Paris β April 2026
10 Rue La Bruyère, 9th Arrondissement · April 18 – May 2 · AF0081 / AF0084 · Ref: Z8KBW7
Day 1 · Monday, 20 April
Seine Cruise & Montmartre
The most classic Paris morning β a Seine river cruise past every monument, then up the hill to Sacré-Cœur
Emma + Camille
Book Bateaux Parisiens Seine cruise in advance at bateauxparisiens.com — buy for a date, board any time that day. Book the Terrass" Hotel rooftop table before you leave (walk-in, but worth calling ahead for peak April evenings).
Morning
9:30 AM
10 Rue La Bruyère — Depart apartment
Pick up pastries and coffee from a boulangerie on Rue des Martyrs before heading out. Aim to leave by 9:30 AM to make the 10 AM MΓ©tro.
9:30 → 9:55 AM · ~25 min
Metro — Line 13 from Liège to Varenne, walk to Port de la Bourdonnais
Take Line 13 south from Liège (5-min walk from apartment) to Varenne (7 stops). Then ~15-min walk west along the Left Bank to the Bateaux Parisiens dock at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. β¬2.15 / ~$2.50 pp
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10:00 AM — 11:00 AM
Bateaux Parisiens — Seine River Sightseeing Cruise
The most classic Paris morning there is. One hour gliding past the Eiffel Tower, Musée d’Orsay, Notre-Dame, the Louvre, Pont Neuf, and back — all from the water, at the best light of the day. Glass-enclosed boats with audio commentary in English. Departs every 30–45 min from Port de la Bourdonnais (Pontoon 5 or 7). Buy for the date and board any time — no fixed departure slot needed. Arrive 15 min early.
β¬16–18 / ~$19–21 pp π Book at bateauxparisiens.com
Book at bateauxparisiens.com
11:00 AM → 11:20 AM · ~20 min
Metro — Bir-Hakeim (Line 6) to Botzaris or Buttes Chaumont
Walk 8 min north from the dock to Bir-Hakeim (Line 6). Take Line 6 east to Nation, change to Line 2 west to Colonel Fabien, then 12-min walk to Buttes-Chaumont entrance — or take a cab (~β¬12 / ~$14). β¬2.15 / ~$2.50 pp
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Afternoon
1:20 — 3:00 PM
Parc des Buttes-Chaumont
π Free
Walk up to the Temple de la Sibylle on the island for views across Paris. Cross the suspension bridge. The hillside lawns are perfect for a post-picnic rest in late April sun. Open until 8 PM. Allow 1.5 hrs.
3:00 → 3:25 PM · ~25 min
Metro — Buttes Chaumont (Line 7bis) to Abbesses or Pigalle
From Buttes Chaumont station, take Line 7bis to Louis Blanc, then Line 7 to Pigalle or Abbesses (Line 12) for Montmartre. Total: 3 stops, ~15 min. Then 5-10 min walk up the hill to SacrΓ©-CΕur.
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3:30 — 5:30 PM
Explore Montmartre + Sacré-Cœur
π Free
The afternoon light on the white stone is extraordinary. Walk down through Rue Lepic, Place du Tertre, the vineyard, and the artists’ studios. Budget a loose 2 hours of wandering.
5:30 → 6:00 PM · ~30 min
Metro — Abbesses (Line 12) to Saint-Michel–Notre-Dame
Line 12 south from Abbesses direct to Saint-Michel–Notre-Dame — 8 stops, ~18 min. Then 5-min walk east to the Hôtel Dame des Arts on Rue Danton.
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Evening
6:30 PM
Sunset Drinks — Terrass" Hôtel Rooftop Bar, Montmartre
β¬18–25 / ~$21–29 — per cocktail
Walk-in only — no reservation needed. 12 Rue Joseph de Maistre, 18th arr. On the 7th floor with direct Eiffel Tower views and a full 360° panorama over Paris. Open daily 4 PM to midnight (warm season). Smart casual. You’re already in Montmartre after Sacré-Cœur — this is a 5-min walk from the basilica. The perfect close to your first day.
Walk-in Β· No reservation needed
End of evening · ~25 min
Metro — Saint-Michel (Line 4) to Saint-Georges (Line 12), or cab
Line 4 north to Montrouge direction, change at Montparnasse to Line 12 north — or take a direct cab (~β¬12, ~15 min). Cab recommended at night.
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Day 2 · Tuesday, 21 April
Left Bank Wander
Churches, gardens, lingerie, a long dinner, and a disco bar hidden behind a QR code
Emma + Camille
Morning — from the apartment
Until 9:15 AM
Slow morning at the apartment
You were out late last night. Make coffee at home. Rue des Martyrs is a 5-min walk — pick up pastries and fresh juice before heading south.
Home base
9:15 → 9:25 AM · ~10 min
Metro — Saint-Georges (Line 12) to Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Line 12 south, 5 stops direct to Saint-Germain-des-PrΓ©s. Exit onto Boulevard Saint-Germain, 2-min walk to the church.
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9:30 — 9:50 AM
Église Saint-Germain-des-Prés
π Free
Paris’s oldest church (6th century). Free entry. Resting place of Descartes. Quiet, ancient, unexpectedly moving.
9:50 → 9:58 AM · ~8 min
Walk — Saint-Germain-des-PrΓ©s to Saint-Sulpice
600m south on Rue Bonaparte. Flat walk through the heart of Saint-Germain.
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10:00 — 10:28 AM
Église Saint-Sulpice
π Free
Free entry. The Delacroix frescoes in the Chapel of the Holy Angels are extraordinary. The brass meridian gnomon on the floor was made famous by The Da Vinci Code. Budget 25–30 min.
10:28 → 10:33 AM · ~5 min
Walk — Saint-Sulpice to Jardin du Luxembourg
400m east on Rue Saint-Sulpice then north on Rue de Médicis to the main gate. Straightforward.
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10:33 — 11:18 AM
Jardin du Luxembourg
π Free
Tulips and chestnuts in full bloom in late April. Sit by the octagonal pond. The Medici Fountain in the northeast corner is one of the most romantic spots in Paris. Budget 45 min.
11:18 → 11:28 AM · ~10 min
Walk — Luxembourg to Saint Pearl Saint-Germain
800m north — exit the garden on Rue Guynemer, turn right on Rue de Vaugirard, then north on Rue des Saints-PΓ¨res to No. 38.
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Midday
11:30 — 11:55 AM
Saint Pearl Saint-Germain
38 Rue des Saints-PΓ¨res. Open Mon–Fri 8 AM–7 PM. Specialty coffee, chai, matcha, and pastries. Cosy and unhurried.
11:55 AM · 2 min
Walk — Saint Pearl to Sabbia Rosa
Literally next door at 73 Rue des Saints-Pères, 50 metres south.
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12:00 — 12:40 PM
Sabbia Rosa
73 Rue des Saints-PΓ¨res. Open Tue–Sat 10 AM–7 PM. The finest handmade French lingerie in Paris. Loved by Catherine Deneuve and Sofia Coppola. Browse without obligation.
12:40 → 12:50 PM · ~10 min
Walk — Rue des Saints-PΓ¨res east along Boulevard Saint-Germain
Turn east onto Boulevard Saint-Germain — this walk IS the activity. Duck into Rue de Buci, Rue de Seine, and Rue Jacob as you go.
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12:50 — 2:30 PM
Wander Saint-Germain — lunch
Drift east along Boulevard Saint-Germain. Browse galleries and bookshops on Rue de Seine and Rue Jacob. Grab lunch at a terrace cafΓ© or a street crΓͺpe from a vendor on Rue de Buci.
Afternoon — return home
2:30 → 2:42 PM · ~12 min
Metro — Saint-Germain-des-PrΓ©s (Line 4) to Saint-Georges (Line 12)
Line 4 north 2 stops to RΓ©aumur–SΓ©bastopol, change to Line 12 south 2 stops to Notre-Dame-de-Lorette — or take Line 12 directly from SΓ¨vres–Babylone. 5-min walk home from Saint-Georges.
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2:45 — 6:45 PM
Back to the apartment
Rest your feet, freshen up, and recharge. Terra Bar Γ Vins doesn’t open until 7 PM — you have a comfortable 4 hours at home.
Rest & reset
Evening
6:45 → 7:00 PM · ~15 min
Metro — Notre-Dame-de-Lorette (Line 12) to Arts-et-Métiers (Line 11)
Line 12 south to Madeleine, change to Line 8 east then Line 3 to RΓ©publique, then walk — or take a cab (~β¬10, 12 min). Cab is simpler for evening.
