Hello all, I need some help on setting up my 4 days in Paris itinerary. We will arrive on sunday 2pm, and leaving on Thur early afternoon.

Here is what I have so far, let me know what you think, or suggest to add.

Sunday:
Rodin Museum, Eiffel Tower, evening Cruise along Seine

Monday:
Louvre, walk around Montmartre, Arc Triomphe, and maybe sitting at a cafe to people watch.

Tue:
Versailles

Wed:
Notre dame, Saint Chapelle, Picasso Museum, Musee D'Orsay

Thur morning: open

We are staying in the (St Germain-Latin Quarter-Montparnasse) Marriott Rive Gauche, and suggestion on dinners and breakfasts?

thank you in advance!

Sunday looks good. I'd recommend Vedettes du Pont Neuf for cruise (picklast one of day), but Canauxrama, Bateaux Parisiens , and others are fine.

Monday. Montmartre is a distance from Louvre area, perhaps end of day with dinner? Arc and Elysee...OK, I was underwhelmed with CE, it's not 'fairy tale' Paris..,. and expensive. Not a place I'd choose for a cafe, but that's me.
In the area I'd add Palais Royal, Place Vendome, Tuileries gardens, maybe walk along Rue St Honore.

Tuesday, good. On your own or organized coach tour?

Wed...add Ile St Louis, walks along Seine. In Marais,add also Place des Vosges..a must see in my books. Is the Picasso not closed for 2 years for renovations?

Thurs.. how about Left Bank? Walk down St germain boulevard, Rue de Buci, go to Luxembourg gardens, cafe time.

Breakfasts...I go to local cafe for coffee, OJ and a pain au chocolat. Cheaper than eating at hotel, and good food.

Wednesday - the Picasso museum is closed for a couple of years. Notre Dame has a wonderful free tour on Wednesdays at 2:00. While you're in the area go behind Notre Dame and cross the small street to see the Deportation Memorial.

You won't have much time on Thursday as most sights don't open until about 10:00. Of course, churches are always open. You could go to a morning market (I like Rue Mouffetard) and see the Pantheon, St-Etienne-du-Mont church along the way. Or see the Cluny Museum (Medieval Art) which is wonderful and visit St-Severin and Julian-le-Pauvre churches and Shakespears & Co book store; all in the same area.

thanks for your quick reply! the sitting at a cafe and people thing doesn't have to be on Monday, any day is fine. any suggestions on which day then?

I also bought Paris, History & Mystery 24 walking tour book, any walks i should incorporate into my trip?

thanks

Hi snowchick,
We were in Paris just two weeks ago...you will love it. Don't forget that the Louvre is open late on Wed evening til 9:45. We walked right in around 6 pm and roamed around for hours, walking right up to everything we wanted to see. By 8 pm it was virtually a ghost town, so you might think of visiting it Wed night.

I agree with taking the Vendettes de Pont Neuf boat cruise in the evening. Don't forget, the Eiffel tower goes into 'twinkle mode' for about 5 minutes at 10 pm. Time your cruise to see it if possible. Even without twinkling it's beautiful all lit up at night, as is the city.

If you plan to go up the Eiffel Tower get there probably an hour before it opens and get in line. The same is true to climb Notre Dame. On Sunday morning at 9:30 am the Eiffel Tower was a mob scene at all the towers so we didn't go up, but we still got great views of the city from the top of Notre Dame, Arc de Triomphe and Montmarte. So I don't know how going in the afternoon will work out for you if you want to go up.

I agree with going to the Luxembourg gardens if possible. It's a great place to unwind and just relax. There are tons of benches and chairs. Grab some picnic stuff: baguette, cheese, meat, fruit etc and take some time to relax. It really helps to revive you and gets you ready to head back into the city, revived and ready to go.

I actually found that very helpful: just take an hour or so in the middle of each day to just relax. Either at your hotel or in a park or somewhere quiet. Then you feel ready to continue on sightseeing. Especially if it is hot when you are there like it was when we were there: 35 degrees. Hot.

Have a wonderful and memorable trip!

Michele

<<Sunday:
Rodin Museum, Eiffel Tower, evening Cruise along Seine>>

That isn't much for one day. Les Invalides is about halfway between the Musée Rodin and the Tour Eiffel, and has some very interesting exhibits in the Musée de l'Armée as well as Les Invalides itself. Plus you could wander up the rue Cler on your way to the Tour. Also, I'd be flexible about the cruise - you don't want to do that if it's pouring rain.

<<Monday:
Louvre, walk around Montmartre, Arc Triomphe, and maybe sitting at a cafe to people watch.>>

You're all over the city on this day. You might want to group things better. Also, you're just planning a single time to sit at a café? Won't you want to do that EVERY day?

Tue:
Versailles

<<Wed:
Notre dame, Saint Chapelle, Picasso Museum, Musee D'Orsay>>

Picasso museum is closed, but I'd spend at least half a day in the Marais and check out the Centre Pompidou. You don't want to go to Sainte-Chapelle unless it's sunny.

