Two of my favorite things: the city of Paris, and saving money. This trip, I’m enjoying both. With a 2-day Paris Pass, I can stroll past the long waiting lines at museums, use my ticket on the Metro and buses, and jump on a sightseeing bus any time. My Paris Pass provides entry to 60-plus attractions in and around Paris, unlimited travel on the Metro, bus rides in the central city, rides on the hop-on, hop-off “Les Cars Rouges,” and 
other items such as a one-hour boat trip on the River Seine, entrance to Versailles, and discounts at a few restaurants.
The Pass, which you can order online, is actually a package of two plastic cards, two vouchers (to be traded for tickets), and a handy guidebook. It isn’t cheap: 99 euros for an adult for 2 days (less for teens 12-17 and children 4-11). Passes for 4 or 6 days cost more. Is it worth the cost? Well, mine was provided for review purposes, but I’d get one if only as a time-saver, because I can avoid standing in long lines. I also appreciate admiring the views from the bus instead of endless walking, easy entrance to museums and 
monuments, and the guided tour at Opera Garnier. (Tip on this one: Reserve your English-language tour in advance, as limited numbers are allowed.) Still, everybody’s sightseeing is different; best to decide what you’re most eager to visit, check the fees, and compare. If you buy a Paris Pass online and have it mailed to you, the shipping fee to the U.S. ranges from 7.95 euros (12 working days) to 45 euros (FedEx, 3 days). It’s much less expensive to wait and pick it up in the Paris office at 33 rue le Peletier, in the 9th arrondisement, for a fee of 2 euros. Then read the instructions carefully–it’s easy to confuse “museums” with “attractions”–sign the vouchers, and you’re good to go.
One more tip: the Paris Pass is activated the first 
time you use it, and that’s counted as your first day, even if it’s in the evening. To get your full day’s worth, start in the morning. Bon voyage!
John Parkhurst
Marilyn McFarlane
susan troccolo
You made me want to go. Now. Smile./jj
Sissy would love it, Jan. Or maybe not, but you would.
When I can’t get to Paris I watch a movie about it, the latest being (of course) Midnight In Paris.
I will be in Paris in two weeks! If I could only see three or four things or areas, what would they be? I will only be there for 2 days…
Ah, Paris ….amble the streets, sip wine at a sidewalk cafe, visit Notre Dame and The Louvre (yes, hordes of tourists at both, but well worth it). See the Eiffel Tower up close–walking the stairs saves waiting in long lines. Picnic in Luxembourg Gardens, have ice cream on the Ile St Louis, stroll the street markets. Pop into Shakespeare & Co. bookstore. See fabulous art in Musee d’Orsay and the Pompidou Center. If you have time, tour the opulent Opera Garnier and wander Montmartre to Sacre Coeur, getting great views. Take the Metro or, my favorite, the bus. Walk along the quais of the Seine. (And don’t buy a ring from a stranger who says he “just found it” on the sidewalk.) Have a great time–bon voyage!
It’s important to take into account those several places that don’t allow skipping the queue even with this pass due to security reasons. Two that I went to are Saint Chapelle and Chimeras on top of Notr Damme.
Thank you, Ele, that is a good point. Some places have extra security, so it’s good to plan in advance. For me, that means arriving at the site ahead of the crowds. ( Thanks for a comment from Lithuania!)