I will be in Paris on a Tuesday. My top priorities are Versailles, The Eiffel Tower, and Notre Dame. I will squeeze in anything else I have time for, but of these 3 places, in what order should I visit them?
Eiffel tower and Notre Dame in the morning, and Versailles in the afternoon. Or vice versa?
Brian
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You don%26#39;t mention whether you are arriving/leaving on that same day, or will be there through the evening. On the assumption that you have the full day, I would suggest going to Notre Dame very early (perhaps at the time of the earliest service?), then straight out to Versailles for the better part of the day (see if you can get a train around 9:00), then back to Paris for dinner and a lovely view of the Eiffel Tower with the sparkling lights at night (e.g., from the bridges while walking along the Seine after dinner).
Unless you%26#39;re totally set on going up to the top of the ET (really, it%26#39;s not all that exciting and the lines can be very long and slow), you don%26#39;t need to devote a special effort to the ET because you will see it from all over central Paris (and part of the fun is the different views). Have fun!
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I am coming into Paris from Disneyland as early as possible. I had planned on leaving Paris around 7pm. Go up into the Eiffel tower IS a priority for my son. But he may settle for the second level.
Thanks for any advice!
Brian
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I agree--Notre Dame first. Be in line before it opens its doors. You may also want to climb the stairs up to the gargoyles and the great view of paris but that would mean standing in two different lines.
Then head out to Versailles. Truthfully, Versailles is a full day%26#39;s adventure unless you just want to see the inside of the palace. That would be ashame to go all the way out there and not see where Marie Antoinette hung out, etc. The grounds are huge. I want to be sure that you are aware that you should purchase a joint train + Versailles entrance ticket when you are at the RER train station. That way you will already have your ticket when you arrive at Versailles and you won%26#39;t have to stand in line. You will save a considerable amount of time this way.
The Eiffel tower is best seen at night when the lights are twinkling. You don%26#39;t say when you are going to paris so it may not be dark by 7pm when you need to leave.
If you leave the Eiffel tower until last, then you can do whatever you have time for--just look at it from the ground, or walk up or stand in line to go up the elevator. The decision will be made be your remaining amount of time.
You picked 3 of the most time intensive activities to do all in one day because of lines.
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Berkeley and InLove are wise, they always provide good info.
Is Versailles negotiable or is it the trade-off for agreeing to go to Disneyland? I just mean that Versailles is really the better part of a day if you want to see the gardens, maybe take one of the tours not included with the general admission, etc......
If Versailles is non-negotiable, then definitely buy your combined ticket for the round-trip on the RER and admission to the Chateau when you arrive in Paris, and go directly to Versailles.
The line to actually enter Notre Dame actually moves pretty fast, there%26#39;s no admission fee, but the line to see the gargoyles can take an hour (and requires a fee).
Eiffel Tower was the 1st thing I did on my 1st trip to Paris - it was close and we were jet-lagged, the view is nice, but it doesn%26#39;t include the Eiffel Tower! I haven%26#39;t been up since....... I find it prettiest near dusk when the lights begin to come on and it seems to glow.....
I%26#39;d recommend dinner near Trocadero for the view of the tower, many others here have recommended the restaurant at the Musee Quai Branly:
quaibranly.fr/en/…index.html
I%26#39;d be surprised if you had time to squeeze anything else in.......
C%26#39;est la vie! Bon Chance!
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Hi North, just back from Paris [ 1st time there ]
Notre dame does not take long to visit, not a very large Cathedral, no queues at this time of year. Snow/sleet at ET but the qs still too long to bother. Best view from Trocadero, did not feel any need to actually enter it as seeing %26amp; touching it seemed enough.
We were in P for 4 days %26amp; still did not hav time for Versailles so U will be very rushed if U attempt this in 1 day. Suggest U do red bus tour 2.5 hours full tour, ticket is for full day, stops long enough at main venues eg, ET, Arc de triomphe, Notre Dame, Champs Elysees,Trocadero, Opera, Invalides, Louvre etc to take photos or stop off to take a longer look, buses every 15 mins, so easy.
U will hav 2 enquire if this bus { les car rouge ]
does a 1 day pass.
From views on the forum I ascertained that Versailles is not at its best at this time of year so although it was top of my list there was so much
else 2 C that it was not a worry. Hope U have plenty of money, Paris is so expensive. Baguette sandwich approx 4.5 E, Guiness 6 E, Coke 3.5 E, Meals out for 2 people approx 50 E with a glass of wine ? Weather was kind to us as we had left freezing climes in England so to actually get dry chilly weather with some sun for a couple of days was bliss.
Hope this is helpfull, Holl
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Thanks everyone-
Is it possible to buy only the Versailles admission ticket at the RER station? I was planning on purchasing a VISITE pass that would cover my travel expenses from Disneyland, to Paris and Versailles and back ( I am returning to DLP Tuesday evening - March 24 is the exact date.)
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Everything usually takes longer than you think. The walk from point A to point B may only be 10 minutes....but this doesn%26#39;t take in the time you might spend detouring past, through or stopping at point X, Y and/or Z en route...or just stopping at regular intervals to stand and stare slack-jawed at something wonderful...and filling the memory card of a digital camera with several hundred megabytes of photos.
IF Chateau de Versailles is a high priority on one%26#39;s %26#39;list%26#39;....I%26#39;m inclined to recommend you go out to Versailles first...arriving before the gates open at 9:30 AM (at this time of the year, they begin to %26#39;herd%26#39; visitors toward the gates at 4:45-5:00 for a 5:30 PM winter closing time). Since it takes at least 60 mins. to get out to Chateau de Versailles (in practical terms...from most initial Starting points in Paris) that%26#39;s an early day for many....with time to return to Paris and visit Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and as much (or little) of the %26#39;rest of Paris%26#39; as mood, moment or opportunity allow. Eiffel Tower is open until approx. 11 PM, Notre Dame until early evening and joys to just behold at any time of day or night.
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Thanks to all of you. You have been very helpful!
Brian
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