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15 hour overnight layover in Paris . . . can we see it?

Posted by (Paso Robles, CA) on

I'm arriving in Paris with my wife and daughter from Split at 5:30 pm (June 5). We depart the next morning at 9:15.

Seems to me that we could get into Paris for dinner, etc., for several hours, then get back to an airport hotel for a few hours sleep before checking in for our flight.

We've never seen Paris . . . could we do this, and how/what would you suggest?

I've read related posts in the forum, some for shorter times or later arrival times, but am hoping for assurances and some planning ideas. I'm sure lot's of people do this, so . . . best transport, hotel ideas, sites to see or things to do, restaurant ideas, etc. And, assuming no bags to check, how close can I cut a 9:15 departure (United).

Thanks so much for your help. I want to decide before I book my flight!

Posted by
2707 posts

If you are at the airport, taxis into Paris are 50€/55€ for the Right/Left Bank respectively. Taxi drivers are not tipped. I would plan on about 1 hour each way depending upon your Paris destination. You definitely want to stay at one of the hotels on the airport and which has access to the CDGVAL. There are a number of hotels at Roissypôle which is just 2 stops on the CDGVAL from terminal 1 and from where United departs.

If you have status on United or are flying first/business class, have no luggage to check, and have checked in on line, you can plan to arrive at terminal 1 no later than 07h15. Proceed directly to passport control.

I would know where in Paris I wanted to go in advance and have a reservation for dinner set up.

Posted by
8559 posts

I would get dinner in Paris and plan to walk around Notre Dame at night -- so stunning and perhaps do a Seine Cruise, but not a dinner cruise. So so food, and you don't see much with your nose in your plate. YMMV. The simple cruise might be fun though from Pont Neuf and it lets you see the Tower lit up and is fairly convenient to Gare du Nord to get back to the airport hotel.

Posted by
2 posts

As June 5 falls on a Wednesday The Louvre will be open until 2145. A dinner cruise on the Seine followed by an hour or so strolling the Denon wing sounds like an unforgettable evening to me.

Posted by
39 posts

Thank you all for your helpful guidance - I've decided to take a different flight and not go through Paris, based upon the comments and suggestions of the Rick Steves team. By going through Munich, I actually save some $, and get back to my home airport about 8 hours earlier. Also, I'm sort of a worrier when it comes to flight times, and I can imagine that had we given it a try, I would have been awfully anxious about everything.

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