hawaiihoneymoon

Hi again! On our first day in Paris - we were PLANNING on walking the following:
Start at Eiffel Tower(without going up), walk to Arc of Triomphe, walk down Champs Elysees, to the Concorde, through the Jardin de Tuileries, Walk through the Louvre area, Go to Notre Dame, Have Dinner in the Latin Quarter.

On the Map it looks doable - but then again I could be totally wrong. Is this doable on foot - or are there area which we should plan on taking the metro?

mamc

This is a lot of walking but Paris is the easiest city in the world for walking. If you are not too tired from your trip to Paris, it is possible. You might pick up a carnet or other pass for the Metro in case you want to do part of the ininerary on the Metro. Candidates would be either Eiffel Tower to Arc or Notre Dame to your dinner destination. Of course, you will want to stop for refreshments at several cafes along the way!

ira

Hi HH,

I suggest the Metro or bus from the Tower to the Arc.

The rest of the walk is good.

You might also think of dinner on the Ile St Louis.

There is an Amorino Gelato shop at 47 rue St. Louis en L'Ile.

Travelnut

Look at the map - it is about 1 1/2-1 3/4 miles from the Arc to the Louvre. That should give you an idea...
I do like walking and getting outdoors on the first day, can't concentrate on anything 'serious' like museums...

isabel

I guess it depends on what kind of shape you are in. I am a middle aged woman in average shape and I can do it easily. I walk that far and much further in Paris. Of course the metro is wonderful and I take it alot but what you just described is a wonderful first day walk. I say it is definitly walkable unless you have some kind of physical problem.

hawaiihoneymoon

Thanks for the tips. Since time is also a factor - we don't want any unneccesary walking even though we love walking. I think the metro in the suggested areas sounds like a good plan.

We are staying near Invalides, and so the other option would be to do the walk the other way around - starting in the Lating Quarter and going around. This wat we can see the Eiffel Tower lit up at night? Any suggestions of the best self guided walking tour?

hawaiihoneymoon

isabel - we are in our mid-20s and in good shape - but nonetheless, jetlag will be a factor and we definitely didn't want to wear ourselves out on the very first day of our vacation. And anxious as we are - we want to see as much as possible so don't want to waste time on the "not so grand" parts of our propsed walking tour! thanks for the info!

taggie

I could do the walk and I've got a few (just a few) years on you!
And keep in mind that taking the Metro doesn't always reduce the amount of walking a person does in Paris... sometimes you end up walking more in the stations than if you'd just hoofed above ground.
ira's suggestion, though, is a good one for reducing a bit of the hike, esp. if you're anticipating being worn out from jet lag.

Travelnut

By the way, we enjoy eating at Brasserie Ecole Militaire. It's comfortable/casual - you can choose from the carte what you want, rather than being obligated to follow the 3-course thing. We've had mussels, pan-fried trout, "salade supreme", and desserts (not all at the same meal!). I will say you may not get quite the same attention as do the regulars, but they will serve you. Also, I learned that French restaurants serve your plate when it is ready, not necessarily when your partner's is ready, so don't be put off by your meals arriving at different times. This happened here but I didn't understand it until later. The food is good; our bill for both averages 30-35Euro.

StCirq

hawaii:

I do walks that far and farther all the time in Paris, and I'm in my 50s. I find staying outside and keeping moving is the best antidote to fatigue. A lot will depend on the weather and how jet lag affects you, though. I'd familiarize yourself with the métro so that if you encounter a sudden downpour or suddenly get very tired you can at least ride part of the way. Don't forget about the Paris buses, too. It's a fairly extensive system, and you can enjoy the sights of Paris from the windows, unlike on the métro.

KE1TH

I've walked from the Louvre to the Arc. Fairly easy walk. Especially if you dawdle along the Champs Elysees. Took the subway from the Arc to the Eiffel Tower. Walked from the Tower to Les Invalides, then along the Seine all the way to Notre Dame. Do not remember being tired at any point along the way. Took a couple of hours as we stopped at looked at things enroute. Especially the art being sold by the "starving artists".

