Paris Help 1st trip

You might have a bit too much, as I don't see time to just walk around some of the neighborhoods and enjoy being in Paris. We found the neighborhood walks more interesting than the Champs-Elysées-- we enjoyed all of the walks in the RS guidebook, but we had eight nights). It depends how much time you like to spend at each major site. Versailles for us took most of a day. We went to the Louvre, but ran out after an hour because of the daunting crowds, but you could spend the whole day there if it is a must for you. I see you don't want to overload on museums, but the Musee d'Orsay is fabulous if you enjoy the Impressionists (we went twice), or the Orangerie can be done in a short visit if you like Monet's art. We did the river cruise at the end of the trip when we were exhausted, but with a short period of time I'd prioritize walking and perhaps a museum over the river cruise. But of course you might feel differently. You really can't go wrong.

If these are your must dos, then I won't disagree. But do make sure that you have pre arranged timed tickets for the sites like the ET, the Louvre, and Versailles. As mentioned, Versailles will likely eat the majority of one day. I also agree with a PP that the Champs Elysees is not the most charming walk you could do. You might want to look at Ricks Paris guidebook for other, more scenic, walks.

I've always favored doing the river cruise in the evening; freeing up daytime hours for other things. The lit up buildings and seeing the ET sparkle is lovely. Our last trip was in October and, while the evenings were a bit cool, the cruise was still very enjoyable. We just wore a warm jacket, gloves, and scarf.

So you leave Paris on Oct 22? Asking because of museum closure days. Oct 18 is a Monday and the Louvre is closed on a Tuesday so you'd want to do it on another day. Versailles is closed on Mondays.

Monday Oct 18 - I'd do your walk along the Champs-Élysées and see the Arc de Triomphe today depending on what time you arrive. Option is also to walk in the Tuileries Gardens and along the Seine.
Tuesday Oct 19- Perhaps Sainte-Chapelle today with a walk to Notre Dame and thru the Latin Quarter or Ile de la Cite. Rick has a good walk in his book covering some of these areas. Eiffel Tower in the afternoon unless you want to see it at night. You could do the river cruise this evening (might be chilly).
Wed Oct 20 - Do the Louvre this day.
Thurs Oct 21 - I'd do Versailles today.

You've got one big thing each day and there are plenty of other things to see. 4 nights/3 days is about the minimum I'd suggest. Many of us spend weeks in Paris and don't run out of things to do!

TBH, some of the Paris museums are pretty different from museums in Italy as you've got some great Impressionists art if that is of interest to you. To me the churches are different as well but I am admittedly a church/museum person!

If you think you'll be burned out on over the top museum stuff, then I'd skip Versailles and save it until your next visit. If this is a must for you, then certainly go but it's crowded and opulent inside and I'm not sure what the gardens will be like in late Oct. I've been in Late Sept and they were still nice. My favorite part of Versailles is the Hamlet/farm village and the grounds.

Pam,
Yes we leave on the 22nd. Good to know about the monday/ Tuesday closure! I haven’t gotten that far just the sights that we want to see I didn’t look at the schedule as not knowing if hours have changed w/ Covid! I’ll pick up RS Paris book for sure to look at the walks. Should we hit the Eiffel Tower/ Arc on arrival day if we can get in before 10am on Monday the 18th?

to reach Paris St Lazare station by 10am from Bayeux you need to catch the 7:35 (takes 2:22, gets in 3 minutes before 10) or the earlier 6:40, gets in 8:57.

How are you getting from Italy (where?) to Normandy?

I would not plan on an early ET reservation on the day you're taking the train in from Bayeux. It's difficult to know right now how early trains will be running. There's currently just one train on Mondays that would allow you to drop off your bag by 10 AM. It departs Bayeux at 6:40 AM and arrives at 8:57. There might be a 7:35 AM departure arriving at 9:57, but it could take a good while to navigate from St-Lazare Station to your hotel, and I see that the 7:35 train is canceled for next Monday. I don't normally think much about train cancelations, but I was hit with one on my 2017 trip to France, so it's not something that just happens during pandemics. (Also, the French are fond of strikes.) You'd lose your ET reservation if you counted on an early train that didn't materialize.

