Paris Itinerary input please

hz80408 · March 2012

Sorry, I know I posted one previously, but now I am considering getting the Paris Museum Pass and updated our schedule to reflect the 2-days we'd have it. Is this the classic overambituous tourist, or is this a do-able/pleasant schedule? (We'll already have been in Europe for a few days at this point). What's your feedback Travel Board?

Also, is it safe to take the metro Green/12 from D'Orsay (we're staying nearby) to Montparnesse at night (say 10pm-ish?). TIA

Mon	11:35am	Arrive at Gare du Nord
	by 12:30pm	Check in to apt (4nights)
		Hang out/get settled/explore
	3-7pm	Fat Tire bike tour (4 hrs, city tour); meet at Eiffel Tower
	pm	Night view at our Montparnesse (Metro: Green Line 12)
Tues	9:30am	Catacombs (Monteparnesse Cemetary - 2hrs)
		Jardin du Luxembourg
		Sacre Cour/Montmarte/Moulin Rouge (5 hrs)
Wed		Eiffel Tower to summit reservation
		Mus?e Rodin
		Get on metro at Varenne and take up to Haussmen
		Lunch at Printemps (rooftop caf?)
		Walk back to Arc de Triumph/Metro
		Arc de Triumph (1.5 hrs) <just see; don't go up? (TBD)
		Stroll Champs-Elsees
	pm	Mus?e du Louvre
Thurs	am	Breakfast
	9:30a (?)	Notre Dame and cathedral tower (2.5 hr)
		Saint Chapelle (1hr)
		Lunch
		Mus?e national de l?Orangerie
		Walk Latin Qtr and St. Germain
	pm	Mus?e d?Orsay (2hrs)
Fri	am	Eat breakfast
		Check-out of apt
	10:20am	Travel from apt to Orly Airport
	11am	Check in for flight

TravelingJen · March 2012

Although parts of your itinerary are busy (Weds and Thurs) it is definitely doable. I am a go go go traveler though so I enjoy cramming in as many sights and activities as I can each day! As long as you and your DH are ok knowing that your Weds and Thurs might be busy, you will be fine. You only have a short time in Paris so you need to take advantage and see as much as you can! :-)

In terms of safety, I have visited the city on three separate occasions and have never had any issues. As long as you use common sense while walking around at night, you will be fine.

hz80408 · March 2012

Thanks Jen; I figure we can alter as needed (maybe not to lunch at Printemps, go through a museum at a faster pace, go up in the Arc, etc) just depending how we'd feeling.

I would have rather done our busiest days on Tues and Wed and then have Thurs less busy/go wherever we want, but with some museum closures on Tues; this seems to make sense.

TravelingJen · March 2012

hz80408:

Thanks Jen; I figure we can alter as needed (maybe not to lunch at Printemps, go through a museum at a faster pace, go up in the Arc, etc) just depending how we'd feeling.

I would have rather done our busiest days on Tues and Wed and then have Thurs less busy/go wherever we want, but with some museum closures on Tues; this seems to make sense.

I agree. Sometimes I end up spending a lot less times at certain sights than I originally thought I would, especially in museums and churches. Definitely take it day by day and adjust your schedule as energy levels fluctuate! :-) Just remember and keep in perspective that at some point in your life you will probably go back to Paris a second time and will be able to have a more leisurely visit!

stever · March 2012

hz80408:
Thanks Jen; I figure we can alter as needed (maybe not to lunch at Printemps, go through a museum at a faster pace, go up in the Arc, etc) just depending how we'd feeling.

I would have rather done our busiest days on Tues and Wed and then have Thurs less busy/go wherever we want, but with some museum closures on Tues; this seems to make sense.

Don't alter your lunch plans! I prefer lunch at the cafe at the top of Galleries Lafayettes, but Printemps is lovely too(table service, so it's nicer than GL). But eating at either of them is always a highlight and I would really suggest you not pass it up. Eating with that view is totally worth it!

hz80408 · March 2012

stever:

Don't alter your lunch plans! I prefer lunch at the cafe at the top of Galleries Lafayettes, but Printemps is lovely too(table service, so it's nicer than GL). But eating at either of them is always a highlight and I would really suggest you not pass it up. Eating with that view is totally worth it!

Thanks; I am adamit (sp) that we keep the lunch plans!

We don't have to do Printemps; I'd just come across it an article and thought a rooftop cafe would be awesome. I'll check out where Galleries Lafayettes is located. Which has the better view would you say?

AGsWife · March 2012

I'm so jealous. Paris is my most favorite place in the entire world. Take me with yoooou, pleeease!

PittPurple · March 2012

I think it's a really nice itinerary actually - a good mix of things with tons of time for wandering around. And while I absolutely loved Sainte Chappelle, it's doesn't take that long to see - with the pass, you'll skip most of the line and then it's maybe a half hour. We skipped going up the stairs at Notre Dame which is something I really want to do next time, the pictures from up there look really fun.

hz80408 · March 2012

Awesome, thanks PittPurple!

AGswife - is there anythign not on your list, in the city (we've decided no Versailles or trips like that), than you'd recommend?

Katy&KT · March 2012

I only have two comments...even with summit reservations to the top of the Eiffel Tower we still spent close to 2 hours waiting in line on the second level (we had no wait to go up to the 2nd level, but then you are cued into a line to the elevator that goes to the top). I am not sure if you have this built into your day on Wednesday or not, but just something you may want to keep in mind.

Also, we are not museum people but still spent a lot of time at the Louvre just to hit up the major Master Pieces. I am sure it will not be as busy at night as it was during the day, but I was overall not prepared for how much time it would take to actually see everything we wanted to see (and fighting crowds).

So I think your itinerary is do-able, you might want to shift something out of Wednesday if possible.

misoangry · March 2012

Doing the Louvre on Wednesday is perfect because the museum is open until 9:45 p.m.

There weren't that many people when we went at night, and, if you get a two-day museum pass (which is good at almost all museums), you bypass any line and go straight through the side entrance.

hz80408 · March 2012

misoangry:

Doing the Louvre on Wednesday is perfect because the museum is open until 9:45 p.m.

There weren't that many people when we went at night, and, if you get a two-day museum pass (which is good at almost all museums), you bypass any line and go straight through the side entrance.

Thanks miso! This is exactly what we're hoping for. Plus since it's April, we're hoping for less crowds. My parents were there the same week in April last year, didn't prebuy anything and no museum pass and said while there were lines, they weren't awful

PittPurple · March 2012

My husband went separately to Paris for work and went to the Louvre on a Wed night in November and he said there were hardly any people at all so you might get lucky there.

Personally, my favourite parts of Paris were just walking around - we found a few free walking tours online and did those and it was great. You'll presumably get a really good overview with your bike tour (I've heard fantastic things about that company) and then you can figure out if there are any areas you want to wander around on foot to see things more slowly.

Oh - there's a wall in Paris that has 'I love you' in tons of languages - http://www.lesjetaime.com/english/lemur.html it's silly but in a fun neighbourhood and I loved seeing all the languages. If you're walking through the area it might be fun to see.

hz80408 · March 2012

PittPurple:

Oh - there's a wall in Paris that has 'I love you' in tons of languages - http://www.lesjetaime.com/english/lemur.html it's silly but in a fun neighbourhood and I loved seeing all the languages. If you're walking through the area it might be fun to see.

Thanks! it sounds cool. I'm hoping with our mix of tour (my parents did this tour last year and raved about it; I think we're going to use them in London also) and walking we'll get to see a good variety.

Paris Itinerary input please

Re: Paris Itinerary input please

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