Hello:

We will be visiting Paris for one day at the end of Dec. and would like to make the most of our time. Can anyone recommend a bus or trolley tour that stops at most of the major sites? We are looking for something similar to the double decker bus tours in NYC or Chicago where you can get on and off as desired.

Thanks, Katie

Don't know of a hop-on hop-off in Paris but the Metro is easy and fast. Get Rick Steves book on Paris and read the page on "What to do in Paris if you only have one day". Or you can get more info here on the fodors site or others.

For me it would be a running tour of the Louvre, Orsay, and Notre Dame and then Saint Chappelle if time permitted.

Be sure to get a museum pass because it lets you bypass the entrance lines. You can get them at the bigger Metro stations.

There are a couple of hop-on, hop-off lines in Paris - l'Open Tour being one of them. I've never been on one, but I see them all the time and have heard good reports about them. They are equivalent to the sightseeing buses in London.
You could also save a good deal of money and ride regular bus #69, which runs by a lot of the major sites in the city.

Thanks for the info!

http://www.paris-opentour.com/index_eng.htm

http://www.parisvision.com/fr/index.cfm

http://www.graylineparis.com/sightseeing.cfm

http://www.fattirebiketoursparis.com/

There are two main ones I've seen when I'm in Paris -- Open Tour and Les Cars Rouges. YOu can find latter by a google search.

And - if shopping in Paris is part of your essential Parisien experience, you can satisfy the craving with a visit to a department store. One of my favourites is Galeries Lafayette (because its Art Nouveau domed ceiling and staircase are so gorgeous). You can get a little taste of what is offered in many Paris boutiques by a quick trip through the department store. In particular, I love the housewares departments in French department stores - I want to buy all of the table linens and nifty gadgets. It's on boulevard Houssmann (very near to some of the main sights in Paris).

You don't have to pay $35 to get hauled around Paris on a tour bus. See my "el cheapo" self-guided bus tour in this thread:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...p;tid=34544516

i agree w/ AisleSeat...use the metro and for one day, i'd go see the eiffel tower, notre dame, and pick between the louvre and d'orsay (based on type of art you may prefer).

Sure - the metro is convenient - but you are only there for ONE day. I would not want to spend any of so limited a time underground. Use l'Opentour or one of the other hop-on-hop-off bus tours to get around.

It will be more expensive - but you can see everything and get off to visit any site you want. All of the tours (l'opentour is my favorite) give you a map of each of their routes. All of the routes intersect so you can get off one and jump on another to get to another part of town.

For a 1-day visit, these tours are a godsend - lets you see as much of the city as you want but still gives you the chance to hop off for some sightseeing/shopping/meals.

L'Open tour is €24.

An unlimited transport pass is €5.30

Your call.

Thanks to all who replied!

Use the double decker bus. It would be a better use of your time though it is somewhat more expensive. The commentary was quite good generally.

For one day in Paris..
Eiffel Tower
Notre Dame (or St Chapelle)
Louvre or Orsay Museum
Arc de Triumphe
Will be a bit hurried but you will love it,,

You will see the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe from many places in Paris. It is not necessary to actually go to them with such a short time. With a single day, try to visit Notre Dame and St. Chapelle, and either the Louvre or Musee D'Orsay, depending on what kind of art you prefer. Take some time to walk around Paris and sit in a cafe - Paris is more than sights, it is a state of mind and simply visiting the major attractions might not get you to that state of mind.

If I had a day...I'd arrive and take Metro to Etoile, which gets me to the Arc de Triomphe. From there I walk down Champs Elysee. Get to Place Concorde, enjoy dramatic views, go up a block to Place Vendome, see Ritz and high end shops...wander down Rue St Honore (fashion district) for a bit, or head into Tuileries Gardens. See the Louvre, but no real time to go in. Back to Rue Rivoli, wander under arcades, go up to see Opera Garnier (Phantom of the Opera), wander over to see Palais Royal and its gardens...Lunch could be a ham and cheese baguette from one of the street vendors, or perhaps a nice croque madama sitting on the terrace of a typical Parisian cafe. Once I get to Pont Neuf, cross over to Ile Notre Dame, Visit the island, going in to see St Chapelle and Notre Dame. Cross small bridge to Ile St Louis and enjoy main street, Berthillon ice cream.etc...Now I would cross over to the left bank. Perhaps a walk up top along street, checking out book sellers, or a walk down below, along Seine, checking out views of Notre Dame. Now, on to Rue St Germain. Good shopping...if have time, Musee du Moyen Age (Cluny) which is a smallish museum, built into old Roman ruins, with mediveal artifacts, perhaps a peek into St Germain des Prés church...Looking for restaurant for dinner, lots to be found in this area. After dinner, perhaps a boat cruise on the Seine, to see buildings all lit up, including Eiffel tower. Can catch boat at Place D'Alma or Pont Neuf areas.
This in no way covers everything, but it would easily fill a day. Some of the bus tours aren't bad either, you could do a 1/2 day tour and see everything, then go on your own to visit, or perhaps a nighttime illuminations tour.
Hope this helps,
Mike

Thanks for all the suggestions. This will narrow done our plans.