One day in Paris??? What should I do?

Ile de la Cite is only 6 stops away on 4 line. Sainte Chapelle is just a block from the Metro exit. Also, Sunday morning there is an outdoor bird market at the same Metro exit. Very interesting. People selling birds, bird cages, bird feed, anything having to do pet birds. One of the Seine cruises gives some good photo ops too.
I might add, that if classical or baroque music is of interest, they do have chamber music concerts at Sainte Chapelle in the evening. They are very good.
So, if your hotel is anywhere near a No 4 Metro station (and if you are Montparnasse it should be), you can be at Cite in a matter of minutes. I never fuss too much about where my hotel is located in Paris, as long as it is close to the Metro. I also like to be close to my departing station or RER B so I can catch my way out easily.

You might try one of the hop-on-hop-off buses for an overview of the city and the flexibility to stop where you want to spend more time, like the Ste-Chappelle. And/or a boat ride on the Seine. The Batobus is a HOHO service up and down the river, not narrated like the tour boats but a good way to get places easily with scenery all the way. Or take the Metro from your hotel to Ste-Chappelle and then walk back through the Latin Quarter, Luxembourg Gardens, and Montparnasse, or wherever time allows. I think your Tour Montparnasse plan is a good one, especially since you're staying nearby. Stick with your Montparnasse hotel for an easy departure to Chartres the next day. Check out early, leave your bags there, and give yourself some more nearby sightseeing time, like the Montparnasse Cemetery and the rue Daguerre market, before catching your train. Have a great trip!

Thanks for the replies. I love the bird market idea as well as the HOHO Batobus ideas ( after arriving in Paris after a long flight, I don't want anything too exhausting). Thanks to both of you. :)

The Musee d'Orsay is a beautiful building & a museum, it is one of my favourites. At the Rodin museum, I think it is still just 1 Euro to view the gardens, including the thinker, which is marvelous.

Open air markets are my favourite, you might go to one in the morning, as they sometimes close up at 1, then walk along the Seine, the bridges are so gorgeous. Maybe a walk through Notre Dame and the 2 islands, they are little communities that are lovely.

Enjoy Paris.

For panoramic views of Paris these places come to my mind: Montmartre and lovely Parc de Saint-Cloud, a raised area where “La Lanterne” is the viewpoint for overlooking Paris from the west and one can see the Eiffeltower at the horizon, use google streetview for an impression. The parc is a 15 minute walk from the closest metro station.
Further away from the city centre in Saint-Germain-en-Laye you can overlook parts of the city, however much is obscured by the hills around Saint-Cloud, so less interesting I think.
In the past a popular place for overviewing the city was the roof of La Grande Arche de la Défense, but closed after an incident and it still is I think. Have no idea if nowadays you can have somehow a view from there.

There is a pretty panoramic view of Paris from the Sacré Coeur, too, and it is freee.

Norma, sorry, don't want to be annoying, but............the Sacré-Coeur is on top of Montmartre.

Hi, Gretchen

If you like to people watch, you are within walking of Luxembourg Garden from Montparnesse. You can sit by the pond and watch kids play with the toy sailboats. Or chill out at the Medici Fountain.
From there, you can walk up to St. Germaine Blvd. Go to the Sorbonne area and the Pantheon. Walk along Rue Moufettard.
Go to parisbymouth.com. There are listings of wonderful bistros in your area. We went to Le Cerise which was two blocks from the train station. Not to mention patisseries on Blvd Pasteur and Josselin creperie nearby. The 2013 best baguette is also nearby. I forget the name of the street, but the cafes there offered complete lunches for about 13-15 euros.
I would suggest you stay in the Montparnesse area and not change your hotel. It is less touristy. As the other posters stated, it is very easy to get around via the Metro.

If you are meeting your tour in Chartres, I suggest you keep your hotel reservation near your train station.
I don't want to discourage you from going to St. Chappelle or other places, or the hop on hop off bus which is a good, relaxing option. But you can relax and stay in your general area and see a lot of good things. Go to the top of the Tour Montparnasse -- an unremarkable building to be sure, but the view from the top is amazing. (on a clear day) You will get great photos. The cemetery at foot of the tower has graves of some famous Parisians.

If you like people watching, there are famous cafes all over Montparnasse area and into the nearby St. Germain. such as Le Select and Le Coupole. I personally like to hang out and have a drink at a sidewalk table at Cafe de Flore or Deux Magots on the Blvd. St. Germain. Crowded and expensive though they are. Great for people watching virtually any time of day. These cafes, (and many other good ones) are very close to St. Germain des Pres church, the oldest in Paris. St. Sulpice and the square and fountain out front is a wonderful area also. You could also stroll through and sit in the Luxembourg Gardens, enjoy beautiful flowers, plants, fountains, statues and watching Parisians at leisure.

I agree with BG. From what you described in your previous visits, you have not yet explored the Latin Quarter and the Montparnesse areas, which are very charming. It will be easier for you to catch the train to Chartres from Gare Montparnesse if you are already in the neighborhood.

Thanks for all the I do everyone. I switched hotels ( I didn't really like the location of the first one), but I stayed in the Montparnesse area, on The Metro 4 line. Thanks for all the ideas!

102 days to go.......

:) Gretchen

I recommend walking through Ile St. Louis (little island east of Notre Dame), Ile de la Cite (where Notre Dame is), walk along the river to the Grand Palais, cross the river and walk back and through the 5th (Latin Quarter) and 6th (St. Germain) up to the Luxembourg Gardens and spend time there sitting in a comfy chair people watching or at their cafe by the palace. That would be a perfect day for me.

I'm doing the same tour in May & have a couple days for Paris before hand.

I'm staying in the Latin Quarter-5th vs the 7th which I did my first visit. On arrival day I'll take a neighborhood walk, have a light bite, and visit the Pantheon. If I can I'll join a "Discover Walking Tours" for Left Bank/Latin Quarter walk tour at 230p. If I'm too tired to follow a guide, I'll push myself and visit St Etienne, walk over to the Luxembourg Gardens and then to St. Sulpice. I'll walk back to my hotel using blvd Blvd St Germain.

St Germain is a lovely area with nooks & crannies to discover boutiques, yummy pastry shops, stores, cheese shops, wine stores. The church was a highlight visit for us. Then we ate some great pastries in the little garden square beside the church.

Google Paris Walks, Discover Walks, Free City Walks and maybe there's something of interest to you for Saturday afternoon.

Sunday tips: You can do eary morning photos at Montparnese or anywhere as there are no crowds. at that time on Sunday. You can get your train ticket that day at a window or machine. Buy the direct ticket without the train change.

I'm going to Mass in the morning. After I get my luggage at hotel I'm buying a sandwich & beverage for my lunch on the train. I'm buying my ticket from a window with a sales person. I want the Direct train at 1134am with no stops and shortest time travel.

Hope this helps. Have a wonderful travel and tour!

You might want to take a walking tour. We used a wonderful company called Sight Seekers Delight- check them out on line www.sightseekersdelight. We took 3 of their ours- very informative in a fun way. Smaller group I believe the most they will take is 10, if I remember correctly. We took Paris Along the Seine, Jewish History of the Marais, and the Montmartre tour. I see they have 2 new ones that look interesting. Have a wonderful trip.