Paris for 6 days
 

All, I'm looking for a itinerary for 4 days in Paris (since it will take me a day to get there and back from New Orleans). My wife and I are 40 and celebrating our anniversary there in April. We will not have a car and want to see the typical attractions but are looking for helpful hints/tricks of the trade to get everything done efficiently, but effectively.
We are not into the high dollar extravagant meals. We are interested in local bars and eateries that the locals like, that are friendly and will want us going back over the course of the 4 days.
Of course, it is our anniversary and Paris is the city of love, so I could use some insights on some romantic things to do in the great city. Don't know if dinner in the Eiffel Tower needs to be reserved months in advance, etc, etc, so please fire away with any and all advice.

You definitely don't need a car for Paris--the public transportation system is excellent.

Where will you be staying? What are your interests (art, architecture, theater, music, history, churches)? How much would you want to spend on a dinner?

At the Concorde Saint-Lazare. As far as interests go, architecture, history, monuments/attractions, and lastly eateries/pubs would be where we would want to spend our time. Dinner-could spend $200 U.S. dollars for a really nice romantic dinner. Who knows, with all of the wonderful places on earth, I may not make it back there so I want to make sure I do it right!!!!!
Thank you for your quick response. Happy Holidays!

Rather than eating at Jules Verne in the Eiffel Tower for your romantic dinner consider Les Hombres at the top of the nearby Musee du Quai Branly.

The view of the Eiffel Tower through the glass ceiling of Les Ombres makes it fun even for lunch but dinner at night with the lights twinkling would be very romantic. Les Ombres is close enough to the tower that during the day you can easily see the tourists on the lower level of the tower.

http://www.lesombres-restaurant.com/...the-place.html

Thank you for the wonderful suggestion. I just reviewed the website. Trust me, you are dealing with traveling abroad amateurs. Do most restaurants have English menus? I was unable to interpret the website/menus, but am definitely going to go to this restaurant. Thanks for the suggestion!

Some restaurants have English menus, but if not there is generally a waiter who can translate for you if you ask nicely :) Consider a boat cruise on the Seine after dinner. One of the most romantic things to do in Paris is just walk the streets! Not especially romantic - but if it is your first time to Paris you might like the Fat Tire bicycle tour - it is a fun way to see the city.

Also - a restaurant recommendation - on the advice of Fodorites we had a most wonderful dinner at Le Florimond in the 7th last spring. Small, intimate, reasonably priced, great food with a terrific host. And yes, he will translate the menu for you!

Concur car is bad idea - Metros will get you anywhere plus the occasional cab - also the bus sytem is excellent and on occasions can get you where you are going quicker than the Metros without lots of stair climbing. Suggest getting the Musuem pass and the "Carte Orange" for the Metros. (you'll need a few extra passport photos)
Train from CDG to downtown is a good way to get into/out of town, but there are "local" trains for communters that can get crowded quickly, and there are "express" trains straight from CDG to downtown. That's what you want.
Dinner suggestion: Chantairelle, in the Latin Quarter blocks from the Pantheon, 17 rue LAPlace - 0146331859 -all food from the Auvergne region - a superb value for a modest price.

Beware of people telling you that you MUST do this or MUST do that. Nonsence. You'll want to return regardless of what you do or don't see, so no need to sweat over a list of "Must sees." Paris is greater than the sum of the parts. Don't allow trying to get from here to there distract you from taking in the city with a leisurely pace. Stuff you stumble across at the last minute may provide you with your fondest memories. I used "Paris for Dummies" and thought it was a good resource. With that said if I had to tell you what to do in four days, my suggestion would be 1) Eiffel Tower, Seine river on foot or Evening Cruise, strolling St.Germain/Sulpice (6e) 2) Notre Dame/St Chappel, Tulleries, Arc deT 3) Louvre 4)Napoleon's tomb, Musee Rodin, ad lib. I really was glad I visited St. Chappel but a sunny day is a must to enjoy this site.

I strongly suggest one whole Louvre day with nothing else. Or else don't go - not worth the effort to whip in/whip out.

In four days, also suggest against Versailles/Sacre Coure - these are good things to do on a 6-7 day itinerary.

Lastly, ask your hotel staff when the local street market comes. Most little squares (place) have a biweekly produce market that gives the visitor the very essence of a Parissean, non-touristy feel.

Check Wx carefully - April can still be cold, but this is not a reason to change plans. Try to learn a few simple French phrases well. The French will respect your trying and will be a bit more forbearing of you. Bon Voyage!!

