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Stopover in Paris

We visited Paris many years ago and did most of the visitor attractions. We will have a short two night stay in a few weeks. We arrive 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 30 and depart Tuesday morning. We are staying at the Grand Hotel Leveque on Rue Cler. I understand the shops and cafes will close on Sunday afternoon and all day Monday. Listed below is my current plan but I would appreciate advice.

  • take taxi rather than train from airport. Booking.com offers for 62 euro and 36 minutes. Drop bags at hotel.
  • Grab a pastry and coffee at cafe
  • Walk around Eiffel Tower
  • Walk around Notre Dame
  • Arc de Triumph up to first level
  • Walk part of Champs-Elysees
  • Lunch
  • Light dinner

Monday, December 1

10:00 Paris By Mouth Food Tour St Germaine

  • suggestions for afternoon? Christmas Market? Montmartre?

Lunch

Light Dinner.

Is this a good plan?

Posted by
11071 posts

You don't need a booking.com offer for a taxi. The legislated flat-rate fee for a taxi from CDG to the Left Bank (where your hotel is) is 62€. Be sure to follow the lines/signs to the official taxi queue once you make it out to the open part of the airport.

I would imagine it would take longer than 36 minutes; I always estimate an hour. Although maybe at that time on a Sunday morning, 40 minutes is possible.

When going back to the airport, book your taxi in advance. That adds 7€ to the 62€ fee.

Posted by
9747 posts

I agree to just get a taxi upon arrival. You will be badgered on your way to the official taxi rank, but just say "no." At the taxi rank confirm flat rate and that the driver takes credit cards.
You can reasonably walk to and around the Eiffel Tower from your hotel. You could also walk to Arc de Triumph along the Champs-Elysees. I would suggest taking the Batobus from its stop near the Eiffel Tower to its stop near Notre Dame for a relaxing and scenic transport option. Take the Metro or Batobus on the way back.

I assume that you will have been traveling all night and may be a bit tired. You have been fairly ambitious with the amount of walking for a first day after a red eye, but you know yourselves the best.

Posted by
624 posts

Since you are already in St Germain area for the food tour you might enjoy afterward the Delacroix studio and museum there. https://www.musee-delacroix.fr/en/museum-studio/the-museum-today/the-museum-today You can also see his work nearby in the Church of Saint Sulpice https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Sulpice,_Paris. Also from my notes I made for our own trip that week one of the Christmas markets is near SS on Boulevard St Germain.

Posted by
2623 posts

Judy (from another Judy),
Based on distances from one place to another in your plans, I would say that you should probably spread these out over the whole day one and plot it out to avoid backtracking.
e.g. Eiffel Tower walk-around (it's closest to your hotel, then across Pont Alexandre III, to Arc de Triomphe, then walk down Champs Elysees toward the Place de la Concord). By now it is getting close to lunchtime, so maybe find someplace to relax and enjoy being in the city while eating. It is still a long walk (for me) to Notre Dame, so maybe metro or bus? (Personally, I find the Champs Elysees too touristy with lots of fast food places and souvenir shops, so I would take the metro to the Notre Dame area from the Arc. If so, when you exit the metro near ND there will be lots of cafes and restaurants on the left bank close to Notre Dame.) Lunch, then the cathedral. After that, a short walk to Ste. Chappelle (a must-see IMO). After that you could head back to your hotel area (Rue Cler) to wander a bit and seek out a place for your light dinner.
I recommend getting a Paris street map to see the locations of the places you mentioned to efficiently plan your sightseeing without backtracking.
Day 2 (a Monday) does have lots of museum closures, but there is Montmartre and the Basilica Sacre Coeur, the Opera Garnier, the Invalides (Army Museum with Napoleon's tomb), the Galeries Lafayette (Blvd. Hausmann location), the Jardins de Luxembourg....and the Louvre. Take your pick. Oh yes, take a one hour boat ride on the Seine on Vedettes de Pont Neuf. Inexpensive, narrated, one of the best bargains in Paris! Sit up top for the best views, but dress accordingly. It will be cold in December. We go every time in Paris.

Have fun!

Posted by
16206 posts

"I understand the shops and cafes will close on Sunday afternoon and all day Monday."

This is not correct for the cafes in and around the Rue Cler area. I've not noticed it anywhere else either in areas where there are lots of tourists. I just got back from staying about 3 weeks at 2 different hotels in the neighborhood and the cafes are open every day. Right beside the front door to the Leveque is Le Petit Cler which is open ever day from breakfast thru the evening. Same with Cafe Central which is to the left from your hotel and Café Roussillon which is to the right, hahaha!! Some of the stores/fruit & veg stands may be closed but you won't be cooking anyway, lol.

I agree with the others about just getting a taxi from the taxi rank. Rue Cler is a pedestrian street but delivery trucks and taxis can drive on it so you will be dropped off at your front door.