I have been taking notes on the recommendations given on this site. Your information is incredible. I have put together an itenerary that I would love to complete, but I think it might not be realistic. My husband and I will be traveling together. We are in our mid 40%26#39;s. While wanting to see all the listed site, I am afraid of over doing it and not enjoying our visit if we cram too much in. We are staying at 3 Blvd. St. Michel at the Royal St. Michel. Please read over my plans and make suggestions. Other questions that I have are: Is the 4 day museum pass recommended? Day 4 will be a Monday. Resstaurant or cafe suggestions. Train to hotel from airport or taxi? Lafayette or Printemps? Do I have areas of interest grouped together correctly?
Friday - Day One -Arrive at CDG @ 7:30 AM
1. Arc de Triomphe and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (at the base of the Arc de Triomphe). Place Charles de Gaulle-Etoile Cost 7€ Open 10 a.m.–11 p.m. on the Western end of the Champs Elysées. Go through the underground passageway. 2. Champs Elysees - Stop at Laduree 75, avenue des Champs Elysees for macroons.
3. Place de la Concorde. Western end of the Tuileries Gardens, Obelisque was given to France by Egypt. Have crepes at the little crepe stand next to the ferris wheel.
4. Walk through the Tuilleries - located within the Place de la Concorde.
5. Rue de Rivoli - Walk around shops. Eat at Angelina%26#39;s (famous for their hot chocolate, mont blanc dessert)
6. L%26#39;Orangerie Museum Jardin des Tuileries Open 9AM - 6PM Closed Tuesday
7. Musee de Arts Decoratifs - Palais du Louvre, 107, rue de Rivoli - Open 11AM-6PM Saturdays and Sundays 10AM-6PM. Closed on Mondays.
8. See Royal Palais on Rue Saint Honore - first home to Cardinal Richelieu and later a childhood home of Louis XIV
9. Louvre 34–36 quai du Louvre Mon %26amp; Wed. 9AM -9:30PM Thurs–Sun 9AM– 6PM closed on Tuesday Open late on Friday. Cost 9€-6€ for Wed %26amp; Fri from 6PM- 9:45PM. Enter the Louvre on Rue de Rivoli under the red and white banner which says %26quot;carousel%26quot;. Take the escalator downstairs, pass the shops to the left and on the right and there will a huge open room which has ticket machines to purchase tickets.
Saturday - Day Two
1. Sainte-Chapelle located behind Notre Dame, Cost 5.50€ Open daily 9:30AM–6PM
5. Concierge - 2 Boulevard du Palais Cost 6.50€ - Open 9.30AM to 6PM A former palace and prison that housed Marie Antoinette before her execution.
2. Crypte Archeologique - the remains of houses dating to the 16th - 18th centruries, back when Paris was a Gallo-Roman town called Lutetia.
3. Notre-Dame Cathedral 6 place du Parvis Ile de la Cité Towers cost 6.10 €. Open from 10AM – 6:30PM Get there by 9:30.
6. Ile St. Louis ice cream at Berthillon - 31 rue St. Louis en L’Ile or gelato at Amorino - Walking tour Take Metro to Monceau. Walk thru parkto Rue de monceau - left.
7. Musee de Camondo - 63 Rue Monceau 8th arr. Cost 8€ Open 10AM–5PM Closed Monday and Tuesday. Take Rue de Teheran to Le Musee Jacquemart-Andre.
8. Le Musee Jacquemart-Andre - 158 blvd. Haussmann Cost 10€ Open 10AM.–6PM
Rent a headset. Visit the belle epoque style restaurant. Take Metro to Pont Neuf.
9. Seine River tour at 6:30PM. Square du Vert Galant One hour tour. Bateaux Vedettes du Pont-Neuf
Sunday - Day Three
1. Saint Sulpice See church and walk the area.
2. Walk around St. Germain Des Pres Take Metro to Invalides
3. Les Invalides Open 10AM - 6PM domed structure was constructed in the late 17th century by Louis XIV to shelter old and wounded soldiers with the recent addition of Napoleon%26#39;s tomb.
4. Rue Cler - between Rue de la Motte Picquet %26amp; Rue de Grenelle.
5. Musee d’Orsay - 1 rue de la Légion d’honneur in the 7th. Open 9:30AM - 6PM closed Monday. Cost 8€ Use entrance C. View top floor first. Head down the rue de Bellechasse to Musee Rodin.
6. Musee Rodin 79 rue de Varenne, 6€ Tues–Sun. 9:30AM– 5:45PM closed Mondays There is a small café in the garden
7. Pont Alexandre III bridge- down to the Seine from Tombeau de Napolean
8. Place du Pantheon ancient church is the resting place for many of France%26#39;s greatest heroes like Voltaire, Hugo and Curie - Foucault’s pendulum.
