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The 11 best walking tours in Paris

Get to know the glorious French capital on foot via one of these themed walking tours in Paris

Landed in the City of Light for the first time? Don’t be intimidated. This place is big. Really big. And there’s so much going on it can be hard to know where to start. But luckily for you globe-trotters, we’re here to help out. If you’re an out-of-towner with next-to-no knowledge of Paris, we think booking a walking tour might be your best bet. Thanks to a guide who knows what they’re talking about – and, more importantly, where they’re going – you’ll have sussed out this city in no time. So, what are you waiting for? Pack your comfiest shoes and set out on a tour of one of the finest cities in the world. Here’s our pick of the best walking tours in Paris right now, from tip-top  chocolatier trips to erotica-themed excursions (yes, really). 

RECOMMENDED: 🇫🇷 Full guide to the best things to do in Paris 🏨 Take your pick of  the best hotels in Paris 🛏 Or make reservations at a chic Paris Airbnb 🚌 The best bus tours in Paris

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Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.

Best walking tours in Paris

1.  hit all the main sights in one go.

One for the newbies: this two-hour tour will take you to all the big Parisian landmarks. Think Notre Dame, the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, all in a smaller group setting. It’s even led by a clued-up guide who’ll keep you informed as you go. Or you can just Google stuff along the way instead. 

Time Out tip:  Be sure to wear something that covers your shoulders and knees, as certain pit stops are places of worship and can deny entry if you're too exposed. 

2.  Ramble around hilly Montmartre

Immerse yourself in la vie bohème – Bohemian Montmartre is one of Paris’s most charming (and historic) areas. This tour will take you around the hilly northern district, stopping at cool shops and some of the finest food spots in the area. Of course, you can expect the odd historical anecdote... or three.

Time Out tip: Make sure your camera's fully charged, as atop the highest hill in the city lies some of the best panoramic views Paris has to offer. 

3.  Stroll through streets rich with criminal history

True-crime fans will love this historical crime Paris walking tour. Embrace the Parisian streets from a different, slightly eerie, perspective. Join the darker side of Paris on a walking tour learning all about the dangerous past of the criminals who roamed the streets before you. Visit sites of executions, stroll the routes known for dodgy dealings, and discover the maze of side streets – the helping hand for criminals to outrun the law. Hold onto your purses.

Time Out tip:  Listen out for the surprising facts and shocking anecdotes your clued-up guide has up their sleeve. 

4.  Delve into the depths of the Catacombs

You know, like that film? One of the French capital’s eeriest attractions, these underground  ossuaries hold the remains of more than six million Parisians. Your guide will fill you in on the long and storied  past of this spooky subterranean cemetery. Definitely one for fans of spine-chilling adventures.  

Time Out tip: You can opt for a hosted tour, which comes with a 30-minute briefing outside the catacombs, or dive straight in with a self-guided audio tour. 

5.  Explore Paris by night

This late-night tuk tuk tour will introduce you to the city just as it starts to get dark – you’ll journey along the Seine, around the courtyard of the Louvre, and then pay a visit to some lesser-known (and largely tourist-free) attractions.

Time Out tip:  This is the perfect tour to do with your significant other if you happen to be on a couples holiday. 

6.  Walk in the footsteps of Coco Chanel

Fashionistas can see Paris through the eyes of one of the 20th century’s greatest designers. The tour will begin at Coco’s favourite café, Angelina – renowned for its hot chocolate. Then you’ll venture on to Rue Saint-Honoré, where Chanel lived, and see the site of her first shop (which remains today). Lastly, you can rummage through a vintage shop in the hope of scoring some old-school designer goods. 

Time Out tip:  The audio guide set-up of this tour means you can begin at any time and go completely at your own pace. All you need to do is download the VoiceMap app. 

7.  Spy some stunning street art

For something beautiful and slightly less touristy, take a moment to admire the in-your-face artwork lining walls all over the city. Learn about some of the capital’s most well-known street artists, and discover the techniques they use to scale those mighty Haussmannian façades. Make sure to bring a camera, you'll have heaps of good photo ops. 

Time Out tip: Make the most of your local, knowledgeable guide by asking as many questions as you like. 

8.  Satisfy your sweet tooth

Treat that sweet tooth with a delectable tour of the city’s most impressive chocolatiers. Learn all about the history of confectionery in Paris by visiting some swanky sweet shops along the Right Bank and, best of all, get your sticky mitts on some freebies. Our pro tip: wear elasticated trousers and thank us later. Bon Appétit.

Time Out: Be sure to get your fair share of hot drinks, with tea, coffee and even hot chocolate available. 

9.  Whizz round the coolest kid-friendly sights

It can be hard keeping the tots entertained when you’re in a new city. But we've got you covered. This fun tour caters to families with young children, with light commentary, frequent breaks, stops for food and a playground included in the route. 

Time Out tip:  You'll be able to secure some amazing family pictures on this tour worth hanging up at home. 

10.  Live it like Emily

Immerse yourself in the life of a bourgeois 'it girl' with this Emily in Paris walking tour. Inspired by the hit TV show, you'll visit key filming locations from the series while immersing yourself in the charm of Paris from La place de l'Estrapade to the Seine. Just a forewarning, you'll want to wear your comfiest shoes.

11.  Discover the great women of paris

The history books love an underdog, don't they? On this two-hour tour, you'll discover the stories of the women who helped shape French history all the while walking along the mesmerising left bank. You'll meet just outside Luxembourg Gardens where you'll uncover some hidden gems and learn about these lesser-known historical figures. Pray for good weather, and, voila, you'll have the perfect day out. 

Not done exploring the city yet?

More paris tours.

Take a look through our complete list of the best tours in Paris. 

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Walking in Paris — 5 perfect walks through Paris with maps

By: Author Emily

Posted on Last updated: November 27, 2023

The quaint cobblestone streets, winding alleys and Haussman buildings — the ones with the stone facades and wrought iron railings — that you picture when you think of a Paris postcard are all very much real. Walking through Paris is definitely the best way to explore those scenes.

While Paris is incredibly walkable,  it’s also quite big. To help narrow the scope, we’ve put put together a few walking routes that will guide you through some of the best parts of Paris. In this guide, we’ll explore Paris on foot with the help of five detailed maps.

These walking routes are designed with first-time visitors it mind. They offer a self-guided walking tour through some of the most beautiful neighborhoods, most popular tourist attractions and most charming streets in Paris.

Wander … but within reason

The French have a term — Flâner — which means to wander aimlessly through a city. There’s no similar word in English, and I would argue that’s because we’re bad at it. And by “we,” I guess I mean Americans.

I recently moved to New York and there is no wandering here. Even in Central Park, everyone has somewhere to be. And they’re not just trying to get there , they’re usually working out the next five places they need to be, too.

Neither is inherently better. Simply a difference in speed and lifestyles from two sides of the pond.

But what happens when a New Yorker goes to Paris and all the tips say to wander aimlessly but their Type A brain simply cannot do that? What about the people who want to wander, but within reason?

Enter this post. We’re here for the people who need a little direction more than “Just explore!”

On these maps, we’ve plotted the city’s top attractions, noted some of the most beautiful streets and flagged our favorite stops along the way. But from there, you can amble through nearby alleys, pop into hidden cafes and discover your own favorite spots to really make the journey your own.

We’ve drawn the box but you can color inside and outside the lines however you choose.

Paris walking routes explored in this post

• Arc de Triomphe to Pont de Arts — A must-do for first time visitors
• Latin Quarter & the isles — A balance of city energy and quiet streets
• Le Marais — A trendy neighborhood in a historic setting
• Montmartre — A beloved and beautiful art district on a hill with great views
• Eiffel Tower & the Seine — A charming walk through a Paris postcard

Arc de Triomphe to Pont de Arts Walking Guide

This is my favorite way to start a trip to Paris. Whether this is your first time in Paris or you’re a repeat visitor, this walk is a great way see many of Paris’ iconic sights in one long stretch. It features the city’s most famous boulevard, a beautiful park, iconic views and shopping galore.

This walking route in full is about 3 miles. If you were walking straight through, it would take about an hour. We don’t recommend that, though. There are so many things you can see and do along this walk that you could easily fill an entire day if you wanted.

Arc de Triomphe

Champs-élysées.

• Tuileries Gardens
• Pont de Arts

A few quick tips for using this map.

• To view the map in Google Maps, click the expand icon on the top right corner.
• Click the star icon to save the map to your Google account for later.
• To access the map next time, open Google Maps > click the Saved tab > click Maps.

Tips for this walk

• Don’t start too early. Most of the stores at the start of this walk don’t open until 10 or 11 AM. Take some time to enjoy breakfast and coffee before you head out for the day.
• Book tickets in advance. If you want to visit the top of the Arc de Triomphe or go inside the Louvre , it’s best to book a timed ticket in advance. Popular dates and times can book up days in advance.
• The Louvre deserves an entire day . That said, if you’d like to go inside the Louvre we’d recommend doing it on a different day and arrive when they open if possible. It’s a huge museum and it gets very crowded, especially in the afternoon. On this walk, we recommend just stopping by the pyramid and maybe the shops below.
• Eat along the way. There are plenty of cafes and street food vendors along this route. I don’t specifically call out many throughout this post because there are options everywhere. I’d personally recommend picking up small bites everytime you pass something yummy, like a crepe from a street vendor in Champs-Élysées Gardens, an appetizer at a bar off Saint-Honoré and ice cream in Tuileries Garden.

The view from the top of the Arc de Triomphe

Self-guided walk from Arc de Triomphe to Pont de Arts

This walk begins at Arc de Triomphe. The best way to get there will usually be by train, but it may vary based on your exact hotel location. The nearest Metro strops are Kléber station which serves the 6 train and  George V or Argentine which serves the 1 train.

Arc de Triomphe is located in the center of a busy traffic circle. Do not attempt to walk to the monument from street level. There is a pedestrian tunnel with access points (marked in yellow below) on Champs-Élysées and Grande Armée streets that will lead you to the base of the Arc de Triomphe. This is where the entrance to the monument is located, but you can also visit the base at street level for free.

You can go inside and to the top of the Arc de Triomphe. Timed entry tickets are required and cost €13 for adults. Everyone under 18 is free. The views from the top are incredible and it’s a great alternative to going to the top of the Eiffel Tower .

Even if you aren’t going inside the moment, it’s still worth seeing it from the street. The best views are on Champs-Élysées, which is convenient because that’s where we’re heading next.

One of the most famous, most filmed and most beautiful streets in Paris is Champs-Élysées. It’s akin to Michigan Avenue in Chicago, Oxford Street in London and Fifth Avenue in New York.

The street is lined with trees, which are stunning all the time but even more so in autumn and Christmastime. There’s tons of shops and stores, ranging from Zara to Louis Vuitton. Whether you’re shopping or window shopping, you are likely to be dazzled along the way.

Some of my favorite shops along Champs-Élysées are:

• Disney Store: They have always have a line up of Paris-specific Disney merchandise and lots of toys that kids will love to look at (and ask for).
• Galeries Lafayette: This is a great indoor mall to warm up in the winter or cool off in the summer.
• Nike House of Innovation: This store is a fusion of Nike Store and science museum. It’s a fun stop for the athlete and/or toddlers in your family.
• Ladurée : This pastry shop is famous for their macarons. They have many locations all over Paris (and the world). This location has a full sit-down restaurant (reservations recommended), but they also have a separate line to get treats to go.

Champs-Élysées Gardens

At the south-east end of Champs-Élysées, the shops give way to a garden. It’s lovely to walk thought, but it’s not the best for siting and staying awhile. (We’ve got an even more beautiful garden coming up in a bit.)

There are several theaters throughout the gardens. Along the way, you’ll also pass the Grand Palais and Petit Palais (museums) and Élysée Palace (official residence of the French president).

At the end of the garden you’ll run into Place de la Concorde. The plaza is basically a really busy traffic intersection with an Egyptian obelisk in the center. My recommendation? Skip it. Instead, turn left on Rue Royale and walk a block to Rue Saint-Honoré.

Rue Saint-Honoré

This street is your high-end fashion street. Designer brands like Hermès, Versace, Fendi and Christian Louboutin all have storefronts on Rue Saint-Honoré between Avenue de Marigny and where the street ends near the Louvre.

Even if $1,500 shoes are out of your budget, the window shopping alone is worth even a short stroll down this street. Plus, like I said, a detour down this street is better than crossing the traffic puzzle at Place de la Concorde.

If you’re looking to wander, this is a good area to do it. There are lots of side streets in this area that lead to unique shops, fancy hotels and swanky cafes and bars.

One of the most famous stops around here is Angelina, which is famous for their decadent hot chocolate. It’s a high-end, sit-down restaurant though, so dress accordingly. Because it’s so famous, reservations are recommend because they get very crowded. (Be sure to book early, too. They book up well over a month in advance.)

There’s also several places for fancy cocktails in cozy, immaculately decorated bars. Some of the most popular picks in the area are Bar Hemingway (inside the Ritz Paris), Bar 8 (inside the Mandarin Oriental) and Harry’s New York.

I buy designer things so infrequently that I take photos marking it as a life event

Tuileries Garden

After some shopping and maybe some light day-drinking, cut back to Tuileries Garden. This is one of the most beautiful gardens in Paris. If you were looking for a green space to relax, maybe have a picnic or let the kids play for a bit, this is the spot. (By the way, if you’re visiting Paris with kids be sure to check out this post for all our best tips.)

You don’t have to walk down every pathway in the park, but try a few different ones! You’ll find outdoor cafes, several ponds and fountains, and interesting sculptures. The grounds are immaculately landscaped with beautiful trees, flowers and bushes which really shine in the spring and fall. There’s also a great playground, which the kids will love.

At the southeastern end of the garden, you’ll run into what looks like the Arc de Triomphe. Don’t worry. You didn’t find a wormhole and travel back two miles to where you started your day. This is a second and slightly smaller monument called Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, and it was designed at the same time as the Arc de Triomphe.

Louvre Museum

Just beyond Tuileries Gardens is the world famous Louvre art museum. The iconic glass pyramid is in an open plaza above the entrance to the museum. The plaza is a popular place for photos, souvenir shopping from street vendors, and just general relaxing with a view.

Below the plaza is Carrousel du Louvre, which is an indoor shopping mall with a food court. To get down there, look for one of the stairways around the edge of the plaza. A lot of people don’t know is that there’s also an inverted glass pyramid below ground, and this is where you’ll find it. Pretty cool!

Now, if you’re planning to visit the museum, you could certainly do that in the afternoon after making this walk. Alternatively, you could flip this walk and start at the Louvre and do the rest in reverse order. However, we don’t think it’s worth trying to smoosh the Louvre into an otherwise busy day.

The Louvre is gigantic and it’s hard to see everything even with a full day. If you want to go inside, we recommend getting the earliest entry time you can and spending a relaxing, long day there.

Pont des Arts

Exit the Louvre and head towards the Seine. Look for the Pont des Arts pedestrian bridge. It’s between Pont du Carrousel (a car traffic bridge) and Île de la Cité (an island in the middle of the river).

The bridge offers excellent views all around. You can see the Eiffel Tower in one direction and Pont Neuf on the either. There are benches along the way to relax after a long day.

If you’re heading home after Pont des Arts, the nearest Metro stop is Pont Neuf, which serves the 7 train.

