Please critique my Paris itinerary!

You're in luck! For the next few weeks our Paris Correspondent is standing by, in Paris, to answer your questions about Paris (and beyond). Unfortunately, it's now 10pm in Paris and we've given him the rest of the night off (and we hope he's taking it). But I'm sure you'll hear from him soon....(drum roll)

Heath: You asked about a 2-hour walk. One idea: walk around the Montmartre neighborhood.

i realize this isn't really helpful per say, but i read your plan and am super jealous, even though we'll be in paris this summer, too. your plan sounds fabulous and perfectly balanced and, dare i say, romantic. have a fantastic trip.

that being said--here's something helpful. in doing research for our own trip, i've fallen in love with the cheapness and intimacy of london walks. there is a paris walks that is far less extensive (and i don't think they are related, but they are very, very similar) and am planning on doing several if not all of the paris walks during our two weeks stay this summer. it might be a good option for your montmartre stroll and/or your walk around the marais. google 'paris walks'.

again, have a great time!

Great itinerary, Heath. I especially enjoyed walking to Ile St. Louis in the evening and getting ice cream or gelato. Luxembourg Garden is really enjoyable, especially on a Sunday afternoon.

I'd skip Versailles and have some unplanned time.

I must be the only person who read Rick's Rue Cler pages and thought "I gotta go there" and then was REALLY disappointed when I did. If you're going there just to get picnic supplies, I think most areas would be fine to get them. If you're going there cuz Rick just thinks it's the best place this side of Heaven-skip it!

I must be the only person who read Rick's Rue Cler pages and thought "I gotta go there" and then was REALLY disappointed when I did. If you're going there just to get picnic supplies, I think most areas would be fine to get them. If you're going there cuz Rick just thinks it's the best place this side of Heaven-skip it! However, I will say that my friend bought some very nice-and expensive-passport cases when we walked around after doing "The Street", so maybe it was kind of worth it.

"I must be the only person who read Rick's Rue Cler pages and thought "I gotta go there" and then was REALLY disappointed when I did."

Nope, you're far from the only person who thinks maybe Rick has overly focused on the Rue Cler, to the exclusion of many other Paris neighborhoods. A Parisian told me some of the locals sarcastically refer to the street as Rue Rick Steves.

The Helpline Subcommittee on Where To Sleep hereby grants you an exception to sleep in one of Paris' many fine neighborhoods.

Hi. One suggestion I have is to take the Seine River Cruise your first or second day in Paris. We took the sunset cruise with Vedettes du Pont-Neuf our first day in Paris . It departed from Pont Neuf and slowly cruised under 15 bridges that cross the Seine, and past many of the beautiful sites you will be exploring. A guide gave commentary throughout the trip. It was a wonderful way to get an initial orientation to the city. Really fun, relaxing, and romantic.

My husband and I only had 2.5 days in Paris (originally 3 but our flight was delayed). It was our first time in Europe as well. Thanks to Steve we managed to see quite alot. I recommend the Batobus. We started at the Eiffel Tower stop and went all the way around the Seine the first evening just for a quick tour. We used it the second day to get to Notre Dame (tour around) then to other stops as a starting point. Quite inexpensive and we could enjoy the Seine more than once. Only downside is that you don't get the night views since the Batobus ends early (7pm for us but may be 9pm in the summer). We experienced night view standing atop Pont de la Concorde and catching the Eiffel Tower glowing in the distance.

Montmartre walk is great (if you head to the Dali museum please send me photos of the exit interview...I heard people discussing it when I squeezed by...they had been there for a while and we were on a tight schedule...)

Versailles was great on Wednesday though I would have loved to see the water fountains in action which only happens on weekends. And I hear the market in the town is awesome (again a luxury of time we did not have).

My husband an I were spent by the end of each day (walking about 21 km each day) we did not make it out too late especially since total darkness hit Paris around 9:45-10pm in mid-may. I suggest you take a break and try to head out at least one late night if you can. I heard the St. Germain area is great nightspot though Montrmartre would be great for this too (I can only imagine). Enjoy!

The Picasso museum is supposed to be closed for renovations---check their website. You could substitute the Carnevalet museum which is in the Marais. (and free admission!)

You might want to visit the Jardins de Luxembourg, possibly for a picnic. It was one of our favorite areas. Our favorite museum, the Cluny, is near there. It's also near the Latin Quarter, one of our favorite neighborhoods. For dinner in that area, you might like Le Montebello, directly across from the side of Notre Dame. Not too pricy.

You could buy a multi-day Batobus ticket and use it for most of your transportation. Most of your Paris sites, except Montmartre, are not too far from the Seine.

If you switch your Versailles day, you could do the English language tour of Opera Garnier on Wednesday. It was the most fascinating building we visited in Paris---over the top opulence and good commentary from the guide. You don't have to like opera to enjoy the building.

Ste. Chapelle - it's well worth the price to get concert tickets, usually Vivaldi's Four Seasons. You will be able to sit in comfort and enjoy the chapel much more than during the day. Also, the rays of the setting sun through the stained glass - priceless.

Ditto the Pont de Neuf Vedette sunset cruise - if you buy vouchers on-line you'll save a couple euro.

If you like Impressionists, don't skip the Orangerie.

Along with Rue Cler, I think the most overrated thing to do in Paris is go up the Eiffel Tower - it just eats up too much of your precious time and the lines to go back down are long too. There are lovely views from other places: The dome of the Pantheon, the Arc de Triomphe (very nice around sunset), Tour Notre Dame and Montmartre. And, since this is your first visit, you may find it frustrating to see the city from above when you first arrive and not be able to identify any of the sights.

Thanks to everyone for all the good suggestions, I plan on making some changes based on them! I don't understand it when people ask for help on here and then reject everyone's suggestions, it's nice to get some opinions especially if it helps me change my trip for the better.

Thanks again!