9. Latin Quarter - Walk around Place de la Contrescarpe. Monge, Rue Mouffetard market Find a place for dinner.
Monday - Day Four
1. Montmartre
2. Sacre Coeur for the sunrise - Place St. Pierre, Butte Montmartre Take the funicular or the steps up to the basilica. Cost-free for church, dome and crypt are 5€. Open daily from 6AM-11PM Dome and crypt from 9AM-6PM
3. Place du Tertre - around the back of Sacré Coeur
4. View Moulin Rouge -82 boulevard de Clichy - Metro to Saint Paul
5. Marais - Have a falafel at L%26#39;As du Falafel 34 Rue des Rosiers.
6. Visit boutiques, art galleries and cafes.
7. View Hotel de Ville (Paris City Hall) 29 rue de Rivoli
8. Take Metro to Opera Garnier - 8 rue Scribe Open 10AM - 5PM 8€ Last admission is 4:30PM Self tour
9. Galeries Lafayette or Printemps
Tuesday - Day Five
1. Versailles - purchase Forfait Losirs ticket at SNCF
2. Le Jardin du Luxembourg See Medici Fountain
Thanks in advance for you help!
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I realized that some of my posting got scrambled when I pasted it in. The Eiffel Tower and Trocadero never even made it. Where do you suggest that I fit them in?
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Some of your days might be a little over packed...but you have definitely done your research - which I think is good.
Day 1: Should be do-able. When walking the Champs - it can look shorter than it actually is - so you could always pop onto the metro to Pl. de la Concorde.
I usually recommend no more than two museums in a day - but you know your tastes and limits. Friday the Louvre is open late - so if you need a break after Musee de Arts Decoratifs you would have plenty of time before the louvre. Everyone handles their first day and exhaustion differently. Just ask yourself if you want to see a little of everything and be all over the place - or spend a little more quality time at some places.
Day 2: I%26#39;m not sure you will have enough time for everything you have planned in the afternoon - if you want to make the boat tour by 6:30. Maybe the walking tour and one museum would work. Keep in mind where places are located in regards to eachother and that it might take some metro time getting there.
Day 3: After visiting Les Invalides - then go to Rodin as they are closer to each other. You could do Orsay in the afternoon. Not sure if there will be time for Pantheon - if there is great - if not you could still explore the Latin Quarter area.
Day 4: This is just my opinion, but you don%26#39;t need to go into Sacre Coeur - definitely go for the outside and you will love the view of Paris - as well as Pl. du Tertre (very touristy though...and be ready for pressure to buy). I love the opera Garnier...but they aren%26#39;t always open for tours. Depends on if there are rehearsals going on. Gernerally though you can go in and at least see the grand staircase. Depending on how much time you spend in the Marais it might be pushing it to make it to the Garnier to go inside. And it might be evening before getting to the Dept. Stores.
The rest looks fine.
It%26#39;s great you have an itinerary and are aware of opening/closing times. Just remember to be flexible and enjoy your surroundings. Maybe have a list of your MUST SEES - incase that some things need to be moved around.
Hope you have a great trip!
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Clarification: at Laduree--they are macarons, not macaroons. I say this because you may or may not know that these cookies are not what we have in the USA with coconut. They are totally different from that.
Musee Des Arts Decoratifs has fantastic temporary exhibits. I don%26#39;t know what is there now but I suggest that you check on line. They also have several different permanent collections (jewelry, furniture, etc). It could consume a couple of hours without the temporary exhibit but I think the temporary exhibit is the best part. If you are in a time bind and the temporary exhibit is appealing--just see that and then leave.
I%26#39;m not sure whether people are allowed to enter the Palais Royale or not. I%26#39;ve never been in there. However, it has a beautiful courtyard with flowers, trees, paths for walking and benches for relaxing. It is just wonderful and the French love to hang out there.
You have a very full day that first day. It is true that the Louvre is open late on Fridays. However, you might be really tired from traveling and the Louvre is an exhausting thing to leave until the end of the day like that. Also, although you are arriving early in the morning, by the time you get to your hotel and drop off your bags it will be an hour or so later. The hotel will probably just hold your bags for you. Do you intend to go back to the hotel sometime during the day to move your luggage to your room and get settled in? If so, that will eat up more time from that day.
I think your second day is too packed also. If I were you, I would eliminate the Conciergerie (which isn%26#39;t that interesting, especially to other things you could be seeing) and the Crypt (unless you like seeing %26quot;diggings%26quot;). Musee Nissam Comando (sp?) and Musee Jacquemart-Andre are both wonderful. The Opera Garnier is quite near the Musee Jacquemart-Andre so perhaps move Musee Jacquemart-Andre to Monday.
It will take you 2 minutes to view the Moulin Rouge. While in the Marais area, I encourage you to walk past the Musee Pompidou to see the external architecture of that building. Totally unique. Then walk next door to see the Stravinsky Fountains. They are so wonderful with all their moving parts--really interesting.
If you go in Galeries Lafayette, be sure to look up at the domed ceiling. It is beautiful. Galeries Lafayette and Printemps are large department stores. I think it is more fun to shop in the small quaint stores you find in the Marais and other neighborhoods.
All of your days are very loaded with things to do. I understand you want to see it all. Paris is so fabulous. But you just can%26#39;t in 5 days (4.5 if you don%26#39;t count Versailles). Figure out your priorities for each day in case you get behind in your schedule. Don%26#39;t race through things. What you don%26#39;t get to see will inspire you to return to Paris. If you cram it all in you won%26#39;t enjoy anything.
You did a great job of grouping activities and picking out wonderful things to see.
Remember, stop and smell the roses. You will be in Paris.
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