After a lot of research I have come up with this so far for my plans to Paris. Have lots of spare days so would appreciate input from.
DAY 1
The Louvre
Day 2
The Quays of the Seine
Vert-Galant Square
Quai des Orfèvres
Sainte-Chapelle
Place St-Miche
Notre-Dame
Place de la Concorde
Day 3
Versailles Day trip
Day 4
Champs-Elysées
Arc de Triomphe
Ile St-Louis
Musée d'Orsay
Hotel des Invalides/Napoleon's Tomb
Bateaux-Mouche Cruises of the Seine
Basilique du Sacré-Coeur
Eiffel Tower
DAY 5
Fontainebleu Castle
DAY 6-10
Blank
I know this sounds weird that I havent filled these in was working on the idea of doing day trips maybe every second day as well as Paris. Day trips have to be done by train

Thanks for any help

Wow, Leeber, I take it this is not your first visit to Paris. But even if it's not, your day 4 needs to be broken up. IMO, you should group these by area. I don't see how you can see D'Orsay, Sainte-Chappelle, Eiffel tower, Arc de Triomphe... and a cruise all in one day! You will be all over the city and not enjoying and taking it all in. I recommend at least two days for day 4. Fontainebleu can be done in 1/2 day ,we did and even stopped in the city for lunch. Maybe move the cruise to day 5 after your visit to Fontainebleu.

Clea

Yes, you need to plan this using a map of Paris. You're all OVER the place!

leeber: I completly agree with Clea. I am exhausted just reading day four and would be very surprised if you could accomplish all of that in one day.

The best part of Paris is just wandering the city on foot and stopping at a cafe to enjoy a kir royale or cafe creme while watching the people and soaking up the atmosphere. You don't leave much time for that at all.

I would eliminate some of these things and save them for the next trip, and there will be a next trip as you will fall in love with Paris.

Enjoy your trip.

sit down w/ a glass of wine and a map -- you need to see where things are in relation to each other.

for instance Ste Chapelle, Ile Ste Louis, Notre Dame, Vert Gallant are all neighbors.

Your day 4 travels over most of Paris

You really need to re-think the entire plan.

Huh? where are the spare days? I have never seen all on your list in four days. Pick the favorites you want to see and wing it after that. Take time to have a drink at a café and explore the neighborhood, that's how to see Paris.

If you are arriving in Paris following a long flight, you do not want to try seeing the Louvre the first day you are there. You will need to get out and walk and get some fresh air to help stay up until early evening. I’ve rearranged some days so be sure to check what the closing days are for each museum… * additional

Day 1
The Quays of the Seine
Quai des Orfèvres
* Place Dauphine
Vert-Galant Square

Day 2
Notre-Dame
Ile St-Louis
Sainte-Chapelle
Place St-Michel
* Jardin de Luxembourg

DAY 3
The Louvre
* Jardin de Tuileries
Place de la Concorde
Champs-Elysées
Arc de Triomphe

Day 4
Versailles Day trip
Bateaux-Mouche Cruises of the Seine

Day 5
Musée d'Orsay
Eiffel Tower
Hotel des Invalides/Napoleon's Tomb

DAY 6
Fontainebleau Castle

DAY 7
Basilique du Sacré-Coeur / Montmartre

Day 8-10
Blank

Hi L,

Lucky you, you have 10 days in Paris.

Stop overplanning. You don't dash about Paris checking things off a list.

You savor Paris.

I suggest that you limit plan to ne morning thing and one afternoon thing and let the rest of the time fill itself.

>working on the idea of doing day trips maybe every second day.

I suggest that you plan for no more than 2.

Enjoy your visit.

You can stick with your original plan and see how it goes. You may find you have to postpone a few things to another day.

So long as you're going to Fontainebleau, you may as well go to nearby Vaux le Vicomte.

It is definitely a good idea to highlight all the places you want to visit on a one page map.

If this is your first trip to Paris, I completely understand your desire to visit as much as possible as soon as possible.

You might want to consider a two-day L'Opentour pass. In the nice weather, a seat on the open air upper deck is a magnificent way to enjoy the scenery, the architecture, and also get a feel for the various areas and neighborhoods.

