Thoughts on our spring Paris itinerary?

Sounds lovely, if a bit optimistic.

I think you may want to have some Plan Bs in case of foul weather.

Also, the authentic falafel places in the Marais close early on Friday in observance of the Sabbath. You should pick a different day or go for lunch.

The Monday is a bit over packed (you could skip Palais Royal), but the Thursday is light, so it evens out. Also, it would make sense to visit Catacombs before or after Luxembourg due to proximity. You could combine Montmartre and Marais on the Thursday instead.

Your itinerary is fine. You can do this. However, one of the wonderful things about Paris is wandering the streets and finding little neighborhoods and patisseries and fromageries, etc. Be willing to drop your day's plan if the moods strikes anyone in your group. You kind of just have a classic check off the list itinerary, which works for many people but might not charm young teenagers. What do they want to see? What has piqued their interest in Paris? I suggest you build on that.

Markets: Rue Cler is fine, but it has always struck me as a sanitized Americanized area and more American adult than teenager interesting. On the other hand, if your hotel is there, you can easily let your kids go out and wander alone, which is good for them. There are a lot of markets in Paris that I suggest you read about. Two possiblilities:

1. Rue Mouffetard, which includes a great selection of restaurants. Maybe read A Moveable Feast. This is over near the Sorbonne.

2. Or Marche Poncelet, which is a 5 minute downhill from Etoille (or Arc de Triomphe). I will hold harmless that I have been to Paris many times, but not in a decade or so. Previously, this was a Parisian neighborhood, but it might have changed to a more touristy area in the last decade or so...so do your research. In this area, Wagram Street has many restaurants and necessary stores.

Also, in this area, but in the opposite direction from Etoille is Parc Monceau. Have your kids seen Amelie? If not, you might want to suggest they watch it.

I've always found other streets besides Champs Elysee interesting; ie, Rue Saint-Honore.
Or walk by Macron's house...Elysee Palace
I don't know what your kids interests are, but this is the time to start developing them. It's now time for your kids interests to take over vacations, with some supervision. Also, have you alotted time for the teenage "I want to sleep late" into your schedule somewhere? Paris is a city to walk, walk, walk. You have good backups if it rains in the museums. If the kids aren't museum kids, consider going to the Rhodin museum as it is smaller, but watch the foreign film "Claudille Camel" as an interesting resource for this museum. I had no issue with my daughter watching this film, but I don't know what your values are, so you might want to check it out first. If your kids are female, well then all the more reason to watch this film. IMO

I'd been to Paris many times before I bothered to see the Catacombs. However, perhaps one of your kids wants to see this? It's bones. Regardless of my apparent crabbiness today, I'm sure you will have a great time regardless of your choices! LOL

I love your itinerary and is doable. Some days may be a bit heavy, and if you're adaptable, flex some of your visits to other days. Your kids might the Emily in Paris Tours available (probably doing that one myself). This will be my 5th visit to Paris and plan to visit the catacombs and the sewers if allowed (they're working on the sewers now for the Olympics). Sacre Couer neighborhood is kind of cool, so walk around the back streets. The church is more impressive than on the inside. The view is spectacular. Getting lost in Paris is one of my favorite things and most areas are pretty safe. Just watch out for pickpockets.

Thank you so much for all of your wonderful advice! I'm adapting and changing accordingly. Love this forum and all you helpful people!

You'll need a vacation after that "vacation," slow down! Especially if you've already been running around London for a week.

Rue Cler is indeed a nice street, but short and a bit dressed for tourists as it has become popular. We did however, love to go into La Mere de Famille for chocolates.
We stayed in the area of Rue Mouffetard and really liked that street far better-more offerings, more neighborhood like. Then again, we were right there so we visited often.

Your itinerary is very busy. Your first day-you can and will walk through the Tuileries more than once so don’t count it as an event but more as a pathway from A to B. Unless you are a HUGE fan of Monet, which I am, I would say skip the l’Orangerie, rain or no rain. If you are only going because you think it’s a must see, I would spend your time in/on what you really want to see. The Louvre for 3 hrs will sap your brains and overload your senses.