View of Pont Neuf from Pont des Arts

Continue your Journey

• Peruse used books and art prints at the bouquinistes, the iconic green box stalls along the Seine
• Enjoy a meal or a coffee at a classic cafe in Saint Germain, maybe Café de Flore or Les Deux Magots
• Start your next walk through Latin Quarter & the isles

Latin Quarter & the isles Walking Tour

The Latin Quarter is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Paris, dating back more than 2,000 years. It has winding streets and tiny alleys that are filled with lively cafes, very old buildings and bookshops galore. It’s a mesh of tourist traps and authentic history, dotted with museums and gardens for good measure. The district is home to Sorbonne University, and the student population keeps the area young.

The isles refer to Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis, which are literal islands in the middle of the Siene. They comprise quaint shopping streets, famous churches and maybe the best ice cream in Paris. It’s a bit quieter than the banks on either side, but they’re delightful neighborhoods for a stroll.

This walk isn’t short and clocks in at just under 4 miles. But with breaks for meals and coffee along the way, it actually fills a day quite nicely.

• Shakespeare & Company

Île Saint-Louis

Rue Mouffetard

Luxembourg Gardens

As a reminder, here are some quick tips for using this map.

• Plan this walk on a Saturday . In order to feel the energy of this area, you want to visit when it’s got some life to it and that’s typically the weekend. The Rue Mouffetard market closes on Sunday afternoon, which is why we suggest Saturday specifically. Do note that many places are closed on Mondays.
• Bring cash (Euros) . Most restaurants and cafes in this area will take credit cards, but most street vendors don’t. Cash will be helpful for other odds and end purchases too, like renting a tiny sail boat to float around the pond in Luxembourg Gardens.
• The gardens are best in the summer. During the summer months, the gardens in Paris are alive . Not only are they the most beautiful during that time, but they’re also a social hub for tourists and locals alike. In the later fall and winter months, they can feel quite desolate.
• If you have little ones, split this walk over two days. This is a long walk and will wipe out most adults. I originally planned this walk with our toddler, but they totally crashed half way through. If you’re co-travellers have little legs, make this one a two-day journey.
• Skip Jardin des Plantes if you have to. If this walk is too long or you’re short on time and have to cut something, cut Jardin des Plantes. It’s out of the way and not a must see, so it’s a good way to shorten this day up a bit. That might mean skipping Rue Mouffetard, too.

Self-guided walk through Latin Quarter & the isles

This walk begins at at Pont Neuf, which is a famous bridge that passes through Île de la Cité. Ideally you would take the 7 train and get off at Pont Neuf. However, depending on where you’re staying, you could also take the 4 or 10 trains to Odéon. From there you could walk back to Pont Neuf or just skip the bridge and head straight to Fontaine Saint-Michel.

If you walked across Pont des Arts pedestrian bridge as part of the previous walking route, you’ll have already gotten a great view of Pont Neuf.

This stone bridge was first opened for use in 1604 and is the oldest bridge over the Seine that’s still in use today. There are 381 stone masks, or mascarons, carved into the bridge which represent mythical divinities. There’s also a large statue of Henry IV where the bridge crosses Île de la Cité.

After crossing the bridge to the Left Bank, walk along the south side of the Seine. Peek at the many bouquinistes, which are the little shop stalls in the green boxes. They sell art prints, books, little souvenirs and other odds and ends. It’s hard to believe something so cute and notoriously French actually exists in real life.

Fontaine Saint-Michel

In a couple blocks you’ll come to a second bridge, Pont Saint-Michel. Turn right (away from the Seine) and you’ll run into Fontaine Saint-Michele.

This is a stone fountain in a square, which was constructed in 1860. The square around it is often bustling with tourists passing through. There’s not much seating, so people will sit along the base of the fountain itself. You can usually see a street musician or dance troupe performing in front of it.

You don’t need to stay long here, but it’s a great entry point to the Latin Quarter.

Rue de la Huchette

Just across Boulevard Saint-Michele from the fountain is Rue de la Huchette. This two block street is one of the oldest in Paris. It’s famous for having the highest concentration of restaurants in the city — none of them particularly good.

The tiny pedestrian street is cramped with souvenir shops, pubs and creperies. Lining the street are many old buildings with their own stories to tell. One dates back to the 1600s. Another is said to have been a residence of Napoleon Bonaparte.

The street is very touristy, but that’s okay! Most people reading this are tourists and you shouldn’t feel bad about doing popular things. Get a Nutella crepe and let yourself go.

While you’re in this area, it’s a good time explore some of the side streets. I’d recommend popping south a few blocks to the The Abbey Bookshop.

Shakespeare and Company

Just past the end of Rue de la Huchette is Shakespeare and Company. The bookstore opened in 1951 and quickly became a literary beacon for English writers in Paris. Today, there’s often a line out the door to get into the cramped bookshop.

Fun story. The owner, inspired by his own experience with the kindness of strangers, always allowed creatives to sleep for free in the book shop. The invitation was open to writers, artists and other intellectuals, and there were three rules. Each guest had to read a book a day, help the shopkeep for a couple hours, and write a one-page autobiography. Today, thousands of biographies have been collected and archived in the shop.

You should actually read the history of the founder and the bookshop, which is told much more eloquently here .

Attached to the bookstore is a cafe by the same name. I can’t come to Paris and not stop here for a cappuccino and this Paris institution.

Right across the river from Shakespeare & Company is Notre Dame cathedral.

I have been to almost 50 countries and have visited houses of worship in all of them. Nothing hit me quite like walking into Notre Dame on my first visit in 2017. I know that’s probably the most cliche favorite church to have, but it’s mine.

Unfortunately, the inside of Notre Dame is still closed after a fire in 2019 burned much of the cathedral. You can still access the courtyard in front of it and see the church and the famous gargoyles from the outside.

Pass around the back of Notre Dame and cross over Pont Saint-Louis onto Île Saint-Louis. Step onto the island and you’ll feel like you’ve gone back in time and maybe teleported to a small French village. It’s quaint and quiet, but don’t read that as boring. There are darling boutiques, amazing restaurants and somehow less crowds than the rest of Paris.

Focus your attention on Rue Saint-Louis en l’Île, the main street that runs through the heart of the island. In a few blocks you’ll hit Berthillon ice cream shop. People argue it’s the best ice cream in all of Paris. The shop’s been around and run by the same family since the 1950s. I must confess, we haven’t actually tried it! The timing just didn’t work out for us, but it’s on our bucket list for sure.

When you’re done exploring the island, cross back to the Left Bank via Pont de la Tournelle or Pont de Sully.

Tino Rossi Garden & Jardin des Plantes

Now it’s time to relax with a bit of nature. The next part of this walk starts at Tino Rossi Garden. It’s a wonderful transition from the bustle of the city to the serenity of Jardin des Plantes.

Jardin des Plantes is a huge botanical garden. About half the garden space is a ticked zoo, which costs €10-13 per person. For the sake of time during this busy day though, we’d suggest skipping the zoo. Instead, follow the paths that cuts straight through the southern portion of the gardens.

Now we’re back to shopping and eating. After Jardin des Plantes, head toward Square Saint-Médard. There are a few ways to get there and any will work. This square has an open air market which is open most days except Sunday afternoon and Monday.

After the market, head north on Rue Mouffetard. The street is so charming and beautiful, from the shops to the buildings themselves. It’s another one of the oldest streets in Paris and its said to have been the main inspiration for Victor Hugo when he wrote Les Miserables.

When Rue Mouffetard hits Rue Clovis, turn left and head to Luxembourg Gardens. Be sure to take note of the Pantheon as you pass by. This is also a popular attraction to visit, but this long walk doesn’t leave time to go inside.

Luxembourg Gardens is my favorite park in all of Paris. In the summer, the flowers are stunning, while in the fall the changing leaves steal the show. Take some time wandering through the gardens, but be sure to take some time to sit near the pond in front of Luxembourg Palace.

In the summer, there’s a small stand near the pond where you can rent wooden boats to sail on the pond in the summer. Theres a great story about the boats, which you can read here .

• Visit the observation deck at Montparnasse Tower and enjoy a cocktail on the roof with views of the entire city at sunset
• Continuing your shopping spree on Boulevard Saint-Germain
• Get a glass of wine at a charming local bar like Chez Georges or Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels
• Start your next walk through Le Marais

Le Marais Walking Guide

The Marais has so much personality. It’s historic but trendy. Religious but LGBT friendly. Urban but quaint.

My desire to explore Le Marais is what inspired me to write this entire post. Everything I read about the neighborhood said “just go and walk around” or “it’s a great place to get lost.” I do not do well with these types of directions. I always end up on the wrong streets and wasting time in places that honestly aren’t that great.

So if you also want to explore Le Marais, but want to know just where to explore, I’ve got you covered. This route passes through some of the main shopping streets, landmarks and squares in the heart of Le Marais. With some basic landmarks flagged, you’ll feel empowered to take a few extra turns along the way as you Flâner .

Saint-Jacques Tower

Rue de rivoli, place des vosges, jewish quarter, marché des enfants rouges, square du temple.

• Get coffee first. Not far from start of this walk is Motors Coffee. It’s a great coffee shop with killer banana Nutella bread. Start here.
• Start in the afternoon . This neighborhood is slow to wake up. Come in the afternoon for the best energy. It’s also a good place to be in the evening, as there’s a wide array of bars and restaurants.
• Consider a guided tour . There’s a lot of really deep and interesting history in Le Marais. If you’re into that sort of thing, there are several free walking tours through the area, like this one .
• Wander within reason . I’ve noted the high streets and notable sights on this map, but I’ve also noted a larger general area that represents the heart of Le Marais. If you have time and interest, wandering down any of these streets will serve you well.

Self-guided walk through Le Marais

This walking tour begins at Saint-Jacques Tower. To get there by train, take the 1, 4, 7, 11 or 14 trains to Châtelet station.

The tower you see today is all that remains of a 16th century church that was destroyed during the French Revolution. For €12, you can climb 300 steps to the top of the tower. It’s usually not too crowded. The tower is only open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM – 6 PM.

Even if you don’t go inside, the tower is beautiful to look at and surrounded by a lovely and quaint garden. There’s a small playground on one side for children, too.

Continue east down Rue de Rivoli. This is a one of the mail thoroughfares that cut through Le Marais and it’s lined with lots of big-box and thrift stores and also restaurants. There are lots of cool buildings along the way, including one you literally can’t miss, Hôtel de Ville. This massive building primarily serves as a government building, but they do occasionally have public exhibitions and guided tours.

Consider a detour off this main street to see Saint-Gervais church, Rue des Barres or Mémorial de la Shoah holocaust memorial. There are cute boutiques and some really interesting, really old buildings in this area.

Try to make it back to Rue de Rivoli by Saint Paul Station. If you have little ones, there’s a small carousel ride that might quickly become their favorite thing about their Paris trip.

Next up is the main square in Les Marais, Place des Vosges. It’s a perfectly square park that even has square trees! It’s a popular square that’s great people watching and relaxing.

Many reviews I read said that Place des Vosges was too crowded and to seek out less popular squares like Place Sainte-Catherine. I disagree. I think the energy at Place des Vosges is why you should go there.

Exit the park onto Rue des Francs Bourgeois, which another main shopping street. This one is features more high end designers and boutiques like Maje and Ted Baker.

Turn left onto Rue Pavée and then right on Rue des Rosiers and you’ll have found the soul of the Jewish Quarter. This short street is filled with jewish restaurants, bookshops and synagogues. There is so much history in this area if you know where to look. I’d highly recommend this article which talks about the history in much more depth.

If you’re hungry, this is a good place to pick up some falafel. L’As du Fallafel is the most popular pick.

Rue Vieille du Temple

Rue des Rosiers and the Jewish quarter ends at Rue Vieille du Temple. This is another photogenic shopping street with high-end boutiques and charming cafes.

Some of the cutest portions of this street are actually to the left between the Jewish Quarter and Rue de Rivoli. If you have time, walk a few blocks out of your way through that section. Alternatively, you can just turn right and head north right off the bat for an abridged version of this street.

When you run into a large 6-way interchange, turn left onto Rue de Bretagne. This street will lead you to Marché des Enfants Rouges, the oldest food market in Paris.

This market has vendors selling fresh produce and meats, but also full restaurants with bar and table service. It’s a popular place to get a meal in a unique setting.

Personally, this market didn’t do it for me. It was smaller than I expected (much smaller than Borough Market , which is what I was picturing) and nothing really stood out to me to try (granted, I’m a vegetarian). Instead of waiting for a table at the cramped restaurants, we walked a bit up the road and got pizza at a cafe. (Also uninspired, I know, but at least we were comfortable.)

Round out your time in Le Marais with a visit to Square du Temple. It’s a beautiful garden with a memorial to Elie Wlesel, playground and pond.

We actually had to cut our day a little short and didn’t make it all the way here, but I’d prioritize it next time.

• Visit a museum such as the National Archives Museum, Picasso Museum or the Museum of the Art and History of Judaism.
• Get cocktails! This area is known for it’s nightlife, but even an early drink in the area is fun. Try Candelaria (speakeasy) or read this list for best bars in the area.
• Head over La Coulée Verte Paris, an elevated garden on an old train line (similar in concept to the High Line in New York City)
• Start your next walk through Montmartre

Montmartre Walking Guide

Montmartre is often people’s favorite place in Paris and with good reason. It has winding cobble stone streets, artists painting portraits, views over most of Paris, and it’s literally topped off with a breathtaking basilica.

This is another area that can get a bad rap for being “too touristy,” but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go. This walking route will guide you through the main areas of the neighborhood, which yes, includes the tourist attractions along the way.

Montmartre isn’t just about the attractions, though. The best way to enjoy the area is simply to spend time there. By that I mean sit on the steps for awhile. Plan to get a meal at a street-side cafe. Go into the shops and stores. If you’re just checking off sights, the neighborhood will just pass you by.

For that reason, this walk is much shorter in distance than the first three. It’s just over a mile. The neighborhood isn’t that big, so even if you wander off the path, which is encouraged, you still won’t be covering too much distance. This walk can be covered in about half a day.

Montmartre Funicular

Sacré-cœur, place du tertre, rue de l’abreuvoir, le bateau-lavoir, moulin rouge.

• Dine at a charming cafe. Montmartre is dripping with Instagrammable cafes. Le Consulat, La Maison Rose, La Taverne de Montmartre and Le Potager are all highly rated and beautiful restaurants in the area.
• Take a mini Picasso tour . The renowned painter Pueblo Picasso lived and painted in Montmartre for many years. You can see his house, studio and favorite spots in the neighborhood. Here’s a great guide that details the history and exact locations of all things Picasso in Montmartre.
• Come during different times on different trips . During your first trip to Paris, I’d suggest visiting in the early afternoon when it’s the most busy, but then try different times during subsequent visits. Come in the evening and watch the sunset from the steps of Square Louise Michel. If you want to get a portrait, come around 11 when they set up for the best pick of artists.
• Plan your route wisely. If you look at Google maps, it’s easy to feel like you can move around the district pretty quickly. Be warned! The neighborhood of Montmartre has a huge hill in the middle, which is what Sacré-Cœur sits atop. I’d suggest taking the funicular up, seeing everything at the top at once, then working your way down as you explore the rest of the neighborhood.

Self-guided walk through Montmartre

This route begins in the center of the Montmartre neighborhood at the Abbesses subway station, which serves the 12 train. Alternatively, you could take the 2 train to Pigalle station and walk up Rue des Martyrs to Rue Yvonne le Tac.

