Help with Paris activities with 80+ parents

Paris pass and Paris museum pass

The Paris Pass is nothing but a collection of readily available tickets/passes that are otherwise available at lower cost. I would avoid it. The Paris Museum pass can be useful but does not offer much more than simply purchasing individual tickets for the museums you want to see. Either way, you will still need advance tickets/reservations for these venues, book directly:

https://www.toureiffel.paris/en

http://ticketlouvre.fr/ Closed Tuesdays

https://billetterie.musee-orsay.fr/en-GB/

https://www.sainte-chapelle.fr/en/visit

https://www.galeriedior.com/en

Seine River cruise

All operators use the same route, only the start points differ. I like the Vedettes du Pont Neuf as the location is central, the boats are smaller, and the commentary, in English, is live:

https://www.vedettesdupontneuf.com/

I think dinner cruises can be an absolute highlight. However, I do not recommend any dinner cruise. These I recommend in order of preference:

https://donjuan2.yachtsdeparis.fr/en
https://www.ducasse-seine.com/en
https://calife.com/

The Don Juan has one Michelin Star. If cost is a consideration, Calife offers a wonderful experience at little more than a comparable restaurant elsewhere might cost. Book these as early as you can. September is a very busy month in Paris.

Show at Moulin Rouge.

Many people like it. It is expensive but the experience is unique.

Eiffel Tower

Spectacular anytime. Tickets are not easy to obtain, start 60 days in advance. The last wave of tickets is issued 7 days before any planned visit.

https://ticket.toureiffel.paris/en

Arc d'Triomphe: go all the way to the roof for the views?

Absolutely if you have the time:

https://tickets.monuments-nationaux.fr/ Arc de Triomphe

Notre Dame: I think the towers are accessible via steps only. is this correct?

Yes. Tickets are not required to visit the inside, only for the tower.

It seems there are many opportunities to go up high and get great views of Paris

I believe that the observation deck at the Montparnasse Tower is closed for remodeling, but it is free to go to the roof of either Galeries Lafayette or Le Printemps on blvd Haussmann. Dinner at Les Ombres is always a wonderful experience:

https://www.lesombres-restaurant.com/en/

Thoughts on the Army Museum/Napoleon's Tomb?

I think you can purchase a ticket for Napoleon's Tomb which is worth the time. The Army Museum is extensive and will consume a good deal of your available vacation time.

Lastly- we'd like to stay in a flat instead of a hotel.

For 3 days, 4 nights, stay a hotel. Short term apartments are problematic as many are offered illegally and cancellations, forced by the government, can occur at any time. I might suggest apartment/hotels such as Citadine, Adagio, Edgar Suites, Pepper and Paper, or Séjours Affaires. Book early as September is peak hotel month in Paris, prices are high, availability difficult.

If you decide to go up the Arc de Triomphe, there is a lift for the elderly and disabled.

I have climbed the stairs a few times, but was injured on a relatively recent Paris trip and they allowed me to use the lift. I wouldn't have been able to go otherwise.

We hope to try to the stairs at Notre Dame this year.

I have been to the Army Museum/Napolean's Tomb and really enjoyed it. I must say that my husband and adult son were far more fascinated with the weapons in the musuem than I was, and I have no doubt that if you father is a history buff he will love it.

Just returned from Paris, and wanted to weigh in on the river cruise, which was hands down the most disappointing experience we had in Paris. Many people on this forum have had good experiences with Vedettes Pont Neuf, but we were not so fortunate. We had tickets on the 9:45 pm cruise, as we wanted to see the lights come on at the Eiffel Tower. Following advice on the forum to arrive early, we got to the dock an hour in advance. There was only a (very very long) line for the 9:15 ferry, and after inquiring we were advised to join the end of that line; when it started moving and we got to the front of the line (near the ticket window) we stepped aside to let others board, assuming we’d still be at/near the front of the line for our departure time.

However, it turned out the 9:15 ship was extremely over-sold. There was absolutely no attempt to permit people with timed tickets to board before allowing those with “anytime” tickets to do so (note that when I mentioned this in a review the company denied it, but the people directly behind us had anytime tickets and were really surprised they were permitted to board before those with timed tickets; absolutely no one was checking what kind of ticket you had). So all of the people who didn’t get on the 9:15 ferry were ahead of us in line. When we boarded we got some of the last available seats on the top deck, near the back.

