Hi,

I am visiting Paris for 4 days and would really appreciate some feedback on the itinerary. I am not sure if this is too much or if I am missing some of the highlights.

DAY 1
Champs-Elysées Walk from Arc de Triomphe down the grand avenue des Champs-Elysées to Tuileries Garden.

Visit L'Orangerie

Evening: Cruise the Seine River and visit Eifel tower

DAY 2:
Walk and visit Ile de la Cité, Notre-Dame, Sainte-Chapelle, Rodin, Orsay. Hang around in the Latin Quarter.

In the evening concert at EGLISE DE LA MADELEINE.

DAY 3:
Day: Visit Versailles
Evening: Visit Montmartre and Dali Museum

DAY 4: Hang around departure at 2:00pm for Nice.

I think you have the major highlights, of course. Day 2 is nothing I would ever do myself, but if you don't like museums very much and don't intend to spend much time in the Orsay, I guess it could work. But visiting two museums in the same afternoon, one which is huge and a major museums, seems too much to me. I see you aren't going to the Louvre, which I think is fine, so maybe you aren't a big museum buff. I think that day could be okay if you cut out the Orsay, but it is a wonderful museum.

As long as you are up in Montmartre, you might consider the little Montmartre museum, which I thought was enjoyable, isn't far away, and isn't just paintings. I would go to that before Dali, but I don't like Dali very much -- but just thought I'd mention it as a choice in case you were only going to the Dali because you thought it was the only one up there.

Thanks Christina,

I am not a big museum buff, but I do see your point. I definitely want to visit Orsay for the impressionist collection, so I think I'll move Rodin to Day 4.

I love Dali and its a cute museum, if there is time I would goto the Montmartre Museum as well.

My take on it...

Day 1..Good day, not too rushed. Add in Opera, Palais Royale, rue Rivoli, rue Fauborg St Honore, maybe Louvre des Antiquaires, some of the covered pasageways (all in same area)

Day 2. Very busy day. Notre Dame, St Chapelle and Ile St Louis(I'll add that to list) would take a morning +. Also could do some walking along Seine at this time.

Lunch.

Metro to Rodin, couple of hours there, walk/metro to Orsay, couple hours there...then left bank, before dinner, and at that an early dinner in order to get to concert?

I'd drop at least one museum, and then walk from along Bldv St Germain from west to east, to hang in Left Bank.

Eat in Latin quarter and metro to Madeleine is also a bit of running around.

Day 3. On your own, or part of bus tour group?

I might move concert to day 1, and do cruise on day 2 (since in Left Bank area could do Vedettes du Pont Neuf), and maybe Eiffel on day 3 night, as your almost last memory of Paris.

In my opinion, it is also important to add in some quality cafe time, for absorbing the essence of Paris, and to plan your days. Breakfast at your "local" one, and lunch/afternoon break at one along the way.

You cannot see Paris in 4 days, so don't try to fit it all in. You will miss amongst other things, Marais and Place des Vosges, so a second trip may be required.

This is my second trip to Paris, last time I was there for 2 nights and barely scratched the surface. I plan to visit again and again.

Thanks for the advice. I will change Day 2 to Rodin and then see Orsay on day 4. The concert is at 7:30pm and I have tickets so can't move that. I also like the idea of seeing Eifel on day 3 as the last thing.

I haven't started looking at Cafes, but suggestions are welcome.

Day 3 now looks like Versailles, Montmartre and then Eifel. A lot of running around.

What days of the week will you be in Paris. That might make a bit of a difference as to when to do certain things.

Some museums might be closed or open late or free on the first Sunday (which for some is a reason to go then and for others a day to avoid).

I am in Paris b/w Sunday and Wednesday. Please let me know how this affects the visit.

Thanks

I'm in the planning stages of our trip to Paris in June. Many museums are closed either Monday or Tuesday (day 2 and 3 of your trip), so you should definitely check that. It looks like most of your selections are linked at the Paris Museum Pass website: http://www.parismuseumpass.com/en/musees_liste_nom.php
for more details.

It's coming together!

I'l add a comment, and please feel free to ignore it, but it should be said that with only 4 days in Paris, you won't see it all, so should not do any
day trips.

