I am visiting Paris for 2 days. I land at Orly. How far is Eiffel Tower?

Question

I am going to Paris for just 2 days. In these two days I plan on visiting a couple of places in Paris (including the Eiffel Tower). Now how far is Eiffel Tower from Orly? Which area is Eiffel Tower located in? How do i get there? Any other places you guys consider as a "must visit" in France?

Answer 1

Orly is a long ways from the center of Paris - If possible, you need to get a place to stay other than out at the airport!  Otherwise, if you have to, you can take the high speed metro-train into town -as I recall, it takes a little less than an hour.

Once you get into Paris, everything you might want to see in two days is reasonably close together - you can walk, take the metro or (my tourist favorite) the Batobus (waterbus).

Things to try to see in two days:

1. Notre Dame and La Chappelle - they are right next to each other on the Ile de la Cite.  Gargoyles, gorgeous stained glass, etc.

2. Louvre - you can either try to do the quick run through of the famous stuff (exhausting) or pick a topic you like and do a more detailed look.  

3. Musee d'Orsay.  If you like Impressionism and/or sculpture, this is the place to go.  If you like great architecture - ditto.  

4. Eiffel Tower - try to pick a day when it's clear.

5. Sacre Coeur - check out the artists and just walk around.

If you buy a Batobus pass, you can float to all these sites except Sacre Coeur - for that one, you need to take the Metro.

Ah - and how coudl i forget - you MUST walk along the Champss Elysee (preferably at night) and see the Arc du Triomphe!  This is also on a metro stop.

Answer 2

Well, Orly, the airport, is about 45 minutes from the centre of Paris.  Take the train to Chatelet or better, the bus to Invalides.  If you go to Invalides, the Eiffel Tower is right near by.  It is in the 7th Arrondissment (neighbourhood) of Paris which is on the west side of the city.

2 days isn't long to be in Paris.  If you are interested in Museums, there is of course the Louvre, but it is huge and would take a week to see it all, the musee d'Orsay which is very nice, musee Rodin which is full of sculptures and some paintings and is partially in a garden (very nice) musee Picasso (self explanatory).  Musee Beaubourg or Centre Pompidou as it is known is a much more modern building specializing in modern art and usually has good rotating exhibits.

Monuments - Notre Dame is very special and worth a visit, Sacre Coeur on top of the hill in the north of the city is also very special, has nice views and there are some cool small streets around ( a little expensive though).  The Pantheon on the left bank (side of the river- essentially south) is also very nice.  The Arc de Triomphe at one end of the Champs Elysee is also nice and I guess a quick visit is worth it to see what they call the most beautiful avenue in the world (its not really but hey, whatever)

With only two days you should just hit the biggies like Notre Dame (right in the centre of the city) Sacre Coeur (for the nice church and the view) and then take some nice walks around the city.  Try the Marais (4th arrondissment), St Michael (left bank, nice despite the greek sandwich places) Ile St Louis (the smaller of the two Islands in the Seine is very pretty and has great ice cream.

Enjoy enjoy enjoy