Paris, France (2022) - Itinerary

Wednesday, April 27, 2022

  • Arrive in DUB, layover, Flight DUB to CDG departs at 9:50 AM

  • Arrive at CDG 12:40 PM

  • Metro to hotel (10 EUR pp one-way)

    • “Paris by Train” / RER B

      • Aéroport CDG -> Châtelet-Les Halles

    • Metro 4 (to Bagneux)

      • Les Halles -> Saint-Germain-des-Prés

  • Check in to hotel: Hôtel Académie Saint-Germain (from 14:00)

  • Lunch at Bouillon Racine (Set Lunch 1906 for 17.50pp, veg options)

    • National classified monument brasserie preparing french classics with a twist in the Sorbonne, near the Panthéon, Le Jardin du Luxembourg

  • Walk (15m) to the Luxembourg Gardens

    • Outdoor sculpture collection of famous french women, statue of liberty replica, the Medicis fountain (NE corner) from 1630

  • Pâtisserie stop at La Boulangerie Moderne

  • Walk up and across the river to Notre Dame

  • Dinner at Café le Zimmer

    • Classic sidewalk bistro with veg options near Notre Dame

    • Walk home via Île Saint-Louis (~1h)

Thursday, April 28, 2022

  • Morning coffee options:

    • Saint Pearl (opens 8a, 10a weekends)

    • Noir - Coffee Shop & Torréfacteur (opens 8a, 9a weekends)

    • Café de Flore (opens 7:30a)

      • Historic coffee house since 1887 with outdoor seating

  • Walk to the Louvre, timed entry at 9:30 AM - tickets in email

    • Pharaoh of the Two Lands exhibition ticket (17 EUR pp)

  • Lunch at Café Le Nemours with terrace, quiche

  • 1:00 - 3:00 PM French Revolution Paris Historic Walk (2h, $28pp)

    • We meet in front of cigar store « A la Civette » 157 Rue Saint-Honoré, 75001 Paris.

    • We’ll wander through the following areas : Arcades of Palais Royal; St Honoré Street; St Roch Church; Notre-Dame de l’Assomption church (not to confuse with the main Notre-Dame); the guillotine spot for the executions of high profile figures; homes where Lafayette and Robespierre lived; and more.

  • CHOCOLATE WORKSHOP - 3:30pm start time (90m, ~$100pp)

  • Walk to Rue Cler (~30m)

    • Through Place de la Concorde

    • To Le Petit Palais (FREE! For permanent exhibits)

    • Along the Seine, cross at Pont Alexandre III

    • Through Esplanade des Invalides

    • Down Rue Saint Dominique

    • Rick Steves’ Rue Cler walk (p.110, best Tue-Sat 8:30-13:00 / 15:00-19:30, ~1h)

    • BUILD A PICNIC ALONG THE WAY!

  • Eiffel Tower

    • Dinner picnic in the park in front of the Eiffel Tower (or at one of the cafes nearby)

Friday, April 29, 2022

  • Breakfast at Café de Flore (opens 7:30a)

    • Historic coffee house since 1887 with outdoor seating

  • 10:30a timed entry to Musée de l’Orangerie (Paris Museum Pass)

    • Impressionism museum with room of Monet’s water lilies

  • 11:30a timed entry to Hôtel de la Marine (Paris Museum Pass)

  • Recently-opened 18th c royal palace, previously used as the French Naval Ministry's HQ and now open to the public, 45m guided tour

  • Walk down Av. des Champs-Élysées (~30m)

  • Arc de Triomphe (Paris Museum Pass)

    • Observation deck last admission 9:45p (no reservation with pass)

  • Musée des Plans-Reliefs (Paris Museum Pass)

    • Museum dedicated to intricate military models of fortified towns dating back to the 17th century.

  • Musée de l'Armée - Tombeau de Napoléon (Paris Museum Pass)

    • Collections of weapons and uniforms tracing French military conflicts, plus Napoleon's tomb.

  • Musée Rodin (Paris Museum Pass)

    • 18th-century mansion & sculpture garden displaying Rodin's influential works, such as The Thinker.

  • Walk to Dinner at Pan Vin Fromages

    • Snug, stone-walled fondue joint near Le Centre Pompidou, Musée Picasso, Jardin des Archives nationales

Saturday, April 30, 2022

  • Musee d’Orsay (Paris Museum Pass)

    • Major 19th- & 20th-century European art collections housed in a monumental, former railway station.

  • No timed reservation required for Paris Museum Pass holders

  • Walk to lunch at La Fourmi Ailée

    • Warm family atmosphere featuring books on the walls, 34 types of tea, newsprint menu with several veg options, and taste of home cooking; on the left bank Latin Quarter next to Notre-Dame

  • Sainte-Chapelle (11.50 EUR pp - Paris Museum Pass)

    • 13th c gothic chapel with stunning stained glass windows

  • 2:30 - 4:00 PM Discover Walks free walking tour of the Latin Quarter

  • End near the Pantheon (15 EUR pp - Paris Museum Pass)

    • Open until 6p, last entry at 5:15p

  • Late afternoon drink at Café de la Nouvelle Mairie

  • Dinner at Semilla

    • Fancier, classic bistro with a contemporary flare, market menu

Sunday, May 1, 2022

  • 9:00 - 11:30 AM Croissant Baking Workshop (2.5h, $95pp)

  • Metro to Bastille (M87 from Saint-Guillaume to Bastille - Henri IV ~20m)

  • Lunch at Pause Café

    • Classic bistro with outdoor dining and veggie menu section, near the Bastille in 11th ARR.

  • Rick Steves’ Marais Walking Tour (p.161)

  • Falafel at L'As du Fallafel

    • Fast falafel, shawarma, and kebabs at a window in the Jewish Quarter

  • End at Centre Pompidou (FREE ON FIRST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH)

    • 20th c art collection

  • Directions to Blanche

  • 6:30 - 8:30 PM “Explore Montmartre and visit Sacré-Coeur” guided tour ($39pp, 2h)

    • We will meet outside the Metro Station Blanche. The guide will hold a yellow sign.

    • Walk Moulin Rouge to Montmartre to Sacré-Cœue (guided tour inside) to sunset viewpoint to windmills and Place du Tetre

  • Dinner - get recommendation from tour guide or La Buvette

    • Romantic Parisian cafe with wine cellar by an American chef, first branch opened in NYC, small plates and veggie options in 9th ARR

  • Metro to hotel (M12

Monday, May 2, 2022

  • Breakfast at Saint Pearl (opens 8a, 10a weekends)

  • Wander Rue de Buci if time

  • Collect luggage and check out by 11:30a

  • Walk to Gare Montparnasse (~30m)

  • Train to Tours (main station, ~1:15 direct)