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2 Day Itinerary in Paris (3 nights) Looking for suggestions

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Bon jour! We are a family of 4 (2 late teens) heading home from Croatia and have 3 nights, 2 days in Paris. We are the biggest art mseum lovers, but we the rest of the family definitely wants to go to the Louvre. I'm the only one that has been there/ to Paris, and would be excited to go again. Sight seeing from the outside: monuments, cathedrals, people watching, eating is a higher priority.

We arrive at Charles de Gaule on Tuesday 6/28 around 5:30pm. Planning to arrive at AirBNB (Bastille Area) around 8pm. Will probably lay low that evenening/ get something to eat, as have a potentially big day ahead of us on the next day. (But open for suggestions, should our energy level be up for it).

Day 1 6/29: Versailles. I have read the advise to plan an entire day for this. I also just learned that the Louvre stays open until 9:45 on Wednesday Evening. Do you think it is too much to do Versailles and the Louvre in one day? (Suspect if we cam home and rested for a bit (from 4-6pm) it may be doable. Furthermore, would then love to walk along the Seine that evening after the Louvre heading towards our Air BNB (take Metro when waliking starts to become uncomfortable).

Day 2 6/30: Open for suggestions
Sights of interest include: Notre Dame, Saint Chapelle (go inside), Eiffel Tower, Trocadero, Champs-Elysees, Arc de Triumph, Pont de Arts (I already bought my lock!)
We are OK of not going up the Eiffel Tower, rather going up the Arc de triumph instead.
What would be a good way to take in these sights? What do you think about the Hop On- Hop off bus? River cruise? Both?

Do you think it is feasible to make it to Montmatre as well (all in one day?) Mind you, we will probably have had a busy day the day before.

Fortunately we have planned a relaxing vacation in Croatia. The consensus is that we will try to see as much as we can in Paris and realize that we will be tired.

Or... pass on Versailles and spead out sight seeing in Paris.

Decisions, decisions...

Thanks in advance for your insights !

Oh yeah, one last thing, we have a 9:15am flight back to the States on 7/1, so we have to fit in a COVID test as well.

Posted by
2397 posts

I would skip Versailles and spend the 2 days in Paris.

Posted by
9 posts

Pass on Versailles. Very easy choice.
Bastille area is very lively, lots of restaurants open very late. We went to the Cat Cafe in Bastille.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187147-d7083721-Reviews-Le_Cafe_des_Chats_Bastille-Paris_Ile_de_France.html
So many great things to see in Paris. And you can do a lot in 2 days. I would spend just an hour or 2 at the Louvre and spend more time at Musee D'Orsay(open until 9:45pm on Thursdays) or the L'Orangierie.
My daughter loved Tullieries garden, the park leading up to the Louvre down from the Champs-Elysees.
I am a big fan of the Hop on Hop off buses to see a lot in a short amount of time.
Just walking around from one place to the other you will see so much. I would recommend doing a cruise on the Seine around 10pm It is quite beautiful, the sun will have just gone down.
We loved Saint Chapelle, Notre Dame was more interesting to see the restoration than when it was before the fire, the Latin quarter, walking along the Seine.
Many places need timed entry, so make those reservations now so you can control the time.
The Covid test to return to the US just needs to be one calendar day and you can get them at almost any pharmacie. I would figure that out when your arrive so you don't have to worry about it.
I just spent 10 days in Paris at the end or April with my 11 year old daughter.

Posted by
1161 posts

A hard pass on Versailles. It will take up your day between transportation both ways and time spent on the ground. There is so much to see in Paris. Since you know you are going to do the Louvre, make that your day, then take that lovely walk along the Seine. The nighttime riverboat cruises are also nice at night. You have the vantage point of seeing the city lit up at night and can see both shores. That's day one.

Day two could be spent heading to Montmarrte in the morning, then spending the rest of the day walking the Champs-Elysees, see the ARc, and that night do the Eiffel Tower. Take a picnic and head to the grassy area behind the tower and enjoy the marvels of the Tower lit up at night. The "Sparkling" of the tower begins on the hour after dusk. Skip the hop on hop off.

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