D’Orsay Impressionists, St. Germain & the Latin Quarter

Batobus downriver to the turn around at the Eiffel Tower, then back upriver to hop off at d’Orsay. Use your skip-the-line Paris Pass for immediate entry. Start with the Impressionists, then wander at will. LUNCH in elegance at the restaurant of the 1900 Expo Grand Hotel that once stood beside d’Orsay train station.

Take the Batobus back to St. Germain for a walk through this fashionable neighborhood, with pauses to window shop. Walk towards Luxemburg Gardens. If you split up to shop, meet up at an agreed time at an outdoor table at Au Petit Suisse for wine or a snack.

Then walk through the Gardens, passing the Palace and pond, and over to the eclectic Latin Quarter. Stop in at Shakespeare & Company and nearby Café Procope, hangout of Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin.

Book DINNER in the Latin Quarter at Le Jardin du Roy. After dinner, stroll along the eclectic streets, listening out for music. If you pass by an inviting piano bar, stop in and enjoy.

Louvre, Tuileries Gardens & Cluny Museum

Batobus downriver to spend an eye-popping morning at the Louvre. Walk in the footsteps of kings who lived here when this was a palace, and walked these halls, admiring their priceless collections of paintings and sculpture. Winged Victory. The Mona Lisa. Venus du Milo. The Gallery of Apollo.

Take a break at Café Mollien on the terrace overlooking the courtyard and the glass Pyramid. Use the “12-Point Masterpiece Treasure Hunt” (link below) to view a good range of world-class work without becoming overwhelmed.

Leave the Louvre via the Pyramid and walk over to Napoleon’s smaller arch, Arc du Carrousel, with the Venetian horse sculpture on top (originals were captured by Napoleon and later returned; these are copies). Look through this smaller arch towards the much larger Arc to Triomphe at the far end of  the Voie Triomphale (“Triumphal View”). You’ll visit the big arch later in your stay here in Paris.

Walk through Tuileries Gardens. Pause to admire and puzzle over the sculptures. Join the locals sitting in the sun around the octagonal basin. Make a brief stop at at L’Orangerie to the left of the pond to view Monet’s massive and remarkable water lily murals, painted as his eyesight began to fail. Tomorrow you will see his inspiration when you visit his idyllic gardens at Giverny.

Then walk out the garden gate to hail a pedal cab in the square that once was the scene of royal beheadings. Catch a ride to the Grand Palais next to the river (built as an exhibit hall for the 1900 Paris Expo) for LUNCH on the terrace.

Catch the Batobus back to the St. Germain stop and walk over to visit the  the Cluny Museum of the Middle Ages, housed in the sumptuous 1485 mansion of the wealthy Jacques d’Amboise, Abbot of Cluny.

Built to incorporate the remains of the “frigidarium” (cold baths) of ancient Gallo-Roman baths, this museum is a treasure trove of unicorn tapestries, stained glass and elegantly opulent formal clothing worn as a visible sign of wealth. AND the original heads of the Kings of Judah from the facade of Notre Dame, loped off by rebel mobs during the French Revolution who mistakenly thought these were sculptures of French Kings, then buried for two centuries to be rediscovered in 1977.

DINNER outdoors at Beaurepaire Café. Then find a Boat Bar along the river for drinks and live music.

Day Trip to Versailles by Train w/ Marie Antoinette's Petit Trianon

Enjoy a full-day trip from Paris to the lavish Versailles Palace. Meet your guide in downtown Paris and relax on the ride to Versailles aboard a local train. With its lush State Apartments, glittering Hall of Mirrors, extensive gardens and Marie Antoinette's private haven, Petit Trianon, this was the final residence of King Louis XVI and his spoiled wife, Marie Antoinette, before the sequence of events that ended in their beheadings.

• Visit the Spectacular Palace of Versailles, including the Hall of Mirrors, using pre-booked entrance tickets that guarantee you direct access..
• Enjoy a guided tour of the gardens where lavish parties once were held.
• Visit the charming hide away of Marie Antoinette, Petit Trianon (Trianon refers to a small elegant villa on the grounds of a larger establishment).
• Board a comfortable train for the ride to and from downtown Paris.

Once you reach the Chateau, begin your trip through time as you gain a vivid understanding of the royal personalities who inhabited the site. Find out how Versailles was the most splendid capital in the world during the 17th century reign of Louis XIV. Hear about how the royal family was continuously on display here and how they subjugated the proud nobles to recapture preeminence in fashion and art. Listen to astonishing anecdotes about the lavish lifestyle of Marie Antoinette and understand how uncomfortable she was at this very public palace, preferring to retreat to her private domain.