Because the boat was at capacity and everyone wanted to be on the top deck, tons of people were standing at the back throughout the trip. It was absolutely impossible to hear a single word of the narration because of the noise level. Initially we asked people around us to quiet down so we could hear, but almost immediately we realized that was an impossibility. The company should have a much more robust sound system or — much better option— headsets.

We were really hoping the cruise would provide a narrated introduction to Paris. The fun of seeing the lights come on at the Eiffel Tower was not enough to compensate for a miserable hour of being crowded by whooping and hollering people and basically going slowly up and down a river with no idea of what we were looking at.

When we exited the boat we told the guide we hadn’t been able to hear a word she said, and she said we should have found her and told her. First, it would have been impossible to navigate the crowd to get to her, and second, there was no way the inadequate sound system could have competed with the noise level of the passengers.

My advice is to find a cruise line with a headset option. Even prerecorded narration is better than what is essentially no narration at all.

Louvre: I will book a guided tour in English. Does anyone know approximately how long they last? Will we get the headphones that are given to people doing the audio tour as well or is it one v the other?
Thoughts on the Army Museum/Napoleon's Tomb? I'm not sure if we can fit this in but I think my dad (history buff) would love it so looking for feedback from anyone who's been there.

Louvre:
The tour takes about two hours.
You don’t get the audio tour headphones.
A good portion of the tour is about the history of the building.
I don’t recommend the tour. Better to spend that time touring on your own.

Army Museum:
Unless you’re a fanatic, I would skip it.

Thank you everyone for your suggestions so far. Very much appreciated. Will write back soon with more questions I'm sure.
The river cruise is a non-negotiable for them so I am trying to find the best possible option out of what I am sure are very touristy, mediocre offerings.

Check out the accommodations in the link below. The location is very convenient. I've stayed there twice; in the "penthouse" the last time. No noise issues. Great to have kitchen, terrace, washer, etc.

https://www.apartmentsdulouvre.com/parisian-tourism-saint-honore-penthouse-terasse

jfriedman1023,
82 year old here....Your three days (Is that three full days, meaning four nights sleeping in Paris?) will give you time to see and do some of the things you list, but not all of them. Here's my take on that list.
Skip the Paris Museum Pass. To get any value you would have to visit more places than you have time for, and even then my opinion is that you would have to hurry through some of them. Just buy individual tickets. Also, when reserving time slots (where needed) make sure you allow time enough between your visits to get from one place to the next. Best to cluster things by location (e.g. Notre Dame and Ste. Chapelle, or Eiffel Tower and Napoleon's Tomb) to save doubling back from here to there. Lots of things are walkable from one to another. Get a tourist type map to make your plans (usually found in a Paris guidebook which you can check out of the library if you don't want to buy one). Then you can "route" yourself for the day and fit in some time to enjoy a coffee or aperitif at a cafe between sights and observe "Paris" being Paris, especially along the Seine. Also, to rest the feet or back or knees, if needed.

Seine River cruise...What a shame Ruth had such a bad experience. I can only go by my experiences (5 or 6 times, some daytime, some nighttime) with Vedettes de Pont Neuf. Every time we reserved our rides we had no problems. We did snag seats on top toward the front and the boats weren't overcrowded. There were no standees on the top deck. I hope Ruth's experience was an aberration.

Moulin Rouge...no experience there. A bit too pricey for us for a very touristy experience, although I confess to a wish to see a cancan there.

Eiffel Tower...Depending on your time available, I would skip going up. There is one elevator to the top and a (usually) long line for it. You will, IMO, spend a good chunk of your limited time in lines there. I can say just observe it from the Trocadero or Champs de Mars since I have already been up (twice) so my opinion isn't really fair, but if you just want to see Paris from on high, I would skip doing so from the ET and take the elevator up the Arc de Triomph, or go to the roof of the Galeries Lafayette, or even from Montmartre. Less time involved in getting up top. The ET is amazing from the ground up or from across the river...an iconic sight.

