Paris sights -booking reservations in advance

Eiffel tower - can book 60 days in advance; walk up occasionally available
Catacombs - can book 7 days in advance; you will never get walk up tix
Musee d' Orsay - should easily be able to get tickets in advance the closer you get

Also, is there a 24 hour public transportation pass? I heard there was a boat /ferry pass you can
buy? parisbytrain.com is a great resource for paris trains.

I'm just back from another 4 days in Paris, and here's where I stand on this. The tower should be booked ASAP, as should the Musee d'Orsay. You want to do this because you want specific times. You want the first opening time at the museum. You want 30 minutes (minimum) before sundown on the tower. The catacombs don't matter because they're underground.

I highly recommend both the Petit Palace, open now after a couple years restoration, and the often overlooked Musée Marmottan Monet if you have any interest in Impressionist paintings. (The current, temporary, exhibit of works by Eugène Boudin is very good).

If you want a souvenir you'll actually use go visit Laguiole en Aubrac, one of the very few local, traditional, knife shops and pick up a kitchen knife or two. Or a pocket knife if so inclined. Fantastic work, reasonable prices.

There is a day pass available on the metro. But you'll pay 20 euro a day for that. And odds are you won't need that many trips (average cost is 2.50 euro). If you can avoid the line at the Gare d'Est where all the tourists jam up to the very few machines (I've done this too). Go to one of the smaller metro stations and there the machines will not be crowded. You can easily be 30+ minutes in line at Gare d'Est. Take a cab to your hotel or walk to the next stop (they're not that far).

There is a hop on - hop off boat (no ferry) but I've never seen a reason for that.

Also, if you're anywhere near a French Bastards bakery, stop in. Likewise Plan Chocolate on the Rue du Nil.

Bistro Vivian in the Gallery of the same name is very good. And I had several old friends who made up a party at La Florintine and we had a great time.

The Ferris wheel in the Tuileries is worth a ride after the sun goes down.

Of your list, definitely book Eiffel Tower ASAP. Probably Catacombs as soon as it opens up. (Side note - I've never understood the attraction to the Catacombs, but I know it's a must do for many.)

In addition to reserving the Musee d'Orsay, Sainte-Chapelle tickets should be booked in advance. Best time to visit Sainte-Chapelle is first thing in the morning.

Notre Dame tickets can only be booked 2 days in advance. However, those without a booked time can queue in the non reserved line for entry. Usually it is a wait of 10-15 minutes.

I think you are referring to the Batobus. While it's fine if you are wanting to visit places along the Seine, keep in mind that every time you get off the boat you will have to climb steps to get from the bank of the river up to street level and then back down again. Every single time!

Much better is to plan your days with a pleasant walking route supplemented by the wonderful Paris buses and/or the Metro.

Most Eiffel Tower tickets are released at exactly 1 pm Paris time 7 days out. This is when you are likely to have the greatest choice. 60 days out they are trying to panic you into buying expensive 'Champagne tickets'

Catacombs must be bought on line and look at their website for the rules. I think they release them a week ahead -- but check the website. I did it back before it was popular and just walked up -- this was like 20 or more years ago.

Musee d Orsay -- get tickets well in advance. Avoid Tuesdays. There will be half a dozen different lines out front. The lines for those with timed tickets is to the right facing the building and you get in your half hour time slot line -- there are plenty of attendants there who can help you find the right line.

You can get a day pass for public transport for 12 Euros; it goes on a Navigo Easy card which costs 2 Euros -- it is not 24 hours -- it is one calendar day. You can also load individual metro 2.50 or bus 2.00 tickets on the Easy -- they are not interchangeable but they will also take you anywhere in the Ile de france for one charge e.g. you can go to Versailles or Disney for 2.50. the airport uses different 13 Euro tickets and is not covered in the day pass. for a single day the Easy card with individual tickets is likely to be the best choice.

No idea where the earlier poster in this thread got the idea that a day pass for the metro/bus systems was 20 Euro -- it is 12 euro and easily worth it if you plan to zip around town all day and because it covers buses and trains, it is easier than individual tickets if you are using the transport system a lot.

The Batobus runs along the Seine and has many stops but is fairly lousy transportation since few sights are actually on the river. You can get a one or two day pass for that. It runs from near the Eiffel Tower to near the Zoo and Gardens in the 5th. It is also comparatively pricey for a day pass although it costs little more for a two day pass.

Catacombs tickets are available exactly 7 days in advance on the hour in 15 minute increments. In other words, if you want 9:45 AM timed entry, tickets are available 7 days in advance at 9:45 AM Paris time. Since France is 9 hours ahead of where I live on the West Coast, I had to buy tickets at 12:45 AM. They sell out quickly.

Thanks so much for the suggestions! Getting me excited and will surely start making my reservations. Our hotel is near the Vavin Metro station. It looks like we can walk to a lot within 30 minutes?

I bought my d'Orsay tickets for this October several weeks ago.

Is it necessary to book a reservation for Musee d'Orsay if you have purchased a museum pass?

Diane M, no reservation with Paris Museum Pass. Be sure to get in the correct entrance line, C1.

Musee d'Orsay entrances

"Our hotel is near the Vavin Metro station. It looks like we can walk to a lot within 30 minutes?"

Yes, you likely can, depending on what you want to see. If it works out with your timed entries you might consider taking the Metro to your furthest point for the day and then walking yourself back via other sights to your hotel.

I'm not sure if you've watched any of the content from Rick Steves Guide Vero on her France with Vero Youtube Channel but here is a link to a restaurant she likes nearly right beside the Vavin Metro stop.

https://youtu.be/xlB_SftPL6U?si=-OAyE8GmiJqr3LAI

jeanm,
"no reservation with Paris Museum Pass"
I am unclear as to what you are saying in your reply about reservations and museum passes. Do you mean no reservation is REQUIRED with the pass, or no reservation is automatic with the pass (meaning you still must reserve your time). Please clarify. Thank you.

As of last Friday a 5 day pass on the metro was 78 euro, or $90. There is no 4 day pass. So you either buy the 3 day and then another day, or the 5 day (which is cheaper). The OP has 4 days to use (3 nights). That's close enough to $20/day.

Orsay plainly states that no reservation is required for a PMP holder. https://billetterie.musee-orsay.fr/en-GB/products?famille=1933737738230400130

"Holders of a Paris Museum Pass or of a ticket purchased from a third-party vendor do not need a time slot reservation."

Thank you skunklet for the clarification.