I always get to the Eiffel Tower about 15 minutes before opening so that I don't have to wait in ticket line or elevator line. By the time I'm headed back down there is a sea of humanity that will waste lots of time in lines.

Make sure you know which days of the week specific museums are closed so you don't waste time or are open late so you can maximize your time. Depending on how many museums you plan to hit you may or may not want to get the museum pass which allows you to pass the lines to get into the main lines at museums. Don't buy in advance online as there is an upcharge. Just go to one of the smaller museums first and buy it there.

On a first trip to Paris I would include a trip up the Eiffel Tower, a vist to Notre Dame and Sainte Chapelle, the Musee D'Orsay, and L'Orangerie. Walk around the ancient streets of Le Marais for a completely different feel from most of Hausmann's Paris(stop for a pastry at world famous Sacha Finkelsztajn). Enjoy a stroll through the gigantic Jardin du Luxembourg where you can watch children on the playgrounds, on the pony rides and at marionette theatre and watch men playing boules. Sit a spell and people watch in the chairs behind Luxembourg Palace.

You can make your reservation at Les Ombres online and I'm sure that the person who follows up will speak English when they call as they ask you to indicate where you are traveling from. http://www.lesombres-restaurant.com/reservation.html

Not all will agree but for me the rule of thumb in Paris is sort of, "If the menu is in English you don't want to go there." As in, they cater to tourists rather than locals. I don't speak more than a few words in French but have managed with little trouble on a number of trips. Many people, especially in the tourist areas of the 1-8th arr. will speak English. You'll be fine in Les Ombres.
Ann Marie

You're the best. Thank you. As you can tell, I am not taking the trip lightly. This was a Christmas gift to ourselves and I am already seeking your advice! I hate to even mention this but my wife is a big Disney fan, is it worth it to visit (Disneyland Paris) while there or is it a disappointment to the Disney name. Also, any suggestions on how to get there without a car. I know this is not the essence of Paris; however, it is a part of my wife (and her family's) life growing up. Thank you for understanding!!!

I agree totally with all of amwosu's comments.

As to the disney thing - Again, with just four days, you are going to miss an awful lot of Paris that you just can't see in four days as it is - why dilute the experience more with a side trip to an even mroe expensive version of Orlando? I'd recommend against such a side-trip.

I humbly suggest no Disney for such an incredibly short trip. If you had 2 weeks and your wife is a Disney fan I would say by all means go. However, you have very little time and Euro Disney will eat up 1/4 of your trip. Don't underestimate jetlag which will affect you for several days.

Euro Disney is very small compared to WDW or DL. You can get there via train if you ultimately decide to go but I shudder at the idea of abandoning Paris to ride the same rides you can do in Orlando (and I'm one who took my kids to WDW every year when they were small. I still go to WDW often- for my birthday this year and will be back in a couple of weeks so know the pull of Disney).

One of my favorite activities when in Paris with first timers is a Fat Tire bike ride. http://fattirebiketours.com/paris This is a leisurely ride with no traffic, mostly on sidewalks and through parks. Do it early in your trip as it gives you a feel for where various sites are in relation to each other. You meet the (American, frequently Texan) guide under the south pillar of the Eiffel Tour and follow him to their office to pay and get your bike. This is not strenuous, you ride slowly and stop frequently to view the outsides of famous tourist sites.
Ann Marie

I agree with docdan's assessment... "I strongly suggest one whole Louvre day with nothing else. Or else don't go - not worth the effort to whip in/whip out."

I love Musee de l'Armee which is also at Les Invalides where Napoleon's Tomb is located and not far from the Rodin making them all good to go to on the same day. You can see ancient coats of armour for men, chilren and horses, incredible weaponry from several centuries and Napoleon's stuffed dog and horse (okay, its a pony). There is a good WWII section also.

Thank you for the great advice everyone. I asked the question because I knew I would get honest advice. I see you share a fondness for Disney and I understand your feedback. Thank you for the honesty. I'm sure my kids would be crushed if they found out we went to EuroDisney without them anyway!

There are some smaller museums that may be more bite size. The Marmottan is in a nicer outer area of Paris, in an old mansion with a very fine collection of Monets. More central, the Musee du Moyen Age (aka Cluny) is a nice small museum of middle age artifacts and is built over roman ruins. The Rodin is another mansion housing sculpure (and near Eiffel). The Orsay museum houses a nice art collection in a remodeled railway station (bit larger museum). And, the Jacquemart-Andre is an art collector's mansion with a good and varied collection.

