argh, going to be in Paris on May 1st...ideas?

ah...found this...looks like I'm spending the day in Montmartre

http://en.parisinfo.com/what-to-see-in-paris/info/guides/museums-and-monuments-open-on-public-holidays-in-the-month-of-may

Interested in a walk? Paris Walks has some walking tours that day. This is a link to the April schedule but they have included May 1 at the end.

http://www.paris-walks.com/cariboost_files/2017_20APRILWALKS.pdf

The Musee Jacquemart Andre is open every day of the year. Look at the website, it is a beautiful, small museum.

Museums that usually close on a Monday often open on public holidays.

May 1 is the most reliably 'closed' day in France; no museum that normally closes that day will be open and most museums will close that day even if usually open. The Eiffel Tower and Jacquemart Andre are both open. The seine cruises run. The parks will be open. It is a decent day for neighborhood walks if shopping is not your goal; there will be plenty of cafes and restaurants open.

Meuget des Bois (lily of the valley) is apparently a May 1st Labour Day symbol and you will see many people selling small bouquets of the little white flowers. I found it charming.

Don't say "argh" too loud...you'll still be in Paris! A day in Paris when things are closed is still better than a day anywhere else!

Just jealous...August can't get here fast enough!

There is usually a peaceful protest march that is organized somewhere.
Buses and Metro run on the Sunday schedule. Look for signs stating if/or the routes will be changed if a march is in effect. Some Metro stations might be closed for security reasons.
There will be a few cafes open, not many - don't get your hopes up.
Most people just enjoy taking a day off work and wandering around the city.
It's a good day to go have a picnic down by the Seine, if the weather permits.
Buy provisions the day before, if possible.

We got caught by this a couple of years ago. The department stores were closed, as we're most other businesses. But, as somebody else noted, Jacquemart-Andre is open (and may be quite crowded, in fact). I'm sure others are open as well. Don't let that deter you. Paris is a great place to be any day.

I was staying in the Marais 2 years ago on May 1. Some of the boutiques were open (I bought a beautiful scarf), most of the cafes and restaurants too. Enjoy the gardens of Paris along with everyone else.

As for the other Monday, some sights are open every day, like the Arc de Triomphe. Churches are open. Just about every church is interesting inside, paintings, sculptures, lots to see.

I'll be arriving May 1st too. Like Chani says, there will be quite a bit open - plenty to meet your needs. Since it's my jet lag recovery day, I only want to walk in parks anyway.

I like your link, five public holidays in May? How do they treat the 16th, I believe that's their national election day - and the day I fly home.

There is no "national election day". Elections are always on a Sunday. The two rounds of the presidential election are: April 23rd and May 7th. The two rounds of the legislative elections are: June 11th and 18th. The parade on May 1st could be huge depending on who the two candidates are for the second round of the presidential elections. Right now it looks like it will be a huge parade if it's the same situation as in 2002.

If anyone wants to see a slice of French life, go see the May Day parade for a half hour or so. It will be somewhere on the east side of Paris. Just don't go near the tail end. Buy some Lily of the Valley there. One the of Parisian correspondents here could give the route closer to May 1st.

Brad, I liked your comment. Our first trip there was last fall and we arrived at 8am on a redeye with no sleep and had to power through the day. I was shocked at how just walking outside alleviated the tiredness. After all you're in Paris and so excited to be there that it wasn't that difficult to power through the day till bedtime.