Hello one and all. As I've mentioned a couple of times in posts in the Europe forum, my sister and I will be going over to Paris in September (Sept. 1st - 9th). Now, while I've been there quite a few times in the past, I kinda have a rough idea of what to do and where to go. Here's a preliminary itineray of our trip. What I would like, please, is some input, suggestions, etc on my plans:

Day 1 - Fri 9/1 - DFW to LGW

Day 2 - Sat 9/2 - Arrive LGW - Eurostar to Gare du Nord - We should be at the hotel by 1430, so what I had planned on doing was: the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Tiomphe, Arch of the Defense, Sacre Couer, Notre Dame and possibly a nighttime boat tour on the Seine. I figured that if we got the heavies out of the way, that would give time for other things. Is that pushing it? Should I spread these places out over Saturday and Sunday?

Day 3 - Sun 9/3 - I've read that admission to the Louvre is free (does this apply to all museums?) on the first Sunday of every month, so I thought we'd go there. I've been to the Louvre before, but not my sister. As much as I love art, history, etc I do get a bit of the art overload feeling and will probably only be able to endure 3 hours or so worth of the museum. What should we do after the Louvre? Also, see my comment above on our first day in Paris.

Day 4 - Monday 9/4 - On this day I had planned a fun day out to Disneyland.

Day 5 - Tuesday 9/5 - For this day a visit to Pere Lachaise Cemetary, the Catacombs, the Sewers of Paris, walking along the Champs Elysee and the Military College.

Day 6 - Wednesday 9/6 - Off to Versailles and maybe to Fountainebleau as well.

Day 7 - Thursday 9/7 - open

Day 8 - Friday 9/8 - open

Day 9 - Saturday 9/9 - Leave Paris on Eurostar for London - arriving around 1400 or so. I've been to London *alot*, so no problem finding something to do here.

Day 10 - Sunday 9/10 - LGW to DFW

Aside from my stay in 2004, this will be the longest I will have been in Paris. In the past I've always felt like things were accelerated and I never enjoyed the city at a leisurely pace. After reading so much on here about places to eat, which arron to visit, etc, I would welcome any suggestions to refine my itinerary so that I can make the most of our time there and that I'm not rushing to try and cram so much in. Should we do a day trip from Paris (I don't really count Versailles as a true day trip)? If so, where? Or should we just forego doing one and make the most of the city? We'll be staying at a hotel in 15th e near the Cambronne metro stop right off blvd. de Grenelle.

Thanks in advance to all who reply!

I would skip La Defense. Personally I found nothing of interest there; it's a huge square office building and that's all I recall. It's not in central Paris so that's a time waster to me-personally.

Btw, that's alot you plan to see on your arrival day.

Are you planning on going up the Eiffel Tower? If so lines are usually very long. I'd not go to Sacre Coeur on day 2. Go on one of your free days instead.

Not all museums are free on the first Sunday in the new month. Other free museums I suggest you see if you can manage the lines are the Musee d' Orsay and the Musee Rodin.

You really can't see both Versailles and Fontainebleau in one day.

Well, that first afternoon seems impossibly crowded. Do you plan to go up the Eiffel Tower -- there's usually a line -- or just take one look and drop back down into the Metro? Ditto all the other sights. Do spread this out a bit.

Have you been to the Sainte Chapelle? It's close to Notre Dame. There are, of course, many other museums in Paris in addition to the Louvre, notably everybody's new favorite, the Musee d'Orsay.

Last spring we took walking tours (in English) of Montmartre and the Marais.

If I went back, I'd check out the Canal St. Martin -- but I'm a water person.

Hi,
I'd agree with the other posters - your Day 1 seems very crowded; also not all of the sites are so near to one another. You might want to group sites geographically. My first day in Paris we went to see Napoleon's tomb, walked around, then went up the Eiffel Tower and by then we were in time for the sunset cruise on the Seine (purchased a bottle of wine & cups to bring on the boat; it was wonderful!). Don't forget you also need time to stop & eat! Perhaps you could group your walk on the Champs Elysee with the Arc d'Triumphe. Sacre Couer could go with walking around Monmarte, which was a highlight for me. Great idea, though, to have outdoorsy things to do on Day 1.
Enjoy!

Does your sister want to go to EuroDisney on her first trip to Paris?
Does she want the Sewer tour? The catacombs?

doesn't seem like an itinerary I would enjoy -- Disney, la Defense, Catacombs, sewers. Not to mention a first day totally crammed w/ travel from the States, through London, to Paris and then covering an area of most of central Paris.

Eiffel Tower, Arc de Tiomphe, Defense, Sacre Couer, Notre Dame and a nighttime boat tour - this would be nutty on a day when you are already IN Paris, but probably impossible on your arrival day.

