Paris trip next week - anyone been recently? got tips?

DuncanMiller

Hi all,

I am off to Paris next week for the first time and getting a bit confused with the amount there is to do and how to do it!

We are going by Eurostar into Gare du Nord on Wednesday and staying in the Latin Quarter, near Jardin de Plantes I think. Staying for 3 nights ~ 4 full days there.

Places we would like see are:

• Eiffel Tower
• Notre Dame
• Louvre
• Sacre Coeur
• Arch de Triumph (maybe)
• Some form of cruise on the Seine
• Moulin Rouge

Really want some advise on the best ways to get tickets and see the above and also some recommendations on transport costs and the various tickets you can get. Anybody think this is too much to fit into 3/4 days?

I think you can get a 3 day transport pass but we are there for 4 days - also its difficult to find prices for these etc... online.

Any help on the above and further suggestions would be greatly appreciated (good places to eat, see etc..)

Duncan

cqdaniels

You can buy Paris Visite tickets from Waterloo (from the Travel Centre, next to the machines where you pick up your Eurostar tickets). You can get these for 1,2,3 or 5 days and it allows you to travel on the metro, RER, bus and trams. I can't remember exactly how much it was, but it was good value.

It also contains a number of discount vouchers for attractions, one of which is 'buy one, get one half price' on tickets for an hour long sightseeing cruise on the Seine which you can pick up from near the Eiffel Tower.

http://www.parisvisite.com/en/index.php

The Louvre will probably take a whole day if you want to see it properly, but the rest is easily done in the time you have. The bus and metro network is very easy to use, but you'll probably find you walk a lot.

If you're in the Latin Quarter then you'll be near to an area called Saint Michel", look for Rue de la Huchette - there are dozens of restaurants there.

Make sure you visit the Eiffel Tower after dark as it 'fizzes like champagne' (!) on the hour for 10 monutes and looks very romantic.

If you need any other info - just ask. Have a wonderful time.

nikibella

Hi
for the transport you can get a 3 day pass and for the fourth day you just buy a carnet of 10 subway tickets. Both of you may use the tickets in the carnet and it cost a lot less than purchasing 10 single tickets. You can use the spare tickets on another visit or give them to someone else. In any case you can ask advice at the ticket booth in the subway stations.
You can easily fit tor visits in 3 days. The only thing that takes long time is the visit to the Louvre. If the weather is nice, you can relax on the Seine boat (bateau mouche) afterwards. You shall go to the Moulin Rouge at night, and visit the other sights in the remaining days.

DuncanMiller

Thanks - tips noted on the transport tickets!

I've just been reading that queues for the Louvre can be quite long but that you can pre-buy tickets elsewhere.

Anyone managed to do this to beat the jams?

greyraccoon

If your visit falls entirely between the days Monday to Sunday in the same week, you might want to consider the Carte Orange ticket for travelling within Paris.

http://www.ratp.info/informer/grand_public.php (in French)

It is valid for unlimited travel between those days and is cheaper than the Paris Visite if you only require zones 1-2 and don't plan to use the Museum discounts.

Zones 1-2 = €16 for the week.

DuncanMiller

Thanks Andrew, that sounds like it could be an option as I'm not sure we need to go out as far as zone 3!

barginunter

Versaille is certainly worth a visit too.

poppy38_2

I was in Paris a few weeks ago. We bought a museum pass, which was a big help. Direct access to the attractions, so no need to queue for tickets to get in. 2 day pass 30 euros / 4 day pass 45 euros. It covers maybe 60+ attractions (Arc de Triomphe, Pompidou Centre, Louvre, Picasso Museum, Notre Dame, etc.). It saved us queueing for hours at the Musee de l'orangerie.

It was definately cost effective.

A few places are closed on a Monday, so it's worth planning your days carefully.

Alison

DuncanMiller

barginunter wrote: »

Versaille is certainly worth a visit too.

Where abouts is this? Inner city or do you have to travel out?

DuncanMiller

Poppy thanks for the tip - are the museums expensive then?

We are planning on Notre Dame (thought this was free?), Louvre, Arc de Triomphe, Sacre Cour and Eiffel tower - are all of these covered or would it be best to do them individually?

Travelling Wed-Sat so no problem with the monday thing

martindow

If you like museums I can also recommend the Musee d'Orsay with wonderful impressionist paintings. It's in a converted railway station. The science and technology museum is also good although this is out in the suburbs.
This site has info on Paris museums
http://www.paris.org/Musees/