Upon completing your tour of the royal apartments, walk through the luxurious gardens, lush setting for promenades, performances, and pyrotechnics. If the fountains are active, appreciate the elegant bubbling jets of water.

Work up an appetite and take a break for LUNCH in the gardens after the morning tour, with a choice of restaurants or sandwich bars. Or choose to add on a gourmet 3-course lunch with wine in the Palace restaurant run by Chef Ducasse.

Meeting point: Café Regalia, 1 rue de la Convention, 75015 Paris

Directions: Meet your guide outside Café Regalia, right next to the metro entrance/exit for Javel André Citroen (line 10). Your guide will be waiting for you by the café on the corner. If you come by taxi ask the driver to drop you at Café Regalia. Your guide will be wearing an orange cap and an orange badge. Please arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes before your tour departure time. We have to take a train to Versailles and we cannot wait for any late arrivals.

NOTE: If you arrive by RER train please note you will need to cross the main road on the left as you exit and go to the café on the corner of the rue de la Convention. 

Maubert Market, Champs-Élysées, Arc de Triomphe & Eiffel Tower

Walk to the delightful open-air Maubert Market (open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday). Or visit the wonderful permanent shops: Fromagerie (cheese), Charcuterie (cold cooked meats), Vin (wine), Patisserie (pastry), Boulangerie (bakery). Find and outdoor table for BREAKFAST at Metro Café across the street from the market, and try a mushroom and cheese omelet. After shopping the market, carry your purchases home to lighten your load.

Then catch the Batobus to the Champs-Élysées stop at the Alexander III bridge (decorated in gold). Walk over to the Champs-Élysées, passing between the Petit Palais (another impressive 1900 Expo building) on your right and the Grand Palais on your left. Pause for coffee in the lovely interior garden courtyard of the Petit Palais. Your Museum Pass will allow you free access.

Walk to the Champs-Élysées, then shop and window shop your way along this famous mecca of fashion and style. Or maybe “pretend” shop, pointing out or photographing what you would buy here if you happened to win the lottery. Meet up for LUNCH at Bistro des Champs Elysées, overlooking the throngs. You will have made reservations for an outdoor table.

After lunch, walk all the way to the Arc de Triomphe at Place de l’Étoile (“star”)— the juncture formed by 12 radiating avenues. Take the tunnel on the right side of Champs-Élysées to cross under the craziness of the traffic to visit the arch. Do NOT attempt to cross at street level!! Napoléon I commissioned this magnificent triumphal arch in 1806 to celebrate the victorious French Grande Armée for its success conquering most of Europe.

Then taxi or Uber to the Tour Eiffel in time for your scheduled visit. The Eiffel Tower was built as the entrance to the 1889 Exposition Universelle in Paris to celebrate the 100^th anniversary of the fall of the Bastille—the event that launched the French Revolution. Standing 984 feet tall, the tower far surpassed the height of the world’s tallest structure at the time, the 555-foot tall Washington Monument. It remained the tallest man-made structure in the world for the next 41 years.

First, view it from in front… Walk up to the tower’s massive legs, oriented with the four points of the compass. Look up into the intricate geometry of the tower’s angles and braces, a total of 18,038 pieces, joined together by 2½ million rivets. Next, view it from beneath… Walk under the tower and out the other side, as visitors did when they entered and left the spectacular fairgrounds of the 1889 Expo. Now, view it from partway up… Your pre-booked tickets will give you priority access to the 1^st and 2^nd floors (or to the Summit, for an additional cost) at your appointed time ONLY. Once you are inside the tower, you will be free to stay for as long as you like.

You may have added DINNER at Madame Brasserie on the 1st floor of the tower to your visit. Otherwise, you will have made dinner reservations at Beaurepaire Cafe.

A Note About Your Eiffel Tower Plans for Today

You will have made your Eiffel Tower plans well in advance of your trip since access is limited and the tower is very popular. Making advance  arrangements online will allow you to skip the 2-hour ticket lines.

From Paris: Mont Saint Michel Day Trip with a Guide

• Sit back and relax with round-trip transportation by private coach from Paris, with panoramic views of the Normandy countryside, to explore the 11th-century abbey and Gothic buildings of Mont Saint-Michel
• Hear captivating commentary throughout the day from your passionate guide as you immerse yourself in the history of this isolated hunk of granite
• Visit the hilltop abbey with an informative audio guide, followed by ample free time to explore this unique village at your own pace

From Paris, board a private coach to the fortified island city of Mont Saint Michel off the Normandy coast. On the journey, enjoy stunning views of the countryside as your guide provides interesting stories from the rich history of the the traditional Norman village of Mont Saint-Michel, first invaded by the Romans and then by barbarians before the region was contested in the Hundred Years War.

