Hi All, I know that I have left this a bit late but I need ideas for an itinerary for 1 day in Paris. I am taking my better half on Saturday 15 Oct for our anniversary and want to see as many sights as possible (not museums). Also need suggestions for romantic lunch/dinner. Also, is the Paris Mobilis card the best bet for 1-day metro travel? Also, any tips/warnings re ryanair flight from glasgow or shuttle bus to port maillot. Any suggestions really appreciated!
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I would try the Bateaubus. You%26#39;ll see many of the major sites and you can get on or off as much as you wish.
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%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;need ideas for an itinerary for 1 day in Paris. I am taking my better half on Saturday 15 Oct for our anniversary and want to see as many sights as possible (not museums)%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;
For a one-day itinerary, you need to set your own personal priorities, based on your own personal preferences and interets...and then be prepared to make unpleasant choices on the places and things that will simply have to be left undone until your next visit.
Perhaps the easiest way to get round Paris to the major sights and attractions is by using one of the %26#39;hop-on/hop-off%26#39;, double-decker tour bus like L%26#39;Open Tours--http://www.paris-opentour.com/index_eng.htm --(like the %26#39;Big Bus%26#39; in London, %26quot;City Sightseeing%26quot; in Glasgow or Edinburgh). The %26#39;flaw%26#39; in this system for a one-day %26#39;..blitz..%26#39; is that you must travel their routes, on their schedule.
You alternative is to do your own research, orient yourself with the layout of Paris and the relative locations of where the places and things are that you wany to visit, acquaint yourself with the Paris public transportation system--Metro and buses-- and lay out your own personalized %26#39;..tour..%26#39; of the city.
Since yours appears to be a weekend
..blitz..%26#39; itinerary, you should pay particular attention to the relative LOCATION of the hotel you select and choose one that is centrally and most conveniently LOCATED within the %26#39;..core..%26#39; (1st, 4th, 5th, 6th arrondissements..the closer to the Seine the better) of Paris. It is certainly true that Paris%26#39; Metro and bus system are excellent, inexpensive and relatively easy-to-use...BUT...Paris is a city that is BEST seen, experienced and enjoyed ON FOOT. So..LOCATION of your %26#39;..base..%26#39; in Paris really does matter. If you have to make choices, then trade hotel %26#39;..stars..%26#39; for LOCATION; trade amenities for LOCATION; and/or trade a few more €uro for LOCATION...but make LOCATION a priority in your hotel selection process.
A day long itinerary for Paris could begin at either Notre Dame or the Eiffel Tower (as examples) working your way across and/or around the city, dependent on the sights and attractions on your own personal %26#39;..Must See..%26#39; list. Walk when you can (you%26#39;ll %26#39;..discover..%26#39; your own personal %26#39;..hidden treasures..%26#39; along the way), use the buses or Metro when time or distance are at issue. You can work most of this out on your own, prior to your visit.
By all means buy a good Paris guide book but better than this will be your own personal %26#39;..guide..%26#39; that you create for yourself from your own research. This personal %26#39;guide%26#39; need be nothing more than a small, spiral-bound, assignment notebook with the details of places and things (with addresses/locations, nearest Metro stop, brief notes and details, etc) that are important to YOU. Don%26#39;t worry that your %26#39;..list..%26#39; is too long. It%26#39;s much better to find yourself saying %26quot;..Nah..let%26#39;s do/go somewhere else instead..%26#39; then; than, %26quot;..Dam..if we%26#39;d only known..%26quot; later.
To aid you with your research and planning, pick-up a good Paris streetmap. I%26#39;ve always found that the STREETWISE PARIS--http://www.streetwisemaps.com/index.html --compact-folding map is the BEST for general planning and touring purposes.
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Thanks a lot for the suggestions!
we will be flying in on sat morning and flying out again at night, so will not be staying in a hotel.
The paris mobilis cards are avaialble for a number of different zones. how many zones do you suggest I get this for? I was thinking just 1 and 2?
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I understood that right, you fly with ryanair roundtrip? I hope you know that the transfer from Beauvais to Paris is a 2 hour trip, this shortens slightly the time you have in Paris! At least your shuttle back from Paris to Beauvais leaves 3 hours before the flight is scheduled.
I wish you fun anyway!
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Hi Guys, I thought I would give you an update on my whirlwind 1 day (well, 8 hrs actually) trip to Paris. All prices are for 2 adults.
Thankfully, the 7.15am Ryanair flight from Glasgow Prestwick to Beauvais was on time, and the coach left for Port Maillot at 10.15, arriving at 11.30am. After finding the metro we were advised by the lady that the Carte Mobilis tickets were for french residents only. This I know to be false but no amount of arguing was going to change her mind. So we ended up buying the slightly more expensive Paris Visite (16.70 euros) because I didn%26#39;t come to Paris to stand and argue over a few euros.
First stop on the Metro was George V on Champs Elysee. Quick sit down on a bench to take in the atmosphere and have some homemade sandwiches, then walk the short distance up to the Arc de Triomphe. Next Metro stop was the Trocadero and a walk down the gardens. over the Siene to the Eiffel tower. We spent a total of around 2.5 to 3 hrs here as we went right to the top (21.40 euros, plus 6 euros from ice creams)
Then from there, a short walk to the Metro, and next stop was the Notre Dame. We went inside the cathedral (free). walked back across the siene to the metro chatelet and a quick journey to the Louvre and the Pyramides. Walked to Place de la Carrousel and sat to take in the sights. Metro from there to Place de la Concorde.
From there, metro back to Port Maillot where we had tea and pastries (23 euros plus 3 euros tip), bought 2 baguettes (7 euros) before boarding the coach back to Beauvais.
In all, spent 77 euros. Saw all sights that we wanted to see. Was very surprised at how busy it was in October, and how hot!!
We live in Scotland, so we took Jackets and a golf umbrella!!
Had a fab time, and would def return.
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forgot to say, the tickets for the shuttle bus to/from Beauvais cost 56 euros for 2 people, return.
13 euros per person, single.
so actually spent 133 euros
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Hello Jaqq,
Well it sounds as if you really saw a great deal of Paris in such a short time....and pretty reasonable too. I am very impressed! You apparently did do your homework........Congrats to you.
Actually the person who refused to let you buy the %26quot;residents%26quot; day pass was right. If you had just gone to another ticket seller you probably would have gotten it........most just ignore that ruling or dont have time to bother.
Its nice to read your question, the replies and then what you decided to do. Are you planning to go back whenever?
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We will definitely go back!! I was very happily surprised at how beautiful, hot and busy Paris was. Why I had not made the short trip from Scotland to this beautiful city before, I don%26#39;t know.
We only had time to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower and inside the cathedral at Notre Dame, and everywhere else we saw from outside. Next time we will go for a few days and actually visit more sights at a slower pace.
Regarding the carte Mobilis, it was mentioned in the AA guide book that I bought, and on this and other websites giving tourist information. I will remember your comments for our next visit.
I cannot praise highly enough the efficiency and cleanliness of the Metro. If anyone has has any reservations at all about finding their way about on the Metro - DONT. It is so easy to follow and very quick. I found it easier to use than the subway in New York.
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