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You have four days in Paris - what do you do?

Posted on 12/23/21 at 11:41 am
Posted by alexahet
Everywhere
Member since Apr 2010
3141 posts
Posted on 12/23/21 at 11:41 am
Family of three with a 1.5 year old at the time of the trip. We have 4 days in Paris before heading to Spain. What would you say is a must do? I really want to surprise my husband with a day trip to Normandie. Not sure that is feasible with our little one though
Posted by BlackCoffeeKid
Member since Mar 2016
11723 posts
Posted on 12/23/21 at 11:54 am to
Les Invalides/Napoleon's tomb was one of my favorite parts.
Sacre Coeur was another favorite spot of mine.

The Eiffel Tower and Versailles was overly-crowded and overrated in my opinion. (Still cool, but I'd be okay with never going back there again.)
Posted by Fun Bunch
New Orleans
Member since May 2008
115963 posts
Posted on 12/23/21 at 11:54 am to
You could spend double that in Paris and not do the things you want to do. A baby does complicate it. Why Spain and Paris?

If he's really really into WW2 you could add Normandy, its just not a lot of time in Paris.

The things you MUST do imo:

Louvre
D'Orsay
Eiffel Tower/Trocadero
Montmarte/Sacre Couer
Notre Dame (outside, since it is closed)
Walk along Seine/Seine river cruise
Arc de Triumphe
Pantheon

Things that are pretty cool as well to try and do:

Champs-Elysee (personally I couldn't care less about this)
Catacombs
Sit at famous cafe
Walk through Le Marais neighborhood and Place de Voges
Bastille
Tuileries Gardens
Rodin Museum
Centre Pompidou


If you do Normandy, definitely don't do Versailles.
Posted by alexahet
Everywhere
Member since Apr 2010
3141 posts
Posted on 12/23/21 at 12:38 pm to
Spain is for a wedding - specifically going to be in Cadiz. Paris is just the easiest entry for us from where we live (direct flight at a good time and isn’t too expensive).

I know there is a lot to do in Paris so I feel bad having to cram things in in four days, but unfortunately just the way the cookie crumbles this time!
Posted by pjab
Member since Mar 2016
5647 posts
Posted on 12/23/21 at 4:05 pm to
I would put Rodin over D’Orsay if I had to make a choice.

We did Normandy and back same day with a private driver. It was still a LONG day. I would recommend staying overnight but that might be tough with 4 days.

We also went to the zoo which is pretty run down in a patina-sort of way but had a great time. It was a good break for a few hours after being surrounded by people indoors.

quote:

Champs-Elysee (personally I couldn't care less about this)


Yeah, it sucks. Gypsys hustling every block, stores have devolved into a regular US mall. After a few blocks I grabbed a cab and GTFO.

If I had to live outside the US, it would be Paris. It’s a fantastic place.
Posted by Fun Bunch
New Orleans
Member since May 2008
115963 posts
Posted on 12/23/21 at 4:13 pm to
It’s one of my favorite cities on earth, along with Florence.
Posted by alexahet
Everywhere
Member since Apr 2010
3141 posts
Posted on 12/23/21 at 4:30 pm to
I’ve spent a lot of time in Southern France but never been for more than a day at a time in Paris, and mainly as a teenager so I don’t remember much. Excited to go this time with my own family.
Posted by BlackenedOut
The Big Sleazy
Member since Feb 2011
5807 posts
Posted on 12/23/21 at 6:32 pm to
Slight hijack but just finished an awesome 3 part series by Mary McAulife about Paris from 1870 thru 1929. All about the people who lived and shaped paris and the world during that time. Highly recommend it.

Need any restaurant recs? Although not sure status of all of them. When going?
Posted by geauxpurple
New Orleans
Member since Jul 2014
12377 posts
Posted on 12/23/21 at 6:45 pm to
I found Normandy fascinating but it is long for a day trip. Save that for another time. With only four days I would spend it all in Paris. If you want to take a shot and easy day trip catch the RER train from the Place St.Michel metro station to Versailles. You can get in and skip the lines there and elsewhere with a multi day museum pass.
Posted by GOP_Tiger
Baton Rouge
Member since Jan 2005
17867 posts
Posted on 12/23/21 at 9:01 pm to
With Notre Dame closed, you might want to go to Chartres, to see the incredible cathedral that UNESCO calls "the high point of French Gothic art."

