paris 2 week itinerary HELP!

Wow! How great to have that much time in Paris! On your day planned for the Marais, you might include the Picasso Museum. I also like the Musee Carnavalet for its Paris history.

Also, a cool cruise is the St. Martin Canal cruise, It takes you up the Seine from Musee d'Orsay, so you get the highpoints of a typical Seine cruise, and then it turns into the Canal St. Martin through some lesser known, but charming neighborhoods. It drops you at the Cite d'Sciences so you need to Metro back. But it's a relaxing 2 1/2 hour trip and is a nice break from all of the other running around.

2 weeks is way to long to spend in Paris... cut it down to 4 or 5 days, then spend the rest of the time outside the city.. maybe in the loire valley, or carcassonne, or somewhere else .... pick a small city off the beaten path, get off at the train station, find a small auberge, and just enjoy french country life for a few days.

bon voyage!!

it is a great idea to spend two weeks in Paris. you might want to consider booking 2 different hotels so you get to explore two different neighborhoods, but why try and plan everything for 2 weeks? just play it by ear- with this amount of time anal retentive planning shoudl eb teh least of your worries!

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<hr>2 weeks is way to long to spend in Paris<hr></blockquote>
Why? I spent almost a year in Paris and never tired of it. IMO, it's much better to spend that time in Paris, really exploring the city, than chasing your tail all over the country. Full marks to the OP. However, #2, just look more carefully at the OP's itinerary. You say 'Loire Valley'. Now look at Tuesday of Week 2. Why go to tourist-raddled Carcassonne - surely not a good example of French country life - when you can spend a day exploring the Marais?

The OP has made it clear that she wants to spend time in Paris, a fabulous city. Why try to persuade her to do otherwise?

Love the idea of your two weeks in beautiful Paris. #3's thought of two different hotels in two unique neighborhoods is great!

Don't worry about your plan. It is a good one if you like to be so structured. Perhaps you could take it with you each day, and as you enjoy your morning cafe creme and croissant, think about what you feel in the mood to do that day. Only a couple of outings ( ie: Loire chateaux, Chartres ) require preplanning.

Meandering around Paris is joyous and complete in itself. You could pick up a copy of Pariscope (.40E) at any newstand...a great guide to daily happenings.

I noticed on July 6, 2007 diogena posted " Guide in Paris and Ile de France"..........This could be very, very good! I know that I met a person, French, who has lived in Paris for many years. The three evenings of walking tours in "his Paris" were/are unforgettable and added a richness and texture to my whole month.

I agree that there is no point heading for Carcassonne instead of staying in Paris. The main change I would make in your plan is a little less "tourist Paris" -- a day for Ile de la Cité and Ile St Louis? -- and a few outings to Paris where it's not so picture postcardy. Go to Buttes Chaumont park in the 19th, and wander towards Père Lachaise cemetery from there. You'll see ugly high rises, but also small streets with houses, old churches. Go to rue St Blaise in the 20th, and check out the very old church and small cemetery beside it.

The 17th is also an interesting place. You could also go to one of the flea markets, the best known being the one at Clignancourt on weekends.

Take a bus to an area you don't know or haven't heard of and walk back to the centre. You'll discover all sorts of interesting places little shops, restaurants, etc. In the evening, go have a picnic along the harbour beside Bastille subway station.

Forgot to add -- one museum a day is enough, not three like on your final Friday.

Bjd - you're so right about one museum a day! I agree with your suggestions about the non-touristy parts of Paris too.

Palais Tokio is great. Excellent idea.
Don't visit l'Orangerie and the Louvre on the same day.

And don't plan as much, just discover the city randomly.

Loire Chateaux : if you want to truly enjoy it, you'd need at least 2 days there. Just don't do a day trip from Paris.