Paris itinerary check please

For your day trip, another suggestion is to take the 1-hr train to Le Mans. A short tram ride takes you to the cathedral area in the vicinity of the wonderful Gallo-Roman wall with beautiful patterns, plus the Cité Plantagenêt medieval compact lanes to explore. Since you like to move quickly, you could combine it with a 45-min.train onto Angers for a fantastic fortress - one of my favorites, to explore! It alsocontains the stunning Apocalypse Tapestries in a special building.

Personally, I would go up the Eiffel Tower. Do it late in the evening, so you are up there when it’s illuminated- very special. Another evening event is the boat cruise (skip the dinner ones)down the Seine River - another nice activity to enjoy the city lights.

I’ve been to Paris multiple times, and I realize that you are thinking you want to do it all as maybe a 1-time trip. I’ll just say that after my first 5-day time in Paris, I felt like we didn’t allow ourselves the time to slow down enough to experience the atmosphere of Paris. I returned for a week the following year and only scheduled one main activity each day and allowed myself the chance to wander, sip a coffee at the outdoor cafe chairs, go to each of the main gardens in the city, etc. That’s when I really came to love Paris. So, as a person who goes at a faster speed than most on this forum, give yourself a block of time one of those days to savor your surroundings.

I'm glad Jean mentioned the evening river cruise . I don't see what month mentioned in the OP, but a sunset cruise is always a highlight for us.

I’m sorry the 12th is not realistic.

Even with a timed entry, two of your three places are going to have long lines. you’re not allowing any time for standing in line. Notre Dame is going to be very popular. Figure half an hour to get in. St Chappelle takes at least 15 minutes to get in.

I'm wondering about lunch, too.

pencilstealer,
Carol is right about the 12th. Even though they are close, you can't always move in Paris on sidewalks as fast as you want. And do you plan to eat or use the facilities at any time? Lines into places can be long and/or slow. (If teleportation was possible, you could do this.) Walking from Notre Dame crypt to the Cluny in a half hour means barreling along, not easy to do in Paris. Slow down, take a breath, and add about half an hour to some of these places. The waiting in line time is real. Reserved entry is one thing, security lines are what usually take up most of the time. (Last year at Ste. Chappelle we were in our reserved time line 10 minutes early, but still got allowed in 10 minutes after our reservation time, then spent almost 30 minutes going through security.) Please give yourself the gift of more time, even if you are a person who moves quickly, this day is not possible as you have it set up (unless you plan on only 30 minutes inside each venue). How about making the Place de la Concorde an option, and stretching out your timeline for the 3 venues to about 5 o'clock? You can metro to the Place de la Concorde later in the afternoon if you are inclined. And maybe you will now have time for a cafe stop during the day (on the way to the Cluny perhaps?), a typically Parisian experience that is just as memorable as a museum stop.
Have fun, but take some time to breath and look around you.

Jean = i was looking at le mans! I was kind of hoping to see a race while im in France but it looks like im a bit too early for the season. But looking at the track and then the city above i found a few interesting places there. Ill have to take a better look.

The eiffel tower doesnt really interest me. There are plenty of other and better views of the city. And if I wanted lines and chaos like that id go to disney (or versaille) lol. And although it may not look like it, I always manage time to sit and relax and take in sights. I tend to slow down a lot at the end of the day especially dinner and tend to find a nice spot with nice views to eat and slow down to plan what to do next. Most times my evenings are up in the air. I also thought about the river cruise when I arrive to get primed for the city. Wouldnt be until the evening or so (check in is at 3) which would make for some nice pictures.

Carol - it opens at 9 and ill have a ticket. I also have no problem lining up early. And although the church is gorgeous, its small and according to every single video/blog online a half hour inside is plenty. So even with a half hour wait to get inside, an hour seems like a decent amount of time.

For Notre Dame though, its going to be a crape shoot. Ive read very conflicting things about whether or not its even going to be open for the public, aside from tours, and that wont be until June. So im assuming that Ill only be able to see the outside. Even if it is open, the rest of the day doesnt have much besides the crypt (luckily the 3 things that day are super close). id still have time to head over to the cluney museum. And while id take a look at some of the displays im only going there to see the former roman baths.

Acraven - I almost always have time to sit and eat lunch, or just bring food with me. There are also plenty of places to grab something quick between most places on the itinerary. Most of the large museums have cafes inside (and any 4 hour stay at a museum needs a quick 15 20 minute break to set your head on straight again). Dinner in Paris isnt until 7 730 anyways and apparently most places wont even be open or serving dinner until that time (unless its a tourist trap).

For Notre Dame though, its going to be a crape shoot. Ive read very conflicting things about whether or not its even going to be open for the public, aside from tours, and that wont be until June.

Hey, pencilstealer, looks like you are getting around all over Europe. :-) With regards to Notre Dame, the cathedral website is pretty clear that visits will resume soon after the reopening in early December. They are taking precautions for the masses of crowds they expect at the beginning, but it sounds like things will get back to normal pretty soon (knock on wood). And it sounds like tours won't be coming in until much later.

You can find more info on their site's FAQ's page: https://www.notredamedeparis.fr/faq/ Just scroll down to Visit, and you should find lots of info there. You can also go here, but most of the explanatory stuff is done on the FAQs page.

BTW, I will be in Paris myself in early April. Only for 3 days, sadly (I'm coming from 10 nights in London) and will have 2 of my grandkids with me.

I'm sure you will have a wonderful time! And like you, I do not plan to go up in the Eiffel Tower, but for me it's a question of heights.

