Please sign in to post.

4 days in Paris itinerary help

We arrive in Paris early morning June 22 - which also happens to be my birthday! Would you look at my proposed itinerary and let me know if you have any suggestions for rearranging or adding/deleting? I have tried to organize but it's hard to get a feel for really how long it takes to get from one place to another. We are staying in the 7th, near the Ecole Militaire metro stop. Saturday trying to fight jet lag... leave bags at hotel, mosey through rue Cler for picnic lunch fixings, wander over to Tour Eiffel, metro to Marmottan museum early dinner and early to bed Sunday Place de la Bastille market St Sulpice if we can get there in time for organ concert at 11:30 Historic Paris walk from RS guidebook - Notre-Dame, Ile St. Louis, Latin Quarter, Sainte-Chapelle, Conciergerie, Pont Neuf dinner in Marais Monday Army Museum & Napolean's tomb l'Orangerie do the Champs Elysees walk from RS guidebook - we may not go to the places he discusses, but they are available along the walk (we'll have Paris Museum Pass) - basically walk from Arc to Esplanade (maybe do this backwards ending at Arc for view of Tower at night?) Tuesday
Versailles Boat tour of Seine Any suggestions for meals around the areas we'll be are appreciated, too. Anything goes! Thanks!

Posted by
9110 posts

The sequence will work, but you've got time to slip more things in. The metro ride won't get you all the way to the Marmottan, will have a couple or three lines changes, and take at least thirty minutes. You can walk it just as fast, if not faster (it's only a mile and a half or something). There might technically be a way to do it on Metro 9 with no changes, but I think you'd have to hump to Trocadero just to take a short train ride. Two questions in return: Did you just pick your sights from a single source or have you really studied up on Paris? Did you price out the museum pass against the separate entrance fees?

Posted by
1097 posts

I suspected we had room to add, but didn't want to over-stuff the itinerary. Most people asking this question get yelled at (nicely!) for trying to do too much. We're stop and smell the coffee (or drink the wine) kind of people, and a site has to be really worth it to fight the crowds. I mainly used the RS guidebook, but we've also been watching Travel channel specials (my foodie husband) and used the DK top 10, as well. He's way more interested in what he will eat and drink than what museums we see! And I've been lurking here for weeks, reading the posts from people who know these places best. Daughter loves impressionist art - can you tell?
Forgot to mention this is the first leg of 16 days in Europe so have to pace ourselves! Thanks!

Posted by
1097 posts

No, I didn't price the pass - wanted it mostly for skipping the lines and don't want to have to make reservations in advance so schedule can stay flexible. Time is worth more than money sometimes. We won't buy it till we get there.

Posted by
922 posts

We're stop and smell the coffee (or drink the wine) kind of people Good for you! There are few things more enjoyable to do in Paris than sitting and relaxing in a sidewalk café and people watching.

Posted by
9110 posts

Sounds good then. If you need to rearrange, the first thing to chunk is the Champs walk. Tell Mr FeedHisFace that the pretty good restaurant clumps are in the north end of the Latin Quarter or the main drag of Ile St Louis. If he wants to go halfway to hell for weird stuff, I've got some dillies. One the other hand, if he wants to blow the budget in one night, I've got a couple ideas along that line as well.

Posted by
77 posts

Monday: Only three blocks from Napolean's tomb, you might want to run into Rodin. It is small only took me about 45 min. It was one of my best stops in Paris. It is included with the pass. You also can lunch in the garden. I did not plan on seeing it at first and I am REALLY glad I did!

Posted by
9110 posts

Where I was going with the subway business but forgot to finish: That first day is going to be long and your legs might be wobbly when you come out of the museum. I'm a walker, you might not be. It's almost a half mile from the museum to the Muette metro station. There's a taxi rank right there which will get you home in ten minutes. It's going to be about ten bucks. Straight metro tickets for three will be just under seven.

Posted by
1097 posts

Rose - we definitely want to experience the joie de vivre along with the art :) Melissa - thanks for the tip on Rodin. I'll put that on the list. Ed - Mr FeedHisFace has been watching Anthony Bourdain and Andrew Zimmern and is determined to have kidneys and whatever other offal he thinks sounds interesting. Suggestions would be appreciated. And much thanks on the metro guidance. After "couple or three line changes" I had pretty much decided on a taxi! Merci!

Posted by
9403 posts

celeste, I hope you'll make time to add the Luxembourg Gardens to your list. One of my favorite places in Paris. Our favorite cafe is on Ile St. Louis, called La Flore en l'Ile, at the western tip by the pedestrian bridge. Very good food and fun to sit outside and people watch. Don't miss eating Berthillon ice cream. A good, budget friendly restaurant on Ile St. Louis: Cafe Med.

Posted by
1097 posts

Susan - Thank you! I did have Luxembourg Gardens on the list, and have made note of these two cafes.