We are going for our anniversary in September. Neither of us have ever been, neither took any French. I’m something of a ww2 fiction book lover so I’ve been reading about all of these places forever. We are going for a week.
My absolute must is the d’Orsay museum, hubby is the catacombs. I understand it’s super crowded at the museums - is there a better time to go in terms of days of the week or times? Is it better to have a tour guide take you through the museums or go it alone? I do enjoy hearing from docents. Of course we also have to do the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, ride down the Seine. We also want to go to Loire valley to see the castles and some wine tours as well as Versaille.
Anyone have tips for the crowds? Anything we simply must do that perhaps the garden variety tourist doesn’t know about? What time did you make your dinner reservations and are any of the menus in english?
Paris in September will be beautiful! We went a few summers ago, and I found the museums weren’t bad if you went early in the day. I recommend you get tickets in advance. Note when you book for the catacombs, you are booking in a time slot, so make sure you both get the same slot. I would recommend you see the Musee de l’Orangerie if you like Monet.
Check the days for all of the museums you want to see. They are usually not open every day of the week. We did not use a tour guide for the museums and did fine. If you are going to the Louvre, be strategic. Figure out what you want to see and where it’s located. It’s a giant place where you could easily spend a whole day.
We did a fair amount of wandering around in the gardens and stopping at cafes that looked interesting.
Have a great trip!
Also, I would recommend learning a few phrases in French. If you try something in French but the other person doesn’t understand you, I think they still appreciate the effort.
Paris in September is ideal time. I don’t actually think that a week in Paris will allow you much of an opportunity to tour the Loire Valley so you need to be selective in what you do in your planning. I would recommend the MuseumPass in Paris as it will allow you to bypass the lines to get into the Musee D’Orsay and the Louvre. I recommend getting to the Louvre early in the day and for the Eiffel Tower either early in the day or early evening. Last time I was in Paris DH and I did not wait on long line for elevator to the top. We walked up to the first level and then he went up another flight to next level. Versailles will take you a half day to get there on train and back as well as spend time touring Versailles itself. I haven’t used tour guides in Paris although last time we also did driving trip to Normandy and Mont St Michel and used a tour guide for half-day for Normandy beaches.
Use the BatoBus, rather than take a cruise on the Seine. It’s cheaper and more authentic. If you want to avoid lines at the Eiffel Tower, book dinner in one of the restaurants and skip the queue. If you go to Versailles, which is often insanely crowded, see if you can buy tickets online first, rather than on the day, and go as early as possible. I love Laduree, on the Champs Elysee. I don’t care if it’s touristy. The macarons are delicious and it’s so delightfully old-fashioned. Catacombs are indeed fun, but get there early. Then again, we had fun waiting in line with tons of gothy European youth, and it’s a perfectly fine way to people watch for a while.
My favorite thing to do anywhere is to start wandering down side streets with fewer tourists. That’s when you start discovering fun stuff. Re the Louvre, it’s vast. We didn’t have a guide, but I am sure you can hire one there to show key pieces. There will be an English headset available, no doubt. I always think it’s more fun to do it on your own, because there is so much to see. You can just wander somewhere and find something cool. But, you could easily spend a whole day there if you aren’t careful, so maybe a guide isn’t a bad idea. All museums will be more crowded on weekends with European weekenders. That’s probably true of Friday and Monday, too.
I LOVE the Loire Valley. Go to Loches, Blois and Amboise. All are magical. If you go to Blois you can see a really great magic show based on the magic of Robert Houdin, the inspiration of Harry Houdini. It was really good. Loches is a walled town. Amboise has a castle and the amazing Leonardo Da Vinci house.
English is widely spoken in Paris (though many workers in Paris aren’t French and may not speak English) and I can’t imagine there will be many places that don’t have English menus, at least not in Central Paris. You should bring a French travel dictionary anyway. It’s always nice to say a few words in the native tongue. You will want your dictionary for the Loire Valley. Have a great time!
If you are spending a few days in Paris, then get the Paris pass (sale ends today!! 10% off). It provides unlimited access to the Paris Metro (subway) and passes to all the key museums and places you need to see. Always a highly recommended alternative. parispassDOTcom. Also, having a guide for Versailles or for the Louvre is very helpful. Just google tour guides Louvre or something and any number of quality options (both group and private) will appear. Also, if you are going to Normandy, try and situate your stay at Bayeux, where you are on the Eastern side of the beaches but also have access to the marvelous Bayeux Tapestry. A wonder! The Bayeux Cathedral is compact and lovely.
