December 17--arrive from Avignon, where to visit? I'm considering either the Louvre or the musee Jacquemart-Andre.

December 18--Eiffel Tower or Notre Dame (if I visit Notre Dame I want to visit Sainte Chapelle as well)

December 19--Musee Nisim Commodo

Dec 20--wander around Left bank, no specific plan though I might consider Musee du Moyen-Age.

Dec 21-visit Marais area

Dec22--Versailles

Dec 23-24 nothing planned although will probably visit food market somewhere.

Dec 25--morning departure.

Is this overplanned? How many museums/attractions should I visit in one week? I would like to set aside some time to just drift and wander around Paris. Plus, I don't want to overplan my trip; I want to leave an opening for some spontaneous action. Would it be a good idea to plan to visit a different arrondissment each day? This way I can explore the different characteristics of each district.

You have left yourself plenty of time to drift. In fact, with such a short list of activities, I wouldn't assign dates to them -- let the weather and temperature guide your activities as well. Glorious sunny days are few and far between in December, so if you get one, you might not want to spend all day in a museum.

You are definitely not over-planned. This really is just a short list of some things you want to see - not a day-by-day itinerary. Which is a good thing - many detailed plans fall apart right away.

But for instance Dec 19 you want to see the Musee Nissim de Comodo. That is a great idea - but it will only take about 60-90 minutes max. So you have most of the day to do other things.

I would say you are a bit under planed, if anything. You should at least have a longer list of possibilities, so you can quickly choose another if one fails to please. For example, the Jacquemart-Andre is a small place which you could go through in a few hours, even if you have lunch in the lovely restaurant.

The Louvre, however, is immense. So huge that you could spend your entire visit within, and never run out of new things to see.

Whatever you choose, I'm sure you will have a wonderful time in Paris.

Hi N,

You are certainly not overplanned.

Wherever you have an "or" you could put an "and".

Enjoy your visit.

Ha! I could do your itinerary in two days

(not that you should)

After all, its Christmas! There is a "what's on" sort of magazine you can pick up as well. Someone here will remember the name. Just be flexible and enjoy an incredible time!

How are you getting from your hotel to the airport on Christmas morning?

Nomad,Your idea is good to pick a different arrondissement each day. You can coordinate your museum visit to the neighborhood. When in the Marais, visit the Carnavalet Museum, it's free. Visit Place des Vosges and Rue des Rosiers

When visiting Musee Nisim Camomdo, if the weather is nice then take a walk through Parc Monceau

If you are buying a musuem pass, defintely visit the Musee du Moyen-Age/Cluny (visit even without the pass, it's a wonderful musee)

Have a great trip, Deborah

Hi,

I agree with other posters that you should have a list of more activities/sights that you can do if you feel like you've wandered enough. Or perhaps more of an itinerary.

For instance, on the day you do the Jacquemart-Andre you could add the Arch of Triumph, Tuileries, and Louvre. Start at the J-A and then walk toward the Arch, through the tuileries and end at the Louvre.

I would suggest doing Notre Dame on Wed or Thurs when they have free 1.5 hour tours (very well done by volunteers). The tours start at 2:00, just inside the church. I'd also add the Deportation Memorial to your itinerary (located behind Notre Dame).

The Museum of the Middle Ages offers medieval concerts on Fridays (12:30?) and Saturdays at 4:00. The concerts are free to museum ticket holders but you must ask for an additional concert ticket (really a slip of paper with the concert gallery number written on it) at the desk when you buy your museum ticket. I loved the concert I attended.

Have a great time in Paris!

To "enrich" your Jaquemart day, you could...

Since you are at the Jacquemart, I'd head over to the Grands Magasins on Haussman to see the XMAS windows, good fun. Also nearby, and almost never visited, is the Chapelle Expiatoire, memorial chapel built over the spot where Louis XV1 and Marie Antionette's bodies were first laid after begin beheaded near place Concorde.You will also be near Opera Garnier, a peek inside will be rewarding.

Also near this area are the Passages (covered passageways) which are a nice way to get out of the cold). I'd go up to rue de Provence and enter them from there. This will lead you back towards Palais Royal, where you can rest after all this walking. If you like art/antiques, right next door is the Louvre des Antiquaires, a building with high end antique dealers with some interesting items displayed.

How nice to read an itinerary where every second is not planned. Many Americans tend to try to cram as much as possible into their vacations and forget that part of experiencing the culture of a country includes taking time for lunch and people watching. I'm assuming those blank times in your schedule include stops at at cafe,right?
If you have time after checking out the quirky shops in the Marais I would wander into the Musee Carnavalet on rue de Sevigne.Besides wonderful exhibits on the history of Paris , there is a special exhibit on Benjamin Franklin at the time you will be in paris.

I'll ditto vslparis' comments. A common (I've done it) thing to do is look at all the things there are to do in a city, take the time available and divvy them up. You haven't and I think you'll have a nicer experience for it.

When I go to Paris now, after having been several times, I'll plan one item for the day, and then have an idea what's in that area and see what happens. Walk around, good map in hand, a sweet here, a cafe creme there, lunch wherever I happen to be.

The itinerary I posted was one I used last November on my first afternoon in Paris (did the Jacquemart later in the trip). Wasn't planning on seeing passages, but saw an entranceway and off I went. Also went to rue Montorgueil (street market) in that same area, by just coming upon it.

I'll post some other ideas.

one thing to consider in your plans -- museums there are closed on random days so check before you commit yourself to something. on the day you do Nissim de Camondo (one of the best!!), plan to also do Jacquemart-André since they are so close, instead of splitting them up. If you are wandering around the Left bank, also consider the Rodin museum, Musée Maillol or Musée de Luxembourg. Musée d'Orsay is a must -- but go early to avoid waiting too long in line. In the Marais, don't miss the Picasso Museum and the Hotel de Ville often has great (free!) exhibits. Go here for lots of information on the specific dates that you will be there: http://en.parisinfo.com/
bon voyage!

Wow! Thanks for all the great suggestions and feedback. I am going to print out this thread, since there are numerous ideas I hadn't thought of.

Merci!

When going to the Eiffel tower, you might want to see also the Musée du Quai Branly which is close by, or the Musée d'Orsay.