FRANCE+-+PARIS+-+Tour+Eiffel+from+Below+Side.jpg
france-paris-notre-dame-sunset-257892119-color-corrected-low-res.jpg
 

PARIS

INSPIRATION AWAITS

Paris is yours. Whether you’re there for a day or a week, your days will be filled with all kinds of inspiration français. Be sure you give yourself some time to just chill at a café or in a park. Become a curious explorer of the area where you are staying. Get to know the people that work at the boulangerie or fromagerie. Become one with the Parisians. A simple “Bonjour, madame,” or "Bonjour, monsieur," can go a long way. Give it a try.

UNIQUE EXPERIENCES

DO THIS

  • Go to the top of the Arc de Triomphe at sunset <map>

  • Visit at least three wonderful museums...Musée Rodin, Musée d'Orsay and le Louvre (go early or late to avoid crowds)  <Rodin map> / <Orsay map> / <Louvre map>

  • Hang out in gardens...Luxembourg, Tuileries, and the Palais Royal are three of my favorites

  • Visit Sainte-Chapelle first thing in the morning when it opens <map>

  • Get wine and cheese and have a picnic on the Champs de Mars in front of the Eiffel Tower. After your wine and cheese, get a blank piece of paper and draw or paint the Eiffel Tower. Voilà! a free souvenir that you can hang on your wall and remember that moment by. <map>

  • If you ever need to escape the busy streets of Paris, go into a random church and just sit for a while to soak in the atmosphere. Chill. Listen to your breath. Listen to the silence. Do this for at least 15 minutes and you’ll come out of the church a refreshed person. One of my favorite “chill” churches was St. Suplice.

  • Take the Métro to Père Lachaise cemetery and explore a little. Then, take bus #69 for a good tourist bus experience. <map>

  • Have a picnic along Canal St. Martin and explore the Marais <map>





FOOD

  • La Maison de l’Abrac (off the Champs-Elysées)…my favorite steak restaurant in Paris <map>

  • Frenchie (also, Frenchie-To-Go…an inexpensive lunch joint with great hot dogs!) <map>

  • Septime (nice, need a reservation) <map>

  • King Marcel (inexpensive and tasty burgers) <map>

  • Restaurant Chartier (inexpensive, kind of touristy but good touristy, old school French restaurant - the waiters write your check on the paper table cloths and add it by head - Métro Grands Boulevards)

  • Get a prauline (brioche) from Maison Pralus…sooooooo good!!!…they also have great chocolate

  • One of my favorite boulangeries/patisseries in Paris is Nelly Julien Douceurs et Traditions. LOVE their almond croissants (croissant aux amandes)…sometimes with chocolate. (Near the Eiffel Tower/Invalides) <map>

  • Crepes from street vendors - ones that make them fresh with the batter…not just warm one up that was made last week in some back alley - the area around Centre Pompidou and Chatlet/Les Halles has a ton of them…just be careful around this area at night. Cherain's favorite is une crêpe avec banane et Nutella. Mine is une crêpe avec beurre et sucre (butter and sugar)

  • Get a bottle of wine, a baguette and some French cheeses and sit in the park that's on the island that Notre Dame is on…at the very western-most tip of the island, facing west, watch the sunset

  • You can get tasty macaroons from Ladurée (if you’re on/near the Champs-Elysées - go to the back of the restaurant to the tea room…they call it Bar Lincoln…you can enter in the door off of rue Lincoln…and you shouldn’t have to wait in line and still get macaroons/pastries…it’s a great little tea room that also serves a wide range of drinks and desserts) <map>

  • Head to the Ile St-Louis for ice cream at Berthillon (29-31 rue saint Louis en l'ile) <map>

  • A great cheese shop also on the Ile St-Louis is La Ferme Saint-Aubin (76 Rue St Louis En L'ile). Super friendly owner so don’t be afraid to speak French to him! <map>

  • Two great places to get tea for home are Kusmi Tea and Mariage Frères. They have stores located throughout Paris.