Walk along Rue Yvonne le Tac and then Rue Tardieu till you reach the base of Square Louise Michel. Just about everyone will be making the same walk between Abbesses and the square, so the street is always lively.

A funicular is a type of cable-based train that is usually used on very steep hills, and Montmartre has one. There are several different stair cases that lead up the hill, including the notable steps up Square Louise Michel, but the funicular is the easiest way to get to the top.

The base of the Montmartre funicular is located here in the southwest corner of Square Louise Michel. You can use a Paris Metro travel card or single ride ticket to ride the funicular. There is a ticket kiosk near the entrance to the funicular where you can purchase a ticket if you don’t already have one. You cannot tap to pay with a credit card on Paris Metro transportation, including the funicular.

It’s a short trip to the top and a car departs every few minutes. The funicular just makes one stop, which is at the top of the hill here . When you exit, turn right and you’re just steps away from Sacré-Cœur.

Sacré-Cœur is the basilica at the top of Montmartre. The church was consecrated in 1919. It was initially proposed as a way for France to seek religious redemption for kidnapping the pope under Napoleon. (You can read about that wild story here .)

Sacré-Cœur is free to enter and is open daily from 6:30 AM – 10:30 PM. Inside there are several statues, stained glass windows, and an immaculate pipe organ built by the same person who built the organ for Notre Dame. The organ is played on Sundays during mass and evening prayer at 4PM. For a small fee — for which they accept credit cards or cash — you can light a prayer candle inside the church.

You can also go to the top of the dome at Sacré-Cœur. The dome is open everyday from 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM and costs €7 for adults. There is no elevator to the top, so you’ll need to be able to climb 300 steps. I’ve never actually been to the top of the dome because the views from the ground are so good.

Square Louise Michel

The basilica sits at the top of Square Louise Michel. Before you continue with this walk, take a short break on the steps here and enjoy the view.

The square is lined with steps which are always filled with people enjoying the sweeping views of Paris. There’s often street performers and hawkers selling beers right from the cardboard case. The cops will always come and shut them down, but they always come right back. It’s a fun dance.

This is one of my favorite views in Paris. It’s also a great place to see the sun set if you’re here in the evening.

Pass the church and make your way to Place du Tertre. The small streets along the way have lots of souvenir shops, food vendors like creperies and ice cream shops, and a couple small art galleries. I’d suggest walking, but there’s also a cute little train that you can take.

Place du Tertre has capitalized on the artsy past of this neighborhood. Today it’s filled with artist painting portraits and selling their work. The outside of the square is all open-air cafes filled with people sipping wine and people watching.

If you’re looking to get a portrait drawn, come around 11 when they’re setting up. The best artists can get lines quickly. If you’re just coming to observe, come in the afternoon when it’s the most crowded.

Leave (some of) the crowds behind and make your way down to Rue de l’Abreuvoir. This means taking a steep walk down the hill on Rue des Saules until you see the unmissable pink and green La Maison Rose restaurant.

If you go straight past it, you’ll actually see Clos Montmartre. It’s the oldest operating vineyard in Paris; not something you’d expect to find in the middle of a city. It is not typically open to the public (minus a few special tours throughout the year), but you can see the vines from the street.

Back at our pink restaurant, though, turn onto Rue de l’Abreuvoir.

This street is beautiful. There are stone walls dripping with ivy, charming Parisian buildings and cobblestone sidewalks. It’s a delightful stroll and photographer’s dream. It’s a short street and it ends at the statue of the boobs (aka Buste de Dalida).

Just around the corner you’ll hit Square Suzanne Buisson. If you need a break and/or if the kids want to play, make a pit stop here. It’s a small square, but it’s a good respite.

Next, make your way toward Place Émile Goudeau. The route in my map above will take you down a tiny alley, which may feel like the wrong way but isn’t. Just keep going and you’ll soon hit the cobblestone square.

The square looks out onto Le Bateau-Lavoir, which was the studio rented by Picasso when he moved to Paris. The original studio was destroyed, and the building today is the the renovated version. To this day, the building serves as an artists’ residence. It is not open for tours.

Even if you are not interested in art history, it’s still a cool place to say you’ve been. And at the very least, it’s a good signpost on your journey through the neighborhood.

Rue des Abbesses

As your Montmartre walking tour comes to an end, make your way back to the main street of Rue des Abbesses. You should arrive on the street not far from where you started at the train station. This time you’re going to go the other way. This section of the street has — you guessed it — shops and restaurants.

This stretch feels a bit less touristy than the other direction and is more practical stores versus souvenir shops. It’s a good place to get an ice cream or a glass of wine. Otherwise, this walk can probably be done briskly as you’re out of the more classical Montmartre area at this point.

While you’re in the area, it’s worth it to finish your day at Moulin Rouge. Yes, that Moulin Rouge.

The venue has been hosting shows and performances since 1889, and today operates as a dinner theater. For about €200 a person, you can enjoy a full meal and performance at this iconic theater.

Even if you don’t go inside, it’s worth it to see the marquee and legendary red windmill. There is a median in the middle of street where you can safely stand and take photos.

• Continue exploring Clichy Street, which is famous for its countless sex shops
• Walk over the suspension bridge at Parc des Buttes-Chaumont. To get there, take the 2 train from Blanche station across from Moulin Rouge to Colonel Fabien and then walk about 10 minutes to the park.
• Get cocktails at Lulu White, voted one of the best cocktail bars on Paris .
• Start your next walk around the Eiffel Tower

Eiffel Tower & the Seine Walking Guide

We’ve made it to the Eiffel Tower, and this walk is truly all about the Iron Lady. This section focuses on getting to the Eiffel Tower and enjoying all the best views of it. It’s a good idea to pair this walk with your visit to the Eiffel Tower, otherwise you may find portions of this walk redundant.

Technically, this walk in full is about 4 miles. That said, you can certainly make it much shorter by cutting down the portions on Rue Saint-Dominique and/or along the Seine.

Rue Saint-Dominique

Champ de mars, eiffel tower, trocadéro gardens, pont alexandre iii.

• Have a plan for getting Eiffel Tower tickets . If you’d like to go up into the Eiffel Tower in the afternoon or evening, be sure to book your ticket in advance. Tickets go on sale 60 days in advance and book up quick, especially for the summit. Otherwise, plan to arrive 15 to 30 minutes before the tower opens in the morning to beat the crowns.
• Start at Bleu Olive . This coffee shop is conveniently located near the start of Rue Cler. It’s a good option for breakfast to begin your day or for a coffee to take with you. Note: they’re closed on Sundays and don’t open till 10 AM on Saturday.
• Avoid Mondays. Many stores are closed on Mondays, which will make parts of this walk less fun.
• Take this walk in reverse . The walk along the Right Bank (north side) of the Seine offers stunning views of the Eiffel Tower. If you flip this route, you’ll be approaching the Eiffel tower and can enjoy the view the whole time.
• Bring a blanket. If you have a small packable picnic blanket , bring it on this walk. It’ll be nice to have if you spend time sitting on the grass at Trocadéro Gardens.
• Enjoy this walk in the evening . If you start around 2 or 3 PM (Tuesday – Saturday), you’ll enjoy a bustling market on Rue Cler and a lovely early evening at the Eiffel Tower. Watch the sun set from Trocadéro Gardens and then enjoy the City of Light by night as you walk along the Seine. Perfection.

Self-guided walk around the Eiffel Tower

The best place to start this walk is the La Tour-Maubourg station which serves the 8 train. If that’s not convenient, you can also take the 13 train to Varenne station. Head west on Rue de Grenelle until you reach Rue Cler.

Rue Cler is often said to be the most beautiful street in Paris. The market street is only one block long, but it’s jam packed with shops selling the freshest produce, local meat, French cheese, wine, pastries and more. It’s like it was made to build the perfect picnic basket to take to Champ de Mars.

Tuesday through Saturday the shops are open from 8 or 9 AM till about 7 PM. The market is only open until 2 PM on Sundays and nearly all the shops are closed on Mondays.

At the end of Rue Cler you’ll hit Rue Saint-Dominique. This street is lined with traditional Hausmann buildings, which is probably what you picture when you think of Paris. It’s a popular shopping street with Eiffel Tower views.

Most of the shopping is to your right, but the Eiffel tower is to your left. If you really are not interested in shopping or are pressed for time, you can turn left after Rue Cler and enjoy a smaller segment of this beautiful street. But if you have extra time, I’d recommend turning right so you get a bit more out of it. Continue walking until you hit Boulevard de la Tour-Maubourg. Then turn around and head back down Rue Saint-Dominique until you hit Champ de Mars.

Champ de Mars is iconic, but to be honest, it’s never what I want it to be. I always pictured it to be an open, flat park when you can have a picnic under the Eiffel Tower. However, there’s actually lots of trees and I feel like there’s always construction. I’d suggest walking through it, but if you’re looking for a place to sit I’d argue Trocadéro Gardens is better.

What Champ de Mars does offer, though, is a great approach to the Eiffel Tower. She looms large from this angle and you will be itching to visit the summit.

Ah yes. We’ve made it 7,000 words into this post before finally making it to the Eiffel Tower.

If you’re planning to go inside, be sure to check out my complete visitor guide to the Eiffel Tower . It has tips for where to enter, how to avoid lines, best floor order to visit the tower and more.

If you’re not planning to go to the top of the tower, you can still technically walk underneath it. To get there, you will need to pass through the security. Follow the signs for visitors who do not yet have tickets. After security, you’ll have access to the plaza at the base of the tower and can see it right up close. If you’re not going up, just skip the lines for the ticket office and proceed to an exit.

If you aren’t interested in passing underneath the Eiffel tower, you can simply walk around the outer perimeter and carry on to Pont d’Iéna. There’s also a carousel right by bridge, which is a highlight for children and Instagrammers alike.

If you ask me, the best views of the Eiffel Tower are from Trocadéro Gardens. This is the garden I picture when I think of picnics in front of the Eiffel Tower. From this hill, you’re treated to the best views of the tower, plus the Seine and its bridges. It has a great view of the tower any time, but one of my favorite times to come here is in the early evening when the sun sets and the tower starts to light up.

There’s lots of grass space to sit, so it’s nice to have a blanket. There’s also  food vendors at the base of the gardens, so pick up a crepes or drink before you head up the hill. You’ll also usually find hawkers unofficially selling Champagne and beer, which can actually be quite nice. It’s technically illegal to drink in Paris parks, but police are generally very lenient with beer and wine.

NOTE: In the provided map, Google does not think you can cross Avenue de New York at near the Eiffel Tower, but you can. There is a pedestrian walk sign at the street light here. So you can ignore that detour. 

Walk along the Seine

After you’ve enjoyed a good long sit at Trocadéro Gardens, continue your walk along the Seine for even more beautiful views of the Eiffel Tower. I like to the follow the north side of the river, which eventually becomes Jardin d’Erivan. This riverside garden is lined with trees which become truly stunning in the fall.

At each bridge you pass, turn around to get another epic view of the Eiffel Tower. You’ll pass three, counting Debilly Footbridge, before you get to Pont Alexandre III.

This decorative bridge was built in the late 1800s. It’s a lovely bridge, but mostly I note it here as one final amazing view of the Eiffel Tower. You can still see it from the next bridge too, but it really starts to hide at that point.

If you cross this bridge, you’ll head into Esplanade des Invalides which leads right back to where this walk began. Alternatively, if you turn left and head away from the river, you’ll pass between the Petit and Grand Palais and on to Champs-Élysées. And just like that, our walks have come full circle.

• Continue walking along the Seine, passing Tuileries Garden and onward toward the isles
• Take a boat cruise along the Seine and see Paris from a new perspective
• For a family dinner, get pizza at the hip and delicious Mokus l’Écureuil near Trocadéro Gardens

More From This Trip

• British Airways Business Class Review – 777 from JFK to LHR
• London Travel Guide
• Things to do in London with Kids – Family Travel Guide + Tips
• How to Use the London Underground – A Beginner’s Guide to the Tube
• Bankside Hotel London Review
• London Eye Visitor Guide – How to Visit the Iconic Ferris Wheel in London
• Stonehenge Visitor Guide + Inner Circle Tour Review
• Little Venice London Boat Ride Guide & Review
• Visiting London Transport Museum
• Complete Guide to Big Ben in London
• Borough Market Visitor Guide
• Best Views of Paris that Aren’t the Eiffel Tower
• Visit the Eiffel Tower in Paris – A Complete Guide
• Walking in Paris – 5 perfect walks through Paris with maps
• Paris with Kids – Planning Guide, Things To Do & Tips
• Montparnasse Tower Visitor Guide + Tips
• Amsterdam with Kids – Planning Guide, Things To Do & Sample Itinerary

Monday 28th of August 2023

thank you for actually being objective as to what you can skip! me & my feet appreciate it!

Thursday 7th of September 2023

Oh good! I'm happy to hear that! I hope you have a great trip!

Tuesday 21st of March 2023

This is a stunning post. Top marks for the maps of the routes! And a great read. Thank you.

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One Day in Paris France – A Free Self Guided Walking Tour of Paris

There’s nothing better than taking the time to stroll around a beautiful city and delight in its ambience. And there’s no better city to indulge in such a pastime than Paris. After all, this is the birthplace of flâneur – the word the French use to describe the act of strolling idly; sauntering, while observing the goings-on around you.

Usually, my time in Paris is limited to rushed stopovers. But recently I got to spend an afternoon getting reacquainted with “la Ville Lumière”. And it was while practising the art of flânerie that I was able to rediscover the highlights of Paris organically, without an agenda.

What unfolded was a beautiful free walking tour of Paris, taking in some of the city’s most pleasurable sights.

Free Paris Walking Tour Map

If you want to maximise your time in Paris, getting the train is a great alternative to flying. Forget check-in times, collecting baggage and having to schlep into central Paris on the metro or bus. The TGV or Eurostar will drop you right near the heart of Paris. Both the Gare de Lyon or Gare du Nord train stations are a fantastic place to start a walking tour of Paris.

The self-guided walking tour of Paris mapped out below starts from the Gare de Lyon and could take as little as an afternoon (if you don’t linger too long at any one-stop) or the entire day if you take time to appreciate each site. Walking is a great way to explore the city and get your bearings – and it’s so much more fun than taking the metro!

Total walk = 12km / 2.3 hours 

Get your free printable version of this map here.

One Day Tour of Paris

Stop #1 bastille.

A swift 10-minute walk from Paris’s Gare de Lyon station will have you outside the Place de la Bastille. Once the site of a prison, it was stormed on what is now known as “Bastille Day” and destroyed during the French Revolution.

While you can still see the outline of the prison marked on the ground, now all that stands here is the 52m high  Colonne de Juillet – a tribute to the 504 lives lost during another revolution in 1830. From the Place de la Bastille you can take a short detour along the Bassin de l’Arsenal to see the colourful houseboats moored at its banks.

Stop #2 Le Marais

If you had to choose just one district of Paris to explore, my advice would be to park yourself in Le Marais. With oodles of old-world charm wrapped in a layer of style and luxury, Le Marais offers the quintessential Paris experience.

Browse the boutiques, soak up the sun in a leafy park, or station yourself in a cafe to watch the passersby. Whatever you do in Le Marais, you’ll be sure to have experienced Paris at its finest.

