Three Day Paris Itinerary
Mar 8th, 2015, 03:40 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Three Day Paris Itinerary
Hello Everyone,
My husband and I will be spending 3 full days in Paris for part of our vacation. I've planned the following itinerary for our time and was wondering if this is reasonable and welcome any suggested improvements. We'll be arriving on Thursday, April 23 in the evening from Edinburgh. We are staying at the Citadines Bastille Marais Paris.
Friday
Catacombs (be in line by 9:15)
Stroll through Luxembourg Gardens
Notre Dame and Saint Chapelle in the afternoon
Louvre in the evening
Saturday
Start at Arc de Triumph
Possibly walk down the Champs Elycee
Jardin des Tuileries
Musee d'Orsay and Musee Rodin in the afternoon
Eiffel Tower and Seine river cruise in the evening
Sunday
Montmartre tour in the morning
Palais Garnier in the afternoon
Some free time in the late afternoon to explore something we may have missed
Paris evening bike tour
On Monday we're leaving around lunch time for London. I'm wondering if there are any major sights that I've missed. I have not yet purchased tickets for any of the sights/tours so I can rearrange the order if there's a better arrangement. I'm also looking for any restaurant recommendations in the areas we'll be visiting. We'd like to have one fairly nice authentic French lunch or dinner. I appreciate everyone's feedback in advance. Thank you!
My husband and I will be spending 3 full days in Paris for part of our vacation. I've planned the following itinerary for our time and was wondering if this is reasonable and welcome any suggested improvements. We'll be arriving on Thursday, April 23 in the evening from Edinburgh. We are staying at the Citadines Bastille Marais Paris.
Friday
Catacombs (be in line by 9:15)
Stroll through Luxembourg Gardens
Notre Dame and Saint Chapelle in the afternoon
Louvre in the evening
Saturday
Start at Arc de Triumph
Possibly walk down the Champs Elycee
Jardin des Tuileries
Musee d'Orsay and Musee Rodin in the afternoon
Eiffel Tower and Seine river cruise in the evening
Sunday
Montmartre tour in the morning
Palais Garnier in the afternoon
Some free time in the late afternoon to explore something we may have missed
Paris evening bike tour
On Monday we're leaving around lunch time for London. I'm wondering if there are any major sights that I've missed. I have not yet purchased tickets for any of the sights/tours so I can rearrange the order if there's a better arrangement. I'm also looking for any restaurant recommendations in the areas we'll be visiting. We'd like to have one fairly nice authentic French lunch or dinner. I appreciate everyone's feedback in advance. Thank you!
Mar 8th, 2015, 03:57 PM
#2
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you're going to the Jardin du Luxembourg, make sure to walk up the street to the Pantheon. It's my favourite sight in Paris and it's literally straight up the street from the main entrance to the gardens. Also take the RER B to the Notre Dame stop instead of the metro - it'll be faster.
Definitely walk down the Champs Elysees. It's always so vibrant and lively, even if you don't plan to buy anything. If you weren't planning to, I would recommend walking to the top of the Arc de Triomphe - it doesn't take that long but it's a very small passageway so if you're claustrophobic, skip it. I know a good pizza place just off the Champs Elysee if you want the recommendation. I'll have to look up the name.
Is there something in particular you want to see in the Musee D'Orsay? If not, you might want to skip that and just do Rodin. The Rodin museum is fairly small and you can finish it in about 2 or 3 hours but the Musee D'Orsay is quite large and extensive so unless you're going for a specific exhibit or work, maybe leave that for another trip. It is a great museum but I bet once you get inside you'll want to stay there. I would recommend after you leave Tuileries, go to the Invalides and walk around the complex and the church (you can visit Napoleon's tomb for free) and then the Musee Rodin is quite close by.
If you weren't planning on it, do the tour of the Opera Garnier - it's so ornate in there. Also walk around the Opera area - it's really nice and there's this yummy sweet store called La Cure Gourmande just down the main avenue. Awesome cookies. A street or two off the main avenue is an area with lots of Japanese and Korean restaurants. I can recommend a great Korean place off there too - it's a little off the main street but the food is totally worth it.
Definitely walk down the Champs Elysees. It's always so vibrant and lively, even if you don't plan to buy anything. If you weren't planning to, I would recommend walking to the top of the Arc de Triomphe - it doesn't take that long but it's a very small passageway so if you're claustrophobic, skip it. I know a good pizza place just off the Champs Elysee if you want the recommendation. I'll have to look up the name.
