Six-Day Itinerary - Too much, too little, or just right?

Good grief! You’ve packed days worth of sights into each single day. This seems like another completely unreasonable ChatGPT-generated itinerary. It doesn’t take into account that an actual human is involved, who needs to get from one place to another. I would cut out half of each day’s items.

For example: the idea that you will do Versailles plus two more museums on the same day before dinner - no way.

I agree, good grief. The Great Race TV program immediately comes to mind. There’s some beautiful and stunning sites in Paris, take the time to enjoy! But then that’s just my opinion.

I’ve been to Paris several times and this itinerary is too much for anyone. It’s not realistic about the time involved to get from one destination to another. To think you’ll have time for all the restaurants you have calendared really seems unrealistic with all the attractions you have scheduled on the same days.
You’ll be both rushing around if you stick with this itinerary AND shortchanging great stops.

Thanks all. I can assure you, this is not AI-generated. 100% human (perhaps over-zealous humans, but in our defense, we are very excited for our trip!). We will review and reconsider some things. If you have any specific suggestions, we would appreciate it. Thank you!

Try separating things by zones. Do one big thing each day and maybe a special dinner or cruise at night.

For reference
https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/read/articles/paris-itinerary

I suggest plotting this itinerary on a map so you can see the ways in which you are backtracking. For example, Place de la Concorde (which I don't get the appeal of at all) is at one end of the Champs Elysees, while the Arc de Triomphe is at the other, but you have yourself visiting these on two different days. Also, the Champs Elysees is nice to look at but kind of a yawn to walk. OTOH, I very much enjoyed viewing it from the top deck of a modern bus while being served a very adequate meal on Bustronome, which departs from the Arc de Triomphe. I was there at Xmas time, so it was very dark and sparkly. YMMV.
I'm surprised you're not following up your trip to Giverny with a stop in the Orangerie to see the water lilies. When I was there, I bought a dual ticket (which I used on different days, months apart--I'm not suggesting you cram another activity into one of these busy days).

That's a lot! Just for one example, on your Versailles day, I would just do Versaille and the gardens etc (we loved the animals at Marie Antoinette's hamlet area) but I can't imagine more museums after that. But we really took our time and were tired by the end. It took effort to get out the door of our to walk next door for dinner that evening! (and we were pretty on the go our whole trip. I wrote a detailed trip report recently mother-daughter Paris trip).

I would get our your map and see what is nearby. Shakespeare and Co , for example, is far from everything else you have that day.

We did Giverny plus Monet's Marmottan (and an evening Louvre trip, but we were tired, and I only did it because we were also going to the Louvre the next day so not pressure for us to even absorb anything that night).

Are you planning to actually go inside every place you have listed? Keep in mind that even with prebooked tickets, there may be a long security line to enter the building.

Your Monday, for example, you could spend weeks in the Louvre and not see everything. In 2022 I made, probably, my 5th visit, and spent about 2 hours to see 3 specific works of art plus the medieval underground fortress.

Earlier this month I spent a full hour revisiting Notre Dame. And, almost 2 hours at the Pantheon including the climb up to the Panorama for the view, which, in my opinion beats out the view from the top of the Arc de Triomphe. If the weather is nice, Luxembourg Gardens could easily merit an afternoon.

Giverny is usually an all day affair. I was drawn into the many stories at Memorial de la Shoah and left after 90 minutes only because I was so I overwhelmed with emotion.

I do see one important omission, in my opinion. Sainte-Chapelle is very worthy of a visit. Book ahead.

Also, haven't really looked at your restaurant list. But know that la Maison d'Isabelle, while excellent, is a takeaway shop.

Yeah that’s a lot. I agree with others to plan your days by looking at a map so you’re not crisscrossing back and forth all the time. Also when I plan a busy day, I realize while I’m planning that we may not get to everything that I want to see. So I may have 8 things planned but only 4 are Must Do. Make sure you hit those and save the rest for another trip! It’s all the more reason to return. Seriously just plan less and savor every moment. Enjoy!

