Eiffel Tower: worth it to go to the top with the family? Or is second deck enough? Night time better or day time? And how do you get tickets? We're going to be there the last week of May - first week of June and we keep logging on each day (can only buy 2 months in advance) but they say they're already sold out. It's like I'm trying to buy tickets to a concert or something.

Notre Dame: worth the private tour? Or is it good enough to just visit and observe but not spring for the tour aspect?

Saint Chapelle (same questions as ND)

Arc de Triomphe: kind of the same questions as above. Doesn't seem like it would be some amazing experience to go up in it but maybe I'm missing something.


And we're a family of six, kid ranges are 10-18 (if that moves the needle on any of these ventures)

You do not need a private tour for any of these places. Waste of money.

Agreed, top of the Arc is not a big deal.

If you can get a ticket to Eiffel, walk to the second deck and take the elevator up from there. Lot quicker and skip the massive line at the bottom.

It's been minute since I've been to Paris, but we bought the museum pass and it included entrance into a few of these (not Eiffel). Also don't sleep on the Invalides (War Museum) and Napolean's tomb. It's very interesting and definitely worth a visit.

Eiffel Tower: go to the top and get a glass of champagne at the little bar there. The second floor is cool, but you're there so just go to the top. That said, regular tickets were sold out when I looked too but the tickets that came with a glass of champagne were available so we bought those and my 15 year old got a glass (not his thing so mom finished it). If you can't get tickets ahead of time, there is probably a line to wait in for walk-ups. Not quite sure though.

If you do get tickets, here's some advice I gave my friends after our trip:

Enter on southwest side. It was less crowded.
It's a two tier elevator to the middle so on the way up it doesn't matter which one you get on. But for coming down off the top, the line backs up for the top (highest) tier elevator and no one really goes down a floor to the next level. They just assume the top floor is the only exit? So go down a level to that elevator and we didn't even have to wait.

Agree that you don't need a private tour.

Saint Chapelle is amazing. One my favorites places in Europe to visit. Get tickets for as early in the day as you can. We had 1:00pm and didn't get in til 1:45pm as it had backed up all day.

We did Arc at night. It was a pretty cool walk up Champs and we went up top for more night views. Some history there so we enjoyed it. They were even doing some sort of ceremony at the base while we were there. Do you have to go all the way up? No, but like I said, the night views were nice and the steps weren't that bad.

If you like Monet, visit Marmottan.

Also, CDG is a cluster so get there early when coming home. Especially if you go thru the family line. Better yet, splurge on VIP to get thru immigration. We did VIP on the way in but not out. I regret that.

We just did Paris & London over Spring Break with our kids (all under 6 years old). We didn't go up the Eifel Tower but I'll give my two cents:

- Notre Dame - If you can get there early (before 9am), you don't need reservations and can walk right in (which they were having Mass at 8am). We didn't do the private tour, but was still incredible to walk through.

- Saint Chapelle - can't say the same here. This line was crowded early.

- Fat Tire Bike Tour - did this with our kids and was amazing. It was 3 hours long and is the one thing our kids keep talking about and they tell everyone how they rode bikes right under the Eifel Tower.

- CDG - took the train from middle of Paris, which wasn't bad. Do plan some time though as we felt security and and their form of TSA was long and inefficient. Immigration with the family line wasn't bad.

- Louvre - if you go, go at night. We went at 7pm and were able to walk right up to the rope in front of the Mona Lisa

Awesome! Thanks everyone.

We're staying about a mile and a half north east of Notre Dame. Would that be walkable? Bad idea? This is our first trip there so I have zero perspective on should/shouldn't on stuff like that.

Eiffel:
If you go during a high season, the "tour operators" will buy all of the tickets to the top within seconds of them going on sale. So, you'll either need to pay their inflated prices (you don't really get a tour, think of it more like buying concert tickets from a scalper), or you can just take your chances and stand in line. We took our chances during peak season (June 2023) and we were able to walk up and buy tickets to the top no problem.

And, yes, you should definitely go to the very top. The best time is right before sunset and then stay until after sunset.

We enjoyed walking the stairs down from the top of the Eiffel tower.

Personally, I would skip going up in the Eiffel Tower… walk around it during the day, return for the sparkle show at night. That's all that's needed. If you want a view of Paris from height, go to the top floor terrace at Galleries Lafayette (shopping center) and enjoy and elevated view of the tower and city instead of from within it.

"Eiffel Tower: worth it to go to the top with the family? Or is second deck enough? Night time better or day time? And how do you get tickets? We're going to be there the last week of May - first week of June and we keep logging on each day (can only buy 2 months in advance) but they say they're already sold out. It's like I'm trying to buy tickets to a concert or something."