Paris — 6‑Day, 5‑Night Itinerary

Base hotel: Park Hyatt Paris–Vendôme. Metro-friendly routing, walks < ~1 mile. Includes metro station directions, passes, prices, and timed plan.

Arrival: Charles de Gaulle (CDG) — 10:30 AM Departure: CDG — Flight 13:30 (final day) Hotel: Park Hyatt Paris–Vendôme (5 Rue de la Paix)

Quick Practical Summary

  • Recommended transit pass: Paris Visite 5‑day (zones 1–5) (~€73) unless your stay aligns Mon–Sun — then Navigo Découverte week (zones 1–5) (€31 + €5 card) is better.
  • Paris Museum Pass: 6‑day €110 / 4‑day €90 / 2‑day €70. It covers Arc de Triomphe rooftop, Louvre, Orsay, Orangerie, Rodin, Sainte‑Chapelle and many sites. Recommend 4‑ or 6‑day depending on how many sites you want to visit. (Louvre requires a timed slot even with the pass.)
  • CDG private transfer (sedan): estimated €70–€110 one‑way depending on operator and traffic; book a meet‑and‑greet sedan or SUV.
  • Dinner cruise (early service): expect roughly €89–€99 per person for an early dinner (75–90 min) that finishes by ~20:00. Bateaux Parisiens and similar operators offer these.

Navigation notes

All metro legs in the day-by-day itinerary list which station to enter and which to exit. Walking legs are kept under ~1 mile (most are 5–15 minutes). RER A is used for Disneyland (Auber → Marne‑la‑Vallée–Chessy, ~40 minutes). Use the Paris Visite or Navigo pass as noted to cover metro & RER zones 1–5.

Day 1 — Arrival & Easy First Day (Arrive 10:30 AM)

  1. 10:30 — Land at CDG. Private transfer to Park Hyatt Paris–Vendôme (45–75 min): €70–€110 (sedan/SUV). Door‑to‑door.
  2. 12:00 — Check in / settle at Park Hyatt. Walkable neighbourhood: Opéra / Tuileries / Place Vendôme.
  3. 12:30–14:30 — Relax at the hotel for two hours (per request).
  4. 14:45–15:30 — Light lunch near the hotel (all within ~10–12 minutes walk):
    • Café Verlet — classic coffee & light plates.
    • Cojean Opéra — healthy bowls & salads (affordable).
    • Bistrot Victoires — classic French bistro, reasonable.
    • Wild & The Moon — vegan / healthy bowls & juices.
    • Juveniles — popular bistro (check hours).
  5. 15:45–16:45 — Galeries Lafayette Haussmann (stained glass dome). Options:
    • Walk: ~0.6 mi (about 10–12 min) OR
    • Metro: Opéra (closest to hotel) — take Line 7/8/3 to Chaussée d’Antin–La Fayette or walk to Galeries Lafayette.
  6. 16:45 — Metro to Arc de Triomphe:
    • Enter: Tuileries (Line 1) — ~8–10 min walk from hotel
    • Ride: Line 1 toward La Défense → Charles‑de‑Gaulle–Étoile (about 10 minutes, 5 stops)
    • Exit: Charles‑de‑Gaulle–Étoile (right at the Arc; walk ~0.1–0.2 mi)
  7. 17:05–18:05 — Arc de Triomphe rooftop (allow ~60 minutes inc. security & climb). Ticket standalone: approx. €16–€22 depending on season; included with Paris Museum Pass.
  8. 18:15 — Travel to Seine cruise boarding (Eiffel / boat piers):
    • From Étoile, take Line 6 → Bir‑Hakeim (about 12 minutes). Walk ~6–8 minutes to boarding pier.
  9. 18:30–20:00 — Early dinner cruise (example: Bateaux Parisiens early dinner). Typical cost: €89–€99 per person for the early seat (75–90 minutes). Cruise finishes by ~20:00 — return to hotel via metro (~25–35 minutes depending on route).

