PARIS - on foot Vs bus

[Ginnotgym]

Hi all,

Taking my sister to Paris for the day in a few weeks to celebrate her 50th birthday 🎂

We arrive around 11am (Eurostar) and have no plans until 2:30 when we have a gourmet walking tour of the monmarte booked.

My question, when we arrive, should we walk from Gare du nord and have a leisurely wander to maybe the Eiffel Tower, or should we get on one of the hop on hop off tourist busses? Weighing up naffness Vs time and feet-saving - and also being able to pack as many of the sites in as possible before 2:30.

Thoughts?

Many thanks in advance!

I would buy a carnet of metro tickets and use those to get across town to the Eiffel Tower, then walk back to Montmatre via the Champs Elysee.

I've never taken a tourist bus, normal buses are ok if not rush hour.

The area around Gare du Nord is not very nice. Wouldn't be walking around there. I'd get the metro to the Eiffel Tower. You can share a carnet of metro tickets. Book the Tower in advance though, it's always busy. Enjoy!

The Eiffel Tower is a very long walk from the Gare du Nord. I'd metro it around to save your feet. I wouldn't take short metro trips, as you can end up walking miles underground, but it's worth it for the longer sections.

We got the metro from Gare du Nord. We walked to the station on our last day - it's not the nicest of areas so you wouldn't want it to be your first impression of the city!

I don't think you've got enough time to walk back from the Eiffel Tower. I would do the metro both ways. Also just check exactly what you wil be eating on the gourmet walking tour; it may only be tasting. The French are usually pretty rigid about eating between 12 and 2pm. Maybe stop and have some coffee and patisserie somewhere scenic to keep.you going till 2.30.
I think.the walk from the Louvre through the Tuileries via place de la Concorde, to the Arc de Triomphe along the Champs Elysees is interesting. You could get the metro from gare du nord to Louvre Rivoli, then walk the Charles de Gaulle etoile (Arc se Trjomphe) to the Eiffel Tower

Oh my goodness I'm so bloody rude!! Thank you so much for the advice people.

We go on Saturday - we're very excited!!