Please judge my 3.5day itinerary in Paris...
 

Hi, I'm planning my agenda for 3.5 days in Paris arriving on Sep 24th (Friday) and leaving Sep28th(Tuesday) very early in the morning. Already studied a lot of travel books and fodorites suggestions and then came with the agenda below. I'm travelling with my husband and his parents (58 and 60 yrs old). It's my husband first time in Paris and I want to give him a global (and also romantic!) view of the city. Any input is very very welcome! Thanks, Dudi

24th, Friday
Arrive at CDG at 2:30pm
Check in Hotel Clos Medici (6th arr.) at 4pm(http://www.closmedicis.com)
Explore St Germain Area
Take Vedettes du Pont Neuf at 7pm to see the sunset at Seine
Eiffel tower at evening
Dinner

25th, Saturday
Take subway to Hotel des Invalides
Start walking tour:
Pont Alexandre III
Place de la Concorde
Palays d l elysee
Explore Champs Elysee
Arc de Trioumphe
Place du Trocadero
Eiffel tower during the day

26th - Sunday
Notre Dame+towers
Conciergerie
Louvre (too crowded on Sundays?)
Jd. Tuilleries

27th - Monday
Jd. Luxembourg
Qt. Latin
Opera
G. Laffayete + shops nearby
Overview at Marais

You are off to a good start. IMHO the Musee d'Orsay is more romantic than the Louvre ( the impressionists) and you mentioned romance.
Walking along the Seine at night is romantic also. Kiss your husband on the Pont Neuf!

I see you're doing a half-dozen of the spots included in the Museum Pass. If you're looking to save a few Euro, you might rearrange your schedule to do them all on the same day. Morning at the Louvre, afternoon miscellaneous, then dinner followed by sunset at the top of the Arc de Triomphe.

If you plan to go up the Eiffel tower, I highly recommend doing it first thing in the morning. Otherwise you can waste an hour or two standing in line.

Here's the link:

http://www.ratp.fr/ParisVisite/Eng/A...etmonument.htm

p.s. Always use the Mobilis card for transport - the Paris Visite pass is a ripoff.

Second the Orsay over the Louvre since you have so little time. I think you could also squeeze in Ste Chapelle . . . simply gorgeous! My breath was literally taken away as I walked in!

actually, I would do the Eiffel Tower last thing. so pretty at night, and the lines are shorter. also definitely see it from Place du Trocadero at night.

Yes, I agree that the view from the Troc is stunning - that's also why I recommend the AdeT at night. My personal (romantic) favorite view of nighttime Paris is from <i>Le Ceil de Paris</i> restaurant atop the Montparnasse Tower.

http://www.cieldeparis.com/ENG/index.html

The line to go up the tower at Notre Dame begins to form about 8:45 and fills quickly by the opening at 9:30.
We just did this in April and were in the first group to go up (I recall it is limited to 20 or so at a time). There was a wire 'grill' kind of thing but you could still get photos between the wires. Great views, not too high up to appreciate the bird's eye over the buildings.

Also, in case it matters, it is a slight uphill walk from Tuileries/Concorde to the Arc.
Since others recommend you go up the Eiffel early, you could start your day at Tour Eiffel, then cross the Seine to Trocadero. Then walk or metro to the Arc and walk down Champs E. toward Palais d'Elys&eacute;es, Concorde, the bridges, etc.
When you are at Galeries Lafayette and &quot;shops&quot; you might pop into one of the &quot;Passages&quot; (covered shopping arcade) between Metros Richelieu Drouot &amp; Grands Blvds.
In your overview of Marais, I hope you are including a rest in the Place des Vosges...

Thanks everybody for the help! You are really helping me on my romantic trip to Paris.
Doug, I believe I'll definitely find some time to go to Orsay!
Robespierre, nice tips you gave me. Already checked the dite for the ms pass and really worth it! Also, I will HAVE TO GO to the Le Ceil de Paris. Simply loved it.
One question: I saw some trip reports telling about Rue Cler or Rue Moufettard. Does it worth a visit? Can I arrange a visit there the samen day I'm going to T. Eiffel?

Thanks. dudi

We just returned from 4 days in Paris.
Last summer we were there for 6 days.
While in the 6th, stop in to the church
St. Sulpice-absolutely Medievil. Also, galleries lafayette is cool, but so is Bon Marche with their grand epicerie-foods that will make your mouth water, with a park outside their doors so you can picnic.
A great, smaller quiet museum is the Rodin museum. Way more Romantic with the beautiful gardens (and less people) than the Louvre or Orsay. Follow Fodors for the St. Germain de Pres walk-its pretty good.

Thanks Marc for your help! I ll check the suggestions.
Just give me one more help: where can I find the Bon Marche you described?!!!

dudi

Hi, you can find Bon Marche at http://www.lebonmarche.fr/

They're right next to the Sevres-Babylone Metro stop.