One reason I like the DK Guide to Paris is that it is broken down into "portions" of Paris--and what is in them. It is great for planning to see things near each other--and telling you about things you didn't even know were there.
A DAY in the Louvre, and 20 minutes in the Orsay?
There are other museums also--L'Orangeie, Marmottan, Cluny, Carnavalet, Rodin, etc.
Are you planning to just rush between all these places?

We just got back from Paris on Monday and think that Travelnut offers a really good sightseeing schedule, especially the part about two extra days to fit in the stuff you won't get to if you follow the really good advice to take it easy, stop for a drink in a cafe, and savor the place that other posters give.

Travelnut's advice on the gardens is really good because you will want to get away from traffic pollution and noise, and the gardens of Paris (Luxembourg, Tuileries, Monceau, Rodin Museum, Parc Andre Citroen) are great places to do that. Nothing here about the Marais or Place de Vosges or Palais Royal, some of our favorite places.

I hate to say it, but in quite a few trips to Paris, we have never gotten beyond the Peripherique because there is so much to do in the city, but we have spent many happy hours watching the kids in the Luxembourg Gardens.

Calmez-vous and have a good time! If you miss something, Paris will always be there!

thank you for all your replies and ideas shall go through them all as there is bits I can use. The plans were originally from a travel brochure and forum. was seeing if it was do able or needed to be tweaked

cheers
lee

"The plans were originally from a travel brochure and forum.'

Yes, indeed, the racewalkers guide to Paris.

it sort of looks like you took all the ideas from the brochure, and all the ideas from the forum and through them on the wall to see which stuck.

"threw them . . ."

Travelnut: Thanks for the suggestions. We are going to Paris in September. I have made no plans at all. We just wanted to see a few highlights and wander the streets. Your plan will be the one that we use to see a few things and soak up tha atmosphere of actually being in Paris.
I have the travel guides, but inertia seems to have set in. Paris is such a huge city, I feel we should just see what we can and let the rest go. Maybe a great attidude, maybe not!
Thanks, Sharon

bookmarking for Travelnut's suggested itinerary.

It isn't "my" itinerary, I just used what leeber wanted to see...those are good sights and there are more - people should choose based on their own preferences. My points are:

1. first day, stay outdoors and walk
2. group sights by proximity to save unnecessary travel
3. check open/close days so you don't take time to see something only to find out it's closed on Tuesday
4. one museum a day is good, and mix up the 'types' (ex. d'Orsay for art and Invalides for history)
5. stop sightseeing in the mid-late afternoon and go get a seat somewhere, have a drink and observe... parks, gardens, cafes, benches
6. know that you won't see everything you planned, so make sure you prioritize
7. leave at least a day 'unplanned' toward the end of your visit so you can 'catch up' something that you missed (see #3, or maybe you got rained out...). Or, go shopping for goodies!

Once again thanks to all for your ideas. To the neagative ones out there remember not all of us are seasoned travellers and some of us are very far away. All we are looking for is advice not sarcastic comments. Thought this was a forum for advice not to be belittled

I agree with those who have suggested getting a good guidebook to the city would really help you at this point in your planning. It would give you a sense of the different neighborhoods and museums and suggest walking tours.

I have never used the DK Eyewitness guide to Paris, but we did have the guide to Rome on a trip this year and found it very helpful. It also has a lot of pictures. The green Michelin guide would be another good option.

If your library has travel tapes by Rick Steves those could also be helpful in giving you some ideas.

For another area to explore that is not on your current list, I would recommend the Marais, especially the Place des Vosges.
I would also recommend wandering some in the St-Germain-des-Pres (near Jardin u Luxembourg) and St. Severin neighborhoods

You might want to go to a concert at Ste Chapelle or one of the other churches in Paris one evening
http://www.ampconcerts.com/

Other possible day trips from Paris would be Chartres, Giverny (Monet gardens) or one of the chateaux of the Loire. I think you would want to look into a bus tour from Paris for the last two if you won't have a car (and I wouldn't for a trip to Paris). You could consider substituting one of these for Fontainebleau, but it really depends on your interests.