25 years ago I traveled to Paris and wandered around aimlessly for 4 days. I did not see a lot and thus did not really enjoy the city. Now I am much older and a little wiser. I am not planning to put myself on a strict calendar but I would like to have a general outline of where and when I am touring. There are many major museums not mentioned that I will work into this schedule.
May 6, Saturday, We arrive in CDG at 9am. RER to Marais hotel. Relaxed tour of the Marais and check out the Carnavalet museum.
May 7, Sunday, Ile De La Cite and Ile St-Louis, Latin Quarter self guided walking tour. Will stores be closed on a Sunday?
May 8, Monday, holiday, St Germain self guided tour.
May 9, Tuesday, Versailles, hopefully it will not be too crowded since it is open May 8 for the holiday. Perhaps we will avoid the Tuesday demonstrations.
May 10, Wednesday, Louve and surrounding museums, the galleries, Champs-Elysees.
May 11, Thursday, Tour Parc Monceau to Opera, Printemps and galleries Lafayettes are open late.
May 12, Friday, Eiffel Tower and Invalids area self guided tour.
May 13, Saturday, Tour 16th arrondisement art nouveau residences, Corbusier and Monmottan.
May 14, Sunday, Montmartre and perhaps Saint Ouen flea market in the morning.
May 15, return home.
I would switch days to tour the Marais on Sunday rather than Saturday. Most Marais stores are open Sunday while they are closed in the rest of the city, and on Saturday many businesses are closed in the Marais, which has a large Jewish population.
Yes – looks like you have all the areas covered. In terms of specifics in these neighborhoods – and just in case these aren’t on your list - I would say to be sure to hit…
Marais and environs: the Picasso museum; Pompidou; people watching at Café Beaubourg at Pompidou Ctr.; Tea and dessert or light lunch at Marriage Freres!!; Le Loir dans la Theiere (cute little coffeehouse in the Marais on Rues des Rosiers); the hopping bar/restaurant scene of the Bastille;
Eiffel Tower/Invalides: Rodin Museum – great museum, lovely gardens w/ café; Rue Cler; Napoleon’s Tomb
Louvre: on Wednesdays it’s usually open late till about 9pm with much less crowds, some wings closed, but also open late Mondays – if you go during the day use the entrance from the Metro station to avoid lines (if you plan to do 2 or 3 museums, buy the carte muse – 1, 3 or 5 day passes available, I believe – and group your museum going so it’s most cost-effective. With the card you can by- pass lines, including at Versailles - be sure to coordinate w/ days of closings)
5th : St. Severin – a quick walk from Notre Dame; Rue Mouffetard further into the 5th-great medieval street w/ lots of gastronomic shops and a market on certain days
6th: Luxembourg Gardens; Musee d’Orsay; St. Sulpice
Ile de la Cite/environs: Sainte Chapelle
Champs Elysees – while I’m not particularly a fan of this area, I did enjoy going to the top of the Arc de Triomphe and enjoying that particular view (also good w/ carte musee)
St. Honore/Madeleine – shopping! and lots of fabulous restaurants
If you don’t have these books…
For neighborhood touring, I like the Paris Access guide that can inform you in convenient geographically listed sound-bites on restaurants, shops, and landmarks.
Also, if you’re a foodie, take along Patricia Wells’ “Food Lovers Guide to Paris” which lists and describes great restaurants, food shops, and street markets by arrondissement.
Have a great trip!