Nigel,
We are flying from Naples Italy to Paris on Oct 15th and taking the train from Paris to Bayeux. And looking at flights into Paris from Naples we either get into Paris at 8:20am or 2:40pm from Naples. Also what’s the best/ quickest way to get to the train station from the CDG? Taxi??

Good to know on the train schedule! My goal is 10am for Paris arrival. I always try to have a backup plan if something is delayed.

I would like to suggest that you substitute d'Orsay for the Louvre unless you are a serious lover of painting before about 1850.
I think that as Americans we are more familiar with the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists, and there is nothing more thrilling to me than seeing those works in person rather than in books or on posters. (Although I have to admit that the first time I saw the Venus de Milo in the Louvre I cried at the beauty...)
I'm also not a fan of the Champs-Elysees and prefer many of the market streets for a feel for a more real Paris. My personal favorite is Rue Mouffetard but there are others.
A river cruise around sunset and catching the Eiffel Tower as she sparkles at the top of the hour is pretty magical.
I'm hoping to be in Paris again in October, so fingers crossed for all of us!

I agree with acraven...I'd not make timed reservations for anything the afternoon you arrive. You can do the boat trip that day...you do not need prior reservations...or well, pre-covid you never needed them and there are a number of boat companies so you can just walk up and go. You'll check back here before you travel to see if that is what is still happening next fall.

IF you wanted to see the Orangerie which is a small museum with Impressionist paintings and 2 rooms of Monet's water lilies you might be able to do that in the afternoon of your arrival day. Again...it will depend on what the reservation needs turn out to be in a year.

Do get the RS Paris book...and look at the free audio tours he's got on the site here. I printed out the map of the Cite walk and added some other sites to customize my walks.

https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/audio/audio-tours

Another thing you could do is look to see if there is a Paris-walks.com walk you'd like to take on your arrival day. They are not reserved, you just turn up at the meeting place, pay the guide your 15E and off you go with him/her. They used to run a walk in the Latin Quarter on Monday afternoons which might be fun to do after a train ride! To me this would be more interesting than the Champs-Elysees but you should do what sounds like fun to you!

http://www.paris-walks.com/

You do realize that we can give you enough sites to last you for at least 2 weeks, lolol!!!

Maybe we'll do a Rick Steves meet-up in October in Paris!

Use the boat pass where you can ride all day between Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame
and enjoy the trip...

Consider a 2 day Paris museum pass. RS book shows what can visit. Then plan intense site seeing days. The first day and last day do things that are not part of the pass. Versailles and the Louvre are biggies. You can run through the louvre and see a lot of other places on one of the days. A bateau ride at sunset is spectacular especially at the end when the Eiffel Tower is sparkling. Paris is a special city. Enjoy Sacre Coeur steps at sunset one evening. Bon voyage!

Personally, I’d skip Versailles on a visit this short.

Yes I know it’s a ‘must do’, but the truth is there are a lot better options out there and if you don’t have all day to spend touring it and the grounds I would skip it. That leaves you enough time to do everything else in your list and enjoy the fact that you are in Paris. Paris is meant to be enjoyed, it’s not a good destination for a forced march to make sure you see all the “must do” attractions

My only suggestions would be to skip Versailles and the Louvre.

Go the the Orsay and L’Orangerie instead.

If you’re traveling fairly light, I like to just take the RER from CDG into Paris and take the metro to the train station. I use rome2rio.com to give me the metro numbers & route. Or if you’re traveling with heavier suitcases, you might just want to take an official taxi there.

I’ve been to Paris several times, and besides the comments others have shared, I’ll just add that you should plan to take a pause one of your days and just savor being there. I tend to plan a busy itinerary and had it filled the first time my husband went there. The next year I returned and purposely took time to linger at a neighborhood cafe with coffee and a pastry and enjoy the Parisian ambiance.

