Planning Out What to Do for 5 Days in Paris... Advice?
Jun 10th, 2010, 08:49 PM
#81
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 611
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Luisah, if you're still reading this thread... I just realized I'm the person who "talked you into" going to Australia! We were writing back on the Australia forum almost 2 years ago 
Jun 10th, 2010, 10:30 PM
#82
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,397
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
St Chappelle is small enough that you don't really need reserved seating. From memory, we got there fairly early and people just took a seat on a 'first in best dressed' basis. It was really lovely!
Jun 11th, 2010, 06:16 AM
#83
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 425
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Lots of good ideas and recommendations here. Forgive me if someone already said this and I missed it, but you mention in your revised itinerary:
Day 2 (Sunday): (4 blocks walk to) Notre Dame, Ste. Chappelle, Conciergerie, Ile Ste. Louis (lunch). Then metro to see the OUTSIDE of the Louvre, see a little of the Tuilleries (maybe Place de la Concorde?), then metro to Arc de Triomphe (go up), then metro to Eiffel Tower.
I just wanted to say that after your lunch on Ile Ste. Louis, there is no need to metro over to the Louvre - just walk. It is an easy walk over and you'll probably spend less time walking than dealing with the metro. I was just in Paris last month and walked almost everywhere. While you are in the area of the Louvre, the garden of the Palais Royale is a nice quiet spot to visit. After you stroll through the Tuilleries, you can pick up the metro at Place de la Concorde to get you over to the Arc.
I second the recommendation of seeing the Eiffel Tower from the direction of the Trocadero metro stop. You'll be bombarded with guys selling little tower souvenirs, but for a nice break, check out Cafe Carlu at the Palais de Chaillot. If you are standing at the big terrace looking at the tower, the cafe is on your left. On the right is Cafe de l'Homme which is a nice restaurant but pricey. The cafe is accessed through the inside of the building. They have sandwiches, snacks, drinks and even sell wine. I was suprised that I hadn't heard anything about this place and just kind of stumbled upon it. I spent quite some time out on their terrace with my wine just enjoying the view. It is self service so you don't have someone waiting on you; you just carry your tray out to a chair or table.
Enjoy your trip and make sure you aren't too rigid with your itinerary. Invariably, you will skip a lot of things on your list in favor of relaxing in a cafe.
Day 2 (Sunday): (4 blocks walk to) Notre Dame, Ste. Chappelle, Conciergerie, Ile Ste. Louis (lunch). Then metro to see the OUTSIDE of the Louvre, see a little of the Tuilleries (maybe Place de la Concorde?), then metro to Arc de Triomphe (go up), then metro to Eiffel Tower.
I just wanted to say that after your lunch on Ile Ste. Louis, there is no need to metro over to the Louvre - just walk. It is an easy walk over and you'll probably spend less time walking than dealing with the metro. I was just in Paris last month and walked almost everywhere. While you are in the area of the Louvre, the garden of the Palais Royale is a nice quiet spot to visit. After you stroll through the Tuilleries, you can pick up the metro at Place de la Concorde to get you over to the Arc.
I second the recommendation of seeing the Eiffel Tower from the direction of the Trocadero metro stop. You'll be bombarded with guys selling little tower souvenirs, but for a nice break, check out Cafe Carlu at the Palais de Chaillot. If you are standing at the big terrace looking at the tower, the cafe is on your left. On the right is Cafe de l'Homme which is a nice restaurant but pricey. The cafe is accessed through the inside of the building. They have sandwiches, snacks, drinks and even sell wine. I was suprised that I hadn't heard anything about this place and just kind of stumbled upon it. I spent quite some time out on their terrace with my wine just enjoying the view. It is self service so you don't have someone waiting on you; you just carry your tray out to a chair or table.
Enjoy your trip and make sure you aren't too rigid with your itinerary. Invariably, you will skip a lot of things on your list in favor of relaxing in a cafe.
Jun 11th, 2010, 06:51 AM
#84
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"We were writing back on the Australia forum almost 2 years ago"
What a good memory you have! Indeed you did talk me into the trip and it was wonderful. You were right about the flight; I flew Qantas and the long distance flight didn't bother me as much as I thought. The plane was new and huge, economy seats comfortable, good service and lots of movie choices to keep me occupied. So, thanks for the encouragement.
