2014 Paris Itinerary
Diane asks us,
“What Events are Scheduled for December in Paris?”
Here is the latest version of our Paris Itinerary.
This schedule changes
Depending on: whether you purchase a 2 Day, 4 Day or 6 Day Paris Museum Pass
(the passes cover consecutive days) and
Depending on which day you activate your 7 Day Vélib’ (bike share) pass
Tuesday, December 23rd 2014
Depart for Paris
Depending on your flight, you might leave late morning or late afternoon
Wednesday, December 24th
Arrive in Paris
Airport Business: Museum Pass, Metro Tickets, Postage Stamps
Ride RER train into Paris then Metro to Montmartre *
Check-in-to Montmartre Hotel
Take a Bath, Take a Nap
(although authorities are mixed on whether it may actually be better to stay-awake your 1st day)
Discover Montmartre
Shop for Groceries and Supplies in stores which will be closed on Christmas Day
Purchase Advance Tickets for a Christmas Movie
Option #1 Suggested *
Head straight to the hotel, don’t pop your head up into Paris
Option #2 *
Visit Notre Dame Cathedral – 1st Thing
Thursday, December 25th (Christmas)
This could be your best day in France
It’s a wonderful and serene moment to get lost in Paris
Sunrise Church Service: Notre Dame
Coffee and Exploration in the Latin Quarter
Back to Montmartre and up to Sacre Couer
Montmartre Cemetery
Vélib’ Ride
Evening Movie
Friday, December 26th
Moving Day (from Montmartre to Versailles)
Up and Out, Early and in-line when the Museums Open
Louvre
Back to Montmartre for Check-out
Travel to Versailles on RER train
Check-in to Versailles Hotel
Explore City of Versailles (our favorite is the historic business district)
Tour the Palace if the line is manageable
Otherwise tour the Grounds and Outlying Buildings
Option to travel back to Paris for Evening Hours at Louvre
Saturday, December 27th
Up and Out, Early Into Paris and in-line when the Museums Open
It’s the Weekend, so all the more reason to be at the Museum when it opens
Options for Vélib’ rides to Secondary Attractions perhaps
Pantheon, Parcs, Basilica St. Denis, Catacombs and Sewers
Back to Versailles on RER
Tour the Palace or the Grounds of Versailles
Option to Travel back to Paris for Late Hours at Pompidou
Sunday, December 28th
Moving Day (from Versailles to Bagnolet)
This is a day when we enjoy the morning, sleep-in, jog the grounds of Versailles and buy something for breakfast at an outdoor Marché (market)
You have time to tour the Palace, the Grounds and Outlying Buildings
We stay in Versailles until check-out time
Ride RER train back to Paris, then Metro to Bagnolet
Check-in to Bagnolet Hotel
Maybe use the Museum Pass as the weekend wanes
Pere LaChaise is nearby as well, perhap ride the Vélib’
Half of Paris restaurants are closed on Sundays
Opéra Comique Die Fledermaus (Johann Strauss)
Monday, December 29th
Up and Out, Early and in-line when the Museums Open
Louvre
Lunch: Falafel
Pompidou
L’Orangerie
Marais, Vélib’ ride, Picasso Museum
Many Paris Restaurants are also closed on Mondays
Tuesday, December 30th
Moving Day (from Bagnolet to La Defense)
Up and Out, Early and in-line when Musee d’Orsay opens
(it is the only major museum open today)
Back to Bagnolet for Check-out
Check-in to La Defense
(The Room will probably not be ready)
Climb up into the Arc de Triomphe
Visit the Opera House
Grocery Shopping Downtown (there are few grocery stores in La Defense)
Evening Meal at Chartier
Wednesday, December 31st
Final Day in Paris
This has the potential to be a very crowded day in Paris with long lines at some attractions
We are Up and Out, Early and in-line when the Museums Open
Louvre
Tie Up the Loose Ends
Do some final shopping
Finish your correspondence and write your Postcards
(Good selection of postcards on ground floor of Louvre)
Buy some groceries and New Years Eve goodies
Relax and enjoy your last afternoon in Paris
Théâtre Mogador Le Bal Des Vampires (Roman Polanski)
New Years Eve Eiffel Tower Light Show
Thursday, January 1st 2015 (New Years)
Up Early and Out for a Jog through the Plazas of La Defense
Mail your postcards
Check-out then ride Metro into Paris and RER train to Airport
(The Trains are free from late New Years Eve to New Years Day)
Departure from Paris (CDG)
(If your flight connects with a European city before returning to the US of A, you might depart from Paris Orly Airport)
In the spirit of the trip, this itinerary is just a suggestion. Plans change, group events will be added and members can create their own detours. It’s conceivable that you want to go to the Louvre less, you don’t ride bikes and prefer to eat lunch in a restaurant every day.
Last Christmas we landed in Zurich because the Paris airport was closed due to high winds. After an 8 hour bus ride from Switzerland, we arrived in Paris around midnight (about 15 hours later than we expected). That was the first change to our itinerary.
“A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent upon arriving.” -Lao Tzu
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