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7:00 PM — sharp
Terra Bar à Vins
β¬40–50 / ~$46–58 — per person, food + wine
63 Rue des Gravilliers, 3rd arr. Open Tue–Sat from 7 PM. No reservations — arrive exactly at 7 PM for kitchen counter seats. Menu changes monthly; 4–5 plates to share. 1,000+ natural wine references. Budget ~β¬40–50/person.
Walk-in only — 7:00 PM sharp
9:15 → 9:30 PM · ~15 min
Cab — Rue des Gravilliers to Cour du Commerce Saint-AndrΓ©
~3km southwest. Cab or Uber recommended at this hour (~β¬10–12, 10 min). Drop off on Boulevard Saint-Germain near the Cour du Commerce passage entrance.
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9:30 PM
Grouvie
Cour du Commerce Saint-AndrΓ©, 6th arr. Open nightly 6:30 PM–1 AM. Hidden inside Brasserie des PrΓ©s — don’t queue at the restaurant. Walk 20m further, scan QR code, download the app, join the digital waiting list. Boudoir-style decor, creative cocktails.
Late · ~20 min
Cab home — Cour du Commerce to Rue La Bruyère
Cab or Uber ~β¬12–15, 15 min. Metro also possible but cab is easier late at night.
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Day 3 · Wednesday, 22 April — π Happy 31st Birthday, Camille!
Deep Marais
Flowers, free palaces, the world’s oldest market, a picnic on Paris’s most beautiful square, and a Michelin-starred birthday dinner
Emma + Camille + MomMom
MomMom arrives at 8:15 AM — and it’s Camille’s 31st birthday. The day is deliberately paced and beautiful: flowers at the market, free museums in extraordinary spaces, a picnic lunch at Place des Vosges, and birthday dinner at Benôit — Alain Ducasse’s legendary Belle Époque bistro, open every day, in the heart of the Marais. Reserve at restaurant.benoit@ducasse-paris.com or +33 1 42 72 25 76.
Morning — birthday begins
8:15 AM — lands CDG
π MomMom arrives — birthday morning at the apartment
MomMom's flight lands at CDG at 8:15 AM. She'll need ~30–45 min for immigration and baggage, then a taxi to the apartment (~50 min, ~β¬56). Realistically she arrives at Rue La Bruyère around 10:00–10:15 AM. Before she arrives, pick up birthday croissants or a small birthday pastry from the boulangerie on Rue des Martyrs — a pain au chocolat with a candle in it on the kitchen table is a perfectly sentimental start. Give MomMom time to freshen up and have coffee before heading out. No rush before 11 AM.
Taxi CDGβapt ~β¬56 / ~$65
Home base — birthday morning
11:00 → 11:20 AM · ~20 min
Metro — Saint-Georges (Line 12) toward the Marais
Line 12 south to Opéra, change to Line 3 east to République, then Line 8 south to Filles du Calvaire — or take a cab (~β¬10, 15 min). 5-min walk west on Rue de Bretagne to the Archives.
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11:20 AM — 12:20 PM
Musée des Archives Nationales — Hôtel de Soubise
π Free
Free entry. Open Wed–Fri 10 AM–5:30 PM. The Rococo Salon Oval of the Princess de Soubise rivals Versailles with almost no visitors. Special display through June 29, 2026: Napoleon I’s last testament. A suitably grand and intimate space for a birthday morning. Budget ~1 hr.
12:20 → 12:30 PM · ~10 min
Walk — Hôtel de Soubise to Musée Carnavalet
700m southeast. Walk south on Rue des Archives and east on Rue des Francs-Bourgeois to 23 Rue de Sévigné.
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12:30 — 1:45 PM
Musée Carnavalet
π Free
Free entry. The entire history of Paris across two interconnected hôtels particuliers. Standout rooms: the Art Nouveau Fouquet’s boutique, the Revolution galleries, Marcel Proust’s actual bedroom. Budget 1–1.5 hrs.
Lunch & flowers
1:45 → 1:55 PM · ~10 min
Walk — Carnavalet to Marché des Enfants Rouges
750m north on Rue de Turenne to 39 Rue de Bretagne.
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2:00 PM
π Birthday flowers — Marché des Enfants Rouges
β¬8–20 / ~$9–23 — bouquet + oysters
Paris’s oldest covered market (1615), open Wed–Sun. There are flower vendors just inside the entrance — buy Camille a beautiful bouquet here. Spring late-April flowers to look for: ranunculus, sweet peas, anemones, and garden roses are all at their peak. Have the florist wrap them in brown paper the French way. Camille carries them through the Marais for the rest of the day. Then browse the oyster counter and natural wine stalls before lunch.
2:15 → 2:18 PM · ~3 min
Walk — Marché to Chez Alain Miam Miam
200m — exit the market onto Rue de Bretagne, turn left onto Rue Charlot to No. 26.
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2:20 PM
Chez Alain Miam Miam → sandwiches to go
Open Wed–Sun. Expect 20–40 min queue. Take sandwiches to go. Cash preferred. Worth the wait — these are some of the best sandwiches in Paris.
3:00 → 3:10 PM · ~10 min
Walk — Rue Charlot to Place des Vosges
800m south on Rue Charlot then Rue de Turenne to the northwest corner of Place des Vosges.
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Afternoon — Place des Vosges
2:05 PM
Picnic lunch — Place des Vosges
β¬15–20 / ~$17–23 — sandwiches + Champagne
Find a bench under the linden trees on the most beautiful square in Paris (1612) and eat your sandwiches. After lunch, visit Maison de Victor Hugo at No. 6 (free, he lived here 1832–1848). Budget 1.5 hrs on the square altogether.
Afternoon — rest and get ready
4:30 → 4:50 PM · ~20 min
Metro — Saint-Paul (Line 1) to Saint-Georges (Line 12)
5-min walk west to Saint-Paul station. Line 1 west 3 stops to Châtelet, change to Line 4 north to Réaumur–Sébastopol, then Line 12 north to Notre-Dame-de-Lorette — or take a cab (~β¬12 / ~$14).
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4:50 — 7:00 PM
Back to the apartment — rest and get dressed
MomMom has been travelling since early morning and needs to rest. Everyone freshens up and gets dressed for dinner. This is the nicest dinner of the trip — take your time. Restaurant Anne is a one-Michelin-star occasion and deserves the best outfit of the day. Put the birthday flowers in water on the table so they’re waiting when you return.
Rest + get dressed for birthday dinner
Birthday dinner
6:45 → 7:05 PM · ~20 min
Cab — Rue La Bruyère to Benôit
Cab or Uber ~β¬12, ~15 min. Take a cab tonight rather than the metro — it’s her birthday and you’re dressed for dinner. Drop off on Rue Saint-Martin near Hôtel de Ville.
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7:00 PM
π Birthday dinner — Benôit
β¬80–100 / ~$93–116 — per person, dinner π Reserve: restaurant.benoit@ducasse-paris.com π +33 1 42 72 25 76
20 Rue Saint-Martin, 4th arr. Open every day, dinner 7–10 PM. Alain Ducasse’s legendary Belle Époque bistro, established 1912 — woodwork, copper pots, etched glass panels, velvet banquettes, plates monogrammed with a “B.” Everything a birthday dinner in Paris should look like. The menu is proudly, heartily traditional: escargots in garlic butter, pΓ’tΓ© en croΓ»te, cassoulet, calf’s head with ravigote sauce. Don’t skip dessert — the profiteroles with warm hot chocolate sauce and the vanilla millefeuille are essential. Tell them it’s her birthday when you book. Budget ~β¬80–100/person. Dinner service 7–10 PM.
Reserve: restaurant.benoit@ducasse-paris.com · +33 1 42 72 25 76
~9:30 PM · ~15 min
Cab home — Benôit to Rue La Bruyère
Cab or Uber ~β¬12, ~15 min. A quiet end to the evening — Versailles departs at 8 AM tomorrow.
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~9:45 PM
Back to the apartment — early night
A beautiful end to a beautiful day. Versailles tomorrow requires an 8 AM departure — everyone to bed at a reasonable hour. The birthday flowers are still on the table.
Early night — Versailles tomorrow
Day 4 · Thursday, 23 April
Versailles
Palace, Musical Gardens, a canal lunch, and Marie Antoinette’s fantasy village
Emma + Camille + MomMom
Book palace timed entry 2–3 weeks in advance at en.chateauversailles.fr (~β¬20/adult Passport ticket). Download the free Versailles app before leaving. Musical Gardens run Tue–Fri — today is Thursday β.
Getting There
7:45 AM
Depart apartment
Light breakfast at home or grab something at Gare Saint-Lazare. Leave by 7:45 AM to catch the 8:15 train comfortably.