I would make mandatory the Seine Cruise. The Vedettes du Pont Neuf is a good one, located at west end of Ile de la Cite (near Notre Dame)

Absolutely no need for a car. Disney and Versailles, next time. You will never see all of Paris in the time you have. I have been 10/11 times, and still need to go back :)

Meals do not have to be expensive. For one person, at a decent local place, I can get an all-in for 30-35 euro per person. Look for menus (french meaning of word): these are meal 'packages' that are a good deal. All restaurants will post their menu outside, so you can browse and translate.

Ile St Louis has some good restaurants on its main street. Last time I ate at Brasserie de L'Ile and had a nice meal. Chez Clement, Rotonde de la Muette (area of Marmottan), Bistrot du 7ieme, Cafe Hugo (lunch) all good.

I can help with an itinerary, based on interests. I'd have Notre Dame, St Chapelle, Ile St Louis, Place des Vosges, Palais Royal, Tuileries Gardens should be on any tour.

Also consider a walking tour, in english, so that someone can tell and show you about an area. Paris Walks is one good one. On such a short trip, perhaps an coach tour the first day to get an overview. There are a few companies that offer them

I'd have to say- forget going to the top of the Eiffel Tower! It is jammed packed even early in the am. The best view of the city-from-above is from the top of the Arc de Triompf. You will see the Tower from most all places in the city. I agree with the restaurant at Les Ombres and the Seine at night. One thing I found unforgetable amd amazing was the Pere Lachaise Cemetary! I didn't expect it, but this was wonderful. The shows at Moulin Rouge and Lido are not what they are cracked up to be- money best spent other places. No matter what you will be on a honeymoon and will definitely have a tertrific time!

Concerning a great "view" of Paris:
In a week visit to Paris, we did Sacre Coeur, Arc, Top of Notre Dame and The Eiffel Tower. I would say once you've seen any two of these, you've seen enough panoramas, and my favorie was the Arc as well, watched the sun set over the city while on top - it was great. For the Eiffel Tower, sometimes the lines at night are shorter and sometimes they are not. YOu may find your trip to Paris msut have the tower and that is OK, but if you happen to hit a very long line and don't want to wait, then i'D

advise doing something else as well. Many posters here have mentioned that going to the top of the Tour Montparnasse also is a good, albeit a tad pricey, alternative. Many in paris would mention that the main benefit of the view from this building , , is that the building is not in the view!
http://www.tourmontparnasse56.com/

My husband and I (also age 40) visited for 6 days last September and LOVED every single second! Four days is going to be kind of tight so definetely NO Disney! Our favorite things were:
1.The Seine River cruise (not the dinner cruise) our first night to see the monuments lit up...Amazing! No need to pre-book just go to the ticket window where you see the boats on the left bank near Notre Dam.
2. Paris Segway Tour with Fat Tire Bike Company (booked through Viator.com). This is a touristy thing to do but we both loved it and my husband thought it was just the funnest thing ever. Also a great way to see the central part of the city in just 4 hours and get some history.
3. The Louvre followed by a walk along the "Triumphant Line" through the Jardin des Tuileries and Place du Concord, up the Champs Elysee to the Arc de Triomphe.
4. A stroll from Ile St. Louis through the Latin Quarter and St. Germain des Pres (you'll get to see the best part of the left bank) to the Musee D'Orsay.
5. Jardin du Luxembourg is like a magical place straight from a fairytale (not a fake Disney fairytale). Spend a sunny afternoon there and take lots of pictures.
6. Sunset over Paris from the steps of Sacre Couer in Montmartre.
7. Mass at Notre Dame...really beautiful even to a Non-Catholic.

We also went to Versailles and loved it, but you may not have time for that.

We exclusively used the Metro and found it cheap, easy and safe. There are videos online to help you figure it out. I also enjoyed reading tomsguidetoparis.com and found it helpful. We carried the EyeWitness Travel Paris guide with us at all times and were never lost.

Enjoy!!! Words cannot describe how fantastic it is...I hope you love it as much as we did!!

