Hi! I've been reading about things to do in Paris, and (besides the usual) some people have recommended seeing the Catacombs (don't know where they are) and Painter's Square (down the street from the Sacred Heart). Can anyone tell me more about them -- anything particularly good or bad about making the side trip? We won't have a lot of time to spend in Paris (1.5 days). Thanks!

I found the catacombs creepy. I couldn't get through them fast enough. If it were me and I had 1.5 days in Paris. I wouldn't waste my time there.

They are not far from the center of Paris, but there are so many amazing things to do in Paris that I would skip that one.
Don't skip seeing the Eiffel Tower at night or going to the Musee d'Orsay.

I agree with the previous poster on the Catacombs,
only I disliked them even more and would not
recommend anyone ever go there except perhaps a
historian who had a reason. I was not aware of
what they were, and assumed they were similar to
Roman catacombs. They are not -- it is an
underground cavern-type area where they have
simply piled up dozens of bones of people's skeletons
that I believe were dug up from some old cemeteries
in Paris when they were doing urban renewal or
something. Aside from creepy, I personally find
this extremely repellent from a religious point of
view and think it shows no respect for the dead.
Why on earth people view this as some lighthearted
tourist attraction is beyond me. I believe painter's
square is simply a touristy area near Sacre Coeur
church where a bunch of so-called "artists" are
selling cheap paintings. I definitely think this
is worth visiting but not for that reason -- for
the view, Sacre Coeur and the surrounding neighborhood
in Montmartre. If you only have 1-1/2 days, you
will easily fill up the time with seeing the main
historic buildings around Notre Dame -- Ste Chapelle
church, the Conciergerie and Notre Dame, plus Sacre
Coeur and maybe a visit to Musee d'Orsay if you
like museums will be plenty. I suppose you'll want
to see the Eiffel Tower, too, most people do. I
personally find that an interesting part of town
for the parks and river and the view from the
Tracadero across the Seine, but wouldn't spend my
time waiting to go up in the Eiffel Tower--the view
from Sacre Coeur terrace has no waiting.

The Catacombs were tres cool--truly unique. See Sacre Couer, of course. Skip Painters Square, unless you like to be hounded the whole time by guys wanting to draw your portrait for 100FF. Visit Ste Chapelle like the other message said. It's basically right across from Notre Dame. Also, visit the holocaust memorial (3 min. from Notre Dame) on the very tip of that ile (opposite direction of Ste Chapelle). It's small, it's free and the design of it is amazing. Skip the Paris sewer tour, it was a ghastly. I enjoyed the Musee Rodin (you know... the Thinker). Napoleon's Tomb was good for 20 minutes. Musee d'Orsay was, I thought, a great museum. I also enjoyed just walking around the area of the Sorbonne, across the pont from Notre Dame in St. Michael(i believe?) The Bastille area is also fun at night.

It continues to astonish me that anyone would avoid the "touristy" sites. After all, they are so heavily visited because they are SO spectacular! I cannot imagine a visit to Paris without visiting the Louvre, the Musee d'Orsay, a ride to the TOP of the Eiffel Tower (go early or late to avoid the lines, the view is positively breathtaking!), boatride up and down the Seine, sitting in a cafe (to rest and enjoy a beverage while viewing the passing parade), and a wonderful dinner at the restaurant which most appeals to you. In my opinion, Montmartre is the ultimate in "touristy", not to mention extremely seedy, and the Catacombs are - well, morbid. One would think you wish to enjoy your visit! For a memorable experience, experience quintessential Paris.

We were in Paris the 2nd week of June(my third time there). I saw the Painters square from the top of Sacre Coeur( a fantastic view from there -- make sure you go to the top) & thought that I
would like to go through Painters Square, I have never done it before, & after doing it once, I can tell you, I will NEVER do it again. As stated in an earlier message, you are hounded by MANY people. It
is nice to just walk around the square & see(or purchase) some of the paintings, but the hounders became unbearable, especially if you have a kid (our 9 yr old son was with us.) along. If you even give an
inkling that you want to look at the hounders work, there will be 10 more people there to hound you. We even sat down at a cafe to get a drink -- it was very hot that day -- & they still hound you there.
& let me tell you that ignoring them does no good at all. Before I knew it, 1 so-called artist made a cut-out silouette of my son & sticking it in our faces saying we owe him 100 FF for it. I finally
paid him 25FF for it. We quickly walked around the square (not being able to really enjoy it) & left. You may want this experience 1 time just to see it for yourself, but I would suggest that your
time is better spent elsewhere. Monmarte is kindof touristy with all the T-shift & souvenir shops, but it is a good place to go if you want to buy some of that stuff. Also, there are some good, inexpensive,
cafe's in that area.

Remember, this is your vacation....make a list of the top things. In my opinion, when we stayed there it was to see the Eiffell tower at night and go to the top of it--great view! Notre Dame, Sacre Coeur, wine at an outdoor cafe, and the Louvre. We were on a 4 day stay so at the Louvre I went near closing time and luckily there were no lines so I literally ran to the Mona Lisa and another statute I wanted to see then ran out. wewww, at least now I can say I saw the Mona Lisa which was important to me but may not be to you. The point is see what you want to see and what you won't be sorry if you miss it. We visited the Catacombs (close to the river) and they were really strange and perhaps disrespectful for the dead is true--it does make you think! But I'm glad I went. Stay in the heart of it all so you can easily walk/subway to most places since time is of the essence. Bon Voyage....

I know it's sorta tacky... but I got a kick out of making a pilgrimage to Jim Morrison's grave. There was actually a girl lying prostate across the grave, sobbing. Pretty weird. And I really felt sorry for the surrounding gravestones that were all scribbled with graffiti.

Anyway, I have always skipped the Catacombes... I'm afraid I'd feel too claustrophobic!