Marais and environs: the Picasso museum; Pompidou; people watching at Café Beaubourg at Pompidou Ctr.; Tea and dessert or light lunch at Marriage Freres!!; Le Loir dans la Theiere (cute little coffeehouse in the Marais on Rues des Rosiers); the hopping bar/restaurant scene of the Bastille;
Eiffel Tower/Invalides: Rodin Museum – great museum, lovely gardens w/ café; Rue Cler; Napoleon’s Tomb
Louvre: on Wednesdays it’s usually open late till about 9pm with much less crowds, some wings closed, but also open late Mondays – if you go during the day use the entrance from the Metro station to avoid lines (if you plan to do 2 or 3 museums, buy the carte muse – 1, 3 or 5 day passes available, I believe – and group your museum going so it’s most cost-effective. With the card you can by- pass lines, including at Versailles - be sure to coordinate w/ days of closings)
5th : St. Severin – a quick walk from Notre Dame; Rue Mouffetard further into the 5th-great medieval street w/ lots of gastronomic shops and a market on certain days
6th: Luxembourg Gardens; Musee d’Orsay; St. Sulpice
Ile de la Cite/environs: Sainte Chapelle
Champs Elysees – while I’m not particularly a fan of this area, I did enjoy going to the top of the Arc de Triomphe and enjoying that particular view (also good w/ carte musee)
St. Honore/Madeleine – shopping! and lots of fabulous restaurants
If you don’t have these books…
For neighborhood touring, I like the Paris Access guide that can inform you in convenient geographically listed sound-bites on restaurants, shops, and landmarks.
Also, if you’re a foodie, take along Patricia Wells’ “Food Lovers Guide to Paris” which lists and describes great restaurants, food shops, and street markets by arrondissement.
Have a great trip!
Nikki and Cigalechcanta, good suggestion, I will change my tour of the Marais to Sunday, would you tour the Latin Quarter or St Germain on a Saturday, your first day in town?
Venturegirl, lots of goodies there, they are leading me to many internet sites with interesting information. I am purchasing the Paris Museum Pass for 6 days starting Sunday. I plan to see all of the museums you mentioned, living in Miami I am a bit museum deprived! I have seen those guides and have incorporated them into my self guided tours.
Venturegirl, lots of goodies there, they are leading me to many internet sites with interesting information. I am purchasing the Paris Museum Pass for 6 days starting Sunday. I plan to see all of the museums you mentioned, living in Miami I am a bit museum deprived! I have seen those guides and have incorporated them into my self guided tours.
If at all possible, make the trip to Versailles on Sunday. On Sunday afternoons in high season the fountains are turned on, and classical music is played in the gardens. I believe they call it Grandes Eaux Musicales. Check the Versailles website to be sure of the times, but trust me it is worth it to see those lovely fountains in all their glory.
InMiami,
Should you be able to squeeze in an extra half-day with your itinerary, could I suggest a hurried visit to Monet's garden at Giverney (best to be at the ticket box when the gardens open); suggest Sunday morning would be a good time! Happy holiday.
Should you be able to squeeze in an extra half-day with your itinerary, could I suggest a hurried visit to Monet's garden at Giverney (best to be at the ticket box when the gardens open); suggest Sunday morning would be a good time! Happy holiday.
be prepared to switch days around if you have bad weather.
Specifically, I'm thinking of Ste. Chappelle -- visiting it on a sunny day is magnificent! while visiting it on a cloudy day is significantly less so.
have fun!
Specifically, I'm thinking of Ste. Chappelle -- visiting it on a sunny day is magnificent! while visiting it on a cloudy day is significantly less so.
have fun!
Isujuju: I would like very much to see the fountains at Versailles. I posted an earlier thread regarding this issue. Some travelers loved seeing the fountains; many others were uncomfortable with the large crowds found on weekends. I decided to miss the fountains in order to avoid the crowds. Hopefully by going on the Tuesday after the long weekend it will be relatively quiet.
Iomajay: For my one week trip I believe that one out of town trip will be enough. The gardens at Giverney sound wonderful, a good reason for a quick return to France!
Surfmom: I read somewhere that Paris has more rainy days per year than London! I will be ready to switch outdoor walking time for inside museum tours if it starts to rain. Plus, living in Miami I am accustomed to frequent showers. Happy trails!
Iomajay: For my one week trip I believe that one out of town trip will be enough. The gardens at Giverney sound wonderful, a good reason for a quick return to France!
Surfmom: I read somewhere that Paris has more rainy days per year than London! I will be ready to switch outdoor walking time for inside museum tours if it starts to rain. Plus, living in Miami I am accustomed to frequent showers. Happy trails!
