Paris Itinerary

Posted by Surtshin (Portland Oregon) on 03/10/25 11:26 PM

Hello Hive - stressing out about priorities for 3 1/2 days in Paris and have a few specific questions.

What suggestions do people have for spending arrival afternoon to stave off jet lag? My flight is scheduled to land on a Monday at 10:30am. I plan to take a taxi to my hotel in Saint Germain and have booked an "orientation tour" with a guide who will introduce to the area, assist me in purchasing a Navigo card, and help me get my footing. This should be over 3-4pm. I want to stay awake until a normal bedtime. Am thinking about walking to L'Orangerie and then a boat tour of the Seine. Any comments? Other suggestions for first afternoon after transatlantic flight from the West Coast?
I've booked a French Cheese Explosion experience that begins at noon in South Marais on my first full day and lasts about 3 hours. While I'm very excited about the opportunity to learn about French cheese, the timing makes scheduling other sightseeing difficult. What would you couple this with both before and after? OR would you opt for a different tasting experience (less cheese but some pastry, chocolate) that begins at 10am not far from my hotel?

I'd like to see Opera Garnier and Galleries Lafayette but don't think I can do this comfortably either before or after. Thoughts?

Second full day will include Notre Dame, Saint Chapelle, walking tour of the area and hopefully a visit to the Eiffel Tower, if somehow I can score a ticket. What, if anything, would you pair with this?
Third full day includes visit to the Orsay, walking rue Cler and prep to depart for the main of my trip in Alsace. I thought I'd keep this day a bit light so I'm not trashed before the bulk of my trip begins.

So hive, your 2 cents worth?? Many thanks in advance.

Posted by KD

03/11/25 12:11 AM

1133 posts

We fly from the west coast; and it's tough! Last spring we arrived at our St Germain hotel via taxi 2 hours after landing at CDG. You don't mention dates, but you will likely need a reservation for L'Orangerie; so you would want to consider that. As an alternative the Rodin Garden is absolutely lovely; small manageable and gives you a peek of the top of the Eiffel Tower, plus some of Rodin's beautiful sculptures in the gardens. No advance planning required. The Seine cruise would lull me right to sleep on day of arrival.

Posted by Judy

Long Beach, Ca, usa

03/11/25 12:16 AM

1695 posts

Surtshin,

Arrival day, you have good plans to orient yourself. I would add that many posters here have said that the boat ride on arrival day put them to sleep, so perhaps there is something else you can do to stay awake a little longer. I have no ideas for you, as we always stay with family members outside of Paris proper, and that first day is spent catching up on family news until we crash.

Full Day 1 Your cheese experience seems to begin, from what you say, not that far from Notre Dame. I would see the cathedral that morning, preferably by 9:00 or 9:30. You can spend an hour or two there, and if you still have 1 hour or so before your cheese time, perhaps go underground to visit the crypt, then go to your cheese experience. If that finishes in the same or a nearby location, then you could go to Ste. Chapelle afterward. That leaves you time for a stroll to find a nice dinner somewhere in the Marais or St. Germain area. That takes care of full day #1. Your sights are close together.

Day 2 For the Eiffel Tower, hopefully early or late in the day. If you can't get tickets to ascend, it is still wonderful to see it from below, in the Champs de Mar, or from the Trocadero. If early, metro to the Opera afterward; if later, see the Opera in the morning. Galleries Lafayette is a really short walk from the Opera. The two combined could take 3-4 hours. And if your day works out well, and you find there is time to do something else, not far from the Eiffel Tower are the Invalides (Army museum) with Napoleon's Tomb, and the Rodin Museum, with its outstanding sculptures in the gardens. Or you can walk from the Eiffel Tower to Rue Cler for your stroll.Your order of sights depends on whether you ascend the Tower, and when. You can be fluid on this day.

Day 3 You can see the Orsay. If you get reservations for early in the day and spend the full morning there, my guess is you might be museumed out by lunchtme. You have a free afternoon! From the Orsay you could walk further in the St. Germain area and see the Cluny Museum (fantastic medieval art and objects!), after having lunch at a Breizh Cafe (there are a few in Paris; specialize in Breton crepes, savory and sweet; not expensive; popular with the locals), or any cafe or bistro that suits your fancy. Or you could stroll along the Seine checking out the bouquinistes, get a Vedettes ride on the Seine if you haven't already. Or take a metro to any of the sights you have missed...St. Denis Basilica, the Pantheon, the Arc de Triomph, Palais Royal, Luxembourg Gardens, Pere Lachaise cemetery.......your choice.

If you get yourself a tourist-type map showing the sights, you can make plans based on how close things are to each other, and of course, the times you get for any timed-entry locations, and the hours and days places are open.

Have a great time in Paris! Amusez-vous bien!