Judy - Im sorry for some reason your comment wasnt coming up.

ITs funny cause even when Im not in a major hurry I barrel along ( ive been told multiple times I look like im walking on the way to fight someone multiple times lol) Im not disagreeing with you though. The downside is that the cluny closes at 6 ( or 545, one of the 2) so id have to cancel that and move it somewhere. I do plan to be at sainte chapelle at least a half hr before opening, which should help. And for Notre Dame, no one really knows how busy or not it will be in April. Im guessing itll be "normally" busy, which, as far as I can see is extremely busy lol. Its a hard choice of which to do first. But since sainte chapelle is a quicker stop I chose that one (unless Notre Dame, like some churches is open at like 6 am, or 7 am, then id head there first. Unfortunately there is zero information as to when it will be open. Unless you have an idea when it used to open before the fire?)

As mentioned above, my slow time is before and after dinner. Thats when I soak in the sights. Also usually my first day in places when I spend multiple days there. And to clarify, im not disagreeing with you at all! Im just explaining my thought process and how I do things. Its all too easy to assume/think how WE travel when giving advice to people. That being said, the whole reason for the post is to get the itinerary set straight, so I appreciate the advice and will think of how/if I can juggle that day. I do keep things in my back pocket because I always (so far on my trips without exception) overestimate time and end up with a few spare hours. And when that happens, i have a few extras planned, or as you suggest, slow down and take in the sights!

Mardee - I went from zero europe trips in my life, to going 3 times between february 2023 and now. Im having some major life choice regrets because now I realize I shouldve done this way sooner, but it is what it is and Im enjoying myself!

I saw the website, but there was a post here I saw yesterday that mentioned Pentecost and tours. Thanks for the link!

I REALLY need to get to London and the UK. Im very tempted to take a day trip on the eurostar, but am torn between knowing that its better done in its own UK trip ( september? lol) and knowing its right there and relatively easy to get too. My problem would be that id end up spending a solid 6 hours at the british museum lol. Especially seeing that st pancras station is barely a 15 min walk from it!

And now that I actually look at my itinerary, I realize I only have until 3pm or so booked on the 12th. I was confusing days and thought I had it booked until 5 or 6. I can easily allot more time in places to allow for the possibility of hold ups because of lines!

I REALLY need to get to London and the UK. Im very tempted to take a day trip on the eurostar, but am torn between knowing that its better done in its own UK trip ( september? lol) and knowing its right there and relatively easy to get too.

pencilstealer, it's doable but I can't imagine why anyone would want to do that. It's one thing to take a 2 1/2 hour train ride cross country—you basically jump on the train, ride to your destination and get off. But the Eurostar is different. First of all, it would be a VERY expensive day trip. Second, you have to get there at least 45 minutes early for security, etc. So now you're adding extra time, and you wind up with a day trip that takes at least 6 1/2 hours. Plus, the British Museum is huge and if you have a limited amount of time there, it will kill you to tear yourself away.

Focus on Paris. London deserves much more than a day trip, and your wallet and sanity will thank you for putting it off till a future trip. ☺

Mardee - exactly. And if you notice the edit, the day trip? day has been moved to the 15th, the day before the louvre (which I intend to be there at like 7 or 8 am). Which means id return from London at 11pm, and not get much sleep so that rules out london. Still open for suggestions on the day trip though. Im thinking bordeaux, Amiens, Riems so far however there are literally 20 options. Im still trying to work out seeing the DDay beaches.

Good luck with that. I can't help you much with the rest of Frances as it has been 25 years since I was there. I'm a bit more familiar with Paris because I've been researching it for my upcoming trip. I can tell you that my next destinations in France will be Brittany and the Dordogne. But that doesn't help you. :-)

Re- Notre Dame- The Cathedral website is pretty clear that it will be open to visitors, free of charge, on a timed booking system (to be implemented from mid November) from December 9, the day after the formal re-opening and consecration ceremonies-

To mark the reopening, the cathedral’s visitor route has been redesigned to offer everyone, believers and non-believers alike, a better understanding of the building and the history of the Christian faith. Visitors will enter through the central portal of the Last Judgement, then follow a symbolic path from north to south, from darkness to light. A new layout for the chapels, new signage and mediation tools, such as a mobile app, will enhance the visitor experience.

The cathedral’s interior will be accessible from the week of the reopening, from December 9, according to arrangements to be announced in mid-November. The treasury will also be open to visitors from December 16. Exterior work will continue on the cathedral’s chevet, under the supervision of the Établissement Public “Rebâtir Notre-Dame”. The City of Paris will begin redeveloping the cathedral’s surroundings in 2025.

Mardee - well it actually MIGHT help. Looking around at day trips, Nantes and Renne are well within the time for a day trip. The problem? There are way too many damn options for a day trip! Bordeaux, brussels, rieme, amiens, Nantes, renne, le mans, strasbourg are all within 2 ish hours away from Paris. Ive never had this amount of options for day trips before lol. So your information on Brittany might come in handy lol.

isn31c - thanks for the clarification!

Thanks for the help everyone!

Please take another look if possible to the itinerary. I edited and changed some of the dates. I also allotted more time on the 13th to allow for waits/transit. Id also like to add, that if anyone has any suggestions for the 15th OTHER than a day trip that would help as well. Im not opposed to staying in Paris.

Hi,

You earmark ca. 4 hours at Les Invalides, which re: lunch has a good cafe where hot food is available aside from desserts and all that.

I would add another 30 mins or so you have time to check out the shop and all those history books , some in English too, as they are obviously mostly in French on WW1 and 2 and Napoleon.