Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thoroughly enjoyed our two hours at Versailles. I thought it’s a must-see. But I guess it could be because I’d never visited another palace before.

Op here. The whole family is looking forward to both Versailles and the louvre so I don’t plan on cutting them out.

We will technically be in Paris for 2 half days plus 3 full days. First and last day are travel days but I’m sure we can do something on those days.

If you love museums and have never been to the Louvre it is a must - breathtaking.

Everyone has different opinions and things they want out of a museum, I think. I enjoyed the Louvre, but found it a bit overwhelming. If I had one day to go to a museum I would go to the Orsay first- personally the art there is so consistently amazing, and the building is so beautiful. I like museums but have a hard time with being there more than maybe 2 hours. The Louvre makes that tough because it's so big and expansive. In either case, heavily suggest going when either one is open in the evening- I did that on my second visit to both and the experience was wonderful with much lighter crowds, and the evening light was amazing.

Op here. We went to both Musee Orsay and the Louvre today. The louvre was really crowded and overwhelming. I’m still glad we went even though we didn’t stay long.

eat at McD's on Champs-Élysées, if you eat McDs here.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thoroughly enjoyed our two hours at Versailles. I thought it’s a must-see. But I guess it could be because I’d never visited another palace before.

Op here. The whole family is looking forward to both Versailles and the louvre so I don’t plan on cutting them out.

We will technically be in Paris for 2 half days plus 3 full days. First and last day are travel days but I’m sure we can do something on those days.

If you love museums and have never been to the Louvre it is a must - breathtaking.

Everyone has different opinions and things they want out of a museum, I think. I enjoyed the Louvre, but found it a bit overwhelming. If I had one day to go to a museum I would go to the Orsay first- personally the art there is so consistently amazing, and the building is so beautiful. I like museums but have a hard time with being there more than maybe 2 hours. The Louvre makes that tough because it's so big and expansive. In either case, heavily suggest going when either one is open in the evening- I did that on my second visit to both and the experience was wonderful with much lighter crowds, and the evening light was amazing.

Catacombs, definitely.

Not OP, but we're heading to France in two weeks and have 3.5 days in Paris. This post has been so helpful! I've been to Paris two or three times, but my husband and kids have never been. My last time in Paris, I went alone (pre-kids/DH) and had two leisurely weeks to just relax and see things at my own pace!

Anyone done the Batobus? I was thinking of a 2-day pass to use it as transport but also for a relaxing way to see more of the City with the kids (esp the day we arrive when we'll all be tired). I did a hop-on/hop-off bus once when I went with my mom, but my husband and kids aren't as into that. Our first full day is the final stage of the TDF, so I expect lots of traffic issues and was thinking traveling by boat may be better?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thoroughly enjoyed our two hours at Versailles. I thought it’s a must-see. But I guess it could be because I’d never visited another palace before.

Op here. The whole family is looking forward to both Versailles and the louvre so I don’t plan on cutting them out.

We will technically be in Paris for 2 half days plus 3 full days. First and last day are travel days but I’m sure we can do something on those days.

If you love museums and have never been to the Louvre it is a must - breathtaking.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of great recommendations here. YMMV, but I really enjoy watching films/reading books about a particular location before I visit. I get more out of the trip that way.

“Seven Ages of Paris” by Alistair Horne is a fantastic history of the city. As for films, you might enjoy “Midnight in Paris” or “Before Sunset” (before watching the latter, which takes place in Paris, watch its prequel, “Before Sunrise”).

I'd add Hemingway's "A Moveable Feast" to this list. Get it from the library, or purchase a copy at Shakespeare and Company for the flight home (the stamps make for fun souvenirs).

My favorite book about Paris: The Only Street in Paris by Elaine Sciolino, longtime NYT Paris-based reporter

My favorite movie: the Paris scenes from Julie and Julia

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of great recommendations here. YMMV, but I really enjoy watching films/reading books about a particular location before I visit. I get more out of the trip that way.

“Seven Ages of Paris” by Alistair Horne is a fantastic history of the city. As for films, you might enjoy “Midnight in Paris” or “Before Sunset” (before watching the latter, which takes place in Paris, watch its prequel, “Before Sunrise”).

