So knowing that many of you have told us you're spending a few days in Paris before you come down to Provence, you may want to have a bit of a plan before you get there... Paris is of course a big city, and without a plan, you may yourself a little stressed about how to best go about using your time wisely...
Everyone has their own idea of what Paris means to them and what they want to accomplish... On our last Provence Tour, one gal's goal for Paris was to get to the Chanel Boutique and buy a $7000 purse! She had just retired and that was going to be her gift to herself.... And she did it! Another guest wanted to get to Ladurée and buy her sister (a professional baker) a book of their famous Macarons!
For those of you who want to see the most sights possible while in the City of Lights, you might want to check out Rick Steves suggested itinerary below... (reminder: these are his suggestions, not ours)
Planning Your Time in Paris: Paris in Three Days
By Rick Steves, Steve Smith, and Gene Openshaw
Paris is magnificent, but it's also super-sized, crowded, and fast-paced. These suggested itineraries from my Paris guidebookwill help you prioritize the many sights, on a 3 day visit in Paris. With the proper approach and a measure of patience, you'll fall head over heels for Europe's cultural capital.
In the day plans below, I've listed sights in descending order of importance. If you have only one day, just do Day 1; for two days, add Day 2; and so on. When deciding where to plug in Versailles, remember that the main palace is closed on Mondays and especially crowded on Sundays and Tuesdays — try to avoid these days.
Paris in Three Busy Days
To fit in Versailles on a three-day visit, try it either on the morning of the third day or the afternoon of the second day.
Day 1
Morning: Follow my Historic Paris Walk, featuring Ile de la Cité, Notre-Dame, the Latin Quarter, and Sainte-Chapelle.
Afternoon: Tour the Louvre.
Evening: Enjoy the Place du Trocadéro scene and a twilight ride up the Eiffel Tower.
Day 2
Morning: Follow my guidebook's self-guided Champs-Elysées Walk from the Arc de Triomphe down the grand Avenue des Champs-Elysées to the Tuileries Garden.
Midday: Cross the pedestrian bridge from the Tuileries Garden, then tour the Orsay Museum.
Afternoon: Tour the Rodin Museum, or the Army Museum and Napoleon's Tomb.
Evening: Take one of the tours by bus, taxi/Uber, or retro-chic Deux Chevaux car recommended in my guidebook. (If you're staying more than two days, save this for your last-night finale.)
Day 3
Morning: Catch the RER suburban train by 8:00 to arrive early at Versailles (before it opens at 9:00), then tour the château and sample the gardens.
Afternoon: Versailles can take up a full sightseeing day, so be realistic. If you plan to do anything once back in Paris, consider a sight near one of the RER-C stations: the Army Museum and Napoleon's Tomb or Rodin Museum (near RER-C stop: Invalides), or the Musée d’Orsay or my guidebook's self-guided Left Bank Walk (near RER-C stop: St. Michel).
Evening: Cruise the Seine River or have dinner on Ile St. Louis.
