Paris in April, first time going

Hi,
My only comment is that trying to visit both Versailles and Giverny in the same day is cramming too much. It will be much more enjoyable to dedicate the full day to Versailles palace and its beautiful grounds! Giverny is a minor sight in comparison.

The Louvre and Orsay are both massive museums, and I think it would be overwhelming to try to visit both on the same day (and not in a good way). You definitely want to book a time slot for the Louvre, and possibly also for the Orsay, although it’s not nearly as much of an issue.

If you will be jet lagged your arrival day I wouldn’t hire a private guide but instead walk around the area of your hotel (and a bit beyond) and have a nice meal. Would also suggest not doing 2 sights in one day ie 2 large museums or Versailles and something else. Combine one high profile sight with some neighbourhood meandering per day. It is tempting to do a lot but not enjoyable.

I agree that Versailles and Giverny are too much for one day. This must be a day tour through a company? Don’t book thru Viator if that is where you are looking. They are a tour consolidator and don’t actually do the tours themselves. The name of the company is available and if you feel you have to do a combo tour, book directly with the company.

I also think that Louvre and the Orsay are too much for one day. You don’t need tours but you can do one if you like. Both museums offer English language tours as does a company called Paris Walks. There are several others with an art focus as well.

Do the Louvre on Friday or Monday. Walk thru the Tuileries Garden. Walk over to the Notre Dame area as well. You can do it on the weekend but it’s more crowded. Louvre is closed Tuesday.

The Orsay is closed on Mondays so another day including your departure day.

Yes, get timed entries for both museums directly from their websites. Don’t get seduced by some website claiming “skip the line” tickets. Everyone has to be in the line for security which is where the hold up is.

I would not do a private tour on arrival day. You may or may not be up to it. I usually figure on 3 hours from arrival to my hotel. Sometimes it’s a little less. I usually drop my bags at my hotel then go for a walk and lunch. If you’ll share where you are staying some of us may be able to give you ideas of what is in your neighborhood to walk to and get some sun in your face. I personally do better with a short nap in the afternoon. I set an alarm for 1.5 hours and make myself get up and go back outside. Others do better powering through.

Look at Ricks books to see if there are any other museums that might be of interest. The Orangerie? (Monet’s water lilies). The Cluny? (Middle Ages including The Lady and the Unicorn tapestries). The Army Museum? The Resistance and Liberation Museum?

Thank you for your replies. I have modified and canceled tours with Trip Advisor. I will book direct with guides. Here is my modified itinerary per your guidance. Thoughts? We are staying Hotel Lutetia. Any restaurant suggestions?

April
Thursday 13, arrive at 8;30, trying to check in early for a nap. Casual tour of the city.

Friday 14, Open day, Louvre in the morning. Eiffel Tower lunch at Jules Verne. Afternoon tour the city.

Saturday 15, Orsay Museum, River cruise lunch? Montmartre

Sunday 16, Giverny's Monet House (Is this a good place for lunch?) , tour city afternoon

Monday 17, Versailles

Tuesday 18, Open until 4:00pm, Leave Trian 6:00pm to Lyon for Viking cruise

Beware of closing days! Versailles is not open on Mondays, neither is Orsay. The Louvre is closed Tuesdays.
Also, challenging to have lunch at the Eiffel Tower and sufficient time at the Louvre in the morning.
Likewise, a river cruise lunch is an unnecessary constraint: better to just hop on a cruise whenever is convenient for you!
I would be inclined to skip Giverny, personally...

A few notes-

Thursday 13, arrive at 8;30 Casual tour of the city
** I would plan on a leisurely lunch vs planning for hotel ready early.

Friday 14 Eiffel Tower lunch at Jules Verne. Afternoon tour the city
** no Louvre . Take it easy in AM. Start at lunch.

Saturday 15, D’Orsay Museum, River cruise, and Montmartre

Sunday 16, Giverny's Monet House , tour city afternoon

Monday 17, Versailles
** have some sites or city areas to explore in mind for later in day if time allows

Tuesday 18, Louvre, Leave Trian 6:00pm to Lyon for Viking cruise

I would suggest a dinner or lunch river cruise. That's a good way to spend 3+ hours one day. I have never hired a guide for anything so I cannot recommend it. What I can recommend is that you study some good guidebooks, websites, YouTube, etc to be prepared. I usually take the RS pocket guide too. Jules Verne is good but very pricey and requires a reservation well in advance. It is worth it for a one time treat for sure. As far as reserved entry times, you will need one for the Louvre and Versailles at least. For shopping we always seems to end up at Les Halles. Don't stress too much and certainly don't over plan. Take it all in and know that you will return one day.
Happy travels!

Don't nap that first day, tough it out until nightfall so you'll be close-ish to your new schedule.

Ask your hotel for nearby restaurant suggestions, and then have them call and make your reservations for you.

You're in St Germain des Pres, one of the nicest neighborhoods in town. Walk around and see what you see. You're near the "world famous" Deux Magot and Cafe de Flore, also a nice little square called St. Sulpice (with a church from the Da Vinci Code).