Follow your guide on an orientation tour to ensure you see the most important attractions, including the hilltop Abbey. Then enjoy a few hours at your leisure to explore the famous abbey with an audio guide, admiring its centuries-old Gothic structures such as the cloister and the monks' refectory. Or stroll down the narrow cobbled streets, pausing to hunt for treasures in the intriguing shops.

Choose from a variety of lunch options ranging from dining rooms with rustic meat to sophisticated restaurants with bay view terraces specializing in seafood from which you may view the spectacle of the tides coming in "at the speed of galloping horses." Or, stop by one of Mont Saint Michel's creperies to feast on galettes (buckwheat pancakes), accompanied by Normandy cider.

In the late afternoon, board the coach for a return journey to Paris.

Includes:

• Round trip transportation by air-conditioned bus
• Mont Saint Michel Abbey entry ticket
• Self-guided audio app for Mont Saint Michel Abbey
• Local guide

BOOK DAY TRIP TO MONT SAINT MICHEL

• Your guide will meet you at the Paris meeting place and accompany you on your coach ride across Normandy to Mont-Saint-Michel.
• Book the option with a guide so you will learn during your ride the stories and history of this fascinating rock, cut off from land at high tide. Your guide will orient you when you arrive so you can make best use of your time there.
  

Montmartre, Vintage Shops, Stravinsky Fountains & Moulin Rouge

Today, before you head up to Montmartre, you will have a chance to stop by the Post Office (16 Rue Étienne Marcel) to mail home a box and lighten your load, the better to make room in your luggage for one final day of shopping. Then set off to experience three additional neighborhoods of Paris, Montmartre, the Marais and Beaubourg.

First, the arty and village-like Montmartre, known as a creative breeding ground, as well as for its bohemian lifestyle…home to many famous artists, including Monet, Van Gogh, Dali, Modigliani, Picasso and Pissarro. Second, back to river level for a stroll through the Marais, with its eclectic vintage and fashion clothing shops. Then over to the Beaubourg to take in the modern and startling Pompidou Center and Stravinsky Fountains.

In Montmartre, have your driver drop you off at the “Low Station” (Gare Basse) of the Funiculaire for the ascent up the steep hill to Sacre-Coeur Basilica. Or, if you would prefer, climb the 220!! steps to the top.

Visit the working artists in Place du Tertre, watching artists at work and perhaps sitting for a portrait or caricature of youself. Then walk back over to the basilica steps to sit awhile and admire the view looking down over Paris. Step inside the basilica for a look at the gilded interior.

Lunch at the nearby l’Eté en Pente Douce, at the brightly colored tables, away from the bustle around the basilica.

Taxi or Uber back down from Montmartre to the level of the river to Bis Boutique Solidaire ( 7 Boulevard du Temple) in the Marais neighborhood to begin your Marais shopping. Wander the twisting streets of the Marais, pausing at vintage and fashion clothing shops including these:

1.       Bis Boutique Solidaire: 7 boulevard du Temple

2.      Vintage Désir: 32 rue des Rosiers

3.      Mam’zelle Swing: 35 rue du Roi de Sicile

4.      Free ‘P’ Star: 52 rue de la Verrerie

5.     Kilo Shop: 69-71 rue de la Verrerie

Your quest will be to uncover mementos of Parisian style. When you wear your finds after you return home, you will be transported back to this, your final day in Paris.

Set a meet up spot and time at Le Relais de l’Hôtel de Ville (50 rue de Rivoli) to pause for drinks and to share your stories and finds.

Exiting the Marais, walk to rue du Renard and turn right, heading away from the river into the Beaubourg area. It will be impossible to miss spotting the avant-garde Pompidou Center up ahead on your left with its internal structure exposed and brightly color-coded—green for plumbing, blue for climate control, yellow for electrical, and red for circulation and safety systems.

Walk over to and around the quirky Stravinsky Fountain and claim a seat to watch the antics of the street performers. Circle the fountains to puzzle at the garish but engaging Niki de Saint Phalle sculptures and pick your favorite.

Dinner will be at Bistro Beaubourg, a local favorite in this neighborhood. And tonight, head back up to Montmartre for a 9 PM performance at the Moulin Rouge. Arrive early enough for drinks or dessert at the rooftop bistro.

Then taxi back down to river level for a final pause to soak in the glittering views from the bridge across from your apartment as you bid “au revoir” to Paris—“until I see you again.”