GoJumbos

My fiance and I are trying to determine how much time we should allot to Paris on our July honeymoon itineray (15-18 days total). We're the type of people who are always on the go...and although many have said to us--"Slow down and relax"--we know our personalities and how we travel best...so, that stated, is it possible to explore Paris in 3-4 days. Has anyone done this? We're thinking that we will visit many places on our honeymoon, and visit what we like best some day in the future... Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!
Angela

missypie

On my first ever trip to Europe I devoted 3 days in Paris...it certainly wasn't "enough" time, but it was enough to let me know that I really liked the city and wanted to go back. The next trip to Paris was for a week, only in Paris (with side trips to Versailles and Chartres). It was a lot more relaxed and I felt like a really got a "feel" for the city. A lotof the fun in Paris is just BEING there ... strolling around, stopping for a drink at a cafe, etc.

Years have passed, and now we're taking our kids with us...reading the guide books afresh I realize that there is so much I HAVEN'T seen yet.

Underhill

Where during your trip will Paris fit in? I would allow four days at least, especially if one of them is a travel day; five would be much better.

rex

<<How much time to spend in Paris??>>

That depends on your life expectancy.

At least half would be a good start...

Best wishes,

Rex

mamc

I guess it depends on where else you want to go during your 15-18 days. Ideally, it would be nice to allot at least 5 days. We like to stay for 7 but that would be nearly half of your stay. Best suggestion is to decide what all you want to do an ask for advice once again.

ira

I go with mamc.

elaine

HI
It would be helpful to know what the rest of your itinerary will be (or what it might be) so as to know how and when Paris fits in. Will it be your first stop after an overseas flight? If so, I pretty much discount the first day for any serious sightseeing. Even if I am physically ok, I am so overwhelmed with the joys of being in a new place that I use that first day (or first afternoon) for general orientation more than serious sightseeing.

Also,what are your interests? Do you want to visit art museums, historical sites, or while away an afternoon by strolling and sitting at a cafe? A little of both?

Again, having a little more info would be great, but I'd say for a first visit to Paris a minimum of four days, five would be better (more is always better.)
At that time of year, take at least one day and do a day trip to Giverny and/or one to Versailles, but that's a day or two outside of Paris. Still, you won't be sorry.

Myer

You live with what you have.

We've been to Paris 3 times and could go back again.

The first time was for 3 days and we had a great time.

I planned a 2 hour visit for somebody. They were landing in Paris on their way to medit. cruise and had a few hours.

I had them take the bus to the Opera Building walk through Place Vendome, the Tuilleries, Place du Concorde, look up the Champs Elyses, walk over to the Seine bridge and view the Eiffel Tower then wander back and take the bus back to the airport.

Considering the time they had they thought they did great!!!!

Bitter

I think I responded to a similar post in past. I think I have only spent 3 days at a time in Paris. I think it deserves more, but you can hit most of the major sites in 3 days if you plan and group by location. You'll want/need to go back, but there's no harm in that!

Burley

We did it, and had a great time! You sound like the same kind of people we are--I like to be on the go and seeing as much as I can, especially for my first time there (have not been able to go back, but plan to in a couple of years). We spent three days and four nights in Paris after coming from Chambord and visiting Versailles(13 day trip covering Switzerland, Germany, Salzburg, Venice, Aix and Loire Valley). We were able to see everything I wanted to see, and even had one full day for shopping. We visited the Eiffel Tower (morning and evening), Invalides, SacreCoure, Notre Dame, St. Michel, Champs Elysee, did a Seine river cruise, Louvre, Arch, Le Deux Magots, and back to the Louvre. I know that my next trip will not be so rushed, and I will take the time to really feel Paris and see some of the things we missed, but for my first time and based upon wanting to visit all the other places we did on our trip, I would not have had it any other way. Don't get me wrong--I definitely did not want to leave, and was wishing I had more time there that last night (as you would on any terrific trip), but looking back, I have no regrets about our overall itinerary. Have fun planning--the anticipation is half the fun!

dovima

Stay until your money runs out.
Seriously, a first trip to Paris (and especially a honeymoon) deserves at least three nights.

bob_brown

No 5 days is not enough, but the number of days required to satisfy a visit to Paris is very difficult to calculate.

The first time I went there, I had enough of it quickly because I was not prepared and I was travelled to the limit that trip. (7 weeks of vagabonding around Europe.)

The next time I was there 5 days and that lured me back twice more.
Even after 3 visits in the last 5 years, there are still many sights to see and attractions to visit.

So the answer to your questions cannot be fully specified.

I suggest you put in your 5 days now and see how you react. Plan your visit carefully, but one must leave time for Paris to unfold on its own. If you rush everywhere you go one of two things will happen: you will bypass something you want very much to stop for or you will be late getting to your destination because something of interest catches your eye.

As a case in point, consider our first trip to the Musee d'Orsay. We planned to get there early on a Sunday morning.
On the way, the farmers' market along Boulevard Raspail, of which we wer not previously aware, suddenly appeared in our path. We got to the museum about two hours later than planned. Fortunately, nothing else was on the agenda that was very time sensitive, so we enjoyed both.

I think you also need to prioritize very carefully. What types of attractions interest you the most?

In our first 5 day visit, we went perhaps a little too hard, but that does not matter. We survived it; and we enjoyed it greatly. No other trip has been better than the first one!!

Like the old adage about holding a golf club. Too tight and you choke it to death; too loose and it flies away like a missile. Plan it, but leave wiggle room.

StCirq

I've been to Paris I think about 60 times. There is never enough time for Paris. If I think back on my first half-dozen visits, they were about 6 days each. I never tired of the place and never felt I saw enough.

These days I'm usually in Paris 3-4 days a few times a year, and it always seems like too short a time. I'm actually dying to find time to really hunker down and spend a few weeks there sometime.

I'd plan at least 4 days, and more if you can spare them without sacrificing other things you want to do/see on your honeymoon. Paris is one of the most romantic places on earth, but it takes a few days to surrender to its spell for newcomers.

mjs

I would agree with the above recommendations of 4 to 5 days. You can run through Paris in less time and see the "sights" but you really need more time to get a feel of the city. A good analogy for this might be wine. You can drink a nice bottle of wine such as a 82 Latour quickly and enjoy it but you will get much more out of it if you can just take alittle more time to savour it. You do however want to visit other places on your trip so 4 to 5 days is a reasonable compromise