So, as I figure it, You'd need a 2 day pass for Sat and Sunday, and it would cover at least four of your museums. You would want to buy it before you found yourself in that first half-mile queue. I see that you can buy them at CDG.

http://www.parismuseumpass.com/en/pass_tarif.php

hi again stoke.

that's a good idea. we could buy on line, but that costs an extra €6.50 and can take 10 days so it's cutting it a bit tight.

I think buying at the airport looks like the best option.

thanks again.

morning all,

ok - now DH has had his birthday, and knows what's afoot, I've been able to take his views into account [after all, this IS his birthday treat!]. He likes the idea of the Turner exhibition [Friday night, I think] and would like to go up to Montmatre to see Sacre Coeur, which he visited for the first and last time on a school trip when he was 14! [I've seen the photos - scarey!].

So this is what I've come up with now:

Friday - arrive early afternoon. We're only taking carry-on so hope to whiz through the airport, leap on the RER line B, and arrive at the hotel near the jardins du luxembourg RER stop by 4pm.

Walk/metro up to the left bank and head for St. Chapelle - I've never seen it and the late afternoon light [as recommended by Stoke] seems preferable. then head for the grand palais [boat/metro/walk?]

before/after? seeing the Turner exhibition, supper - any recommendations in the Grand Palais area that won't break the bank?

Saturday - am head for Montmartre and spend the morning and early afternoon in the area. any lunch recommendation? late pm beck to the hotel for a bit of a rest, then RER to st. Dennis for the match.

sunday - explore s.germain, possibly musees d'orsay, rodin, cluny [probably not all three but you never know] and brunch.
back to hotel last afternoon, and, sadly, home.

comments anyone?

I wouldn't miss the marais on sunday. The market is open near the Bastille on Blvd. Richard Lenoir. The marais is bustling in the afternoon with all of the shops open and the Place des Vosges is always lovely. The Carnavalet Museum is a must if you are interested in the history of Paris and also the artwork of Paris. Lastly, if the weather is decent stay outdoors as much as possible and soak in the beauty of the city and the atmosphere of Paris. Any way you sort out your itinerary I'm sure you will have a great time. Who wouldn't, it's Paris.

You've loads of suggestions for how to spend your time, but you still need to know about getting around in Paris.

For short visits I buy the Mobilis pass, which is available at machines at the Metro stations.

On my last visit I bought the RER ticket into Paris which was about 8 euros. As soon as I arrived at gare du Nord I bought a Mobilis 1-2 for that day, and a Mobilis 1-5 for the next day when I would be returning to CDG.

(I had wanted to buy a Mobilis 1-5 at CDG but the ticket machines didn't offer this option, and I didn't want to queue at the ticket office. Anyway, it cost me about 1 euro more buying the train ticket and the Mobilis 1-2)

You can buy as many Mobilis tickets as you wish, because you date them the day you start to use them and you must sign them. It's a good idea to get them for all 3 days when you arrive as then your debit/credit card is only charged once. Alternatively you can buy them at a ticket offfice at the RER station but the machine is really easy to use.

They can be used on the buses, including I think the Batobus?, the metro and the RER as long as you are within the zone on the ticket.

Good luck and have a great time!

Bon anniversaire, M. Hig!

The shops in St. Germain will be closed on Sunday, but those in the Marais will be open. I'd do the exploring of St. Germain Saturday morning before you go to Montmartre instead of Sunday.

hi, julie, stoke, and nikki,

mmmm, food for thought. it occurred to me after my last post that Montmartre is VERY close to St. Dennis and the stade de France, and it didn't make much sense to go all the way up there on sat. am,, then come back again, only to head back again in the evening. NOT very joined up thinking.

so thanks Nikki of the tip about when the shops are open. it would make more sense to stay in St. germain Sat am, then head off to Montmartre in the afternoon, and make our way east towards the evening.

Julie - thanks for the tip about the mobilis pass. it would probably make sense for us each to buy one for the saturday; for friday and sunday I'm not so sure. when we visited many years ago we used just to buy carnets, but we weren't going outside the centre very much if at all.

Stoke - merci on behalf of DH. part of the point of the trip is to give him a chance to use his french which he is presently studying at evening class [actually during the day, but you get the idea] so I am expecting him to do all the talking.

merci a tous per les "tips"

I thought about carnets after I'd posted!

I think it depends how much walking you plan to do. I am having trouble with my feet and ankles so use the bus at every opportunity, and a book of carnets doesn't go that far between two of you, and seem to me to be quite an expensive way of getting around Paris if you are going to use the bus or Metro more than once or twice a day.

It would be an interesting experiment if either you or your DH used carnets, and the other used the Mobilis, and then you could post back and tell us which was best value!

Before I went last year I worked out the exact costings of carnets v Mobilis, and the Mobilis was the cheapest option for me.

If you buy the zone 1-5 for the Sunday it will take you back to the airport as well as all around the city. You can find the prices on the ratp.fr website, or on one of the visit-paris-tourist-websites. It's something like 12/13 euros I think.

On the Saturday a Mobilis 1-3 will take you back and forth in zones 1-3, but if you reconsider your plans and stay in the north of the city all day until after the game (I'll be watching on TV!) then you would use 3 or 4 carnets each which would work out cheaper.

Good game in the Calcutta Cup right now - 6-6, but we need to get a try or two...

NYT, 36 Hours in Paris:
http://www.thismoment.com/moment/vie...hours-in-paris

Good game in the Calcutta Cup right now - 6-6, but we need to get a try or two...>>

at one point one of the comentators [Mr. Moore?] said that they could play for another 80 minutes and still not score a try...I think that they were being kind. Dire, utterly dire. the Italy v england match was poor but at least we had the entertainment offered by being able to watch the Italian crowd. and we did get a try.

hopefully Julie we'll be able to walk around OK [I tend to have more trouble in hot weather when I stupidly wear sandals because I keep forgetting what happened last time I did that] so the carnet may be enough. would we be able to use an ordinary ticket to get to [and back from] the RER stop at Stade de France?

scotty - thanks for the link. I'll be studying it carefully.

cafe Montmartre has a great fixed price lunch menu.

thanks, rainy day. I'll google it.

Julie - bet you envy us having tickets for next week's match after that performance by the French. fat chance of England scoring 2 tries against them!

annhig,

I have enjoyed (vicariously) this planning. Nothing to add except have a great time.

gruezi

hi gruezi.

nice to "meet" you again.

I'm really looking forward to it now, though i have a few misgivings about the match.

my main grouse is that it's such a short trip. still, one can't have everything and two days [and nights!] in Paris are better than none.