First night in Paris

If you take the Metro to either Anvers or Abbesses, you still will need to walk uphill to the Montmartre funicular and ride it to Sacre-Coeur. You'll need a good city map to find your way from either Anvers or Abbesses to the funicular.

In this case taking a taxi will be much easier--and probably faster, even allowing for having to stand in line at a taxi rank at Gare du Nord. You won't be disappointed in the view.

You could actually walk it, if time and luggage weren't an issue. Take the Metro to Anvers, you won't even need a map: Get out at Anvers on Boulevard de Rouchechouart, cross the street (go toward the touristy shops) and walk straight up the hill in front of you. You can't miss it - if the crowds and tourist shops get thicker, you're in the right place. Abbesses is a much more circuitous route to Sacre Coeur.

I usually have a good sense of direction (at least my wife thinks so); but when we took the very short walk from Anvers to the funicular with me in the lead, I got turned around a bit. I zigged to the left when I should have zagged to the right--or vice versa. That's why I suggested having a city map.

Paris is so far west in the time zone that it stays light very late. You could easily sit outside reading a book until 10:00. I think you should go for it. Means of travel depends on how much luggage you have. I wouldn't care to be lugging wheely bags all over that area after dark. Even if it's entirely safe, you will be a magnet for scammers.

"Right now I'm on the Left Bank having a beer outside on the street at 10 pm."

Steve: That's good. It's 10pm Friday night, you're in Paris, on the Left Bank.Have another beer, or better yet, have a glass of French vin.
And...uhm...it's okay if you want to shut off the iPhone. We'll be okay, here on the Helpline. Honest.

I would go check-in to the hotel, drop your bags and head for the Eiffel Tower the first night. If this is your first time in Paris, and even if it's not, you will not be sorry to have your first impressions of the city be the sparkling lights on the Eiffel Tower. They sparkle at the top of the hour for 5 or 10 minutes.

You can always go to Sacre Coeur the next night - minus your luggage.

I agree with Andrea,, go to hotel ,, dump luggage, and enjoy your first evening looking at the Eiffel Tower,, at 10 pm it will do some magic for 10 wonderful momments. Cutesy a bit,, but still magical.

Steve, I think it's awesome that you're on your trip and you're still checking out the helpline...methinks someone is a helpline addict! Enjoy your trip and keep us posted!

You guys are great. You never fail to give useful advice. :-)

Steve, enjoy a beer for me, okay? I'll be there in 2 months!!

Hubby and I will be doing a night bicycle tour the next night, so thought I could get in something different for the first night; but you all are right: I do not want to drag my luggage (as light as it may be) through the scam artists that I've read about on TripAdvisor that are at the bottom of the hill to the Sacre-Coeur. In fact, reading through the harrowing tales of getting away from the string artists trying to scam you while picking your pocket pretty much has me shying away from trying to go there altogether.

So, we'll go to the hotel, drop our luggage, and stroll over to the Eiffel Tower. How many times in my life will I be able to do that? Just stroll over to the Eiffel Tower...Wow.

Tara,

If seeing a classic basilica appeals to you, don't let what you've read scare you away from Sacre-Coeur altogether. Go there when you don't have luggage and you will have nothing to be concerned about. If you want some exercise and an even better view of the city, climb to the top of the dome. If you want a quick overview of Montmartre, ride the Montmartrobus for its entire circuitous route.

Does anyone have any thoughts on checking the luggage at the baggage check in Gare du Nord and then walking the 10 minutes to Sacre-Coeur? Then after dinner, walking back to the station, getting the bags and then taking the metro to your hotel?

We were actually thinking of doing this, as Sacre Cour is one of my favorite places in Paris and our first night is the only night to fit it in. Am I crazy? Or would this work?

Great suggestion...we might just try that! Yes...schedule is short and full, so this would be the only time to see the Sacre-Coeur.

Sherry,

What you propose will work just fine. The left luggage facilities at Gare du Nord are open until 23:15.

If I'd been thinking, I'd have suggested that Tara do this herself.

Thanks Tim! I had this planned into our itinerary and was watching to see if anyone suggested it to Tara. Since it wasn't, I started to wonder if my idea was not feasible.

Tara, If your trip to Paris is as busy as mine is going to be and you really want to visit Sacre-Coeur (I want my family to see it as I have been there and it is beautiful), then try luggage check at Gare du Nord. I mapped out the walk from the train station and it looks like a pretty easy 10 minute walk. I also wouldn't worry about the bracelet wranglers at the bottom of the steps, I breezed by last time as I walked with purpose and had no issues with them.

Have fun!