Covid test before returning to the United States

The degree to which antigen tests are available in Paris has been covered over and over again on this forum, testing sites are all over Paris. What may not be clear is the US requirement referencing how long the test remains acceptable for US entry. The US requires each arriving passenger to have been Covid tested within the 3-day period preceding their flight. Testing is available 7 days a week, but it is never necessary to be tested on a weekend as a test on Friday may be used for a flight on Monday. Antigen test results are usually available within minutes.

When you must make museum reservations is a function of how busy a museum may be on any given day. There are no specific rules. If the Musée d´Orsay is not busy at all, you may not need a reservation, or you may need only make one the day you visit. Generally, museums are not as busy as they were pre Covid.

you'll be able to get your rapid test at just about any pharmacy or popup location near busy areas, attractions. You can get your results usually within 30 minutes. In July, I paid 39.00 Euro per person for rapid testing on a Thursday afternoon for our Sunday flight back to the USA.

I agree with the others about generally being able to book same day tickets for museums. I shifted plans yesterday(Sunday) morning and decided to revisit the Louvre since it was forecast to be rainy. I was able to get my choice of timed entry for the special exhibition there on Greek art and the Louvre.

I was NOT able to get a timed entry to the Carnavalet for yesterday so went ahead and booked for Tuesday. Last Wednesday I was not able to get a same day reservation for the Liberation Museum but I did not go by there to see if I could just walk in. Both of those museums are free.

My general feeling is weekends are much busier than weekdays.

If you book online be sure to screenshot your tickets so you can access without wifi/data. I’d forgotten to do that yesterday and then had difficulty pulling up my ticket. It was extremely busy inside the Louvre and the wifi was not loading.

As you walk the neighborhood around your lodging you’ll see pharmacies with signs in their windows about Covid testing services. Some ask for reservations, some do not. This is much easier than you might imagine (at least based on testing services in my home area!!).

We went to the Carnavalet today -- booked tickets at 2 pm for entry at 4. Note this is a great museum and free but the very worthwhile Henri Cartier-Bresson exhibit costs an additional 11 Euros to see. That is what we came for and were happy to pay. You buy the special exhibit tickets at a window in the entry and there was no line when we were there -- we arrived at about ten to 4 and our time slot for this exhibit was 4:15. We actually had trouble getting out of the Proust bedroom and to the exhibit -- it is a confusing and very poorly signed museum and there were no signs at all directing to the Cartier-Bresson -- although the occasional note of where special exhibitions are.

NOte also that there are lockers you can use to stow your coat which on this miserable rainy day was really convenient -- and if the ones on the main floor are all taken, there are more down in the basement by the restrooms.

Janet, I totally got lost at the Carnavalet this summer. I had to ask someone where the exit was!

Janet/Alexander, I so agree about that museum being confusing. I has 10:45 entry tine yesterday (Tuesday).

For as long as they were closed for the refurb they seemingly did no planning for traffic flow. I was early and stood in the courtyard in the rain in my assigned time lane. What were they thinking? It’s not like having security lanes were a surprise!

A forum friend visited last week and said they had to have an employee walk them to the exit, lol.

The new toilets on -1 are nice though.

Oh I didn’t realize how many of us were in Paris on the same dates! I would’ve loved to have met for coffee on one of those chilly rainy days 😊