The view from Sacre Coeur is nice and Mont Martre is a charming neighborhood, I stayed there once in a hotel that had shared bathrooms and saggy spots under the linoleum, but who cares for $38 a night?
Favorite spots were the garden in front of The Louvre, the Musee d'Orsay and Orangerie, climbing DOWN the last few levels of the Eiffel Tower in the outside staircase, the food stalls that had amazing cheese, roast beef and baguettes, hot soup in the Left Bank. Ice cream on the Isle D' Louis. Walking along the Seine and over the bridges and daydreaming about living on a houseboat, BF now husband and I did that a lot.

Rodin Museum

day trip to Giverny (esp if you're going in the spring and like to photograph)

avoid gross tourist menus, find a really great brasserie

Picasso Museum!

*blush* Thank you. It's because I fantasize constantly about a Mommy Break! LOL.

16:51--Great list!

I really enjoyed the catacombs while we were there -- I've never seen anything like it!

If you are there for 4 days the only day trip I would consider would be Versailles.

Also add wander around the Marais.

Anonymous wrote:We were there for abotu that length of time, and did all the usual suspects - the Louvre, Tuileries Garden, Eifel Tower, Notre Dame, walk up the Champs Elysees to the Arc de Triumph, Mars Field, Musee d'Orsay, Luxembourg Gardens. My favorite pastime, though, was wanderign around the Left Bank, stopping here and ther for a crepe, a hot chocolate, a shop, whatever. If you're nto food, be sure to treat yourself to a great meal, too. I regret not eating at a Michelin 3 star restaurant.

I forgot - wandering in to a boulangerie and getting a baguette with ham and butter. Yum. In fact, I might spend a day traveling arounf to the best 10 boulangeries/patisseries and deciding for myself which is the best.

Buy the Michelin Green Guide for Paris - the self-guided walking tours are very helpful.

Oops, meant walk into the original Chanel store and walk up and down Coco's STAIRCASE. Damn autocorrect.

Walking up the Notre Dame Cathedral to the outside where you can meander among the gargoyles.

Eating Berthillon Ice Cream.

Browsing at the Shakespeare Bookstore (opposite Notre Dame).

Eating at Alain Ducasse Restaurant at the Plaza Athenee Hotel and then wandering around the stores across the street.

Buying then eating macaroons at Laduree.

Walking in the original Chanel store and going up and down the same stares as Coco did.

Go to Hermes and buy a scarf and let one of the clerks show you 50 ways to wear it (this was once my lone souvenir of Paris and I don't regret it).

Go to Pierre Herme for a pastry.

Wander through the Pere Lachaise Cemetery with a coffee and some flowers. Lay the flowers at Edith Piafs grave, Moliere's grave, Chopin's grave and Jim Morrison's (among others).

Spend a day at the Louvre.

Go on a tour in a vintage Citroen or Peugeot (google this, there are several companies that do this). Wear previously purchased Hermes scarf around head and a great pair of sunglasses.

Take the funicular up the hill in Montmartre and then wander back down through the streets. Have your silhouette cut out in the main square.

Carry chocolates from Pierre Marcolini with you at all times so you can reach into your handbag while you are wandering for a little bit of heaven.

Now I want to go back. Have fun!!!

I went for the first time last summer - was there about 5 days. My favorite things were taking a walking tour of Montmartre, the Orangerie's water lillies, the Louvre's Egyptian collection, the Eiffle Tower evening light show, the Rodin Museum, Notre Dame, the Holocaust Museum and walking up the Arc de Triomphe. We walked A LOT.

Lucky you! Paris is beautiful! Go to the Louvre, walk from there through the Tuleries garden, from there walk along the Champs D'Elysee to the Arc de Triomphe. That's a nice full-ish day. The Jardin du Luxembourg is also one of my favorite gardens.

We were there for abotu that length of time, and did all the usual suspects - the Louvre, Tuileries Garden, Eifel Tower, Notre Dame, walk up the Champs Elysees to the Arc de Triumph, Mars Field, Musee d'Orsay, Luxembourg Gardens. My favorite pastime, though, was wanderign around the Left Bank, stopping here and ther for a crepe, a hot chocolate, a shop, whatever. If you're nto food, be sure to treat yourself to a great meal, too. I regret not eating at a Michelin 3 star restaurant.

I am single, love to take pictures, non-drinker, and explore and will be visiting Paris for 4 days and was wondering what would you recommend I must do and see? What day trips would you recommend? Normandy - is that a must do as well?

Thanks in advance!