

This last trip I also took a short canal ride up the St. Martin Canal to the Parc de la Villette. It was a relaxing trip that I would have enjoyed more if I had time to explore the park as well.

One more thing that I had planned to do, but had to cancel was a train trip to Strasbourg. The new TGV route gets you there from Paris in 2 1/2 hours.

I second the idea of the boat ride on the Canal Saint Martin. It takes you through areas of Paris that even a lot of repeat visitors have missed as pedestrians -- and which they find lovely enough to come and explore on foot after the boat ride.

Consider finding TimeOut guides book of Paris walks. They are on themes, with each written by a different author. We enjoyed several, including one about modern architecture and one about the ethnic neighborhoods. Or you might consider what you like doing at home in your leisure -- browsing book shops, hunting antiques, tasting wine, cooking, drawing, films, whatever -- and find a place to do that in Paris, take lessons, or buy the tools or ingredients there for use at home. Or check out what special exhibits there might be even at museums you have been to before, you can drop in just for the exhibit if you like.

I never know what people consider the "must sees."
If you have not done a day trip to Chartres, I highly recommend that. If you have (or in addition) St. Denis

For people who have already visited Versailles, Fontainebleau is another good side trip

Have you visited the Orangerie? It has been closed for several years and recently reopened.

I second the suggestion of Chartres. It is an easy trip and a wonderful experience. When we were there in the fall of 2006, they were cleaning and restoring the stained glass and it is beautiful.

laurie_ann,
We got the TimeOut walking tour book from Amazon and it looks great. Thanks!

Do you have time to pick a copy of the Paris Blue Guide before you go? Lots of good information about smaller churches, museums, parks, neighbourhoods, etc. that aren't on the usual list of "must sees".

ttt--these are great ideas! we are leaving 2/29 if anyone has any others.

I'm about to make my 5th trip to Paris. I always think I've seen all the "must sees" and then I read something here or go with someone else and I realize how much I haven't seen yet.

On my list this time: Musee Jacquemart Andre, Musee Cognac-Jay, L'Orangerie, Montmartre (proper walking tour, not just to see Sacre Coeur), Picasso museum.

There are also several places I always return to, like the Musee Rodin, Louvre, Musee Marmottan, St. Chappelle, etc. etc.

I've already done day trips to Giverny, Versailles, Chartres, Loire chateaux, Mont St. Michel, Bruges. This time we are going out to Auvers on a Van Gogh pilgrimage.

Kerouac, we are going to Paris for our fourth time this May and I am interested in the Canal St Martin. Where is this area? How do you arrange the boat trips etc? Thanks. I recently read a short blub in National Geographic on the area.

http://en.parisinfo.com/paris-sights...585/canauxrama

http://en.parisinfo.com/paris-sights...84/paris-canal

Amazing what you can find on the Paris Tourist Office website :)

NOTE: is there a particular time of year that this trip would NOT be appealing? (ex. February, cold, too dreary, no leaves on trees)

Once you arrive, check Brentano's bookstore for the travel guide called An Hour from Paris. The book features around 20 simple but rewarding daytrips outside the city using public transportation. Included for each destination are recommended sights, food, walking or hiking, maps and travel details. Highly recommended.

FYI: An Hour from Paris looks fabulous, but is not available until May, 2008.

You can get it on Amazon.com now.

I took the St. Martin canal trip with this company: http://www.canauxrama.fr/produits/e_fiche5.htm.

We embarked from the boat area (Arsenal Basin) right across from the Opera House, and went up to the Parc de la Villette. The trip is also offered in the opposite direction.

Someone else here can recommend a company that starts the tour near the d'Orsay, I believe (or at last somewhere on the Seine). It has been recommended here that the trip up to the park is preferred, rather than vice versa.

We walked the Canal St. Martin 10 days ago. A litle windy, but sunny and fun. I think it would be a good switch from the usual Paris stuff any time of year.

I gave both of the boat companies, Canauxrama and Paris-Canal.

Re: An Hour from Paris

The 2008 is a revision or update; I have this book from earlier print date.

Can I just walk the area rather than taking a boat ride? We much rather walk around a get a feel rather than sit on a boat. Is there any advantage to the boat ride?

The advantage of the boat ride is going through the historic tunnels. Also, it is a very pleasant walk back along the canal from La Villette to get a closer look at things you saw along the way. I think that a lot of people just walking along the canal might choose to end their walk too early, thinking they had seen everything of interest, since, after all, some stretches are more interesting than others.

Hi virginiafish

The canal boat ride gives an excellent commentary in English and French, so you learn about what you are passing, as well as the history of the canal.

We took the trip from the park back into Paris; the excellent guide/commentary on our trip included a little mystery and magic that I think only that one person (ie not all the guide staff) provide. So if you are lucky enough to get him on your trip, you'll be getting a great bonus!

I also wish we had set out earlier in the day, as we could have spent several hours exploring that fascinating park before boarding for our trip back into Paris.

Happy travels, Di

yes, we have taken this trip and I agree with leaving more time to explore the park.

You can do just the walk. We did and enjoyed it. There are a number of walks posted in different places, but they hit the same highlights. I have not done the cruise and might enjoy it, but I really enjoyed the lazy stroll and long lunch that took as much time as a cruise. The only disappointment was not actually seeing a boat go through a lock.

One way to see more of Paris off the tourist track is to start each day by going to one of the roving markets in a different arrondissement (except Monday when none of the roving markets are open) Paris in a Basket is a wonderful book that tells about each of the markets and what is in the vicinity. For instance, there is a market on the banks of the Canal St. Martin just above one of the locks (sorry I can't think of the name, just now) and it would be good to plan a waking visit to the canal for one of the two or three days a week that that market is set up.