Paris Itinerary thoughts

brooke, if anyone in your group has issues with stairs, there are plenty of buses in Paris to get you everywhere instead of the metro.

I would schedule one of your evenings to see the Eiffel Tower lit up at night. Either from your Seine cruise or time your Place du Trocadero visit to see the sparkling Tower.

Don't forget to make advance reservations for Louvre, Dior and Sainte-Chapelle. Also, if anyone is climbing the Towers of Notre Dame, you'll need to prebook.
With a group, try to reserve any restaurants in advance.

And maybe have a backup plan for arrival day in case the weather isn't cooperating.

Brooke,
Your plans sound realistic, enjoyable, very well-organized, and with some flexibility built in. Well done! My only quibble would be walking up the Champs Elysees. Although the boulevard has some fantastic history and is lovely to look at (to more from the Arc de Triomph), it is pretty much lined with fast food places, tourist shops, and IMO is a disappointment close up. Plus, from the Place de la Concorde it is uphill, in case any in your party might have trouble with the long walk.

If you want to see the Eiffel Tower with twinkling sights, take the boat ride around sunset or later. In the daytime you can see the buildings better. Either way it is one of the best bargains in Paris. Get in line early to snag a top deck seat for the better views. Take a wrap for the weather as it is colder on the river than beside it. Vedettes de Pont Neuf, IMO, is better than Bateaux Moiuches. It has live commentary. You can take this cruise after dinner if that works, but be sure to reserve your seats for your time, either online or from the departure point earlier in the day or on a prior day.

I always enjoy strolling along the left bank where the bouquinistes have set up shop. You can often find some bibelot or book or poster for a souvenier, and they are a quintessential French experience. (And this fits in well with a stop for an aperitif or coffee at a riverside cafe or bistro.)

Glad to hear you are going to Basilica Sacre Coeur. It doesn't get a lot of love here, probably because it is only late 19th century, but the mosaics inside are magnificent. Lots of panhandlers on the steps there, but the view from the top of the steps is great.
Heed the need for reservations at various locales.

If you find time on your hands (hah!), check out the Opera Garnier, a beautiful showcase for music, and just a short walk to Galeries Lafayette department store with its wonderful ceiling and rooftop view of Paris. Oh, what fun you will have! Amusez-vous bien!

On the practical side - get everyone a Navigo Easy card (2e) that will hold metro and bus tickets and the RATP app to check your Navigo card and add tickets as needed. Make sure everyone has an easy way to communicate - WhatsApp works well and if the host/hoteliers choice in Europe for whatever reason. CityMapper is a really good app for finding your way around and figuring out bus/metro routes. Google maps does an okay job but I got use CityMapper in Paris last year and it is next level of detail and information.

If you're going to split up this will allow everyone to stay in touch, figure out how to get to everyone else and have an easy way to use the metro and/or buses as needed. The RER/metro/bus system covers an amazing amount of the city and is cheap and easy to use.

Enjoy Paris,
=Tod

In June the sunset times are going to be quite late, so if you want to see the tower sparkle (which doesn't start until the sun sets) I also recommend Vedettes de Pont Neuf cruise that starts near sunset time. Since you're in Latin Quarter their dock is pretty convenient. I would NOT do that on day 1 as it would be a very late night.

I also recommend CityMapper, it is very helpful with directions especially in metro stations with multiple exits. If it is hot it also highlights air conditioned options.

I agree with Hiredman and CL on CityMapper.

Also....with a group going different directions (which is an excellent plan, BTW) do you all have a What'sApp group set up and will everyone have a phone with data availability?

Is anyone a fan of the movie Midnight in Paris? The church steps (Saint-Etienne-du-Mont) where the time-traveling taxi picks up Gil at Midnight is just behind the Pantheon so near the Luxembourg Gardens. Depending on where your hotel is located you might be able to walk by there easily on Day 1. If anyone in your group is interested in church architecture there is a gorgeous double helix rood screen from 1530 in the church as well as a shrine to the patron saint of Paris, Sainte-Genevieve.