Stop #3 Hotel de Ville and the Circular Pavilion

The Hotel de Ville is a city hall on a grande scale. Its intricate exterior is only surpassed in beauty by the artwork on display inside the impressive building. Located on the banks of the Seine, the square that houses the Hotel de Ville makes the perfect resting spot and regularly holds concerts and seasonal events throughout the year.

Hearing the name “Circular Pavilion” might have you imagining an entirely different building. Deceivingly, the angular construction completely defies its name. Instead, ‘circular’ comes from the idea of recycling and up-cycling. A message reflected by the use of recycled materials used in its construction.  

The sight of the recycled door  façade  against the flamboyant nature of the Hotel de Ville makes a startling contrast!

Stop #4 Notre Dame

The Cathedral of Notre Dame is one of France’s most famous landmarks . Situated on the Île de la Cité – a natural island in the River Seine – it’s just a short walk from the Hotel de Ville over the Pont d’Arcole. Stop here to admire the building’s amazingly detailed sculpture work, gothic style, and grandiose structure that took over 170 years to build.

It’s worth venturing inside (entrance is free) if only to appreciate the stunning effect of the stained glass windows.*

*Sadly, the cathedral is currently closed due to the devastating fires of 2019.

Stop #5 Pont Neuf

At the opposite end of the Île de la Cité you’ll discover Pont Neuf – the oldest bridge in Paris. Although it’s perhaps preferable to admire it from afar – in order to take in the 12 arches that support the structure – walking over the Pont Neuf is an experience also.

As I heard one passerby explain, “the Pont Neuf used to be the Eiffel Tower of Paris”. Meaning, before Paris’s iconic landmark was around, the Pont Neuf was the city’s most famous attraction.

These days it has taken over as the prime spot for placing ‘love locks’ – padlocks adorned with lovers names before being affixed to the bridge. An honour that used to belong to the nearby Pont des Arts until they were removed due to safety concerns.

Stop #6 Louvre Palace & Pyramid

If you’ve only got 1 day in Paris, you probably won’t have the chance to appreciate the works on display inside the world’s largest museum – the Louvre. But you’ll still be able to admire the architecture of the Louvre from the outside!

Napoleon Courtyard, framed by the Louvre Palace, is an amazing place to sit and soak up the atmosphere. Often you’ll be accompanied by the melodic harmony of a busker or two, and always by the sounds of several dialects being spoken around you.

The Louvre Pyramid, which is actually the biggest of five pyramids onsite, serves as the entrance to the museum. Designed by Ieoh Ming Pei, the architect behind the  Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar, it was constructed to the same proportions as the Pyramid of Giza. It consists of 673 glass panels in the shape of diamonds and triangles – giving the effect of sparkling jewels as it reflects the light.

Read more about the Louvre Palace here.

Stop #7 Tuileries Garden

A short jaunt across the road from the Louvre Museum will have you crossing the Carousel Gardens and entering the Tuileries Garden. This formal French garden in the centre of Paris is accentuated with ponds, fountains and statues. 

Pull one of the iconic green metal chairs to the water’s edge and settle in for the afternoon with a good book, or to watch Paris’ younger residents sailing model boats. In the hottest months, seek shade in one of the benches tucked under rows of leafy green trees.

Stop #8 Place de la Concorde

The eighth stop on your Paris walking tour, the Place de la Concorde, lies in between the Tuileries Gardens and the Champs-Élysées. Even though it’s called a ‘square’, Place de la Concorde takes on the form of an Octagon. At the eight points surrounding the square is a monument representing a French city; Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Nantes, Brest, Rouen, Lille and Strasbourg. And it’s in the middle of the square you’ll find the oldest monument in Paris – the Luxor Obelisk.

At over 3,300 years old, this Egyptian obelisk was transferred to Paris in 1833 – taking a ginormous effort in those times. On either side of the obelisk, you can see the Fontaine des Mers and the Fontaine des Fleuves. Despite so much to see in the area, it’s not the most serene area to go for a stroll – with multiple lanes of traffic heaving through the square with every green light.

Stop #9 Champs-Élysées

While the Jardins des Champs-Elysées at the lower end of the avenue are very much worthy of a Sunday stroll, it’s been said that the Champs-Élysées has had its heyday. Now it’s a hub for the fashion stores and cafés which line either side of the almost 2km long avenue.

In any case, tourists still flock here in droves and it does still hold the charm of yesteryear – most noticeably when you look up! In the middle of the road (take care when crossing!) you’ll be met with an outstanding view of the avenue and the Arc de Triomphe in the distance.

Stop #10 Arc de Triomphe

At the upper end of the Champs-Elysées lies the Arc de Triomphe. The Arch, which is the biggest in the world, was commissioned by Napoleon and completed in 1836. It’s difficult to judge from afar just how mammoth a structure it is until you stand underneath it. At just shy of 50m, the Arc de Triomphe towers over the Place Charles de Gaulle, making people and cars look miniature at its foot.

The Arc is a full-scale attraction, with a museum, tours and viewing platform – plan some time to visit if you can. The viewing platform offers the one the best views over Paris (including a great perspective of the Eiffel Tower) and the Champs-Elysées.

Stop #11 Jardins du Trocadéro

From the terrace of the Palais de Chaillot you’ll have a fantastic view over the Jardins du Trocadéro, and of course, the Eiffel Tower which looks almost surreal as it appears in front of you. Try not to get too sidetracked from the gardens though, as they offer an incredible experience in their own right.

The Fountain of Warsaw is the main feature of the gardens – a large mirror-like basin in which multiple fountains shoot water up to 12m in the air. In summer, the garden creates a spectacle as lights illuminate the fountains from below.

If visiting Paris with kids , there is a playground right next door and a carousel to delight the little ones .

Stop #12 Eiffel Tower

The last stop on your self-guided walking tour of Paris, the Eiffel Tower, is the most iconic landmark in the city of lights! You can see it rising up above the slate grey rooftops around the city, but seeing it up close is another experience entirely.

While taking the elevator to the summit offers a breathtaking birds-eye view of the city, the best way to view the tower itself is to make yourself comfortable in the park below. The Champ de Mars park extends out in front of the tower and is the perfect place for a picnic, impromptu game of boules, or simply enjoying the convivial atmosphere.

And there you have it, your one day tour in Paris has come to an end! If you have the time, I’d recommend hanging out at the last stop until sunset so you can experience the magic of the Eiffel Tower at night (it’s one of the loveliest things to do on an evening in Paris !). And then once you’re ready to rest your weary feet, there is a few Metro stops close by.

The Champ de Mars/Tour Eiffel is the closest, followed by Bir-Hakeim and Ecole Militaire.

Essentials for your Free Walking Tour of Paris

For walking tours in Paris, there are a few things you’ll need to take with you to make the most of your one day in Paris:

• A quality, lightweight camera – I recommend the Sony A6000
• A phone to use Google Maps, or you can print out the map (above) ahead of time. Keep a map of the metro lines handy too.
• A reusable water bottle – you can fill it up at drinking fountains en route.
• A few euros. Don’t rely on cards, as some places won’t accept them for small items. Also, you’ll need coins for the public toilets in popular spots.
• Keep cool and look the part with a lightweight linen dress, sandals and sunnies. And don’t forget a travel-safe purse for carrying the items above!

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23 comments.

Brilliant itinerary Nadine! I’ve never followed a walking route through Paris and this is a great way to see the ‘big’ sights in one go. Loved your photos and tips too – it makes me want to jump on Eurostar immediately!

Thanks Nancy! Walking is such a great way to get around – as you normally end up discovering a few surprises on the way too (whether by accident or not!). Keep an eye out for some cheap tickets 😉

This is the walking tour that I usually propose when I have guests (usually starting from Notre Dame) on a Paris Getaway. The thing is that when we arrive at Pont Alexandre III they are so destroyed that they are just happy watching the Eiffel Tower from the right bank :-))

I can’t wait to use your tour, but perhaps you should align your map points (letters) with your text points (numbers)!! Thanks!

Hi Kiim, Good point about the letters/numbers, thanks! I’ll fix that up asap. I’m also working on a cool printable map to go with this post so stay tuned 🙂

We loved your walk Nadine. It gave us and our teenager a great day out, we did some shopping and we saw some great Parisienne landmarks.

Hi Liz, Oh, I’m so glad you enjoyed the walk! Thanks for letting me know my plan was useful 🙂

This was an amazing and spot on walking tour. We followed everything that we wanted to see plus we expirience other sites that were along the way like Iglesi Saint Paul – Saint Louis which was an amazing find beautiful church. This made our only day in Paris amazing and we took into consideration on what to bring along for the long journey. Thank you Nadine

Oh, that’s such lovely feedback Saul! I’m so glad the walking tour helped you to enjoy your time in Paris 🙂

Wonderful itinerary. Thanks ❤️❤️❤️

You’re very welcome 🙂

Hi Nadine I just did the same a day in Paris walk tour as mentioned by yourself – thank you for putting this together as it helped me make most of my short time – notes made me feel I was on a guided tour. – le Marais was amazing totally unexpected

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience

Hi Nandu, thanks for the feedback! I’m so glad this walking tour helped you enjoy your time in Paris!

Its going to be my 2nd visit to Paris, and I am already sure that this walk is going to be even more fun than the HoHo bus ride we took last time. The map is part of my travel pouch already. Thanks in advance. You are doing a great job!

Awesome! I’m sure you’ll have a great time 🙂

This was amazing! Must say it is very long so be prepared for that. I combined it with the new Lime Scooter rentals in Paris, and it made it much easier. I would recommend this to anyone because I feel like I’ve seen almost everything in one day! I will say this though a if you plan on stopping and visiting many of the stops, this will take you more than one day. I only went up the Eiffel Tower at the end and it was still a 6 hour mission. Would be great split into two days if you wanted to go into places like the Notre Dame and the Arc de Triumph. Overall it was amazing and I would definetly recommend it!

Yes, it’s a long walk for sure – my feet were quite sore by the end (but I didn’t wear appropriate footwear!). You could absolutely break it down and do it over a few days to allow time for sightseeing on the way. Thanks for your comment!

Hello Nadine, Thank you for the itinerary! This will be a lifesaver. We only have one day in Paris, and this will ensure we get to see the best parts for sure! I see that you have it listed as a 2.5 hour walk, but realistically, (like Hannah posted above), how long would it take if we were to stop at the landmarks? I guess I could do the math, add a half-hour here, and an hour there, but I was just wondering if you had a good idea from feedback you might have received. Thanks!

Hi Patrick, I came up with this itinerary from doing the walk myself and it took a full afternoon with stops for lunch, browsing, to look at landmarks etc. So around 12pm – 7pm. You could most definitely cover it all in a full day if you don’t spend more than an hour at each stop. Hope that helps!

This looks like a great walking route! I’ve been looking for something like this as we’ll be walking with our dog & kids so we’ll take it slow. Do you know specifically if any of the points on your itinerary don’t allow dog access?

Sorry, I don’t know that specifically. But Travelnuity has a great guide on visiting Paris with dogs which may help you. You can find it here .

Thank you very much for your amazing job, Nadine. We visited Paris many years ago, but we didn’t have such a great tool. We’ll be in Paris again, just in four days, and thanks to you now we know what we will do on the first day!

That’s great Michael – hope you love the walk!

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19 Best Paris Walking Tours

From ancient Roman times to the medieval period to the French Revolution to the 20th century World Wars, history has stacked on top of itself in key locations all over Paris. Find out exactly where to retrace the steps of the famous—and infamous—throughout the City of Lights, from royal gardens to market streets and grand boulevards. On these walks, which range from short and scenic to long and layered, you'll do it all: go canal-side, where the guillotine fell, find out where famous painters lived and died, and much more. Our list of Paris' best historic walks has something for ever level of history-lover.

Jardin des Tuileries Arrow

This sprawling, spectacular park is the beating heart of Paris' public spaces. Standing proudly between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde, and along much of the Seine's Right Bank in the 1st Arrondissement, Tuileries Garden ("Jardin des Tuileries") has a history as long and distinguished as it is impressive, from its inception as an aristocratic playground in the 16th century, to becoming a public space in the 17th century, to serving as the site of numerous French Revolution skirmishes in the 18th century. With more than 55 acres, the park offers plenty of room to stroll and lots of photo ops. Keep an eye out for Auguste Rodin's iconic "Le Baiser" ("The Kiss") on the West Terrace. If you have anywhere to go in this part of Paris, skip the taxi or the metro and walk there on foot through the Tuileries. You'll see something different every time.

Place de la Concorde Arrow

Place de la Concorde is the largest public square in Paris, originally created in honor of Louis IV but probably best known for being the spot of the French Revolution's guillotine executions, including his successor Louis XVI. This majestic spot connects the end of the Tuileries Gardens and the beginning of the Champs-Élysées. The Luxor Obelisk, an ancient Egyptian obelisk mounted in the place in the 1830s, anchors the open space. It's a busy intersection of multiple streets, so expect traffic on your way to cross to see the obelisk and the gorgeous lateral views.

Place de la Bastille Arrow

The Place de Bastille is an open square where the infamous Bastille prison once stood—and fell, igniting the French Revolution. The Colonne de Juillet in the center commemorates the revolution of 1830, as well. This is a spot that is heavily trafficked by Parisians, whether heading out for dinner, shopping, or home. You'll see a broad cross-section of the city there, which is a nice counter-balance to the weighty historical events that have unfolded there.

Île Saint-Louis Arrow

Île Saint-Louis is known for the elegance and grandeur of its hôtel particuliers, developed by builder Christophe Marie and designed by Louis Vau (the architect of Versailles). Built over a 30 year period in the 17th century, the houses on the island diverged from the typical wealthy homes of the time by focusing on the views outward over the Seine, rather than into an interior courtyard. The island, which was originally two natural islands that were combined in a feat of engineering, remain pristine examples of architecture from the 17th and 18th centuries. Architecture and design buffs will love the island for its historical importance, but also for the quality of the buildings like the famed Hotel Lambert. And of course, the views are unparalleled.

Jardin des Plantes Arrow

The Jardins des Plantes, or Botanical Gardens, is a popular park for families (members of all ages!) to visit. Not only are the trees and plants gorgeous to explore, but the garden is part of the National Museum of Natural History (Muséum Nationale d'Histoire Naturelle) so there are multiple exhibition spaces throughout, as well as a zoo. Built in 1898 for the World's Fair, the structure housing the Galerie de Paléontologie et d’Anatomie is also worth seeing for the historic architecture, and the kids will enjoy seeing the dinosaur skeletons inside!

Pont Alexandre III Arrow

This ornate and elaborate bridge was inaugurated in 1900 to time with the Exposition Universelle in 1900, echoing the Beaux-Arts style of the Grand Palais and the Petit Palais it leads to. The name of the bridge commemorates the signing of the Franco-Russian Alliance of 1892, signed by Tsar Alexander III. During the day, the bridge is a major crossing between the Left and Right banks. On the Rive Droite, you alight at the Grand Palais and the Petit Palais, leading to the Champs-Élysees. On the Rive Gauche, you arrive at the grassy expanse of the Invalides. That means you'll pass a mix of tourists and locals day and night, many of whom stop and take photos.

Canal Saint-Martin Arrow

Canal Saint-Martin runs through one of the hippest neighborhoods in Paris. While the canal itself was commissioned in 1802 by Napoleon I to bring fresh water into the city, the vibe is distinctly contemporary with some of Paris's hottest restaurants, cafés and bars scattered alongside it. The contrast of the urban (think graffiti) with the placid (think canal tour boats) is one of the distinct charms of the walk.

