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Day 2 in Paris.

Hello
Does this sound doable for a second day in Paris?

Morning at the Louvres
Walk through Tuileries park
arc de triumph
Walk part of champs elysees
Eiffel Tower

Thank you for opinions

Posted by
10344 posts

Is the 1st day your arrival day after a long plane flight?

Posted by
48 posts

Yes
Day 1 we land at 10am from California
I think we’ll go rest at hotel
Walk to Notre Dame, hotel is a ten minute walk.
Maybe a night river cruise
Dinner and sleep.

Posted by
10344 posts

You might want to see how you sleep the 1st night and how your energy level is the 2nd day, say after lunch, before locking in any set to-do list for the 2nd afternoon. Just see what you feel like. You're going through about 9 or 10 time zones, that's a lot.

However, for the 2nd morning, if you feel excited and energetic and like charging out, then instead of a long morning in the Louvres, perhaps more walking would be a good thing for the 2nd morning, such as through the Tuilieries, Arc, and part of Champs, would make more sense, possibly, than a long morning in the Louvre. Then after lunch, see how you're energy level is, and go from there.

The Louvres might be one of the greatest museums in the world, but the size of it can be overwhelming at first. Of course it would take a week (or a month) to "see" the Louvres. You definitely want to see it, and heck, if that's your #1 item, you could just go for it on the 2nd morning.

A word about "going to rest" at the hotel after your arrival from Calif. Many travelers, including Rick, don't recommend doing that: 1) the hotel may not have a room for you until closer to check-in time, but 2) more importantly, a little rest in the hotel room (if you can even check in) is one thing, but if you lie down on the bed and happen to fall asleep because you're exhausted after being up so long and flying through 9 or 10 time zones, well, many health or travel experts people say that falling asleep during the day in the hotel room will just delay your recovery from jet lag, because it will interfere even more with your sleep that 1st night. Or maybe not, everyone is different. The standard advice is to try to exercise that 1st afternoon, lot of walking, then some dinner, and then try to sleep.

Posted by
48 posts

Thank you
A walk down to Notre Dame and along the river might be a perfect introduction even if we’re a little tired.

Posted by
10344 posts

Yes, exactly. And that 1st day, as you've said, walking along the river, both sides, instead of a river cruise, might be best. There's so much to see in a walk along that section of the river, both sides! And also walk around Notre Dame, the views of the church from all sides, and also the views away from the church as you're walking around it, well, world class.

Posted by
596 posts

To answer your question,
"Morning at the Louvres
Walk through Tuileries park
arc de triumph
Walk part of champs elysees
Eiffel Tower"

Sounds possible, depending on your energy level. On my Eiffel Tower day I climbed the tower at Notre Dame, took a subway to the Arc de Triomphe after lunch (for street level photos, couldn't take any more climbing), and walked to the Eiffel Tower from there.

On another day I did a half-morning at the Louvre, walked through the Tuilleries, stopped in l'Orangerie, rode the ferris wheel, then rested a bit after lunch and before a sunset cruise. But the Louvre will wipe you out if you try to do too much of it at once.

Posted by
4049 posts

It is quite do-able, if not relaxing. Look at Google Maps to see the simple route and the distances involved.
The Louvre (singular) can consume your life but a fair exposure might involve the guided tour and then a little wandering.
You will go through the Tuileries along the Champs elysses to the Arc de triumphe, 3 1/2 km from the Louvre. You can climb up the arch, but it requires energy (wish I had done it 15 years ago instead of four months ago.) The Eiffel is another 2 1/2 km and unfortunately any Metro/bus is at least 10 minutes from the tower. Google Maps can make this all plain.
PS: The buildings close one day a week; check before making your plans. In rainy weather I would stay warm in the Louvre and surrounding bistrots.

Posted by
3122 posts

About the river cruise, we found that it was not all that much fun because many customers on the boat tended to push and shove to try to get the best camera angles and that kind of thing. You do get to see the city from a different perspective, of course, and our guide delivered the commentary very well (in between repeatedly asking people to please return to their seats!), but we were fairly packed in like sardines and felt like we had to defend every square inch around ourselves to keep from getting squashed. If our cruise hadn't been included in our Paris Museum Pass -- i.e., if we'd paid separately just for the cruise -- I don't think we would have felt it was money well spent.

After leaving the river and walking up toward the Eiffel Tower, I tried to ask a couple of people for directions to the Metro. In French. Nobody in that crowd spoke French -- I had to switch to Spanish, upon which I got friendly directions right away.

Posted by
48 posts

Thank you
What do you think about saving the louvre for the end of the day. Late afternoon crown shouldn’t be bad ant the end of March.

Posted by
1369 posts

That is my plan for my end of May visit. It will be my third visit to Paris & the Louvre. I plan on going after 5pm on the two days that it is open late.
Enjoy your trip.

Posted by
13952 posts

"What do you think about saving the louvre for the end of the day."

To me it depends on what kind of person you are. I'm a morning person so I do better hitting a big site like the Louvre in the AM. I've done (tried to do) d'Orsay in the later afternoon and just don't last long. I ~can~ do a smaller museum like Orangerie or Rodin in the later afternoon.

I always admire people who can do the night openings of the big ones. I, personally, wish they had an early morning admission. I'd be great about 7A, hahaha!!

Posted by
4005 posts

What do you think about saving the louvre for the end of the day. Late
afternoon crown shouldn’t be bad ant the end of March.

I did that on the day the Louvre was open into the evening. This was in November and the crowds at security were still long so hopefully you'll have a museum card. I also stopped at a museum café for a café crème for a bit of a pleasant jolt. :-)