I could recommend skipping Versailles (still haven’t taken my husband there), but it’s your vacation. While we’re stuck not traveling, watch several YouTube videos of Paris to get a feel for which ones really appeal to you. It’s a lovely city; there’s no bad choices. : )

Our favorite time to take a river cruise is in the evening when the city is beautifully lit. Last year we caught the sunset colored with beautiful pinks, purples & blue shades just as the boat was approaching the last bridges towards the Eiffel Tower.

The Luxembourg Garden is our favorite if you like to stroll through beautiful gardens. And if you like special sweets - chocolates, pastries, etc. we both love the Maison Georges Larnicol shop at 14 rue de Rivoli.

Totally doable! You have a wish list of 5 things and four days.Been to Paris 5 times with different size groups from 3 to 7 people. Last time was in '19 a group of 7 including a 5 year old. Usually plan 2 things a day. With 3.5 days you have ample time to do 7 things. I utilize night openings of museums to accomplish this and usually buy a one day pass on the BatoBus. It is a hop on hop off boat on the Seine. It is a great way to get around town but still see things. You could pick it up near the Louvre and ride to the Eiffel Tower or Notre Dame. It closed early this year. It usually runs in October. If you choose to go to Versailles, go early and finish the day at the Arch de Triomphe it closes at 10 ish most days. I would hit the Louvre on Wednesday evening. when it is open until 9:45. I was there in October '16 and '19. There were very few people there. We were the only people with the 'Winged Victory'. You arrive on Monday. Many museums are closed. It might be a good idea to visit the Eiffel Tower that day as long as you get evening tickets that work with your train schedule.
With 5 items and 4 days, you have plenty of time to leisurely do the things you want and also meander through a neighbor hood or two or do some of the walks in RS' Books.

Nobody has mentioned Pere Lachaise Cemetery- when I arrived early am to Paris after dropping my bag in the hotel lobby and a cafe and coissant it was a memorable experience and a little less daunting than plunging into the city streets- and for some fresh air after travel. This would of course depend on your weather that day. Personally I loved the gardens at Versailles more than the interior, but agree it took the best part of a day with the logistics there and back. I also loved the Cluny Museum (Lady and the Unicorn). And Rodin's Sculpture Garden! But you should choose based on personal interests for your group.

edryer4356 should check the Orsay and Louvre websites to assess the period(s) of art he/she would like to see. There is also the incredible National Modern Art Museum in the Pompidou, starting around 1906. I've spent weeks in both the Louvre and the Pompidou but less in the Orsay though I've gone through it from bottom to top several times. If someone wants just a quick but intense dose of Impressionists and post-impressionists, the Orangerie collection is the place to go. I don't remember if they've added pedagogical labels or not. If a quick visit to the Louvre can be overwhelming, the Louvre offers a general introductory tour led by a guide in English. A visitor will get a lot more out of the visit. Reserve on the Louvre website in advance. Not knowing the OP's art history background, interests or taste, I couldn't suggest one museum over another.

Agreed, Versailles is probably best saved for a longer visit. I can't agree more with those who suggest spending more time to exploring Paris' beautiful neighbourhoods. And definitely spend some time in the Jardine de Luxembourg. When our kids were smaller they loved renting pond yachts and seeing them sail. Probably one of our favorite parts of Paris.

The best times we've had in Paris have been the unexpected and unplanned. We've taken trips as short as two nights and as long as a month, in both summer and winter, and we're always discovering something new. We had such a great time exploring last time that we actually walked for 13 hours, stopping only for meals!

I'm sure you can do it all, but at the cost of the true ambiance of Paris. IMO. When I travel I plan possibilities for each day. Possibilities that I can then not do, because until you are actually in a location and feel it, you can not fully understand what you want to see or do or do nothing, etc. Paris is a spirit for me. I've been there numerous times, duplicating activities and adding on. Paris is not a rush from site to site, but it is walking, enjoying, walking with a site in-between somewhere....LOL. You could visit nothing but their parks (and patisseries) and have a wonderful time...