September is high tourist season. I was locked out of my favorite hotel a couple years ago even though I tried to book in May. You can book a cancellable rate as soon as you see something you like and change later, but I wouldn’t wait on finding a hotel. I’m not an Airbnb person, others can give advice if that’s your preference.
Versailles is an hour to 90 minutes by easy train connection. Get there at opening or end of day. Over run with group tours starting 30 / 60 minutes after opening until about 30 minutes before closing. At least that’s been my recent experience. I love the grounds, many people (me included) find the Hall of Mirrors underwhelming on a first viewing. I’ve come to appreciate, but it took several visits.
Take a look at the website for Chantilly. Easy train from Paris, in your time frame, Loire Valley is difficult.
Search CC, several very good recent threads on Paris. Have fun- I’m due for a return myself!
My last time at Musee d’Orsay was very crowded. About a 30 minute wait to get in thru security. However, once in the crowds didn’t bother us. It’s a small enough museum (not small, but not the Louvre!) that waiting for people to move for a clear close viewing of a painting didn’t seem like that meant missing out on other areas. It is a stunning collection and well laid out - easy to feel as if you have “covered everything.” Enjoy!!!
One more idea since you mentioned WWII. The Musee de l’Armee is very good with a section on WWII resistance fighters that I found incredibly moving. Also sections on deGaulle and Napoleons tomb!
I visited Paris for the first time last year, late August/early September. Check out the Paris Museum Pass. It allows entry to many museums and you can skip the line, although you still have to stand in the security line. Decide which places you want to visit, add up the costs, and then see if the pass is a good choice for you. They offer different options.
My daughter told me about the citymapper app. It was a lifesaver!! As long as you have data on your phone, the app will give you directions to wherever you want to go…by walking, bus, or subway. It will even tell you whether you should sit in the front, middle or back of the subway and then which exit to take. It was great!
The lines were not as bad as I had heard they could be when I was there. My husband was there for work and I toured the city by myself. I speak very little French. Google translate is a good app as well. I did not find the language to be that much of a barrier.
My favorites were visiting Versailles and also visiting Giverny. I did a tour group for both. For Versailles, we took the train and then biked around the grounds and had a picnic. Loved seeing the Hall of Mirrors. I am a big Monet fan and visiting his home in Giverny was a highlight!
Have fun!!
Going to echo suzy100–learn some basic phrases in French. (Including do you have a menu in English?)
People are much nicer if they know you are at least attempting the language. Greet shop owners.
Read up on restaurants and dining customs. Paris eats late–you can walk into an empty restaurant at 6pm (and not get seated because it’s booked for 8pm and they’re afraid you’ll still be there).
Learn to order tap water.
The pastry shops were our favorite places for breakfast–no need for English there–just point at what looks delicious and give them money with a smile.
The train to Versailles will take you almost to its front gate–but you can’t actually see it from the train. The taxi’s will line up to take you to Versaille when it is literally a five minute walk.
Research what you might want to see at the Louvre–you could spend the whole week there and still not see it.
We ate at the Eiffel tower for lunch (okay) but my real regret was not visiting it at night.
I have been to Paris many times and am planning a big trip in November because I prefer off season. I hate crowds and will not wait in long lines for anything. But that is just me. There is a significant cost difference between high season and off season.
I prefer apartments over hotels in Paris because half the fun is shopping the gorgeous outdoor markets and the local boulangeries for morning goodies.
If this trip is somewhat of a splurge for you I highly recommend Paris Perfect for a small place with drool worthy balcony with views of Eiffel Tower. Check out their website for fun. There is nothing more romantic than sharing wine and snacks on your own little balcony while the tower is sparkling at night (there is a light show every hour). If you pull up their rate sheet it gives a good indication of the different pricing seasons. I also have a close friend that works for Paris for Rent if you want to look through their rentals.
Be aware that there is a big fuss in Paris right now about short term rentals. They have to be registered or you risk getting cancelled if the apt owner gets caught. The above agencies have registered apartments. Airbnb is the government’s big target…govt is suing Airbnb because they won’t take owner listings down.
To avoid lines you must either purchase the Paris Museum pass which allows free entry or purchase tickets ahead online. The pass does not cover the Eiffel Tower entry but covers most everything else except some small private museums. This avoids the ticket purchase lines but there are still long security check lines everyone has to go through.
