My husband and I are traveling to Paris in June with our two 13-year-old daughters. We need some itinerary advice! Here is our schedule so far:
Wednesday June 18 Arrival to Paris at 5:30 pm (connecting through London)
Thursday June 19
9 am Timed tickets reserved at Louvre (our accommodation is steps away from the Louvre). Given the kids, we plan to do a short, highlights-only visit (2-3 hours at most)
2:30 pm - 6:30 pm Guided E-bike tour around Paris (highly rated as great for kids)
Evening: Relax, explore.
Friday June 20
9 am timed tickets to Versaille (we are very close to RER C train station to get there easily). Again, we plan a highlights-only visit (3 hours max) to accommodate kids’ limited attention spans. We will bring our own picnic lunch.
Return about 1 or 2 pm and get off RER C at Eiffel Tower neighborhood.
Explore this neighborhood, Champs de Mar, Rue Cler, have dinner perhaps at Francette if we can get reservations
We hope to reserve timed tickets to go up the Eiffel Tower near sunset, and linger after we visit the tower to see the lights twinkle
Saturday June 21 - (We have recently learned this is Fete de la Musique day and that Paris streets will be filled with crowds/music starting around 5 pm)
Visit Rue mouffetard market sometime between 9 am-1 pm (when it is open)
then explore neighborhoods of Latin quarter, cafes, and St Germaine de Pres cathedral, Luxembourg Gardens, etc.
Then wander around during the music festival in the evening
Sunday June 22
9 am - Musee D’Orsay timed tickets, for a couple of hours max
Rest of day: Explore Marais neighborhood (we have heard that Sunday is a good day for the Marais—is this correct)
Seine cruise
Monday June 23
L’Orangerie - 9 am (spend about 1 hour)
Notre Dame
Sainte Chapelle
Explore, relax and get ready for our next journey (leaving on Eurostar for London early the next morning)
Monday July 7 (back in Paris for our last day in Europe before catching plane back to California on July 8)
Montmartre spend the day exploring it/Sacre Coeur and climbing dome
Any general advice you may have for us would be welcome. Here are a few questions we have as well:
Any fun or unique suggestions for shopping for the girls? (e.g. a French department store to visit?)
What are your thoughts about Saturday given it is the Fete de la Musique? What should we expect or plan for?
Would it be best to do the Musee D’Orsay on Saturday instead of Sunday?
Would many of the shops/restaurants in the Latin Quarter be closed on Sunday if we went Sunday instead of Saturday?
Would many things be closed on Saturday in the Marais?
Thank you!