10 Things Not to Do in Paris

10 Things Not to Do in Paris - #3

Don't…

Spend All Day At The Louvre Or Musée D'Orsay

The Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay are Paris's most celebrated museums, and yes, they do house some famous works of art. But don't for a second think that they're your only—or, indeed, even your best—options. The lines to get in can be harrowing in high season, the crowds are exhausting, and the sheer quantity of art on display is overwhelming. If the prospect of beating back the hordes seems like it will detract from the experience (and, really, how could it not?), don't despair.

Instead…
Get To Know Paris's Lesser-Known Museums

Many of Paris's smaller museums contain equally important and beautiful art—and are often more pleasant, since you won't be elbowed out of the way by a photo-snapping swarm. You'll find Monet's famousNymphéas (water lily) murals in the Musée de l'Orangerie, at the far end of the Tuileries Gardens. The Musée Marmottan is home to the world's largest collection of Monets. And the Musée Rodin, housed in a luminous villa with a lovely garden, is one of the most romantic museums in all of Paris. Not in the mood for an art lesson? There are plenty of museums in Paris that focus on lighter and frothier fare, including fashion, wine, and money. Once you've discovered the pleasures of these intimate galleries, you might be hard-pressed to bother with the Louvre at all (although, if you insist, check out our tips for making the most of your time there).

My thoughts - I think every traveler has experienced culture overload, that point where you try to see and do everything in just one trip.  Paris is one of those cities where it is near impossible to experience everything in one trip. My advice is to try and see just a couple major sights and then spend time experiencing all the other things a city has to offer.  Smaller museums, independent art galleries, architecture, cafe life, all the things you end up foregoing if you are spending all your time waiting in lines to see the major sights.

Number 4 on Thursday