<p>If you like ice cream, you should go to Berthillon on Ile St. Louis.<br>
[url=<a href=“http://www.berthillon.fr/]Maison”>http://www.berthillon.fr/]Maison</a> Berthillon : la qualit</p>
<p>Don’t expect to “see” the Louvre in a day, much less in half a day or a few hours. It’s ginormous. Spend some time in advance identifying a few things you want to see there and hone in on them. Everyone wants to see the Mona Lisa which is a lovely painting but tiny, and hard to get a good look at because of the mobs surrounding it. </p>
<p>Musee D’Orsay is outstanding, as is the Centre Pompidou which focuses on 20th Century art. </p>
<p>The Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower are iconic structures but IMO just a glimpse of them from a distance is plenty; no need to stand in line in order to get up close and personal. Notre Dame, on the other hand, is not to be missed; it will take your breath away. The view of the city from Sacre Couer in Montmartre is also outstanding. The boat tours on the Seine in the bateaux-mouches are also a classic Paris experience.</p>
<p>Most fun of all, though, is just walking and exploring neighborhoods (someone already mentioned St. Germain-de-Pres on the Left Bank and the Marais on the Right Bank, two great ones). That, and jus sitting in an outdoor cafe and watching Paris stroll by.</p>
<p>I also agree that staying near a Metro stop will make pretty much every major attraction accessible–and most places in Paris are near a Metro stop.</p>
<p>I will second the recommendation for sorbet and gelato at Berthillon on Isle S Luis. </p>
<p>Look into the Museum Pass. The Orangerie in the Tuilleries is small but has some amazing waterlily paintings by Monet. </p>
<p>An evening river cruise on the Seine is a nice way to relax and sightsee.</p>
<p>I dislike the Louvre as a tourist destination. It is a lovely place to pass a morning getting lost amongst the paintings, especially if you have nowhere else to be. Once you place a time constraint on it, it’s ruined in my opinion.</p>
<p>Here are a few places I think are worth a visit, but there are many more which are best when discovered quite by accident. Don’t plan too much, it can spoil a trip!</p>
<p>The Paris catacombs.
The Basilica of the Sacr</p>
<p>It’s sacrilege, but I think you could skip the Louvre if your time is that short. You’ll spend way more time in line for a glimpse at the Mona Lisa, which looks just like every picture you’ve seen of the Mona Lisa. It’s not a transcendental experience. Either do it right - which is a multiple day visit with plenty of time to roam - or don’t bother. OTOH, I would not skip Notre Dame or Sacre Coeur or Ste Chapelle. </p>
<p>Paris is about walking around and soaking up the atmosphere, IMO. That’s as much of it as checking off certain things to see.</p>
<p>We had a museum pass, went to the Louvre right went it opened, went straight to the Mona Lisa, and were 5 of the 7 people in the room at the time. We did the Rick Steves walking tour of the Louvre - it hit the very high points, and is humorous at the same time. Yes, sacrilege for true art lovers, but perfect if you’re short on time (or are carting three young children, as we were.)</p>
<p>Here is the best advice I can give to anyone who has a short time to visit any city where there is “too much” to see and do. Each of you should write down the top 3 things you want to see or do in Paris (hopefully there will be some overlap). Then plot them on a map…look at what is nearby…you can see some of your “B” or “C” list items if they are near the “A” list items. It works great. (Just be sure you check opening and closing days and times.) It would be great to decide in advance whether you want to climb things. NM, I am guessing that the stairs to the top of Notre Dame would not be great on your knee. If you discuss going to the top vs. observing from the ground in advance, you won’t have to stand around and decide at the time. </p>
<p>I would suggest only going up to Sacre Coeur if it is a clear day, because at least for me, the view is the thing. Similarly, Sainte Chapelle is fabulous on a sunny day, otherwise, merely interesting. (Note: my opinion only.)</p>
<p>I don’t think anyone has mentioned the Mus</p>
<p>I second the Cluny and would like to throw in a vote for the Opera Garnier, which is quite simply the most beautiful building in Paris. You should go to the Louvre, but choose a few galleries, and don’t expect to see everything on one trip. Avoid Mona, and check out Madonna of the Rocks instead. Don’t waste your precious time waiting to go up the Eiffel Tower, just stand underneath and look up instead. Just walk, walk, walk and eat, eat, eat. Bertillion twice a day–the portions are smaller than what we’re used to, crepes on the street. share a cookie at every bakery you pass. We had a 2 wonderful dinners at Restaurant Christine, on Rue Christine in the San Germain neighborhood. Across the street was Rotisserie D’En Face, also wonderful. SO JEALOUS!!</p>
<p>Maybe it’s just me, but I find the Mona Lisa underwhelming. It’s not like it’s the Sistine Chapel, where you’re just in awe of the beauty. It just looks like a dull painting on wood. I’ve seen it several times and to me it’s a why-bother when there is so much else in Paris. I would rather picnic outside the Louvre and enjoy the majesty and history of the palace, than stand in line to see the ML. But that’s just me. In any case, it’s an amazing city! Have fun!</p>
<p>Stay alert for pickpockets. DH (there for a break during a business trip last month) twice caught someone with a hand down his FRONT pants pocket. He also had zippers opened on his backpack several times while out walking. Once the culprit was a young boy (about 10) whose mother was nearby.</p>
<p>Forgot about Cluny! I love the round room with all the lady and the unicorn tapestries. We walked there our arrival day while we waited for our rooms to be ready. We also like gardens and parks. The sculpture garden outside the Rodin museum is very nice.</p>
<p>Thanks for all of the recommendations! You are all so kind! 
