We will be in Paris on March 5th during which many of the Museums will offer free admission. While we will NOT be going to Versailles for the day (might save that for later in the week) what do you think a reasonable itinerary might be to see a few of the sites and how would you plan your day?
I'm thinking of the Orangerie and the Orsay and winding up at the Arc du Triomphe at some point.
Other suggestions most welcome!
Well, I would plan my day by avoiding museums, which are likely to be packed and quite unpleasant due to the free admission. To me, saving a few euros by trying to capitalize on a free admission day after spending a considerable sum to visit in the first place seems like a bit of false economy.
I'd ignore the big-name places and go to some of the interesting secondary museums.
I'd avoid the Orsay and Louvre and go to the less well known places on the list. These great museums are so cheap compared to museums in the US and so wonderful that subjecting myself to long lines and crowds to save a few Euros would not cross my mind. The most expensive day to go to a great museum is 'free day'.
It depends entirely on what you want to see and how long you are willing to wait in line to get in. I was there on the 1st Sunday in August and, against all warnings, decided to take advantage of the free museums. I got in line for the d'Orsay about 45 min before opening and waited an add'l 30-45 min or so to actually get in after they opened. I spent about 2 hours there, then went and sat in an outdoor cafe for an hour having lunch and watching the passing parade. After lunch (about 2:00 pm) I got in line for the Orangerie and waited in line for about an hour. I spent about an hour in the museum. Contrary to what I'd been told, once I got in the crowds were not overpowering and I was able to comfortably see everything I wanted to see. I've had issues with worse crowds in the Louvre not on a free day. I had no problem waiting in the lines for either of these museums and I thought the day was well spent. I think the biggest drawback is that you have to limit yourself to two places and you have to be willing to wait. So, if that is worth it to you, I say go for it. If you don't like standing in long lines for over an hour or more then it's probably not the best use of your time.
Me too, Mrs EB.
Donna, Think about how much you're spending on transportation and lodging. Put it into perspective. If you are averaging only $120/day (including airfare), then you've already spent about $10/hour for 12 hours a day of just being in Paris. Now do you want to waste 2-3 hours (i.e., $20-$30) standing in line on free Sunday or spend another $5/hour to see those expensive museums on another day?
I have been to the Louvre and the D'Orsay on paid days and free days. I will not go on a free day, ever again. To quote Yogi Berra, "Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded."
I'd start at Quai Branly, then choose from Rodin, Orangerie, Delacroix, Cluny, Pompidou.
Don't write off the Museum of Counterfeiting; you could combine it with a visit to the new-ish Fondation Louis Vuitton, a spectacular Frank Gehry designed building, and see the Bois de Bologne too. All far from the big museums and huge crowds. I don't believe either is free on that day, however.
http://www.latimes.com/fashion/alltherage/la-ig-counterfeit-0726-pictures-photogallery.html
Thank you for all of your responses. Since I am picking up the tab for the 4 of us traveling I will weigh time vs money. The opportunity cost of waiting is different, in this case (at least in my opinion!) So if one hour in line will save 60E in admission out of my pocket then I'm ok with it.