It's a little over an hour outside of Paris.
Posted by LSUfan4444
Member since Mar 2004
53836 posts
Posted on 12/23/21 at 9:22 pm to
Second Napoleons Tomb/Invalides! Incredible experience
Posted by geauxpurple
New Orleans
Member since Jul 2014
12377 posts
Posted on 12/23/21 at 10:14 pm to
quote:

Go to Chartes
. That is another easy day trip. The cathedral is magnificent and the stained glass is among the best in the world. But again I will say that with only four days stay in Paris and if you want to see some world class stained glass go to St. Chapelle.
Posted by alexahet
Everywhere
Member since Apr 2010
3141 posts
Posted on 12/24/21 at 1:26 am to
Thank you!

With this input, I think we will save Normandie for another trip and stay in Paris!
Posted by SDwhodat
Member since Apr 2007
2547 posts
Posted on 12/24/21 at 12:15 pm to
If your husband is a history buff, Normandy is a must. I went to France as a teenager and visited Paris and Normandy. I vaguely remember Paris, but Normandy hits you and I remember it like it was yesterday.
Posted by TigersMaul Bammers
Normandy Park, WA
Member since Apr 2009
871 posts
Posted on 12/25/21 at 3:26 pm to
You have so many options if everything is open. Our late September itinerary--

Day 1 - Check into hotel in 2nd Arr., walk to Montmartre for Secret Food Tour, walk around Montmartre, walk back to Arc De Triomphe area

Day 2 - Rooftop bar at swanky hotel for brunch, walk to Eiffel Tower and relax on lawn with wine/cheese, walk along Seine to see Musee D'Orsay

Day 3 - Shopping in 2nd Arr., see the Louvre, walk by Notre Dame, and nighttime walk around Marais

Day 4 - Train to Versailles for full-day visit (incl. Grand Trianon, Petit Trianon, and the Hameau) and see some of nearby city of Versailles
Posted by Bama Bird
Member since Dec 2011
Member since Mar 2013
19036 posts
Posted on 12/29/21 at 4:36 pm to
Fun Bunch provided a very good list but I'd add Ste Chapelle. For whatever reason, that's the place that stuck with me the most. Still never seen anything like it
Posted by namvet6566
Member since Oct 2012
6737 posts
Posted on 12/29/21 at 6:29 pm to

6 Continents

41 Countries

Normandy may be my fav of all sites
Posted by CharlieTiger
ATL
Member since Jun 2014
758 posts
Posted on 1/3/22 at 9:13 am to
quote:

The things you MUST do imo:

Louvre
D'Orsay


We were in Paris for a few days in the summer of 2019 with our two boys - a 6 year old and almost 2 year old(don't recommend) after 8 days in Provence. A baby might be easier than a toddler though.

I will say that while it is tricky to get through the Louvre with a stroller(lots of stairs and it's absolutely massive), you can get as close as you possibly can get to the Mona Lisa. Yes, it's a bit overrated, but being able to bypass the crowds and get all the way up to within a few feet of arguably the most famous painting in the world is pretty cool. There's a roped off walkway on the right side of the room that you can use to get to the front.

You get to go past everyone to the wooden rail and spend as much time there as you want - LINK

Also went to the D'orsay, which is a great museum. Much, much smaller than the Louvre. I'd recommend getting lunch there. It's an amazing room.

Another cool thing with kids is the Batobus. It's a water taxi that makes a big loop on the Seine - basically from the botanical gardens(Jardin de Plantes) to the Eiffel Tower and back with several stops along the way. I think it's about a 2 hour round trip and tickets are very reasonable. We were staying near the botanical gardens and ate dinner in the Eiffel Tower the last night(touristy I know, but the kids loved it) and rode back as the sun was setting. Really fun way to cap off the trip.

We did do a lot of walking along the Seine too. Mostly when our younger one would nap, so we'd just kind of stroll along and people watch. There are actually a few little playgrounds, which were very convenient. The 6 year old probably did 10+ miles in 2 days. The other days we used the Subway to get to Sacre Coeur and other areas not right on the Seine.

One of the most enjoyable things we did was getting a late lunch and strolling through/sitting in the Tulerie after the Louvre on a sunny day. We found a big tree to sit under and just enjoyed the afternoon for a while while we ate and our younger one napped.
Posted by Fun Bunch
New Orleans
Member since May 2008
115963 posts
Posted on 1/3/22 at 9:19 am to
One thing I forgot to mention:

EAT.

Paris is one of the best food cities on earth. It is truly incredible.
Posted by DandyPimp
New Orleans
Member since Jan 2007
1090 posts
Posted on 1/3/22 at 9:35 am to
Just back from 6 days in Paris with my wife and 2 teenagers. Will echo many of the recs on here - Rodin, Les Invalides ect.

Really highlight for me was walking around and getting a feel for the different neighborhoods of Paris. We stayed in the 8th near Le Madeline which was a perfect centralized location. Must put a plug in for our hotel - L' Hotel Fauchon.

Can't wait to go back!
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