Places to visit in Paris and around?

Question

Our plant is to visit Paris during last week of March and will stay in Paris City for 3 days (@ 2 nights). Please suggest a plan for the places to visit and not to miss. We are family of me, my hubby and son 11 years & son 6 years. I need ideas for better hotels also, which are not expensive. Is there a day tour or so, around the city? For the outside city what is the better arrangement there for the tourists? Are there tour packages available?

Any small bit of information from you are going to help us a lot. Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

As usual, my friend Rilifan has told very good suggestions.

I just give my blog about Paris, if you want to see some pictures to complete these things.

One the articles is called : 2 days to visit Paris : it's an ambitious  aim !

http://hello-paris.over-blog.com/

About hotels, you can try to book in a Novotel, it's free for children under 16, when they share parents' room :

http://www.novotel.com/fr/reservation/li...

These are not cheap hotels, but as you don't pay for children, you can have a good hotel.

Answer 2

Ok, not aiming for a best answer this time, but just for a warning.

Please indicate to the hotel you will be booking that you'll be four in the room. Most hotels in Paris do not have family rooms, and the ones who have do not have aplenty.

Prefer chain hotels such as Accor or Best Western if you don't have anyone there to check the hotel itself. Both are usually well kept and positively terrified of bad feedback letters. And if you are going in March, make your booking now if you are sure of your dates: you'll have a good rebate, if you forfeit your chances of cancellation.

If you wish to be in Paris itself, most two stars hotel can do the trick. They won't be in the inner sanctum of Paris or next to the Champs Elysées, but with the subway and the buses, this is no big deal.

Also, keep at least half a day for fooling around and just walking aimlessly through some areas of the City, you'll surely find it worth your while.

Answer 3

WOW 3 days in Paris is wonderful.

I stayed in the very nice Hotel Mercure del Est. It is a little out of the center, but it has a great and efficient metro station. Just make sure you hold your little ones' hands because it is a very bussy station. If you like to walk, I have a great plan for you.

Day 1: The Classics

            Eifel Tower: RER C Champ de mars

            Arc de Triomphe: Charles de Gaulle Etoile

            Champse Elysee

           Place de la COncorde.

           Notre Dame.

           Finish your day with a great Seine Cruise. Departs right next to the Notre Dame.

Alternative Day 1: Open Tours.

          The Open Tours in Paris take you to many stops along the way. You can see all the sights and return to the one that you like the best.

Day 2: Classics with a Modern Twist

            Opera Garnier Tour

            Shops at Galeries Lafayette, Beautiful shopping and    a great dome

            Versailles: You can take the RER C to the last stop. This is easier than a $400 tour. Once you are there, you can purchase a tour. They let you see the inside of the palace and then you meet with a guide for the tour. After the tour the grounds are open.

           Arc de la Defense: This new Arc is beautiful. It is about 7,50 Euro to the top, but it has a beautiful view of Paris. This is a must see. It also has a free mini museum at the top and an art exhibition.

Day 3: For your final day in Paris, you might want to recap your visit or see the

             Sacre Couer: Nice Basillica, with awesome views at the top of the dome.

             Explore the Latin Quarter

             Take a Leisurly stroll through the Jardin du Luxembourg

             Go to the Louvre Rivoli Metro station and check out replicas of the Louvre Art Work or Visit the Louvre.

            

I hope you enjoy your trip with your family. If you want anyother tips as to where to eat or other itenerary plans, or even any information about Paris, go to my profile and e-mail me.

*danny*

Answer 4

Musée Marmottan is fantastic.  It's an Impressionist museum - tons of Claude Monet.  

Montmartre/Sacre Couer.  The basilisque is beautiful.  Around MontMartre is an artist's square that's good fun.  I recommend having a charcoal painting of your kids.  Also nice to pick up an 'original' piece of artwork from one of the artists.  You'll have a couple of great souvenirs.  This is kid-friendly.

The kids will probably like Montparnasse tower - it's a neat view up top.  

Arc de Triomphe at rush hour is fun.  

I also like to hang out near Notre Dame, along the river.

The Louvre is huge huge huge.  With kids, plan what you want to see in advance to streamline the visit.  

If don't speak French, do what you can to learn prior to the trip, the locals will appreciate your effort.

Answer 5

Forget the Mosque, Museum of Natural History and Jardin des Plantes, boring......try the marché puces (flea market), the old Opera House, have lunch at Fauchon or, if you have time, take a half day bus excursion to Versailles (also accessible by Metro) or Giverny (Claude Monet's home in Vernon).  Make sure you save some time for just wandering around...getting lost and soaking up the history.

Answer 6

Given the very short time you will be in Paris there is little reason to venture outside the city itself.

A possible use of the three days might be:

Day one: Boat ride on the Seine, Notre Dame, St. Chapelle, Conciergerie, Louvre.

Day two: Champs elysee, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Invalides, Musee D'Orsay

Day Three: In the morning Sacre Coeur and Montmartre. Afternoon Grand Mosque of Paris, Arena Lutece (Roman ruin), Jardin des Plants (Botanical garden) and Natual History Museum.

Answer 7

Well the responders above me gave great info.  I, personally, like the FOOD in Paris so here are some great places to add to your sightseeing:

Cafe Angelina is KNOWN for pastries and hot chocolate.  Several of these restaurants are well known and very charming to add to your short time there.

http://www.gallagherstravels.com/interna...

Answer 8

Accommodation: try www.hostelworld.com. They do all types of accommodation in every major city in the world.

Don't bother leaving Paris if you're only going to be there for a few days. Your kids will enjoy Eurodisney, but you want something cultural, so:

the Louvre

the Musee d'Orsay

Notre Dame Cathedral

The Eiffel Tower

the Montmarte part of the city

There are these open-topped hop-on hop-off buses that you pay a flat rate for a day to use, and these are great in a city like Paris, if it isn't raining.

Get yourself a copy of the DK Eyewitness Guide for Paris, borrow it from your local library.