I have been to Paris at least 10-15 times, and have never been up to the top of Toure Eiffel (Eiffel Tower). I understand the allure, but my impatience won't allow me to wait in line.

Notre Dame: worth the private tour? Or is it good enough to just visit and observe but not spring for the tour aspect?

Same as above. Have never ventured inside Notre Dame. One day I will but I would rather do outside of high season for tourist visting Paris.

Saint Chapelle (same questions as ND).

The same as above.

Arc de Triomphe: kind of the same questions as above. Doesn't seem like it would be some amazing experience to go up in it but maybe I'm missing something.

Same as above. Walk/drive by numerous times, but that is all I care to do tbh. There are numerous other aspects of Paris I would rather venture into (museums, parks, etc.) as opposed to the monuments (which you can experience from afar).

Wow! Awesome. Thanks for taking the time to type out a completely pointless and worthless post.

Stive said:

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Wow! Awesome. Thanks for taking the time to type out a completely pointless and worthless post.

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Why would you ask strangers for answers you don't care to hear? You want affirmation or feedback from people. Ultimately you do whatever you like. But you are likely a follower and can't make decisions.

Danger Mouse said:

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Stive said:

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Wow! Awesome. Thanks for taking the time to type out a completely pointless and worthless post.

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Why would you ask strangers for answers you don't care to hear? You want affirmation or feedback from people. Ultimately you do whatever you like. But you are likely a follower and can't make decisions.

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Why would you type out "answers" to questions I didn't ask? I wasn't looking for affirmation on my choices (especially from someone that's never done any of them), I was asking for some clarification on options within those choices from people that have enjoyed those experiences.

But you are likely to be limited on reading comprehension and wanted to humble brag that you've been there lots of times. Thanks for filling us in, I guess.

To be fair, his signature does note he's an engineer. Explains the lack of interpersonal skills.

Stive said:

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Eiffel Tower: worth it to go to the top with the family? Or is second deck enough? Night time better or day time? And how do you get tickets? We're going to be there the last week of May - first week of June and we keep logging on each day (can only buy 2 months in advance) but they say they're already sold out. It's like I'm trying to buy tickets to a concert or something.

Notre Dame: worth the private tour? Or is it good enough to just visit and observe but not spring for the tour aspect?

Saint Chapelle (same questions as ND)

Arc de Triomphe: kind of the same questions as above. Doesn't seem like it would be some amazing experience to go up in it but maybe I'm missing something.


And we're a family of six, kid ranges are 10-18 (if that moves the needle on any of these ventures)

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Second level of the Eiffel Tower provides a great view. If you really need to go higher, or just want to avoid the tower but get a bird's eye view, go to the Montparnasse Tower (office building attached to Gare Montparnasse). It has something the Eiffel Tower doesn't; a view of the Eiffel Tower.

You don't need private tours of Notre Dame and Saint Chapelle. It's been a while since I did them, so I don't know what kind of audio guides or other aides are provided on site, but I'd say you could do both with nothing but Rick Steeves' notes and do fine.

I wouldn't classify the Arc de Triomphe as a can't miss experience, but it is a pretty unique view. To look down the Champs Elysee is memorable. I believe that it is included in the Paris Museum pass, so this might be something you do later in the day, rather than building your day around it.

I Am A Critic said:

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To be fair, his signature does note he's an engineer. Explains the lack of interpersonal skills.

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**** no doubt.

I'd recommend Montmarte for a half day walk, with a visit to Sacre Coeur. One of the best things to do in Paris.

[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacr%C3%A9-C%C5%93ur%2C_Paris][/url]

ftw_Ag said:

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We just did Paris & London over Spring Break with our kids (all under 6 years old). We didn't go up the Eifel Tower but I'll give my two cents:

- Notre Dame - If you can get there early (before 9am), you don't need reservations and can walk right in (which they were having Mass at 8am). We didn't do the private tour, but was still incredible to walk through.

- Saint Chapelle - can't say the same here. This line was crowded early.

- Fat Tire Bike Tour - did this with our kids and was amazing. It was 3 hours long and is the one thing our kids keep talking about and they tell everyone how they rode bikes right under the Eifel Tower.

- CDG - took the train from middle of Paris, which wasn't bad. Do plan some time though as we felt security and and their form of TSA was long and inefficient. Immigration with the family line wasn't bad.

- Louvre - if you go, go at night. We went at 7pm and were able to walk right up to the rope in front of the Mona Lisa

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Thanks for the info on Fat Tire - I think we are going to book this tour for our arrival day. Prices for Eiffel Tower tickets are nuts, and they aren't even available through the official website, yet (which makes me nervous to book with a third party). I think we are just gonna take our chances on a walk-up.

