Paris in July

For a first day you might rather be led than have to follow ;-). There is a "Paris Walks" Marais walk in the morning but I think they will probably add something else as July gets closer.

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

Any of the walks Rick describes in the Paris book could work, but if they mention visiting museums, you might want to return to those museums later. Since Paris has many parks, each walk can easily include one, for a rest. The Rue Cler + Champs de Mars, or Left Bank + Luxembourg Garden, or Champs Elysee + Tuileries Garden all sound like reasonable options to me.

Thanks! Yes, I wanted to avoid the museums, I know that we would not appreciate it at all. But I suppose it'd be a good time to pick a museum pass or would it be better to get that at the airport?

It happens I will be renting an apartment in Paris for the month of July this year and I would recommend heading to the Musee d'Orsay and walking on the quai along the Seine either towards the Invalides (past the beautiful Pont Alexandre III) or in the other direction towards Notre Dame and the Latin Quarter. A walk around the Ile Saint-Louis is always interesting. All nice walks. A couple of dates to keep in mind: Tues, July 14 is Bastille Day and a unique event among the usual spectacular Independence Day celebrations is Le Bal des Pompiers (Firemens Ball) held all night on July 13 and 14 at various fire stations in and around Paris; open to the public and donation requested. Also, Sun, July 26 is when the Tour de France ends on the Champs Elysees always drawing big crowds

I like the area around Notre Dame and Ile St-Louis for a first-day walk, beautiful garden behind the church. Might be nice to take a boat your around sunset, to get oriented.

Two other choices you have are Paris Walks,http://www.paris-walks.com/download-pdf.html, and Paris Greeters,http://www.greeters.paris/?lang=en. Enjoy

Thank every one - lots of helpful suggestions. We arrive after Bastille Day and depart before the Tour ends. Good or bad timing - I guess depends on who you talk to!

I like the idea of taking a Paris Walks tour. They usually publish their monthly schedule just over a month ahead. The best reason for taking one is that you do not have to sign up in advance. Just show up at the meeting place 10-15 minutes before the scheduled time. The walks are usually about 2-2.5 hours, mostly standing, some walking, no sitting. But if you tire out, just politely excuse yourselves and go your merry way.

Download Rick's Historic Paris audio tour http://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/audio/audio-tours/paris#parisaudiotours and be sure to print out the map. The audio is about 45 minutes (it takes more time of course to walk and stop and enjoy). It includes the interiors of SteChapelle and Notre Dame, but you can skip them. You may want to enter Notre Dame just to sit down for a few minutes and enjoy it. Ste-Chapelle needs a separate visit anyway. The best way to see it is to get tickets to a concert. At the end of the RS tour, you're on the Left Bank, choose a bistro and park yourselves for an hour to linger over a beverage and enjoy being in Paris.

In July in Paris you might be glad to have a room with AC. Some don't have it, you may want to check to see if your currently reserved lodging does or doesn't.