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Paris sightseeing

We will be staying five full days in Paris this June. As we have visited Paris many times before, we are looking for new and interesting things to do. This can include food tours, interesting museums (we've done the Louvre and D'Orsey). Also, some good restaurants, tea rooms and bars. We are staying centrally located near Notre Dame. Thank you.

Posted by
1150 posts

Bibliothèque Nationale de France

Catacombs of Paris

Père Lachaise Cemetery

Montmartre Cemetery

Montparnasse Cemetery

Musée des Arts et Métiers

Musée de Cluny

Musée Marmottan Monet

Musée Curie

Musée Gustave Moreau

Maison Deyrolle

Basilique de Saint-Denis

Posted by
2580 posts

I enjoyed the Musee Carnavalet on my last visit (my 4th). We also visited several farmers/artists markets.

Posted by
8680 posts

book a concert at the Philharmonie -- amazing building so go early and head for the roof and just appreciate the building.

We enjoyed a cheese class at https://parolesdefromagers.com/en/formation/introduction-to-cheese-and-wine/
In addition to enjoying the cheese and wine we explored some very interesting architecture near here.

We also did a wine tasting at O Chateau but while the wine was generous and good and the add on cheese platter generous the instructional component was a bit laughable.

If you haven't walked the Promenade Plantee, it is worth doing on a nice day -- and in fact the parks of Paris are all nice destinations. Years ago we spent two weeks in an apartment in the Latin Quarter going to a different Paris park each day and having a picnic and reading. It was a lovely trip.

Posted by
7175 posts

I agree about the promenade des plantes and the Jardin des plantes also. If you haven't been to them before both the Cluny and Carnavalet museums are definitely worth the time. Search for a list of all the museums in Paris and see what strikes your fancy, there are so many small unique museums there. I also enjoyed exploring the cemeteries- Pere Lachaise and Montmartre were my favorites. Ride the metro and stroll around a neighborhood you haven't been to. That was one of my favorite things to do.

Posted by
208 posts

At the risk of being pedantic, but so you know what you're looking for, it's not the Promendade des Plantes. There is no such thing.

You're looking for the Promenade Plantée, also known as the Coulée Verte. It runs from behind the Opéra Bastille down toward Vincennes with exits all along the way.

The Jardin des Plantes is a separate thing entirely, but well worth a visit.

Posted by
1494 posts

mrmet.pgr,
Cluny Museum
Rodin Museum and Garden
St. Denis Basilica

You have been to Ste. Chappel, I assume. If not, be sure to go!

Posted by
1266 posts

Add the Marmotten Museum of you are a fan of Monet or other Impressionists. It is also a really nice area of Paris that many tourists never see. I've walked from there to Tour Eiffel a couple of times, and it brings you right through the Passy area, which has some nice sights and markets.

Posted by
1239 posts

Question for those who have visited the Cluny in the last 2 months - Are all the rooms open?

I visited in late October - about half (or more of) the rooms were closed, full price charged for admission. This was noted at the entrance, but I didn't realize the extent of the closures. Worth it to me to see the Lady and the Unicorn room (again), but I heard many complaints in English, French, and German as various visitors realized how little was open for viewing. I am not quite certain why rooms were so restricted - whispered rumor was staff number difficulties. If closures are still on, I am not certain it is a good time to visit the Cluny - really not much available to view on my visit.

Other ideas:
For literary types - Maison de Balzac and Maison de Victor Hugo.
Musée Jacquemart-André
Basilique cathédrale Saint-Denis in St Denis - burial spot of French Kings edit - Oops noted above....
Malmaison - Napoleon's "gift" to Josephine in the Paris suburbs
National Ceramics Museum - Galerie de Sèvres (watch mid-day closing)
Musée des Arts Décoratifs (Period rooms, some excellent special exhibits)
The Liberation of Paris Museum - General Leclerc Museum - Jean Moulin Museum (WWII interests)
The Institut du Monde Arabe
Dior Galerie
Musée de la Musique in the Cité de la Musique

Have you toured inside the Pantheon? Spent time at the Musee de l'Armee?

Why are your interests? I know a number of other small museums - one hour or less for viewing - but not all would be interesting to all comers.

Posted by
1494 posts

ORDtraveler,
So sorry to hear of the closure of sections at the Cluny. We were there at the end of May last year and got to see it all. It could easily be a 3-4 hour visit, and luckily there were frequent places to sit for these old folks. It's one of my favorite museums in Paris (along with the Rodin gardens)!