Thanks to everyone who has been so helpful as we plan for our short stay in Paris this June. I've got a second draft of our itinerary, with a couple of things already reserved/paid for, and a few more questions. I'd also love any additional feedback on our plans.
Day One (Friday): scheduled arrival at CDG 7:00 a.m. Make it through the airport; cab to left bank hotel; drop luggage; get coffee and/or lunch depending on arrival time. We have found that doing a lot of walking, ideally outdoors, and seeing a couple of quieter sights on arrival day, then getting an early dinner and early bedtime works really well for us in terms of combatting jet lag. With that in mind, I'm thinking that if we have the time to do so, we'll walk to/visit the Cluny Museum and Luxembourg Gardens, then return to our hotel to check in. We won't have to book tickets in advance for either of these things, which provides flexibility. After checking in we'll visit the Pantheon, which is less than 10 minutes from our hotel -- this is the only Day One sight I plan to book in advance, for late afternoon. I'd like to visit the Crypt and do the Panorama if it is open.
Day Two (Saturday); Walking tour with private guide -- already booked. We'll start at our hotel but focus most of the tour on the Ile de la Cite and the Marais district, with a lunch break along the way. After the tour we'll remain in the Marais, either to meet up with friends who live nearby in the 11th and have dinner with them, OR to visit the Carnavalet Museum and then have dinner in the Marais.
Day Three (Sunday): Early morning walk?????? When we were in Rome two years ago, we loved getting up super early and visiting the main attractions (like the Trevi Fountain) before they were crowded. We also loved walking the streets of Rome when they were so quiet. So we were thinking of doing something similar in Paris. We don't plan to climb the Tour Eiffel because we did that on our first visit in 2014, but I'm wondering whether you think it might be worth our while to get up early and go to Champs de Mars or some other area near the tower just to walk around???? Other ideas for an early morning walk? At 10:00 we plan to be at the Liberation Museum to purchase tickets for the 4:30 pm bunker tour -- I've emailed the museum and verified we can come first thing and book tickets for late in the day. From 11:00 - 2:00 we're booked on a Paris by Mouth Left Bank food tour. Return to the hotel for a brief rest after the tour; head to the Liberation Museum by about 3:30 to tour the museum and bunker. We will plan on a light dinner and possibly an evening river cruise.
Day Four (Monday): Early morning visit to Notre Dame and tower climb. What would be the best time to visit the cathedral -- I'm thinking we should wait until after services are over? How much time will we need to stand in line (with pre-purchased timed tickets) for the tower climb? I'm basically trying to figure out the timing of both of these things. Monday afternoon is still wide open. We're considering seeing whether Paris Walks would be available to do a private Occupation and Liberation Right Bank tour for us. OR we could travel to Montemarte for a 4:00 Eating Paris neighborhood tour. In an ideal world we would do both of these -- if both are available, what are the pros/cons of each?
Day Five (Tuesday): Orsay Museum, pre-purchase earliest tickets and go directly to 5th floor and Rodin Museum, primarily focusing on gardens with lunch fit in there somewhere. Late afternoon we can fit in the Carnavalet Museum if we didn't get there on Saturday or the Conciergerie or another smaller site...or just take it easy. Late evening climb Arc de Triomphe and attend lighting of the flame ceremony.
Day Six (Wednesday): early train to Loire Valley and start of a group tour.
What do you think?
Posted by
OP
Ithaca, NY, USA
931 posts
We will also have a full afternoon and early evening in Paris at the end of our tour. I'm thinking that since we'll arrive at Saint Lazare Station (at about noon) we could plan to stash our luggage at a paid site somewhere near the station and then perhaps walk to and tour the Opera Garnier and visit the Galleries Lafayette on that afternoon. Do any additional chocolate shopping, have dinner, get our bags, and taxi to the airport hotel. OR another option might be Montemarte, if we don't visit earlier. Thoughts on this? Thanks so much!
Posted by
Long Beach, Ca, usa
2884 posts
Ruth,
All your plans sound great! Practical, varied, and with some flexibility built-in. Well done!
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
16623 posts
Here are my thoughts:
Day 1: This sounds good. I don't think you need to book the Pantheon ahead of time unless the Panorama is what needs booking. You can also play this day a little by ear. If it's not good weather in the AM or midday you can put the garden off until later in the afternoon. OR if there are supposed to be afternoon showers you can do it first. Did I mention this before???....Take some plastic bags to sit on in case chairs/benches are either wet OR covered with bird poo. I have a couple of old Trader Joes plastic bags but any will do that are heavier than grocery store bags.
Day 2: This sounds good. You've got flexibility built in if you are flagging by afternoon and need a rest. Carnavalet is free so you can work that in as your time and energy permit.
Day 3: How early is early? I'd probably not go all the way to the Champs de Mars because I don't think your hotel is in that area? I don't remember your location but I was thinking 5th or 6th. Are you interested at all in Cemeteries? You could go walk thru Montparnasse Cemetery, get some breakfast and then that positions you near the Liberation Museum. I will add that I stay in the 7th and DO sometimes walk over to the Champs de Mars to contemplate without the crowds. I've even gotten to-go coffee from the ....gulp....Starbucks and taken it over there to sip in peace, hahaha. So, not saying it's a bad idea, just saying it gets you pretty far away from your 10A goal.
Day 4: Notre Dame Tower access starts at 9A. There is an Angelus and Mass at 8A. I am not sure how long that takes. I would book 9A Tower Tickets and then see if you can get into the cathedral before or if you need to wait until afterward. I am not sure they prohibit visitation during a service and when I went in October the Nave area was blocked off anyway. I'm only suggesting this time frame because I think you are an early person like me and this is what I'd do! I think you already know my take on the Paris Walks tour. It might be a lot to do a food tour on top of it...or not. I don't know your energy level.
Day 5: This sounds good. In the Orsay, to get to the 5th floor....walk directly back thru the sculpture Hall on the ground floor. As you get toward the back, veer left and continue heading to the back wall. There are hidden escalators that will take you directly to 5. There is a Renoir exhibition that will be on when you are there if his work is of interest to you. IF so, go directly to this exhibition on the ground level (well on the left and up some steps) first, then go to the 5th floor afterwards. I suspect the Renoir will be very crowded. I think the Carnavalet is a step too far, but as mentioned before it's free so you can pop in if you have time. Rodin is excellent and the gardens are so cool with his sculpture dotted around!
Any of your thoughts on the day you return to Paris will work just fine. You can see how things shape up after your tour and if something there triggers your wanting to see something special. After a long ago Road Scholar tour I was determined to see Alienor d'Aquitaine's vase in the Louvre, lol so something might come up that you hadn't thought of.
What a great time you will have!!
Posted by
Chicagoland
1740 posts
Re Sunday morning. I believe your staying near Rue Monge. My first stop would be la Maison d'Isabelle around the corner from Rue Monge on Blvd St Germain for the best croissants. Then a walk along the Seine.
Posted by
Central Texas
21 posts
The Jardin des Plantes opens at 7:30 am and is a wonderful place for a morning stroll.