Place de Furstenberg Arrow

Built in the 6th century, Place de Furstenberg (technically a road, not a plaza) was originally attached to the Saint-Germain-des-Prés Abbey. It owes its current name and form to Cardinal Guillaume-Egon de Furstenberg, who initiated a renovation and extension to the Abbatial Palace in 1586. The main reason most tourists will find themselves in the Place de Furstenberg is if they are visiting the Musée National Eugène Delacroix. The famous French painter lived on the Rue de Furstenberg and his former home has been converted into a popular museum dedicated to his work.

Place des Vosges Arrow

Nestled in the side streets of the charming and hip Marais, the Place de Vosges is the oldest square in Paris (it was originally part of Henri II and Catherine de Medici's palace before being opened up to the public by Henri IV). Ringed on all sides by arched walkways and red brick buildings, the square has a symmetrical layout of trees leading into a central garden. You'll often find students picnicking or studying while small children run through the dusty paths. It's a perfect landmark to orient yourself around in the popular neighborhood.

Place de la République Arrow

The Place de la République is now the largest public plaza in Paris, following a renovation that was finished in 2013. Originally known as the Place du Château d’Eau, the plaza took on its current rectangular shape under Haussmann. At 918 feet by 394 feet, the plaza is a large gathering place for Parisians thanks to family-friendly activities and a café with outdoor seating. While you walk to see the famous statue of Marianne (the female embodiment of the French Republic) in the center of the plaza, you'll see a mix of Parisians and tourists utilizing the space.

Quai Voltaire Arrow

Walking along the Seine is always magical, but the Quai Voltaire on the Left Bank offers the extra-charming addition of les bouquinistes, the beloved booksellers that have wooden stands along the elevated sidewalk. Catch long views over the Seine towards the Louvre to the west and Notre Dame on the east, or turn away from the river to gaze at the buildings on the south side of the street, which include the art shop Sennelier, frequented by artists from Cézanne to Picasso.

Marché Président Wilson Arrow

The Marché Président Wilson (a.k.a. Marché d'Alma) is the largest of the open air food markets in Paris, popping up in the 16th Arrondissement every Wednesday and Saturday. You'll find a mostly local crowd strolling through the stalls packed with every cheese, meat, fruit and vegetable to choose from, with many vendors having been at the market for years. Running alongside the market are several top museums if you want to combine art and food—spot cutting-edge art at the Palais de Tokyo and fashion at the Palais Galliera.

Parc des Buttes-Chaumont Arrow

Unlike most of the rest of the major parks in Paris, this is a natural space without any rigid formality. The 62-acre park, opened in 1867 as part of the Paris Universal Exposition, is built on a former quarry; there are rocky elevations to traipse up with amazing views of the city, including Sacre Couer in nearby Montmartre. And seeing as it's in the 19th arrondissement, you can expect an authentic Parisian experience, off the beaten tourist path—you'll likely need to take a quick metro or taxi ride to get there.

Place du Trocadéro Arrow

This is Paris on a grand scale. The Place du Trocadéro sits in the midst of the curving wings of the Palais de Chaillot, before giving way to the sloping Jardins du Trocadéro below. With perhaps the best view of the Eiffel Tower in the city (you are elevated directly across the Seine from it), you are constantly experiencing multiple historical eras at once. Stroll easily across the open place or take a meandering walk through the garden (more exercise if you reverse the order and work your way up.)

Rue Saint-Jacques Arrow

One of the oldest (if not the very oldest) street in Paris dates back to when it was a major artery of the Roman city Lutetia, well-traveled in medieval time by those making the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, which housed the remains of the apostle Saint James. Nowadays, Rue Saint-Jacques cuts through the Sorbonne, offering up plenty of student foot traffic throughout the day. You'll be excused for your own intellectual curiosity in looking at the buildings where many of France's first printing presses were located, a claim to fame for the street.

Galerie Vivienne Arrow

Galerie Vivienne is a covered shopping arcade, originally built in 1823 and designed by architect François-Jean Delannoy. It remains open to the public for shopping in a mix of high-end boutiques (Jean-Paul Gaultier opened his first flagship in the arcade in 1986, for example). The glass and steel roof lets in sunlight down to the mosaic floors, making this a uniquely beautiful way to shop and stroll on your way to the nearby Palais-Royal .

Rue des Rosiers Arrow

Rue des Rosiers was the main street of the Jewish portion of Paris (known in Yiddish as "Pletzl"). While the Marais is no longer a Jewish neighborhood, traces of the original inhabitants remain on this pedestrian street, now filled with chic boutiques sitting alongside traditional bakeries. Young Parisians flock to the stores for shopping outings, while tourists often come for strudel and bagels at longtime establishments like Sacha Finkelsztajn.

Square René-Viviani Arrow

Square René-Viviani is a charming and intimate garden (named for a former Prime Minister of France), offering spectacular views of the nearby Notre Dame Cathedral. The star of the square is the oldest living tree in Paris, a black locust, said to have been planted in 1601 by Jean Robin, who was the herbalist and gardener to Henri III, Henri IV, and Louis XII. There is also a fountain, created by artist Georges Jeanclos, that tells the story of St. Julien but also stands to commemorate the Jewish children killed during the Vichy regime.

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Best things to see and do in Paris

Paris is the capital of France and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the entire world. It is one of the places highest on the list of cities you should visit at least once in your life because of everything it has to offer culturally, in terms of its monuments, architecture, and cuisine. In addition to the main attractions of the city like the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, or the Montmartre and Le Marais neighborhoods, take a free walking tour to get to discover some of the lesser-known parts of the city where the River Seine flows. 

On any of the free guided tours we offer in Paris , you will be able to find a large selection of unmissable places to visit with your local guide who will show you the hidden charms and the way of life of this amazing city. You can’t leave Paris without having gone to visit the Saint Chapelle Church, the Louvre Museum, the gardens of Champs Elysées, Sacré Coeur Basilica, Pont Neuf (the New Bridge) over the Seine, Luxembourg Gardens, the Parisian Catacombs,  Vendome Square, Les Halles Market, the Pompidou Center, Orsay Museum, the Arc de Triomphe, the Latin Neighborhood, Tuileries Gardens, the Galleries Lafayette, Garnier Opera, or the Pere Lachaise Cemetery. 

Many travelers leave their reviews and opinions after having done their free walking tour in Paris (in the morning or afternoon) and they evaluate the route and their experience with the local guide. After, there may be other cities you want to visit and do a guided tour with a local guru like Bordeaux, Toulouse, Marseille, or Nice. 

What is included in the Essential Free Tour of Paris?

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• Free walking tour in Berlin
• Free walking tour in Prague
• Free walking tour in Florence
• Free walking tour in Ljubljana
• Free walking tour in Copenhagen
• Free walking tour in Ghent
• Free walking tour in Bruges
• Free walking tour in Antwerp

Find other guruwalks in Paris

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Free Walking Tours Paris

We are a group of local Paris walking tour guides who lead daily walking tours throughout the City of Light.

These outings are essentially pay-what-you-wish services, which means you can feel free to tip however much you feel the tour was worth.

This is a very walkable city, and with its extensive Metro system, walking tours are a great way to explore it.

There are generally 4 subjects/neighborhoods where you can take free walking tours of Paris: an intro to Paris overview tour, tours of the Latin Quarter , Montmartre , and Le Marais .

We have also written several self-guided walks as well as audio tours of the city.

And, in the video below, Romain, one of our local guides, takes you on a virtual walk of central Paris.

This post provides information about your options, provide schedules, and explain what you will see on each tour.

If you have any additional questions, make sure to check our Facebook Group for more information.

We hope to see you on one of our tours.

TOUR CALENDAR

Below is a calendar of some of the great walking tours available in Paris, all from local guides.

This schedule is for tours in English. Click here for tours in other languages , such as Spanish, French, German, or Italian. .  READ OUR GROUP POLICY  (bookings more than 4 people)

Searching Availability...

More Tour Options?  More tours are available in the individual tour sections below.

• Overview and Schedule
• Alternative
• Self-Guided

ÎLE de la CITE, RIGHT BANK, AND LANDMARKS TOURS

The Île de la Cité and the Right Bank of the River Seine hold many of the most famous landmarks in Paris, as well as its most beautiful architecture.

Some of the top attractions include Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Champs-Élysées, with great views of the Eiffel Tower.

If you are new to Paris, this should be the first tour that you take.

It will help you get a sense of the city centre and the general history of Paris.

These tours also give you a great overview of the biggest Parisian photo ops.

Discover Walks

Treat yourself to an introduction to Champs Elysées, the Louvre Museum, Arc de Triomphe, and the Eiffel Tower, all in 90 minutes.

The tour takes place Fridays through Mondays at 10:00 am.

The tour starts in front of the Orangerie Museum entrance.

Highlights:

• Photo ops: Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysées and Montmartre
• 3 of the world’s greatest museums: Louvre, Orsay, and the Orangerie
• The haunts of Coco Chanel, Hemingway, and Princess Diana
• Place Vendôme and Napoleon’s great column
• Some of the world’s most exclusive hotels: Crillon, Meurice, Ritz, and now Mandarin Oriental
• Your guide: a born-and-raised Parisian who will bring Paris to life
• Book this tour from the calendar above .

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Discover Walks (@discoverwalks)

This free walking tour of Paris offers a regular tour throughout the city of Paris, touching on several notable landmarks and sites along the way.

The tour lasts for approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes, departing daily at 10:30 am, 13:00 am, 15:00 am, and 19:00 pm and sometimes at 11:00 am.

The meeting point of this tour is Hotel de Ville , outside the metro at exit 5, next to the Paris tourist office.

Book this tour or learn more .

Free Tours by Foot

If the above schedule doesn’t work for you, take a look at the tours we have listed for the banks of the Seine.

We have a 19-stop self-guided walking tour you can use to guide your exploration of the Right Bank and its many landmarks. 

LEFT BANK / LATIN QUARTER TOURS

The Latin Quarter is also known as the 5th Arrondissement and got its nickname due to Sorbonne University and the students who lived in the area studying Latin.

Here are the walking tours available in this bookshop and cafe-filled neighborhood. 

Discover Walks offers a 90-minute Latin Quarter tour to explore where students have lived and studied for the last 1,000 years.

Highlights include Sorbonne University, student cafes, Hemingway’s favorite places, and an interesting view of the Eiffel Tower. 

The tour lasts for around 90 minutes and the meeting point of the tour is 77 rue Galande, outside “ Odette ”.

Times: 

• Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays at 14:30 pm
• Also on some dates on Tuesday - Friday at 14:30 pm

Additional Tour Companies

There are a few additional companies that offer free walking tours going through the Latin Quarter and along the banks of the Seine, which you can find here . 

If you want to see the Latin Quarter on your own, we offer a great self-guided walking tour .

You can start whenever your schedule allows and you can take as much or as little time as you want at each stop!

Montmartre Tours

If you’re looking for a romantic atmosphere in Paris, you’ll find it in Montmartre, where artistic geniuses of decades past once lived and found their inspiration.

Get ready to follow in the footsteps of artistic legends such as Salvador Dali, Edgar Degas, and Ernest Hemingway, among several others.

And, in the video below, Romain, one of our local guides, takes you on a virtual walk of Montmartre.

Most tours will visit similar sights, including:

• Sacré Coeur
• Moulin Rouge
• Place Pigalle
• Café des Deux Moulins
• Vincent Van Gogh’s House
• Saint-Denis Statue
• Place du Tertre
• Murs de j’taime – The love wall

Be sure to read our post on  things to do in Montmartre  for tips on planning your visit.

We offer a GPS-led  audio tour of Montmarte , developed and narrated by a local tour guide, that you can take any time you wish (no tips expected). 

We list the most famous hangout spots of artistic geniuses, and neighborhood hidden gems, and take you past the Moulin Rouge. 

In addition to this option, we also have a self-guided Montmartre tour which you can take whenever you want!

This company offers an in-depth daily tour of Montmartre at 11:00 am, 14:30 pm, and 17:00 pm each day. The tour lasts for approximately 1 hour and 30 min.

The tour begins outside Metro Blanche , at street level and your tour guide will be waiting wearing a pink vest.

Eva Tours - Civitatis

In addition to their main free tour of Paris, this tour guide also offers a regular tour of Montmartre daily at 11:00 am, 17:00 (5 pm), and sometimes at 12:00 pm.

This tour lasts for approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes and the tour starts from Metro Blanche .

If you are looking for a  smaller group experience , we have several options listed through the link.

FREE TOUR OF LE MARAIS

Marais is currently one of the most trendy neighborhoods in the city.

This section lists the tours you can take to see how Paris has blended old, privileged townhomes with today’s trendy fashion. 

You’ll see the townhouses of the French aristocracy, fashionable gardens, the Jewish pletzl, and fashionable shops. 

See how Paris combines the past aristocratic neighborhood with current, trendy galleries and fashion spots on this Discover Walks free tour of Marais.

Tour last for around 90 minutes and it starts outside “square Albert Schweitzer” garden, near Métro station Pont-Marie (metro line 7) at street level (at 18 rue de l’hôtel de ville).

• Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays at 10:00 am and 2:30 pm

ALTERNATIVE PARIS TOURS

If you're looking for a free tour of Paris that will reveal a different side of the city, there are a few different options worth considering.

While some alternative tours focus on popular television shows set in this city, others are all about the darker, lesser-known aspects of its history.

Miryam & Luzy Tours

This group of tour guides offers a special free tour that covers some of the most notable sites seen in the hit television show Emily in Paris.

This tour is offered every Sunday, Wednesday & Friday at 10:30 am. It's approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes long.

It starts from 12 Pl. du Panthéon, 75005 .

Your guide will be on the Pantheon square, right at the entrance by the fence with a pink Emily in Paris t-shirt.

In addition to their other free tours of Paris, this tour guide also provides an outing that covers the mysteries and legends of the city.

You can take this tour on Wednesday at 18:30 (6:30 pm), and it is approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes long.

The tour starts from Pl. Saint-Michel, 75006 , and the guide will be there in front of the fountain Saint Michel with a Pink Umbrella.

SELF-GUIDED TOURS

This section lists the free walking tours of Paris that you can take on your own, without worrying about meeting up with a guide at a specific time. 

And since there are no free night tours in the City of Lights, our narrated audio tours are a great option to tour Paris at night.

We offer multiple written self-guided tours that will help you get the most out of your time in Paris.

You can pick and choose what you’re interested in or combine them to get to know Paris as well as you can without becoming a resident.

• Montmartre Self-Guided Tour  (also available as a GPS-led audio tour)
• Latin Quarter Self-Guided Tour
• Right Bank Self-Guided Tour

Self-Guided Exploration Game

Although these services aren't free, you may want to consider them if you're interested in discovering Paris from an interesting perspective.

These games task you with solving a mystery, providing clues that you'll find at various locations throughout the city.

While the typical price is €10 per game, these outings sometimes go on sale for as little as €1, and if you were planning to offer a tip during any free walking tour in the city, chances are this fits into your budget.

Here are the self-guided exploration games currently available in Paris:

• The Mona Lisa Curse
• Lovers of Montmartre
• Edith Piaf's Musical Paris
• Save the Statues of Parc Montsouris

Tourist Attraction Passes and Special Offers

An easy way to get a small group tour for free is by purchasing a tourist attraction pass .