<<Thur morning: open

We are staying in the (St Germain-Latin Quarter-Montparnasse) Marriott Rive Gauche, and suggestion on dinners and breakfasts?>>

By this time you will have been in Paris for several days and presumably will have spotted nearby places to eat. Just go with your instincts and read the posted menus. There's no need to do that level of planning.

There are so many cafes in Paris.
Last trip, I found a nice cafe a block from my hotel. I'd go every morning, read the newspaper and plan my day. For about 9 euor, coffe, OJ and a sweet.

I ate lunch at two nice outdoor locations. One is Cafe Hugo which is at Place des Vosges. Couple of tables under the arcades, I found food good and plentiful and nice views.

My other lucnh spot was Brasserie de L'Ile St Louis, which is on the Ile St Louis side of the bridge between the two islands. Nice views of Pantheon, plenty of people watching. I stayed for a couple of hours and did the "full" food treament (lunch, wine, mineral water, ice cream...).

There is also a nice cafe with a large patio in front of the Palais de Justice on Ile Notre Dame, on the way to Notre Dame.

You could also pick up lunch and go to a park.

The places just outside the Marriott are not great. Just a warning.

Hi; Just saw this 'free' walking tour company that includes Paris. www.newparistours.com/ We intend to try them in Munich in two weeks. Reviews are good. Dick

I told some friends about the New Paris tour and they took it in June and loved it.

I'll be interested to hear what you think about the hotel and the area. And CarolA, if anything near the hotel IS good, do tell! We are staying there for 5 nights in Oct. (Not my first choice, but my FIL arranged it and complaining seemed a little too "my diamond shoes are too tight".) Rue Daguerre, which I consider walking distance from the Marriott Rive Gauche, seems to have lots of cafes and little restaurants. Also Place Denfert-Rochereau; and Place d'Italie is also what I'd consider walking distance.

SUGGESTED Itinerary -
(Musee D’Orsay, Carnavalet, Rodin, Versailles  closed on Monday
Louvre closed on Tuesday)
SATURDAY
MONTMARTRE METRO ABBESSES OR PIGALE
METRO TO  MONTMARTRE/SACRE  COEUR
WALK AROUND PLACE DU TERTRE
MUSEE MONTMARTRE (11-5:30) 12 RUE CORTOT  METRO LAMARCK
DINNER AT THE RESTAURANT NEAR THE SQUARE OR
STOP AT CAFE LE 2 MOULINS 15 RUE LEPIC METRO BLANCHE
METRO TO THE EIFFEL TOWER METRO BIR HAKEIM
SUNDAY
AM MASS AT NOTRE DAME  METRO CITE
VISIT TO ST. CHAPELLE
THEN BACK TO WALK AROUND ILE ST.  LOUIS  VISIT CHURCH ST. LOUIS
COFFEE AND A PASTRY AT #24  OR #40 RUE ST. LOUIS   AND/OR
METRO TO THE MARAIS  METRO ST. PAUL
MUSEE CARNAVALET (OPEN 10-5:40PM)23 RUE DE SEVIGNE  AND/OR
METRO MONTPARNASSE
VISIT TO MARKET (8:30-6:30)MARCHE BIOLOGIQUE BLVD RASPAIL
BETWEEN RUE RENNES AND RUE CHERCHE MIDI
DINNER AT LA COUPOLE   102 BLVD DU MONTPARNASSE
MONDAY
METRO TO  ETOILE
WALK FROM L’ARC DU TRIOMPHE DOWN  CHAMPS ELYSEES
NAPOLEON EXHIBITION AT MUSEE JAQUEMART ANDRE 158 BLVD HAUSSMAN
THROUGH THE TUILLERIES TO THE LOUVRE  VISIT TO THE LOUVRE
WALK AROUND THE LATIN QUARTER
TUESDAY
METRO SOLFERINO TO VISIT THE MUSEE D’ORSAY
RER  TRAIN TO PALAIS DU  VERSAILLES
WEDNESDAY
METRO VARENNE TO VISIT LES INVALIDES/MUSEE DES ARMEES
METRO RABUTEAU OR CHATELET TO POIMPIDOU /FOUNTAINS
METRO TO BOIS DE BOULOGNE PARC DE LA BAGATELLE OR BOIS DE VINCENNES TO
SEETHE PARC FLORAL

SHOPPING/THEATRE/CONCERT/MOVIE...........................................

Will the Picasso Museum still be closed May of 2010. This is one museum that we did not get to when we visited in 2008. Was hoping to make it next trip.

K2DangerGirl,

I don't have any specific recommendaitons, but I have had some decent cafe type meals on Rue Daguerre. Not to far from Place d' Itaile is the Butte-Aux-Cailles area and I had an outstanding meal there. (I can't find the name right now but if I do I will return and post it) I am not a foodie so I won't attempt to give advice. I just know that I was not impressed with the two places right next door.

However, the hotel is nice and I will be there again in October! (Got to love those free Marriott nights) There's a metro stop very close and it's a nice neighborhood. Monprix is just past the Metro on the right (about a block off the main drag) if you need anything (just follow the AA flight crews that's how I found it) and the Concerige is very helpful.

Have a good trip