Paris May 1 2011
 

I just realized that one of my 4 days in Paris is May 1st .... and now I'm learning that lots of things are closed. (I was hoping to go to the Musee D'Orsay that day). Any suggestions of how to spend May 1st?---what will be open?
thank you

Paris Walks will be giving their walks that day. I was in Paris once on May 1 and lots of things were closed, some restaurants the evening before.

Churches and gardens are open. It's a Sunday so the street markets should be open in the morning.

The Montmartre walk would be a good one to take that day.

http://www.paris-walks.com/

I remember all the people walking around with sprigs of lily of the valley.

It looks like the Maillol, Dapper, and Jacquemart-Andre museums are open on May 1. I'm sure there are more things open. Perhaps you should check a few guidebooks for more ideas.

What will be open? All of the parks, all of the neighborhoods to walk in.

If you have any plans to enjoy a luxurious lunch while you are in Paris, then May 1 would be the day for it. We were there on Christmas and had a 9 course lunch at Le Cinq. The food was incredible, as was the service...it lasted almost three hours. The Four Seasons is lovely.

If this type of thing interests you, you could also check Les Ambassadeurs at Hotel de Crillion to see if they have a brunch. The hotel is right on Place de la Concorde and is so lovely, as is Les Ambassadeurs. Very classy and glamorous...if you haven't been there, you should see it. A brunch there also would take several hours and it's a great way to pleasantly kill some time!

Both hotels have wonderful courtyards spaces that should be wonderful in May.

SInce the Jacquemart-Andre is open that day it is a great place to have brunch.

We spent the day at Giverny, visiting Monet's house and gardens on May 1st, 2 years ago. The gardens were delightful. The best way to get there is by train. You can buy your tickets at the station. It was very crowded and the house is small, but it was worth the trip. You need to take an early train there, as it closes late afternoon.

Is it ironic that on a day devoted to celebrating the workers of the world, a day that will be characterized in some quarters by red flags and noisy marches, denisea suggests lunching at the Crillon?

Fans of "Brideshead Revisited" may remember Boy Mulcaster, who offered himself to go any where in the world to fight the working classes. Presumably, he would have enjoyed striking a blow with a good lunch and a bottle or two of rare vintages.

At least the dining rooms of luxury hotels will be free of left wing government and party officials!

The preceding was offered with tongue firmly in cheek.

More seriously, the OP is correct that many tourist sites and almost all shopping venues will be closed, and public transportation will be running on a holiday schedule. But if you want to see a real, live French manif, you may have to go looking for it. The effects in the 1-3-5-6 were unnoticeable last time we were there on Labor Day.

Another vote for a visit to the Jacquemart-André, including brunch, followed by a walk through Parc Monceau.

May 1st and August 15th used to be the two deadest days of the year. In the last 5 years or so, Paris at least has snapped out of it, and there is no lack of things to do or places that are open on those days. But the national museums will indeed be closed on the 1st.

I was in Paris on a May 1st that fell on a Sunday a few years back, and the Champs-Elysees was shut tight that day except for Lauduree. My Parisienne friend suggested we have lunch there, and it was perfect as we wanted a leisurely lunch so we could visit and catch up on each other's news.

If I were wanting an activity, I'd go with the suggestions above for the Jacquemart-André. And the walk. ;)

Two years later - any advice for May 2013 Labor day in Paris?