I do like the Champs Elysee, not necessarily for what is there now, but for what has marched down that street...invading armies, rescuing armies...oh, the the World's Fair in...1889? and the approach toward the Eiffel Tower. It took me at least 4 visits before I finally went up the Eiffel Tower, which was only worth it for the show of some of the tourists at the time. Best view of Paris: Sacre Coeur, IMO. My H would say most interesting view was from the Arc de Triumphe, in both directions.

So I suggest making loose plans and then cancelling them to just absorb. Plan on returning many times.

Thank you everyone for the awesome in sight! This has helped a lot! Definitely some things to consider! And does anyone have a go to dinner spots that they like?

18th- Arrive from Bayeux check into the hotel and just walk around and meander along the River up to Notre Dame and check that out and since we are over there see the Sainte Chapelle. And after that walk thru the Latin quarter to find a place for dinner. (Any dinner spots in the Latin quarter your recommend)

19th- Walk to the Arc and than to ET after lunch Maybe do a sunset river cruise or just walk around and get lost sorta speak on our way back to the hotel.

20th- Musee d'Orsay in the morning and The Louvre late afternoon to the evening since it closes at 9:45pm on this day, early dinner maybe and head into the Louvre museum around 5-5:30pm ( I know some said skip but that’s a bucket list for my wife and I)

21st- Palace of Versailles (we both wanted to see this as well) first thing in the morning and head back to the city and walk around and see the ET at night all lite up. Before we head back home

22nd- Head Home

And it’s not like we won’t be back to Paris as we want to take our kids when they are a little bit older and will appreciate the sights!

Awesome thanks Bobby, I’m not sure on security and I’m sure we will need a ticket for the Chapelle. Thanks for suggestions for dining and the early dinner maybe a late lunch, lol

That looks like a pretty good basic plan BUT I'd not try to do Musee d'Orsay and Louvre on the same day. They are both fairly overwhelming in the ways of art, history and crowds so you might consider doing the Musee d'Orsay on the 19 and then do the walk along the Champs-Elysees to the ET that afternoon, then do the Louvre the next day.

Yes, you do have to go thru security at Sainte-Chapelle. It's unusual because the chapel is surrounded by the Halls of Justice so you are in line with regular people who are going to the courts for business. By afternoon the lines may be shorter. Check next summer on the reservations set-up for Sainte-Chapelle. I've generally just walked up but I had a Museum Pass and that was before Covid.

Here's a google satellite view - you can see the Gothic chapel roof and see how it's surrounded by the court building. You go in about where the circle is that says Sainte-Chapelle.

https://tinyurl.com/y2yy8sgw

Good Plan

Also, we loved Normandy and Bayeux. Be sure to see the 900 year old Bayeux Tapestry that is about the Norman conquest of England.

You can take the RER out to Versailles from downtown Paris and spend the better part of the day in Versailles. If the weather is nice, do the gardens as well.

The Lourve is amazing and you must decide what areas to visit, since you would easily spend a week in the museum and not see everything.

One more thing, be sure and protect you valuables, pickpockets are terrible in Paris, especially on the trains and Metro. Recommend men wear money-belt and women neck wallet and/or pack safe purse (carry under your arm next to your body.

Please don't skip the Louvre. It can be overwhelming but if you can get there right at opening or just before closing you can see some great art and an incredible palace.

Champ-elysee is ok but I don't think I'd do it again. Nowadays it's just name brand shops and not much more.

Versaille- I've been in Paris three times and still haven't seen the palace. From reports by fellow tourists on the bone-crushing crowds-I haven't missed much.

For neighborhood walks, I'd go on a walking tour with Paris Walks. I went on three tours with them and learnt so much about the areas and saw out of the way spots I'd have missed. Highly recommended.

While I loved the center of Paris, my favorite vacation was staying in a flat by the Ternes Metro and walking around the area buying groceries at the local store and market and seeing how regular Parisians live. Basically, it killed the "Parisians never wear jeans or white tennis shoes" meme as on the weekend almost half the people were wearing that.

I think I'd pretty much echo what many others here have said.