What were your thoughts on the Grand Palais? Were you going to see the Matisse exhibition that will be on then? There is not a permanent collection there but across the street at the Petit Palais there is a free permanent collection.

The Orangerie museum really benefits from timed tickets.

These are terrific points and suggestions! Thank you all so much!

I think i could easily work seeing the tower lit up in our last night in Paris. And that would be a memorable way to end that leg.

I hadn't thought about What'sApp but I will definitely have everyone download that before we go. And I will add the Latin Quarter Church to my list of nearby sites! I was thinking that, if it's raining, we could see the Pantheon and Cluny Museum and now a church!

Regarding the Grand Palais- maybe it's not worth it and I should take it off my list. It was more to see the architecture than any of the art exhibits (not sure what would even be there when we're going). But it looked beautiful and also doesn't require timed tickets. There is cafe/bar so I thought it could be fun to see that and kind of wrap up the day there.

I have read great reviews on the Palais Garnier (and no one in our group has been). I'm especially interested in the 5pm after hours tour that focuses on the Phantom of the Opera. I could do that on the last afternoon instead of Grand Palais. Would that make more sense?

Again, thank you all so much for your help!

Palais Garnier is beautiful. Definitely book in advance if you choose to visit in any capacity. My daughter and I visited without a tour but I'm sure the tours are good.

Brooke,
The Cluny Museum will be a great choice if your plans allow it. I didn't get to it until my 6th or 7th time in Paris. I fell in love with it. In 2023, very late May or early June, we just walked up to the entrance and got in. No crowds. The website suggests the best times to visit to avoid large groups of schoolchildren on field days,or tourist crowds. Heed that, but any time of day it is a worthwhile stop.
Have fun!

The Petit and Grand Palais were built for the 1900 Exhibition and are both display venues. The Petit has a permanent collection and IMHO more interesting architecture - the stairways are amazing. We were there last year for the current exhibit but that also gives you access to the rest of the venue since I think the permanent collection is free. Also the Petite Palais cafe on the garden is supposed to be quite the secret garden cafe spot. They were doing construction or something that ruined the charm when we were there so we passed.

If you're not interested in the exhibit(s) the Grand Palais is probably less interesting and especially so if it's crowded for a big exhibit.

The Palais are a 15 minute or so walk down from the Tuileries Garden and aside from dodging cars in the Place de la Concorde
can basically be done walking through the various parks. However, whoever is going to Dior might want to swing up to Rue Saint-Honoré 2 blocks north of the park because that section of the street has tons of designer shops on it. At the corner of Saint-Honoré and Rue du 29 Juillet Yves St Laurent is opposite Dior because - Paris.

Paris has a constantly revolving scene of exhibits and displays so search repeatedly as you get closer. You will feel the pang of things that close or open outside of your time there but you may find something that meets someone's special interests as well.

Enjoy Paris,
=Tod

We really liked the Cluny museum, too. We went on the first Sunday of the month when it was free but got there early for the first time slot of the day with our tickets and it wasn't crowded.. maybe it got crowded later.

"I think the permanent collection is free. Also the Petite Palais cafe on the garden is supposed to be quite the secret garden cafe spot. They were doing construction or something that ruined the charm when we were there so we passed."

Yes, the permanent collection of the Petit Palais is free. You have to pay for the special exhibitions but you can check if you go in there and see if it's of interest to you. No need to purchase ahead. I agree that the stairs are wonderful!

The construction around the courtyard where the Petit Palais cafe is located is supposed to be completed next month. I'll be there in April so will check to see if it's available.

I'll add that I think the Matisse exhibition at the Grand Palais will draw a big crowd so it might not be the best time to go if you are just wanting to see the building.

I also agree with others that the Cluny does not need a timed entry so you can see how your day is going and what your energy levels might be that afternoon. The Lower level of the Cluny has Roman Baths. Keep in mind that the whole area from the Luxembourg Gardens to the Pantheon and down hill were part of Roman Paris.