Day 2 — Louvre, Île de la Cité & Café du Commerce (Breakfast 9:00)

  1. 09:00 — Hotel breakfast.
  2. 09:45 — Head to the Louvre:
    • Enter: Pyramides (Line 7) — ~6–8 min walk from hotel
    • Ride: 1 stop to Palais‑Royal–Musée du Louvre (2–3 minutes)
  3. 10:00–13:00 — Louvre (3 hours). Reserve timed entry. Ticket ~€22 if bought individually; included with Paris Museum Pass.
  4. 13:10 — Lunch: healthy / vegetarian-focused near the Louvre:
    • Wild & The Moon — vegan bowls & juices (great reviews).
  5. 14:15–15:40 — Sainte‑Chapelle & Notre‑Dame (Île de la Cité):
    • From Palais‑Royal, take Line 1 → Hôtel de Ville (5 min) then 8–10 min walk to Sainte‑Chapelle OR take L4 to Cité.
    • Sainte‑Chapelle approx. 1 hour (single ticket ~€13; included with PMP).
    • Notre‑Dame: exterior + interior visit (free to enter the cathedral; check current interior access status).
  6. 16:30–16:50 — Berthillon ice cream (original shop, Île Saint‑Louis): 31 rue Saint‑Louis en l’Île — 5–8 minute walk from Notre‑Dame.
  7. 17:00–19:00 — Return to hotel and rest ~2 hours.
  8. 19:30–22:00 — Dinner at Café du Commerce (15th arr.). Journey: Opéra → Commerce (Line 8 direct ~22 minutes). Return to hotel by 22:00.

Day 3 — Montmartre & Sacré‑Cœur, Orangerie, Pâtisserie Class (Breakfast 8:30)

  1. 08:30 — Breakfast at hotel.
  2. 09:15 — Travel to Montmartre / Sacré‑Cœur:
    • Enter: Madeleine (Line 12) ~8–10 minute walk from hotel
    • Ride: Line 12 → Abbesses (about 10 minutes)
    • Walk/funicular up to Sacré‑Cœur (about 7 minutes) — total walking kept under 0.6 mi.
  3. 09:45–10:15 — Sacré‑Cœur (30 minutes inside; enjoy views over Paris).
  4. 10:30–12:30 — Montmartre walking tour (highly reviewed options):
    • Context Travel — Montmartre Neighborhood Tour (small-group, expert guides).
    • Discover Walks Montmartre — friendly guided strolls (tip-based).
  5. 12:40–13:10 — Journey to Musée de l’Orangerie:
    • Abbesses → Concorde by metro (~15 minutes), then a short walk through the Tuileries to Orangerie (7–10 minutes).
  6. 13:10–15:10 — Musée de l’Orangerie (2 hours).
  7. 15:20–16:20 — Back to hotel and rest 1 hour.
  8. Late afternoon — Pâtisserie class (2.5–3 hours). Suggested top choices:
    • La Cuisine Paris — well‑reviewed pastry & baking classes (various pastries or croissant classes).
    • Cook’n With Class — hands‑on macaron / pastry classes (great reviews).
  9. Dinner — Girafe (Trocadéro; great view & seafood). Return to hotel after dinner by metro (Trocadéro → Concorde/Opéra ~15–20 minutes).

Day 4 — Disneyland Paris (RER) & Musée Rodin

  1. 08:30 — Breakfast.
  2. 09:10 — RER A to Disneyland (Marne‑la‑Vallée–Chessy):
    • Enter: Auber (RER A) — connect from Opéra area (~7–10 min internal walk)
    • Ride: Auber → Marne‑la‑Vallée–Chessy (~40 min direct). Covered by Paris Visite (zones 1–5) or Navigo Découverte zones 1–5.
  3. 10:00–14:00 — Disneyland Paris (4 hours).
  4. 14:00–15:00 — RER A back to Auber/Opéra; 15:00–17:00 rest at hotel.
  5. 17:10–18:45 — Musée Rodin (evening visit):
    • From Opéra, take L8 to Invalides, or L13/Varenne depending on walking preference (short walk to Rodin from Invalides/Varenne).
    • Visit garden + sculpture rooms (1–1.5 hours).
  6. Evening — Wine tasting & dinner at friend’s house (travel time variable; central Paris metro under ~35 minutes typical).

