Paris: What to see on Sat. and Sun.?

[missypie2]

Bonjour! We will be arriving in Paris on Satruday, March 13th. (me, DH, DS 13, DD 11, DD 8.) Most guide books warn you to avoid the major attractions on Saturdays and Sundays ... but we have to do SOMETHING. Any suggestions on what to do over the first weekend?

[CuriousToronto]

I for one am a big believer in sometimes ignoring guidebooks!

Currently things are a little slow in Paris tourist-wise so weekends are still good. I think you'll have to in part asess the situation a bit when you arrive.

If there is something you are dying to do and there is no other way you'll be able to fit it in then by all means do the major tourist stuff!

I would suggest though that you take that first weekend and get acquainted with some typically Parisian things. Like a stroll in the Luxembourg Gardens or along the Seine. Or perhaps you would like to drop by the two islands and spend sometime at a café and walking around Notre Dame and stuff.

Find a tiny little bakery and buy a baguette there every morning . . . Just take time to enjoy where you are and gather yourself a bit before you turn into crazy tourist person.

Having said that you could also try slightly minor tourist sights. Like the Cluny museum (Middle Ages) or the Picasso museum. And a stroll along the Champs Elysée is fabulous whether a weekend or not.

This is a great walking city and there is SO much to be seen without even necessarily going into the Louvre or the Orsay.

Now if you wanted to check out exhibitions I would suggest you purchase a publication called PARISCOPE as soon as you get to Paris. They come out every Tuesday and Wednesday and list EVERYTHING that is going on in the city. It's fantastic!
ALL of the newstands will have them for sale and they will only cost 40 centimes. True they are in French but it's really easy to decipher.