Overall planning help for Paris

Carolyn, I'd be more worried about the crowds than about the weather in June!
Rick's guide books all show the open and closed days, the hours and the entrance fees.
For Giverny I like to buy our tickets ahead, fondation-monet.com/en/ which are good for any day and get you past the line. I highly recommend (as does Rick) that you catch the 8:20 train from Gare St Lazare to Vernon, then catch the shuttle bus to Giverny.

If you get a Paris Museum Pass, you can use one day of it to enter Versailles but of course you'll still need to go through the security. (I personally love to take a tour of Versailles just so that the guide can get us through the crowds...a bit better and of course the excellent information we receive.
I always get tickets ahead for the Eiffel Tower now that they are available online. There have been times when the tickets were sold out completely within 30 seconds of them being available on the day I needed so then I sign us up for the one-hour tour which we have thoroughly enjoyed. The tour, through the Eiffel site lasts an hour or so and only gets you to the 2nd floor but then we only had to wait in line 5-10 minutes to buy tickets to the 3rd floor.

I travel off-season so I won't comment on reservations other than the Eiffel Tower which you should make on line ASAP. I've visited Versailles in the rain (and an unannounced 2 hour "industrial action") and there's plenty to see other than just the gardens. Since you can't predict the weather two months hence, just plan in advance to deal with the possibility of rain. I take a waterproof windbreaker as well as spraying a baseball hat and pair of shoes with repellant spray; though not perfect, it's served me well. I don't take an umbrella because street vendors sell them cheaply if the skies open up. To quote Rick, "Rain happens."

Planning around an attraction's closure is a pain. What I do is to list what I want to see and then have a few columns showing days closed, days to avoid, free days, extended or abbreviated hours. I then plug my choices into a calendar based on my hand written worksheet. Much easier to have it all before you than leafing through the pages of the guidebook.

I'm with Darcy - don't worry about the weather. Take an umbrella or poncho and go for it - you've come to far to let rain stop you. Definitely book the ET in advance - the lines are crazy long.

If you are going to the Louvre remember Wed & Fri open late - plan for Wed - if something happens (like a random strike - I am assuming that still happens) you still have Friday! We were waylaid by a strike at the Louvre one time so we went to the Musee Jacquemart Andre which is private and does not strike when the others do.

Hi Carolyn, do as the other posters suggested - make your reservations for Giverny and plan to pick up a Paris Museum Pass at one of the smaller museums once you arrive in Paris.

For Versailles, take the earliest train (7:00 a.m.), grab a quick breakfast/coffee when you get there, then get in line. The Pass will allow you to skip the ticket line, but you still need to go through Security. We did this May 2015 and had no problems. Later in the morning, there were hundreds of people (no kidding) lined up to get in. I bet the crowds will be worse in June...

You're too late to purchase tickets to the Eiffel Tower (they go on sale 90 days in advance at 8:30 a.m. Paris time and sell out very quickly). Try a Behind the Scenes Tour - I recommend Get Your Guide. I've used them twice with good results.

There's nothing you can do about the weather. Take a rain jacket and enjoy your vacation!

Thanks for all the input; I appreciate it!

A couple of thoughts to add - We were in Paris last summer in the heat wave, and spent much of the 102 degree day in the Louvre (with varying temperatures inside.) We ate at the Cafe Mabillon in the Louvre - one of several choices that kept us inside and out of the tremendous heat. It wasn't fancy - but it was reasonable for the five of us. After we were saturated with touring, we went back to our air conditioned hotel for a break. After dinner, we went back to the Louvre, as it was a late night for the museum, and we stayed until it closed, exploring the Egyptian wing. SO... while I never thought we'd spend about 6-7 total hours in the Louvre in one day, it helped in the heat, and it was also a way to take advantage of our Museum Pass and the late hours. We also went to the Musee d'Orsay on their late night. I marked those evening hours on our Pass so we could take advantage of that privilege with the pass - hopping in and out was easy, and it extended our days nicely.

Second, the Musee Jacquemart-Andre was definitely worth seeing, for a different kind of museum experience in a private home. It was beautiful, and interesting as well, and not crowded. I saw that one with a French friend and my daughter - a glimpse into the lives of passionate art collectors.

Lastly, our experience at Giverny was fantastic and I think that was primarily because we were the first bus there. I agree with the advice you've read to get there as early as possible. Our tour guide rushed us to the lily pond before Monet's home, so we could see the still waters and reflections before the groundskeepers stirred up the water as part of their upkeep. It was beautiful. Then we had time to explore the house and linger in the gardens...but by the time we were ready to leave the place was packed with tourists and buses.

Enjoy your trip!
Laurie

Hi Carolyn,
How long are you planning to be in Paris?

With regard to Giverny, Versailles, Eiffel Tower, you really need to book and hope the best for the weather. I have been in Paris in April when the weather has been far better than another time in July. Go ahead and book, and we'll keep our fingers crossed for you.

Most museums either close Monday or Tuesday...

Paris cultural sites closed on Monday.
Musée d'Orsay
Musée Carnavalet
Musée du quai Branly
Musée Rodin
Musée Marmottan
Musée Picasso
Musee Nissim de Camondo
Versailles
Giverny

Paris cultural sites closed on Tuesday.
Musée Eugène Delacroix
Musée du Moyen-Age (Cluny)
Musée de l’Orangerie
Centre Pompidou
Musée du Louvre
Musee Nissim de Camondo
Fontainebleau

Possibilities for 7 days in Paris (using 6 day PMP)

Sunday
Eiffel Tower
Notre Dame
Musee Marmottan (not included)
Musee Carnavalet (free)
Sacre Coeur & Montmartre

Monday (First Day of 6 day Paris Museum Pass)
Musee Cluny (museum of the middle ages) ...opens 9.15am
Pantheon (dedicated to the greats of France)
Musee Delacroix (the artist’s former house + studio)
Orangerie (Monet's waterlillies)
Pompidou Centre (modern art collection) ...closes 9pm

Tuesday
Versailles

Wednesday
Giverny

Thursday
Tours de Notre Dame (walk up the towers to get up close and personal with the gargoyles) ...opens 10am
Crypt Archeologique (dig site in front of Notre Dame)
Musee Picasso (recently renovated)
Musee Nissim de Camondo (lavish city home with art and furnishing from early 20th century)
Musee d'Orsay (Impressionism) ...closes 9.45pm Thu

Friday
St Chapelle (amazing stained glass) ...opens 9.30am (summer)
Conciergerie (where Marie Antoinette imprisoned)
Decorative Arts (furniture)
Mode & Textile Museum (fashion)
Louvre ...closes 9.45pm Wed, Fri

Saturday
Arc de Triomphe (must see view from top) ...opens 10am
Musee Rodin (famous bronzes in beautiful gardens)
Invalides (Napoleons tomb)
Les Egouts (the sewer tour) ...closed Thu, Fri
Musee Quai Branly (artefacts from Africa, Americas, Asia, Oceania) ...closes 9pm Thu, Fri, Sat

Regarding the itinerary above: I recommend NOT going to Versailles on Tuesday. It is closed Monday so Tuesday is one of its busiest days. We went early on a Wednesday in March, got there at 8am. We were the first ones there, literally no one else was there and it doesn't open until 9, so we backtracked about five minutes, found a cafe, had coffee and a croissant, and got back to the entrance at 8:45. About 12 people were in line then, so we got in right away (with our Museum Pass) when it opened at 9.

Thank you so much everyone; your suggestions have been a big help!