Paris for 3 days

[Ontheboardwalk]

I’ve always wanted to go to Paris for a couple of days but something has always cropped up which meant it never happened. I think because it’s not that far it’s never been properly booked.

One of the things I really wanted to see what Notre Dame. That obviously isn’t going to happen anytime soon.

With this in mind I’m thinking feck it, I’m booking myself 3 days out there to see what I want to see.

Any tips and suggestions for Paris much appreciated.

Anything you're particularly interested in? Get a three-day Carte Mobilis for transport.

Just anything about Paris. I like the old and the gothic, anything a bit unusual.

Take your walking shoes! Never been? So get the Métro to the Charles de Gaulle Etoile, top of Champs Elysées, go to Arc de Triomphe, walk down Champs Elysées, have lunch somewhere along there.

I’d walk along the Seine, Left Bank, got to do Eiffel Tower, although the view from Tour Montparnasse is actually better.

What do you want to see/do?

The catacombs are really good, as is the Louvre - they were probably my highlights

I prefer musee d'Orsay (sp?) to L'Ouvre

I like the idea of the catacombs.

After it being put off for years and missing Notre Dame I’m booking it
there myself. Any views on where to stay on your own with good links to places?

Saint chapelle is a lovely church.
www.sainte-chapelle.fr/

Sainte chapelle sounds good as does the Carte Mobilis pass

We did a day bus tour that included lunch in the Eiffel tower and a boat trip on the Seine.
The lunch in the Tower means no queue and time to go up to the highest level.
The bus takes you round all the sights first.
We saved our boat trip for the evening when all the lights are on.
That leaves the afternoon to walk around.
When we got off the boat we dashed into the Louvre and had The Mona Lisa all to ourselves.
It was a really lovely day.

You can still visit the islands, probably. The Palais de justice, the flower and bird market, Ste Chapelle.
I'd spend at least half a day - afternoon into evening - at Montmartre. Sacre Coeur is atmospheric, so are the views, the art nouveau metro stations, artists' square (but touristy but fun)

If you really like Gothic, visit the catacombs at Montparnasse. Eiffel Tower. Art Galleries - Orsay and Louvre, Rodin museum etc. Arc de Triomphe and Champs Elysees are worth a quick visit.

Pick pocketing is rife.
Never put your phone on the table in a cafe.

Lunch and missing the queues sounds good. I’m all for gothic Paris but still want to do the tourist bits

Sacre coeur is also an option

Anyone been to Versailles?

Yes. I loved Versailles. You need a day, but it is beautiful.
If you enjoy Versailles you should do the Wallace collection in London.

I haven't been but someone recently recommended me this

www.theguardian.com/travel/2017/jun/07/paris-promenade-plantee-free-elevated-park-walkway-bastille-bois-de-vincennes

Yes, I have done that walk. It is lovely, but only in good weather!

Versailles is fantastic but you need a day.

The cemeteries - Pere Lachaise & others. Loads of fascinating graves

Sacre Coeur on Sunday mornings is very busy - miimes & a harpist when we went. Then you can wander round Montmartre which again has a lot going on.

Posted this yesterday on another Paris thread so please forgive the copy, cut & paste:

Have taken a few short breaks to Paris with family, some ideas:

This time we’re looking at (traveling August):

le musée d’histoires naturelles,

le palais de Tokyo

le palais de Chaillot

The Real Tennis Courts of Versailles (Tennis Court Oath.)

Previously we focused on

Les Invalides - (Napoleon’s tomb is phenomenal)

Park Luxembourg (lovely toy boats on the pond)

Late night at The Louvre

The batobus bus on the river seine

Bartillion Ice Cream on the Isle St Louis

Versailles private tours (booked only through Versailles website) were flippin’ awesome

Under the Eiffel Tower is cool to see the lift shaft mechanisms

My absolute favorite is L’Orangerie to see Monet’s Water Lillies (part of Museum D’Orsay, found across the bridge.) Musée de L'Orangerie (Monet's Lillies) is a tiny museum found across the river seine from D'Orsay in the west corner of the Tuileries Gardens. It's intimate and wow! Although still part of the D'Orsay; it has separate ticketing, beautiful but closed Tuesdays. You could get the Batobus up to the Eiffel Tower (seeing the statue of liberté) then walk back through Les Invalides (War museum & Napoleon's tomb,) across the water to the Tuileries?

We also had an amazing tour of The Garnier Theatre (Phantom of The Opera.) The Chagall on the opera house ceiling is stunning.

Disney’s cool but not essential

We usually get picnics from Marks & Spencer’s Food Hall

That’s all that comes to mind. We stay in a well priced Airbnb if you’re interested.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Think I’m going to have a busy day Googling things!