7:45 → 8:10 AM · ~25 min
Metro — Saint-Georges (Line 12) to Assemblée Nationale (Line 12)
Line 12 south directly from Saint-Georges (or Notre-Dame-de-Lorette) to AssemblΓ©e Nationale — 7 stops, ~15 min. Then 5-min walk to the RER C platform at Invalides or MusΓ©e d’Orsay RER stop.
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8:10 AM
RER C — Invalides to Versailles Château Rive Gauche
RER C (yellow line), direction Versailles ChΓ’teau Rive Gauche — ~35 min β¬7.60 / ~$8.80 pp β¬7.60 / ~$8.80 pp, runs every 15 min. Check RATP app for disruptions. If RER C is suspended, SNCF Line N from Montparnasse is the alternative.
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8:45 → 9:00 AM · ~12 min
Walk — Versailles RER station to Palace entrance
900m walk from the station up Avenue de Paris straight to the palace gates. Flat, straightforward, well-signed.
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Morning
9:00 — 11:30 AM
Palace of Versailles
β¬20 / ~$23 — Passport ticket / person π Book at chateauversailles.fr
Arrive at 9 AM sharp — the Hall of Mirrors is extraordinary in near-silence before tour groups arrive. Cover: State Apartments, King’s and Queen’s Chambers, Hall of Mirrors. Download the free Versailles app for audio guides before leaving Paris. Any exit is final.
Book at en.chateauversailles.fr
Lunch
11:30 → 11:55 AM · ~25 min
Walk — Palace to La Flottille (Grand Canal)
1.8km walk south through the formal gardens past the Parterre de Latone to the Grand Canal. Follow the main axis path straight down.
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12:00 — 1:15 PM
La Flottille — lunch on the Grand Canal
β¬25–40 / ~$29–46 — per person
Best-reviewed restaurant on the estate — terrace overlooking the water. Traditional French brasserie food. No reservation; arrive before 12:30 PM to beat the lunch queue.
Afternoon
1:15 → 1:40 PM · ~25 min
Walk — Grand Canal to Petit Trianon
1.8km walk north from La Flottille through the Musical Garden groves (music playing en route) to the Trianon estate entrance.
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1:45 — 3:15 PM
Petit Trianon & the Queen’s Hamlet
π Free
Dramatically less crowded than the main palace. Don’t miss the Queen’s Hamlet — Marie Antoinette’s fantasy village with working farm animals, winding paths, and a lake. It feels genuinely otherworldly.
3:15 → 4:30 PM · ~75 min stroll
Walk — Petit Trianon back through the formal gardens to the RER station
~2km return walk south through the Parterre d’Eau and Orangerie gardens. Take your time — this is the best part of the day to wander without a deadline.
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Return & Evening at Home
~5:30 PM
RER C back to Paris
Aim for a train from Versailles ChΓ’teau Rive Gauche ~5:30 PM. ~35 min back to Invalides. Back in the 9th by 6:15 PM.
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6:30 PM onwards
Cook dinner at the apartment
After 8+ hours on your feet, staying in is the right call. Stop at the Franprix or Monoprix near Rue La Bruyère on the way home. A simple roast chicken, pasta, or charcuterie board with a good bottle of wine. Early to bed.
Cook at home — well-earned rest
Day 5 · Friday, 24 April
Left Bank Elegance
Impressionism, Dior, Rodin’s rose garden, a picnic, and Paris’s secret sunset quay
Emma + Camille + MomMom
Book MusΓ©e d’Orsay 9:30 AM slot at musee-orsay.fr (β¬16/adult) and Dior La Galerie timed entry at galeriedior.com (~β¬15/adult). Both fill quickly on Fridays.
Morning
9:00 → 9:15 AM · ~15 min
Metro — Saint-Georges (Line 12) to Rue du Bac, walk to Conservatoire
Line 12 south from Saint-Georges, 4 stops to Rue du Bac (~8 min). Then 3-min walk south to 96 Rue du Bac. β¬2.15 / ~$2.50 pp
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9:15 — 9:50 AM
Conservatoire des Hémisphères
96 Rue du Bac. Open Mon–Sat 11 AM–7 PM. Wood-panelled apothecary-style tea boutique. Blend a custom tea and have it packaged to take home. Budget 35 min.
9:50 → 10:00 AM · ~10 min
Walk — Conservatoire des Hémisphères to Musée d’Orsay
8-min walk north along Rue du Bac, then left on Rue de l’Université to the museum Entrance C1 on Rue de la Légion d’Honneur. Flat and straightforward.
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10:00 AM — 12:45 PM
Musée d’Orsay
β¬16 / ~$19 — per person π Book at musee-orsay.fr
Opens 9:30 AM. Timed entry mandatory from March 2026. Enter via Entrance C1. Head straight to the top floor Impressionist galleries before crowds build. Spring exhibition: Renoir & Love (March 17–July 19). Budget 2.5–3 hrs.
Book at musee-orsay.fr — 9:30 AM slot
Midday
12:45 → 1:00 PM · ~15 min
Cab — Rue du Bac to Dior La Galerie (8th arr.)
~2km northwest — cab or Uber (~β¬8–10, 10 min). Walking takes 20 min if preferred. Drop off on Rue FranΓ§ois 1er.
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1:30 — 3:00 PM
Dior La Galerie
β¬15 / ~$17 — per person π Book at galeriedior.com
11 Rue FranΓ§ois 1er. Open Fri 11 AM–7 PM. Seven floors of Christian Dior history: archive haute couture, perfumes, Dior’s recreated childhood bedroom, the famous staircase. Allow 1.5 hrs.
Book at galeriedior.com
Afternoon
3:00 → 3:20 PM · ~20 min
Walk — Dior La Galerie to Musée Rodin
1.5km south — walk down Avenue Montaigne, cross the Seine via Pont de l’Alma, then east along Rue de Varenne to No. 77. A pleasant riverside walk.
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3:20 — 4:50 PM
Musée Rodin
β¬14 / ~$16 — per person π Book at musee-rodin.fr
77 Rue de Varenne. Open Tue–Sun 10 AM–6:30 PM. The garden alone justifies the ticket: The Thinker, The Gates of Hell, The Burghers of Calais — all outdoors. Rose garden in first bloom in late April. Budget 1.5 hrs.
Book at musee-rodin.fr
4:50 → 5:05 PM · ~15 min
Walk — Musée Rodin to Champ de Mars
1.2km west along Rue de Grenelle and then north to the Champ de Mars lawns. Pick up picnic provisions from a traiteur on Avenue de la Bourdonnais en route.
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5:05 — 6:30 PM
Champ de Mars Picnic
β¬10–15 / ~$12–17 — picnic provisions
Find a spot on the lawn facing the Eiffel Tower. The tower glows gold in the late afternoon sun. A restorative hour of doing absolutely nothing.
Evening
8:30 → 8:40 PM · ~10 min
Walk — Champ de Mars to Port Debilly
750m west along Quai Branly to the Port Debilly quay, just across from the TrocadΓ©ro. Flat riverside walk.
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8:45 PM
Sunset @ Port Debilly
π Free
A wide stone quay across from the TrocadΓ©ro — almost always empty of tourists. One of the best unobstructed sunset views of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Sunset April 24 ~9:03 PM. Stay until the tower lights up at 10 PM.
End of evening · ~30 min
Cab home — Port Debilly to Rue La Bruyère
Cab or Uber ~β¬14–18 / ~$16–21. Metro option: TrocadΓ©ro (Line 6 or 9) north, change at Pigalle to Line 12 — ~35 min total.
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Day 6 · Saturday, 25 April
Giverny
An hour on the train, wisteria on the Japanese bridge, lunch where the Impressionists ate, and Monet’s water lilies twice
Emma + Camille + MomMom
Saturday is the busiest day at Giverny. Book the 9:30 AM timed entry at claudemonetgiverny.fr as early as possible. Book SNCF train tickets at sncf-connect.com.
What’s blooming: late April is one of the best weeks. The wisteria on the Japanese bridge is at or near peak. The Clos Normand will be full of tulips, pansies, and wallflowers.
Getting There
7:45 → 8:10 AM · ~25 min
Metro — Saint-Georges (Line 12) to Gare Saint-Lazare
Line 12 south to Madeleine (5 stops), change to Line 14 or 9 to Saint-Lazare — or walk 20 min. Allow enough time to buy tickets and reach the platform. Gare Saint-Lazare is ~1.5km from the apartment.
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8:10 AM
SNCF Train — Gare Saint-Lazare to Vernon–Giverny
Aim for a train departing 8:20–8:50 AM. Journey ~1 hr. Book on the SNCF Connect app in advance. Check boards for Vernon on arrival at the station.