</p>
<p>Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower, and night boat ride on the Seine are important to both of us so I know we will do those. We are big in to walking and people watching so I know we will be sitting at some out door bistros/cafes. Oh…and shopping! 
Picking up baquettes, cheese and wine and having a picnic along the river would be fabulous if we could do that. Seeing the Lourve would be nice but not a requirement for either of us although I would like to go to the Mus</p>
<p>NM, I found this old fodors thread about climbing to the top with bad knees:</p>
<p>[Tough</a> climb to the top of the tower at Notre Dame? | Europe Forum | Fodor’s Travel Talk Forums](<a href=“http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/tough-climb-to-the-top-of-the-tower-at-notre-dame.cfm]Tough”>Tough climb to the top of the tower at Notre Dame? - Fodor's Travel Talk Forums)</p>
<p>H and I went to Paris early on (before kids) and after a day or so, I had to sit him down and tell him he was in Paris and that we needed to stop at every pastry shop we passed. (He didn’t want to gain weight on the trip.) On our recent trip to Chicago, H was complaining that we were constantly eating, or at least planning what treat we were going to eat next. But we walked so much that I came back home at exactly the same weight. I guess if we hadn’t eaten so much I might have dropped a couple of pounds, but would have missed out on a lot. So like others have said, eat crepes, ice cream, schwarmas from street stands, pastries…you will walk it all off!</p>
<p>missy…Yikes! I may just have to buy a postcard with gargoyles on it!
Ha! I know we will be eating like crazy! :)</p>
<p>Has anyone done the Chocolate Walking Tour by Paris Walks?</p>
<p>For sure you must go to [Search</a> results: paris - TripAdvisor](<a href=“http://www.tripadvisor.com/Search?q=paris&sub-search=Search&geo=&pid=3826&returnTo=__2F__]Search”>http://www.tripadvisor.com/Search?q=paris&sub-search=Search&geo=&pid=3826&returnTo=__2F__) On the upper left are the links, just make sure to go to the forum. It is well used and there are many very helpful people (and a few nuts).</p>
<p>We have enjoyed many hotels in Paris. You girls might like the the Hotel Melia le Colbert on the West Bank - but for sure get a larger room. (I think they called it Superior)</p>
<p>There is an area by the Eiffel Tower near many food markets that many traveler enjoy. I can’t think of the neighborhood.</p>
<p>For sure pop in to Hermes and spend a few minutes watching the scarf girls helping clients with their selection and for sure get a Nutella crepe from a sidewalk vendor. Avoid the the food in the twisted, narrow street touristy area near the St. Michel metro. The owners stand in the doorways and try to lure you in. (someone here will know the name of the area)</p>
<p>If you are desperate for an Angelina’s hot chocolate and the line is too long, there is a second restaurant in the mall near Porte Maillot metro stop. We once stayed at the Le Meridian across the street and discovered this hidden secret. </p>
<p>If your knee is bothering you, simply sit down at a sidewalk cafe, enjoy your wine, the people watching and the sounds of Paris.</p>
<p>Never postpone joy!</p>
<p>Does anyone have suggestions for a company for car service from Heathrow?</p>
<p>When we were there in June the walk up to the top of Notre Dame was horrible - walking back down was also no fun - the wait to get in was over an hour - plus the big bell on top is currently under repair and you can’t see it. So skip it - just do the inside (no wait at all).</p>
<p>I highly recommend doing a night bus tour one night to see everything lit up plus it gives you a chance to see the stuff from the bus which you might not get a chance to do during your short stay. (and they drive by the moulin rougue and you can see the windmill lights!)</p>
<p>You must get the crepe with nutella and banana - that is the winning combination!</p>
<p>Gah…sorry about the Heathrow post!!! I must be tired from researching!</p>
<p>If you are up for it, a bike tour is a great way to see a city and get the feel for it before exploring further.</p>
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<p>Sounds lovely, and baguettes, good cheese, and wine are readily available everywhere in Paris. Careful about the public alcohol consumption, however. The rules are complicated and vary by arrondissement (neighborhood/administrative subdivision of Paris), but generally alcohol consumption is prohibited in parks owned by the city of Paris, except in licensed establishments. On the other hand, the rules are inconsistently enforced, and as long as you’re not inebriated the police are likely to just ask you to put the wine away.</p>