I Have About a Day and a Half in Paris...What Should I Do???

Question

So next week I will be in Paris, France for a day and a half. This is my first time in Paris, but unfortuantly I have a short time period since we're traveling from country to country. I want to go to at least one art museum while we're there and I also want get in some other stuff. So anyone that has been to Paris or knows someone who has...What's the best stuff to do there in a day and a half??? Thanks everyone!!!! :)

Answer 1

It depends on what area of Paris you will be in...  Start with talking to the concierge at your hotel.  They can direct you to the less touristy places, where it won't be very crowded (or as expensive) and you will find some local hot spots instead.  Need I wish you good luck?  You are lucky!  Have fun!

Answer 2

Musee d'Orsay (fantastic collection of impressionist art housed in a huge renovated train station.)

A boatride down the Seine . A visit to Notre Dame. Crepes! Wine and Cheese. Croque Monsieur. A stroll down the Champs Elysses. Shopping!

(I am so jealous!)

Answer 3

A day and a half is a very short time but get on your best walking shoes and lets see how much ground we can cover. You might want to equip yourself with a one day Paris Museum Pass and a "Mobilis." the latter is a one day transport pass. Get one good for zones 1-2.

Begin your day where Paris, and indeed, in a technical sense, France, begins, Notre Dame on the Ile de la Cite. In the plaza in front of the Cathedral you'll find the "mile zero marker" from which all distances in France are measured. Go inside Notre Dame, its a working church and admission is therefore free. While you're there light a candle at the statue of the BVM. While the treasury (for which there is a entrance fee) is interesting you can see that next time. ditto climbing up the bell tower.

Cross the street in front of the Plaza and turn to your right. Saint Chapelle that was built by King Louis IX to house the Crown of thorns is surrounded by the Courts Building. If there isn't a line its certainly worth looking at.

Continue up the street and turn left before you cross the river. The conciergerie, a medieval castle that housed Marie Antoinette when she was a prisoner of the revolution will be seen. The building is historically important but the interior isn't really all that interesting. Keep walking.

You'll then come upon the Pont Neuf (New Bridge) which is actually the oldest bridge in Paris. There is a small park that is just beyond the bridge. Its here that Jacques DeMolay, Grand Master of the Knights Templar, was burnt at the stake as a sorcerer. The little Tavern Henri IV which you'll also see is a good spot to grab a glass of wine.

Cross the bridge to the right bank and turn left walking along the river and the Louvre will come into view. To devote just one minute per artwork in the Louvre would mean taking 72 eight hour days to see everything.So you're going to be moving pretty briskly. I suggest you review the Louvre's website and give careful thought to what you want to see then map out your route. A couple of hours is all you can afford to spend here.

When you've done with the Louvre walk towards the small triumphal arch on the grounds. This is the Arc du Carousel. Across the street are the Tulleries Gardens. Walk thru them and you come to the Place de la Concorde you'll have the Jeu de Paume on your right, the Orangerie on your left and Egyptian obelisk in the middle of the Place in front of you. The two buildings were constructed during the reign of Napoleon III originally as a sort of tennis court and a greenhouse respectively. More recently they have been converted to small art museums. The obelisk stands where the guillotine once carried out its work. It was here both the King and Queen met there end. Look up the street to your right and you'll see the Hotel Crillon and next to it the matching Ministry of Marine.

Pop into the metro station in front of the Hotel Crillon and take the line one train marked "Direction La Defense" to the Charles De Gaulle - Etoile stop. when you emerge from the Metro the Arc De Triomphe will be right in front of you with a lot of very crazy French drivers circling it. You'll notice an underground passage that leads to the arch...take it. Trying to cross the street is suicidal. Under the arch is the French tomb of the Unknown soldier Our French Allies lost 1,980,000 killed in World War I. Take a moment to pay your respects. There is also a small tribute to the American Expeditionary Force. It is never without floral tributes.

Pop back into the Metro and this time look for Line 6 marked "Direction:Nation" to the Trocadero stop. When you exit the metro the Palais de Chaillot will be seen and when you walk into and thru it you will get the best view of the Eiffel tower (across the river) that there is. Walk across the river to the tower just to get a feeling for the real scale of it. the lines to go up are usually way too long. I'd skip the trip up if I was you. Now get on the RER C line at the Champs de Mars tour Eiffel Station (As you face the rive with the tower at your back it is on your left). You want any of the trains heading east (Massy-Palalseau-Dourdon). Take this to the Musee D'Orsay stop. The Musee D'Orsay is a perfect frame for the Impressionist collection it houses. A definite must see even if only briefly.

When you're done if there is still some time before you collapse, get back on the RER C and take it to the St. Michel stop. When you come out of the station you'll be more or less back where you started with Notre Dame across a shot span of river from you. Turn in the other direction and walk down the Blvd. St. Michel until you come to the Cluny Museum which will be on your left. The Cluny is the Museum of the Middle Ages and an often overlooked gem of a museum. it is housed in a medieval Abbot's house which is, in turn, built on the old Roman baths. the Baths have been excavated and can be toured.

You should now be ready to collapse.

When you exit the Cluny you might want to continue walking east along the little street that the entrance is on. When the rue St. Jacques crosses, continue across the street and then turn left along the rue St. Jacques.The rue Galande will cross from your right. Turn on it and look on the north side of the street for a place called Aux Trois Mailletz. Its my favorite bar in Paris. have a drink. they have pretty good food to and prices aren't outrageous. There's some good music starting around 7:30. The bouncer, who looks something like Lurch from the Munsters, is named Eric and a good guy. So is the owner, Anthony Wu. If by some chance you're a singer, the piano player is always amenable to accompanying someone.

(I'll edit this and add the second half day itinerary after a bit)

Answer 4

I was in Paris in 98 for about a day and a half.  The people were so rude I couldn't wait to get out of there.  I hope You will have better luck.

I did go to NOTRE DAME.  It was AMAZING.

Hung out in front of that big Erector Set (Eiffel Tower )

www.eiffel-tower.com

Also went to Jim Morrison's grave at Père-Lachaise.

Also check out this website if you are planning on going to a museum:  http://www.paris.org/Musees/