I've narrowed down my itinerary for Paris somewhat but am looking for some extra input. Friday July 25 I will get into Paris around 4pm and check into my hotel - in the 6th. Planning on taking a walk through the Jardin Luxembourg, having a dinner somewhere in the area and spending the evening wandering the streets near the hotel. Saturday is the busy day. I should point out before typing sites that I'm not one to look at things for a long period of time unless it really catches my eye. So I have planned to see the Georges Pompidou Centre, Concierge, Notre Dame, Musee Picasso, Concorde, Musee D'Orsay (possibly) Hotel Invalides, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and Arch de Defense. I figured an hour at some of the sites, the last three i just want to see, not climb them etc. I don't have restaurants or anything planned just whatever I see that catches my eye. I would like to do the night tour on the Seine on Saturday but only if time allows. Sunday morning I leave bright and early. Hope someone can give me some idea of how insane or not this schedule is! Thanks!

How about if you just go to the top of the Eiffel tower. You can "see" everything from there...

That's not quite what I meant. Some people spend hours in a musuem or looking at one site. I'm not looking to study the sites of Paris, just want see some things that are important to me in the short time that I have...

I am not sure insane is the proper word. For Saturday, you left out the Louvre, Versailles, Fontainebleau, Napoleon's tomb, and the Musee Marmottan.<BR>Did you plan on going inside any of those places?<BR><BR>Seriously, are you going to Paris with a checklist so you can mark off attractions like an old West gun slinger cutting notches in the handle of his pistol each time he drilled some poor guy?<BR><BR>I admit the Picasso Museum is worth 30 minutes, but the Musee d'Orsay is one of the great art museums of the world. <BR>As for your list, it is conspicous by the absence of many great places:<BR>Ste Chapelle and Musee Rodin to name two.<BR><BR>I presume you are asking a serious question. But I must admit, I am hard pressed to give a serious answer.<BR><BR>

Just a thought that you could move Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and Arch de Defense to your first night (Friday) thereby saving a lot of time. To experience the Conciergerie you have to go inside the building all the way to the back and walk thru the hallways. This takes about an hour. <BR><BR>Good luck,<BR><BR>==Mike

It sounds to me like Dornroschen has one day in Paris and would like to see as much as possible, not that he/she thinks Paris only warrants one day. (at least I hope that's the case). Maybe your best bet is to take one of the hop on hop off buses. That way you will get a look at the most things and then you can pick the ones you want to spend a little more time with. <BR><BR>Do yourself a favor and just hang out in a Paris cafe on Friday night and just &quot;be&quot; in Paris.

Thanks for your help so far. Yes I only do have one full day in Paris and yes there are a LOT of other things I would like to see. I just can't do them this trip. There are specific things in places such as the Musee D'Orsay that I want to see, same for the Pompidou Centre as they are things I have/am studying. Hope that can help some people as far as cutting down my choices of what to see. Thanks for the suggestion of moving the Eiffel Tower etc. to Friday night, I think I'll do that Keep the ideas coming!

With the short time available to you, I would definitely cut the Arc de Defense from your schedule. It is a long train ride out and back and you will make time to visit Ste. Chapelle. In fact, if it comes to a choice, I would visit Ste. Chapelle in lieu of the Concierge. Also suggest limiting your visit to the Invalides to Napoleon's tomb. Enjoy! Paris is wonderful, even for one day.

Part of your success depends on careful planning. Depending on where you are in the 6th, you can walk or take the Metro (stop Cite) to Ile de la Cite and see St. Chapelle and la Conciergerie (they sell a combined ticket at either place), and Notre Dame. Then cross the river at the Pont Notre Dame and walk straight up Rue St. Martin to Pompidou. From Pompidou you can walk to Picasso. Then walk south to metro St. Paul, change at Concorde, one stop to Assemblee National, and you will be at Orsay.<BR><BR>From Orsay, you could walk to Invalides or take bus 69 for a few blocks. (or you may decide to skip it!)<BR><BR>It sounds like a lot of walking (and it is), but it saves waiting for metros or buses.<BR><BR>I don't know if L'Open Tour is still running because I couldn't find the web site.

Definitely eliminate the Arc de Defense. It so far from everything else that it really doesn't pay to spend all that time going back and forth.<BR>Even if you only go to Musee d'Orsay, definitely buy a one-day museum pass for $15. Otherwise, you'll probably have to wait in line to get in. The pass is also good for Ste. Chapelle, Conciergerie, Les Invalides, Musee Rodin and Arc de Triomphe.<BR>Also, I don't see how you'll possibly have enough time to visit three or more museums plus all the other sites in one day, even if you plan to spend minimum time in the museums.

D,<BR><BR>Perhaps a bus tour of the city would let you &quot;see&quot; the sights, and then you could choose 1 or 2 (?) to go back and see<BR><BR>Mike

Go to Notre Dame early, and visit inside. Cross over to view the external architecture of Centre Pompidou, then go on to Musee Picasso for a visit. Take the metro to Arc de Triomphe, and walk downstreet on the Champs, to the Place de la Concorde. Cross the Seine and visit Musee d'Orsay's 3rd floor. (Maybe you are at a good time to have your lunch in the cafe here). Move on to the Hotel Invalides (do you just want to see Napoleon's Tomb?), then it's a good walk thru the Invalides/Ecole Militaire area to the Eiffel Tower. Maybe you will be there as the sun is setting...?<BR><BR>This itinerary skips the Conciergerie and the Arc de Defense, the latter is quite 'missable', really, especially when so pressed for time. The Concergerie is fairly interesting and surround Ste-Chapelle, but you could save those for another time, since Ste-Chapelle wasn't a priority.