Thanks to all who have replied!

francophile03 & Mimar- yes, we plan to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower. I know how the lines can be, so that's a time eater right there.

Oddly enough, I've never been to the Sainte Chapelle? After reading quite a bit on here I'm quite anxious to pay it a visit! The Musee d'Orsay is probably another museum I would like to check out.

RobinBinNYC - you're suggestion about seeing Napoleon's tomb, etc really sounds good. And you're right, doing things geographically does make more sense.

SuzieC - I'm pretty sure she'd like to go to EuroDisney - she's been to the other 2 here in U.S., why not there. As for the catacombs and the sewers, she would probably find those interesting.

I think what I need to do is get a Fodor's book on Paris and give that to her to read through and let me know what would interest her. I've just listed the things I've seen/done in the past that I thought she'd enjoy. I kinda figured day 1 did look a bit crammed, that's why I came to my fellow travellers here for advice (and good advice I've received so far).

Letting your sister read a guide book is a good idea. Here are my additional suggestions:

Take the Batobus for a ride up and down the Seine. Do at sunset. You don't need to pay for a boat tour.

The view from the Eiffel Tower is better at night and from the first landing, not the top, and it costs less. Bear in mind when you are waiting in line on the ground that you will wait in a second line almost just as long if you buy a ticket for the top.

Why don't you see the things you want to see first, and then see what else you want to see last?

Don't make your first day a day of duty. Make it the things you want to see most, like Ste Chappelle. If you never get to the Louvre or Sacre Couer, so what?

You should head up to Montparnasse and enjoy a meal or a coffee in Le Dome or one of the other glass-enclosed cafes.

You don't have to go to the Louvre with your sister, and she shouldn't be held hostage to your limited interest. Let her go on her own as often as she likes. You can always arrange a meeting place.

Museums are best visited at night when possible.

You sure must be able to sleep more on a plane than I can, if you plan on doing all that after 2:30 p.m. I would definitely break it up.

Safe the Arch d'Triomphe for after the Louvre. Walk through the Tuilleries, through the Place de la Concord, then down the Champs Elysee to the Arch d'Triomphe.

I would do the Eiffel Tower the first afternoon with Ecole Militaire. Again in the same area. Add the Trocadero.

I would take a free day for Montemarte and Sacre Couer.

The other free day on Ile de la Cite (Notre Dame, Saint Chappell, the Conciergerie) and the Ile Saint Louis and a trip on the Seine.

I love the d'Orsay, too, so I would dump something. For me it would probably be Disneyland, but I've never been to Disneyland in France. Figured that's a US trip.

Versaille is a day. And then it is difficult because there is so much to see as you stroll and stroll and stroll. I have spent a day in the gardens and Le Hameau alone. Versailles is huge!

Most of all, take the time to enjoy the fact that you are in Paris. Allow some time to breathe.

cchottel - thanks for your input! Heh, once I get on a plane, I give myself an hour, then set my watch to the time of my European destination and then go to sleep. A long time ago I learned that once I step off the plane to keep on the move to overcome the jetlag. Dump the backpack/suitcase in the hostel or hotel and get out into the city. I think I'm pretty use to it by now, but I'm not so sure about my sister.

Everyone has given me good suggestions so far, so I'll retool my itinerary so that it's not so rushed.

Others have said it above, but I would also recommend you group your visits by area so that you are not jumping all over the city.

Personally, I would do the d'Orsay instead of the Louvre if time were an issue; but I just like that period of art more and the d'Orsay is more "user friendly." I walked all over the Louvre one year only to find that the gallery I wanted to see was closed that day due to a shortage of guards.

I second the recommendation of the Batobus - you can get a one day pass and just hop on and off at will; I have done the "tour" boat and couldn't understand a word of the spiel, so why pay all that extra money.

I love to watch for the concert notices posted on walls/fences and go to some of them-usually less than 25 Euros per performance. The ones in St. Chappelle are also visually gorgeous besides the marvelous music. (I did see a notice on one of the concert sites that their performances were being moved from St. Chappelle temporarily, so I don't know if that period is over or not.)

I am being dragged to DisneyParis on my next trip because my 11 yr old granddaughter wants to see it-believe me, it is only because I love her so - I've been there and done that for the older g-daughter's trip and this is a real sacrifice of time for me. Perhaps I could sneak away and hop on the RER to central Paris?

Ditto on your first day. I know I like to see things but it is way to much. Why not take an area of Paris and explore each day. Seems like alot of back and forth.
On your first day why not head to the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe. You can get a great view from the Trocadero too of the Eiffel Tower.

Versailles was almost a whole day when me and my sister went. We caught the morning train and walked around and then headed back. We caught the train by Musee d'Orsay.

Yes the Louvre is free the 1st Sunday of the month. Make sure you see Napoleon's apartments while there. I also used the Rick Steve's book while visiting the museums. We saw the highlights of the musee and read while looking at the paintings.

