Paris Vacation Itinerary - Part 4

Itinerary: Paris (Link: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bys9H9hPgFspMVZaNGZPdUYxbE0)

Musée du Louvre 

From Notre-Dame Cathedral, I took a subway to Palais Royal - Musee du Louvre station. You can walk too to get there. Since all the public transportation were free due to the COP21 Climate Change Conference, I took a subway instead. As I arrived, I walked and entered the museum via underground entrance (Carousel Shopping Center). During my visit, there were not many tourists and all entrances did not have a queue line. The entrance fee to visit the museum is €15. The entrance fee is free for anyone under 18 years old. The museum opens everyday from 9 AM - 6 PM except Wednesday and Friday from 9 AM - 9:45 PM and closed on Tuesday.

There are several entrance to Louvre Museum:

1. Tourist with museum pass/advance tickets: Portes des Lions, Gallerie du Carrousel, or Pyramid.
2. Tourist without tickets: Portes des Lions, Gallerie du Carrousel, or Pyramid.
3. Groups: Passage Richelieu or Gallerie du Carrousel.

Based on other tourists experiences, it is recommended to enter via either Portes des Lions or Gallerie du Carrousel for a shorter queue. The Gallerie du Carrousel entrance is located underground. To get to the underground entrance, you can go via Gallerie du Carrousel entrance, Le Carrousel du Louvre entrance, or Palais Royal - Musee du Louvre Metro station.

Copyright @ Google Maps

One of the most popular attraction in the Louvre museum is to see the "Mona Lisa" Painting by Leonardo da Vinci. For the inside of Louvre Museum maps, click this link. 
 

Copyright @ Art Traffic at the Louvre

 

Musée d'Orsay 

From Louvre Museum, I walked to Musée d'Orsay and I forgot that the museum closed on Monday. Therefore, I just took pictures outside the museum. The entrance fee is €12. However, you can buy a package with Rodin Museum for €18 or a museum pass. The museum opens everyday except Monday from 9:30 AM - 6 PM. On Thursday, the museum closes at 9:45 PM.

Copyright @ Google Maps

Copyright @ parismuseumpassservice

Passerelle Solférino

Passerelle Solferino is a walking bridge linking the Musee d'Orsay and Tuileries garden. As the Pont des Arts' locks were removed, this bridge seems take over all the locks. 

Pont Alexandre III

From Passerele Solferino bridge, I walked pass another bridge towards Eiffel Tower and walk to the most extravagant bridge in Paris, Pont Alexandre III. This bridge connects between Champs-Elysees with Invalides. The arts in this bridge is fabulous.

The Statue at the Pont des Invalides from Pont Alexandre III

The Statue at the Grand Palais from Pont Alexandre III

 

Centre Pompidou

From Pont Alexandre III, I took subway to Center Pompidou as part of the museum pass.  Without museum pass, the entrance fee is €14 and opens everyday from 11 AM - 9 PM except Thursday closed at 11 PM. I found that the building itself is unique but the museum itself is not interesting. I just spent 30 minutes here as I was not enjoying the arts here.

Notre-Dame Cathedral View from Centre Pompidou

Eiffel Tower View from Centre Pompidou

 

Tour Montparnasse

From Centre Pompidou, I took a metro to Montparnasse Tower and the entrance using Paris Pass. The entrance fee is €15 or you can buy day & night ticket for €20. The Tour Montparnasse is like going up to the State of Empire building. To look at 360 degree view of Paris, you can either look at it from 56th Floor which is a panoramic bar or at the roof terrace. The day I went, the wind was so strong and so cold. It is hard to take night pictures even with a tripod due to the strong wind.

Eiffel Tower View from Montparnasse Tower

Sacre-Coeur Cathedral View from Montparnasse Tower

Notre-Dame Cathedral View from Montparnasse Tower

Eiffel Tower View from Montparnasse Tower

Eiffel Tower Night View from Montparnasse Tower

Roof Deck at Monparnasse Tower (Copyright @ Tourmontparnasse56)