I’ve been given a gift of a stay in Paris for three days (I’ve never been before). I’ll be staying near the D’orsay. What must I see, and what little secrets are you willing to share?
Here’s my plan right now:
Louvre
D’orsay
Notre Dame
Saint Chapelle
Musee Rodin
Luxembourg Gardens
Eiffel Tower (maybe just look at it from afar).
What else should I try to fit in? Do you have a favorite cafe?
Thanks!
That’s an ambitious itinerary. I enjoyed the Musee D’Orsay more than the Louvre, but art is pretty subjective. In any event, the Louvre is so large that you won’t have time to hit more than the high points anyway.
Sacre-Coeur is beautiful, but maybe a little out of the way for a short visit. Angelina’s on Rivoli has the best hot chocolate I have ever had. If you have time to take a boat ride along the Seine in the evening that’s a treat, and they go right past the Eiffel Tower.
The view from the Arc de Triomphe is to some people more Parisian than from the Eiffel Tower, and as it’s right on the Champs Elysees it’s really easy to get to.
Try to relax a little. A whirlwind tour that leaves you exhausted is not going to be much fun. Take it easy, sit in a sidewalk cafe, watch the people go buy, stroll past the used book stalls along the Seine.
I just plan to see a few things in the Louvre and D’Orsay. I figure that Notre Dame and Saint Chapelle are both on the same walk. Maybe I should nix Rodin.
I love hot chocolate! Thanks!
I’d skip Rodin since you can find his stuff everywhere.
I’d add St Denis.
Notre Dame and Chapelle are a 5 minute walk apart, and they don’t take all that long to see unless you want to wait in que to go to the top of Notre Dame, something I never did whilst living in Paris, so I can’t say if it’s worth it or not.
Sacre Coeur is woth the trip up the hill. You can see the inside of the church in 20 minutes but the view from the front over the city is great. Lots of people up there, a good place to people watch. The are lots of cafes up there , some a bit touristy, but I never minded. Within walking distance is a GREAT place to eat. It’s called Moulan something or rather and has an old wooden windmill on top. From there, you can walk down the hill to Pigalle (or Pig Alley as US GI’s used to say) and see the Moulan Rouge and all the Japanese tourists going in. (My French friend theorizes that no actual French person has been inside in decades) Pigalle is kind of seedy but good for a lark. Not sure if it’s your thing or not, but DO NOT go in any of the “strip clubs” in Pigalle. They are seedy whore houses and clip joints, some things haven’t changed since '45.
If you are into militarty history and armour and the like, go to the hotel invalides, the former old soldiers home converted into a museum. I have never seen so many arms and armor before. The stuff they have in storage on shelves (there are windows to see in one of the store rooms) would be the centerpieces of a lot of collections in the US. There is a really interesting chapel on site that displays flags captured in French military victories from various eras. I believe these these used to be in Notre Dame at one time. Also on site is Napolean’s tomb, which is quite striking. Biggest freakin coffin I ever did see, and for a little guy too.
Luxumborgh gardens are nifty in the summer, I don’t think I ever went in the winter so not sure what to expect. The senate is there, the building headquartered the Luftwaffe during the ocupation. I don’t think you can go in as a Pierre Everyman.
I like to stroll from the Louvre past Concorde down to the Arch de Triumph (the big one, not the first one you pass) You can take cool photos of Triumph from Concorde down the Champs with La Defanse (the modern office building with a big 'ole hole in it in the distance) You can take in the shops on the Champs on this walk, if that’s your bag. Beretta has a beutiful store off the Champs next to the Kazak embasy if you like old school hunting stuff or just want to see a 77,000 Euro shotgun (it’s in the back)
Don’t be afraid to ride the metro, it’s pretty easy to figure out. There are easy to use machines that give you instructions in English that you pay with Euro coins. If you are there on a weekend, you can get a whole day pass for less than 2 Euros, it’s called a ticket de Junne and I THINK you have to get it from the cashier, not the machine, but it’s a real bargin. (You just want zone 1 unless you are going to Versilles)
You probably won’t be there long enough to get homesick, but if you’re interested, I know about every English speaking bar in town. Let me know if you’d like some help on the nightlife front.
Probably obvious, but it gets damn cold in the winter. If you are going in the spring, remember only tourists, small children, and Germans wear shorts.
Don’t be fooled by the Eastern European girls staking out tourist spots. They will ask you if you speak English and then hand you a paper detailing a sob story about needing money to get back to Bosnia or something. I’d see the same three or four girls all over town for 9 months. (My mother was horrified I’d tell the girls I didn’t speak English when she visited)
Hope you like second hand smoke, and that you have a great trip.
I did go to the top of Notre Dame and I think it is the best view of the city. Sacre Coure is a bit away. The Tower is too high. Arc de Triomphe is pretty good but Notre Damn was the best. You are right in the heart of the city and just high enough to get a great view. Plus you can play Hunchback.
The line can be very long or if you are a bit off season, it may be shorter than you think.
The Opera House is cool. Also the Primtemps department store is beautiful inside and they have a roof you can go on as well.
Catacombs?
Look at the Bones!
Thanks for the advice. I just got back.
Managed to do:
Louvre
D’orsay
Notre Dame
Saint Chapelle
Musee Rodin
Eiffel Tower
Catacombs (Thanks Zebra)
Arc De Triomphe
As well a number of other minor hits.
One tip to anyone reading this thread for Paris ideas: buy the museum pass. Best 30 Euros I’ve ever spent. Bypassed, conservatively, 5 hours of line waiting and saved a few euros overall on entrance fees.
Sounds like you managed to miss my favourite Paris museum :eek:
How was the hotel and food?
Sadly, yes. I’ll add it to the list labeled “next time.”
The hotel was very nice. That was the main part of my gift. I stayed at the Relais Saint-Germaine. Nice view, comfy, spacious – and it had a beautiful bathroom. Breakfast at the attached Le Comptoir was free and outstanding. But with the exception of breakfast, I was underwhelmed by the restaurants and brasseries. Granted, I’m really not a foodie, so I’m not a good judge. But I ate at a few nice places that were ok, but not worth the price tag. I can eat better in New York City. After two so-so sit-down experiences, I started just eating crepes and gallettes from stands. They were amazing. Between the hotel’s breakfast and crepe stands, I ate very well.
You know I’ve been to Paris twice and I haven’t seen the catacombes.
It’s on my ‘next time’ list.