Paris and Florence Itinerary Help

I know you said you just kind of wanted ideas on your Florence part of your vacation.

However - I think your first day in Paris is probably overambitious, particularly the Louvre at the end of a jet-lagged day. I know you indicate you move thru museums pretty quickly but some of the problem is that the buildings are so big it can take a while to get to where you want to go in the Louvre. Day 2 is also over-ambitious to me. I'd probably pick 3 out of what you've got with the option for a 4th if you have time and energy. Unless Fountainbleu is a must for one of you, I'd stay in town that day and do the Louvre (it's open on Monday) and something left over from Saturday.

I honestly would save Venice for your next trip.

Just try to go on a long day trip if it does not work out then maybe next time. The last train back is at 19:54

There is no way I could visit the Louvre on arrival day. If your flight is from the US, you will crash in the late afternoon with jet lag. Don’t plan more than a walk around the city or a Seine boat ride that day. Add Musee Rodin in Paris;the sculptures, including The Thinker, are outside in a garden and also make sure you visit Musee d’Orsay filled with the Impressionists. I much prefer it to the Louvre and would prioritize it way ahead of Le Chateau de Fontainbleu..
Florence: L’Accademia is a high priority for Florence as you will see Michelangelo’s “David”, a thrill for our family. Make sure you have reservations for that.
You are correct, Venice is not suitable for a day trip from Florence. Two nights minimum to give you one day.

Its too bad you did not just fly from Paris to Venice and spend at least one night ( 2 is better) and then train to Florence for the end of your trip.

You could go to Venice the day you arrive in Florence and get there for dinner and spend one or two nights.

As already noted your arrival day in Paris is 'ambitious', no "probably" about it.

A vacation trip should be enjoyed, not just survivable.

my $0.02

I just got back from both places, and I'll give you my 2 cents on all the attractions you've listed (at least the one's we visited). Not to get too philosophical, but our best experiences of the trip was everything that goes on between the attractions. They just provide some structure to our days.

DAY 1: (FRIDAY) arrive 7:55am
Basilica du Sacre-Coeur de Montmartre (this is the best church in Paris)
Palais Garnier (we saw a ballet here - incredible)
Galeries Lafayette (didn't do)
Louvre Museum (we went on Wednesday night and it wasn't crowded - it was incredible)
DAY 2: (SAT)
Musee de Orangerie (didn't do)
Arche de Triomphe (over-rated - no big deal)
Eiffel Tower (hard to get to - lots of fencing - it was okay but better from a distance)
Musee de l’armée (didn't do)
Sainte-Chapelle (good - not great - better than Notre Dame, although you can climb to the top of ND for incredible views which I recommend)
DAY 3: (SUN)
Palace of Versailles (Flat Tire Tours/Bike), (didn't do - we did the Vaux le Vicomte which we regretted)
DAY 4: (MON)
Le Château de Fontainebleau, (didn't do)
(get a Metro Pass and also don't miss the Marais district in Paris - wander it for boutiques and restaurants - it's the best. The Picasso Museum is there)
FLY TO FLORENCE
DAY 5: (TUES) arrive airport 2:30pm
NO PLANS YET,
DAY 6: (WED)
Ponte Vecchio (that's just a bridge with touristy jewelry shops - no big deal)
Pitti Palace and The Boboli Gardens, (didn't do, but when you're over there go over to the Piazza Santo Spirito and eat dinner on the square - the best and not too touristy)
Piazalle Michael Angelo (didn't do)
DAY 7: (THURS)
Uffizi Gallery (didn't do)
Palazza Vecchio Tower (pretty good - Bargello Museum was better)
DUOMO -Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral (climb tower) (didn't do - we went to Siena - the cathedral is better there)
Galleria Dell’Accademia (good - not great)
DAY 8: (FRIDAY) 9/14
NO PLANS YET, (If you're in the market to buy any leather goods, then go to the Sante Croce Leather School). See an Opera at the St. Mark's Church - that was the most unexpected delight of our entire trip!)
DAY 9: (SATURDAY) - LEAVE FOR HOME - morning. We enjoy exploring areas. We can go through museums pretty quickly. I really appreciate your input.

Re think your Louvre idea unless you are an Olympic Athelete.

If you took the three wings of the louvre and straightened them out in line they would stretch for probably close to a mile or more and there are multiple floors in each wing. You will have to walk most of it just to see the highlights. And this time of year there is NO moving quickly thru the Louvre it is just too packed.

I suggest this there is a woman art historian and painter who gives fantastic tours of the louvre, she starts with tea in her house just across the street and an overview. She hits the historically and artistically most important sights her groups are 6 or less. You can find her under Experiences in AirBnb. We took her tour (even though I have been to the Louvre before) and were very very impressed.

But having said that even her tour can be exhausting.

And if you want to remember anything of this experience DO NOT attempt to do it directly after an overnight transatlantic flight.

I take 2 days to visit the louvre and still only scratch the surface.

Keep in mind that St Chapelle is a long ways from the Eiffel Tower and that is a long ways from the Arch d’ Triomphe. There is some considerable transit time involved here. Not only that even IF you have reservations at the Eiffel Tower if you want to go to the top you may be in line for an hour. Then add at least an hour on the tower....and don’t forget the time the security lines take. These can be very long, they move fast, but still take considerable time.

The reality of a crowded Paris (and Sept WILL be crowded) is different than what one imagines they can accomplish while planning from home.

Also if you land at CDG at 7:55 you would be incredibly lucky to get to your hotel before 9. Friday morning inbound Paris traffic is heavy.
Hope you have fun

PS. I know you want to see as much as possible but the most common mistake is to try to do too much and your itinerary looks impossibly packed to me.

What Suki said.

For Paris, I would skip the Chateau de Fontainebleau and substitute the Rodin or Marmottan museums. I agree with others that the Louvre would not be a good idea for your arrival day.

I would skip Venice for this trip, perhaps substituting a day trip to Siena.

Hey Nicole
Like the others here have said, you are packing in too much per day, not the louvre on arrival day, don’t see any time for meals, strolling, people watch with a glass of wine. Pretty quickly is very different in September in Paris, unless pushing through rudely or frustrated. Slow down and enjoy. Since your early arrival, do you have a place for luggage storage until checking in to hotel/apt? Happy travels
Aloha

I just came back from a two -week trip to Italy, and have some suggestions for your Florence itinerary.

I wouldn't try to go to Uffizi and Academia on the same day as they are both on many people's must-do lists and tend to be very crowded. I went to these on separate days, both first thing in the morning. I don't see Bargello on your list and would recommend you add that. You could easily do Academia and Bargello on the same day.

I did climb both duomo and Palazzo Vecchio tower (on separate days). I think you don't have to do both as the view is essentially the same. But if you insist on climbing duomo, make sure that you reserve ahead of time or do that as soon as you get to Florence.

I don't see Santa Croce on your list either, and would highly recommend adding that. With the amount of time you have, you may want to consider giving up visiting Venice on this trip. As many have pointed out, your itinerary is too packed to allow any sort of relaxation and/or mistake. My experience is that it always took longer for us to visit the sites than I had planned.

Enjoy your trip!

Thank you all so much for your input. I really appreciate all your suggestions. Now, I'm revising my itinerary. I really love this site.