Three days in Paris - MUST DOs, not necessarily touristy... ???

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Ok, our Paris time is being shortened to three days. We're going in May so weather should be ideal. I don't need to go to the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, or the Picasso Museum.

We will go to the Musee D'Orsay and probably Notre Dame.

What is the single best thing you've done in Paris that might not be on everyone's radar? I'm fine just walking around and seeing where the streets take us, but would like to get an idea of whether there are "musts" that we might not think about....

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

As you are going to Notre Dame - Sainte Chapelle - wow!
http://sainte-chapelle.monuments-nationaux.fr/en/
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...de_France.html

Rodin Museum
http://www.musee-rodin.fr/en/musee-rodin
Stunning rose garden.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...de_France.html

Musée de l'Orangerie, Tuileries gardens, Paris
You only need 30 minutes to see the fabulous Monets - space designed by him to showcase his panels.
http://www.musee-orangerie.fr

None of these three museums need more then 30 minutes but they are a BIG wow for me.

Also just climbed down the stairs and walked along the banks of the Seine.

[catwgirl Contributor - Bronze Find all posts View Profile Close catwgirl]

Have you been to Versailles?

[PigsDad Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PigsDad]

I would put in another vote for Versailles. I would also second the suggestion of visiting Sainte Chapelle when you visit Notre Dame.

And a tip for Versailles if you decide to go: instead of standing in the long line for the general admission, head to the right and do the private residence tour (I think that is what it was called) -- it was well worth the small extra fee. There is usually no line for that, and it includes the general admission (which was about a hour long line when we were there).

Kurt

[Pstreet1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pstreet1]

For us, this small (actually a mansion, but small for a museum) home museum is what we have continued to remember in detail and tell others not to miss. It's small enough to be totally manageable; headphones with English are included in the ticket price; and it really lets you enjoy turn of the century Paris: http://www.musee-jacquemart-andre.com/en/home

[happymum Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close happymum]

LOVE the hot chocolate at Angelina's
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/281536

You knew I would have to add a food thing, didn't you?

[CarolF Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close CarolF]

You knew I would have to add a food thing, didn't you?

Oh goody, a precedent.

Glitter, how about a cooking class?

http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Attrac...de_France.html

[mpizza Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mpizza]

I loved the bike tour of Versailles. We took a train to Versailles, picked-up our bikes and went to outdoor market for picnic provisions, then biked out to Petit Trianon, picnic lunch on the far lake. Caveat, it is a full day adventure.

I enjoyed wandering Le Marais for an afternoon - medeival, cobblestone, authentic.

The sunset boat tour of the Seine (not dinner) was beautiful. If you time it right, you'll return to the dock with lights sprinkling on the Tour Eiffel.

OOOH, I want to return to Paris!!!!

Maria

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Versailles is out - no day trips this time. But the rest sound great, thanks!!! Love small museums and neighborhood walkabouts. And yes, Happymum, I expected nothing less, and by all means, people, food suggestions are absolutely welcome!

Carol, is the cooking class in English? I am considering brushing up on my french before this trip but not sure I'll actually do it.

[happymum Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close happymum]

Warning - do not make the mistake of ordering a chocolate desert to go with the hot chocolate. I nearly blacked out.

[Pstreet1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pstreet1]

We took the newest Zagat with us and had fun selecting and checking out food stops. With the guide, we had clues as to what might be our kind of thing, and it was easy to check them out as we were "out and about" doing other things.

I would also add St. Chap. ONLY if the sun is shining. If it is, the stained glass is truly amazing; if it isn't, not so much.

For us, the Holocaust Memorial is not to be missed; I think of it often. Not many people go, or even know it exists. It's out on the point behind Notre Dame. You'll see steps going down and no real clue what they go to. At the bottom of the stairs you'll find the memorial--very closed in, "halls" for looking down with a single candle at the end. The feeling it evokes is powerful. It takes zero time to visit; you can only stand it for a limited time, and you'll probably be alone.

[catwgirl Contributor - Bronze Find all posts View Profile Close catwgirl]

But what a way to go ...

Warning - do not make the mistake of ordering a chocolate desert to go with the hot chocolate. I nearly blacked out.

[jerrry94087 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jerrry94087]

Also be prepared for an extremely expensive food. French food is good and all, but at 16 Euro for the really small dish (and I mean really really small), locals flock to McDonalds which has (previously frozen) BigMac for 6.50 Euro, and looks like it is doing extremely well. Most local restaurants there look more like an extortion scheme forcing you to pay 16 Euros per dish over and over again until satisfied.

During the trip I kept thinking about burrito and In-n-Out Burger, both have no close equivalents in France.

Chinese restaurants there are quite ubiquitous, but they also adopted this small-n-expensive dish scheme. They are also mostly run by Vietnamese, and don't really cook Chinese food well.

[PigsDad Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PigsDad]

During the trip I kept thinking about burrito and In-n-Out Burger, both have no close equivalents in France.

Thank goodness!

[IreneLF Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close IreneLF]

http://www.vedettesdupontneuf.com/home/ loved this little cruise at night from near the Pont Neuf....- boarded at 9:30 PM, was at the Eiffel Tower just as it was lighting up, early June.

Rodin Museum - LOVED the gardens, some of his best sculptures are outside, and the gardens are lovely... did not have time to get into the museum but did not feel cheated in any way.
Loved the market streets of Rue Mouffetard and Rue Monge. While walking back through that quarter, you might stumble on
important Roman ruins, with kids playing soccer inside, which adds to the fun:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ar%C3%A8nes_de_Lut%C3%A8ce

I could walk all day, and have,and never tire of the passing parade of people and streets........