Hoping for some feedback on our Paris days. We are a little more than a month away from our European adventure. We are a group of 5 people with one person having only 4 nights in Paris and my wife and I having 6 nights (the last couple has 5 nights). I have visited Paris once before. My first visit was an insufficient, yet magical 2 nights. All 4 others have never before experienced the City of Lights. We are staying in the 11th. I am hoping to experience some of the neighborhoods of Paris while revisiting some of the more well known landmarks with my wife and friends. This plan is from my perspective, but after much discussion with the group. It is purposefully minimal and open to revision.

Thursday (My wife and I arrive in the AM)
Ile de la Cite
Ile St Louis
Montmarte
maybe Musee d’Orsay (open late)

Friday (2nd couple arrives AM)
Ile de la Cite
Latin Quarter
11th
maybe Lourve open late

Saturday
11th
Market
Marais
(5th person arrives in afternoon. Group is now 3 women, 2 men in early 30s)
Eiffel Tower
Arc d’ Triumphe
Champs Elysses
maybe Seine Cruise or Illuminations Tour

Sunday
Market
11th
Montmarte
or
Marais neighborhood

Monday
Lourve
Picnic in Tuileries

Tuesday
Versailles
Ile de la Cite
Nice dinner

Wednesday
Breakfast
Depart on train around noon

It seems fine to me, except I noticed you hve Ile de la Cite several times. There isn't that much on it, so I don't know what you intend to do on it that much. There is Notre Dame and Ste Chapelle, that's about it. I can see maybe the first two days if you didn't have enough time but why go back on Tuesday? There are so many other parts of Paris you aren't seeing at all, that's all.

I"ve stayed in the 11th and been around it off and on and also don't know what all you intend to see in it that will take up so much time. You've got three days of yoru time partially devoted to it and I gather because you mention it, that means more than just the fact that you are staying there so of course you may be walking around the neighborhood some (or you'd mention it every day, I guess).

So I guess those are my main comments, and I cannot spend all day in a museum so would do something more on the Louvre day myself. But if you want to spend all day in there or just not plan anything, seems fine.

I'd go to the Marais on Sunday when some of the shops are open and it's lively.

Same comments as Christina--many visits to Ile de la Cite and walking around the 11th. Why not pick another neighborhood to explore?

I'm not sure where you all are coming from and if anyone may be jet lagged on arrival day but you should figure that in, if it may be an issue.

I've traveled to Paris in a group of three couples, and it's nice to leave open the option of people splitting up to go their separate ways for a morning or afternoon.

You don't have a crowded plan so it's good you're leaving time to add other thing to do, as the mood strikes you.

A whole day in the Louvre would be too long for me. I can visit two museums in a day but only for a couple of hours each.

Paris is a wonderful walking city and sure you can travel by the Metro, but you see nothing. Look at the map and concentrate on areas. The way I see it you are cris crossing way too much across town especially on the Thursday.

I would suggest a backup plan to your Tuileries picnic in case you can't find 5 chairs near each other plus a chair for your food. If I were considering a picnic I'd prefer the Luxembourg Gardens. At the southern end there are tables and chairs for chess players. That would be a bit more comfortable than sitting in chairs with the food in your lap. I also think there are more choices for take out food near the LG.

I disagree about Ile de la Cite... aside from Notre Dame and Ste Chapelle there are several things of interest... to me anyway:

- the point zero marker in Place du Parvis... all distances to and from Paris are measured from here.
- the park behind Notre Dame with the views of the flying buttresses
- the Deportation Memorial off said park
- Place Dauphine ... always one of my favourite squares
- Place Vert Galant ... tip of the island and the boat dock
- I love the tiny warren of streets you can get to from beside Notre Dame... some of the oldest and smallest in Paris. You can even see the house where Abelard met Heloise.
- cross the bridge to Ile St Louis

There's also the Conciergerie where people such as Marie Antoinette and Gustave Eiffel were imprisoned... Eiffel made it out alive. ;^) And oh yes, the Bird Market....

