These Itinerary completes in four days Paris.
General information
In the following the most important sights of the city are presented, which can be done in four days with a budget of approx. 400 - 500 €. The focus here is clearly on visiting Paris, so that accommodation is assumed to be a less feudal hotel. Good, decent hotels (two stars) just outside Paris cost around € 80 per night and do not include meals. This route assumes a hotel in the south of Paris on the RER B around the Arcueil-Cachan and Laplace stops.
background
This trip is intended for those who spend little but want to see a lot. Low-cost airlines fly to the city for around € 30-50. In general, it should be noted that this route will be strenuous and therefore requires some level of fitness from you. The journey begins every day in the south of Paris on the RER B, which takes you to Paris to see the sights there. The fourth day leads to Versailles, among other places.
preparation
Depending on the season, you have to choose your clothes. Bringing an umbrella is never a bad thing. You should also bring comfortable shoes, a first-aid kit and toiletries for the bathroom in the hotel room. You don't really need more.
getting there
Arrival by plane:
The journey takes place by low-cost airlines in the morning. The arrival takes place either at the airport Aéroport Charles-de-Gaulle or at the airport Orly. At both airports you can take the RER B to your hotel and, if necessary, take the metro or bus the rest of the way there. If you come from Orly you have to pay € 10.25 for the Orlyval train to Antony station and the RER B. The metro can then also be used. An extra ticket is required for the bus. From Charles-de-Gaulle airport, the bus ticket costs € 9.40, the RER costs € 8.35.
For the flight home on the fifth day it is sufficient to buy a ticket for a trip.
Arrival by train:
In Paris there is no one Hauptbahnhof, but five. The station at which the said train line arrives is therefore indicated in brackets.
From Germany:
There are several TGV, ICE and Thalis lines from Germany to Paris:
- Thalis: Dortmund - Essen - Duisburg - Düsseldorf - Cologne - Aachen - Brussels - Paris (Gâre du Nord)
- ICE: Frankfurt am Main - Mannheim - Kaiserslautern - Saarbrücken - Paris (Gâre de l‘Est)
- TGV: Munich - Augsburg - Ulm - Stuttgart - Karlsruhe - Strasbourg - Paris (Gâre de l‘Est)
- TGV: Freiburg im Breisgau - Strasbourg - Paris (Gâre de l’Est)
From German-speaking Switzerland:
Two TGV lines lead from the largest cities in German-speaking Switzerland to Paris:
- Zurich - Basel SBB - Mulhouse - Paris (Gâre de Lyon)
- Bern - Basel SBB - Mulhouse - Paris (Gâre de Lyon)
From Austria:
The journey from Austria is longer. Depending on where you live within the country, you have to change trains in Munich, Zurich or Frankfurt (connections from there: see above).
Hotel:
Once you have cleared the first hurdle, namely buying tickets, you quickly go to the hotel to finally get there la ville d'amour to explore. Hotels in the suburb of Arcueil (zone 2 or 3) are advisable, because from there you can get quickly from the RER B to Paris. Even if you do not live directly on the railway line, there are also buses (ligne 162, 87, ..) that run from around 5.30 a.m. to 11 p.m. The hotel Stars Paris Arcueil offers everything you need for around € 70 per night (bathroom, bed, TV, towels) - but without breakfast (additional € 6). The A6 motorway runs next door, but it does not cause any noise. However, there are other hotels in Arcueil that may be just as inexpensive. Insider tip: There is an aqueduct in Arcueil! Holiday and More cheap hotels flights are available. So here is assumed from 200-250 € for flights and hotel accommodation. Logically, those who pay more also get more service and luxury. But this is unnecessary as you will only be in the hotel to sleep.
On-site mobility:
The card is recommended Paris visit for 3 days and 1-3 zones for 20, - € and on the fourth day the Carte Mobilis (Day ticket) for 1-4 zone for 10.15 € to go to Versailles.
The daily plans
First day
After landing and arriving at the hotel around lunchtime, you can start. As already mentioned, it is assumed that you will start in the south of Paris. So at the Arcueil-Cachan or Laplace stops of the RER B.