Given your time frame and the fact that the Louvre is pretty much a 'must do' for you - I'd just suggest doing some research before going - meaning getting a list of some works you definitely want to see. And 'map' your way through the Louvre using those landmarks. For me - I always want to see Winged Victory. For others - its the Venus de Milo or Mona Lisa or Liberty Leading the People. Or maybe there are certain artists you wanted to see (I spent about 30 minutes trying to find their one Bosch painting). Otherwise - you can get lost and overwhelmed in the enormity of the Louvre.

The D'Orsay is a great choice. Its not too large and has a great collection of Impressionist work. Which my wife LOVES.

The stained glass at Sainte-Chapelle is amazing. The first time we went - there was a long line to get through security. We were there last year in the spring - and it was pretty quick to get in.

As others have said - Versailles is a full day. Its definitely worth visiting and the grounds are spectacular.

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Montmartre. The metro can take you there and its certainly worth a two or three hour stroll.

It looks like you'll be near the Eiffel Tower on your last evening? There's a restaurant near there that we love. Le Septieme Vin. Its small - but wonderful. I do believe they take reservations. (On a side note - I left a blue jacket there last time we visited...wonder if they still have it.) Its a wonderful place to relax with a good bottle of wine and a lovely dinner and recap your trip.

There are so many things to do and sites to see. But - again - to echo others - please do yourself a favor and take some time to just stroll along the Seine or through the Marais and soak up the ambience of a spectacular city. Have a great trip!!

One of my favorite things to do on my last night is to walk from the Eiffel Tower, after watching it sparkle on the hour, and head back towards Notre Dame along the Seine at street level & water/lower level enjoying the buildings all lit up. It usually takes me about 1 hour for the walk. Weather & travel permitted I plan on doing this during the first week of December 2021.

Good luck with your trip.

I agree about Orsay, but do not do it on the same day as the Louvre as you may get museumed out.

On the 18th -Monday if you want to take it easy stroll through the Tuileries Palace, Concorde square, the Champs ELysées and EIffel Tower.
After the Eiffel, you can decide if you have the energy for the boat cruise -one hour, no need to buy advance tickets, you just buy for the next departure available. This way you get to see Notre Dame, too.
Or option 2 and you visit the Louvre that day, if you feel energetic-problem : you should buy an advance ticket and if you feel tired then you loose the ticket if you don't go.
On the 19th Tuesday : Versailles. As you intend to come back to Paris i would spend the whole day in Versailles, visiting with a scheduled ticket at 9 or 9h30, having lunch at La petite Venise (don't think there will be a fountain show on during your stay) so you can stroll through the gardens for free.
After lunch a short 10 mn walk to Grand Trianon (if you by a passport it will be included), then Petit Trianon and a nice walk (by then you will be tired) to my favorite place in the whole world : the Queen's hamlet. Then Small train ride back to the terrace of the palace, and walk back to the station. Then to bed directly as it is a tiring day but so beautiful. I have guided many people there, and they were so happy to see the Trianons and hamlet.
The next day i would either do the Louvre morning + Area of Vendôme-Opéra Garnier (so beautiful) lunchtime (plenty of small places to eat on Bd des Capucines) and place du marché st Honoré. Montmartre in the afternoon.

I would skip Versailles and save it for another trip. D'Orsay museum is a must and their restaurant is fabulous for lunch. We also went to Sacre Cour and climbed the 300 steps for a glorious view of Paris. Bring a lunch to Luxembourg gardens/park and just people watch and enjoy the small events taking place. We were there 5 days which was not enough.

I love this discussion...makes me think we might all be traveling. Sigh. So here's my 2nd opinion for the little it is worth. LOL. I've been to Paris too many times to count, for different reasons.

1. If Versailles is on both your lists, then don't be talked out of it. There is much to see at Versailles, even if you never go inside or decide afterwards you shouldn't have gone. However, just the grounds alone would be worth it, but I still recall the interior 44 years after seeing it. Not as grand as some homes in Newport, RI, but very historical.
   