What a good memory you have! Indeed you did talk me into the trip and it was wonderful. You were right about the flight; I flew Qantas and the long distance flight didn't bother me as much as I thought. The plane was new and huge, economy seats comfortable, good service and lots of movie choices to keep me occupied. So, thanks for the encouragement.
Jun 11th, 2010, 07:54 AM
#85
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 611
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
cobbie, thanks for the ideas, and for reminding me about quiche! (and thanks for the heads-up on the ham... didn't realize.)
While I wasn't initially planning on doing the Rodin Museum, I'm going to try to include that now... at least a walk through the sculpture gardens, or a somewhat quick tour. Last time I was in Paris (ok it was 20 years ago) this was on top of my must-see list, because I'm a huge Rodin fan. I really did it in-depth then, so I figured I could skip it this time... but since I love taking pictures, I realize I'd be crazy not to go back! (No digital pics in those days!)
sherhatfield -- thanks for the tip on walking to the Louvre from Ile St. Louis instead of the Metro. You know, what's been hard to figure out is how far things actually are. I have a couple of maps, but I just can't tell what's "walkable" and what would be better to do via Metro. Also, good tip on the cafe.
Luisah, glad to reconnect on another forum! Too funny
While I wasn't initially planning on doing the Rodin Museum, I'm going to try to include that now... at least a walk through the sculpture gardens, or a somewhat quick tour. Last time I was in Paris (ok it was 20 years ago) this was on top of my must-see list, because I'm a huge Rodin fan. I really did it in-depth then, so I figured I could skip it this time... but since I love taking pictures, I realize I'd be crazy not to go back! (No digital pics in those days!)
sherhatfield -- thanks for the tip on walking to the Louvre from Ile St. Louis instead of the Metro. You know, what's been hard to figure out is how far things actually are. I have a couple of maps, but I just can't tell what's "walkable" and what would be better to do via Metro. Also, good tip on the cafe.
Luisah, glad to reconnect on another forum! Too funny
Jun 11th, 2010, 09:20 AM
#86
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 5,228
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
CarolM- I love google maps to figure out rougly how far things are from one another. Here are walking directions from Ile Saint Louis to the Louvre.
http://tinyurl.com/2cbfm6x
If you click on the little orange man and drag him to the map you can virtually walk down the street and get 360 deg. views. I visit Paris on my computer often thanks to Streetview.
The rose gardens at the Rodin will give you a wonderful photo op!
Ann Marie
http://tinyurl.com/2cbfm6x
If you click on the little orange man and drag him to the map you can virtually walk down the street and get 360 deg. views. I visit Paris on my computer often thanks to Streetview.
The rose gardens at the Rodin will give you a wonderful photo op!
Ann Marie
Jun 11th, 2010, 09:51 AM
#87
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 611
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Get OUT Ann Marie! This is awesome! How do you get google maps to give you walking directions (vs. driving?) I love that it tells you approximate times too. Well, this walk is 30 mins, so I'd actually be inclined to jump on the metro...
Jun 11th, 2010, 10:12 AM
#88
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 611
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ok Ann Marie -- I just figured it out (found the little walking guy icon). This just totally changed my life! A lot of distances are shorter than I had thought, and this will definitely help with my planning. Huge thanks!
A lot of distances are shorter than I had thought, and this will definitely help with my planning. Huge thanks!
Jun 11th, 2010, 11:08 AM
#89
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 5,228
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Glad to be of help. Keep playing with google maps. There are lots of features to it that you will learn over time.
The walking vs driving directions feature shows up as icons- a man or a car. There are also some options for a train in some instances.
To make the map bigger and easier to use, click the double arrow at the top left corner of the map. Use the + arrow under the orange man to zoom the map up close and personal then use the streetview man (drag him to your location and make him touch the blue line).
Use the circle tool in the left corner to look different directions or click and hold the N on the circle and drag it in the direction you want to look. Use the arrows on the street to "walk down the street." I always use this feature when making accommodation decisions.
Click the double arrows at the top left again to see the directions again. Add another destination, for example in your case, perhaps Galerie Vero Dodat (so you can see the beautiful Christian Louboutin shoes).
Keep using the zoom on your map view to get closer and see the fork and knife icon for restaurants and the purse icon for shopping. See the camera icon by each direction listed? Click that for street view again.
Ann Marie
The walking vs driving directions feature shows up as icons- a man or a car. There are also some options for a train in some instances.