- To get to the first stop, the Rue d'Alésiaone joins Cité Universitaire on the tram around, around then with the M 4 at Alésia to get off. This street offers the tourist relatively cheap branded goods in various boutiques and simply invites you to take a leisurely stroll.
- It goes on to the stop RER B: Luxembourg (after changing from M 4 at Denfert Rochereau on the RER). This is where the real journey through the south of Paris begins - everything below the Seine. The route leads to Pantheon (€ 7.50) and then past the Sorbonne (University) to get a little bit of im Jardin du Luxembourg to rest. For this purpose, numerous chairs are distributed around the fountain.
- You can also go to the neighborhood St. Germain-des-Prés Sit in one of the many cafés or brasseries. St. Germain des Prés is around 5 minutes' walk from the Jardin.
- To visit the city's first department store, namely Le Bon Marché, one drives from St. Germain with the M 10 of Mabillon to Sèvres Babylone. The department store corresponds to the more upscale customer class and can also be left out or used as a toilet stop.
- The Invalides Cathedral with its shiny gold dome is the next destination (~ € 7 entry). The associated home for the disabled was built to house war invalids in order to keep them from begging and stealing. For this one drives Sèvres Babylone or Vaneau above Duroc the M 13 to Varenne. In the cafeteria next to the domed church you can fortify yourself with sandwiches.
- The day ends with a beautiful sunset view over Paris from Tour Montparnasse. The elevator there costs around 6 - 8 €. From the Hôtel des Invalides you simply drive the M 13 to Montparnasse - Bienvenue. If this is also done, one can fall into bed exhausted. The first day is done.
Second day
- The second day is first culture on the program. Since a visit to the Louvre Is mandatory for a stay in Paris, the day begins with this. In order to avoid long queues, it is advisable to be there as early as 9.00 a.m. when the museum opens. The museum is reached from the RER B about the station Châtelet Les Halles to M 1: Palais Royal Musée du Louvre. If you want to see the Mona Lisa (La Joconde), you should do so first. Entry to all state museums is free on the first Sunday of each month. If you have this opportunity, you can visit all the museums that interest you on this day, but you have to accept long queues. Louvre: 9 am-6pm; Closed on Tuesdays. Entry: [1]
- The second museum that day is either that Orsay Museumor the Center Georges Pompidou thought. D'Orsay is a converted train station and contains works of art by the Impressionists. Even the inside of the building is very worth seeing. 9.30am-6pm; Thu -9.45 p.m.; Closed on Mondays; Admission: € 7.50, reduced: € 5.50. The museum is located at the metro station RER C: Musée d'Orsay or can be easily reached on foot from the Louvre.[2] Or you can choose the Museum of Modern Art in the Pompidou Center. Tubes on the outside lead from one floor to the other. It can be reached via the M 11: Rambuteau. Mon-Sun: 11 am-9pm; Admission: € 10; under 18: free.[3] By the way, you can buy all tickets in advance at FNAC, e.g. at train stations and in La Défense. For all café junkies: there is a Starbucks nearby, and those who like contemporary (interior) architecture will find what they are looking for in Café Beaubourg, designed by Christian Porzemparc, right next to the cultural center.
- The day continues with a tour of the Île-de-la-Cité. There are several ways to get here by metro: RER C, RER A: St. Michel; M 4: Cité or via the huge metro station Châtelet. There is a lot to explore here. On the one hand the cathedral Notre Dame (Ascent of the towers: € 7.50), on the other hand the Conciergerie (Admission: € 5.50). Further contact points can be the Pont Neuf, a beautiful bridge that Place Dauphine and the church St. Louis on the Île-Saint-Louis, the smaller of the two islands in the Seine.
- Once you have completed the tour of the two islands, you go on to Hotel de Ville, the town hall. The free entry, nevertheless is one telephone registration required. Is that what you want Center Pompidou You can only take a short detour with the from the outside M 11 to Rambuteau.
