What is Open in Paris on Sunday?
 

My family will be arriving late on a Saturday night in June, so our first full day will be on a Sunday.<BR><BR>We would like to attend Mass and/or the concert at St. Sulpice church. Then, we will put together a picnic lunch to eat in the Luxembourg Gardens.<BR><BR>What do you suggest after this? We have 8 days in Paris and I don't want to waste any precious time. Museums that are open will probably be crowded. Should we tour the Marais on Sunday afternoon? Any other suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks! Laurie

Same situation in May. We don't want to waste time venturing off to something to find out it's closed. Are museums, shops, etc. open on Sunday?

Museums are open, as is Versailles. The Marais has many shops open on Sunday, and the flea markets at Clignancourt and at Porte de Vanves are also open.

Some areas in Paris are busy and bustling on Sundays, while others are absolutely dead. For me, Sunday in Paris is a day for milling around market stalls, stopping for coffee at a pavement caf&eacute;, eating pastries and looking in bookstores, and generally wandering around soaking up the atmosphere!! <BR><BR>Areas good for Sunday wandering include the Rue des Abbesses/rue Lepic in Montmartre, 18th (metro Blanche or Abbesses). Rue St Andr&eacute; des Arts/rue de Buci in the 6th (metro St Michel or Mabillon). Bercy Village in the 12th (metro Cour St Emilion). Rue Mouffetard in the 5th (metro Place Monge or Cardinal Lemoine). The Marais area (3rd/4th), plus the area around the Centre Pompidou and Les Halles. <BR><BR>As regards your question on the Marais- it's a fun, vibrant place to go on a Sunday afternoon but it gets crowded, and as it's not officially pedestrianised it can be quite tricky navigating between the crawling cars!!!

Since you'll be going to church and lunch first, I'd avoid a major museum--the Louvre and the Orsay will be too crowded. You could pick a smaller one if you have one in mind. If you're going to the Marais, the Carnavalet museum has the history of Paris and is not too taxing.<BR><BR>On the other hand, since you will be in church and at the Luxembourg, why not stay on the left bank? You could go to the Rodin Museum, or les Invalides.<BR>There are other wonderful churches on the left bank to see, and I think they will be open for visits on Sun afternoons: St Etienne du Mont (gorgeous stained glass, to rival Ste Chapelle for color) and<BR>St Julien le Pauvre, the oldest complete church in Paris. In front is a yard with benches, giving you a great view of Notre Dame.

Laurie,<BR><BR>Don't leave out the special art exhibits. I've put these onto my list for either May/June/July:<BR><BR>Jeu de Paume: Rene Magritte, February 11-June 9<BR>Grand Palais: Marc Chagall, March 13-June 23<BR>Galli&eacute;ra: Marlene Dietrich, June 14-October 12<BR><BR>I've been to the Galli&eacute;ra twice on a Sunday (Madame Carven and Henry Clarke) and both times very few people in there.<BR><BR>The Grand Palais art exhibits are usually crowded, unless you go towards late afternoon or on the late nights. I suppose, the Chagall won't be an exception!<BR><BR>I hope, you will have good weather for your picnic in the Lux Gardens.

A word of caution about picnicking in Luxemboug Gardens: You can't sit on the grass there! That's true of most parks in Paris. We saw the gendarmes shooing people off the grass in Luxembourg Gardens. One where you can is Place de Vosges. So, a picnic there and a stroll in the nearby Marais would make for a great day.<BR>As the previous posters have indicated, there's lots to do in Paris on Sundays.

BTW, if you decide to go to the Galli&eacute;ra, you could take bus Nr. 63 on Place Saint-Sulpice (runs on Sundays). <BR>Get off at Place d'Iena stop (maybe one after).<BR>It's one of the most interesting bus routes in Paris.

<BR>We have taken a picnic to Luxembourg Gardens and sit on the benches. <BR>If the weather is not co-operating, there is a charming little cafe in the park, all glass, so you can sit inside, have a sandwich or omelete and look at the park without getting cold/wet. One dy when we were there, some people were taking photographs and it was quite entertaining watching them posing the models etc.

In case you are looking for original art from local artists. Sunday seems to be the best day to get a lovely painting or watercolor. There seem to be more artists of any kind out on Sunday from my past experience. Have a wonderful time. We expect to be in our favorite city (Paris) in May! I can't wait.

aj-<BR>Where are the artists, throughout the city or in a particular area?

<BR>Montmarte is where we saw the most artists .<BR>The Marais is the best place to go on Sunday! Everything is open, my favorite spot is to sit in the park at the Place des Vosges and listen to the sounds of children playing, sometimes the opera singer in one of the apt gives us a little song when she practices at an open window. The cafe there is wonderful, the Ma Bourgogne. That is where I had my first taste of foi gras:)

Mmmmmmm ... Ma Bourgogne:)<BR>It's one of my fave places -- thanks for the reminder Scarlett:)

<BR><BR>Ahh,bonjour comment allez vous, sfowler?<BR>Paris would be nice right about now, don't you think?:)<BR>

I seem to recall that some Museums in Paris, like the D'Orsay and the Louvre, have free admission on certain Sunday's of the month. If that is still true, then your decision to stay away from some of the major museums on Sunday, is probably a smart idea.<BR><BR>As it's your first full day, perhaps a walk up the Champs Elysee, with a trip to the top of the Arc D'Triomphe, might be a good way to acclimate yourself to the city layout.<BR><BR>If you aren't already, you should be aware that most restuarants and bistros are closed on Sunday's. This can make finding a spot for dinner a challenge if you haven't done a bit of planning. On several trip to Paris, we've used Sunday night to go to great Thai/South East Asian spot called the Blue Elephant. It's near the Bastille and we've found it to be a nice change of pace from traditional French dining and a way to enjoy some of France's colonial past.

The Marais is wonderful on Sunday afternoons. (It's wonderful anytime...we're going to stay there again in May, so we'll get to spend more time there). Scarlett &amp; sfowler I'll have to note the Ma Bourgogne. We haven't eaten there (yet!) <BR>

I believe it is only the first Sunday of the month that museums are free. I happened upon this once several years ago at the Musee d'Orsay by accident, and while there were plenty of people there, there didn't seem to be any fewer people there when I went last Thursday.

Thank you all so much for all your suggestions and advice! I really appreciate all the knowledge that you have shared.<BR><BR>I think after our mini concert at St. Sulpice, we will explore the Marais and eat lunch at La Guirlande de Julie.<BR>Then, take the metro to the Champs Elysees to walk for a little while.<BR>And then eat dinner and finish our day with a boat ride on the Seine.<BR>Now to find a restaurant that is open for Sunday dinner..<BR><BR>Please tell me if this sounds like too much for one day. We will not be jet lagged since we are just flying in from London the night before. Thanks again for all your help. You guys are great!

Sounds like a great day to me!