I will recommend my two favourite, moderately priced restaurants in Paris. The first is Pomze (which is a play on the French word, "pommes", for apples). Every dish at this restaurant features apples in some way, but the dishes aren't gimmicky at all - rather more of a modern (but not over the top) cuisine. The restaurant is situated in a class Haussmanian apartment building, so it feels very French - but the decor is sleek. I find it quite a romantic spot for a special meal. The last time we were there, in 2007, they had a prix fixe 3 course menu for about 35 euros. We ordered one prix fixe plus a main and appetizer (and shared the dessert); this gave us the flexibility to try the whole menu but get a good value meal. They also offer "flights" of alcoholic cider - 3 small glasses matched to your courses. It's amazing how different the ciders can taste. Service is friendly and professional. You should make a reservation a couple of days in advance. The restaurant is located in the 8th arrondissement, about a 10 minute walk from the big department store Printemps.

My second favourite restaurant is a neighbourhood wine bar, located the south end of the 16th arrondissement. It's called Le Vin Dans Les Voiles. It is also very affordable. It has a short but very good menu with a number of wines by the glass. It's very much a local haunt. The affable proprietor doesn't speak a lot of English, but speaks enough to get by. It's very small - about 6 tables, so you should make a reservation, but you don't need to make one far in advance (a few hours should be fine).

Hi JT,

Have you looked up Paris under "Destinations"?

((I))

With only 4 days in Paris here are my suggestions after 7 trips to Paris:

A Seine River cruise----our choice is
http://www.vedettesdupontneuf.com/billet_en.php
On this site you can print a coupon for a few Euros off and it's good at any time. It gives you a good look at the city and it's wonderful either day or night,we've done both. There is also Bateaux Mouche---just don't do Bat'o Bus because that is exactly what it is a bus. You might use it for transportation but not a romantic cruise---that would be a night cruise.

Of course,the Eiffel Tower, we prefer it at night.

Luxemborg Gardens---especially good on Sunday.

The smaller museums, the Louvre is overwhelming, stroll through the beautiful courtyard and the Tuilleries, but save the inside for another trip. Try D'Orsay & the Rodin, much more manageable.

Notre Dame---inside & up top if the lines aren't too long. Then a stroll down St. Louis en Ile. Try a cone in the shape of a flower at Amorino, we much prefer it to Berthillon.

A stroll along the Seine to check out the booksellers and tourist stuff. Then the Left Bank. You must check out the Buci and the restaurants & shops. At night it is quite lively.

Also at night, especially on Fri. & Sat., the street entertainment around Notre Dame is fun.

The Arch de Triumph is good, but we find the Champs Elysee huge and far too commercial.

Place Vosges in the Marais is another great place for a stroll or lunch and don't miss The Carnavalet museum---another small beauty.

The best part about Paris is just walking and finding one wonderful site, or cafe around every corner.

There are so many cafes and restaurants, it's hard to choose. Here are some of our favorites(but ofcourse it depends where you are staying).

L'Ilot Vache on rue St. Louis en Ile----36 Euro price fixe dinner with appetizer,entree, and desert.

Au Bougnat on Rue Chansionesse, a few blocks from Notre Dame. Not fancy, but one of the best rib eye steaks and frites for 19 Euros.

Relais Entrecote, near St. Germain---all they serve is steak & fries and salad for 150 years.

For a bit of a splurge try http://www.le-train-bleu.com/ I think we spent around 130 Euros for a birthday dinner for 2, but that doesn't even come close to what you would spend at the Eiffel Tower restaurant. Fodorites suggested it to us and it was one of our best experiences.

Let us know where you are staying (my suggestion is as close to the Seine as possible) and I'm sure all of us "Paris lovers" will give you more suggerstions.

I am going to Paris for one week in June so all of your wonderful suggestions are also helping me out.

Thanks so much!

Absolutely do not include Disney on this trip. You have all of PARIS to see!

I would never spend an entire day in the Louvre, whether I had 4 days in Paris or 40.

In addition to Le Florimond in the 7ème, I'd consider La Fontaine de Mars and any of Christian Constant's restaurants - maybe splurge at Le Violon d'Ingres for the anniversary dinner.

If you're going to be there on a Sunday, consider brunch at the Musée Jacquemart-André.

The advice to get the Carte Orange is probably not good - just buy a carnet of 10 tickets, which you can use on the métro and buses. No photos required. If the weather is nice, you might want to use the Batobus at least one day to get around - in fact, if you use a map and plan well, you can do a good day's worth of sightseeing by taking it from one end of the river to the other.

I agree with TPAYT, stay as close to the Seine as possible, it's worth the extra money to be able to walk to everything. We rented an apartment on Ile St. Louis on our trip, which was perfect! We found the entire Left bank and the Marais to be the most charming neighborhoods. Spend as little time as possible around the Champs Elysee, go there to say you've been but that's about it.