- If not, you can also move on to the city's next major landmark: the one Eiffel Tower or Tour Eiffel. After arriving with the RER C: Champs de Mars / Tour Eiffel or the M 6: Bir-Hakeim, you have to be prepared for long waiting times, i.e. up and down the lifts in front of the tower and in the tower. Prices below toureiffel.fr. The tower is especially beautiful at sunset and after sunset when its lights are switched on. As soon as the lights are switched on, they twinkle for about 5 minutes until they finally illuminate the tower normally. The Champ de Mars invites you to sit around and relax. If you come to the hotel at 10 or 11 p.m. you can fall into bed exhausted. Don't forget to wash your feet!
third day
After the first two days are probably the most exhausting, things are now a little quieter.
- The tour starts today in the district Montmartre. One climbs at the station M 2: Anvers from there it is only a few meters to the steps of the Sacré Coeur. You can either climb the stairs or the Funicular to take. Admission is free. At the top there is a slow train (~ 7 €) that runs through the district. Alternatively, you can also continue on foot in the direction Moulin Rouge[4].
- In the Cimetière du Montmarte you can then take a break and admire the tombstones. If you have too much time left, you can try to look for Heinrich Heine's grave yourself. The plan of the cemetery with all the celebrities there is recommended to all others. Free entry
- From Place de Clichy , near the cemetery, can be reached by metro M 13 to Saint-Lazare / Haussmann. There you can visit two other famous department stores: Lafayette and Printemps. In these you can drive the travel costs extremely high.
- The Place de la Concorde (M 1, 8, 12: Concorde) with its obelisk is the ideal starting point to see the Champs-Elysées to stroll up.
- After a crêpe of strengthening, you can now on Place Charles-de Gaulle-Etoile the Arc de Triomphe climb up a spiral staircase for € 9. From here you can see well, such as the small triumphal arch of the Carrousel at the Louvre, this one and the large arch Grande Arche Form a line in the Défense district.
- The last stop of the day leads to the latter. With the M 1 or the RER A you can easily follow La Defense. La Defense is a huge collection of skyscrapers and is related to the Grande Arche very impressive. There you should buy the ticket for tomorrow's Versailles excursion from the FNAC. From 4 p.m. admission is reduced to € 11.60. There is also a large shopping center with "hypermarkets". For better or for worse, the journey home will take place in the Paris rush hour - but it is survivable.
fourth day
- The last and most relaxed day begins with a stroll through the multicultural Belleville Market (M 2, 11: Belleville or M 2: Menilmontant). This market is very diverse and has some great bargains on the budget.
- After the visit, you can have a snack either on Place de la République(M 11: République) or the next place, the Place de Vosges, at M 5: Bastille do. The latter is very inviting in sunny weather.
- At around 2 p.m. it's time to set off for Versailles close. The lock is with the RER C (Vick) to be reached in about 40 minutes. There are usually fewer people there in the afternoon, which should make the tour more pleasant. Audio guides comment on the rooms, which also include the hall of mirrors. If you've had enough of kitsch and pomp, it's best to end the day in the castle garden. There you can either take a stroll or an expensive golf caddy. However, the garden is still best explored on foot. The last day would be over and you can comfortably count the losses of fellow travelers and money there.
fifth day
Departure: It is advisable to allow plenty of time for the journey to the airport - who knows what can happen. If you are returning from Orly and do not know which terminal the flight is going to, you should get off at Orly Sud, as this is the airport's larger terminal.
Catering
Although there is usually no catering in 2 star hotels, you can buy breakfast in the hotel on site. For a breakfast buffet you should calculate around 5/6 €. On the way you can rarely find a McDonald's, but you can eat just as cheaply and even better in Paris. Sandwiches and crepes can be found at almost every tourist spot (3-5 €). If you visit a café or a brasserie, you have to expect higher expenses. Two pizzas with 0.2l drinks cost around € 25. Supermarkets are rather difficult to find, so you should buy something to drink where you can and take every opportunity to take something to eat.
security
Since the stay in Paris is mainly based on the metro system, one should watch out for pickpockets. Don't put your backpacks in the subway. Otherwise nothing major needs to be considered.