I'd add Hemingway's "A Moveable Feast" to this list. Get it from the library, or purchase a copy at Shakespeare and Company for the flight home (the stamps make for fun souvenirs).

My favorite Paris film is Amelie.

Anonymous wrote:I thoroughly enjoyed our two hours at Versailles. I thought it’s a must-see. But I guess it could be because I’d never visited another palace before.

Op here. The whole family is looking forward to both Versailles and the louvre so I don’t plan on cutting them out.

We will technically be in Paris for 2 half days plus 3 full days. First and last day are travel days but I’m sure we can do something on those days.

I thoroughly enjoyed our two hours at Versailles. I thought it’s a must-see. But I guess it could be because I’d never visited another palace before.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:+1 skip Versailles

Add:
Saint- Chapelle
Musee D’Orsay
Sacre-Coeur
Rodin gardens - Skip the museum and just visit the gardens. That’s where the main statues are.
Bateau Mouche ride on the Seine

Make sure you try a croque monsieur, macarons, and of course crepes. My personal favorite pastry is a chocolate eclair.

Op here. Our hotel is right by arc de Triomphe.

I will add musee orsay, sacre coeur and Jardin du Luxembourg.

Is trocadero the best place to get a good picture of the Eiffel Tower? The last time I was here, we went right to the Eiffel Tower and our pictures weren’t great. It was also cold.

Yes Trocadero is the spot for Eiffel pictures. It's aligned with the tower and elevated, so it's a perfect direct shot. Of course that makes it popular, especially at night. Plenty of guys selling trinkets on the walk there from the Metro. This is the view from Google Maps.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/5rS9VS7qsWHw3Lvt8

Fantastic! We will definitely head there for our Eiffel Tower picture.

Paris was not our main destination. I want to do so many things in our 3 days.

Day 1: Trocadero and Eiffel Tower, Musee Orsay, Arc de Triomphe and shopping Champs Elysees, Sacre Coer
Day 2: Versailles
Day 3: Jardin Luxembourg, Louvre

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:+1 skip Versailles

Add:
Saint- Chapelle
Musee D’Orsay
Sacre-Coeur
Rodin gardens - Skip the museum and just visit the gardens. That’s where the main statues are.
Bateau Mouche ride on the Seine

Make sure you try a croque monsieur, macarons, and of course crepes. My personal favorite pastry is a chocolate eclair.

Op here. Our hotel is right by arc de Triomphe.

I will add musee orsay, sacre coeur and Jardin du Luxembourg.

Is trocadero the best place to get a good picture of the Eiffel Tower? The last time I was here, we went right to the Eiffel Tower and our pictures weren’t great. It was also cold.

Yes Trocadero is the spot for Eiffel pictures. It's aligned with the tower and elevated, so it's a perfect direct shot. Of course that makes it popular, especially at night. Plenty of guys selling trinkets on the walk there from the Metro. This is the view from Google Maps.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/5rS9VS7qsWHw3Lvt8

Anonymous wrote:+1 skip Versailles

Add:
Saint- Chapelle
Musee D’Orsay
Sacre-Coeur
Rodin gardens - Skip the museum and just visit the gardens. That’s where the main statues are.
Bateau Mouche ride on the Seine

Make sure you try a croque monsieur, macarons, and of course crepes. My personal favorite pastry is a chocolate eclair.

Op here. Our hotel is right by arc de Triomphe.

I will add musee orsay, sacre coeur and Jardin du Luxembourg.

Is trocadero the best place to get a good picture of the Eiffel Tower? The last time I was here, we went right to the Eiffel Tower and our pictures weren’t great. It was also cold.

We took a 1/2 day electric bike tour of the city and it was fabulous.

Anonymous wrote:Lots of great recommendations here. YMMV, but I really enjoy watching films/reading books about a particular location before I visit. I get more out of the trip that way.

“Seven Ages of Paris” by Alistair Horne is a fantastic history of the city. As for films, you might enjoy “Midnight in Paris” or “Before Sunset” (before watching the latter, which takes place in Paris, watch its prequel, “Before Sunrise”).

I'd add Hemingway's "A Moveable Feast" to this list. Get it from the library, or purchase a copy at Shakespeare and Company for the flight home (the stamps make for fun souvenirs).