Paris for the weekend - Any suggestions?

[newpup]

Off to Paris for the weekend with DH and DDs 11 & 8. Our list of things to do includes -

Go up the Eiffel Tower.
See the Mona Lisa at the Louvre.
Go on the River Seine.
Visit Notre Dame.
Eat Chocolate cake at a Patisserie!

have never been to Paris before and would be grateful for any suggestions or hints.

thanks

If you want to go up the Eiffel Tower, it's worth getting there right at the start of the day, as the queues can be horrendous. We got there early afternoon and decided not to bother since the queues were at about the 2-3 hour wait level in the baking heat!

You can get boat trips on the Seine which include a tourguide pointing out the sights, or there is also the BatoBus which is basically a hop-on-hop-off bus service between many of the interesting points.

Thank you muminscotland. Will definately get to the Eiffel Tower early then!

Can I just warn you that Louvre at the weekend will be a nightmare?

Batobus is better than Bateau Mouche, unless you want to listen to the tour guide talking loudly and non-stop in 3 different languages.

If you want a Parisian experience, why don't you go with a bottle of wine and sit in the evening on the bank of Seine, say opposite Notre Dame? You could make a little picnic for the kids.

Thank you winnybella. That sounds lovely. Weather looks good so we may try it.

I'd second the batobus - and you can take it from the Eiffel Tower to the Louvre, and from there - if you've any energy left after walking the gazillion miles of galleries - cross over the Pont Des Arts footbridge in front of the Louvre and wander down the seine to Notre Dame (crossing back over, of course).

Oh, and before you walk down the Seine, stop off at one of the most gorgeous little patisseries in Paris, the Cador (opposite the Eastern most wall of the Louvre, corner of rue de Louvre and rue Amiral de Coligny). All the tourists head to Angelina on rue de Rivoli - lovely, but oh the queues).

Might be a good idea either to book tickets for the Louvre in advance, or to get there super early in the morning.

bon voyage!

Thank you inmyheadiminParis. We just got back so I missed your post.

Had a fab time and would go back in a heartbeat.

Love, love, love Paris and want to change my name to yours!!