Paris - Is it possible to do all this in 4 days?
 

We would like to visit the following places in Paris- Arc de Trimophe, the Louvre, Sacre Coeur, the Eifel Tower, Versialles and Giverny. Also, we would like sometime for shopping. We will arrive in Paris on Monday morning and do not expect to do too much that day since we will be tired after a long flight. We will spend Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in Paris and will leave Friday morning. Are we being too abixious we have never been to Paris and we would like to see the main sights.

Seems like a lot for three and a half days. It depends on your energy level and how much time you want to spend at each place. You could do the Arc de Triomphe (don't know if I spelled that right) the afternoon you get there. I find the Louvre really tiring and time-consuming. The places you want to see in Paris are kind of spread out. I don't think you can do all of them and also trips to Giverny and Versailles. I'd keep Giverny for another trip and spend a day at Versailles.

Where are you staying? That would make a big difference.

You could start at the Eiffel Tower in the morning (lower haze for pictures, easier on the lines if you get there when it opens), then take the 92 bus up to the Arc de Triomphe -- see that/climb it, have lunch, then go up to Sacre Coeur late in the day (same 92 bus will take you close to Sacre Coeur)...doublecheck the bus number but I think that's it.

I would choose between Versailles & Giverny, and in my opinion skip Giverny since it's is a longer trip out of town and will take an entire day.

Another day you could get out to Versailles on the RER before it opens at 9 a.m. (it's about 30 minutes on the yellow RER C line East of town, just stay on til the end of the line) You could go through it in a few hours, go down into the gardens, and be back in Paris by 2 p.m., giving you plenty of time for some relaxation and shopping.

The Louvre is also good to go first thing in the morning. In that area, you could also go see Ile St. Louis (great shopping on its main street), and walk over towards Notre Dame on Ile de la Cite.

If you get in and feel like doing more than you thought, there's plenty more to do, including a hop-on, hop-off tour bus, or a walk through the Luxumbourg Gardens..

It looks like what you REALLY have is 3 full days in Paris, and if I were you, that's how I'd spend them.

Happy travels,

Jules

Of course you'll get all kinds of opinions on this -- but here's mine:

I would skip Giverny, and maybe Versailles.

You might get more 'done' on Monday than you think. We basically did Notre Dame, Ste. Chapelle, St. Severin, etc., at a slow enjoyable pace and explored our immediate neighborhood (5th arr).

Also, unless you are a huge art buff, do a little research on the Louvre before you leave and identify what you want to see. Then, decide to spend, say, no more than 2 or 3 hours in there. Beat it out of there when the clock rings. There is nothing to be ashamed of about not wanting to spend your whole vacation inside of a museum -- especially if you don't spend much time in them at home. (MY opinion.)

Arc de Trimophe can easily be combined with Sacre Cour. I recommend having lunch at L'Ete en Pente Douce to the right as you face Sacre Cour and way down behind it. Most enjoyable.

I really like Musee D'Orsay too - it is simply a magnificent building. But, same 'rules' apply there as to Louvre.

Have fun!!!

The best part of Paris is simply BEING there. Ah, it's wonderful. Slow down, take your time. You won't regret it.

This is an ambitious itinerary for three days, mainly because you mention Versailles and Giverny. Giverny is a full day for all practical purposes, and Versailles is at least a half-day (and often a full day as well). That leaves only a day for everything else, which isn't very much.

On a three-day trip, I'd strongly suggest that you forget Giverny (it's not worth it on such a short trip), and it would be best to skip Versailles as well (for the same reason). There's more than enough to keep you busy for three days just in Paris, especially if you visit any museums at all.

What many visitors do not realize is that much of the pleasure of visiting Paris (and many other large cities, for that matter) comes from simply walking around the city. You don't have to be visiting a "famous sight" to enjoy the city.

