A friend and I will be travelling to Paris for the first time for six (almost seven) days in february. We%26#39;ll be staying near the Eiffel Tower and I%26#39;ve began tinkering with our itinerary. It%26#39;s hard, since we%26#39;ve never been and I%26#39;m unsure how much time to give each sight and activity. I don%26#39;t want our trip to be a running spree, but still would like to cover as much as possible. I tried to combine two sights and a bit of just walking around each day. I would love any advices you guys can give. Here%26#39;s what I have in mind so far:
Day 1:
Arriving around 4pm.
Up la Tour Eiffel
Walk along the Seine, maybe a cruise
Day 2:
A few hours at the Louvre
Walk along Tuileres, Place de la Concorde, Champs Elysées
Arch de Triomphe
Day 3:
Notre Dame
Walk the isles/Quartier Latin
Musée d%26#39;Orsay
Tour Montparnasse
Day 4:
Invalides
Musée Rodin
Sacre Coeur and walk Montmartre
Day 5:
Versailles
Later in the day, Opera Garnier
A little shopping
Day 6:
George Pompideau
Walk les Halles/Marais
Maybe a farewell cruise down the Seine
Day 7:
Tour Eiffel
More shopping
Check-out and airport around 6pm.
Too much? Too little? What to change? What to keep? i%26#39;d appreciate any help. :)
Bruno Cavalcanti
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I like it.
Would add Ste-Chapelle sacred-destinations.com/france/images/paris/… it%26#39;s on Ile de la Cité.
You mention the Eiffel Tower and Seine river cruise twice, not sure about that, there is so much to see in Paris, lovely smaller museums; the Orangerie, Cluny, Carnavalet... interesting market streets; Montorgueil, Mouffetard... squares; place Vendôme, place des Vosges, place du Panthéon and so on.
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This looks like a very sound itinerary.
I only have one comment - for Day 5. we headed out to Versaille around 10:30.. expecting only to spend a few hours, then head back.
Wrong. You can quickly breeze through the palace itself, but what really takes some time (in a good way) is the Hamlet and the gardens. We had a pedometer for our trip, and logged 10.23 miles in Versailles that day.
We didn%26#39;t manage to get back to Paris until around 6:15.
sure we could have started earlier by a an hour or 2, but point being you%26#39;ll end up back in Paris late in the day, and i don%26#39;t know if you%26#39;ll be able to squeez Garnier in.
Let me also say, Garnier was an absolute highlight of our trip. It is beyond magnificent. If you can, pay for the guided tour. I believe it%26#39;s only held 2 days per week, (Wed and Fri) and it%26#39;s only done at 11:30 and 2:30pm.
Whatever you end up shuffling around, i would keep Versailles as a full day, and try your best for a guided tour at Garnier.
Here was the argument we had while at Versailles. %26#39;If we leave now, we%26#39;ll miss part of the hamlet. we%26#39;re here. we have to see it. just another few minutes....%26#39; you get my drift :)
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It is worth to buy a museum card, otherwise try to have most popular attractions in the morning (Louvre, Notre-Dame, D%26#39;Orsay).
If you wil not buy the pass for the week, but for 3-4 days, rearrange the attraction covered by pass (e.g. in 3 days).
I am personally will not miss Orangery museum, and add more shopping (and call it sightseening point on Grand Magazines, as both of them got a fantastic view from the roof).
Overall, you timetable is quite balanced for the first time visit.
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Hi.
We do intend to get a 6 day card. And I see the point that it might be better to reserve a full day to Versailles. I figured the timetable is flexibe enough that I can rearranje things as I go along. For example, to spend clear days outdoors and rainy days in museums and such.
Will definetly visit Saint Chapelle. AndI would love to go to the Cluny, Orangerie, etc. But I figured there wouldn%26#39;t be enough time and I don%26#39;t want us to go somewhere just so we can say we went. Are these museums as time consuming as a Louvre or a Orsay?
Also, are the gardens an interesting place to visit in winter? Or are they going to bee too... let%26#39;s say, gray?
Thanks.
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I haven%26#39;t been in winter but I do think they may plant some hardy varieties in the beds, but I wouldn%26#39;t expect much really. I doubt you will spend a LOT of time wandering the Versailles %26#39;back 40%26#39; in February, although the outer buildings are interesting and there is usually some conveyance to get you there to save on your walking.
I think your itinerary is very comfortable, and for the additional suggestions folks are providing, you could make a %26#39;secondary%26#39; list and insert a site if you are near it and can see your daily allotment has room for it.
Remember it will be dark by 5:30-6:00pm, so any important sites (like Ste Chapelle or any gardens) need to be viewed earlier in the day.
On your arrival day, a late evening Seine cruise might end up being a 10€ nap, so be flexible there. It is definitely a good idea to get out and walk around in fresh (bracing!) air on arrival to help you get on the current timezone.
You are good to realize you %26#39;can%26#39;t see it all%26#39; and try to avoid attempting that very thing.
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Acttualy, Paris will be the last leg of a month long trip. We%26#39;ll be arriving from Venice, not Brazil, so jetleg is not really an issue.
I%26#39;m aware of the limited daylight and plan to make the best use of it. I just can%26#39;t go into details because my friend, the one going with me, might be reading. And if, at one side, I found out I%26#39;m a compulsive planner, at the other, I%26#39;d like her to have a few surprises along the way. :)
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Acttualy, Paris will be the last leg of a month long trip. We%26#39;ll be arriving from Venice, not Brazil, so jetleg is not really an issue.
I%26#39;m aware of the limited daylight and plan to make the best use of it. I just can%26#39;t go into details because my friend, the one going with me, might be reading. And if, at one side, I found out I%26#39;m a compulsive planner, at the other, I%26#39;d like her to have a few surprises along the way. :)
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Both the Cluny and the Orangerie are much smaller than the Musée d%26#39;Orsay and minute when compared with the Louvre. You could probably have an adequate visit to either in an hour. If you do go to the Orangerie don%26#39;t miss the Walther collection as well as the Monet water-lilies. Many of the Impressionist paintings are the equal in quality of those in the Md%26#39;O and usually easier to see because there are not the same crowds straining to see them.
As long as you have a pass, you could stop in on Day 2 after you have walked the length of the Tuileries. If you are enjoying yourselves and stay so long that you miss the walk along the Champs-Élysées you will have made better use of your time IMO.
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