Also...Soprano in the Marais (soprano-paris.fr has a map/address) is a great Italian restaurant if you tire of French Cuisine..we had a great meal there.

Oh, please no Disney!! 4 days is not nearly enough to even sip on Paris.
I SECOND and third La Florimond. We found it the first time we stayed at the Muguet and go back every trip. The last one was for DH's significant birthday dinner with all our children and their spouses. It is a little gem. Reasonable. Authentic to the nth. SMALL--reservations a must.

I would recommend skipping Versailles and trying Chateau Chantilly instead. You can get there by RER and IMHO, it is much nicer, less crowded than Versailles and the art is fantastic! The English village at Chantilly was the model for the same at Versailles. http://www.chateaudechantilly.com/ch.../histoire.html

Just don't forget to get tickets for 6 zones! Don't ask why I know that!

Think of this as your FIRST trip to Paris, not as your ONLY trip to Paris. That way you won't get upset about all of the things that you will miss.

The first time I went to Paris we got the Museum pass and saw everything possible in five days, including Versailles. Loved every second of it, but we missed the essence of Paris. We have since been back a few times and don't do any of the tourist things (but the Marmottan is such an intimate little place with gorgeous Monets - I go every time with or without DH) unless there is something special. L'Orangerie had just reopened one time, so we had to go (gorgeous if Monet is special for you).

Get a great map, figure out what you want to do, decide whether or not to get Museum Pass (it let's you skip the lines, so I would consider it) and then go enjoy!!

We wander the streets, we went up in the Montparnasse tower to see Paris from on high including a view OF the Eiffel Tower as opposed to FROM the Eiffel Tower.
Sit at outdoors cafes (they have heaters when it's cold) and have coffee (ask for Cafe American and you'll get a normal cup of joe - if you as for cafe, you'll get an espresso at most places), wine (house wine by the 1/2 carafe good and cheap), bread, cheese. DH drinks red, I drink white, so the 1/2 carafes were perfect. We were almost always a little tipsy, though.
Love the view from Sacre-Coure and the neighborhood around it is bit randy - a very mild red light district and is kind of fun!
The stained glass in Sainte-Chappelle on a sunny day is not to be missed.
If there are any restaurants that are on your list that you really can't afford or is just stupidly expensive - GO AT LUNCH!! The lunch at Les Bouquinitstes (Guy Savoy's place) was the best meal I have ever had. Then a lite dinner (wine and cheese) and you are good to go!
Seine cruise at sunset - perfect.
Use the bus system if you can. So much better to see Paris when going from place to place. Avoid rush hour, tho. Better yet, walk - it's a surprisingly small city and you can walk most places (planned a little).
Dress up a little. Ball gowns and tuxedos are overkill, but leaving your jeans, printed t-shirts and sneakers at home for 5 days won't kill you. Parisians are so effortlessly chic. Just make sure you wear very comfortable shoes.
Don't worry about your caloric intake. You will walk most of it off.
Try the crepes. You can have anything on a crepe and it's fun.
There are free concerts - the churches have them all the time. They are listed in a little magazine at the postcard shops (I can't remember what it's called, it's in French and has all sorts of info on special things going on in the city).
Favorite restaurant - L'Ardoise. Pretty close to your hotel. Good value (love the food, not the atmosphere) for dinner in a city full of VERY expensive places.
Some museums are open in the evenings. For example, the Louvre was open until 9PM on Fridays and the Musee D'Orsay (don't miss) until 8PM on Thursdays. Less crowded and we really liked being there "after hours".
See everything you can at night. There's a bus that passes most of the sights - I can't remember which one, but it was like taking a tour for 1 Euro, not crowded. It is just so beautiful at night and the Eiffel Tower "dances" every hour on the hour. Watch it from Trocadero just once.
I know, this is a Fodors forum, but I highly recommend the Rick Steves book. We got some pretty good insight into what we were looking at and interesting walking tours to do on our own from it.
Leave time to walk around Versaille's grounds if you go. We walked to Marie Antoinette's "house" and really loved the whole experience.

Enjoy Paris!!

You can download into .pdf the Tourist Office booklet called "Paris for You". It is found under Parisinfo.com, then Press, then Publications, then Paris for You (English option)... Other useful guides there as well.

http://asp.zone-secure.net/v2/index....15/5499&lng=en

Strong recommendation on using the buses, as you will see lots & lots. We have mobility issues and much easier than hiking up flights of Metro stairs. You can educate yourself on bus routes in advance. Also, recommend L'Opentour, which is a 2 day sightseeing bus tour pass that allows you to hop on/hop off. We spent our first day on the bus viewing all the routes and sights, figuring out what we wanted to go back and visit more intensely.