Book at sncf-connect.com
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~9:30 AM · ~20 min
Shuttle Bus — Vernon station to Giverny village
The shuttle bus departs directly from outside Vernon station. ~β¬10 / ~$12 return ticket. A paper return schedule is given on board. Don’t dawdle — the shuttle fills quickly on Saturdays.
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Morning
10:00 AM — 1:00 PM
Fondation Claude Monet — House & Gardens
β¬13 / ~$15 — per person π Book at fondation-monet.com
Use the separate timed-entry queue. Go into the house first — most visitors rush to the garden. Japanese print collection, painting studio, the yellow dining room. Then the Clos Normand and Japanese water garden. No large bags. Budget 2–2.5 hrs.
Book at claudemonetgiverny.fr — 9:30 AM slot
Lunch
12:00 → 12:05 PM · ~5 min
Walk — Monet Gardens to Restaurant Baudy
350m south down Rue Claude Monet to No. 81 — a 5-min stroll through the village.
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12:10 — 1:25 PM
Restaurant Baudy
β¬25–40 / ~$29–46 — per person
Walk-in at lunch — arrive before 12:30 PM on a Saturday. The inn where CΓ©zanne, Renoir, and Mary Cassatt ate. Classic Norman food. Explore the garden out back. Budget ~75 min.
Afternoon
1:25 → 1:30 PM · ~5 min
Walk — Restaurant Baudy to Musée des Impressionnismes
100m further south on Rue Claude Monet. The museum is at the end of the same road.
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1:30 — 3:00 PM
Musée des Impressionnismes Giverny
β¬10–12 / ~$12–14 — per person
Spring 2026 exhibition: Before the Water Lilies — Monet Discovers Giverny, 1883–1890. Far less crowded than the garden on a Saturday. Budget 75 min.
3:00 — 4:30 PM
Village wander + Église Sainte-Radegonde
Stroll Rue Claude Monet. Walk up to the small church on the hill — the Monet family graves are in the churchyard. Head back toward the shuttle stop.
Return
~4:45 PM · ~20 min
Shuttle Bus — Giverny back to Vernon station
Check the return schedule received on the way in. Aim for a shuttle departing ~4:45–5:00 PM to catch a 5:30 train back to Paris.
🗺 Open in Google Maps
~5:30 PM
SNCF Train — Vernon back to Gare Saint-Lazare
~1 hr back to Paris. Back at Saint-Lazare by ~6:30 PM.
🗺 Open in Google Maps
6:30 → 6:45 PM · ~15 min
Metro — Saint-Lazare back to the 9th
Line 14 or 9 from Saint-Lazare to Madeleine, then Line 12 north to Notre-Dame-de-Lorette — 5-min walk home. Or cab (~β¬10).
🗺 Open in Google Maps
7:00 PM onwards
Neighbourhood dinner or cook at home
After a full day of travel, a quiet evening near home is the right call. Les Canailles at 25 Rue La BruyΓ¨re (2-min walk) is a neighbourhood bistro open Friday evenings — or pick up provisions from the Monoprix and cook at home.
Neighbourhood dinner or cook at home
Day 7 · Sunday, 26 April
Grand Paris
Stained glass, the restored cathedral, Île Saint-Louis, and a send-off dinner for MomMom
Emma + Camille + MomMom
MomMom departs Monday April 27 at 7 AM — tonight wraps up by 8:30 PM. Today features lunch at Restaurant Anne (1 Michelin star, Place des Vosges, open Sundays for lunch) as a proper send-off for MomMom. Reserve early: restaurant@pdlr.fr or +33 1 40 29 19 19.
Morning — slow start
Until 10:00 AM
Slow breakfast at the apartment
Pick up pastries from Rue des Martyrs the evening before or early morning. A proper sit-down breakfast together at home before heading out — MomMom’s last full day in Paris deserves a calm start.
Home base
10:00 → 10:22 AM · ~22 min
Metro — Saint-Georges (Line 12) to Cité (Line 4)
Line 12 south from Notre-Dame-de-Lorette to Montparnasse-BienvenΓΌe (9 stops), change to Line 4 north to CitΓ©. β¬2.15 / ~$2.50 pp β¬2.15 / ~$2.50 pp Exit onto the Γle de la CitΓ© — Sainte-Chapelle is a 3-min walk east through the Palais de Justice security entrance.
🗺 Open in Google Maps
10:30 — 11:20 AM
Sainte-Chapelle
β¬13 / ~$15 — per person π Book at sainte-chapelle.fr
Book timed entry at sainte-chapelle.fr (~β¬13/adult). Open every day. The upper chapel’s 15 panels of 13th-century stained glass covering 600 sq metres are transcendent in midday sun. Budget 45–60 min.
Book at sainte-chapelle.fr
11:20 → 11:23 AM · ~3 min
Walk — Sainte-Chapelle to Notre-Dame
200m east across the Γle de la CitΓ©. Walk through the Parvis Notre-Dame — one of the great approaches in Paris.
🗺 Open in Google Maps
11:30 AM — 12:20 PM
Notre-Dame Cathedral
π Free π Book free entry at notredamedeparis.fr
Free entry, open Sundays 8:15 AM–7:30 PM. Restored after the 2019 fire — fresh stone, repainted vaulted ceilings, pristine stained glass. Book free timed entry at notredamedeparis.fr in advance. Budget 45 min — leaving time to walk to Place des Vosges for lunch.
Book free entry at notredamedeparis.fr
Lunch — Restaurant Anne
12:20 → 12:35 PM · ~15 min
Walk — Notre-Dame to Place des Vosges
1km east along Rue Saint-Antoine to Place des Vosges. Walk through the Marais — a lovely approach to the square on a Sunday morning.
🗺 Open in Google Maps
12:30 — 2:30 PM
Lunch — GrandCœur
β¬50–70 / ~$58–81 — per person, Γ la carte π Reserve: restaurant@pdlr.fr π +33 1 40 29 19 19
41 Rue du Temple, 4th arr. GrandCœur is the Parisian brasserie of Mauro Colagreco, whose Mirazur was rated the World’s Best Restaurant. Beautiful hidden cobblestone courtyard inside the 18th-century Hôtel de Bélize — one of the most charming outdoor lunch settings in Paris. Mediterranean menu with superb fish, gorgeous plating, and excellent natural wine. Open every day, great for groups, and genuinely beautiful. The perfect send-off lunch for MomMom. Budget 2 hrs. Reserve at grandcoeur.paris or +33 1 58 28 18 90.
Reserve at grandcoeur.paris or +33 1 58 28 18 90
2:30 → 2:40 PM · ~10 min
Walk — Place des Vosges to Île Saint-Louis via Pont Marie
750m west and south through the Marais to Pont Marie and across to Γle Saint-Louis. A gentle post-lunch stroll.
🗺 Open in Google Maps
~2:45 PM
Berthillon — Île Saint-Louis
β¬4–8 / ~$5–9 — ice cream
A short detour onto the island for a scoop from Berthillon — one of the finest ice creams in France, open daily in spring. A perfect final note after an exceptional lunch. Then stroll the island end to end before heading home.
Afternoon — return home to rest
3:15 → 3:35 PM · ~20 min
Metro — Pont Marie (Line 7) to Saint-Georges (Line 12)
5-min walk north to Pont Marie station. Line 7 west to Opéra, change to Line 12 north to Notre-Dame-de-Lorette. 5-min walk home.
🗺 Open in Google Maps
3:35 — 7:00 PM
Back to the apartment — rest
Rest at home after a long, beautiful day — MomMom especially. She leaves at 7 AM tomorrow and needs to pack properly and have a quiet moment. A nap is perfectly reasonable after a Michelin lunch.
Rest + MomMom packs for departure
Evening — MomMom’s send-off
7:00 → 7:10 PM · ~10 min
Walk — Rue La Bruyère to Place Saint-Georges
750m south — walk down Rue Notre-Dame-de-Lorette to Place Saint-Georges. A 10-min neighbourhood stroll.
🗺 Open in Google Maps
7:30 — 8:30 PM
Evening drinks at Place Saint-Georges
A glass of wine or a digestif on the terrace at CafΓ© PΓ¨re Tanguy (2 Place Gustave Toudouze) or CafΓ© Limo (4 Place Gustave Toudouze) — a relaxed, neighbourhood ending to MomMom’s last evening. You’ve already had a proper lunch so a light snack or drinks is all you need. Wrap up by 8:30 PM.
8:30 → 8:40 PM · ~10 min
Walk home — Place Saint-Georges to Rue La Bruyère
750m north back up Rue Notre-Dame-de-Lorette. A 10-min evening walk.