Notre Dame...the church is a must, IMO. The towers...I have no desire to climb all those steps, but, once again, I went up top many years ago when I was younger and fitter, and there was no fee, so my nondesire to return to the towers isn't really fair.

Louvre...It is huge. We've always gone on our own with no tour, and not even audio apparatus. There are four wings. Decide what is important for you to see, see where they are located, and plot out your route. (If I have read correctly, you can't return to a wing after you have gone to another one.) If it suits your plans, I would pick one wing to visit. There aren't many places to sit and rest your feet and back, so some preplanning is helpful. You will likely spend 3-4 hours there and get tired of it by then (Sorry, art lovers, just my take as an 82 year old art lover with limits on my physical stamina.) A tour may be best for you.

The Invalides (army museum) is very large. I like it but would put it farther down on my list with your short time in Paris. Military museums can be found in lots of places, so to me it is not unique to Paris. I would pick things you can only find in Paris. For me and 83 year old hubby, or for anyone even, I would plan one place in the morning and one in the afternoon. Prioritize your wishes and wants, group things together by location to save time in transit, and allow some cafe or bistro time and strolling time. Some things will work together for a morning or afternoon. Admiring the ET from the Champs de Mars, then a nice walk to Napoleon's Tomb will fill a morning.

jfriedman1023,
To add.....We are fairly fit at 82 and 83 with no major health issues, but not so agile anymore. If I were going to Paris tomorrow for only three days, here is what I would pick from, based on my experiences and desires (it may differ from your parents' and yours), in no particular order:
Eiffel Tower (from below or from the Trocadero)
Vedettes de Pont Neuf cruise (day or night)
Notre Dame cathedral
Sainte Chapelle
Cluny Museum
Rodin Museum (I confess to a fondness for his sculptures. I go there every time I visit Paris.)
Louvre (4 hours max...it can be overwhelming.)
Opera Garnier
A pop-in to the Galeries Lafayette (very close to the Opera)
Stroll along the Left Bank, and checking out the Bouquinistes there
Montmartre (Sacre Coeur and a stroll around the area)
Musee d'Orsay
Orangerie
Stroll around the Marais
Relaxing at Luxembourg Gardens if I am in the neighborhood
Basilica St. Denis

Whew! Paris takes some serious culling. It is vital, IMO, that a person limit their choices so they have enough time to experience and enjoy those choices. I wish you luck. Paris is entirely doable by us old folks. After all, lots of old folks live there!
Amusez-vous bien!

P.S. Get a hotel.

P.S. My booboo. Three wings in the Louvre, not four. I know better!

@Judy 2 elevators at the Eiffel Tower

424 winding steps up the Notre Dame tower and then 424 steps down. No elevator back-up, people behind you.
Like Judy, we climbed up for free in the 1970s. Today—no way. My 40 year old daughter-in-law decided not to climb up either, and she climbs subway stairs daily.

Another boat to recommend is Vedettes de Paris at the base of the Eiffel Tower. Dinner cruises aren’t recommended for the food except a few in the 150 to 300€ per person range.

Guided tour’s headphones for Louvre sponsored tours are distributed in the group tour area and returned there. Audio tours are rented elsewhere, so not the same equipment.

I haven’t been to the Army Museum in 40 years but people recommend it highly. There’s also the Liberation Museum, Musée de la Liberation Leclerc Moulin. Leclerc was the general who led French forces into the city via the South and Moulin was an important Resistant murdered by the Gestapo.

If you are looking for 2026, your window is very short for reserving a hotel during a busy month of conventions and fairs. Check booking.com to see what meets your needs but then you might contact the hotel directly to book or use booking.com. Be very alert when reserving anything on line. A lot of scammers have paid to put replica websites that then charge large additional fees for hotels, museum tickets, tours. There are warnings on all the museum websites. Read the website address carefully before using the website. I got hoodwinked once for Prado tickets.

