Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
des Champs-Elysées. Master the Louvre and Orsay museums. Save some after-dark en-
ergy for one of the world's most romantic cities.
I've listed sights in descending order of importance, filling up to seven very busy but
doable days in Paris. Therefore, if you have only one day, just do Day 1; for two days,
add Day 2; and so on. When planning where to plug in Versailles (see next chapter), keep
in mind that the Château is closed on Mondays and especially crowded on Sundays and
Tuesdays—try to avoid these days. For other itinerary considerations on a day-by-day
Day 1:
Follow this chapter's Historic Paris Walk. In the afternoon, tour the Louvre. Then
enjoy the Trocadéro scene and a twilight ride up the Eiffel Tower.
Day 2:
StrolltheChamps-ElyséesfromtheArcdeTriomphetotheTuileriesGarden.Tour
the Orsay Museum. In the evening, take a nighttime tour by cruise boat, taxi, bus, or
retro-chic Deux Chevaux car.
Day 3:
CatchtheRERsuburbantrainby8:00toarriveearlyatVersailles.Tourthepalace's
interior, then the gardens and Trianon/Domaine. Have dinner in Versailles town or re-
turn to Paris.
Day 4:
Visit Montmartre and the Sacré-Cœur Basilica. Have lunch on Montmartre.
Continue your Impressionist theme by touring the Orangerie. Enjoy dinner on Ile St.
Louis, then a floodlit walk by Notre-Dame.
Day 5:
Concentrate on the morning market in the Rue Cler neighborhood, then afternoon
sightseeing at the Rodin Museum and the Army Museum and Napoleon's Tomb.
Day 6:
Ride scenic bus #69 to the Marais and tour this neighborhood, including the Pi-
casso Museum and Pompidou Center. In the afternoon, visit the Opéra Garnier, and
endyourdaywithrooftopviewsfromtheGaleriesLafayetteorPrintempsdepartment
stores.
Day 7:
See more in Paris: Rue Montorgueil market; Left Bank shopping stroll from the
Sèvres-BabyloneMétrostoptoSt.SulpiceChurch;PèreLachaiseCemetery,Marmot-
tan or Jacquemart-André museum; or take a day-trip to Chartres or Giverny.
CentralParis(population2.2million)iscircledbyaring-roadandsplitinhalfbytheSeine
River, which runs east-west. If you were on a boat floating downstream, the Right Bank