2. Louvre: I'd ask why you want to see the Louvre. Don't go just because you feel you should, but do walk around the exterior and through the Tuilleries, and think of the palace it once was. That being said, I enjoy the Louvre, but I don't go to see Mona Lisa, the Winged Victory, etc. I decide what I want to see that doesn't involve the attractions that the hoards of tourists go to visit. Go to see the art that you want to see. I am basically alone where I go in the Louvre. You haven't seen Mona Lisa if there is a crowd holding up their iPads to take photos of it. You won't get close enough to her to really enjoy the painting as it takes time. (Art History major here). There's a lot of great art in the Louvre that most people don't bother to find. Pick a few for yourself and see them...if you really need to go on your first visit.
3. Musee D'Orsay: You'll notice how many people mention this museum. Well, it is CROWDED. EVERYWHERE. There is no way to escape people as you can in the Louvre. Save it for a time when you've already seen other places. I need to visit with the art, not juggle people.
4. Musee Rhodin: This is my favorite, and the times I've been there it has not been crowded. But it has been several years so...FYI. Watch the movie, Camille Claudel, and then decide.
5. Sacre Couer: Don't miss the view from it, the walk up to it, or the lovely early streets behind it.
6. For museums/indoor sights, study the weather forecast. Don't waste a sunny day at the start of your visit, if rain is expected. If your entire visit is sunny, then really think about staying outside.
7. Lonely Planet or such: RS's guide book is excellent for logistics and his top choices. Other guidebooks provide information on all sights, as there might be others that would be your priority and not his. I love Rick, but 10 or 20 years ago, at least, his choice in art, and skip sights as he thought there was no art worth seeing at them, often went counter to my opinions. He's seems to now have some art counsel and I have not read his recent book. We all learn and he likely has as well.

I am happy to see your second plan as it involves more walking than being inside. Paris is probably the rainiest place I've been in Europe, which would never stop me, but again, don't waste a sunny day. You will have a great trip regardless of what you see or even if you visit no "sights".

I really enjoyed reading through everyone's tips here because it made me relive my Paris trips. Le sigh. ;)

My husband and I LOVED Versailles. It is a full day trip, though we managed to walk out of St Michel metro and right to Saint Chapelle afterward. I wouldn't miss that stained glass! In Versailles, we took a guided tour of the King's apartments. We saw all of the normal things, but got to cross through roped off rooms and stand in a small group (maybe 10?) and hear more about the royalty that actually lived in Versailles. It looks like it's 10 euros in addition to the cost of your Paris pass, but totally worth it! It also gets you away from the press of the crowds in Versailles. http://en.chateauversailles.fr/plan-your-visit/tickets-and-prices?public=10&visite-tid=2&date_filter[value][date]=01/27/2021

Also, if you're not tied to your hotel, you might consider moving it to one of the neighborhoods away from the Louvre and allow that to be your base. We found we liked walking around St Germain/Latin Quarter during our visits, so we have stayed there. The Marais is also very nice, and we stayed in Hotel Caron de Beaumarchais (a RS suggestion I believe). It was a hop, skip, and jump away from Notre Dame!

Lastly, I will second the recommendation of the Cluny Museum. It was my favorite museum in Paris because it was so different from all of the others we saw. There are tapestries, decorated rooms, statues... It's just a really cool place to spend a morning or afternoon! (Granted, the Louvre has these things too!)

Have a lovely trip!

I love the Cluny BUT I see their website now says they are closed until 2022. They've been doing reno for a few years and I suspect it has been terribly stalled with the various lockdowns over the last year.

https://www.musee-moyenage.fr/en/

The last 2 visits (obviously 2019) only about 5 rooms were open so if you were a huge fan of the Lady and the Unicorn tapestries entry was worth it, otherwise most of their collection was not accessible.

Hello,
Be prepared for very long lines and crowds in The Louvre. I much more enjoyed The Musee d’Orsay.

https://m.musee-orsay.fr/fr/accueil.html

I also recommend seeing The Eiffel Tower and doing a boat ride on the Seine the same day as they are quite near each other.
https://www.toureiffel.paris/fr

https://www.getyourguide.com/seine-river-l2601/

You can also just buy boat ride tickets the day of at the boat launch.

For metro tickets

https://parisbytrain.com/paris-metro-tickets/