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Long Weekend in Paris in October

Posted by (Massachusetts) on

My wife and I are going to Paris for three nights in October. I was hoping for some feedback and advice on the questions below.

  1. Our hotel is very close to the department stores on Blvd. Haussmann. I understand that either (or both of) Printemps or Galeries Lafayette have a top floor cafe with nice views. Has anyone been before? Is this worthwhile for caffeine and a snack? Is it outrageously expensive?

  2. I understand that there is a crypt beneath Notre Dame that is currently open and has some of the best Roman ruins in Paris. If anyone has been before, is something you'd recommend booking tickets for in advance? We are planning to visit Saint Chapelle one afternoon, so we'll already be very close.

  3. We are going to visit Versailles and plan to arrive for the first available, 9:00 am time slot. Does anyone have a suggestion for a bakery or cafe for a quick breakfast between the Chateau Rive Gauche station and the palace entry?

We've got more planned - the Musee d'Orsay, Sacre Coeur & Montmartre, walking along the Seine and the Champs de Mars, etc. But I thought I'd start with the three specific questions above. Thank you in advance.

Posted by
14709 posts

2 The Crypte Archeologique is excellent! You do not need a reservation, so just pop over there after you finish at Sainte-Chapelle. The last time I went (2023) they had a Virtual Reality program for a little extra. I did it but have a fear of heights so had to take the glasses off at one point when we were "on top" of the Notre Dame roof!!

https://www.crypte.paris.fr/en

Your time is short but there are a few other Roman Ruins which you might see or not, depending on your time. The Cluny Museum has the remains of Roman baths in their lower floor. You can look thru the fence and see them but there are no explanations unless you are inside. IF you wind up walking up toward Luxembourg Gardens from there, there are the remains of an old Roman Well plus a bit further some ofthe Roman Wall down in the entrance to a parking lot.

Posted by
3982 posts
  1. Our hotel is very close to the department stores on Blvd. Haussmann. I understand that either (or both of) Printemps or Galeries Lafayette have a top floor cafe with nice views. Has anyone been before? Is this worthwhile for caffeine and a snack? Is it outrageously expensive?

I have gone up to the roof top terrace at Galeries Lafayette many times because I like that view a lot -- there is something about being so close to the opera house that I love. Entry to the terrace is free. The food offerings there are from "pop up restaurants/cafes" that are open during the warmer months. I was there in late October 2023 and I do not recall seeing any spots for snack at that time but I was not really looking for one. I think I paid about 18€ for a glass of champagne in 2019. I've never had coffee there. The rooftop terrace at Printemps on the 7th floor does not have food service beginning in mid-October. I think the rooftop restaurant, Perruche, atop Printemp Homme is open year round. A glass of champagne there costs more than 20€. No coffee there either for me.

Posted by
377 posts

I second Pam's vote for the crypt. We visited last September, first in and no crowds. Yes, time entry required.

Posted by
1441 posts

If you have the chance may I suggest the Notre Dame VR Experience (Eternal Notre-Dame), https://www.eternellenotredame.com/en/experience, what Pam spoke about. I did this last year and thoroughly enjoyed it. There are two locations, near Notre Dame/The Crypt and at La Defense.

Below the roof top is the Lafayette Cafe, https://haussmann.galerieslafayette.com/en/lafayette-cafe-4/, with a view of The Opera. I had lunch here once & enjoyed the meal & view.

Posted by
14709 posts

Actually, I didn't do the Notre Dame Eternelle experience. The VR I did was inside the Crypte Archeologique and you were just seated on stools just past the entrance desk downstairs...didn't have the backpack thing on. I think the ND Eternelle experience is across the small street away from Notre Dame toward the police station.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/bT13w2inLQ79FcBg9

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