A nice departement store (and the epicerie is very interesting) -- I usually try to stop by when I'm in Paris.

Enjoy your trip!

dudi, we're on the same schedule, arriving on the Friday morning. We're planning on an easy day on Friday and like you, are taking that evening cruise. If you go to the website, www.vedettesdupontneuf.com, you can print off a discount coupon good for two euros for each ticket purchased. Also, on that particular boat line, you are allowed to bring food and drink aboard. If you see two middle-aged faintly jet-lagged passengers with a bottle of wine, that will be my husband and me!

...be a bit careful on day 1 if you are coming from overseas (but a 2:30 flight maybe not)..sometimes a quick nap then up to see the sights..play it by ear...

Bon Marche is in the 7th so its much quieter than Galleries' location. Its more upscale which is better for looking rather than buying, but the epicerie in the separate building across the street is great for souvenir jams, teas, olive oil and stuff-things we brought home. Clothes and stuff we can get in the US cheaper. We actually walked from the Rodin to Bon Marche as both are in the 7th. Rick Steve's rue Cler in the 7th is also fun for the food and shops, too. You can combine that with your eiffel tower walk.
There's also a great Bistro in the 7th-Thoumieux. You walk out of there fat and happy.

Hi,
I would add Ile St Louis to your Notre Dame day.
Perhaps also Place Vendome to Saturday, see Ritz and high tier-jewellery stores.
Place Royale is also nice.
Maybe move Marais over to the Sunday, since you will be in the general vicinity, while Opera and Grands Magasin are a distance away.
A nice walk I have done is to start at eastern end of St Germain and walk to the Orsay, nice shops and caf&eacute;s on the way, St Germain des Pr&eacute;s church, St S&eacute;verin...
The Rodin museum is a nice place to spend an hour, near Eiffel.
Place des Voges is superb, could include in Marais/Notre dame days.
There are some nice restuarants on the Left Bank, across from Nore Dame (heading away from Place St Michel. Could get some goof food and views of ND.

Enjoy!
Mike

Another vote for Ste. Chappelle. Attached to the Conciergerie but much more beautiful and worthwhile if you are pressed for time.

Skip the Conciergerie; it would be way down my list and definitely not for a quick trip. Second or third (whatever) the d'Orsay; the dining room is gorgeous and I enjoyed the food (although my companion did not). If you do go to the Rodin, take the few minutes to walk to the back of the gardens and look back towards the house. I missed that on our first visit. It's a great view of the house, with Invalides off to the right over the trees. Have a great time.

I'm not sure about your Eiffel tower items on your itinerary twice, but I gather that is to see it at night and daytime. If so, it wouldn't make sense to do the Eiffel tower and then cross the river to the Trocadero to view it yet again (I don't think, you'd have to be batty about it). I thought your Trocadero/Eiffel tower item was the same thing on Sat. So, I think your current plan of the Eiffel on Fri and then Sat. going to Trocadero is good.

While you are there, the Marine Museum is right there and I really enjoyed that museum. They have a lot of nice boat models, displays on the various carvings from ships and mastheads and other items, history related to the Navy during various wars, etc. They even had one of Napoleon's boats in there (I think it was the real thing)--not one used in battle but personal. It's not crowded at all and not huge, so you could probably enjoy an hour or so in there unless none of you find that kind of stuff interesting.

Thanks for all replies!
Dln, I checked the veddetes site (thanks for the info) and I believe the 7pm time will be great to do the tour once sunset on Sept 24th will be at 7:40, so we will have a part of the ride by day and the other by night! Maybe it's a good combination!! If you find one (almost 30s) couple + one (almost 60s)couple with wine (loved the idea!), probably you will meet me and my family...
Mark and Michel, thanks for the info about Bon Marche. I'm not a foodie (when comparing with some fodorties I found here) but I DO apreciate jams, teas, wines... So, Bon Marche is in my plans.
I will take all comments home (once I'm so anxious on the replies and studying all your fantastic tips) and come with a new itinerary!
Mamc and Pallete, sorry to bother you, but when I meant I was visiting the conciergerie I just meant to have a look outside the building. Is anything special to see in there or just looking outside is ok?
Christina: ok,ok, I'm really in deep love with the Eiffel tower. The story here is that the only time I went to Paris was about 15yrs ago (just a teen)and I just can remember I was hypnotized by the view. That's why I was planning Eiffel tower by day and by night. Does the Trocadero have a nice view? Can I just visit the tower by night and skip the daytime visit? Sorry about the silly question...
Thanks, dudi

Just look at the outside of the Conciergerie but by all means, see the interior of Ste. Chappelle. The incredible windows (13th Century), especially on a sunny day, are my favorite sight in Paris.