Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Download the Bonjour RATP map for public transit. It was a Godsend when I was there last summer. You put in your destination and it tells you how to walk to the correct Metro station, which train to take, where to sit on the train, where to get off and how to walk to your final destination. It’s amazing.

Thank you, this sounds really useful.

That one is pretty good. But CityMapper is the god level public transit app. Live data with arrival times, fare info, place on train, street exit to take, etc.

If you’re nerdy and love science, Musee Curie is in Paris, walking distance from the Luxembourg gardens. It’s free, tiny, and very well done. I’m so glad we found time to go!

We loved walking up the Basilica - the view is stunning but don’t go if you’re at all claustrophobic because that spiral staircase is awful and I never get claustrophobic.

Street art is so fun to look at, and the little neighborhood outdoor markets are wonderful.

Skip the Louvre - we went but I wouldn’t do it again. It was so crowded I couldn’t enjoy it at all.

The carnvalet museum is really good, it’s in the Marais neighborhood which is really fun and has a lot going on.

Anonymous wrote:Download the Bonjour RATP map for public transit. It was a Godsend when I was there last summer. You put in your destination and it tells you how to walk to the correct Metro station, which train to take, where to sit on the train, where to get off and how to walk to your final destination. It’s amazing.

Thank you, this sounds really useful.

D’Orsay is such a lovely museum. If I had to choose between D’Orsay and Louvre it would be no contest. But also on my last trip we went to Louvre on Friday when it was open late, which was nice. It’s just such a massive place you need the time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Download the Moovit app. It will give you public transport options, times, prices from wherever you are in the city to where you’re looking to go .

Eiffel will open booking 60 days out so set your calendar to try to get a 9 am slot the first day they open for a date that works for you. Avoid the lines.

Most museums are closed either Monday or Tuesday

OP’s travel partner here. I am, unfortunately, hugely acrophobic so don’t want to go up the Eiffel Tower. Nonstarter. That said, I am perfectly happy to remain on the ground, chat with Parisians and be charming, while OP goes up and has a nice look around. Does that make sense? I don’t want OP to miss an opportunity. Thoughts?

Pretty much never a line if you want to walk up to the first level of the Tower. It's cheaper also and takes about 15 minutes to walk up if you are in moderately good shape. I listened to a podcast about it's construction on the Rick Steves app while I walked up. Look around, take a few pictures, then take the elevator back down, or walk if that line is too long. Best way to go there but not spend too much or take too long.

Anonymous wrote:Go see Monet's Garden in Giverny. I've always wanted to go, and April is supposed to be a great time. About an hour outside Paris by train.

Thank you, yes, Giverny is high on our list! I used to read the book Linnea in Monet’s Garden to my kids when they were little, so that is definitely something we want to do.

I did an organized walking tour of Montmartre and enjoyed it.

Anonymous wrote:Download the Moovit app. It will give you public transport options, times, prices from wherever you are in the city to where you’re looking to go .

Eiffel will open booking 60 days out so set your calendar to try to get a 9 am slot the first day they open for a date that works for you. Avoid the lines.

Most museums are closed either Monday or Tuesday

OP’s travel partner here. I am, unfortunately, hugely acrophobic so don’t want to go up the Eiffel Tower. Nonstarter. That said, I am perfectly happy to remain on the ground, chat with Parisians and be charming, while OP goes up and has a nice look around. Does that make sense? I don’t want OP to miss an opportunity. Thoughts?

Walk, walk, walk. I love walking around Paris neighborhoods.

The metro is very easy to navigate.
The flea markets are very interesting and a fun way to spend a day.

Anonymous wrote:If you like history, the Musee de Cluny is in the Latin quarter & is the middle ages museum. Very cool.
And if you go with kids, the zoo is pretty good, too.
On a nice weather day, you can rent a canoe in the Bois de Vincennes & it's lovely. Bring a picnic from Monoprix & you'll be happy.

Yes, the zoo is good with kids and there are gorgeous gardens near by also.

Honestly you can skip going up the Eiffel Tower unless its a bucket list kind of thing. It's crazy crowded and yeah a view of the city but not spectacular. It's much nicer to enjoy the views OF the Tower than FROM it.

Download the Bonjour RATP map for public transit. It was a Godsend when I was there last summer. You put in your destination and it tells you how to walk to the correct Metro station, which train to take, where to sit on the train, where to get off and how to walk to your final destination. It’s amazing.

If you like history, the Musee de Cluny is in the Latin quarter & is the middle ages museum. Very cool.
And if you go with kids, the zoo is pretty good, too.
On a nice weather day, you can rent a canoe in the Bois de Vincennes & it's lovely. Bring a picnic from Monoprix & you'll be happy.

Go see Monet's Garden in Giverny. I've always wanted to go, and April is supposed to be a great time. About an hour outside Paris by train.