Start in the Tuileries
First things first – Coffee and a stroll. Head to Jardin des Tuileries. Explore the free sculpture gardens, flowers and lovely paths. Grab a café au lait and sip as you admire. (Yes, they have to go cups, people like to act like Parisiennes don’t do to-go, but they do.) There are Picassos right out there in the open to enjoy. Plus tree-lined paths, a carousel that adults can ride too (you know I did!), and those quintessential Paris green lounge chairs to watch the world go by. But set a timer on your phone (seriously, because you can lose track of time and you want to relax, so let your phone do the hard work of tracking time)… so you can…
Head to the l’Orangerie next
When it first opens, have yourself reserved timed tickets to the Musee de l’Orangerie. Monet’s Waterlilies have their own room. It’s not a painting like you’ve seen elsewhere. It’s a huge multi-wall series. The rooms were constructed just for these pieces just how Monet wanted. I’m still in awe! Probably my fav of the trip. If you go right when they open, there’s no lines and it’s not crowded. Amazing! Also loved the other art in the collection and the special exhibit space too.
TIP: Get the museum pass and prebook your ticket here well before your trip!! They’ll also cover the Rodin Museum and lots of other places too.
Cross the River to Rue Cler
Rue Cler is the perfect spot to eat lunch “proper” or (better yet) snack your way along this lovely street. On your walk here, you’ll pass several good photo stops, There are bakeries, cheese shops and lots of little restaurants to pick from.
Then on to the Rodin Museum
This is the best sculpture museum I’ve even been to. One must stop and take a pic with “The Thinker” but of course. Browse at your leisure. When you’re done, walk around the other side of the Hotel des Invalides (which is where Napoleon’s tomb is located) to the classic icon of Paris…
The Eiffel Tower
I’ve never gone up to the top of the Eiffel Tower. Depending on your desire to do so, depends on how long and or leisurely this stop is. Me, I may go next time. But the two times I went to Paris, I wanted pics with the tower in them not from the tower itself. It’s never seemed worth the crowd or cost to me to go up. Plus, you need to pre-buy the tickets that lock you into a time slot and there’s already enough of that with museums. But sometime, I’m sure I will. After you walk around the tower and its gardens, cross the street and walk down to the river level to…
Stroll Along the Seine
There are a few good pic spots along the river where you can get city shots and tower shots and you’ll get a nice breeze. You’ll cross back over the river to get some more premium Eiffel photos pretty much the whole was as you stroll to the…
Jardins du Trocadéro
Once you’ve got the dozen or so pretty pics and selfies here at the Jardins du Trocadéro, head to the Trocadero metro stop in the Place du Trocadero (labeled with a chartreuse-greenish-yellow, called line #9), which will take you anywhere you want to go. You can change to the yellow #1 line at the Roosevelt Station (3 stops away) and head back to the Tuileries Station (3 stops on the #1 line once you change trains), if you want to go back to where you started the day.
Personally, from Trocadero, I’d opt for a lovely little break back at my hotel, if I was you. Then maybe I’d spend the late afternoon and evening up in Montmartre, get in some views and walk down to eat a well-deserved pizza dinner at Pink Mamma (make your reservation 15 days in advance for best time/table and no wait).
Travel Muse Magazine 
Leave a comment