My guess (just a guess) is you have the Ile de Cite several times because of all the comings and goings of the various people and you want everyone to see it. If so, just do it all on ONE day when you are all together. (Unless it is because you are staying on the island -- if so you don't have to 'schedule' it - you won't be able to <i>avoid</i> it )

Sorry, but I think your firs day is crazy making:

>><i>Thursday (My wife and I arrive in the AM)
Ile de la Cite
Ile St Louis
Montmarte
maybe Musee d’Orsay (open late)</i>"

If you are arriving in on an overnight flight - hopping from the 11th to the islands to Montmarte to the Musee d' Orsay doesn't make sense. Plus an evening museum visit when you are probably jet lagged - not my idea of a good time.

For day 1 -- I'd pick one or two things w/i a relatively easy stroll of the hotel, take it a bit easy but still see things that interest you. Depending on which part of the 11th -- maybe the Marais or the Pere Lachaise Cemetery or the islands (but then we have that 'multiple visits' thing).

The Champs is an easy bus ride down from the Arc to Concorde, and be done with it. As they say, nothing to see here, folks.
Sure there is a lot on the Ile, but not over and over.
I suggest you get the DK Eyewitness Guide to Paris and look at the large areas and what to see in them.
No museum on your arrival!!
I suggest also the Michelin Green Guide to Paris to plan WHAT you want to see of the Louvre.
I am not a great lover of Montmartre--go see it, have lunch, see Sacre Coeur. That's enough.
I question whether Versailles in your future. You have a really short time in Paris.

Thank you, everyone, for the sound advice and ideas. I'll address some comments in hopes of further discussion.

I mistakenly wrote City of Lights instead of City of Light.

Janisj and others, Ile de la Cite was mentioned several times because we would be traveling through or close to it on occasion and the entire group might have different opportunities to explore. I agree planning time when we are all together makes more sense.

I mention the 11th several times b/c we are staying in the 11th and I like to explore where I stay. As Janisj said, I may have been better served by leaving it off.

Gretchen, We may do the Champs quickly and try to catch the view from the Arc d' Triumphe. No Versailles? I am really looking forward to it, but I will bring up the thought with the group. Some of us have less time than others so it is a good point.

We will definitely map out our Louvre visit and probably not spend all day in the museum, CW. We have Monday afternoon and some other time open for spontaneity. Thanks for the picnic tip, Adrienne.

Downunder, I would like to walk as much of the city as possible.

Now for our messy 1st day. More a list of things we might do, the 1st day's activities will be driven by how we feel after our flight. I'm feeling Montmarte might be overextending ourselves. Pere Lachaise Cemetary is on our list and a good idea, Janisj.

Current version (Still fluid and open to revision)

Thursday (My wife and I arrive in the AM)
Open time
maybe Ile de la Cite
maybe Marias
maybe Pere Lachasie Cemetary
maybe Musee d’Orsay (open late)

Friday (2nd couple arrives AM)
Latin Quarter
Open time
maybe Lourve open late
maybe Montmarte

Saturday
Market
Open time
(5th person arrives in afternoon. Group is now 3 women, 2 men in early 30s)
Eiffel Tower
Arc d’ Triumphe
Champs Elysses
maybe Seine Cruise or Illuminations Tour

Sunday
Market
Ile de la Cite
Ile St Loius
Marais neighborhood
Open time

Monday
Lourve
Picnic in Luxembourg Gardens
Open time
maybe Montmarte

Tuesday
Versailles
Nice dinner

Wednesday
Breakfast
Depart on train around noon

Have you considered doing walking tours? Paris Walks has very good 2 hour walks that are not strenuous. There's a Marais Walk in the afternoon on your arrival day. I've done about a dozen of their walks and have enjoyed them all.

http://www.paris-walks.com/download-pdf.html

On Wednesday, Thursday, (2:00) and Saturdays (2:30) there's an excellent free Notre Dame tour (1.5 to 2 hours). Meet beneath the clock at the main entrance.