Thank you I have three of Rick Steves books on France and Paris and southern France where we got down there the following week. Unfortunately, some of the recommendations are outdated. I get better results of chatted with you folks.
Anybody else have advice on mustvsee neighborhoods or walks please advise. Thank you

Ditto the the advice to not plan on a "nap" on arrival. You say it is your first trip to Paris, but I can't tell if it is your first trip abroad. As tempting as it will be to take a "nap" (understanding that you will be tired), it will be even more tempting to not get up from that nap and sabotage your whole first day in Paris and end up wide awake in the middle of the night—as well as not acclimating yourselves to the new time zone. Do whatever it takes to stay away awake at least until dinner time. Trust me, the rest of your trip will benefit from this plan greatly.

Yes, I agree with Balso on doing the lunch at the Eiffel Tower after a morning visit to the Louvre. Just not enough time and you may feel rushed at the Louvre. I'm not much of a foodie so I'd do the Louvre that Friday AM but you might prefer to do a fancy lunch. Up to you. YOu could certainly do an Eiffel Tower visit without the meal that afternoon. I'd go for mid-afternoon if you have early AM Louvre tickets.

https://goo.gl/maps/PPgmyTC3hrtX9QYD8

It's also an easy walk from the hotel to the Church of Saint-Sulpice. If you are a fan of Dan Brown's fiction this church played a role in The Davinci Code. It's a neat church and has an interesting gnomon.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Sulpice,_Paris

Do re-work things taking into consideration the closure days.

I enjoy Giverny but I'd probably only take one day trip out of Paris and you're already doing that with Versailles...unless one of you is realllly set on seeing the gardens and Monet's home. There are a number of places to eat right outside the entrance to his home and down the main street. IF you go, be sure to walk to the church where he and the family are buried. There is also a very poignant memorial just after you enter the church yard. It's the twisted and bent propeller from a Lancaster bomber that went down nearby on D-Day or a day or so after. The memorial is to the crew who were all lost in the effort to liberate France.

I am a napper on the first day. I do make myself go out and walk around until lunch. Your hotel is pretty close to the Luxembourg Gardens - less than 1/2 mile so I'd walk over there after you arrive at your hotel if it's a pretty day. You might consider having lunch at La Terrace de Madame which is a small cafe located IN the gardens near the Medici fountain and then walk back to the hotel. I usually have a shower and a nap in the afternoon and I may have mentioned this, I set an alarm for 1.5 hours and then make myself go back outside. I know there are people who feel strongly about "powering thru" but I just can't do that. I feel fuzzy-brained and vulnerable and since I usually travel alone I need to pay attention to that. The short nap does not affect my adjustment to local time.

BTW, I recommend you download the app, Citymapper to help you navigate in Paris. It works great for walking and using the Metro.

What a wonderful time you will have!

When I take an overnight flight, I find a 1 1/2 hour nap refreshes me and makes that first day bearable. As Pam says, the key is making yourself get up right away. I nap because I see no reason to torture myself on that first day. I feel fine after that nap.

To me, Paris is more than a city of “sights”. Paris is a city to walk and enjoy. There are just too many parks and neighborhoods to hold oneself to a strict schedule. I would also take the view from Sacre Couer towards the Eiffel Tower over the Eiffel Tower view any day. Is there a specific reason you want to go to the Jules Verne Restaurant? If not, don’t.

I suggest you don’t restrict yourselves to just Rick Steves guides. Others cover additional sights. It pays to look at many.

My favorite Museum in Paris is the Rhodin Museum. Watch the movie Camille Claudel before you go. Go to the Arc de Triomphe and imagine the German Army marching in and then picture the Allies coming in…and everything else that happened on that grand avenue. I have been to Paris several times…4 or 5 and have yet to make it to Giverny, which perhaps should be embarrassing as I majored in art history in college. There is just so much to experience and feel in Paris that it is hard to leave for a minor sight, unless you have a specific reason for seeing said sight., which makes it no longer a minor sight for you. You will have a wonderful time!

I don't normally like to do a museum on my arrival day BUT the Rodin Museum that Wray mentions is also about a 15 minute walk from your hotel. There is a museum portion in the mansion but the part I love best is the outdoor sculpture garden with Rodin's big pieces (including The Thinker - remember Dobie Gillis??). That might be a good location for your arrival day if you felt up to it. Plus you could have gelato in the garden afterward if it was a pretty day.

I did the Rodin "backwards," starting with the outside sculptures and then going inside. The outside was more interesting, even Rick mentions that the inside is full of sketches and models and studies and tests and ... why not just see the finished stuff outside.

Was also surprised to see that the Orsay has a whole bunch of Rodin sculpture as well.

Thank you for the great recommendations.

May I suggest Fontainebleau over Versailles? The wife and I found it quite fun catching the train to Avon and then an easy bus to the gates of Fontainebleau.

Versailles may have been Louis XIV's palace, but Fontainebleau was the palace for nearly every other French monarch, and it has some magnificent rooms and gardens. It also has wonderful Napoleon exhibits as this was his home for many years. The best part? We had it nearly to ourselves - absolutely no crowds.

The city of Fontainebleau that surrounds the palace is also quite relaxing and charming. It was a really great day overall.

Monday 17, Versailles
** have some sites or city areas to explore in mind for later in day if time allows

As Balso pointed out, Versailles is not open on Mondays.

I am also planning out our April trip to Paris. I was looking at Paris Walks Friday evening small group tour of the Louvre. It is from 4-6:15.
We also take a 1-2 hour nap when we arrive then head out for a walk and dinner. Works for us.