WillTravel

Plan for that much walking, and if you feel tired, just take the metro, bus, or cab. It's no big deal if you take a break.

DonTopaz

It sounds like a perfectly lovely walk. Paris is such a walkable city (the absence of hills except around Montmartre makes it a lot easier), and it is best seen on foot. Best of all, when you do feel a bit tired, there is *always* a sidewalk cafe nearby where you can sit, restore yourself with an ice cream or a coffee or a beer, and enjoy Paris parading before your eyes.

If you're concerned about jet lag, save this itinerary for your second day!

Joe_in_Silver_Spring

This is easily doable, although the Champs Elysees is a boring thoroughfare without the local shops and cafes and the occasional churches, squares, and open-air markets that you'll find in other areas, especially on the Left Bank and the Marais. I'd take a bus from the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de Concorde, then walk through the Tuilleries and on to Notre Dame and across to the Latin Quarter, then back to your hotel after dinner. Random walks through neighborhoods can be one of the high points of a trip to Paris. You easily come across fascinating places and people and have the pleasure of gettting to know the city firsthand.

hawaiihoneymoon

well said - joe in silver spring! our thoughts exactly. the best way to feel/experience the culture of a country is to walk, meet people, get lost in the city, tast the foods, etc. And since we are not museum people - it gives us more time to walk!! Why go to a foreign country and be stuck indoors in a museum - we can do that here in NYC. I know I know, its not the same - but looking at art, statues, and being stuck inside in a crowded museum in not my idea of travelling around the world.

travelbunny

..my favorite walk is from the eiffel tower overtoward the quai d'orsay museum..down rue du bac to st germain to the latin quarter...i do it almost every late afternoon on my first day in paris (actually in reverse order)..i find i am able to stretch after the trip...it is easily doable..another favorite walk is across the bridge near rue du back through the tuilleries to the louvre..the champs elysee is my least favorite walk..but id do that louvre to tuilleries to concord to champs elysee...what i am really saying is that there are 2 good walks..oh i am a lady "of middle age" and have not problems with any walk...except if it is pouring or sleeting..i then head underground.

SuzieC

I adore walking in Paris...and getting lost...and "Bonjour Madam/Messr. in shops and look around (just don't touch...its not polite) Then I take a breather in a cafe or terrace. I wish that where I live the city was like that... You can do it! If you're like me, the excitement adrenalin rush from being IN PARIS keeps me going until 9'ish or so at night. I had a startlingly lovely view of the Eiffel Tower lighting up from the Pont Neuf one night...its a moment I'll never forget! But people say that the Trocadero is good for a view of the lit tower, as well.

janis

I'm not in the very best of shape - do a fair bit of walking but almost no strenuous exercise, and I could easily do that walk. In fact I seldom take the metro in Paris except for longer distances or in bad weather - most places are very walkable.

But the walk down the Champs Elysees would be pretty crowded and there isn't that much to see.

I'd walk from The Eiffel Tower to Place de la concorde and then along the route you planned.

RonZ

Rather than a bus from the Eiffel Tower, take a cab to Etoile. On the Champs Elysees, you can shorten the walk to Concorde by taking the 73 bus [4 stops to choose from]. There are much nicer places to walk further on.

At the Louvre, I like to walk past the pyramid, into the next courtyard and then right to the Pont des Arts, the little pedestrian footbridge below the Ile de La Cite. Great views from there. Then proceed up the quay and cross over to Notre Dame.

mkk4050

We walked from Notre Dame along the Seine to the Champs Elysees to our hotel near the Arc after being on our feet for hours. It was rough and we are in pretty good shape. You may want to go to the Arc in the late afternoon (in Paris it isn't dark during the summer until 10-10:30 PM), walk down the Champs to Concorde then walk across Pont Alexandre around Les Invalides and have dinner at Le Maupertu while the sun is setting over the golden dome. From there walk over to L'Ecole Militaire (10 minute walk) as it gets dark and along the Champs de Mars for a beautiful view of the Eiffel Tower lit. At 10 minutes to the hour from dark until about 1AM, the lights flash and twinkle for about 10-15 minutes. From there you can take the Trocadero metro back to your hotel.