Thinking back to our last visit to Paris, accompanied by our 40 something son and his girlfriend, I have some suggested itineraries which are doable for 80 somethings.
One of the days...Get earliest possible time for Ste. Chapelle (a unique and bueautiful must-see IMO). 2 hours there max, walk to Notre Dame and spend an hour inside. Cross to the Left Bank and have lunch at a cafe that looks good to you (Don't rush lunch. Relax and rest up from the morning.) After lunch visit either the Musee d'Orsay or the Musee Cluny. Back to hotel or to Luxembourg Gardens for a rest before dinner. After dinner I might stroll a bit in the neighborhood by our hotel, or turn in.
Another day...Early to the Eiffel Tower to view from the Trocadero or Champs de Mar or the nearby neighborhood. Go up if that is in your plans, but get an early reservation because the crowds build up. The single elevator from the second level to the top usually entails a long line. Whether or not you ascend, after the ET you can walk to Napoleon's Tomb. For myself, after the tomb, I would walk from there to the Rodin Museum and have lunch in the cafe there before or after touring the gardens, depending on the time. If not the Rodin you could head to the beautiful Pont Alexandre III. Take the metro or taxi or walk to the Arc de Triomphe and go up (use tthe elevator). It is now early or midafternoon, depending on your morning activities. Fit lunch in there sometime around 1:00. Take the metro to Montmartre to explore there. Do stop somewhere for a coffee or aperitif to relax a bit and soak up the Montmartre ambience. I'm not sure when show times are at the Moulin Rouge, but you could catch an early-ish dinner and show (or not).
Another day...the Louvre for however long you wish. Maybe walk through the Tuileries Gardens afterward, have some lunch around there. Visit the Orangerie (Monet's water lilies), or stroll the Marais and/or a Passage or two, or walk over to the Opera Garnier to admire its gorgeous interior, followed by a stop in the very close-by Galeries Lafayette. Take a Seine river cruise any of these evenings, whenever it fits. It is restful (to me) as I am sitting for an hour watching Paris go by.
Lots of permutations for your three days. Go lighter on the museums if you wish. Visit more churches or some of the non-art museums or a cemetery or two. Paris is yours to experience and enjoy!
Have fun!

I stand corrected about the elevators at the ET. Thank you Elizabeth.

Thank you all very much for these very helpful suggestions.
I appreciate your thoughtful comments and the insight you are sharing with me.
It is especially helpful to hear from people in my parents age-group as I am trying to be very careful about not over-scheduling our days yet fitting in enough of the things they have included as must-sees on their "bucket list" trip.

After Paris I am renting a car and we head to Normandy for a few days (with a guide and we will be staying in Bayeux where I have been before), then one long day seeing Mt. St. Michel and St. Malo (1/2 day each which I am nervous about but they want to see both) with one day at Versailles on our way back to Paris and then the flight home.

Any recs for St. Malo? That will be the latter 1/2 of that day so any place for dinner or a hotel that anyone particularly enjoyed would also be appreciated.

Thanks again,
Janet

At the Arc, if they don’t offer the elevator ask about it. We did and it really helped.
The elevator takes you almost to the top, you EXIT near the gift shop, but the views are beautiful if you can’t make it up the last Set of stairs.

I'm not in my 80's but I think what I would do with my able bodied 80 something parents being in Paris. Fit but need to pace themselves. Leisurely walking sounds like the perfect Paris dream! But, blocks are very long and you can walk and walk and walk, taking it in but not necessarily getting to a destination. If you are just in it for the stroll and atmosphere, then walk. But, if you are thinking of walking in terms of getting to places; of course the metro is great but can also involve a lot of walking and up/down stairs. We used the official G7 Paris taxi app, (app is like uber) which summons a taxi to the spot we were standing. We found it very convenient, when my husband injured his foot when we were in Paris. Just something to consider as a back up.

Thank you KD, I had not heard of that and it sounds very useful.

KD is correct. The taxi has been a good choice for us on occasion. Never used Bolt or Uber in Paris (or any place in France for that matter). Do get the G7 app in case you need it.

We used the official G7 Paris taxi app, (app is like uber) which
summons a taxi to the spot we were standing.

Just know that some people have had issues with their American credit card working in the G7 app, so you may need to try more than one. See this post for example https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/france/does-anyone-actually-know-why-the-g7-taxi-app-doesn-t-work-with-us-credit-cards