Also booked Louvre and chocolate/pastry tours with Walks. I've used them before in other cities, and they are a fantastic tour provider. I want to skip the Louvre, but my BF insists I take his 15 year old to see the Mona Lisa (while he is in meetings, of course). So, I figure this is the least painful way to do it.

You can find some really nice half-day self-guided tours of the Louvre online, and then cut those down a bit as you prefer. That's how we did it with our three kids a few years ago, and it worked out very well.

Anyone ever do a WW II history tour in Paris?

I've found a few options, but all are private, and I'm a little hesitant to spend $300-$400 for just 2 of us. I'd rather do a small group tour.

We are going to Normandy on this trip, too, so I'd really like to learn about the war in both locations.

BSD said:

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Eiffel Tower: go to the top and get a glass of champagne at the little bar there. The second floor is cool, but you're there so just go to the top. That said, regular tickets were sold out when I looked too but the tickets that came with a glass of champagne were available so we bought those and my 15 year old got a glass (not his thing so mom finished it). If you can't get tickets ahead of time, there is probably a line to wait in for walk-ups. Not quite sure though.

If you do get tickets, here's some advice I gave my friends after our trip:

Enter on southwest side. It was less crowded.
It's a two tier elevator to the middle so on the way up it doesn't matter which one you get on. But for coming down off the top, the line backs up for the top (highest) tier elevator and no one really goes down a floor to the next level. They just assume the top floor is the only exit? So go down a level to that elevator and we didn't even have to wait.

Agree that you don't need a private tour.

Saint Chapelle is amazing. One my favorites places in Europe to visit. Get tickets for as early in the day as you can. We had 1:00pm and didn't get in til 1:45pm as it had backed up all day.

We did Arc at night. It was a pretty cool walk up Champs and we went up top for more night views. Some history there so we enjoyed it. They were even doing some sort of ceremony at the base while we were there. Do you have to go all the way up? No, but like I said, the night views were nice and the steps weren't that bad.

If you like Monet, visit Marmottan.

Also, CDG is a cluster so get there early when coming home. Especially if you go thru the family line. Better yet, splurge on VIP to get thru immigration. We did VIP on the way in but not out. I regret that.

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Also, for Monet, L'Orangerie has his 8 huge Water Lilies paintings and the Orsay also has a ton of his work. (wish I'd heard of Marmatton before).

Definitely get the Museum Pass...It's definitely worth the money.

And get the Pass Navigo to use the metro - makes it so easy to get around town. You do NOT want to drive.

For the Arc, there's a tunnel on the north side of Champs Elysees right before the traffic circle. that is how you get over to it. Listening to the Marine Test Pilot you're with who says "Look,there's a break in the traffic, let's go" then walking across the traffic circle in NOT the right way...unless you want a game of live action Frogger.

DallasAggie87 said:

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I'd recommend Montmarte for a half day walk, with a visit to Sacre Coeur. One of the best things to do in Paris.

[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacr%C3%A9-C%C5%93ur%2C_Paris][/url]

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I second Sacre Coeur. Enjoyed that...

And you get a beautiful view of Paris from there. You can see how flat it is...

Ag with kids said:

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DallasAggie87 said:

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I'd recommend Montmarte for a half day walk, with a visit to Sacre Coeur. One of the best things to do in Paris.

[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacr%C3%A9-C%C5%93ur%2C_Paris][/url]

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I second Sacre Coeur. Enjoyed that...

And you get a beautiful view of Paris from there. You can see how flat it is...

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This. Lots of little shops and cafes nearby too. The view is awesome… not sure why this spot doesn't get more attention.

We did the Normandy D-Day Beaches Day Trip with Lunch & Cider Tasting with City Wonders Limited. I would not recommend this tour because we spent way too much time at the stupid cider tasting that could have been much better spent. It was basically tailor made for cranky old people and they shuttled us from Paris making it easy. One lady complained about the food at a restaurant and said they should offer more American options.

I don't have a suggestion for a guide, but I think you are better off taking the train there and meeting with a guide.

amg405 said:

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Ag with kids said:

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DallasAggie87 said:

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I'd recommend Montmarte for a half day walk, with a visit to Sacre Coeur. One of the best things to do in Paris.

[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacr%C3%A9-C%C5%93ur%2C_Paris][/url]

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I second Sacre Coeur. Enjoyed that...

And you get a beautiful view of Paris from there. You can see how flat it is...

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This. Lots of little shops and cafes nearby too. The view is awesome… not sure why this spot doesn't get more attention.

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If you're into really good coffee. Clove in Montmarte is dynamite.

Heads up if you want to visit the Eiffel Tower - they appear to release extra tickets 3 weeks in advance.

I snagged lift tickets to the top yesterday for 9 am Thursday the 26.

Not our preferred date or time, but at least we have them.