These passes work by bundling tickets together so you get a cheaper price overall for all your sightseeing and attraction visits in the city.

The all-inclusive Paris Pass and TurboPass both offer free walking tours with your purchase.

You can also choose various walking tours with the Explorer Pass . 

If you’re already interested in a hop-on-hop-off bus tour, you can find combo tickets that include other sightseeing tours in Paris. 

Tips From Locals and Travelers

We believe in the quality of both our tours and those offered by the companies listed above, but there's always a possibility that we may have a bias.

As such, it's a good idea to get a variety of perspectives. Thankfully, we have a Facebook Group called Paris Travel Tips where you can ask any question you might have related to traveling to this beautiful city.

Here are a few reviews from people who have taken one of the tours listed in this post:

Discover Walks is undoubtedly one of the most popular companies in Paris offering free walking tours of the city.

Moni here has actually taken three of their tours, because they enjoyed the experience so much!

Food tours are also quite popular, because they give you a chance to sample some of the best French cuisine that Paris has to offer while you're learning about the city.

We're always very happy to see reviews like this on our page, because it means we're doing our job well!

Our tour guides are some of the best in the industry, and it shows when you look at all the glowing comments about their outings.

Here's another example of positive comments about Discovery Walks, and for what it's worth, we agree!

It's not uncommon for travelers to describe these walking tours as one of the best parts of their trip.

If you're looking for even more reviews, or you want to ask a question about any of the Paris walking tours listed in this post, make sure to visit our Paris Travel Tips Facebook Group.

We also offer free tours in many cities around the globe . Here are just a few.

And much, much more

North america, united kingdom & ireland, middle east & india, asia & oceania.

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Paris walking tours

Occupation and Liberation of Paris, from 1940 to 1944

Relive the period that marked French history 80 years ago, and immerse yourself in the historical and political context of the Occupation of Paris in the 20th century, on this unforgettable guided tour. N.B. : The visit with a scheduled date is only available for 2 people or more (from €140).

Sing'In Montmartre

The guide and singer Anne-Sophie Guerrier brings you on a musical journey through Montmartre. This visit will retrace the life of famous singers who lived in the neightborhood : Édith Piaf, Charles Aznavour, Jacques Brel, Dalida...

Midnight in Paris movie tour

Join Juliette Dubois on her movie-themed Ciné-Balade tour of the Latin Quarter and discover the locations that inspired Woody Allen for his film ‘Midnight in Paris’. Travel back to the Paris of the Roaring Twenties!

Pantin, renewal and gentrification: the new Brooklyn?

Let's guide you through the streets of Pantin, the new Parisian Brooklyn, where the resident types mutations go along with the building brands transformations. 

Street-art tour: focus on Lézarts de la Bièvre with guest artist LOUYZ, in the Paris Butte-aux-Cailles

With your guide, immerse yourself in a vibrant world of colour and creativity as you explore the murals and urban artworks that have turned Paris's 13th arrondissement into a veritable open-air museum.

In the footsteps of Karl Marx in Paris

Enter the 19th-century Parisian life of Karl Marx, accompanied by the peerless guide Anouk Colombani, in collaboration with the Museum of Live History of Montreuil. 

The Parisian Chinatown

Discover the Chinatown district of the south of Paris with this guided tour. You will learn many things about Asian community of Paris : temples, food, usages.

Historical Guided Tour within hôtels particuliers of the Île de la Cité and the Île Saint-Louis in Paris

Step back in time and immerse yourself in the captivating aventure of Paris's historic treasures during an exclusive guided tour of the Ile de la Cité and the Ile Saint-Louis, with a passionate guide from L’Echappée Belle, who will reveal the secrets and fascinating history behind each iconic monument and hôtel particulier (private mansion).

The Paris Marais: the birthplace of parisian private mansions

Explore the elegant essence of Paris's Marais district on a captivating guided tour, by L'Echappée Belle, of its sumptuous hôtels particuliers. 

Parisian Père Lachaise cemetery: in the kingdom of celebrities

L'Echappée Belle will take you through the graves of renowned figures of this famous cemetery, a parisian relaxing place in the shade of the big trees.

Secret Montmartre

Guillaume Le Roux reveals the secrets of Montmartre, during this Paris guided walk off the beaten track.

The real name of South Pigalle is La Nouvelle Athènes

Discover Nouvelle Athènes, a neo classical quarter of Paris. A lot of people know Montmartre and its hill, Pigalle and its neon lights, but rare are those who took the time to explore this part of the 9th arrondissement of Paris extending from place Pigalle to the Notre Dame de Lorette Church.

Olympic legacy in the Seine-Saint-Denis: Parc des Sports of the Bourget, Media Village, Parc Georges Valbon

The 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games are raising many socioeconomic questions. This tour of three communes (Le Bourget, Dugny and La Courneuve) will enable us to find the answers.  The athletes' village and medias's village will welcome theirs residents in July. Private tours will be available until 12 July.

Bike ride on the trail of the Olympic Games: urban metamorphoses

Discover the Olympic and Paralympic venues by bike! Discover how the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games are accelerating the transformation of an area marked by its industrial past. The athletes' village will welcome its residents in July. Private tours will be available until 12 July.

Arabic street food & historical tour

Gourmet Barbès! Paris is not only a classic representation of luxury and pure French tradition. The capital has always been a melting pot of different cultures from all over the world which makes Paris a unique city.

Belleville : Télégraphe, Place des Fêtes, Mouzaïa, Buttes Chaumont

From Télégraphe to the Buttes Chaumont, the 19th arrondissement is probably one of the most popular neighborhoods of Paris. Come take a look at its history and its transformations during this walking tour with Le Vrai Paris!

Street Art tour in Paris Belleville

Discover the history and culture of graffiti in the 20th arrondissement of Paris in Belleville and Ménilmontant, two popular neighborhoods made for urban and artistic expression.

Street art tour: the murals of Paris’s 13th arrondissement

Take a street art tour in the south of Paris and discover murals and graffiti painted by renowned international artists including Obey, Inti, C215, and Seth.

The French Revolution in the Paris Marais

With your guide from Interkultur, dive into the tumult of the French Revolution in Paris, where every stone in the Marais harbours the secrets of an era seething with ideals and revolt.

Bucolic Paris: the charming Saint-Martin Canal

Get off the beaten track in the historic centre of Paris and follow our guide for a bucolic stroll along the Canal Saint-Martin.

Ciné-balade, guided walking tour in Montmartre in the footsteps of your favorite movies

During this ciné-balade (a movie-themed guided walk) in Montmartre, Juliette Dubois will tell you anecdotes and facts about the film industry in this famous Parisian district, the most filmed of the capital. 

Birdwatching in Paris - Buttes Chaumont Park

Come and see the unique urban bird life living in the dramatically landscaped Parc des Buttes Chaumont, in north-eastern Paris.

Street-art tour: a journey through the urban exhibition galleries of Paris 13

Follow the guide, specialist in urban art, in  from Lavo//matik via the Matgoth, Itinerrance, GCA and Frigos galleries, through Spot13 to 13ème Korner, where you can meet the people behind this associative space and its founder-curator Joko.

Eiffel Tower Movie tour

Let’s dive for two hours into the history of the cinema around the Eiffel Tower, the star among the stars, and the district of Passy.

Food & History in Chinatown

Visit the Chinatown district in the south of Paris and learn about Paris’s East Asian community: temples, food and customs. Guided tour includes tastings of Asian food and ends in a restaurant.

Art route at Paris Père Lachaise cemetery: in the footsteps of the great masters

Join us on this two-hour tour to discover the poets, writers, musicians and painters in their final resting place, the Père-Lachaise cemetery.

An artistic stroll: discovering artists at Paris Montparnasse cemetery

Welcome to our guided tour of Montparnasse Cemetery, a place steeped in history and emotion where great artists rest in peace. Join us for a captivating exploration of this sanctuary of creativity and memory. 

Paris through the lens of François Truffaut

During this movie-walk on the tracks of François Truffaut's films, Juliette Dubois will take you to the director's favorite neighborhood, in the 9th arrondissement and on the borders of the 18th arrondissement of Paris.

Jean-Luc Godard movie tour

During this film walk in the footsteps of Jean-Luc Godard's films, Juliette Dubois will take you through the director's favorite neighborhoods, from the Luxembourg Gardens to Saint-Michel and the Sorbonne.

Agnès Varda movie tour

Come enjoy a movie tour in Paris Montparnasse in the footsteps of Agnès Varda, a famous Frenco-Belgian actor-director, filmmaker and screenwriter, with this cine-balade by Juliette Dubois.

Père-Lachaise movie tour

This original Paris guided tour by Juliette Dubois of Cine-Balade will show you the Père-Lachaise cemetery in a new light: you will discover the tombstones and the stories of many of the most famous French filmmakers and actors.

Ciné-Balade Musicals and romantic movies

Discover the romantic side of Paris through the eyes of filmmakers on this tour led by Juliette Dubois of Cine-Balade.

Montreuil and Méliès movie tour

Follow Juliette Dubois of Cine-Balade through the streets of Montreuil, located close to downtown Paris, to discover the stages where Georges Méliès and other filmmakers shot films, from the pioneering to the contemporary.

Paris Flea market movie tour

Between the stalls, the sellers and the antique hunters, come and discover the Saint-Ouen flea market from a cinematographic perspective during this Cinébalade by Juliette Dubois!

Gourmet and history tour in Sceaux

Visit this little city of the south suburb of Paris. Enjoy his fresh food market and delicatessen shops of the pedestrian city center, discover the 17th century park designed by André Le Nôtre and his historical legacy with Corinne Jager!

Historical guided tour of Montmartre

Thanks to a guided tour that follows the Montmartre hill towards the rue de Clignancourt before starting its ascent and descent, discover the stories of the popular and working-class Montmartre with local guide Anouk Colombani.

Going on a (free) walking tour in Paris and its most cosmopolitan districts is a fun and original way to visit Paris. You can discover neighborhoods though the prism of street-art , movies , architecture, history, art , traditions and myth and heroes. 

Go on a walking tour in Paris and discover its Indian, Chinese, North African and Subsaharan African communities among others. Discover new traditions, customs, cultures and cuisines  with a passionate guide.

During your Parisian stroll you'll discover the Grand Paris with its new districts springing up every day, and its old neighborhoods being rehabilitated to accommodate eco-neighborhoods, new tramways, metro and train stations and of course the future Olympic sites. You can also choose walks in the sightpleaseing, not to be missed districts of Paris like Montmartre, Pigalle, Opéra and the Grands Boulevards.

You will have access to the backstage of the major cities of the Parisian region with technical visits of the locks and the Parisian canals. You'll also have access to big business hubs such as La Défense, trade markets (Saint-Denis, Rungis) and administrative sites such as the Nouveau tribunal de Paris

Our Paris urban walks in small groups allow visitors to enjoy a human-scale visit where they can ask questions while discovering the story behind working class neighborhoods in Paris and its region such as Montreuil, Ivry-sur-seine, Belleville-Ménilmontant, Barbès, la Goutte-d'or or even Pigalle among others. 

You can also  visit Paris as a family  or enjoy free visits of Paris and its region .

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All You Need to Visit France

The Best 11 Free Tours in Paris in English and for FREE!

Paris is one of the most expensive cities in the world and to visit almost all its attractions you have to pay an entrance fee that depends on the place can be over 15 euros, so finding some free activities is excellent.

That’s why we bring you the best free tours in Paris.

Top 12 Free Tours in Paris

Although there are many, many tours, we chose the ones we liked the most and the ones with the best ratings. So this is our list of free walking tours in Paris in English.

Free Walking tour of the Historic Center of Paris

This free tour is organized by Guruwalk and is led by Sebastian. He studied art and is passionate about the history of Paris, and he manages to transmit everything he knows and loves.

The tour lasts almost 3 hours, including the city’s historic center, so it serves as a good initial overview of what you can see in the city.

You will pass by the Palais de Justice, Pont Neuf, Pont des Arts, the Louvre, the Jardin des Tuileries and the Eiffel Tower.

As you get to know the places, the guide will tell you the history of each one, so you will end up learning many secrets of the past of Paris.

Book your free walking tour of the historical center of Paris here.

Free Walking Tour of the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe Surroundings

Here is a more focused option on the two must-see monuments of the City of Lights.

By touring the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe area, you will get to know the most elegant areas of the city, walk along the Avenue des Champs Elysées and visit some of the most luxurious areas of the 16th arrondissement of Paris.

Then, next to the pillars of the Eiffel Tower, the guide will tell you some of its lesser-known anecdotes. The tour departs to Trocadero Square and ends with an incredible panoramic view of the city and the Eiffel Tower.

Book your free walking tour around the Eiffel Tower here.

Free Walking Tour of Paris, Perfect for Your First Trip

This tour is similar to the first one we told you about, but it’s the Civitatis version .

It starts in front of the Hôtel de Ville square, crosses to the île de la Cité, where the church of Notre-Dame is being rebuilt, and from where you will see Sainte-Chapelle, the buildings of La Conciergerie (a former palace where Marie-Antoinette was imprisoned) and the Palais de Justice.

Along the banks of the Seine, you will see the Neuf and Arts bridges. And after passing through the Tuileries Gardens and Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, the tour ends at the Louvre Museum, where you will hear some of the best stories of Napoleon and the Sun King.

Book your free walking tour of Paris here.

Free Tour of Montmartre, the best Free Walking Tour of Paris

It is one of our favorite neighborhoods in Paris. Walking through it, you will see the most famous lounges in the world and the most avant-garde cafes.

You can visit the cabarets Moulin Rouge and Lapin Agile with this tour . You will see the Cafe deux Moulins, where Amélie was filmed.

You will visit the building where Vincent Van Gogh lived and the workshop where Pablo Picasso worked and see the Moulin de la Galette, one of Renoir’s sources of inspiration.

And the last stop is in front of the Sacré-Coeur Basilica.

Book your free walking tour of Montmartre here.

Free Walking Tour of the Latin Quarter is one of our favorites

This free tour in Paris will take you to discover one of the must-see neighborhoods on a trip to Paris. The neighborhood has always been characterized by its bohemian and student air.

The first place you will see is the Rue du Chat Qui Pêche, the narrowest street in Paris. And its name has quite a particular history.

Then you will visit the fantastic Shakespeare and Company bookstore. From there, you will go to the church of St. Julien le Pauvre.

In front of the Cluny Museum, they tell a rather dark story about how those who stood up to the power of Notre Dame fared.

The tour continues through the Place de la Sorbonne and the Pantheon of Paris. It ends in the beautiful Luxembourg Gardens.

Book your free walking tour of the Latin Quarter here.

Free Walking tour of the Mysteries and Legends of Paris

Paris is wonderful at night. And even more, if you can walk through its streets listening to the darkest stories from its corners.

The places you will visit are similar to those of some of the tours we have already told you about, but you will see them very differently. Did you know that the Palace of Justice was where thousands of people were tortured and executed?

The guide will also tell you the stories of Paris’s plagues, murders, and legends. Do you know the legend of the baker of rue Chanoinesse?

They will also tell you about the catacombs’ origin and the Templars’ curse.

A great tour to do in the Parisian evening.

Book here your tour of the Mysteries and Legends of Paris

Free Walking Tour of Notre Dame Cathedral and surroundings

Guruwalk has an excellent option to get to know one of the most exciting areas of Paris in greater depth.

The free walking tour starts at the Pont Neuf and goes to the Latin Quarter.

