Paris 3 day itinerary and help with places to eat?

Somebody correct me if I am wrong, but I don't think that flea market is open on Mondays, I think it is just a weekend thing.

I was a bit dissapointed in it. Reminded me of the people selling on the bridges of Venice or in Manhattan.

Also, expect big crowds in Versailles on Tuesday since that is the day the Louvre is closed.

One more thing, consider Musee d'Orsay instead of the Louvre is you don't want to spend too much time in museums. It is much more manageable.

I would forget going to the flea market.

Go to Versailles the first day it is nice weather, and preferably not Tuesday. Be sure to tour the grounds--gardens, Trianons, Queen's Hamlet.

I'm not sure where the Catacombs are in relation to Notre Dame and Eiffel Tower, but it could be out of the way and perhaps skip-able, unless you are dying to see it. (ND and the ET are much better, and particularly, don't miss the lights of the ET at the beginning of each hour at night)

Check the D'Orsay website -- parts of it could be closed for renovations. I wouldn't necessarliy chose it over the Louvre, depends on what you want to see -- you can't see all of the Louvre in one visit.

The rest sounds good to me. My suggestion for eating
Cafe du Marche on rue Cler. Angelina's tea room (must get the hot chocolate) on rue du Rivoli, if you just hit these 2 places this trip you will be in good shape!

I'm sure lots of people will tell you, "3 days in Paris isn't enough!" Personally, I'd drop Versailles unless you've really got your heart set on it. One of the pleasures of Paris is walking, so consider setting aside time for that especially if the weather is good. I see that you're already doing a guided walk to Montmartre, how about wandering in the Marais or Latin Quarter or Rue Cler districts too, stopping for a drink and people-watching at a cafe? And how about a boat trip on the Seine? You could take the Batobus and buy a day ticket, so you can hop on and off as you please. Suggestion for a place to eat: I liked Le Relais de Gascon at Rue des Abbesses in Montmartre and their huge salads with garlic-fried potatoes. Reasonably priced too. Haven't been to the flea market or the Catacombs so I can't comment on them. Hope this helps with your planning and enjoy your trip!

Sherry,

Here are some highly prejudiced opinions based on eighty-three bazillion (at last count) trips to Paris:

Flea market: nothing but junk, half hour each way from center of city (metro and walk), skip it

Catacombs: long walk once you get undeerground to where the bones are, then long, long walk through piles of bones which will bore you to tears after five minutes, skip it

Eiffel Tower: do that after dark since smog has dissipated and lines are shorter

Do following in this order: Arc, Champs, Tuilleries, Louvre -- arriving at Louvre an hour or two before closing to avoid lines (this will let you see the big three and a bit more). If you want a lot of time in the Louvre, arrive first thing in AM and reverse the walk order above.

Montmartre: read a little, plot what you want to see, and wander on you own -- very easy to do, no sense paying a talking head. Not much to see inside the bascilica -- view from the steps is great

Notre Dame: while you're on the island, see archaeological crypt (other end of square from cathedral) and Sainte Chapelle

Cheap, good grub: any brasserie (not cafe or bistro) in Latin Quarter uphill from Blvd Saint-Germain

Versaillies: robs too much time from being in Paris, skip it

Pedestrian area surrouding Les Halles metro: wander there and then go over to Pompidou Center and watch the street entertainers

Tight budget: See discussion of Etap hotels about thirty threads down.

What else to do: walk, walk, walk, walk........... and ride the Batobus (once in daylight and once at night -- the tickets are all-day affairs)

Hi Sherry,

Ed has some excellent suggestions! I would just add that for inexpensive meals--crepes are usually good--there are a couple of good crepe restaurants on Ile Saint Louis. Also, in the Marais, L'As du Falafel is a good inexpensive meal.

OK, I have edited a few things (but kept Versailles) above. Thanks everyone for the suggestions, I'd welcome more! Also, we're saving money by couchsurfing in the north end of Paris, but thanks for the Etap hotel suggestions :)

With your revisions, the batobus is not such a great idea after all. It will not serve your transportation needs.

Prices are rough and from memory: Batobus is about fifteen bucks (check at batobus.com, or google "batobus paris" if I'm wrong). Metro tickets are less than three bucks each (1.8 euros ?).

It looks like everything is walkable except for coming and going to the city -- and for getting back and forth to Montmartre -- and getting to the ET and back, depending on where you start (I can stoll from Notre Dame to the ET along the river in 45 minutes, but I'm a hiker).

That being said, the batobus at night beats any tour I've ever heard of. It has no narration and serves no food, but you can take your own grub and drinks and eat off of your lap as you take in the lights and thumb your nose at the people on the expensive dinner cruises eating absolutely horrid food.

You've got a plan; go for it!

Edit for late thought: Since you're starting at the Louvre and you might spend less time there than you think, and since the walk up the Champs will be more of a quick march (it ain't like it was in the '60's no more --just full of record stores, phone places, cheap junk) after you finish at the Arc, walk downwhill on Av Marceau (five o'clock spoke on the wheel of streets off the Pl de Gaulle and cross the Pt de Alma bridge. About fifty yards more is the sewer museum. The sign says "Egouts de Paris". Go there --fascinating place and it gives you a bit of "underground" Paris that is much better than the catacombs. I've forgotten the price, but it's not much.