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I would leave off La Defense definitely, and the Picasso Museum (unless you are a real Picasso fan, of course, I am not). The Pompidou Centre is interesting from an architectural viewpoint, as well as the art (some of which I like, some I don't). The main attraction of Sainte Chapelle is the windows, obviously, but I wouldn't put it as important as some other things (like Musee d'Orsay or the Conciergerie). I wouldn't put the Eiffel Tower at the top of my list either, because you can see it in the skyline anyway from other places, so it's not like you won't even see it from afar. YOu don't need to go over near it to see it, you can see it from the Champs-Elysees/Arc area.<BR><BR>The Open Tour bus is an idea, and is still around, here's the URL<BR><BR>http://www.paris-opentour.com/

There is no possible way to even wander by all of these &amp; for some reason you left off Montmartre. I would suggest the d'Orsay, Eiffel Tower, Rodin Museum &amp; the Arc. You should be able to see Notre Dame Friday night perhaps. I, too, am wondering what you are really trying to accomplish. If you're justing trying to be able to say 'I've been there done that' then join a tour. Based on your list, after you leave, you will in fact have seen nothing of Paris at all. It is best taken in by having lunch in the Luxembourg Gardens, sitting in the cafe w/a good book &amp; some wine, exploring Shakespeare &amp; Co., wandering around Montmartre or visiting the zoo w/a young child. Perhaps you should allow one of the greatest cities in the world a little more time.

It's apparent you've given thought to what you really want to see in your limited time.<BR><BR>Consider visiting Notre Dame early in the morning, especially if you don't plan to climb to the top of the tower (which is not worth your time). One of my favorite memories of my last trip to Paris is seeing Notre Dame at about 7:30, while out running, when the only people in the plaza in front of the cathedral were me and a man sweeping the sidewalk.<BR><BR>For a quick (very quick) lunch or snack, you can buy a crepe from one of the ever-present crepe stands. They're tasty and very French.<BR><BR>The night tour on a boat is a great idea. I would suggest that you do it on Friday, except that riding a boat will be a rest for your tired feet on Saturday evening. Also, Friday night will be your only chance to just wander the streets.

Another idea would be to wait to see what the weather is like and let that determine your Saturday schedule. You may be amazed at what you'll be able to cover Friday night, actually, including those buildings you only want to see the exterior of, beautiful at night. If it is nice Saturday, strolling through the Marais, the Place des Vosges, the fun fountain outside the Pompidou, over to the Samaritaine department store for the terrific free 360 degree view from the observation area on the 9th (?) floor, then over the Ile de la Citie to St. Germain and the winding streets of the Latin Quarter back to the Luxembourg Gardens is a joy. The Museums will always be there for when you have more time, but there is nothing like strolling and pausing for refreshment breaks and people watching. If the weather is crummy or you're tired, select the one or two museums that interest you the most--and absolutely, the day pass to save standing in line. We all have our list of &quot;must sees&quot; and those sites not worth our time, but only you know what is most important to you. Enjoy!

I think LVSue's suggested itinerary makes the most sense, of the ones presented here. I agree with several posters--on Friday night go to the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe, then stroll down the Champs to Place de la Concorde. On Saturday, follow LVSue's itinerary. Do buy the 1-day Museum pass at the first place you visit that takes it(Notre Dame,for example)--it costs 15 euro, but its value is primarily the fact that you can bypass lines at many of the places you plan to visit, otherwise you could waste half your day waiting in lines. I would not skip Ste. Chapelle, since it is so close to Notre Dame and will take you only a little more time to go in and see the spectacular stained glass windows. Since you only have a day and two evenings and much that you want to see, you may want to skip long meals in restaurants and look for crepe stands and open-air markets for fresh food (bread, cheese, fruit, pastries, etc.)you can eat while walking. They are every bit as authenically French as the nice sit-down restaurants are. Then you can enjoy leisurely restaurant meals on your next(hopefully longer)trip to Paris. Be sure you have really comfortable walking shoes! Good luck--sounds like fun to me!

I second moving the AdT/Concorde, Eiffel and ND to Friday night. Be warned, I really don't like modern art in the least, but I managed to spend 2 hours at the Pompidou. I've also been to Paris 4 times and have gone to Ste. Chappelle each time, I think it is that worthwhile. Still haven't made it to the Conciergerie though. Orsay could be the better part of your day, but if you're sure you know how to navigate it, you could breeze in/breeze out. It is a shame though if you don't at least see the Impressionist collection.<BR><BR>Arch de la Defense isn't really worth the trip out and take quite a while. Invalides is ok, but I wouldn't put it on my must-sees for the first trip; I went my last time there and mainly because I was already nearby at the Rodin Museum (which is another wonderful stop you've forgotten).<BR><BR>I'm surprised you're not attempting the Louvre, but I suppose you know your limits! ;-)<BR><BR>Make sure you stop and soak things in and not just check things off a list. Paris really is to be savored and not devoured.