Is there something in particular you want to see in the Musee D'Orsay? If not, you might want to skip that and just do Rodin. The Rodin museum is fairly small and you can finish it in about 2 or 3 hours but the Musee D'Orsay is quite large and extensive so unless you're going for a specific exhibit or work, maybe leave that for another trip. It is a great museum but I bet once you get inside you'll want to stay there. I would recommend after you leave Tuileries, go to the Invalides and walk around the complex and the church (you can visit Napoleon's tomb for free) and then the Musee Rodin is quite close by.
If you weren't planning on it, do the tour of the Opera Garnier - it's so ornate in there. Also walk around the Opera area - it's really nice and there's this yummy sweet store called La Cure Gourmande just down the main avenue. Awesome cookies. A street or two off the main avenue is an area with lots of Japanese and Korean restaurants. I can recommend a great Korean place off there too - it's a little off the main street but the food is totally worth it.
Mar 8th, 2015, 04:10 PM
#3
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Also get a crepe near Notre Dame and once you're done with there and Sainte Chappele, I recommend walking down to the Hotel de Ville to see it if you haven't. It's a stunning building. And try to time your river cruise so that you get back on the hour just as the Eiffel Tower starts sparkling.
And if you're not super sold on the idea of visiting the Musee D'Orsay or Rodin but you want to hit up another museum, I would recommend checking to see if there are any interesting exhibits on at the Grand Palais or popping into the Petit Palais next door. It's free, it has beautiful paintings and the building itself is stunning. There's also a garden inside the building but I'm not sure it would be open yet.
And if you're not super sold on the idea of visiting the Musee D'Orsay or Rodin but you want to hit up another museum, I would recommend checking to see if there are any interesting exhibits on at the Grand Palais or popping into the Petit Palais next door. It's free, it has beautiful paintings and the building itself is stunning. There's also a garden inside the building but I'm not sure it would be open yet.
Mar 8th, 2015, 04:12 PM
#4
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If I were you, on the Sunday, I would use that free time period to walk around the Marais. It's always liveliest on Sundays and you won't see it at all based on your current itinerary but it's not to be missed, imo. It's a really nice area to just wander around and get lost in (but try to pass by Place des Vosges) if you're there.
Mar 8th, 2015, 04:23 PM
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi papillon20! Thank you for your feedback and suggestions. If it wouldn't be too much trouble for you, I'd like the names of the pizza place and Korean place you're talking about.
There isn't a particular piece of work in the Musee d'Orsay that we have to see. We really just wanted to see the inside of the building, but we do want to see the sculptures at Musee Rodin.
We're very excited to try crepes and we also plan to do a tour of the Opera Garnier!
We are debating getting the two day museum pass. We like the idea of being able to just pop in some place for a bit and then keep going. Have you used this or recommend it?
Again, thanks for your help!
There isn't a particular piece of work in the Musee d'Orsay that we have to see. We really just wanted to see the inside of the building, but we do want to see the sculptures at Musee Rodin.
We're very excited to try crepes and we also plan to do a tour of the Opera Garnier!
We are debating getting the two day museum pass. We like the idea of being able to just pop in some place for a bit and then keep going. Have you used this or recommend it?
Again, thanks for your help!
Mar 8th, 2015, 04:43 PM
#6
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,391
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
my only thoughts:
i find art galleries quite intense, 2 hours in one consumes a lot of energy. so i agree with either rodin or orsay but not both.
if doing the louvre in the evening: make time for a late afternoon rest and then a light supper, the lovre is not a place to tackle when you are tired after a long day or trying to digest a big meal.
enjoy paris.
i find art galleries quite intense, 2 hours in one consumes a lot of energy. so i agree with either rodin or orsay but not both.
if doing the louvre in the evening: make time for a late afternoon rest and then a light supper, the lovre is not a place to tackle when you are tired after a long day or trying to digest a big meal.
enjoy paris.
Mar 8th, 2015, 05:01 PM
#7
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hello. You're absolutely welcome. I'm happy to help.
This is the pizza place off the Champs Elysees:
http://www.yelp.fr/biz/pizza-vesuvio-georges-v-paris
The reviews on yelp aren't that positive but I went there twice and I quite enjoyed it and the staff were very obliging.
This is the Korean restaurant off Opera: http://www.yelp.fr/biz/jantchi-paris
It's seriously so good. There might be a line but trust me, it's worth it and you won't have to wait too long. It's on a little side street so when you look down, just look for the small lit up sign that says Coreen.
