Trying to firm up our Paris itinerary so we can pre buy tickets/passes (we're not still not sold on the Paris Pass, which I know this board recommends; but we're considering it; due to being 25 and our rough schedule, we may be able to visit sites at time with less lines and save money with the youth rates)
We want to definitely visit: Notre Dame (including climbing the tower), Saint Chapelle, Eiffel Tower to summit, Eiffel Tower to lower levels (this is a maybe since we could get a city-day view from ND; so total we want city views at night and dad from atop something), Catacombs, Luxembourg Garden, walk Champs-Elysees and see Arc de Triumph (from street; not go up), D'Orsay, Lourve and Sacre Couer/Montmarte
Rough Outline right now; but looking for suggestions. We'll be staying in St. Germain; a few blks east of D'Orsay and a few blocks south of Seine. TIA for your help:
(eta: we've also decided not to do a Seine boat tour b/c we're doing a biking tour and we'll do a canal tour in Amsterdam)
Monday:
11:30 ? arrive in Paris and go directly to apt to check in
3-7pm ? Bike Tour of City <already purchased
Pm- Eiffel Tower summit
Tues:
-Be at Catacombs at opening (1.5hrs)
-Luxembourg Gardin (1.5 hrs)
-D? Orsay
-Stroll Champ-Elysees/see Arc
Wed:
-Notre Dame at opening
-Saint Chapelle
-Sacre Coure/Montmarte
Thurs:
- Lourve/explore
Fri:
-Breakfast, checkout, leave city
Re: Paris Itinerary
Great picks. My only suggestion would be to break up Weds and do some of the activities on Thurs. Honestly, even if you're not mad into the Lourve, it's really hard, IMO, to see/enjoy all 4 of those cities in one day.
I would suggest: Wednesday: Norte Dame, St Chapelle and then the pm/evening Sacre Coure/Montmarte/Moulin Rouge
Then Thurs: the Lourve and maybe a walk about in the Latin Quarter (pariswalks does a nice walking tour).
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Double-check to see when the D'Orsay has late hours - I think it's Thursday. If that's the case, I'd go Thursday night as you'll likely have fewer crowds. We did the Louvre on their late hours and it was *so* much better than it would have been during the day.
Pre-purchase your Eiffel Tower tickets online before you leave or you'll spend hours waiting in the queues.
You don't really need 1 1/2 hours in Luxembourg Gardens. I'd just plan a lunch around it - grab a baguette and some cheese and meats, take it over, and enjoy lunch there (if you get a nice day).
The Champs de Elysee is really underwhelming, too, unless Abercrombie and Fitch is your thing (the lines to get into that store literally snaked up the block). If you want good shopping, ask a cabbie to take you to the nice area where you'll find Hermes, Jimmy Choo, Christian Louboutin, and all the other top-end designers.
Find a Pierre Herme macaroons store and go to town. Delicious.