As for Disney, I took my friend there on one of my trips. He lives there and had never been. It was nice but not on my first trip. Everyone has an opinion on it so decide for yourselves. I did enjoy it even though it was a little chilly that day.

I have made a chart of what to see in each arr. If you would like it, I can send it to you via email. Just send it to [email protected] - please put paris chart in the re section so i dont delete the email.

thanks,
kari

Just returned from second trip to Paris. First was 16 years ago so you'd think we'd have needed to see all of the major sites again. I decided to take heed of advice on this board. We rented an apt, grouped our days by arrondisement and mostly walked, sat looked and listened. It was wonderful We did no museums (opps, forgot the Cluny late one afternoon which was small and lovely and didn't burn us out) and yes, we found a poster up on the wall of Ste Chapelle and attended a great Verdi, Pachebel, Mozart concert there night. Get there an hour early, I think the concert was at 7, line up for tickets, and then we just sat and watched the sun set beyond the mazing glass walls, and the musician tune the harpsicord. This time we really just learned to drink in Paris and not rush about ticking things off of a list....great. Slow down and enjoy would be my advice.

I agree with most other comments, and alos think Sat 9/2 is too crowded, and all over the city. La Defense has a nice shopping center, actually, and I could see going there if you wanted a more modern shopping center (nicer than Les Halles) and to see the arch, but don't think this would be on the top list for first-timers to Paris.

I also think your 9/5 day is much too much to do and includes things I sure wouldn't think of any major interest. Sewer tours? Why would your sister want to tour sewers so much -- well, if she is a sanitation engineer, I can see that. I would drop catacombs, also, and wonder why you want to go there. A lot of people don't know what it even is. The other things would easily take a day or more (Pere Lachaise, Champs-Elysees, and Ecole Militaire if you intend to see the museum there at all -- sometimes they have other exhibits there, also, like photography or art).

No reason to eat up time going up the Eiffel Tower at all, its a timing issue. I went to the top in June and again in July during the height of tourist season with no wait at the ticket booth or to get on the elevator. I got to the tower at 8:45am both times before the crowds formed. So save the tower for a day when you can get there early. I couldn't bear waiting in a line when there is all of Paris to see.

After the Eiffel Tower, walk thru the Champs de Mars, go to Musee de L'Armee and to Napolean's tomb. Visit Musee de Rodin and walk thru the rue Cler Market. All of those sights are on the same end of town. Do Notre Dame a different day.

"I'm pretty sure she'd like to go to EuroDisney - she's been to the other 2 here in U.S., why not there."

Because with sooooo much to see in Paris, the quintessential US amusement park would be a low priority (and I'm actually a Disney fan).

If I were there for a month I might (maaaaaybe) go to Disney. But I do know that everyone has their own interests... not slamming you, just offering an opinion.

Ok...5 months later and 4 days away from departure...I'm excited! Would any other Fodorites care to chip in the .02 cents/pence in regards as to anything else we should try to see/visit? As I've said, everyone has posted some really good suggestions regarding my itinerary. I will say this - Friday the 8th we are doing a day trip to Lausanne, so that's firm there. I've also been looking at weather.com, so that's making me adjust my itinerary somewhat as well. It'll be nice to GET AWAY from these high 90/100 degree temps in Texas!

Ever since I stumbled into a free day at the Prado in Madrid, I've avoided free days everywhere like the plague. The museum was so crowded with people jostling each other that I left. I paid to go back later when the art viewing was much, much better.

Don't know if this is true of the Louvre.

Have a great trip!

Don't know if it is still true but the Picasso Museum, Pompidou, and Cluny were among Sunday freebies in addition to Louvre, D'Orsay, and Rodin.

I like to walk around under the Eiffle Tower and the Trocadero for pics on my first day but save the ride up the tower for a day when I can be there before 9am- NO lines at that time which saves alot of time for the rest of the day.

I do Louvre Lite- the Denon Wing (Mona Lisa, Virgin of the Rocks, The Fortune Teller, Venus de Milo, Winged Victory, and Napoleon's Coronation when I don't want to spend alot of time there. I do love the royal apartments there too, especially if I'm not making the trip to Versaille.

Don't forget to enter the Louvre underground via the Luvre/Palais Royal Metro stop so you don't have to endure lines getting in.

After the Louvre, walk west through the Tuileries and see thecheck out L'Orangerie (newly opened with Monet waterlilly murals) or just walk on past it to the Petit Palais and the Grand Palais.

If you enjoy haute couture go do a little "window licking" at the boutiques to the north on Honore/Faubourg or go to Place Vendome and look at the jewelry. Pop into the Ritz for a peek and a drink at the bar Papa Hemingway "liberated" during WWII.