My favourite Korean restaurant in Paris is actually in the Marais, although the traditional thing to do in that area is to get a falafel on Rue des Rosiers. There will be lines on Sundays though. If you do end up fancying Korean though, go here: http://www.yelp.fr/biz/maison-marais-paris
But beware, when they say something is spicy, they aren't kidding.
Keep in mind if you decide to get a crepe with whipped cream (chantilly), that they'll put it just on top of the crepe, not inside so it will be VERY messy to eat.
I've only ever used a pass like that in Rome but my suggestion is to check out which museums interest you, add up the entrance fees (and make sure to check if you qualify for a reduced fee) and then see if the pass will be less than that. If it is and you want the flexibility, then go for it but those passes tend to be quite expensive and there's only so much you can do in 2 days.
Also my advice for the Louvre is to decide what you want to see (the big ones like Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, etc) and go straight to those things or to pick an area that interests you (like Ancient Egyptian art, sculpture section, Napoleon the third's apartments) and just go and wander about that section. Otherwise the museum will be way too overwhelming. Going for the late opening is good though - it will be a lot quieter then.
This is the pizza place off the Champs Elysees:
http://www.yelp.fr/biz/pizza-vesuvio-georges-v-paris
The reviews on yelp aren't that positive but I went there twice and I quite enjoyed it and the staff were very obliging.
This is the Korean restaurant off Opera: http://www.yelp.fr/biz/jantchi-paris
It's seriously so good. There might be a line but trust me, it's worth it and you won't have to wait too long. It's on a little side street so when you look down, just look for the small lit up sign that says Coreen.
My favourite Korean restaurant in Paris is actually in the Marais, although the traditional thing to do in that area is to get a falafel on Rue des Rosiers. There will be lines on Sundays though. If you do end up fancying Korean though, go here: http://www.yelp.fr/biz/maison-marais-paris
But beware, when they say something is spicy, they aren't kidding.
Keep in mind if you decide to get a crepe with whipped cream (chantilly), that they'll put it just on top of the crepe, not inside so it will be VERY messy to eat.
I've only ever used a pass like that in Rome but my suggestion is to check out which museums interest you, add up the entrance fees (and make sure to check if you qualify for a reduced fee) and then see if the pass will be less than that. If it is and you want the flexibility, then go for it but those passes tend to be quite expensive and there's only so much you can do in 2 days.
Also my advice for the Louvre is to decide what you want to see (the big ones like Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, etc) and go straight to those things or to pick an area that interests you (like Ancient Egyptian art, sculpture section, Napoleon the third's apartments) and just go and wander about that section. Otherwise the museum will be way too overwhelming. Going for the late opening is good though - it will be a lot quieter then.
Mar 8th, 2015, 06:24 PM
#9
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 670
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The museum pass includes the Louvre, Rodin, Sainte Chapelle, Arc de Triomphe, and D'Orsay.. and the Pantheon, and other sites. .. you can add up the admissions and see if it pays, also there may be separate lines for pass holders.
Most of the admission discounts at these sites are for either French or EU citizens.
I have used it in Paris, and depending on what you want to see it can be economical and efficient.
Most of the admission discounts at these sites are for either French or EU citizens.
I have used it in Paris, and depending on what you want to see it can be economical and efficient.
Mar 8th, 2015, 07:06 PM
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks Everyone!
I've added up the charges for the things we'd like to do that are covered by the museum pass, and it ends up a little cheaper for us to get the pass. I think it also allows us to jump the queue in some places so that might be nice.
Papillon20, thank you for the restaurant names. The Korean place looks really good. We don't have a good Korean place in our area so that would be a fun place to try. For the Louvre, we're going to do one of the two hour audio tours called the masterpieces that shows you the big ones like the Mona Lisa.
Thank you for your help!
I've added up the charges for the things we'd like to do that are covered by the museum pass, and it ends up a little cheaper for us to get the pass. I think it also allows us to jump the queue in some places so that might be nice.
Papillon20, thank you for the restaurant names. The Korean place looks really good. We don't have a good Korean place in our area so that would be a fun place to try. For the Louvre, we're going to do one of the two hour audio tours called the masterpieces that shows you the big ones like the Mona Lisa.
Thank you for your help!
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
GinnyJo
Europe
32
Jul 3rd, 2014 04:34 PM
darlenef17
Europe
66
Feb 18th, 2013 02:22 PM