🗺 Open in Google Maps
8:40 PM
Back to the apartment — early night
MomMom departs at 7 AM Monday — she needs to be up by 5:30 AM. Say goodbye tonight.
Early night — MomMomMom departs 7 AM
Day 8 · Monday, 27 April
Right Bank Shopping
Arcades, antiquarian books, mustard on tap, Tadao Ando, and a very serious dinner
Emma + Camille
Morning — slow start
Until 9:15 AM
Slow morning at the apartment
MomMom left at 7 AM. Coffee at home, a walk on Rue des Martyrs. Take the morning gently.
Slow morning
9:15 → 9:35 AM · ~20 min
Metro — Notre-Dame-de-Lorette (Line 12) to Palais Royal–Musée du Louvre (Line 1)
Line 12 south to Madeleine, change to Line 1 east to Palais Royal–MusΓ©e du Louvre (7 stops total, ~18 min). Exit onto Rue de Rivoli, 2-min walk to the garden.
🗺 Open in Google Maps
9:35 — 10:10 AM
Jardin du Palais Royal
π Free
Open from 8 AM. Monday mornings are peacefully quiet. Magnolias in late April. Sit on the green iron chairs, admire the Buren columns, browse the arcaded galleries. Budget 35 min.
10:10 — 10:30 AM
La Crème (Palais Royal)
Specialty coffee under the arcades. Excellent croissants, chouquettes on the counter. Take it outside under the arches.
10:30 → 10:35 AM · ~5 min
Walk — Palais Royal to Galerie Vivienne
350m northeast along Rue des Petits Champs to the Galerie Vivienne entrance at No. 6.
🗺 Open in Google Maps
10:35 — 11:20 AM
Galerie Vivienne + Librairie Jousseaume
π Free
Open daily from 8:30 AM. Librairie Jousseaume at No. 45 (est. 1826). Original 19th-century engravings and maps from β¬10 upwards. Budget 45 min.
11:20 → 11:35 AM · ~15 min
Walk — Galerie Vivienne to Boutique Maille
1.2km west — walk along Rue des Petits Champs then north on Rue de la Paix to Place de la Madeleine.
🗺 Open in Google Maps
11:35 AM — 12:15 PM
Boutique Maille
π Free
Open Mon–Sat 10 AM–7 PM. Mustard on tap — truffle, white wine, tarragon. The Maille Sommelier walks you through a tasting. Don’t leave without a ceramic pump jar.
12:15 → 12:35 PM · ~20 min
Walk — Madeleine south to the Bouquinistes
1.5km south down Rue Royale, across Place de la Concorde, over Pont de la Concorde to the Left Bank quais. The bouquinistes start from Quai Voltaire heading east.
🗺 Open in Google Maps
12:35 — 1:20 PM
Bouquinistes de la Seine
π Free
240 booksellers, 300,000 books, prints, and curios. Walk east along the quai toward Pont Neuf. Budget 45 min.
1:20 → 1:25 PM · ~5 min
Walk — Bouquinistes to Pont Neuf
Continue east along Quai de Conti to Pont Neuf — you’ll arrive naturally at the bridge.
🗺 Open in Google Maps
1:25 — 1:40 PM
Pont Neuf
π Free
The oldest bridge in Paris (1607). Viewing platform mid-span — look upstream at the Γle de la CitΓ©, Notre-Dame, and the Louvre simultaneously. A 15-min pause.
1:40 → 1:50 PM · ~10 min
Walk — Pont Neuf to Bourse de Commerce
750m north across the bridge and up Rue du Pont Neuf to 2 Rue de Viarmes (next to the Forum des Halles).
🗺 Open in Google Maps
1:50 — 3:20 PM
Bourse de Commerce — Pinault Collection
β¬15 / ~$17 — per person
Open Mon 11 AM–7 PM (~β¬15/adult). Tadao Ando’s concrete cylinder inside a Napoleonic rotunda. Free guided introductions every 15 min with the pink-bag guides. Budget 1.5 hrs.
Afternoon — return home
3:20 → 3:40 PM · ~20 min
Metro — Les Halles (Line 4) to Notre-Dame-de-Lorette (Line 12)
Line 4 north from Les Halles–ChΓ’telet to RΓ©aumur–SΓ©bastopol (2 stops), change to Line 12 north to Notre-Dame-de-Lorette (2 stops). 5-min walk home.
🗺 Open in Google Maps
3:40 — 7:00 PM
Back to the apartment
Rest, change, and get ready for dinner. La RenommΓ©e is dinner only (from 5:30 PM) — you have a comfortable 3 hours at home before heading back out.
Rest + get ready for dinner
Evening
7:00 → 7:20 PM · ~20 min
Metro — Notre-Dame-de-Lorette (Line 12) to Palais Royal–Musée du Louvre
Line 12 south to Madeleine, change to Line 1 east to Palais Royal–MusΓ©e du Louvre. 3-min walk south to 95 Rue Saint-HonorΓ©.
🗺 Open in Google Maps
7:30 PM
Dinner at La Renommée
β¬80–100 / ~$93–116 — per person π Reserve at larenommeeparis.com
95 Rue Saint-HonorΓ©, 1st arr. Open nightly 5:30–10:30 PM. Reserve in advance — fills every night. Start with bone marrow, then steak au poivre or sole with brown butter. Dim-lit, romantic, serious food.
Reserve at larenommeeparis.com
End of evening · ~20 min
Cab home — Rue Saint-Honoré to Rue La Bruyère
Cab or Uber ~β¬12–15, ~15 min. Metro also possible: Line 1 west to Madeleine, Line 12 north home.
🗺 Open in Google Maps
Day 9 · Tuesday, 28 April
Grand Paris
Arc de Triomphe, the Champs, an elevated park in wisteria bloom, and a quiet evening near home
Emma + Camille
Arc de Triomphe opens at 11 AM on Tuesdays (not 10 AM). Schedule adjusted accordingly.
Morning — late start
Until 10:30 AM
Slow morning at the apartment
The Arc doesn’t open until 11 AM on Tuesdays. CafΓ© Pigalle is a 5-min walk, or pick up breakfast from Rue des Martyrs and eat at home.
Slow morning
10:30 → 10:55 AM · ~25 min
Metro — Saint-Georges (Line 12) to Charles de Gaulle–Étoile (Line 2)
Line 12 south to Saint-Lazare (6 stops), change to Line 2 west to Charles de Gaulle–Γtoile (3 stops). Exit directly at the Arc. Total ~22 min.
🗺 Open in Google Maps
11:00 — 11:50 AM
Arc de Triomphe
β¬13 / ~$15 — per person π Book at paris-arc-de-triomphe.fr
Book at paris-arc-de-triomphe.fr (β¬13/adult). 284-step spiral staircase (no lift for general visitors). 360Β° panorama of all 12 radiating avenues. Budget 45 min.
Book at paris-arc-de-triomphe.fr
11:50 AM → 1:30 PM · ~90 min stroll
Walk — Arc de Triomphe east along Champs-Élysées to Concorde
The full 1.9km stroll east along the Champs-ΓlysΓ©es to Place de la Concorde. This IS the activity — take your time, duck into the flanking gardens, stop for lunch at a terrace cafΓ© along the way.
🗺 Open in Google Maps
Afternoon
1:30 → 1:50 PM · ~20 min
Metro — Concorde (Line 1) to Bastille (Line 1)
Line 1 east from Concorde direct to Bastille — 8 stops, ~15 min. Exit on Avenue Daumesnil side for the CoulΓ©e Verte entrance.
🗺 Open in Google Maps
2:00 — 3:30 PM
La Coulée Verte René-Dumont
π Free
Entrance on Avenue Daumesnil. Open Tue 8 AM–5:45 PM — aim to arrive by 2 PM. 1.5 km above street level lined with wisteria (peak bloom in late April), roses, and lavender. The arches below house design ateliers. Budget 1.5 hrs.
Evening — quiet night
3:30 → 3:55 PM · ~25 min
Metro — Bastille (Line 9) to Notre-Dame-de-Lorette (Line 12)
Line 9 west from Bastille to Saint-Augustin (8 stops), change to Line 12 north to Notre-Dame-de-Lorette (3 stops). Or take Line 8 west to OpΓ©ra, then Line 12 north — both ~25 min total.
🗺 Open in Google Maps
4:00 PM onwards
Back to the apartment — quiet evening
Opera is tomorrow — a quiet evening at home or a glass of wine at Place Saint-Georges. Rest up.