I say skip Versaille and Giverny. You don't have enough time and you'll drive yourself mad. Paris IS SO BEAUTIFUL!!! There is so much to see and do, so much to absorb and observe. One also can't underestimate how tiring it is to navigate around a new city. Give yourself time to walk along the Seine(or at the very least take a bateau mouche on the Seine for an introductory tour). Let yourself sit in a cafe in the Marais. In my opinion, a trip to Paris is not complete without a visit to one of its many beautiful gardens. Grab some cheese and bread and sit in the Luxemburg gardens. Enjoy the Louvre but don't miss out on the Monets at the Musee Marmottan or the sculptures at the Rodin museum. Don't bother with daytrips. It'll be too much of a blur.

The Louvre is open Wednesday evenings until about 9, so you could perhaps consider that, leaving you more time to do the other places during daytime. I think the Musee d'Orsay is also open in the evenings. Check it's website.

i'd skip both the outside the city day trips and spend the 4 days all right in Paris. even then it is barely enough time.

Hi ret,

With only 4 days in Paris, I suggest saving daytrips for another visit.

You will have plenty of time to see the sights.

((I))

Another vote to skip the side trips. Paris will keep you plenty busy with just four days.

I also recommend skipping the day trips outside the city. But whatever you do, don't miss Ste. Chapelle.

Note that Versailles is closed on Monday, Louvre is closed on Tuesday, and agree that you don't have time to see Paris, go on 1 day trip, and 'shop'.

I don't think it's that impossible, except I wouldn't do both day trips. Some of those things don't take that much time -- maybe a half day each for Louvre and Montmartre (includes Sacre Coeur). The Arc de Triomphe doesn't take long if you just want to see and look at it -- longer if you go up, of course. I think you could do something your day of arrival, just wouldn't pick museums which can be tiring and you need concentration. You might use that day for the Eiffel Tower.

It depends what means the most to you -- Versailles or Giverny. You can do Giverny in a half day if you are willing to pay a little more and do one of those bus tours. I don't think that's such a bad idea, it will maxmimize your time. Cityrama has a tour to Giverny that is only 63 euro and doesn't leave until 1:45 pm. If this is the summer, it stays light very light, and I think that would be a reasonable choice, and you'd have the morning for something else.

If I had to cut anything, it would be shopping, although anyone is going to have an hour or two downtime here and there were you can just browse for souvenirs and small items.

I would recommend using the "tour" of the Louvre from Rick Steve's book (unless you have very specific things you want to see). It hits the "high points" and you can do it in a couple of hours. I would have preferred to wander around all day, but we had our three kids with us, so we had to try to see a lot in a short amount of time. It worked well for us.

Musee d'Orsay is my favorite art museum...so terrific...try to squeeze it in.

Also, skip Versailles and Giverny but add Notre Dame (also St. Chapelle if it's sunny)and a stroll through the Latin quarter.

Stick to Paris proper, since you only have 3 days you don't want to spend one of those days on a train. Wandering (particularly in any of the Gardens) must be allowed for. As well as having a crepe on your way to the Arc where there is an abundance of shopping.

Thanks for all the feedback. I understand why many of you are suggesting we skip Versailles and Giverny. We've never been to Paris and may never have a chance to go back, are we missing alot if we skip these sights?
I know we are on a tight schedule and we are prepared to pass on shopping if we have to.

I didn't see if you mentioned the dates/time of year, which would be important for Giverny. We went there in very early May, and the gardens were not fully blooming yet although lovely enough. The gardens are not open year-round, so if you're traveling Feb/March, you may have to 'scratch off' your list anyway.

Travenut, you raise a very good point. We will be travelling in April. The gardens at Giverny open on April 1.

With such a limited number of days I really wouldn't want to eat up so much time traveling to those side trips when all of Paris awaits.

While not the same as seeing all of Versailles, I think that viewing the royal family's apartments within the Louvre will give you a good idea of what Versaille is like on the interior.

I wouldn't take the time to see Giverny when there are great parks and gardens in Paris and wonderful impressionist art in the D'Orsay.

saving for later thanks!