As others have nicely put it, no chance of you getting through that.

Where are you staying at? That will help inform how long it will take you to get to all these spots. You should plan your days around the primary tourist sights you want to hit. Then you can add secondary stuff around those locations if you have time. You should not have more than 1 major sight per half day with some exceptions. Especially if you want to take in Paris instead of just rushing from 1 landmark to another.

When are you going? Summer is super crowded which means more and longer queues. Don't waste your time getting to cafes and restaurants away from your hotel or your target sights. You will find plenty of good food within 15 minutes of wherever you are in Paris.

You need to account for getting to things, queues, waiting to get into places, how long you stay at each sight... To reduce wait times, buy tickets with time reservation.

One thing that you can just sideline is all the famous cafes/restaurants you seem to want. Never seen any itinerary with the Ritz in it before. Any particular reason? Floral Cafe is over priced and usually has lines. Do you plan to just walk by it? There are plenty of cafes for people watching in Paris that give you the same thing with no lineups, cheaper prices and better food. Same for Angelina. Did not visit it until my 8th Paris visit, had to line up for 15 minutes and I was early. I would never do it again. The interior was nice and the food ok but overpriced and not anything you can't get anywhere else for half the price.

For that number of days, you can realistically do the following:

Day 1:
Walk around St. Germain. I assume this is where your hotel is.
Lunch
Musee d'Orsay
Dinner

Note: I would fit Luxembourg garden in this day because it is in the 6th and will do nicely for some rest after your flight. You should budget 2 hours to check-into your hotel and get some rest. It will give you energy for the rest of the day.

Day 2:
Eiffel Tower (you want to go very early)
Lunch
Champs-Elysee
Arc de Triamphe. I don't think you need to go up since you will do that with the Tower I assume.
River Cruise. I would recommend to look up Bateau Bus. It's a very scenic way of getting around the sites near the Seine and you can skip the cruise. Only thing is they stop at 7pm so no night cruising in summer.
You can add one of your secondary items close to these sites if you have time.
Dinner

Note: you can walk from Pont Neuf to Place de La Concorde to Champs-Elysee but it's a long walk and Concordes is easily one of things I would remove as it's just a square. Pont Neuf is a nice looking bridge but just a bridge with decorations.

Day 3:
Louvre (budget 3-4 hours total unless you want to just go in, look at the Mona Lisa and leave.
Lunch (you can have a picnic at Tuileries Garden if you want)
Notre Dame
Ads Saint Chappelle. It is next to Notre Dame and is not to be missed

Day 4:
Montmartre and Sacre-Coeur will take you half day at least
Lunch
Marais
Dinner

Note: you can switch the order but Sacre is better IMO which is why I have it first

Day 5:
Versaille - this will take you all day if you want to do it properly. Get there early and do the palace and have lunch in the gardens. Gardens are magnificent and worth a couple hours at least.

Day 6:
Your excursion. Personally I would not do this and just allocate it to whatever is not covered in your Paris stuff.

I myself loved the Opera tour. Very underrated as you don't often see it in itineraries. There is a Galleries Lafayette close by for your shopping (not worth it btw...)

Like others suggested, it's way too much.
Also make sure to check operating hours for the places you plan to visit. For example on Sunday you have Galleries Lafayette after dinner, but closes at 8pm.

The best way to explore Paris is to pick an approximate itinerary and a neighborhood, then walk around and explore. Stumble onto something you did not expect, and go with it.

Here's another vote for "you're planning way too much." But I also give you a HUGE amount of credit for including places that you find interesting, such as vintage clothing shops and fashion. My older (adult) daughter also likes vintage (designer) clothing, and has some very special purchases from her visits to those kinds of store in Paris; you'll enjoy yourselves!