In between, you will visit must-see places such as the Place Dauphine, the Conciergerie, the Place de la Cathédrale de Nôtre-Dame, the Shakespeare and Company bookstore, and the Saint-Michel church.

Free Tour of Montmartre, the passionate journey of the martyrdom of love

This free Walking tour in Paris is led by Ana, who is a Parisian. And has a degree in history, so she has a lot to tell.

In a very nice way it leads the tour with a gripping account of the neighborhood. You will pass by the Sacré-Coeur basilica, Place du Tertre, the Lapin Agile cabaret, the Maison Rose and many other places.

You will visit the Bateau Lavoir, the workshop where Picasso worked on his works, and you will finish the tour in front of the Je t’aime wall, where you can take some cool pictures.

Free Walking Tour of the Stages of Emily in Paris TV Serie

It is one of the tours in Paris in English that attracts more people thanks to the popularity of the series.

Did you like Emily in Paris? Then you will like this tour that explores the places where its protagonist ventured.

You will pass by the building where Emily’s apartment is located. You will see the Boulangerie Moderna and Gabriel’s restaurant.

Then you will visit Emily’s place of work and stroll through Paris’ must-see sites, such as the Pantheon, the Royal Palace Gardens and the Louvre.

Paris Highlights and the History of the Revolution (FREE)

If you are passionate about history, you will know how important the French Revolution was.

In this free walking tour of Paris, you will see some places that were both fundamental and transformed by the revolution.

Among other places, you will visit the Assemblée Nationale, the Obélisque, the Opéra Garnier, the Place de la Concorde, the Tuileries garden, and the Place Vendôme.

How Much to Tip on the Free Tours of Paris?

As you know, free walking tours do not have a fixed price, and it is recommended that you leave a tip at the end of the tour. This is how guides can continue to work at what they love.

The minimum recommended tip for a free tour in Paris is 5€, but the most common is to leave about 10€ per person; of course, the guide will be more than grateful if you go more.

Plan Your Trip to Paris

• What to Bring on Your trip to Paris
• Visit the Loire Valley from Paris
• The museums of District 16 that you have to know
• Romantic Plans in Paris in winter
• How to get to the Palace of Versailles from Paris
• Giverny Day-Trip from Paris

This post may include affiliate links. This means that we will receive a small fee if you make a purchase through our links. It has no additional cost to you. It’s a win-win!

Hi there! I’m Vero! I’ve always loved traveling! I have been living in France since 2018. And traveling around this awesome country. I love road trips and traveling by van, and also, some comfy getaways :) Check out: Touristear.com

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Free self-guided Marais walking tour, Paris (with map)

Posted on Last updated: February 20, 2024

Explore Paris’ medieval heart with this free self-guided Marais walking tour, featuring this picturesque district’s mansion houses, museums and monumental gardens – with map and directions included.

* This site contains affiliate links , where I get a small commission from purchases at no extra cost to you.

Go back in time with a tour of the Marais, Paris’ medieval quarter. Its name means ‘marsh’ and the area was originally swampland. It became a fashionable residence for royalty and 17th-century aristocrats, but fell out of favour after the French Revolution. Today it’s been restored and gentrified, and has strong Jewish and LGBTQ+ communities.

The Marais mainly escaped Baron Haussman’s modernisation of Paris in the 19th century, so has a different feel to a lot of the city, with narrow cobbled streets, elegant squares and mansion houses. It’s also home to some of Paris’ best museums and galleries. So join us on a self-guided Marais walking tour to discover the area’s historic highlights.

A self-guided walking tour of the Marais

Start your Marais walking tour outside Paris’ Hôtel de Ville. The closest Métro station is Hôtel de Ville (Lines 1 and 11) in the square in front of the building. It’s also less than 10 minutes’ walk from Cité (Line 4) and Châtelet (Lines, 1, 4 7, 11 and 14) stations.

Hôtel de Ville

The Hôtel de Ville is Paris’ city hall and the mayor’s official residence. It was built between 1533 and 1628, and has survived wars, riots and being burnt to the ground by the revolutionary Paris Commune in 1871. It took 19 years to rebuild after the fire, with the exteriors recreating the original design and new, lavish ceremonial rooms inside.

The square in front of the Hôtel de Ville was once used for public executions, with a guillotine set up here during the French Revolution. But today it’s used for less gory public activities, like a festive market at Christmas and a big screen for sports events.

Walk around the back of the Hôtel de Ville , following Rue de Rivoli past the BHV Marais department store. Turn right down Rue de Lobau then left along Place Saint-Gervais. Follow the road to the left of Saint-Gervais church down Rue François Miron.

Rue François Miron

Rue François Miron is one of the oldest streets in Paris, with two medieval half-timbered buildings on the left. The Maison du Faucheur and Maison du Mouton (House of the Reaper and House of Sheep) are named after the occupations of the people who lived there. It’s thought they were built in the 14th century, with the upper floors added later.

In 1607 the façades were covered with plaster to reduce the risk of fire, and were only uncovered in 1967. Many buildings from this period were destroyed during Baron Haussman’s 19th-century redevelopment of Paris, so these two are quite rare.

Turn right at the crossroads following Rue de Jouey, then take the second right down Rue du Figuier and walk as far as the Hôtel de Sens at the end of the street.

Hôtel de Sens and Bibliothèque Forney

With its golden stone archways and turrets, Hôtel de Sens looks like a fairytale castle tucked away in a quiet street in the Marais. It was built in the 15th century for Tristan de Salazar, the Archbishop of Sens, though he died before it was completed.

Look carefully and you can see a cannonball embedded above the entrance, with the date 28 July 1830 below it – dating back to the French Revolution. The Hôtel was later used as a factory and warehouse until the City of Paris took it over and restored it. It’s now home to the Forney Library, with a collection of books on decorative arts and a pretty garden.

Carry straight on, passing Square Marie-Trintignant (where there’s a free public toilet) on your right, then turn left down Rue des Jardins Saint-Paul. Through the archways on your right is the Village Saint-Paul, a collection of art, antique and gift shops set around cobbled courtyards – with a couple of cafés if you want to stop for a drink.

Wall of Philip II Augustus

Between 1190 and 1213, French King Philip Augustus built a great wall around the edge of Paris to protect the city while he was away on the Crusades. Once it was finished it ran for over 5km, stood six to eight metres tall and was three metres thick at the base.

The last of the wall’s gates were knocked down in the 1680s. And although most of the sections of wall left behind have been incorporated into buildings, you can see one of the longest stretches of it on your left, at the end of Rue des Jardins Saint-Paul.

Turn left down Rue Charlemagne then right down narrow Rue du Prévot, which joins onto Rue de Rivoli. Go right and you’ll see a church to your right.

Église Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis

The Church of Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis was the first Baroque church built in Paris, in a change to the usual Gothic style. It was built in 1627 for the Jesuits on the orders of Louis XIII, and was inaugurated by Cardinal Richelieu. But after the Jesuits were banished in 1762 it was used as a warehouse before being restored and used for services again.

Author Victor Hugo’s daughter Leopoldine got married here in 1843, and he donated two fonts to mark the occasion which you can still see today. And when he wrote Les Misérables , he included it as the church where Cosette and Marius get married.

Continue along the main road, which becomes the Rue Saint-Antoine. Then go through the arched doorway on your left which is marked ‘Hôtel de Sully’.

Hôtel de Sully

The Hôtel de Sully is another of the Marais’ impressive mansion houses. It was built in the 17th century for Maximilien de Béthune, Duke of Sully and close friend of King Henri IV. It’s now the headquarters of the Centre des Monuments Nationaux, who manage France’s historic monuments. And although the building isn’t open to the public, you can walk through its courtyards and admire the beautiful façades and courtyard garden.

Walk through the doorway in the far right corner which leads into the Place des Vosges.

Place des Vosges

The Place des Vosges is the oldest planned square in Paris, a perfectly symmetrical space set around a central garden. It was originally known as the Place Royale and was a fashionable place for the nobility to live in the 17th–18th centuries, with its red brick buildings contrasting with the medieval architecture of the Marais.

Former residents include Cardinal Richelieu and Victor Hugo, whose old house in the corner of the square is now the Maison de Victor Hugo museum (free entry, closed Mondays). And underneath the vaulted arches around the square are high-end antique shops, art galleries and cafés where you can stop for a coffee or a glass of wine.

At the opposite side of the square from where you entered it, walk to the west along Rue des Francs Bourgeois and you’ll see the Musée Carnavalet to your right.

Musée Carnavalet

The Musée Carnavalet takes you through the history of Paris, from prehistory to the present day (free entry, closed Mondays). Baron Haussmann had the idea for the museum in 1866, and stored objects and documents at the Hôtel de Ville while the museum was being built – which didn’t work out too well as his collection was destroyed in the 1871 fire.

It’s been rebuilt since, and the museum is now spread across two mansions. There are recreated rooms from different periods in Paris’ history, furniture, paintings and objects including the Hôtel de Ville’s original charred door and a chunk of the Bastille.

From the museum, carry on along Rue des Francs Bourgeois as far as Rue Pavée.

At this point you can take a short diversion to visit the Musée Cognacq–Jay (for 18th-century art and sculpture) or Musée Picasso . Go straight on at the junction and turn right up Rue Elzevir for the Musée Cognacq–Jay. Or walk past that museum and carry on along the Rue de Thorigny for the Musée Picasso.

Otherwise turn left down Rue Pavée, passing La Mouette Rieuse bookshop and café which does a great hot chocolate. Then turn right down the Rue des Rosiers. Look out for the entrance to the Jardin des Rosiers Joseph Migneret on your right, a tranquil community garden. Turn right at the end of the street then left onto Rue des Blancs Manteaux.

Église Notre-Dame des Blancs Manteaux

Go through an unassuming doorway on your left into the Catholic Church of Notre-Dame des Blancs Manteaux (named after the white mantles worn by the monks who founded the original church in 1258). The current Baroque church was built in the 1680s, and has an ornate Bavarian wooden pulpit and 17th-century paintings and sculptures.

Then go straight on and you’ll see the entrance to the National Archives on your right.

Archives Nationales

France has one of the oldest and biggest National Archives in the world. And the documents collected from before the French Revolution are held in two mansions in the Marais – the Hôtel de Soubise and Hôtel de Rohan – which are surrounded by gardens.

The Hôtel de Soubise is where you find the Musée des Archives Nationales (free entry, closed Tuesday). It displays a mix of exhibits from the archive’s collection, which goes all the way back to the first century AD. You can also see the ornate Rococo interiors.

Carry straight on across the junction onto Rue Rambuteau. When you reach a major junction with Rue Beaubourg, the Pompidou Centre will be in front of you. If you do a small diversion to the right here down Impasse Berthaud you can visit the Jardin Anne Frank, a lovely memorial garden with benches and a childrens’ play area.

Centre Pompidou

The Centre National d’Art et de Culture Georges-Pompidou (aka the Pompidou Centre ) is instantly recognisable for its quirky, inside-out architecture, with colourful pipes and escalators outside the building. It was designed by architects Richard Rogers and Renzo Piano and opened in 1977 – taking its name from the president who commissioned it.

Inside there’s the largest collection of modern and contemporary art in Europe, as well as a public library and exhibition space. There is an entry fee for the museum, but it’s free to climb up to the top floor where you get fantastic views out across Paris.

Walk around the side of the Pompidou Centre and finish your Marais walking tour by the colourful Stravinsky Fountain. The nearest Métro station is Rambuteau (Line 11), on the corner of Rue Rambuteau and Rue Beaubourg. Or it’s just a few minutes’ walk along Rue du Renard back to the Hôtel de Ville and its Métro station (Lines 1 and 11).

Self-guided Marais walking tour map

If you’d like to do this Marais walk yourself, click on the map below to access directions through Google maps. The route is around 3.8km (2.4 miles) and takes around an hour to walk straight through, but allow several hours to include stops along the way.

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Thursday 8th of August 2024

We did your Marais walk this morning and it was fantastic. My husband navigated with the Google Map you provided and I read the descriptions once we reached each place. We walked through all the museums and stopped for a couple snacks along the way. We made it a morning event. We especially loved the old street with the half-timbered buildings. Thanks again.

Lucy Dodsworth

Wednesday 21st of August 2024

That's great to hear! So glad you enjoyed it.

Monday 1st of July 2024

I'm going to Marais next month. This is very helpful. Thank you!

Thanks and hope you have a great time!

Johanna Bradley

Tuesday 20th of February 2024

I can tell I missed some interesting things in the Marais from reading your guide, Lucy. If I ever go back...

Monday 26th of February 2024

Thanks Jo, and hopefully one day!

Self-Guided Walking Tour of Paris

Some links on this site are affiliate links. If you purchase something using an affiliate link, I may earn a small commission. This doesn’t cost you anything extra, and helps offset the costs of keeping this site online. Thank you for your support!

I had the opportunity to spend a long weekend in Paris with a friend who had never been there before. There was a lot to see and not much time, so I worked up a self-guided walking tour of Paris for us that would hit many of the top tourist sites.

See the main tourist sites in a half day self-guided walking tour of Paris

There are a few “can’t miss” Paris attractions that we had to be sure to see – Notre Dame, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower. Lisa, my friend and travel buddy, also wanted to see the Champs Elysées. We were staying in the Left Bank just a couple of blocks from Notre Dame, so we started our tour there.

This is a list of the primary tourist sites we saw and/or visited on our self-guided walking tour of Paris:

• Sainte Chapelle
• Conciergerie
• Louvre Museum
• Tuileries Garden
• Place de la Concorde & the Luxor Obelisk

Les Invalides

• Golden flame (Flame of Liberty)
• Champs Elysées
• Arc de Triomphe

Eiffel Tower

NOTE: As you probably know, after the fire at Notre Dame, you can no longer enter the cathedral. Last time I was there, there was a large fence around the perimeter. There is also no access to “Point Zero” out front.

Map of Paris tourist sites – walking tour

As you can see from the walking tour map below, it is possible to walk around Paris in a day, sightseeing at the main central tourist sites. Of course there’s much more to see and do in Paris, but this is a great walking itinerary for Paris.

The full walk is about 5 miles, if you don’t wander too far off the path. You could hop on the Metro for some of the longer stretches of walking to speed things along. Keep reading below the map for details on each location. If this is more walking than you’re up for, there’s an abbreviated list at the bottom of the page, along with some other suggestions.

Paris Left Bank

We started on the Rive Gauche, Paris’ famous left bank. Our first stop was Shakespeare & Company, a well-known bookstore with books sold in English. The original store was a hangout for many of the lost generation writers, including Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein and James Joyce. The store at the current location was popular with many of the beat-generation writers like Anaïs Nin, Allen Ginsberg and William S. Burroughs. It’s literary and quirky, and still a great place to get some books. I bought Hemingway’s  A Moveable Feast , and  Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell. I was in Paris, after all! They may ask you if you want your books stamped. This is a stamp they put inside the cover and makes for a memorable souvenir.

From Shakespeare & Company we walked around the corner to L’Eglise St. Julien le Pauvre (the Church of Saint Julien the Poor), one of the oldest churches in Paris, which is now often used as a concert venue. Next to the church is also a small park, the Square René Viviani, home to the oldest tree in Paris.

You can see Notre Dame de Paris, the iconic church, from the park, and it is the next stop on the walking tour.