Seasoned travelers will tell you NOT to buy the other ParisVisite pass. That pass does not pay for itself at all. In fact, if you are only going to Catacombs, Louvre, Orsay, the Museum Pass probably does not pay for itself but might be worth it just to skip the ticket lines. It also gives you the option to just slip into other places for a quick visit if you want to see something.
You can purchase the Paris Museum Pass at the Tourist Info desk in the airport upon arrival. You can also purchase a book of 10 public transfer tickets at the airport desk. The books have 10 tickets at a discount and they cover bus, metro, and local trains ( not the train from airport to City because that is a long ride). There is even a better option if your week is between a Monday and Sunday.
I have opinions about the Eiffel Tower…it is not worth it to wait in the huge long lines to go to the top. There are better places to view Paris without the cost and long lines. The Jules Verne restaurant is extremely expensive
I could go on forever with unsolicited advice. Feel free to post out any specific questions
I loved the Orangerie. D was an art history major, so she loved the modern art at the Pompidou. We did buy the museum pass and it would have been a deal if I hadn’t left it in the hotel room the day we went to Versailles, only to realize it once we were there:( We did visit the Musee d’Orsay and the Louvre as well. The Orsay was crowded with students on a Saturday field trip and the Louvre is too overwhelming to stay for long, IMO. I thought D would want to cover it head to toe (I had done that in '80s), but she was happy to see Winged Victory, Venus, Mona Lisa, and a few others and then leave. Not her favorite art.
S & DIL were there in March of '17 and had a small guided tour of the Louvre and some other highlihgts through Paris Muse. With limited time, they thought it was the best thing they did.
One other thought. Everyone inquires best way to get from CDG airport into the City. Remember you are going to arrive jet lagged and tired, with luggage. Taxi fares are a fixed price 50 Euro to right bank and 55 Euros to left bank. There are tons of scammers who approach arriving passengers and offer ‘taxi’ rides. Avoid them. Go out to the official taxi queue only. I even had some guys in official looking vests that were waving everyone away claiming the taxi queue had been moved to a location down the way. A lot of people got directed and I kept yelling at the poor people to come back to the official line.
There are 2 other options if you need to save money. Air France has a bus into Paris about 17 Euro but with only 2 or 3 official stops. That’s not fun if you have to drag your luggage far to your accommodations.
Then there is a train station in the airport, but it only takes you into the city station and you have to transfer everything onto a metro (stairs involved) to get to your location or take a taxi that last step. I would not recommend this for first timers. Pickpockets target incoming jet lagged Tourists on that train line.
We already have the hotel picked. We are Marriott Platinum so we cash in points and go somewhere every year. So I hope the marriott at champs elysee is a good location, because that’s where we’re staying.
If I go expecting horrible lines and crowds I can be pleasantly surprised if it isn’t as bad as I feared. Hubby actually said he had no need to go on the Eiffel Tower – because he went several times at Kings Island amusement park - lol It’s one of those things, it’s not like I’m dying to go do it, but it also seems wrong not to do it.
I want to sit and drink coffee, eat pastries, stroll around, look at fabulous art and soak in the city. I have to balance that with feeling like chances are we tend to not revisit places and I don’t want to regret missing something I “should” do.
If you don’t have a burning desire to actually go to the top of the Eiffel tower–don’t. But go and enjoy it at night.I
I enjoyed seeing Napoleon’s apartments at the Louvre.
Really check out museum times and days–they are weird. And subject to change. Don’t be disappointed because your one “must see” was closed from 1-3 on some sporadic day.
If you can manage eating later in the evening, do. You’ll get more of a feel for the city if you adapt to the local customs.
Most of Europe goes “on holiday” during the summer which creates some of those horrible lines. Hopefully Sept will be a bit better crowd-wise. But it varies. Don’t know specifically about Paris but also be aware that in “off-season” the hours of tourist attractions may be curtailed. Really need to check it out.
The more you know and plan, the happier you’ll be. It can turn into “work”–but then your vacation will be a breeze.
Always found Rick Steve’s books invaluable.
There are tours of the Eiffel Tower that take you underground and show you how the pneumatic pumps work to get the elevators up and down. Combine with quick line to get up to the tower!
Great advice here already! A small tip everyone should know if you want friendly service in shops. As soon as you walk in, say bonjour (Hello) to the shop owner or sales person. It’s considered rude to just walk in without greeting them and just start browsing or touching things. It really makes a big difference in how you are perceived, and therefore and how you are treated as a customer.
Do a little every day. Only takes minutes - you’ll feel better knowing a little French.