To make the map bigger and easier to use, click the double arrow at the top left corner of the map. Use the + arrow under the orange man to zoom the map up close and personal then use the streetview man (drag him to your location and make him touch the blue line).
Use the circle tool in the left corner to look different directions or click and hold the N on the circle and drag it in the direction you want to look. Use the arrows on the street to "walk down the street." I always use this feature when making accommodation decisions.
Click the double arrows at the top left again to see the directions again. Add another destination, for example in your case, perhaps Galerie Vero Dodat (so you can see the beautiful Christian Louboutin shoes).
Keep using the zoom on your map view to get closer and see the fork and knife icon for restaurants and the purse icon for shopping. See the camera icon by each direction listed? Click that for street view again.
Ann Marie
Jun 11th, 2010, 12:28 PM
#92
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,657
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We weren't paying attention when we went to visit the Pompidou a couple weeks ago...got there way too early as it didn't open until 11AM, so we explored the surrounding area quite a bit. It's not my "favorite" end of the Marais...I prefer the streets off the Place des Vosges, where there are some terrific boutiques, antique shops, etc. It's very tempting to shop (and I am NOT a real shopper when I'm traveling!) The Paris walks Marais walks are very good. We've done almost all of the Paris Walks over the years, and I recommend them highly.
Jun 11th, 2010, 02:34 PM
#95
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 5,228
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Here is a great "24 Hours in Paris" video to whet your appetite. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfDv5TTJ3Bc
BTW, the Musee du Quai Branly (on the video) is my favorite "new" museum but you might not want to try to fit it in on your short trip.
One of the shots of the Eiffel Tower is from the Trocadero which I think someone suggested as a good approach to the Tower. The dancers along the Seine almost make me cry... I need to see them live and in person someday.
Ann Marie
BTW, the Musee du Quai Branly (on the video) is my favorite "new" museum but you might not want to try to fit it in on your short trip.
One of the shots of the Eiffel Tower is from the Trocadero which I think someone suggested as a good approach to the Tower. The dancers along the Seine almost make me cry... I need to see them live and in person someday.
Ann Marie
Jun 12th, 2010, 05:57 AM
#96
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 611
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
unoh_busted (love your name...) that's good to point out about the Pompidou not opening until 11am. We are going to move visiting Sainte Chappelle to the morning of the day we go to the Pompidou.
Ann Marie -- great video! Thanks.
Has anyone visited the Conciergerie? Is it worth it? Since we're right there after Ste. Chappelle, I was thinking to go, but we might have a pretty busy day (Ste. Chappelle, Conciergerie, walk to Pompidou, walk around Marais). If anyone has visited the Conciergerie, let me know what you think please!
Ann Marie -- great video! Thanks.
Has anyone visited the Conciergerie? Is it worth it? Since we're right there after Ste. Chappelle, I was thinking to go, but we might have a pretty busy day (Ste. Chappelle, Conciergerie, walk to Pompidou, walk around Marais). If anyone has visited the Conciergerie, let me know what you think please!
Jun 13th, 2010, 09:05 AM
#97
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 794
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
For help finding the best restauarants, vegetarian, ethnic, or otherwise, I recommend the Chowhound Paris board. These folks know food and are very familiar with the choices throughout the city. Most of the regular posters live or spend a great deal of time in Paris and eating well is their passion.
http://chowhound.chow.com/boards/49
http://chowhound.chow.com/boards/49
Jun 14th, 2010, 08:02 AM
#99
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ok, as promised I went to Belleville to take a look at the bakery I mentioned. You can find it at 106 rue du faubourg. There are a lot of bakeries around though, so I do not think it is important you go to that particular one (though I still think it is great).
The bread I recommend is called mtabga (I think), a Tunisian bread stuffed with peppers, tomatoes, garlic etc. They have one that is spicy too.
If you are interested in going to Belleville, check out http://parisbyphoto.com/belleville/ and click on what to eat if you want to see a picture of the aforementioned bread. You may also want to take a look at the Rue Dénoyez page, as if you go to Belleville you have to take a look at the super cool street (a street literally covered art).
The bread I recommend is called mtabga (I think), a Tunisian bread stuffed with peppers, tomatoes, garlic etc. They have one that is spicy too.
If you are interested in going to Belleville, check out http://parisbyphoto.com/belleville/ and click on what to eat if you want to see a picture of the aforementioned bread. You may also want to take a look at the Rue Dénoyez page, as if you go to Belleville you have to take a look at the super cool street (a street literally covered art).
