Please help with Paris Itinerary
Mar 28th, 2009, 10:52 AM
#1
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Please help with Paris Itinerary
Hi everyone. I will be in Paris for six days in May. I land at 9am on Thurs. 5/14 and depart at 4:30 pm on 5/20. I am working on a rough itinerary and would like input from all of you who have been to Paris before. I love museums, architecture, churches, music, gardens and of course a little shopping. I want to leave enough time to just enjoy being in Paris as it is my first trip there. Jet lag is generally not an issue for me, I love to walk and have no issues with mobility. I am staying near the Sorbonne. I am not really a foodie and will be solo, so no expensive dinners out for me. I prefer cafes or picnic style food and hope to shop some markets. Here's what I have so far,please feel free to critique and offer your suggestions. Thanks for all the help, you guys are priceless!
Thursday: After dropping bags at my hotel, I would like to explore my neighborhood.
Pantheon, Place St. Michel, Rue Mouffetard, The Sorbonne, Luxembourg
Gardens. Evening: Musee D'Orsay
Friday: Notre Dame. St. Chappelle, Conciergerie, wander around the isle and get some
Berthillon. Evening: The Louvre (I know I have space here, please fill it in!)
Saturday: Sacre Couer, Salvador Dali museum, Cimetiere de Montmartre, Centre
Georges Pompidou. Evening seine River Cruise
Sunday: Rodin Museum, Eiffel Tower, Invalides, Musee d'art Moderne, Arc de Triomphe
Monday: Versailles(willing to switch days)
Tuesday: Musee Marmottan, Pere Lechaise, shopping?
Wednesday: Walk around, maybe Luxembourg Gardens or jardin des Plantes. Leave around 12:30 for CDG.
As you can see, I need suggestions for the evenings. Also, I know I have left a lot out(like the Tuileries). I am willing to rearrange, nothing is set in stone and I have not booked tickets for anything. Thanks again!!
Thursday: After dropping bags at my hotel, I would like to explore my neighborhood.
Pantheon, Place St. Michel, Rue Mouffetard, The Sorbonne, Luxembourg
Gardens. Evening: Musee D'Orsay
Friday: Notre Dame. St. Chappelle, Conciergerie, wander around the isle and get some
Berthillon. Evening: The Louvre (I know I have space here, please fill it in!)
Saturday: Sacre Couer, Salvador Dali museum, Cimetiere de Montmartre, Centre
Georges Pompidou. Evening seine River Cruise
Sunday: Rodin Museum, Eiffel Tower, Invalides, Musee d'art Moderne, Arc de Triomphe
Monday: Versailles(willing to switch days)
Tuesday: Musee Marmottan, Pere Lechaise, shopping?
Wednesday: Walk around, maybe Luxembourg Gardens or jardin des Plantes. Leave around 12:30 for CDG.
As you can see, I need suggestions for the evenings. Also, I know I have left a lot out(like the Tuileries). I am willing to rearrange, nothing is set in stone and I have not booked tickets for anything. Thanks again!!
Mar 29th, 2009, 06:17 AM
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Hi elcon,
I think your itinerary looks great. On the first night, don't be surprised if you're too tired for the Musee D'Orsay. If you make it great, but if not you'll fit it in somewhere as itineraries have a way of shifting around once you get there.
On Friday, where you want to fill in space- I'd say leave it as is because you will have no trouble filling your time once you are there.
On Sunday, it might make more sense to see the Rodin Museum and the Invalides one after the other, before the Eiffel Tower.
I'd recommend getting tickets to see a performance at the Palais Garnier, either the Paris Opera Ballet or an opera which they sometimes do there as well. The theater is gorgeous and something to be seen.
http://preview.tinyurl.com/daur3r
I think your itinerary looks great. On the first night, don't be surprised if you're too tired for the Musee D'Orsay. If you make it great, but if not you'll fit it in somewhere as itineraries have a way of shifting around once you get there.
On Friday, where you want to fill in space- I'd say leave it as is because you will have no trouble filling your time once you are there.
On Sunday, it might make more sense to see the Rodin Museum and the Invalides one after the other, before the Eiffel Tower.
I'd recommend getting tickets to see a performance at the Palais Garnier, either the Paris Opera Ballet or an opera which they sometimes do there as well. The theater is gorgeous and something to be seen.
http://preview.tinyurl.com/daur3r
Mar 29th, 2009, 07:21 AM
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What...no (few) churches on your agenda?
You're probably going to be tired the day you arrive so don't plan too much. If you can get to the Orsay in the evening that's fine. Here's what I'd recommend (you may have too much to do here but you can choose).
Thursday:
Notre Dame - free and wonderful tour at 2:00
Cluny Museum (Medieval art)
St-Severin church
St-Julien-le-Pauvre church
Luxembourg gardens
Orsay
Friday:
Ste-Chappelle
Conciegerie
Pantheon
St-Etienne-du-Mont church
You might want to move the Lux gardens here
Sunday:
- Pere Lachaise first thing (you have it with the Marmatton which is at the other end of Paris.
- Rue Mouffetard - it's so much better on Sundays. Around noon, at the bottom of the street, are accordian players and people sing in French (sheet music is distributed) and dance. It's a joyous event!