See the main sites of Paris with a relaxing dinner cruise

A Seine river cruise is a great way to see the city. Whether you take a relaxing boat ride with audio tour or a Paris dinner cruise, you can see the main tourist sites of Paris as you float by.

There can sometimes be a line of people waiting to get into Notre Dame. It generally moves quickly; the holdup is because of security checks at the door. There is a separate line to climb the towers, and it’s generally a very long line. Entrance to the cathedral is free; the tower climb has a small fee. While there, be sure to look for the “Point Zero” marker in the pavement out front. This is the point from which all distances in France were traditionally measured.

From Notre Dame, walk by Sainte Chapelle, then the Conciergerie, prison where Marie Antoinette, Queen of France, was kept before she was taken to the guillotine. Keep going to see Pont Neuf, which translates as New Bridge. It is the oldest bridge in Paris, though it was the first one not made of wood which is how it came to be the oldest bridge in Paris today. On one of the pillars of the bridge, look for a marker that indicates where Jacques de Molay, the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar, was burned. Paris is full of interesting historical markers like this.

First a fortress, then a royal palace, the Louvre became a museum when the royals moved to the Palace of Versailles. It’s most famous treasure is the Mona Lisa (La Jaconde, as they call it in France), though it contains so much more. If you’re going in, be sure to check out the Egyptian collection.

Outside the museum is the famous glass pyramid by architect I.M. Pei. This was being built during my very first trip to Paris. You can walk up to the pyramid for pictures without going in to the museum.

Tips for visiting Mont St Michel in France – you can do it as a day trip from Paris!

Tuileries Gardens

Continue your walk through the Jardin des Tuileries, or Tuileries Garden. These were the gardens of the Tuileries Palace and were created by Catherine de Medici. Don’t look too hard for the palace; it was burned during an uprising in 1871.

Pont des Arts

This was the first metal bridge in Paris, and was built during the reign of Napoleon I. (Yes, there was more than one Napoleon.) Now it is most famous for being the place where tourists hang locks to show their love. Your love doesn’t need a lock, please don’t do this. They keep taking them down. If you put a lock on the bridge, it’s now in a garbage dump somewhere. Seriously, don’t do it. And don’t get me started on throwing the keys into the river.

Place de la Concorde

It is a peaceful name for the former Place de la Revolution, which was the site of the guillotine where King Louis XVI was decapitated. In the center of the Place you will no longer find a guillotine. Instead there is an Egyptian obelisk; a gift from the Egyptian government. The story is that in return for the priceless piece of antiquity, the French government gave the Egyptians a big clock. The clock has never worked. You can still see it in Cairo, not working. The Egyptians are still mad about it.

Need a break from walking?

The Paris hop-on hop-off buses are an alternative way to get around the city. You can see the main sites of the city on a relaxed timetable, and give your legs a break!

You have probably seen the golden dome of Les Invalides by now. The “invalids” name is because its original purpose was to be a hospital and retirement home for veterans. Parts of it are still used for that purpose today, though it is perhaps better known for its army museum and for being the place to see Napoleon’s tomb.

The Golden Flame

Near the Alma bridge (Pont de l’Alma) you can see the Flame of Liberty (la Flamme de la Liberté), a replica of the flame from the torch of the Statue of Liberty. It is supposed to be a symbol of friendship between France and the U.S.A., but most people think it is a monument to Princess Diana as it is located near the Alma Tunnel where she was killed in a car accident. People leave photos and messages near it, in honor of the Princess.

Love Paris? See all my Paris posts.

Champs Elysees & Arc de Triomphe

The Champs Elysées is the most famous street in France. Its name means “Elysian Fields’, and it runs between the Place de la Concorde (the place with the obelisk) and the famous triumphal arch (Arc de Triomphe). It’s full of high end shops and is a bit like the Magnificent Mile in Chicago, if you’re familiar with that. Walking along it, you can cross to the center of the road for some great photos of the Arc de Triomphe.

When you get to the Arc de Triomphe, there is an underground passage to get to it. DO NOT try to cross the road. There are signs to the passage, though I always have to wander around until I figure out where it is.

Under the arch is the tomb of the unknown soldier, as well as monuments to others who fought and died for France. For a fee, you can go to the top of the arch for a view of Paris.

There’s still one place you’ve got to go! (It’s a line from the song Bonjour Paris in the movie Funny Face with Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire .) The Eiffel Tower is undoubtedly the most recognized icon in France and is a must-see stop on your Paris self-guided walking tour. Admire it from a distance, get some great photos, and then get a ticket and head on up for a spectacular view all across Paris! If your legs aren’t too tired, change it up by taking the stairs back down!

Get a guide or do a self-guided walking tour of Paris?

Self guided walking tours are great if you want to wander at your own pace, stop at cafés along the way, or linger in the places that interest you most. But if you don’t want to go it alone you can always hire a guide to show you around. Guides are helpful with language barriers and telling you the history of places you might not have known on your own. GetYourGuide has some great small group tours and offer many niche activities, like photography trips, or food-based tours.

What are the main sites to see in Paris for a quick walking tour?

If this is more walking than you care to do, or want a quick overview of Paris must-see locations, here’s my list:

From there, hop on the Metro or your preferred method of transportation and head to the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower. That’s it, Paris in a day.

How can I see Paris without walking so much?

The Seine river boat cruises are the ideal way to see the sites of Paris without a lot of walking – and they’re really affordable, even for budget travelers. Most of the must-see tourist locations in Paris or located in clear view of the river, and there is audio that accompanies it so you can hear the history as well. I do this every time I’m in Paris – it never gets old. Pro-tip – take the cruise just before sunset. You head out in the daylight and return in the dark as everything lights up. Get details on a River Seine Cruise in Paris.

You can also take one of the Paris hop-on hop-off buses. It’s a great way to see the sites of the city while giving your legs a break.

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15 Best Free Walking Tours to take in Paris

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Paris Walking Tour Map: a free printable map and more

If you are planning a trip to Paris and want to discover the city by foot, you’re going to like the Paris Walking Tour Map I created! This map is a available as a high resolution pdf which you can download for free (links below).

Note: This post includes affiliated links down below. If you decide to purchase one of the books about Paris, I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. 

Paris Walking Tour Map –  The Itinerary 

Walking in Paris is the best way to discover the city and it allows you to take the time to admire the wonders it has to offer.

Let’s say that you walk up early and wanted to go to the Eiffel Tower first. Close up pictures done, you will then want to cross the river and go to the Trocadéro to admire the view from the Palais de Chaillot and the Esplanade, the best place to see the Eiffel Tower in all its glory. Next, make your way to the Arc de Triomphe. You can jump in a bus, to save a bit of time or walk up the Avenue Kléber.

From the Arc de Triomphe, walk down the Champs Elysée of course! If you’re not into shopping at this time, you can again jump in a bus. Toward the end, do not miss the Grand Palais and the Petit Palais on your right. If you want to see where the French President lives, you’ll have to do a little detour on your left. Otherwise, continue straight to reach the Place de la Concorde, its gorgeous surrounding palaces, its fountains and the Obelisk. After all, being 3000 years old, the Obelisk is most certainly the oldest monument in Paris!

From the Place de la Concorde, you can do a little detour on your left. Take the rue Royale which will take you to the Place de la Madeleine. It might be time to buy something sweet at Hédiard or Fauchon?!

Go back to the Place de la Concorde and walk through the Jardin des Tuileries to reach the Louvre. Just before reaching the Louvre, you should do a little detour, to your left, to see the Palais Royal. Go back to the Louvre, cross it and head over to the newly renovated Chatelet. Walk toward the Centre Pompidou and then back toward the Seine, to see the Mairie de Paris.

Next, enter the Marais. The best place to have lunch on the go, or in a charming little restaurant for a well deserve break. Continue toward the place des Vosges and then turn around to go back toward Notre Dame or walk up to the Bastille.

You will then need to cross the Seine. Either by taking the Boulevard Henry IV from Bastille (another possible little bus ride), either by crossing a bit closer to Notre Dame. Seing Notre Dame first from the ‘back’ is a treat, don’t miss it. The Ile de la Cité is a wonder to walk around as it displays some of the oldest buildings of Paris. Do not miss the Sainte Chapelle!

Take rue Saint Jacques toward the South bank, pass the Sorbonne University on your way to the Panthéon and then go to the Jardin du Luxembourg. You can have another little break there or wait to reach the Boulevard Saint Germain famous cafés!

From the Boulevard Saint Germain, go on the Seine bank and follow the Seine toward the West. You will be able to admire the Louvre on the other side, pass by the Musée d’Orsay and the Palais Bourbon (the seat of the French Assembly), before reaching the Invalides.

Continue along the river, pass the Musée du Quai Branly and see the Eiffel Tower reappear!

Congratulation. You walked over 20km in Paris but I’m pretty sure it was worth it!!

Here is the map to guide you:

You can click on the image above or the link below. A new window will open it with the high resolution pdf which you can download and print.

Paris Walking Tour Map – Free printable pdf

Tomorrow is another day… and tomorrow you can stroll through Montmartre, visit the Sacré Coeur and the Butte Chaumont. Tomorrow you can even do a bit of shopping at the Grand Magasins, see the Opéra Garnier and maybe head over to the Père Lachaise… but that is for tomorrow…

Special note about Notre Dame

As you followed what happened to Notre Dame, you know that visits won’t be allowed for a long time. Despite this, Notre Dame is still a place you can not miss. 

If you want to ready a bit more about Notre Dame and the aftermath of the fire, you can do so in this piece I wrote where I added my 2 cents . 

Goodies! (for RTatW Newsletter subscribers)

With some of the drawings prepared, I created some postcard that you can download for free. You can send them or of course keep them as a souvenir. You need to go to my “ Secret Page ” to access those in high resolution and choose the ones you want to download.

Here is what the postcards look like:

Available on Society6

Since my drawings are getting bigger & bigger and more & more detailed, I decided to make them available on Society6 . If you don’t know Society6, let me introduce you: It is a platform for creative souls to display their art as high quality art prints or all sorts of other products like phone cases, mugs, tote bags, pillows…

This is what one of the art print looks like but on Society6 , you can get it already framed in the type of frame of your choice. You can also get it on canvas or metal print.

Here is a selection of what is available so far: Art prints in various format, notebook and cards.

If you would like something special to be added, you can send me your request by email at Miss Coco Travel @ Gmail . com and I will add if I can.

Hope you like those!

You can also check my other maps: 

Here are a few books you may enjoy

These are affiliated links. If you decide to purchase one of the books about discovering Paris, I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you.

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Getting around paris, paris travel guide, paris essentials, train travel, paris arrondissements, experience history, food & wine on these top-rated walking tours of paris.

Paris, we are not the first ones to proclaim, is meant to be seen on foot. Walking in Paris lets you experience the heart and soul of the city. And walking an expert guide will get you to places you wouldn't discover on your own; into shops, buildings, and narrow streets you didn't even know were there. Here are the top ten walking tours that get you out on the streets of Paris, as chosen by us!

Our Top-Rated Walking Tours In Paris

1. Ten Tastings Gourmet Food & Wine Tour… Acclaimed tour of the best of Paris food

2. The History of Paris Walking Tour… Iconic sites in the historic center of Paris

3. A Taste of Montmartre Food & Wine Tour… Culinary tour of the village on the hill

1. Ten Tastings Gourmet Food & Wine Tour…

2. The History of Paris Walking Tour…

3. A Taste of Montmartre Food & Wine Tour…

1. A Taste of Montmartre Food & Wine Tour

Join a food-expert guide for a walking tour of historic Montmartre to taste some of the best foods found in France — charcuterie, cheeses, wine, pastries, chocolate, bread. This quartier , which once used to be a village on the hill, is famous for its cobblestone streets, café and terraces, and for the bohemian crowd who once lived here. While you're up in Montmartre sure to spend some time to view Paris from its highest point, Basilique du Sacré-Coeur .

2. The History of Paris on a Walking Tour

In the center of Paris, spend a morning or an afternoon with an expert guide learning highlights of the history of the city as you see with your own eyes the iconic sites that make the place so famous. You'll visit Catherine de Medici's Jardin des Tuileries , marvel at Notre Dame Cathedral, stroll the Champs-Elysées, and much more on this 2½ walking tour. This well-like promenade can is available as a semi-private tour or, if you prefer, a private tour for just you and your party.

3. Discover the Food of Saint Germain des Prés

Saint Germain des Prés is one of the oldest and most charming quartiers of Paris. It's famed for the literary and artistic celebrities who lived and worked here, but it's equally well-know for the number and quality of its food shops. On a morning or afternoon a food-expert guide leads you through the neighborhood to some of the best of those shops. Along the way there's plenty of sampling!

4. Explore Île de la Cité

In the true heart of historic Paris, on an island in the Seine, walk in the footsteps of figures like Louis IX and the unfortunate Marie Antoinette. Île de la Cité is packed with important memories of French history. You visit La Sainte Chapelle, Notre Dame, and La Conciergerie , the prison where Marie spent her last days, and other important landmarks. It's not often that you learn so much while viewing so much historic and scenic beauty.

5. Chocolate & Pastry Walking Tour

We have to face the facts — Paris and chocolate simply go together! There are dozens, hundreds, of gourmet chocolate & pastry shops in the city, making confections so dreamy they're unlike anything you've eaten before. This very popular walking tour takes you to Saint Germain des Prés where you focus in on the top chocolateries and patisseries , with insightful commentary by your expert guide… and plenty of sampling.

6. Walk the Iconic Neighborhoods of Paris

This is a fun concept — a series of short , 90-minute tours, each one of which introduces you to one of Paris' iconic quartiers (neighborhoods). WIth an expert local guide, learn about the Marais or Montmartre, the Latin Quarter or Saint Germain des Prés. Choose one of five Paris districts to visit on a guided walking tour, each one steeped in history and filled with fascinating places to explore. You may end up doing all the tours!

7. Ten Tastings Gourmet Food & Wine Tour

Any tour that starts out at a Parisian boulangerie automatically gets our attention. Especially when what follows are visits to (and tastings at) some of the most acclaimed food and pastry shops in the city. Taste award-winning macarons. Savor some of the finest French cheeses. Visit the patisseries favored by Louis XV. The hits (and bites) just keep on coming. Oh… we forgot to mention the sandwiches and the chocolates.

8. Explore The Marais & Its Historic Jewish Quarter

Traverse the historic Marais with a professional English-speaking guide and explore the medieval Jewish Quarter, today an active hub of community life. There's so much to see in this quartier , and your guide really makes it come alive — the Hotel de Ville , historic churches, cobblestone streets, Hôtel Carnavalet (home to the history of Paris museum), Place des Vosges, and much more.

9. Food & Wine of the Marais Walking Tour

This very popular food tour also walks you through the Marais to visit the top food & wine shops in the historic quartier , tasting the best of French foods like cheese, charcuterie, baguettes, chocolate, and wine. You start your tour at the oldest food market in the city. This one is garnering high praise from satisfied travelers.

10. Paris Catacombs with VIP Access

Right up there in creepiness is this activity, although perhaps we should say "right down there". Enter the world of the underground, the catacombs beneath the city where 6 million Parisians are laid to rest. But you don't have to go on your own. Join this small-group tour when an expert guide not only skips past the lineups, but explains the history of this eerie landmark. You also get to visit the darkest corners, usually off limits to visitors.

One more warning, although not a creepy one. Tours of the Catacombs, this one included, usually sell out months in advance, so planning is important.

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