Second trip to Paris!
 

Hello everyone...it's been 4 years since my last trip to France....I am finally getting back to Paris! I did all of the first timer things on my first trip so now I'm ready for more!! I will have a week in Paris & would love any suggestions you have about what to see the second time around!
Excitedly yours!!
Dory

Dory, how long were you there last time? How do we know what you have already seen?
I have been to Paris , sometimes for months, many times over many years, I haven't seen everything yet( there are over 250 museums you know) and there are some sites I always go back to ( Lourve , Notre Dame etc)
Why not just return to some of the sites you may have rushed through last time?
How about some daytrips outside city( Chartes? ) .
Do you have any particular interests you could cater to ?

http://en.parisinfo.com/

http://www.amazon.com/Paris-Revisite.../dp/0972398511

Plenty of info... it's best if you make some choices and a loose itinerary, then get more feedback on that.

Thank you for your fast reply Bozama & Travelnut...I spent 8 days in Paris & a week in the south of France-I saw all the "usuals" plus alot of off the beaten path stuff-we were up at dawn and down very late every day so I really packed it in. I didn't get to Montmarte (I know...crazy-dont know how that happened-I think I had that planned for day 7 and was just exhausted! But we saw all the big things-Eiffel, ND, Lourve, St. Chapelle, Arc, Luxembourg, Rodin Museum, Muse De'Orse, Musee Picasso, Bastille, Pompidou, Invalides, Pantheon, Conciergerie, Pere-Lachaise plus lots of other smaller museums and parks. As you can see...it was a very busy, tiring trip! This time I want to rent an apartment and take a more leisurely pace. Have you ever toured the catacombs? I wanted to do that first trip but didn't get to it! Thanks for any ideas you may have! Thank you for the link travelnut-I will check it out!

Try the Promenade Plantee on the west side. Luxembourg gardens. Stay in a different part of town. Try the local parks and street markets.

I'm looking at the list of things you did last time and am suggesting some things not on that Paris list:

Orangerie
Rodin Museum
Musee de Cluny
Musee Carnavalet
Sacre Coeur (be sure to include the view from the dome)

Paris parks:

Jardin des Tuileries
Parc Monceau
Parc aux Buttes Chaumant
Bois de Boulogne

Easy day trips:

Chartres (especially for the cathedral)
Versailles (for the palace)

I just returned from my 7th visit to Paris. This trip, I added a visit to Bascilica St. Denis to see the crypts of the royalty of France. I thought it was fascinating. There are some beautiful stained glass windows as well. I also second the recommendation for L'Orangerie. If you like Monet, the Musee Marmotten is also a great visit. I also enjoy the Chapel of the Miraculous Medal, it is where they make the Miraculous Mary medals. The chapel is lovely. If you are not Catholic, it might not be as meaningful to you. It is across from the Bon Marche department store and next to their food store - Grand Epicure? I can't recall the name. Have fun!

I second all of the above suggestions with vigor.

If you have not been to Fontainebleau, I recommend it. You can do it your self easily.

Train from Gare de Lyon to Fontainebleau. City bus to the gates of the chateau.

I found it to be fascinating. It was of course Napolean's residence when he was in the area and not off fighting some war.

If you visit St. Denis, try to go on a Saturday when there is a market and perhaps a wedding or two as happened to me in April. And, of course, see the Basilique and the effigies.

I was also impressed with
http://www.placesinfrance.com/musee_...le_museum.html

And we did a bakery and a chocolatier visit through:
http://en.parisinfo.com/paris-sights...ans-at-work-1/
I would have loved doing more but had to fit their schedule into mine.

And....for just some quiet strolling, looking and maybe buying...
The Bastille art market
http://en.parisinfo.com/professionne...e-a-a-c-m-p-b-
I am an artist and I was impressed with the quality of the work being sold at the Bastille market.

Vanves flea market
http://pucesdevanves.typepad.com/le_...elcome_en.html

This was fun until the rain came, but bumping up against real Parisiens and negotiating for purchases was fun. Most of them spoke some English. My problem was that everything I really wanted wouldn't fit my suitcase.

I have been to the Catacombs, and they are interesting, if also a bit claustrophobic, but they are only worth about 1.5 hours max.
You also didn't mention the Cluny , which I enjoyed very much, and did you do the crypt at ND,, it could tie in with the Cluny in that they both have ancient Roman ruins, you could theme a day around that ( Roman occupation) for fun.

I do agree with building in tons of down time, the best times are when you stop for a drink at some little out of the way cafe and end of sitting there for 2 hours just enjoying the scenery and drinks.

Thank you everyone for the awesome ideas....Fontainebleau... that will be a great day trip! and the flea market is a definate. I will put all of this info in my planner.