- Mosque (near the bottom of rue Mouffetard) and tea in the lovely garden after seeing the building
- Rodin
- Maillol museum (if you like sculpture - his works are very different than Rodin's and it's interesting to visit the 2 museums together)
You can plug in whatever you didn't get to on Tuesday.
For evenings you can go to the Eiffel Tower, Orangerie (open until 7PM), St-Germain-des-Pres church, St-Sulpice church. Then have dinner after.
You won't be able to do everything in a week so you'll plan to return again and again.
You're probably going to be tired the day you arrive so don't plan too much. If you can get to the Orsay in the evening that's fine. Here's what I'd recommend (you may have too much to do here but you can choose).
Thursday:
Notre Dame - free and wonderful tour at 2:00
Cluny Museum (Medieval art)
St-Severin church
St-Julien-le-Pauvre church
Luxembourg gardens
Orsay
Friday:
Ste-Chappelle
Conciegerie
Pantheon
St-Etienne-du-Mont church
You might want to move the Lux gardens here
Sunday:
- Pere Lachaise first thing (you have it with the Marmatton which is at the other end of Paris.
- Rue Mouffetard - it's so much better on Sundays. Around noon, at the bottom of the street, are accordian players and people sing in French (sheet music is distributed) and dance. It's a joyous event!
- Mosque (near the bottom of rue Mouffetard) and tea in the lovely garden after seeing the building
- Rodin
- Maillol museum (if you like sculpture - his works are very different than Rodin's and it's interesting to visit the 2 museums together)
You can plug in whatever you didn't get to on Tuesday.
For evenings you can go to the Eiffel Tower, Orangerie (open until 7PM), St-Germain-des-Pres church, St-Sulpice church. Then have dinner after.
You won't be able to do everything in a week so you'll plan to return again and again.
Mar 29th, 2009, 07:41 AM
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I second the Cluny Museum, which is fascinating, and also Rue Mouffetard. Place des Vosges in the Marais is beautiful, and Victor Hugo's apartment is there and open to the public for visits. Definitely don't miss Luxembourg Gardens and the Tuileries. Also, Chateau de Vincennes is a very well-preserved castle on the outskirts of Paris, reachable by Metro-- we loved this and it was also a nice rest from the hustle-and-bustle of downtown Paris.
Mar 29th, 2009, 08:28 AM
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Third vote for the Cluny, it's one of my Paris favorites. It's small and is a short walk from your neighborhood. Another favorite is the Marmottan, also small and charming, but not within walking distance for you.
May in the Luxumbourg Gardens should be lovely and there may be an interesting exhibit.
I think you may become saturated with museums and if the weather is nice you'll want to be outside more, so you probably need to prioritize your museum visits. The Pompidou and the Musee d'Art Moderne are larger and will require more time than the Orsay, Cluny and Marmottan.
Be flexible with your plan but don't miss Ste Chapelle and Notre Dame. And while you're in the neighborhood, spend a few minutes at the Deportation Memorial near the bridge at the back of N.D.
Walking around Isle St Louis is one my favorites in Paris; however, if you like ice cream and gelato try Amorino as well as Berthillon. I think it's every bit as good, if not better than B.
Your plan reads like one of mine several years ago. I dashed around Paris with a to do/see list and one day was passing through the large square in front of the Palais de Justice and glanced over at a sidewalk cafe. Everyone looked so relaxed sitting at outside tables watching tourists dashing about. I thought "I want to do that" and slowed down.
Which reminds me, you might a enjoy a visit to the flower market near N.D.
May in the Luxumbourg Gardens should be lovely and there may be an interesting exhibit.
I think you may become saturated with museums and if the weather is nice you'll want to be outside more, so you probably need to prioritize your museum visits. The Pompidou and the Musee d'Art Moderne are larger and will require more time than the Orsay, Cluny and Marmottan.
Be flexible with your plan but don't miss Ste Chapelle and Notre Dame. And while you're in the neighborhood, spend a few minutes at the Deportation Memorial near the bridge at the back of N.D.
Walking around Isle St Louis is one my favorites in Paris; however, if you like ice cream and gelato try Amorino as well as Berthillon. I think it's every bit as good, if not better than B.
Your plan reads like one of mine several years ago. I dashed around Paris with a to do/see list and one day was passing through the large square in front of the Palais de Justice and glanced over at a sidewalk cafe. Everyone looked so relaxed sitting at outside tables watching tourists dashing about. I thought "I want to do that" and slowed down.
Which reminds me, you might a enjoy a visit to the flower market near N.D.
Mar 29th, 2009, 08:47 AM
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Mar 29th, 2009, 01:15 PM
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I guess I will just play some things by ear. I generally do not get jet lag and don't sleep much at all while away. I stay up late and get up early. It's pretty much full throttle for me all day. So I will see about my first night and what will fit in. Thanks so much for the suggesstions Adrienne. I do like churches and am hoping to pass some by on my way to other sights and pop in. Since everyone votes for the Cluny, I will definitely try to fit it in. I wish I had more than six days!
Mar 29th, 2009, 01:24 PM
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The Dali space in Montmartre has been trashed by a few people. You won't be disappointed if you keep in mind that his paintings are not there, but instead there are many prints, some sculpture and other things. It isn't really a museum but sort of a gallery with admission charge. But there is plenty to see there if you are a fan of Dali. My daughter loved it.
