Monday in Paris

If you're interested in visiting museums there are some open on Mondays, including the Louvre. It's worth checking the hours of specific museums you might be interested in. On a recent Monday in Paris we went to the Orangerie to see the giant Monet water lily paintings and other impressionist art, then walked up the Champs Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe. Had lunch near the Trocadero then to the Eiffel Tower. Not sure what you'll already have covered on the tour but those are some thoughts.

If it were I..... I'd play hookie from the RS tour on Sunday (People do this all the time) and go to Versailles. I was there recently and I loved it. There's no place in the world like Versailles.

I know it's not Versailles, but Chateau Chantilly (sp) is another option. And I think it is open on Monday. However, after having done the RS tour, you might want to do something more relaxing. You could go to Rue Mouftard in the morning, pick up a picnic lunch and go to the Luxembourg Gardens.

Some museums do close on Monday as do sites such as Versailles. Others close only on the first Monday of the month, such as I discovered at Les Invalides this summer. If you want to leave Paris on your last day there, how about going to Fontainebleau? Take Bus 65 (which is what I did from Gare du Nord, thus avoiding the Metro) or the Metro to Gare de Lyon for the train to Fontainebleau-Avons. The r/t train ticket is a bit over 15 Euro.

Linda's suggestion of the Luxembourg Gardens is a great idea!! It is absolutely wonderful there. There are two cafes, lots to see, people watch, relax...there's no place better....Another suggestion would be either Fontainebleau or Vaux le Vicomte.

ditto on the Luxembourg gardens suggestion[INVALID]it really is insanely beautiful. also, we loved the opera garnier[INVALID]tours in english at 11:30 and 2:30 and open on mondays. in that same area there's the galleries layfayette department store, which is worth a visit not to shop, but for the view from the 7th floor. we also loved pere lachaise cemetery. it was beautiful and so quiet and empty, which was much needed after the bustle of paris. also[INVALID]if it is not part of the RS tour, definitely do a seine cruise. the ones that leave from pont neuf at tip of ile de la cite are lovely, and there's a little courtyard area opposite the steps down that has some cute cafes. have a great trip!

I also vote for the Luxembourg Gardens - fantastic place to relax and people watch - I always go there several times and bring my lunch whenever I'm in Paris.

If you wanted Versailles, I would ditto the suggestion of a tour of Opera Garnier on your Monday. Its decor is over-the-top gilt and marble-very baroque. Before or after, you might want to stop by nearby Le Printemps. The middle building has a top floor restaurant situated under a beautiful stained-glass dome. The third building (the domeless one) has a top floor viewing area with excellent views of the city. Also nearby, Musee Jacquemart Andre-not sure if it is open on Monday, but google away if you are interested in seeing beautiful art in a gorgeous mansion. Some other possible choices: Promenade de Plantes walk, a stroll through the area around the Pantheon and Arena Lutece, Rodin gardens if they are open, definitely Luxembourg Gardens. For dinner, consider our favourite, Le Montebello (very reasonable prices) on the left bank, with a splendid view of Notre Dame.