One day in Paris - top tips for fab day please

[maria1665]

We get to central Paris about 2 pm. Have booked youth hostel for that night - leave next morning.

Kids are 12,11 and a good natured 2 year old. Any top tips to make the most of it?

Hi, sure you'll have a fab time. Hot choc and choc ice-cream for kids every time you fancy a beer in a bar. If you're like me you'll be terrified of losing 2 yr old! Have just come across www.amberbands.co.uk selling single use kiddy id bands. Haven't seen them before Great for days out. Write your phone no on band so if child get lost you can be called and reunited quickly. how simple - I used to write on kids arms but not waterproof or very clear.
Enjoy your trip

Buy a copy of Timeout Paris - can you get it locally? I know is widely available in London. Latest issue will have lots of info and ideas of things to do for different interests and also good quality places to eat off the beaten track - which usually means a very interesting and better quality/value for money trip. (e.g obvious cafes/bars much more expensive than tucked away ones)

• that and a city map to buy in advance and plan your limited time.

Good natured two year old

Sorry....going through the terribles twos at the mo

online

Bateau mouche down the Seine

Musee D'Orsay is fantastic art gallery - impressionists etc

pavement artists in Place du Tertre (Monmatre)

Wow - lovely monster - thanks for the link!

I love Musee D'Orsay - but I am not sure about the kids - especially the older ones.

Batobus on the Seine and an open top bus tour. Go for a walk around the Tuileries.

Don't you think the DC would love to see the orifinals of all the Monet, Van Gogh etc they have studied in school? I know mine would.

Not talking about long in there, an hour max. Museums free for kids in France IIRC.

Sainte Chapelle is fantastic as well, no-one could fail to be amazed surely.

My boys went to Paris in Feb. They are 5 and 3 and were easier work than Grandad who was there to help .

They LOVED the Eiffel Tower, and we got off the train at...someone help me...Trocadero??? You have a 10 minute walk to Eiffel Tower but great view of it.

They also like the Bateau Mouche and the golden statue men outside Notre Dame (and probably everywhere else).

We had lunch in a brasserie 10 mins walk from Eiffel Tower with a friendly waiter!

It was a good day (and much more fun that the previous day at Disneyland).

Given the ages of yours, how about Montmatre?

DONT batue mouch
instead do the bateau bus - a hop on and off bus on the seine that takes you from Eiffel ( if you want) to musee dorsay etc

I second Su- Bateau Mouche are so annoying, there's a person describing on the microphone (v.loudly) every monument etc you're passing in 5 languages. Bateau Bus much nicer.

Is 11 and 12 too old for a playground? They have a lovely one in Jardin de Luxembourg- stuff for older kids and for babies, plus an open air restaurant and ponies for the LO.

i thinkw e bought a ticket at Eurostar?

If you do the eiffel tower, definitely book tickets ahead online to cut the queuing down!

Mine LOVED the eiffel tower - were 8 and 9, even more than Parc Asterix!!! And we queued ffor hours!