Quiet evening — opera tomorrow
Day 10 · Wednesday, 29 April
Opera & Grands Boulevards
Coffee in Pigalle, the market street you’ll want to live on, Garnier, a free rooftop, vintage passages, and Philip Glass
Emma + Camille
Buy Satyagraha opera tickets now at operadeparis.fr — April 29 performance at 7:30 PM. Smart dress for the evening.
Morning — from the apartment
9:00 → 9:05 AM · ~5 min
Walk — Rue La Bruyère to Café Pigalle
350m — walk north on Rue La BruyΓ¨re to Rue Frochot, turn right. CafΓ© Pigalle is at No. 7.
🗺 Open in Google Maps
9:05 — 9:35 AM
Café Pigalle
β¬5–8 / ~$6–9 — coffee + pastry
Open from 8:30 AM weekdays. Excellent latte, best cinnamon roll in the neighbourhood. Rue Frochot is one of the prettiest private lanes in Paris.
9:35 → 9:40 AM · ~5 min
Walk — Café Pigalle to Rue des Martyrs
400m — walk south on Rue Frochot to Rue Notre-Dame-de-Lorette, then east to Rue des Martyrs.
🗺 Open in Google Maps
9:40 — 10:25 AM
Rue des Martyrs
π Free
One of the most beloved local market streets in Paris — fromageries, fishmongers, flower stalls, wine caves, patisseries. The street is fully alive by 9:30 AM. Wander down and back up. Budget 45–60 min.
10:25 → 10:40 AM · ~15 min
Walk — Rue des Martyrs south to Palais Garnier
1.1km south on Rue des Martyrs then Rue du Faubourg-Montmartre to Place de l’OpΓ©ra.
🗺 Open in Google Maps
10:40 AM — 12:00 PM
Palais Garnier — Tourist Visit (optional)
β¬15 / ~$17 — tourist visit / person
Open daily 10 AM–3:30 PM (~β¬15/adult). You’re returning tonight — decide whether to preview now or save the discovery for the evening. Download the free audio guide app before going.
Midday
12:00 → 12:05 PM · ~5 min
Walk — Palais Garnier to Galeries Lafayette Rooftop
350m east along Boulevard Haussmann to the main entrance of Galeries Lafayette at No. 40. Take the escalator to 6th floor, then stairs to the roof.
🗺 Open in Google Maps
12:05 — 12:35 PM
Galeries Lafayette Rooftop
π Free
Completely free. The OpΓ©ra Garnier sits directly in front of you. One of the great free views in Paris. Budget 30 min.
12:35 → 12:50 PM · ~15 min
Walk — Galeries Lafayette to Passage des Panoramas
1km east along Boulevard Montmartre to No. 11, the entrance to Passage des Panoramas.
🗺 Open in Google Maps
12:50 — 2:20 PM
Passage des Panoramas + lunch
β¬12–20 / ~$14–23 — lunch
Paris’s oldest covered passage (1799), connected to Passages VΓ©dreau and Jouffroy. Lunch at one of the casual restaurants inside. Browse stamp dealers, vintage prints, antiquarian booksellers. Budget 1.5 hrs.
Afternoon — return home
2:20 → 2:40 PM · ~20 min
Metro — Grands Boulevards (Line 8 or 9) to Notre-Dame-de-Lorette (Line 12)
2-min walk west to Grands Boulevards station. Line 9 west to Saint-Augustin, change to Line 12 north — or Line 8 west to Madeleine, change to Line 12 north. Both ~18 min. 5-min walk home.
🗺 Open in Google Maps
2:40 — 6:30 PM
Back to the apartment
Come home, rest, and take your time getting dressed. This is the best outfit of the trip. Doors open at 6:45 PM; allow 20 min to get to the Palais Garnier from Rue La Bruyère.
Rest + get dressed for the opera
Evening
6:30 → 6:45 PM · ~15 min
Walk — Rue La Bruyère to Palais Garnier
1.1km south — walk down Rue Notre-Dame-de-Lorette, south on Rue du Faubourg-Montmartre to Place de l’OpΓ©ra. A pleasant evening walk that builds anticipation.
🗺 Open in Google Maps
6:45 PM — arrive
Palais Garnier — Pre-Opera
Doors open 45 min before curtain. Explore the Grand Foyer, champagne bar, and the balcony overlooking Place de l’OpΓ©ra before taking your seat.
7:30 PM
Satyagraha — Philip Glass
β¬30–120 / ~$35–139 — per ticket β varies by seat π Book at operadeparis.fr
Sung in Sanskrit; no prior knowledge required. Running time ~2.5 hrs with one interval. One of the most remarkable things you could see in Paris this spring.
Book at operadeparis.fr — Apr 29, 7:30 PM
~10:30 PM · ~15 min
Walk home — Palais Garnier to Rue La Bruyère
1.1km north — the same pleasant walk in reverse, now at night with the OpΓ©ra lit up behind you. Too nice an evening for the metro.
🗺 Open in Google Maps
Day 11 · Thursday, 30 April
Right Bank Art & Arcades
Louvre, Tuileries, the Water Lilies, the world’s best soufflé, hidden gardens, and the most opulent bar in Paris
Emma + Camille
Book before you go: Louvre 9:00 AM slot (β¬22/adult) at louvre.fr; l’Orangerie timed entry (~β¬12.50/adult) at musee-orangerie.fr; Le SoufflΓ© reservation at lesouffle.fr.
Morning
8:30 → 8:45 AM · ~15 min
Metro — Notre-Dame-de-Lorette (Line 12) to Palais Royal–Musée du Louvre (Line 1)
Line 12 south to Madeleine, change to Line 1 east to Palais Royal–MusΓ©e du Louvre. Exit toward Rue de Rivoli for the Carrousel du Louvre entrance. Total ~15 min.
🗺 Open in Google Maps
9:30 — 11:30 AM
Musée de l’Orangerie
β¬22 / ~$26 — per person π Book at louvre.fr
Opens 9 AM (open Thursdays β). Use the Carrousel du Louvre entrance on Rue de Rivoli. Head directly to the Denon Wing: Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, Venus de Milo. Any exit is final — plan your route before arriving. Budget 2 solid hours.
Book at louvre.fr — 9:00 AM slot
12:20 → 12:23 PM · ~3 min
Walk — l’Orangerie to Le Soufflé
200m — exit l’Orangerie, cross Rue de Rivoli to Rue Saint-Florentin and Rue du Mont-Thabor. Le SoufflΓ© is at 36 Rue du Mont-Thabor.
🗺 Open in Google Maps
12:25 — 2:00 PM
Le Soufflé
β¬50–75 / ~$58–87 — per person, Menu Tout SoufflΓ© π Reserve at lesouffle.fr
Lunch noon–4:15 PM. The Menu Tout SoufflΓ© (3 courses, all soufflΓ©) is the move. Order your dessert soufflΓ© at the same time as your main — it takes 20 min to bake. The Grand Marnier soufflΓ© arrives with a bottle poured tableside.
Reserve at lesouffle.fr
Afternoon
2:30 → 2:40 PM · ~10 min
Walk — Le Soufflé to Jardin du Palais Royal
750m northeast along Rue Saint-HonorΓ© then north on Rue du Louvre to the garden entrance.
🗺 Open in Google Maps
2:40 — 3:20 PM
Jardin du Palais Royal
The secret garden of the 1st — tourists are all at the Tuileries. Magnolias often at peak bloom. Don’t miss the Colonnes de Buren. Budget 35 min.
3:20 → 3:23 PM · ~3 min
Walk — Palais Royal to Galerie Vivienne
250m northeast along Rue des Petits Champs to the Galerie Vivienne entrance.
🗺 Open in Google Maps
3:25 — 4:10 PM
Galerie Vivienne
π Free
Dating to 1823 — vaulted glass roof, ornate mosaic floors, antique shops, booksellers, cafΓ©s. Browse slowly. Open daily until 8 PM.
4:10 → 4:20 PM · ~10 min
Walk — Galerie Vivienne to Passage des Panoramas
750m north along Rue Vivienne to the Boulevard Montmartre entrance of Passage des Panoramas at No. 11.
🗺 Open in Google Maps
4:20 — 5:00 PM
Passage des Panoramas
π Free
Philately, vintage prints, quirky cafΓ©s, antiquarian booksellers across all three connected passages. Allow 30–40 min.
Afternoon — return home
5:00 → 5:20 PM · ~20 min
Metro — Grands Boulevards (Line 9) to Notre-Dame-de-Lorette (Line 12)
Line 9 west to Saint-Augustin (3 stops), change to Line 12 north to Notre-Dame-de-Lorette (3 stops). Total ~18 min. 5-min walk home.
