Paris, France
Day-by-day itinerary below. Hotel is at the NW corner of Jardin des Plantes (e.g. near Rue Cuvier / Quai Saint-Bernard). Metro lines 7, 10, and RER C are your main arteries. All times are suggestions — adjust for energy and weather.
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🗓 MONDAY 8/18 — Arrival Evening
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Arrive & settle into hotel. Short evening stroll through Jardin des Plantes to get oriented — the garden closes at dusk but the exterior paths along Rue Cuvier are lovely. Ride the CAROUSEL at Jardin des Plantes before it closes (usually runs until ~7–8pm in summer). Dinner in the 5th arrondissement — try a brasserie on Rue Monge or near Place de la Contrescarpe. Early night.
Metro tip: Line 7 (Jussieu or Censier-Daubenton stops) puts you right at the hotel.
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🗓 TUESDAY 8/19 — Left Bank: Latin Quarter + Luxembourg + Orsay Evening
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MORNING:
• Walk to SAINT-ÉTIENNE-DU-MONT (stunning Flamboyant Gothic church, steps from the Panthéon) — opens 8:45am. Spend 30–45 min.
• Stroll through the narrow streets of the Latin Quarter toward MUSÉE DE CLUNY (medieval art museum, incredible tapestries — 'La Dame à la Licorne'). Plan ~1.5 hrs. Metro: Cluny-La Sorbonne (line 10).
MIDDAY:
• Walk or metro to LUXEMBOURG GARDENS — beautiful formal French garden, great for a picnic lunch. Grab supplies from a nearby bakery on Rue Soufflot. ~1 hr leisurely.
AFTERNOON:
• Metro line 4 or walk along Boulevard Saint-Michel toward the Seine. Walk along THE SEINE on the Left Bank quais — cross Pont de la Tournelle for a view of Notre-Dame.
• NOTRE-DAME from outside: the restoration is ongoing but the exterior and the parvis (if accessible) are worth seeing. Île de la Cité stroll.
• CONCIERGERIE — on Île de la Cité, excellent medieval palace and Revolutionary-era prison. ~1–1.5 hrs. Metro: Cité (line 4).
EVENING:
• Head to MUSÉE D'ORSAY for its Thursday late opening (open until 9:45pm — last entry 9pm). Impressionist masterpieces by Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh. ~2–2.5 hrs. Metro: Solférino (line 12) or RER C Musée d'Orsay.
• Late dinner nearby in Saint-Germain-des-Prés — try Rue du Bac or Boulevard Saint-Germain.
Metro tip: Return home via line 10 from Odéon to Jussieu.
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🗓 WEDNESDAY 8/20 — Canal Saint-Martin + La Villette + Passages
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MORNING:
• Metro line 7 north to Château d'Eau or Jacques Bonsergent. Walk CANAL SAINT-MARTIN — iron footbridges, tree-lined quais, cool cafés and boutiques. Classic Paris neighborhood vibe. ~1.5 hrs walking north along the canal. Stop for coffee at one of the canalside cafés.
MIDDAY:
• Continue north along the canal to LA VILLETTE (Parc de la Villette). Metro: Porte de Pantin (line 5) if tired of walking. Lunch at one of the park's cafés or bring a picnic.
• Explore LA VILLETTE: the Géode sphere, the Philharmonie de Paris (exterior), the themed gardens, the Canal de l'Ourcq waterway. Check the Philharmonie or Cité de la Musique website for any concerts or events on 8/20 — summer programming is often excellent. ~2–3 hrs.
AFTERNOON:
• Metro line 5 south back toward central Paris. Stop at PASSAGES COUVERTS if energy allows — try Passage Jouffroy or Passage des Panoramas (Metro: Grands Boulevards, line 8/9). Wonderful 19th-century covered arcades with antiques, stamps, quirky shops.
EVENING:
• PALAIS GARNIER — the grand Opéra Garnier. Check for a performance on 8/20 (opera, ballet — book ahead at operadeparis.fr). If no show, the building itself is open for daytime visits, but the exterior and grand staircase area are stunning even in the evening. Metro: Opéra (lines 3, 7, 8).
• Dinner near Opéra or in the 9th arrondissement — lively restaurant scene.
Metro tip: Return via line 7 from Opéra area (change at Châtelet) to Jussieu.
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🗓 THURSDAY 8/21 — Louvre Tour + Right Bank + Eiffel Tower
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MORNING:
• Metro to Palais Royal–Musée du Louvre (lines 1/7). Arrive by 10:30am for your LOUVRE TOUR AT 11AM. Allow 2.5–3 hrs with tour. Highlights: Winged Victory, Venus de Milo, Mona Lisa.
• After the Louvre, step into JARDIN DU PALAIS ROYAL — beautiful arcaded garden just north of the Louvre, peaceful and lovely. Browse the shops under the arcades (Galerie Véro-Dodat nearby too).
MIDDAY:
• TUILERIES GARDEN — walk straight through from the Louvre toward Place de la Concorde. Great views, sculptures, carousel in the garden. ~45 min stroll.
• Lunch: grab a bite at a café near the Tuileries or head toward Rue de Rivoli.
