Revised 7-Day Itinerary

[willow]

So with less than two months to go I have revamped my itinerary..it's so much fun to plan!!
I think I have one day (Friday that may be overwhelming but still doable) I think by limiting myself to to 2-3 planned things daily I will have plenty of time for non-planned things.

We also decided for some things to be optional, depending what we feel like. Though in reality it will all be optional.

I know it's somewhat structured and has a typical tourist spots but bear with me as it is my friends first visit and only my second. I have not yet gotten my fill of central Paris. Comments welcome and restaurant suggestions are also appreciated!


Tuesday Dec. 30
1) 9:40 Arrive at CDG Terminal 1 (Brave the RER to apartment)
2) Arrive at apartment to drop luggage off
3) Stop by Franxprix for some supplies
4) Lunch
5) After Lunch walk to Notre Dame (possible skip/postpone till Sunday)
6) 7:30 Opera Garnier to see Raymunda
7) Late Dinner


Wednesday Dec. 31
1) 9:00 Try to be at Eiffel Tower by this time to avoid lines
2) Head to Arc de Trimphe
3) Lunch
4) 7:00 Seating at Gallopin (Merci Anne!)
5) Celebrate a new year!!!!!

Thursday Jan. 1
1. Make way to Montmartre & Sacre Coeur
a. Visit the Basilica
b. Wander the neighborhood
c. If time allows visit Dali Museum
2. Have Lunch in Montmartre
3. Stop by the Pompidou Center (optional, possible skip)

Friday Jan. 2
1. Leisurely visit of Versailles
2. Lunch in Versailles or back in Paris?
3. Relax & wander in afternoon
a. Shopping time?
4. Stop in Louvre for free evening. (possible skip)


Saturday Jan. 3

1. Take train to St.Denis (Possibly skip )
2. Lunch
a. At St.Denis or elsewhere?
3. Go to Orsay


Sunday Jan. 4

1. 10:00 mass at Notre Dame
a. After mass if we still haven’t gone up to the top we can attempt after mass, or before
2. Wander the Marais (make point to see Place Vosages)
3. Lunch
a. L’As du Falafel
4. Visit Musee Carnavalet (really want to see!)

Monday Jan 5.

1. Head to Grand Palais
2. Lunch
3. Shopping / Ice Skating at Hotel de Ville
4. River cruise

Tuesday Jan. 6
1. 8:50 Departure at CDG

[sistereurope]

Hi Willow!

I think that your itinerary is great - loose enough for unexpected pleasures, and really manageable (well, except that I agree with you that Friday might be pushing it a bit!)

We went to the Dali museum and IF you are a fan I recommend it. Not a lot of paintings but lots of prints and holograms that are amazing, plus the museum's small and the exhibits are well done and informative.

For lunch that day, I recommend either Laidback's fave Le Cafe Qui Parle on rue Caulaincourt (very good 3 course meals for NOT a lot!!!). Or you could go to Shoesy's fave Le Relais Gascon for some really HUGE 10e salads...

We did the same tour of the Marais...Place de Voges and the Carnavalet...are you going back to Les Philosophes? ;D

[willow]

Thanks for the recommendations!

I plan on being at Les Philosophes for Lunch on our first day and then back again at least once. I also like Le Coude Feu down the street from our apartment.

[sistereurope]

I forget...where is your apartment again?

[willow]

No. 10
Rue Aubriot
www.vrbo.com/161489

[sistereurope]

That's right - I remember it now! Great location and a great price (and you can certainly manage all those stairs ;D)

[willow]

I've been practicing for those stairs at the gym on the stair climber

[Anne]

I guess that Friday should depend on the weather : if it is raining, then half a day should be enough for the palais itself .
If the weather is nice, it would be a real shame not to walk the gardens, visit the Trianon, the Hameau de la Reine ... That would take most of the day .

[Katharine]

Willow - That apartment is great. What a location...and the price can't be beat!

My only thought is about your first day...do you think you will be tired that evening? If it was me, I would not want to be committed to anything that first night, in case I just needed to crash.

Carnavalet is not to be missed, if only to see the house that it is in, and the wonderful woodwork. You will love that.




Have fun!

Katharine

[GitteK]

So our little accountant has been working on her spreadsheets........... ;D

As Anne says, also IMO there is no time (nor energy) for any planned activities after Versailles. I would leave the rest of the day open. And CERTAINLY NOT Louvre after Versailles. You will be so fed up with gold and glitter and old paintings that you've had it for that day. When you come home to Paris you will need food and wine and ordinary people's Paris.

And then another thing. AFAIR the friend you are taking to Paris is a Paris virgin, right ? You have stuffed so much tourist-stuff into your plans that I wonder, what's left for YOU ? Honestly, how many of the sights have you been to before ?

Take care that you don't end up feeling like a tourguide, because then you risk getting all frustrated and feeling claustrofobic for not having time to explore other exciting parts of Paris, instead of just going (yet again ) the "mainstream-guidebook-buscrowd-stuff".

Also: instead of the river cruise, I would suggest an "Illuminated Paris" bustour (yup, with the crowds - but it's a really good tour. IMO much better than the river cruise, because from the bus you get to see a lot more of the illuminated monuments, streets, buildings etc.)

en.parisvision.com/11,52-paris-illuminations.htm

And this one has the great advantage that there is NO non-stop-yapping guide on board. You choose the language you want in the headphones, and if you don't want any speak, then just take it off and enjoy the view. Even your blasée old auntie enjoyed it tremendously.

[geordy]

We did the Dali museum last New Year's Day! The area is lively while much of the City was quiet that day.

I would not not do the river cruise....I enjoy being on the water in any City and Paris..well is Paris! ....but you might want to add Gitte's suggestion...good for orientation as well!

Oh and by the way I brought Kielbasa and sauerkraut to a pot luck lunch at work yesterday!

You will think you are cinderella at the Opera!!!!

[GitteK]

dear babywillow - I now see that I didn't read your intro-text properly

>>>I know it's somewhat structured and has a typical tourist spots but bear with me as it is my friends first visit and only my second. I have not yet gotten my fill of central Paris.<<<

You'll be fine, just save old auntie's advice about the "Claustrofobic Tourguide Syndrome" for some later date.

As to eating: this list of bistrot reviews is very good and reliable (LaidbackApproved )
I will send you my list of restaurants/bistrots in an email to you ".gmail"-account, if you like ?

[willow]

Thanks for both lists Gitte!

I definitely will look at the Illuminations tour, that sounds pretty interesting and something I haven't done.

Geordy: I am VERY excited about the ballet at Opera Garnier! The day is not ideal but it is the last day we could get to work.

I am rethinking the Louvre too..we'll see what happens.

Thanks all!

[Becky (Berkeleytravelers)]

This looks like a pretty relaxed schedule, and I'm sure you will enjoy. One thing I did not see mentioned above (sorry if I missed) it, is whether Versailles will be open right after New Years. I mention only because so many things are closed (and not always predictable) around holiday time. If you've already checked, great - if not, you might want to do that with the thought of making it a day or two later if necessary. Have a great time!

[geordy]

Oh yes I see..the ballet is the first day....but it is 7:30 and you will be so excited to be there...and you are young!!!

We usually have an earlyish nite the first day but even that is 10:30 or 11:00 or so. Later if we get a second wind....and we've a number of years on you! You'll be fine!