🗺 Open in Google Maps
5:20 — 6:10 PM
Back to the apartment
Rest, freshen up, and change for Bar 228. Smart casual required. You have just under an hour before you need to leave again.
Rest + get ready for Bar 228
Evening
6:10 → 6:25 PM · ~15 min
Metro — Notre-Dame-de-Lorette (Line 12) to Tuileries (Line 1)
Line 12 south to Madeleine, change to Line 1 west one stop to Tuileries. Le Meurice is at 228 Rue de Rivoli — a 5-min walk east along the arcade.
🗺 Open in Google Maps
6:30 PM
Bar 228 @ Le Meurice
β¬22–30 / ~$26–35 — per cocktail
Open daily noon–1 AM; live jazz from 7 PM. Arrive at 6:30 for armchairs before the evening crowd. Smart casual. Cocktails β¬22–30. The Very Dry Martini and espresso martini are both praised. Complimentary olives and bread sticks.
Late · ~20 min
Cab home — Le Meurice to Rue La Bruyère
Cab or Uber ~β¬12–15, ~15 min. A fitting end to the last full day.
🗺 Open in Google Maps
Friday, 18 April — Departure Day
SFO → Paris Charles de Gaulle
ParkSFO, the Amex Centurion Lounge, and overnight to Paris
Emma + Camille
Flight
AF0081
Departs
20:10
SFO — International Terminal
→
Arrives
16:00
CDG — Terminal 2E (+1 day)
Cabin
Economy G
Baggage
1 × 23 kg
Latest Check-in
19:10
Booking Ref: Z8KBW7 · Ticket: 057 235 175 893 9
Leave home by 3:00 PM. April 18 is a Friday — Bay Area traffic to SFO can be heavy in the afternoon. Build in buffer.
Both of you have TSA PreCheck + CLEAR and Amex Platinum. You each enter the Centurion Lounge independently — no guest fee. The lounge is in Terminal 2 (temporary location through 2027), which connects airside to the International Terminal — no need to exit security after the lounge.
Afternoon — departure
~3:00 PM
Leave home — drive to ParkSFO
Allow 45–60 min from most Bay Area locations on a Friday afternoon. ParkSFO is at 195 N Access Rd, South San Francisco, CA 94080. Valet recommended — saves 10–15 min vs self-park.
🗺 Directions to ParkSFO
~4:00 PM
ParkSFO — park and take shuttle
Park and head to the shuttle pickup immediately. Shuttles run every 5–7 minutes, 24/7. Ride to the International Terminal, Departure Level, Door 6 — about 10 min. Call 650-871-5571 if you need pickup assistance.
Book parking in advance at parksfo.com
~4:15 PM · ~10 min
ParkSFO Shuttle — to SFO International Terminal
Shuttle drops at Departure Level, International Terminal, Door 6. From there walk to the Air France check-in counters in the International Terminal departures hall.
🗺 Open in Google Maps
~4:25 PM
Air France check-in — International Terminal
Check-in opens 3 hours before departure (~17:10). Arriving at 4:25 PM is early — if counters aren’t open yet, wait briefly or use the self-service kiosks. Check your bags (1 × 23 kg each). Have your booking ref Z8KBW7, passport, and boarding passes ready.
~4:40 PM
Security — TSA PreCheck + CLEAR
CLEAR biometric lane + TSA PreCheck means no removing shoes, laptops, or liquids, and the CLEAR lane bypasses the standard ID queue entirely. Budget 5–8 minutes. You’ll clear International Terminal security and then walk the airside connector to Terminal 2.
TSA PreCheck + CLEAR — both passengers β
~4:50 PM · ~10 min
Walk or AirTrain — International Terminal to Terminal 2 airside
The International Terminal (Concourse G) connects airside to Terminal 2 via a walkway. The Centurion Lounge is in Terminal 2, Concourse D, near Gate D12 — just past the security checkpoint. Allow 10 min walking, or take the free AirTrain (every 4 min) one stop to Terminal 2.
🗺 Open in Google Maps
5:00 PM — 7:00 PM · 2 hours
Amex Centurion Lounge — Terminal 2, Concourse D
π Free π Free
Temporary location near Gate D12, open daily 5 AM–11 PM. Present your Amex Platinum card, boarding pass, and ID. You each enter independently on your own card — no guest fee. Note that the temporary space has more limited offerings than the permanent Terminal 3 lounge (closed through 2027). Still has a premium bar, food, shower suite, Wi-Fi, and flight monitors.
Amex Platinum β — enter within 3 hrs of departure
At the bar π·
Order a Kir Royale
Ask the bartender for a Kir Royale — crème de cassis topped with Champagne or sparkling wine. A classic Burgundian apéritif that sets the mood for Paris perfectly. If they have Champagne on the wine wall, a straight glass works beautifully too. The cocktail programme is curated by James Beard winner Jim Meehan, but the Kir Royale is the most French thing you can order before a flight to CDG. Toast to the trip.
~7:00 PM · ~15 min
Walk or AirTrain — Terminal 2 back to International Terminal gate
Reverse the earlier route. The airside connector or AirTrain takes you from Terminal 2 back to the International Terminal Concourse G where Air France gates are. Budget 15 min to be comfortable. Look for your specific gate on the flight monitors in the lounge before leaving.
🗺 Open in Google Maps
Departure
~7:15 PM
At the gate — International Terminal
Latest check-in is 19:10. Being at the gate by 7:15 PM gives you a comfortable buffer. Air France boarding typically begins 45 min before departure. Economy boarding order: Zone 1 (families/special needs), Zone 2, Zone 3 onward. You’re in Economy G — board when your zone is called.
20:10
β AF0081 departs SFO
Flight time ~10.5 hours. Arrives Paris CDG Terminal 2E at 16:00 on Saturday April 19 (Day +1). Economy class — Air France long-haul includes a meal service, amenity kit, and personal entertainment screen. Try to sleep — you land mid-afternoon Paris time and you’ll want to stay awake until evening to reset your body clock.
Saturday, 19 April — Arrival Day
Paris Charles de Gaulle → 10 Rue La Bruyère
Land, clear immigration, get to the apartment, rest
Emma + Camille
Flight
AF0081
Departed
20:10
SFO — Apr 18
→
Arrives
16:00
CDG Terminal 2E
April 19 is a free day — no activities planned. The only goal is to get to the apartment, freshen up, eat something nearby, and sleep at a reasonable Paris hour. Don’t fight the jet lag; try to stay up until at least 9 PM local time.
Arrival
16:00
β AF0081 lands at CDG Terminal 2E
Terminal 2E is Air France’s home terminal. Follow signs for “ArrivΓ©es / Arrivals” then “Contrôle des passeports / Passport Control.”
16:00 — ~16:50
Immigration — CDG Terminal 2E
You’ll use the non-EU line (Citizens / Ressortissants des pays tiers). On a Saturday afternoon arriving from the US, budget 30–50 minutes. Have your passport ready — US citizens don’t need a visa for stays under 90 days. The officer may ask for your accommodation address: 10 Rue La BruyΓ¨re, Paris 75009.
~16:50
Baggage claim — Terminal 2E
Follow signs to “Livraison des bagages / Baggage claim.” Your bags (1 × 23 kg each) should arrive within 20–30 min of landing. If bags are delayed or lost, file a claim with Air France before exiting the secure zone.
~17:10
Exit customs — into CDG arrivals hall
Nothing to declare for personal luggage — walk through the green channel. You’re now in the public arrivals hall of Terminal 2E. Choose your route into Paris.
Getting to the apartment
~17:15 → ~18:15 · Option A — RER B (~60 min, ~β¬12.50/person)
RER B — CDG Terminal 2 to Gare du Nord, then metro to the 9th
Follow signs to “RER B / Paris.” Buy a ticket from the machines (Navigo or single ticket). RER B south ~35 min to Gare du Nord. Change to metro Line 4 south one stop to Barbes-Rochechouart, then Line 12 south to Notre-Dame-de-Lorette. Total ~60 min. Cheapest option but involves bag handling on stairs at some stations.
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~17:15 → ~18:15 · Option B — Taxi / Uber (~50 min, ~β¬55–65)
Taxi or Uber — CDG to 10 Rue La Bruyère
Official taxi rank is outside the arrivals hall, clearly signed. Fixed fares from CDG to Paris right bank: ~β¬56. Uber is available but often similar price after surge. With two bags each, the cab is significantly more comfortable after a 10-hour flight. Strongly recommended.
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~18:15 — ~18:30
Arrive at 10 Rue La Bruyère
Drop bags, shower, change. You’ve been travelling for roughly 22 hours. Take 45 minutes to decompress before thinking about food.
