Ok... take 2... everyone mentioned that my schedule was "ambitious" and not to do Versailles on the day we arrive...soooooooooooo... Sun (day we arrive at 6:45am) My plan is to stay up until 6 or 8pm. Morning 9-1:00 Rick Steve's Historic Walk (Ile de Cite, Ile de St. Louis - Notre Dame, St Chapelle, etc but not the Conciergiere with a walk thru the bird/flower market) Afternoon 2:30-4:30 Marais tour - Paris Walks Early Eve Either do some walking along Seine walk or go to hotel shower & walk to dinner near Hotel (which is near Place Vendome) - ANY SUGGESTIONS? Monday Morning 9-12 Louvre (Rick's tour) Afternoon 1:00 3.5 hour Sandeman's "free" Paris tour (really wondering about taking this or doing a self tour) OR L'Orangerie (just for the Monet Lilies) Champs de Elysees Walk with choco stops Go back to hotel to change Opera House (if time) Montmarte self tour or guided tour if can make it on time Dinner (ANY SUGGESTIONS?) Moulin Rouge Tuesday Versaille for the day Dinner in Paris (where near an RER C stop? Eiffel tower? Notre Dame? Near Hotel? ANY SUGGESTIONS?) Wednesday Rue de Cleur for breakfast on the go Rodin Museum Musee D'Orsay Dinner (ANY SUGGESTIONS?) Walking along Seine to Eiffel tower Thursday Eiffel Tower/Seine Walk Lunch (last one in Paris - SUGGESTIONS?)
Opera House (if didn't have time) And off by 1/1:30pm for our 5pm flight home Things I didn't get to fit in... Holocaust Museum, Catacombs, Eiffel Tower ride up (1 lift is broken so not able to reserve ticket and don't want to stand in line) Thoughts?
Posted by
Downingtown, USA
2373 posts
Sounds much better. Try to fit in Sacre Couer if a nice day. Also, maybe had mentioned but you need to get advance ticket to Versailles. Enjoy Paris.
Posted by
Stuttgart, Germany
3049 posts
I don't understand walking along Seine to Eiffel tour on Wednesday night then doing it again the next day? If you're not going up the tower, just visit it once, at night. On the whole I think this is ambitious but doable but there's a lot of walking in this. Paris is big, and exciting, and it's easy to forget how much you're walking as you're looking at cool stuff all the time but do take a break now and then and maybe be willing to cut/be flexible on a few items as you'll be tired. By Wednesday your feet may be hating you. Some of my favorite memories of Paris are just lingering over pastis at a cafe, more than any "sights". I'm also not a huge fan of Rick's tour of the Lourve. It doesn't give you much context but it does involve a lot of walking in a very confusing and huge complex. I prefer to look online at what area interests me the most, and go do that wing. Maybe with a side stop to see the Mona Lisa (which is not all that exciting tbh). It's so funny to me watching people on tours like Rick's rushing past amazing DaVincis' to crowd around a tiny, dark painting. If you like Italian Rennassiance art, enjoy the whole wing and don't just rush around. My favorite area is the ancient Babaloynian/Sumerian area, though. Has to be seen to be believed. For dinner suggestions, you should clarify your price range and what kind of food you're looking for.
Posted by
Sacramento, California U.S.A.
10248 posts
This is better, but still a bit busy. I don't see where you have allowed time to just enjoy Paris. I did that free walking tour. I was also there for 10 days on that trip, and it wasn't my first time there. I wouldn't bother with it. The 'guide', who was an American guy in his mid-20's, butchered the French language constantly. Some of the information was questionable. You can find a lot better ways to fill up your afternoon. I've never done this, but others have mentioned the Fat Tire bike tours as being a good way to see things. Maybe people who have done it can chime in and say if there was any commentary on the ride.