Paris Itinerary Review (3 days)

I myself would fall fast asleep on a night bus ride on my jet lag arrival day. Even though you have a museum pass, make sure you do the advance booking required (Louvre and Musee d'Orsay for sure, maybe others). I liked the Vedettes du Pont Neuf evening cruise timed to reach the Eiffel Tower at peak sparkly time (pick a cruise departure after sunset, it's listed on the ticketing page). Arrive 30 minutes before departure time to get good seats on the top part of the boat: https://www.vedettesdupontneuf.com/cruises/?date=2026-04-25

Wed: I'm with CL...I would absolutely go to sleep on a bus ride on my arrival day BUT you may be different. Your profile looks like you're from Edmonton so you probably have as long as flight day as CL does from Portland and I do from the Inland Northwest. As long as you don't have to purchase this ahead and can go on how you are feeling, then leave it in the plan. What time does your flight land? You might be able to walk the Latin Quarter this afternoon OR if it's a pretty day even get to either Luxembourg Gardens or Tuileries. IF it's rainy, maybe some of the passages.

Thurs: I would not use the Batobus for transportation. You are doing a cruise so this will be redundant. I'd just take the Metro to Ecole Militaire on LIne 8. See the ET, come back for lunch in the Rue Cler area. I'd not try to do the Invalides AND Orsay on the same day. The Invalides is huge unless you are just going to pop in to see Napoleon's tomb. I like the WWII galleries here and the Legion of Honor Museum but that will take several hours. You could do Rodin afterward especially if you just do the very cool sculpture garden. IF you decide Orsay is a priority, I'd get there when they open at 930, so that, walk to Rue Cler (takes me less than 25 minutes) for lunch, do the Eiffel Tower, then see if you feel like either Invalides or Rodin.

Friday: This looks like a lot but you can just dip into the edge of the Latin Quarter across from Notre Dame unless you walked over there on your arrival day. IF it's rainy, you could probably do the passages after Notre Dame and before the Louvre as they are nearby. To me, 1 or 2 is enough to get the cuteness factor.

Saturday: To me this day is overloaded if you do a food tour AND a tour of the Opera Garnier.

Have a wonderful time!

Like CL and Pam, I, too, would be falling asleep on the bus if this is after a transatlantic flight.

And forget about the Batobus. I edited my post since I was repeating Pam's comments.

Map out your plans on Google Maps to get an idea of walking distance.

And I agree that Vedettes du Pont Neuf is a good choice for your evening Seine cruise. About a 15 to 20 minute stroll from Ile Saint Louis.

Except for the fact that some of the things you want to visit require advance tickets, I usually like to stay flexible and use the covered passages for an inclement weather day (ditto for museums). It would be a shame to spend a beautiful day indoors and visit parks, the river and the Eiffel tower on rainy days. As other have noted, one can get quite tired early on arrival day.

Thanks for the feedback! Are you advising against the Batobus because it is slow? Thx.

Regarding the Batobus, at every stop you will have to climb stairs to get from the river up to the street level. And then climb back down the stairs to get on the Batobus.

And it just isn't an efficient way to get around.

It will take you longer to walk from Rue Cler to the Batobus stop than to just walk to Hotel Invalides or Musee Rodin. Again, walking from Rodin to the Batobus stop will take just as long as walking directly to Musee d'Orsay.

Thanks again all. Very helpful.
We met with our friends this evening and mapped out a plan without the Batobus or Tootbus. We will book timed entry tickets but be flexible for weather, tiredness and spontaneity.
Looking forward to Paris and our Best of Eastern France tour.
Cheers!

Mary Lou, you may want to look into the Passion Monuments Subscription for each couple. It offers free unlimited admissions to over 80 sites in France along with a few other perks.

The cost is €78 for a duo membership (you & 1 guest) and is valid for 1 year from date of purchase.

Current regular admission to both Sainte-Chapelle and the Arc de Triomphe is €22 per person per site. So with the Passion Subscription you come out ahead.

In Paris, the pass also includes the Towers of Notre Dame, the Pantheon, Hotel de la Marine, the Conciergerie and the Basilica of Saint Denis.

I try not to cross across the city or do so as little as possible while out and about, so I try and stay within arrondissements and those nearest to maximize time. It always takes longer to get somewhere than what it says on a map/RATP app and because you'll always come across something to stop and marvel at along the way. I have a blank map of all the arrondissements I use for each trip and place what I want to see/do in each first. (If you're unsure, the zip codes of any place let's you know: 75008 is the 8th, 75011 is the 11th, etc, and you want to make sure it starts with 75 for central Paris) Then I decide on how much time it's going to take me to do each going from A to B to C with my map and transit apps plus a reasonable amount of time in each place depending on what I like.
For example, I'm going in May just to hit up parks, gardens, eat and enjoy the city....no museums or tourist stops.
Day 1 for me is the 4th and 5th: I'm starting at my fave restaurant on ISL, a few stops on ISL, then I have the Arab Institute Rooftop, Arenes de Lutece, Jardin des Plantes, Luxembourg Gardens all in the same day with around 15 mins to walk in between each stop and 30-60 mins at each place to sit and enjoy...weather permitting. I have 6 hours total for the above mentioned but also knowing that it WILL fluctuate once I'm there and it'll be OK, I'm in Paris after all, nothing can be too bad or upsetting. Another day, I'm starting with sunrise at Sacre Couer in the 18th, then doing the 9th, 2nd and 1st and finishing with a picnic at sunset at the Eiffel Tower in the 7th. (not really close or far, but only day I could fit it in)
I think your Saturday will leave you having to leave something out or off if you just plan for everything to be done in proximity better, you might be able to fit it all in. I'd definitely switch the Luxembourg/Left bank from Saturday to Friday and move the Arc/Champs to Saturday and you'll be in the same areas more both days.
Don't forget to check the sunrise and sunset times for when you'll be there....looks like your dates will be around 14+ hours of sunlight.
On another note, I don't know if I'll ever fully be "done" with Paris...it gets under your skin and you can't resist the urge to keep going back. :)