Any opinions, suggestions, ideas?? (We are traveling with 8 year old and infant)
Day 1(Sunday): Arrive from London via Eurostar around 3 pm. Get settled (staying in 7th)
Day 2: Morning: Louvre (focus on Richelieu wing-Napolean's waiting room)with lunch at Cafe Denon there. Do some shopping (toy store?). Head to Rue Cler and pick up some food items to take back to apt (Rue Cler is 5 minutes from where we're staying).
Day 3: 9 am Take Metro to Place de la Concorde..make way down Champs Elysees to Arc de Triomphe (opens at 10)..climb and view. Metro to Trocadero and walk to Tour Eiffel via pont d'lena for 12:30 lunch reservation at Altitude 95. Back to apt. to rest than afternoon Montmartre walk. Out to dinner at 8 (w/o the kids! while friends babysit).
Day4: Ste. Chapelle, Conciergerie, Notre Dame and Ile St. Louis. Lunch in St Germain area. Musee de Cluny (free!), Luxembourg Parc. Dinner in Latin Quarter.
Day 5: Disneyland (non-negotiable with 8 year old)
Day 6: Fly out at 7 am.
Posted by
Mars, PA, USA
213 posts
Sounds wonderful! Only thing I would check is you're walking the Champs-Elysees at 9am and I'm not sure the stores are open that early (could be an issue passing the closed Disney Store with an 8 year old...might need something for the day at Disney). I think most stores open at 10, but someone here might know.
Posted by
San Francisco/Marin County
9436 posts
I was glad to see you listed "Luxembourg Parc" because I was going to highly recommend going there (Luxembourg Gardens is the actual name, or Jardins de Luxembourg) for your 8 yr old. My son is now 18 but when he was young, on our many trips to Paris, he LOVED going there to the playground. It is the best I have ever seen. You pay a small admittance fee, but it's well worth it. My son met and played with so many kids from other countries, and even kids from other parts of the US he would never have otherwise met. Not only did he always have a great time there but it also broadened his world to meet and play with kids from all over the world. I wouldn't leave it to day #4 though, I'd go the first day if you can. They have really comfortable chairs all around the outside of the playground where I would sit and watch, read my guidebook, write postcards, relax, people watch, etc. I loved it as much as my son did!
Posted by
SF Bay Area, CA
2030 posts
After or before your Louvre visit, I would include a stroll through the Tuilleries, if the weather is nice. I would not walk from Place de Concorde to the Arche de Triomphe, it's a long walk and not that interesting. The climb to the top of it may be daunting too, with an infant.
I think you will not be able to get all the things in you have planned for Day 4.
But it's good to have a plan and then try to do as much as you can. Your actual results may vary, but whatever you end up doing it will be great, I'm sure.
Posted by
Ottawa, Canada
4555 posts
Just remember that the walk from the Place de la Concorde to the Arc is about two miles.....uphill. You may want to consider doing it in reverse...that might also give you time to visit the stores after they open at 10. Taking the Metro from Place de la Concorde to the Trocadero will involve one change and more time, but it might be worth it. If you get tired, you can always cut the journey down the Champs Elysees at FDR station and take Metro line 9 direct to Trocadero. Personally, I found the obelisk at Place de la Concorde interesting....but surrounded by noisy, smelly traffic.
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
Hi Janna, while at the Louvre please take your 8 yr old downstairs to "Medevil Louvre" it is the evcavated old foundation and walls of the Louvre( which started out more like a fortified castle then the "palace" it evolved into.. my son loved see the contrast between the guilded ceilings and Napoleons apartments with the car sized chandilers upstairs,, and the giant stone walls downstairs..
Plus, do take him to see the mummies, you know , kids love their mummies.. LOL
Posted by
Paris, France
506 posts
Just a few notes for you to consider.
There is a new museum exhibit at the Arc de Triomphe (opened in March). There are 350 steps to the top - however there are several opportunities to stop.
Should you decide not to walk up hill from Concorde to the Arc - you can take metro line 1 - from Franklin Roosevelt or Champs Elysees Clemenceau to either Geroge V or Charles de Gaulle Etoile. To get to Trocadero I would recommend the line 6 (Charles de Gaulle Etoile) or line 9 (Franklin Roosevelt) to Trocadero.
Depending upon your dates - for Saint Chapelle and the Conciergerie expect to wait in line to see both easily an hour or more at times. You may find this to be exhausting and will take up a good part of the day. When at Notre Dame - I would forego the climb to the Towers given you have already seen views.
Posted by
Durham, NC, USA
335 posts
Janna, Norm's comment about the traffic at Place de la Concorde is true, but my VERY favorite fountain in all of Paris is located there. Poseidon, mermaids, goldleaf, jets of water, etc. And if you stand with your back to the Jardin des Tuileries, the Eiffel Tower rises in the background. And I agree with everyone that the walk thru the Jardin from the Louvre is very nice. Just before you reach the Place de la Concorde (while still inside the Jardin) there's a large pond area with comfy chairs so you can relax while your children play.