Biggest piece of advice - don't stress out and feel you have to do it all. You also can plan your dinners, but breakfasts/lunches should be en route to where you are visiting that day. Good idea to concentrate on small, local places. Please don't vist McDonald's, Burger King, etc. - there are so many wonderful cheap options, crepes with nutella, etc.

There are only two things we would want McDonald's for: They have Coke (and Diet Coke, which we prefer) at reasonable prices and with ice, unlike cafes which, if they have it at all, charge more than they do for wine and often look surprised that anyone would want ice; and they have modern bathrooms. Of course, they are overrun (after school hours) by children and teens.

Our best choices for restaurants have always been places we wandered by and liked their "carte" (list of offerings). Every restaurant provides that info. We have enjoyed almost every meal, and almost never went to high-end, much-publicized places. Be aware that many true restaurants (not cafes, bistrot, etc.) close between lunch and dinner--in they offer lunch at all--and the dinner opening most likely starts around 8:00 (or perhaps as early as 7:30 or as late as 9:00). And many are small, so reserving a table earlier in the day or, better, the day before, can be helpful.

Don't worry about language. English is spoken widely and, unlike 10-15 years ago, most shop and restaurant people are willing to use it. In the past, the only time a shopkeeper would speak English was often as you were leaving following an unsuccessful effort to communicate. Much less frequent now! And in a pinch there will be someone (local or tourist) passing by who will translate for you.

You have gotten good advice. My add-ons or secondings are:

Carnet. Forget passes and rules and pictures.

Broken-in walking shoes.

Musee du Moyen Age (Cluny) (Middle Ages items, Roman ruins and artefacts, the fabulous Unicorn Tapestries, and, if they still have them, maybe a lunch-hour concert of medieval music.)

Sainte-Chapelle (During bright sunlight only!)(Stained glass will knock your eyes out.)

View from the top of the Tour Montparnasse, at sunset.

A different selection from a different patisserie every day.

La Maison du Chocolat

la boulangerie Poilâne (amazing bread)

Never (I mean NEVER) eat at a restaurant with a menu in four languages and a guy out front inviting you in. NEVER!

Enter the Louvre at the Lions Gate (no line) and go right into the amazing ethnologic collection.

The Rodin Museum, inside and out.

The area around the Pompidou Center (Beaubourg), and the inside, too.

A picnic of the irresistable things selected at a street market or the basement of Galeries Lafayette or Bon Marche, weather permitting. On second thought, forget the weather and eat the picnic in your hotel room!

A Citron Presse at a cafe when your feet hurt.

I read all the posts and I may have missed MY most important tip: Go to Laduree's for the chocolate macaroons!

I am a supporter of the Musée & Monument pass as it represents good value if you visit two or more museums in a day - and I'm sure you will visit at least 2 - and, in most cases, it reduces queuing time significantly. It also allows you to dip into a museum for a short time only without feeling guilty about the expense. For example, visit the Louvre for just an hour and see one area that interests you and then go out, cross the river and see La Sainte Chappelle, or whatever. You can pop back into the Louvre again the next day if you'd like to see more. For a 4 day stay I'd recommend a 2 day pass for 32€. Information here: http://www.parismuseumpass.com/en/pass_presentation.php

Another good place for views is the dome of the Pantheon. There are free dome tours every half hour or so - no commentary, just someone to lead you up and you get 360 degree views.

A restaurant that we like, is Louis Vins in the 5th - nice food and not too expensive. http://www.fifi.fr/

And, if that's not enough:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...o-in-paris.cfm

How about the Paris Opera Ballet? The Garnier theater is spectacular, very opulent and romantic. Even if you're not that interested in ballet, you could spend your time staring at Chagall's ceiling.

http://alternika.files.wordpress.com...arnier3web.jpg

http://cache.virtualtourist.com/1768...aris-Paris.jpg

Here's the POB website:

http://www.operadeparis.fr/cns11/liv..._SELECT_SEASON

Hi all,

Thanks for the wonderful suggestions. This will help us as well but we have even less time.

TPayt,
Le train Bleu--is that in the 12th arrondisemont? Is there anything else touristy in the area?

StCirq,
You mentioned Christian Constant restaurants. Which are those and where are they located?