Day 5 — Musée d’Orsay + Free Afternoon + Relais de l’Entrecôte

  1. 08:00 — Breakfast.
  2. 08:40 — To Musée d’Orsay:
    • Opéra → Concorde (L8) → transfer L12 → Solférino → 8–10 minute walk to Musée d’Orsay.
  3. 09:00–12:00 — Musée d’Orsay (3 hours).
  4. Antiques (1 hour) — best fit today during free afternoon:
    • Marché aux Puces de Saint‑Ouen (Clignancourt) — the largest antiques market. Metro: Line 4 → Porte de Clignancourt (about 20–30 minutes from central hotel) then short walk. (Open core days: Fri–Mon with weekend prime on Sat–Sun). If you’re not on a weekend, consider Marché aux Puces de Vanves (Sat–Sun).
  5. Evening — Dinner at Relais de l’Entrecôte (choose the branch most convenient to your hotel, e.g., Marbeuf or Saint‑Germain). Return to hotel by metro (under 25 minutes typical).

Day 6 — Departure (Breakfast 7:30, Flight 13:30)

  1. 07:30 — Breakfast & checkout. Pack & finalize luggage.
  2. 09:00 — Private car transfer to CDG recommended (depart ~09:00–10:00 to allow 3+ hours before flight). Cost estimate same as arrival: €70–€110 one‑way.
  3. 13:30 — Flight departs CDG → LAX.

Booking & Reservation Tips

  • Buy the Paris Visite or Navigo Découverte week on day 1 at a metro ticket counter. Keep physical cards safe — Navigo Découverte requires a printed photo for the card.
  • Reserve Louvre time slot and the Seine dinner cruise in advance. Purchase Paris Museum Pass e‑ticket if you want skip‑the‑line benefits and cover multiple museums.
  • For private transfers, book a reliable operator in advance (Welcome Pickups, local car services, or your hotel concierge can arrange).
  • Check opening hours for museums and book pâtisserie classes early (spots fill up).

Files, Printing & Next Steps

If you want this content exported as a printable PDF, a one‑page printable summary, or a mapped interactive version (with Google Maps links for each metro leg), tell me which format and I will produce it.

Built for Park Hyatt Paris–Vendôme arrival on day 1 at 10:30. Metro and RER travel times are approximate and use typical non‑strike schedules; purchase passes as suggested for best value.
); }


IMG_1145.JPG
 

Paris Itinerary

Morning

  • 9:00 AM – Depart Park Hyatt Paris Vendôme → Métro to Sainte-Chapelle
  • 10:00 AM – Visit Sainte-Chapelle (30 min)
  • 10:30 AM – Walk to Notre-Dame (0.1 mi)
  • 10:30 AM – 11:15 AM – Visit Notre-Dame (45 min)

Lunch

  • 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM – Métro to Trocadéro
  • 12:15 PM – 1:45 PM – Lunch at Les Ombres (Eiffel Tower view, outdoor seating)

Afternoon

  • 1:45 PM – 2:15 PM – Métro to Varenne
  • 2:15 PM – 4:15 PM – Visit Musée Rodin
  • 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM – Rest at hotel

Evening

  • 6:30 PM – 7:00 PM – Travel to Seine cruise departure point
  • 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM – Dinner Cruise: Bateaux Mouches “Excellence”
  • 10:00 PM – 11:00 PM – Return to hotel

Summary Table

Time Activity
9:00 AMDepart hotel → Métro to Sainte-Chapelle
10:00 AMVisit Sainte-Chapelle
10:30 AMWalk to & visit Notre-Dame
12:15 PMLunch at Les Ombres (Eiffel Tower view)
2:15 PMMusée Rodin visit
4:30 PMRest at hotel
7:30 PMBateaux Mouches dinner cruise
11:00 PMReturn to hotel
IMG_2147.JPG