Can we wing it in Paris?

[BorgQueen]

First time in Paris, me and DH for my 60th and I don’t really want a rigid itinerary.
We are visiting Sunday- Thursday in August, staying on the Left bank across the bridge from the Louvre at the Da Vinci hotel.
I’ve booked the Louvre for the Wednesday first thing and a table at the rooftop bar at The Pullman hotel on the 1st night so we can see the Eiffel tower sparkle. Other than that, I really don’t know because it all depends on the weather, it might be blazing hot or it might not, but I don’t want to be rushing around.
St Sulpice and Luxembourg gardens are a strong possibility, as are Petit Palais, Bon Marche, and Notre dame. DH fancies Monmarte/ Sacre Coeur, I’m not fussed because I’m not great on steps or hills ( or crowds for that matter).
I want relaxed flitting about between nice cafes and a trip on a batobus down the Seine.
I thought about Palais Garnier and Galeries Haussman but from what I’ve read , you can’t move for idiotic instagrammers.
Any suggestions for places to get out of the heat ( or the rain if we’re unlucky)? Bonus if they’re free.

For a less touristy experience try the Chateau de Vincennes at the end of the Metro line.

It's a really interesting building and we spent ages there. You get a reduced entrance price if you can produce a Eurostar ticket.

Try looking up the Paris Museum pass - you might not want the pass itself but the website lists almost all the museums and chateaus around Paris so is a really good resource for knowing what's out there.

You have had some great suggestions. I'd only add that it's going to be hot and busy.

So I would not be rushing from place and leaving plenty of time for drinks in shady cafes.

Musee Carnavlet makes a nice cool (free) break if you are in the Marais. Musee de Cluny (not free) also cool and less busy in the 5th if you are interested in Parisian history.

There’s a great YouTube channels called Les Frenchies which we watched a lot before our 5 day ( 3 full days ) trip to Paris in March this year.
We stayed just behind the Sacre Coeur and can confirm it’s hilly and steppy! but we were ok with that.

OP would you be ok walking downhill ?
You can get the funicular or a bus or a cab to Sacre Coeur and then come downhill out of Montmarte perhaps.

In. August.

I hope there's a restaurant open

Mused Nissan di Comondo is lovely - a house that has been left as it was back in 1900 and full of treasures. One of our favourites. We also like Pere lachaise cemetery and Luxemberg Gardens.So many happy memories!

Agree with this, we also visited Musee Marmottan for more Monet paintings, lovely garden and cafe outside too.

Place marking

Oh yes, good call. I used to live near them. DH and I went to Paris recently and one of our favourite things was pottering around all the old acades. They have some gorgeous independent shops now - arts, crafts, vintage.

Love Paris. Something I haven't tried is the hop on hop off bus. They are excellent in the hot weather. I did one in Rome once when it was 40 degrees.
A walk along the river is lovely too.

However, beware pickpockets. We were targeted at The Trocadero once, they kept following us and trying to jostle us. Luckily we realised what they were up to. Pickpockets also hang out at Montmartre, which is usually heavily policed - don't forget to do the steps and the little roundabout at Montmartre. Take a photo of the Moulin Rouge. Shows are expensive and have to be booked well in advance.

Pickpockets are also rife at the Eiffel Tower. I think the metro is probably the worst place for pickpockets. Plus the Gare du Nord and surrounding areas. Do not engage with anyone who claims to have found a ring on the banks of the Seine, nor should you get involved with random people who want you to sign a petition.

Love the Pullman Hotel. It used to be The Paris Hilton. The downstairs bar and outside area are lovely too. Loved the rooftop bar, though I haven't been since covid. Love the Rive Gauche. The Champs de Mars is pleasant for walking. Once you get away from the tourist area and Avenue de Suffren there's some lovely patisseries, confiserie and little restaurants/cafes, We always used to eat a lot of baguettes. Crepes looked good but we never got round to then.

A meal at the top of the Tour Montparnasse at sunset is lovely - but I'd imagine you have to book.

Lots of good suggestions and if you're going in August there will be fewer Parisians around, nothing against Parisions, just saying it will be less crowded though some places will be shut.

My tip is to have a shifty through these but aim to do about half if that, otherwise you are tied to a box-ticking exercise, a schedule that feels cramped and doomed to some kind of failure. Have half a mind to a return trip to Paris at some future date to fit in other stuff, or you'll be cramming it in.

Because what's great about Paris is just strolling around, it is such a lovely city, especially along the Seine. London can almost be like that along the Thames, say from the Shard to the London Eye, but Paris is on another level. You could walk from that old bridge where Jason Bourne walks across in his first movie, down to Musee d'Orsay along the Seine, past those book stalls on the East and West Bank.

But is the Eiffel Tower overrated? There's naff all around there, I never seem to want to make it out there, you could walk for 10 mins along that area and not see much. Whereas the walk from the Louvre to the Place de la Concorde is very nice.

George restaurant at the top of the Pompidou Centre has nice views of the rooftops but check recent reviews because I haven't been there in years, you never know, My point is that around that area is nice and interesting too so I'd avoid heading out to a 'destination' that is isolated and that's all there is out there.

@NewspaperTaxis
The Pompidou Centre was closed when we visited in April. Don’t know when it’s due to re-open, just checked online and it seems to currently still be closed.’

If you are into antiques/vintage then the famous Paris flea-market is well worth a visit. It is huge and all weekend but best and quietest on mondays. It takes over an entire set of districts so plenty of places inside and on the fringes for a meal and drink. Metro is Porte de Clignancourt. You will find everything from cheapo tat to valuable antiques in all price ranges. English is widely understood. Places to change money and have large items sent back.

A couple of years at least I think.

Notre Dame doesn’t need booking, especially if you go as soon as it opens, like 9am. I’ve walked straight in at that time. If you do want to book, you can only book 3 days ahead (eg the Monday, for a Weds visit). It’s also open until 9pm (check hours on the website), so going at night is another option.

Sacre Cœur can’t be booked, but the queue tends to move quickly.

Another stunning church is Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, next to Le Bon Marché, so handy for elegant shopping and the Jardin de Luxembourg.

Le Petit Palais is free, has decent cafe and lovely courtyard, and ok loos. That can definitely be winged, especially if walking down Les Champs towards Concorde.

My favourite museums are Jacquemart-André, and the Rodin.

Oh, and imho Le Tour is def overrated. Montparnasse is cheaper, easier to book, and better views.

There’s one great thing near the Eiffel area though; the Musée Quai Branly. Always great expos (Africa Fashion was fab), but the gardens are free to enter and the money shot pics of the Tour Eiffel are worth wandering in for. Also a very nice cafe in the gardens.

Agree. Just bear in mind that Pont Neuf is currently an art installation. Not sure when it comes down, but right now is closed to foot traffic. Use the Pont Marie, stroll through Isle Saint Louis, and across to the Vedettes that way.

About 5 years for renovation.

I’ve been to Palais Garnier a few times. Never booked. Is it a new thing?

Oh wow, I just looked that up- it's really impressive! An artist called JR has turned the Pont Neuf into a cave that you can walk through!

It says there's 24 hour pedestrian access now, but there wasn't during the set up. It finishes on 28 June (such a shame, I'd have loved to see it), after which presumably access will be blocked while they take it all down again.

Book the big tourist attractions (Louvre, Eiffel Tower etc.) in advance, but Montmartre, Notre Dame, Bateau Mouches, are all turn up when you want (Notre Dame can be very busy so maybe choose a time when it's likely to be quieter).

Otherwise, we always just wander around the streets, stop for coffee/wine as and when we fancy. It's a great city for just walking around.