Stayed at hotel Dacia Luxembourg on Saint Michael Boulevard in Latin Quarter. Arrived from Charles deGaule airport by metro RER B line. Stopped at Luxembourg station (you can get out at Saint Michael station as well). Hotel was clean, quiet and safe. Rooms are small but comfortable and fine for sleeping the night. Breakfast is free but better to try what the city has to offer.
Latin quarter, Luxembourg quarter and St. Germain des-pres are three areas next to each other on the left bank (south side of the Seine river) with great location with a walking distance to see almost everything in Paris, many reasonably priced hotels, bistros, cafes, restaurants and a safe busy street life.
Used DK eyewitness travel Paris book as guide and for maps. It is excellent and has everything you need. Had another map but did not use it at all. The chapters on Paris area by area as well as the chapter on river view of Paris are very helpful. The star sights bullets are good to remember what you need to see and not miss anything.
Had to be realistic about what can be seen and done in the limited time. decided to skip on seeing the great art works at the Louvre museum and on going to Versailles palace this time to be able to see many other things and have a good feel of the city.
Day One:
Ile de la cite: Notre Dame, Hotel Dieu, Palais de Justice, Saint Chapelle (you have to go inside), Conciergerie, Square du Vert Galant and Point Neuf, Walk along the Seine River.
Latin Quarter: Musee Naturel du Moyen Age(did not go inside), Cluny Square, La Sorbonne, College de France, Saint Severin church, Saint Etienne du-Mont church, Pantheon, Place Saint Michael.
Day Two:
Luxembourg Quarter: Jardin and Palais du Luxembourg, Place and Church Saint Sulpice.
Saint Germain des pres: 1-2 hours walk on Boulevard saint Germain, Saint Germain church, Les deux Maogots café and café de fleur, Musee d’Orsay (3 well deserved hours).
Tuileries Quarter: Jardin des tuileries, Musee de Louvre, Place de la Concorde and the Luxor Obelisk, Long walk on Avenue des Champs Elysees with its wide sidewalks and fine shopping (2-3 hours), Arc de Triomph, Grand and Petit Palais, Alexandre III bridge.
Eiffel Tower: at night (sparkling lights for 5 minutes on the hour), Taxi back to hotel.
Day Three
Les Marais Quarter: Rue de Rivoli, Place des Vosges, Musee Carnavalet (free/30 minutes), Musee Picasso (well deserved 2 hours), Falafel and Shawarma sandwiches at L’As du Falafel on Rue des Rosiers (a must try)
Beaubourg and Les Halles: Pompidou Centre, Le defenseur du temps clock, Fontaine des Innocents
Bateau Bus: river trip from under the bridge of Notre Dame to the Eiffel tower stop (60 minutes, 12 Euros).
Les invalides and Eiffel tower Quarter: Eiffel tower at the day light. Hotel des Invalides, Musee de L’Armee, Dome church and Napoleon‘s Tomb, Musee Rodin., Taxi to Montmartre.
Montmartre: Sacre-Coeur church (gorgeous inside and out/ gypsy music on its stairs before sundown), Place de Tertre (full of portraitists), Place des Abbesses, Moulin Rouge, Metro back to Hotel.
More Interesting Stuff:
- 2CV Tours : Ride in an open top vintage French car - see the major Paris attractions in their glory that typify City of Lights - Guides entertain and people on the streets watch these cars with nostalgia
- Post Cards from Paris -Draw and paint with students of the Parisien art schools, all this in the heart of the Latin Quarter- carry the masterpiece back home- this operator is great at bringing activities like cooking, wine tasting, jazz club, painting, gourmet dining (and even tips on where to find the best crepe)