Look at what you have planned out for each say, and decide what's most important to you, then figure out the distances between your stops, and how you will get from place to place (walking, Metro, etc.), and include time for getting from place to place. You just don't have enough time each day to do all of the things you have listed. Some places you do have geographically grouped, like Cafe de Flore, St. Germain, then over to Musee d'Orsay. But, for example, the two museums you have listed for AFTER Versailles are far from the two stores you have listed, and they are all far from your dinner location. And include travel time for Giverny (about an hour each way), Versailles (honestly a hassle to get there and back), and the Champagne area (more than an hour each way). At least you'll be able to rest while you're getting to those locations.

Specific note, Angelina's is always packed. They do have a "to go" area. Because I have an unhealthy love of the Mont Blanc dessert, I have been known to pick up one from the to go counter, and take myself to the Tuileries to eat it in relative peace and quiet. All of the Laduree locations tend to be very busy, too, but the line moves pretty quickly. There's another location in Saint Germain, and based on your breakfast choices, you are staying in that area. You could stop at that Laduree location early in the morning to pick up supplies for the day; I know from experience.

I would suggest dropping one of your day trips - you decide which, depending on your specific interests. Then you can space out all the places you have listed in Paris over one more day.

“Angelina’s is always packed”

And, even if you just order a couple desserts and coffees — it’s going to be more than an hour before you can ask for the check. Dining in Paris does not happen quickly…

Sunday might work, but the other days are ridiculous.

Look on a map, try to connect the dots.

Too much.

The advice for novice travelers is that after packing for a trip, they should then remove half of what they packed. I think the same advice might apply to your planned itinerary. There are way too many activities and destinations. By sheer determination you might be able to keep to your schedule, but you won't actually have time to enjoy or experience anything.

Others have suggested that you locate your planned destinations on a map and then re-group destinations by location. Next, remove a number of the planned destinations. If, as you say, you don't want to rush through and short-change anything, then decide which places you really want to experience and make them the priority. Personally, I'd skip Montmartre, Sacre-Coeur, Cim. Pere-Lachaise and most of the restaurants you've listed, but that reflects my interests. Keep in mind that fine dining in France is a rather slow-paced experience. Also, although Paris has extensive public transit options you will still lose a lot of time by moving so frequently from place to place.

Finally, one of the joys of visiting Paris is simply strolling through neighborhoods and spontaneously exploring the shops, cafes, and gardens.

Spreading your itinerary over 12 days rather than 6 would, in my opinion, still be rushed. Paris is fine dining to be savored -- not a burger at Micky Dee's to be gulped on the fly. Please consider revamping your plans to include only about half of the places you listed. Don't mean to be casting stones, just offering food for thought.

Don't try to cram three or four days worth of sightseeing into one day.
Try to do a better job of estimated how long it will take to travel to and see or do each place.

Check for local tours and see what they cover.

Some of the best travel days of my life have occurred in Paris, and it involves simply "discovering" the city, walking around, with no set schedule, no list of "must see" sights, no rushing from one item on a list to another and another...I have been to Paris 15 times, and I discover new things every time I return.

I am afraid I agree with others about how much is planned each day. Transportation and line-ups will slow you down and are difficult to predict. To give you one example, on my last visit in November, a somewhat quieter time of the year, there was a line up for Officine Universelle Buly 1803, that was about 30-45 minutes wait. I would also add that you are including 3 of the ‘high profile’ cafes that all often have line-ups and not necessarily the best quality offerings. Perhaps choose one.

Nobody wants to be a dream squasher, but it's not realistic. You don't even have a week. When you get here, you'll realize it's far too much, but you'll figure out your priorities. Even Sunday standing in the long line just to get into Shakespeare & Co will take some time. Paris is a marvelous city. You don't want to treat it like a check off/task list. Savor and enjoy!

If I wanted to make more time I'd skip Versailles; and save it for the next trip. Or if you must visit; that's really a full day itself since you appear to want to see all the various parts of it.