No, I'm not crazy. Please let me explain. My sister and her husband will be on a cruise in April that will include an opportunity to be shuttled to and from Paris, but the time in Paris wi
No, I'm not crazy. Please let me explain. My sister and her husband will be on a cruise in April that will include an opportunity to be shuttled to and from Paris, but the time in Paris will be limited to 4 hours. My sister wants to go so she and her husband can decide whether or not Paris is their "cup of tea" and a place they'd like to return for a long visit at another time. If you had to suggest a 4-hour tour for just a taste of Paris, what would you include? I'm trying to suggest a good-weather itinerary and an alternative bad-weather itinerary. They will be dropped off and picked up at the Place de la Concorde. They are willing to walk, take the Metro and/or take cabs. I've visited Paris three times, a week each time, but I'd love to hear what other people think of as must-sees for a 4-hour visit. (Challenging, isn't it!)
Walk up the Champs to the Arc de Triomphe and then over to the Eiffel Tower by taxi. Take a boat cruise up the Seine, get off at Notre Dame and walk over to the Tuilleries garden by the Louvre and then back to the Place de la Concorde. That's about it for the highlights of Paris.
From Place de la Concorde walk along Champs Elysées to the The Arc de Triomphe in the center of the Place Charles de Gaulle, also known as the Place de l'Étoile. Along the way make sure you buy a panini for al fresco sustenance, followed at another stall by a crêpe (dessert...). C’est obligatoire...
Then walk along Avenue Kléber to Trocadéro, turn left and walk towards the Eiffel Tower, through the park past the Palais de Chaillot. Cross the Seine, et voilà...
As an alternative to that Kléber walk to Trocadéro, to get in a quintessential Parisian moment or three, you could duck down into the Métro at Etoile/De Gaulle, catch line 6 (direction Nation) and get off at Trocadéro, the third stop.
From the Eiffel tower in the Champ-de-Mars, head north along Avenue Rapp to the bridge Pont de l’Alma, beneath which Princess Di had her fatal accident, and on the other side of the bridge you’ll see the flame that has become the unofficial monument to the princess.
From there it is a lovely walk along the river, with its floating and tied-up boats of all kinds, back to Place de la Concorde.
Four hours should do it if you’re good walkers, but you can’t stand in line to go up on the Eiffel tower, of course. If you fall behind schedule, hail a cab.
These suggestions are probably do-able for the people who are suggesting them who know their way around Paris, but when you're dealing with people who have never been to Paris, you need to build in some time for getting lost, confused and losing their way. These situations also are usually filled with anxiety about getting back to the pick up location in time.
I would forget about hitting all the highlights and just go up and down the Champs-Elysses and spend time having lunch or cafe sitting at a great place for people watching.
While the Champs-Elysses is not my idea of the highlights of Paris, the Concorde location of the drop off and pick up makes it most feasible in this case.
I wouldn't let a decision to visit a place revolve around a frantic four hour visit. Many people have decided not to visit places they would really enjoy because a too brief stop there was disappointing.
I think that Donna overstates the risks of getting lost during the previously suggested itineraries. Even a rudimentary map or a basic printout from a Google screen will work for that simple route.
But if you're looking for a totally foolproof way of spending the 4 hours without even having to look at a map a single time, and still getting in a quintessential piece of Paris, do this:
From the Place de la Concorde, with the river at your back turn right and walk into the Tuileries gardens, past the Musée de l'Orangerie, with the Galerie Nationale du Jeu de Paume to your left - head straight past some ponds for the Louvre with the glass pyramid in the courtyard, veer to the right towards the river and follow the river banks until you get to the Pont Neuf.
Cross over onto the island where you find the Sainte Chapelle and the Palais de Justice and the Notre Dame cathedral.
Time the walk from the Place de la Concorde to the Pont Neuf.
That will give you enough to see and do, and you'll know when it is time to head back.
Merci, everyone, for your thoughtful suggestions. If you were going to host an American couple for four hours for their first visit to Paris and it was raining heavily, how would you "do Paris" indoors?
I don't think I overstate the chances of getting lost at all. I've been to Paris at least 90 times over the past 35 years, and I still lose my way sometimes.
As for spending time when it's raining heavily, don't drive yourselves crazy. What do the people enjoy indoors? Either spend the time in a museum, a department store or a long lunch in a carefully chosen restaurant. Getting around in heavy rain takes a lot of the joy out of seeing a place.