OK, moving on. If you go to Versailles, you can go on a bus tour (e.g. Parisvision or Cityrama) or you can go via the RER C train line, purchasing a combo train and entrance ticket at your departure point. With bus, everything is taken care of for you. With train, you have to get yourself there and back . A few reasons I might choose the train over bus is that you can go very early to be there when chateau opens 9AM, and therefore avoid the crush when the buses arrive. Two, you can stay as long as you want. After the chateau, you could spend a large amount of time in the gardens, visit thte trianon,etc. Plus, on a train you get to see countryside bit better, plus it wouldbe cheaper. And, you can still have guided tour inside chateau.

To throw another idea at you, there are
shows on certain days (fountains,etc..) ...have a look below, you may want to change the day.

http://www.chateauversaillesspectacl...gb/accueil.htm

Djman,

By sheer accident, I am fine with the museum schedule. L'Orangerie is closed on Tuesday (I am going on Monday), Rodin and Orsay on Monday (I am going on Tuesday and Thursday). Thanks for the note very helpful.

Michel,
Thanks for the feedback about Versailles, this is the part of the trip that I have been most hesitant about. I missed it on my last trip to Paris (decided to spend the time in Louvre); so I realize that I have been trying to stuff it in.

I really want to see it but maybe it is too much. I am planning to take the train and not the bus. To decide can you tell me if I have enough time to enjoy Versailles, come back and then goto Montmartre. I don't want to be rushing around on a timeline.

I will need to switch Day 2 and 3 to get the shows.

Thanks for your help.

Hey Karore,

You're going to have a wonderful time in Paris, and your itinerary is pretty good, however I would second Michel's advice and skip Versailles for this trip. Paris can keep you occupied forever, and I think your time would be better spent there. However, if Versailles is priority for you then go for it. You know yourself better than anyone, and if you feel comfortable with it and think you will enjoy it then you should try it. Do what's best for you!

Have a great trip!

Layla

Layla and Michel,

Ok, seems like Versailles is overkill, so I'll skip it for the future when I have more time and just enjoy Paris in this trip. Maybe add Marais instead and little more time at each place. It will make the trip a little relaxed and more enjoyable.

Thanks a lot for your help. I really, really appreciate it.

karore: I think you've made a good decision. Wandering around time, cafe-sitting time, trip on the Seine - use your newly "found" time from dropping Versailles to really enjoy Paris.

some people say one should do as little planning as possible, but if you are in charge of 4 people who can't always agree it is better to plan. Unfortunalely I am with a 12 and 14 yr old who really want to go to Disney to say they went to Disney, but have been in the states at least a dozen times. so I have to plan the rest of the time.

My daughter and a friend will be in Paris for 8 days. They are debating about buying the 6 day museum pass. I think it covers most but I do not think the Louvre. Do you really save any money or should you just pick the ones you want.

spiegelcjs- you've tacked your question about the museum pass onto someone else's thread titled Paris Itinerary. While you may get some helpful responses you should do two things to get even more information.

1) Use the "Search this forum" function and enter Paris museum pass or just museum pass and check out all of the previous posts on the subject.

2)If you still have specific questions about the pass after reading through other threads on the subject start an new thread with your question and be sure to include the words Paris museum pass ? in the title.

There are many opinions among fodorites about the pass. While it may or may not be a money saver, the fact that passholders get to bypass lines and enter much more quickly than non pass holders usually makes it worth having. They can buy it at the first museum they go to.

1. look up each museum that you want to visit here:
http://en.parisinfo.com/rub7968.html..._article=20010
and get the entry fee.

2. look up the Paris Museum Pass here:
http://www.parismuseumpass.com/en/home.php
and get the list of museums (includes the Louvre)

3. do your own cost/benefit analysis and decide

good advice on the museum pass (search elsewhere), and their own website gives you the info on museums covered. It def. covers the Louvre, that's one of the main reasons people get it. The Louvre is one of the most expensive museums in Paris, as well as one of the most crowded.

I wouldn't ever get the six-day one, though, although I guess if you are museum crazy, maybe. I just don't think you could easily make that pay with the usual places people want to go.

Hi,

Can anyone recommend a cruise for Siene.

Thanks

Vedettes du Pont Neuf

http://www.vedettesdupontneuf.com/circuit.htm

Located on west end of Ile de la Cite.