Home base — you’re here
First evening in Paris
~8:00 PM
Dinner — neighbourhood only
Don’t go far. Rue des Martyrs is a 5-minute walk and has several good casual options open on Saturday evenings. Alternatively, Les Canailles at 25 Rue La BruyΓ¨re is literally on your street. Order something simple — a steak frites, a salade niΓ§oise, a glass of Burgundy. Stay up until at least 9–10 PM Paris time to start resetting your body clock. Day 1 begins tomorrow.
Day 13 · Friday, 1 May — Fête du Travail
Last Day in Paris — La Fête du Muguet
May Day. Most museums closed. The city belongs to the Parisians — Eiffel Tower, lilies of the valley, the Seine, and a long farewell lunch
Emma + Camille
May 1 is France’s biggest national holiday. Almost all museums and most shops are closed. Do not plan museum visits today. What IS open: Eiffel Tower (book in advance — queues are enormous), all parks and gardens, Notre-Dame, Seine cruises, most restaurants (reserve ahead), and every street corner has someone selling muguet. Lean into it — this is one of the most atmospheric days to be in Paris.
π May 1st tradition: by law, anyone can sell lily of the valley (muguet) on the street without a licence today. The city fills with impromptu flower sellers. Buy a bunch — it’s good luck and costs β¬2–5. It’s one of those things that makes Paris, Paris.
Morning — Muguet + Eiffel Tower
Until 9:30 AM
Slow last morning at the apartment
Last breakfast at the apartment. Coffee on the balcony or from the boulangerie on Rue des Martyrs (check if open — one bakery per neighbourhood is always designated to open). Start mentally packing — departure is early tomorrow.
9:30 → 9:55 AM · ~25 min
Metro — Liège (Line 13) south to Varenne
Line 13 runs on Sunday/holiday schedule today — allow extra wait time. Take south to Varenne, then 10-min walk to Champ de Mars and the Eiffel Tower base. β¬2.15 / ~$2.50 pp
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~10:00 AM
π Buy muguet on the street
Street vendors with buckets of lily of the valley will be set up all around the Champ de Mars and near the Eiffel Tower. β¬2–5 for a bunch. This is one of the most genuinely Parisian things you can do today — the whole city participates.
β¬2–5 / ~$2–6 — muguet bouquet
10:30 AM — 12:00 PM
πΌ Eiffel Tower — Summit
The Eiffel Tower stays open on May 1st and is one of the very few major attractions that does. But queues are enormous — pre-book a timed summit ticket online. Even with a booking, arrive early. The summit on a clear late-April morning is spectacular. Take the lift up but consider walking the first two floors down for the view and the exercise. Book the summit, not just the first floor.
β¬29.40 / ~$34 pp — summit by lift π Book at toureiffel.paris
Book in advance — May 1 queues are enormous
12:00 → 12:15 PM · ~15 min
Walk — Eiffel Tower along the Seine toward Saint-Germain
Walk east along the Seine quais — one of the most beautiful stretches in Paris, and today the banks will be quiet and peaceful. Pass Pont d’IΓ©na and stroll toward the 7th arrondissement.
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Afternoon — Seine + Farewell Lunch
12:30 — 2:30 PM
Farewell lunch — Saint-Germain or Rue Cler neighbourhood
Rue Cler (7th arr.) is a pedestrian market street that comes alive on holidays — the restaurants here are very likely to be open on May 1st and it’s exactly the kind of classic neighbourhood bistro scene that’s perfect for a last Parisian lunch. Alternatively, the Saint-Germain-des-Prés area around Brasserie Lipp or CafΓ© de Flore will have something open. Reserve the night before.
β¬30–50 / ~$35–58 pp
2:30 → 3:00 PM · ~30 min
Walk or Metro — Saint-Germain along the Seine
Walk or take the metro back north toward the 9th. If walking, cross Pont Royal or Pont de la Concorde and stroll through the Tuileries — gardens are open today. A perfect last look at Paris before the early morning tomorrow.
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Evening — Early night (departure at 7 AM tomorrow)
3:00 — 6:00 PM
Back to the apartment — pack and rest
Use the afternoon to pack properly. Lay everything out, weigh your bags if possible (your allowance is 1 × 23kg each). Charge all devices. Set two alarms for tomorrow morning — you need to leave by 7:00 AM for a 10:20 AM departure. Book your cab for 7:00 AM tonight.
7:00 PM
Final dinner — neighbourhood, easy, early
Keep it local and short tonight. Les Canailles at 25 Rue La Bruyère is literally on your street. Or walk five minutes to Rue des Martyrs. Nothing fancy — you want to be in bed by 10 PM. Order a last glass of Bordeaux and call it 14 perfect days.
β¬25–45 / ~$29–52 pp
By 10:00 PM
Early night — alarm set for 5:30 AM
Departure tomorrow is 10:20 AM. Leave apartment by 7:00 AM. Latest check-in at CDG is 09:20. Set two alarms. Book the cab tonight. You’ve done 14 days of Paris — sleep well.
Friday, 2 May — Return Day
Paris Charles de Gaulle → SFO
A last Paris morning, the Priority Pass lounge at CDG, and home
Emma + Camille
Flight
AF0084
Departs
10:20
CDG — Terminal 2E
→
Arrives
12:50
SFO
Cabin
Economy G
Latest Check-in
09:20
Booking Ref: Z8KBW7 · Ticket: 057 235 175 893 9
Latest check-in is 09:20. Leave the apartment no later than 7:00 AM to be safe. CDG is 35–45 min by RER B or ~50 min by cab.
Morning — last Paris moments
5:30 — 6:45 AM
Final morning at the apartment
Set an alarm for 5:30 AM. Finish packing, leave the apartment tidy, and have a last coffee at home. There’s a boulangerie on Rue des Martyrs that opens early — grab a final croissant for the road if you have time. Check out of the apartment per your host’s instructions.
Last morning — Rue La Bruyère
Getting to CDG
7:00 → 7:45 AM · Option A — RER B (~45 min, ~β¬12.50/person)
RER B — Gare du Nord to CDG Terminal 2
Walk or metro to Gare du Nord (Line 12 north to Pigalle, Line 2 east to Barbes, then Line 4 north — or cab to Gare du Nord). Take RER B north to CDG Terminal 2 — ~35 min, departs every 10–15 min. Arrive CDG by ~7:45 AM.
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7:00 → 7:50 AM · Option B — Taxi / Uber (~50 min, ~β¬56)
Cab — Rue La Bruyère to CDG Terminal 2E
Fixed cab fare from central Paris to CDG right bank ~β¬56. Book an Uber the night before for a 7:00 AM pickup to avoid morning surge pricing. With bags, the cab is much easier than the metro at this hour.
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At CDG Terminal 2E
~7:50 AM
Air France check-in & bag drop — Terminal 2E
Check in online the night before to save time. Use the bag drop desks. Latest check-in is 09:20 — you have comfortable margin. Have your booking ref Z8KBW7, passport, and boarding passes ready.
~8:10 AM
Security — CDG Terminal 2E
CDG security can be slow, especially on Friday mornings. Budget 20–30 minutes. Remove liquids and laptops as required (European security rules apply, not TSA PreCheck). Once through security you’re in the Terminal 2E airside departures hall.
~8:40 — 9:10 AM · ~30 min
Salon les Cariatides — CDG Terminal 2E (Priority Pass)
π Free
Your Priority Pass covers the Salon les Cariatides in Terminal 2E — a well-reviewed lounge with hot food, cheese, charcuterie, wine, and comfortable seating. Show your Priority Pass card and boarding pass at the entrance. Not as grand as the Centurion, but a genuinely good lounge. Have a last glass of French wine and a proper breakfast before boarding. Note: no Amex Centurion Lounge at CDG, but Priority Pass gives you solid access here.
Priority Pass β — Salon les Cariatides, Terminal 2E
~9:10 AM
Walk to gate — Terminal 2E
Check the departure board for your specific gate number. Terminal 2E has long concourses — allow 10 minutes to walk to the far gates. Board when your zone is called.
10:20
β AF0084 departs CDG
Flight time ~11 hours. Arrives SFO at 12:50 PM on the same day (Friday, May 2) — you lose the hours you gained on the way over. Your ParkSFO shuttle pickup is at the Departure Level, International Terminal, Door 6. Call 650-871-5571 for the return shuttle when you have your bags.
Return to ParkSFO
~2:00 PM (after clearing US customs)
ParkSFO Shuttle — back to your car
After collecting bags and clearing US customs/CBP, head to the Departure Level of the International Terminal, Door 6. Look for the “Off Airport Parking Shuttles” sign. Shuttles run every 5–7 min. Call ahead if you want to minimise wait: 650-871-5571.
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