AFTERNOON:
• GALERIES LAFAYETTE — Metro: Chaussée d'Antin–La Fayette (lines 7/9). The building itself is worth it for the stunning Art Nouveau stained-glass dome. Browse the rooftop terrace for views of Paris. ~1–1.5 hrs.
• Metro or walk down toward the Seine. Consider a walk through LES HALLES / Forum des Halles if you want some shopping (Metro: Les Halles / Châtelet, line 4). Or walk through Le Marais: Rue de Bretagne, Place des Vosges area — great boutique shopping, the MARAIS neighborhood is beautiful (Metro: Saint-Paul, line 1).
EVENING:
• Head to the EIFFEL TOWER for dusk — arrive ~8pm to see it in golden light and then the sparkle light show at nightfall (every hour on the hour after dark). Stay on the Champ de Mars lawn or Trocadéro side — no ticket needed. Metro: Bir-Hakeim (line 6) or Trocadéro (line 9).
• Dinner in the 7th or back in your neighborhood.
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🗓 FRIDAY 8/22 — Marais + Carnavalet + Île Saint-Louis + Bercy/Coulee Verte
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MORNING:
• Metro line 7 to Pont Marie or line 1 to Saint-Paul. MUSÉE CARNAVALET — the history of Paris museum, FREE entry, beautifully renovated mansion in the Marais. ~1.5–2 hrs. Opens 10am.
• Explore LE MARAIS: Rue des Francs-Bourgeois for boutiques, Place des Vosges for a rest, Jewish quarter on Rue des Rosiers for a falafel lunch at L'As du Fallafel.
MIDDAY:
• Stroll across to ÎLE SAINT-LOUIS — charming island, Berthillon ice cream is legendary. Walk the perimeter quais.
AFTERNOON (choose one or both depending on energy):
• Option A — COULÉE VERTE (Promenade Plantée): Metro line 8 to Bastille or Ledru-Rollin. This elevated greenway (inspiration for NYC's High Line) runs east from the Bastille through the 12th. ~2 km pleasant walk through gardens above old railway arches. The arches below (Viaduc des Arts) have artisan workshops/galleries.
• Option B — PARC DE BERCY: Metro line 14 or 6 to Bercy. Lovely park with vineyards, old wine warehouses converted into shops/restaurants (Bercy Village). Relaxed afternoon vibe.
• Or combine: walk the Coulée Verte eastward and it leads you toward Bercy.
EVENING:
• PLAYGROUND (ages 7–11): if traveling with kids, check out one of Paris's excellent playgrounds — Jardin des Plantes itself has one, or Parc de Bercy has a good one.
• Dinner in Bastille / Oberkampf area — lively nightlife neighborhood, great restaurant options on Rue de la Roquette or Rue Oberkampf.
• Check for live music: La Maroquinerie, La Cigale, or Le Trabendo (near La Villette) often have shows in August.
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🗓 SATURDAY 8/23 — Musée des Arts Forains + Wrap-Up
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MORNING (leisurely, hotel is nearby):
• Sleep in or take a final morning walk through JARDIN DES PLANTES — visit the small zoo (Ménagerie), the greenhouses, or the natural history museum galleries if not yet seen.
• Grab a coffee and pastry at a café on Rue Monge or Boulevard Saint-Germain.
• Optional: if you haven't visited SHAKESPEARE AND COMPANY bookshop (iconic English bookshop on the Left Bank, near Notre-Dame), now is a good time — opens 10am.
MIDDAY:
• Head to MUSÉE DES ARTS FORAINS for your 1:30PM TOUR. Address: 53 Avenue des Terroirs de France, 75012 Paris. Metro: Cour Saint-Émilion (line 14) — 10 min ride from Jussieu, very easy. Arrive by 1:15pm. This magical private museum of fairground art and antique carousels is only open by reservation — a truly unique Paris experience. Tours run ~1.5 hrs.
LATE AFTERNOON:
• After the tour, BERCY VILLAGE is right next door (Cour Saint-Émilion) — old wine warehouses with shops and restaurants, great for a final lunch or early dinner.
• Head back to the hotel to collect luggage if departing, or enjoy a final sunset walk along the Seine.
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🚇 METRO QUICK REFERENCE
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• Home base: Jussieu (line 7 & 10) or Censier-Daubenton (line 7)
• Line 7: runs north-south through your neighborhood, hits Opéra, Châtelet
• Line 10: great for left bank (Cluny, Odéon, Jussieu)
• Line 1: east-west spine (Marais, Louvre, Châtelet, La Défense)
• Line 14: fast and driverless (Bercy, Gare de Lyon, Châtelet)
• RER C: Seine riverside (Orsay, Eiffel Tower)
• Buy a carnet of 10 tickets or use a Navigo Easy card (tap-to-pay).
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🎵 EVENTS TO CHECK (August 2025)
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• Philharmonie de Paris / Cité de la Musique at La Villette: philharmoniedeparis.fr
• Opéra Garnier & Opéra Bastille: operadeparis.fr
• Rock en Seine festival: typically late August at Saint-Cloud — check dates
• Paris Plages: Seine riverside beach installations, usually through August
• Cinéma en Plein Air at La Villette: outdoor cinema in the park, usually nightly in August — villette.com (free/cheap, very fun)