This is an interesting question. I suggest walking east through the Tuileries to the courtyard of the Louvre. Turn right (south) to the quai of the Seine, and then a short walk left to the pedestrian Pont des Arts. Cross over to the courtyard of the Institut de France and look to the right for an arched passageway that will take you to the Rue de Seine. Walk south on the Rue de Seine to the Boulevard Saint Germain and turn right (west). Follow the boulevard all the way to the Assemblee Nationale, and then cross the Pont de la Concorde to the right.
I think this can be covered in four hours and it will get them in three different neighborhoods with glimpses of the Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower.
For a rainy day, I can't do better than the Louvre, although I would prefer to get an umbrella and walk in the rain.
It may be a little cliche, but aren't there hop on hop off type busses, or river cruises? That might be an option, you could just not jump off. Or do a river cruise and then decide where you might want to pass an house, with that limited amount of time, I would probably do taxis for getting to the tour start and back to where ever. RoseiCaro
I was actually looking for something similar. I'm taking a trip to Italy soon and my flight has a 4 hour layover in Paris. I was hoping I could find a few things to see/do in about 3hours, so I still have time to get back and check in. I know I want to come back sometime for a real visit so I don't need to see everything, but I did want to find a few sights or places to visit. Just because I've always really admired Paris and it's been a dream of mine to walk it's streets. Since I don't have the time to wander the streets at my leisure I thought it'd be a good idea to plan just a few specific things. Any thoughts? And I'm willing to walk the streets in the rain, I don't mind it. I'm also a fast walker and pretty good with a map.
The consensus is that with six hours between planes, it's possible if a bit risky. With four hours between planes, keeping in mind that you need your first flight to arrive on time, time to deplane, and ample time to get back to the airport and check in for your second flight, you will have perhaps two hours, which is about enough time to get into the city, spend a few minutes and go back to the airport. I know it's hard to be so close, but there is next to nothing you can realistically do in Paris with a four-hour layover.
From Concorde I would walk AWAY from the champs, through the garden and to the Louvre, and then to Notre-Dame and the other island past Notre-Dame ie Saint-Louis. The vistas, the landmarks, the photo opps, the glamour, that you will see along the way... At some point I would hop on a boat for a one-hour cruise - the city is so gorgeous when seen from the water. Then I would get myself back to the meeting point. Then I would cry that I have to leave. And I would promise myself to return to Paris sometime soon. Enjoy.
Alternatively, should it rain, I... well, I would do the exact same thing regardless.
Things take a lot longer when you are new to a city.
(I do not recommend walking to the Arc - Champs Elysees is not what it was 50 years ago - it's been inundated by many of the same chain stores you can go to here...MHO)
Take a taxi from Concorde to Pont Neuf...then Take the boat ride at Pont Neuf...save money & time by buying your ticket in advance at:
Walk to Notre Dame....then... If there is still time, walk over to Ile St-Louis for a troll and some ice cream...OR...stroll around the left bank near Cluny...OR....if it is a Wed. or Sat., cross to the right bank and get some fruit, bread and cheese at the open-air market at Place Baudoyer and sit by the river and have lunch (a restaurant will probably take some time)....then... Take a taxi back to Concorde.
Things take alot longer when you are new in a city.
1. Taxi from Concorde to Pont Neuf. 2. Boat ride at Pont Neuf - save time and money by buying tix in advance at:
http://www.vedettesdupontneuf.com 3. Walk to Notre Dame. 4. If there is still time, do ONE of the following: a. Left bank stroll around Cluny. b. Stroll on Ile St Louis and get ice cream at Berthillon c. If it is Wed or Sat, walk to right bank and buy bread, cheese & fruit at the Place Baudoyer open air market and have lunch by the river. 5. Taxi back to Concorder.
pretty sure this can be done in 4 hours without rushing and they'll get a real feel for the city.
Things take alot longer when you are new in a city.
1. Taxi to Pont Neuf. 2. Boat ride at Pont Neuf - save time and money by buying tix in advance at:
http://www.vedettesdupontneuf.com 3. Walk to Notre Dame. 4. If there is still time, do ONE of the following: a. Left bank stroll around Cluny. b. Stroll on Ile St Louis and get ice cream at Berthillon c. If it is Wed or Sat, walk to right bank and buy bread, cheese & fruit at the Place Baudoyer open air market and have lunch by the river.
Pretty sure this can be done in 4 hours without rushing and they'll get a real feel for the city.