We spent a full day at the D’Orsay. And it’s a bit of a trek, although a nice one, from there to the Eiffel Tower. The sunset tour on the Seine is hyped and worth every bit of that hype. Try to find a smaller boat for it. I used Vedettes de Paris-not quite so many people on board.

Friday a bit packed too. We also like to wander and the neighborhoods are larger than they look and far more to see than is ever published. You might manage two areas but I feel you’ll be hard pressed to do all 3 and really enjoy any of them. Saint Chapelle is definitely a good choice.

Thursday will be busy enough but it also gives you the opportunity to take a previous plan and add it here.

Looking a map of Paris does not relay its’ true size and the amount of time it will take to travel between sites and neighborhoods. I studied one for a number of weeks and was blown away by the true distances.

No matter what you fit in and may need to leave out, it will be a wonderful experience.

We did a similar trip in September, starting with a week in London and ending with 8 days in Paris. I stacked our itinerary in a similar way and managed to do about 70% on the list, but prepare to walk and be flexible about dropping things if there's inclement weather. Personally walking down Champs Elysees wouldn't be worth an afternoon to me, as it's full of a lot of chain stores - maybe take the metro to the Arch at night for photos, or consider climbing it for the view. Rue Montorgueil could be a pleasant post-Louvre spot to grab lunch or happy hour. If it rains, you could check out covered passages like Passage des Panoramas.

Word of warning about walking to the Eiffel Tower - it's farther away than it looks. That's a good idea to break up the walk with lunch - there are lots of restaurants on the Berges de Seine. There's an app called Le Fooding that's great for local recommendations. Catch a boat tour from the base of the Eiffel Tower instead of making your way to Pont Neuf. That way you'll end up near the Trocadero for the light show.

Thursday seems barebones but there will be a lot of travel involved, and there is a lot to see in Montmartre. Rue Abbesses and Rue Lepic are pretty shopping streets with bakeries and boutiques. Musee de Montmartre has a pretty garden and could be a good place to go in case it rains.

The kids could be interested in the Conciergerie, as an add-on to St. Chapelle. It includes a new interactive tour using augmented reality - it held my interest even as an adult. Also fun for children is Eternelle Notre Dame, under the square in front of Notre Dame. It's a 45-minute full-scale VR experience and it's very well done. A portion of the proceeds goes to the rebuilding fund. Both would be good rainy day activities.

There are a lot of free city-run museums in the Marais, and I'd recommend taking the escalators to the top floor of the Pompidou Centre for a free panorama vista of the Paris skyline. I also love the Rue Mouffetard area for its charm, but with only 5 days, it may be a bit out of the way if you want to see the 5th and 6th as well. Have a wonderful trip!

I hesitated to mention my opinion as RS hypes Rue Cler and many think it is wonderful. But, following on the previous poster's recommendations, I would also suggest Rue Montorgueil or Rue Mouffetard as being less "touristed". Thanks, Jasmin. I had wanted to say something - glad you did first!

Another thought. About a 15 minute easy stroll from the the catacombs there is an area with a number of good crepe restaurants and popular restaurants - some more touristy than others. If lunch in the area fits your schedule, check out options of Rue du Montparnasse and, for more interesting Paris sites near the catacombs -- Rue de la Gaite. https://www.travelfranceonline.com/rue-de-la-gaite-in-montparnasse/

Glad to be of help, ORDTraveler! I was going to mention the creperies on Rue Montparnasse as well, so I'm glad you did :) La Creperie Bretonne is the one we tried, and I've heard good things about Le Creperie de Josselin. Try the hard cider that everyone seems to be drinking with their galettes - mine came in a little earthenware bowl and it was a delight to drink with two hands. Another tip from a tour guide was to try caramel crepes - they're made with good French butter and were about the most satisfying thing I've ever tasted.

La Creperie Bretonne was the place I stopped in most recently also, Jasmin! Sounds like we are similar travelers.

I also had the hard cider - quite a relaxing after effect! A bee landed in my cup and I was graciously provided with a second, so I had a double portion of the “hard” with a greater impact (on an empty stomach) than I anticipated. Fun memory!

Musee d’Orsay tends to be packed on Tuesdays because the Louvre is closed. The coat check person said Wednesdays and Thursdays tend to be less crowded.