Last Updated on April 12, 2024
The French capital is made for walking… here are 8 wonderful walks in Paris to help you enjoy the city
Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
By Jim Ferri
Walks in Paris, one of France’s best places to visit, are like walks in no other city in the world. You see, Paris is a city that’s excellent for walking. And to feel its heartbeat, you must take to its streets and boulevards on foot.
Walks in Paris are the only way to enjoy the city’s culture, charm, and beauty and see how Parisians live, work and relax. When you walk about Paris, you follow in the footsteps of countless writers, artists, philosophers, and intellectuals who once made the city, and France, their home.
Wander Aimlessly About Paris
Walk along the Seine, visit the city’s beautiful parks, and join the crowds on some of the grandest boulevards in the world. But also leave yourself time to wander about aimlessly. Strolling down little alleyways and visiting cafés where there are no other travelers. That’s how I’ve unearthed countless surprises and little treasures all over Paris that you’ll likely enjoy.
To help you unearth your own, here are eight wonderful Paris walks I’ve taken over the last few years. I didn’t plan any of them and found it’s the best way to see any city. They are among the best areas to walk around in Paris.
An added bonus is that during these walks, you’ll see many of the best places of interest in the city to travelers. Alternatively, you can also see many of these sites on a guided walking and Metro tour of Paris. If you’re in London, you might even take a day trip by train to Paris just to take one of these walks. If you’d really like to do things in style, take a private 12-Hour city tour of Paris from London with roundtrip train tickets included. Voila!
A Paris Walk Like No Other: Île de la Cité
The famous island in the center of the Seine, Île de la Cité, is the cradle of Paris. It’s the place where the Romans first set up camp in 52 BC. Today it’s the city’s religious and judicial center, with such jewels as Notre Dame, Sainte-Chapelle, and the Conciergerie.
Despite the millions of travelers who visit Île de la Cité every year, most come to see only Notre Dame – scheduled to reopen in 2024 after its devastating fire – and, possibly, Sainte-Chapelle. But the rest of the small island is a beautiful place to wander about to admire its historic grandeur and old mansions. To better appreciate it you may want to join this no-cancellation fee tour of Notre Dame’s Island with Sainte Chapelle and Marie Antoinette’s prison.
Île Saint-Louis
Many travelers visit Notre Dame and then head off for another area of the city without realizing there’s another treasure nearby. It’s another island adjacent to Île de la Cité, connected by a small bridge behind the cathedral.
It’s a beautiful place that relatively few travelers visit. Which is why it remains such a quiet neighborhood right in the center of the city.
Île Saint-Louis, one of Paris’s most expensive neighborhoods, is an oasis with no Metro station. In fact, it only has two bus stops, which keeps it very peaceful and serene. Wander its little lanes, and you’ll find artsy boutiques, good restaurants, gourmet food shops, and wonderful patisseries.
Jardin des Tuileries
Named after the tile factories that initially stood on the site, Jardin des Tuileries originally formed the front grounds of the old Tuileries Palace (destroyed in 1871) that was built by Queen Catherine de Medici. They were landscaped by André Le Nôtre, who also created the gardens at Versailles.
These formal gardens, among the most famous in the world, link the Place de la Concorde and the Louvre. They’re a great place to walk before or after visiting the Louvre.
The Left Bank, One of the Most Famous Walks in Paris
You’ll find Parisians walking along the Seine’s Left Bank many Sundays. Here the sidewalk along the quay is still lined, as it has been for centuries, with second-hand bookstalls.
Most of the books you’ll find here are in French, but there are also stalls selling postcards and other tourist items.
But it’s not postcards people come here for, but the beautiful city views all along the river’s edge. It’s one of the most romantic and beautiful walks you’ll find anywhere.
The Loftiest of the Paris Walks: Montmartre
Set high on a hill looking out over Paris, the Basilica of Sacré Coeur dominates Montmartre. Yet, it still retains its small-village atmosphere, which makes it feel quite different from the hustle of Paris below. Here you’ll find one of the best views across the city. To better appreciate the area, as well get a better understanding of it, you may want to join the no-cancellation-fee tour Hidden Montmartre Tour, which includes Moulin Rouge and Sacré Coeur.
Place du Tertre, the small square at the city’s high point, is rife with artists selling their canvases. All about them, restaurants and tourist shops line the sidewalk.
But go beyond the square and visit the Montmartre Museum, the oldest building in the village. Several famous artists lived at different times in their lives. Here, Auguste Renoir painted his Dance at Le Moulin de la Galette and The Swing.
Boulevard St-Germain: One of the Liveliest Paris Walks
The Boulevard St-Germain stretches through one of Paris’s most picturesque and famous areas. It extends roughly from near Notre Dame to near the Musée d’Orsay on the Left Bank. So if you’re walking between the two, it’s the perfect alternative if you’d rather not walk along the Seine.
Once, it was known as a bohemian area filled with artists and intellectuals. Today though, it’s one of Paris’s most expensive and stylish areas. As you might expect, the street is home to high-end boutiques such as Louis Vuitton and Armani. But it is also home to famous and historic cafes like Brasserie Lipp, Les Deux Magots, and Cafe Flore. Some people opt for the Viator no-cancellation fee bicycle tour to see the Hidden Secrets in the Latin Quarter & Le Marais neighborhoods.
Jardin du Luxembourg: One of the Most Beautiful Walks in Paris
While the Luxembourg Gardens are worth a tour by themselves, you can easily combine it with a stroll along the Boulevard Saint-Germain. It’s located on the border between Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the Latin Quarter.
The stunning 60+ acre park is reminiscent of the Boboli Gardens in Florence. It is split into French and English gardens with over 100 statues.
Many chairs line the paths to allow people to relax or read a book. There are also many activities for adults and children, including sailing boats in the pool in front of Luxembourg Palace.
A Paris Walk Through The Passages
Around Paris, several hidden arcades or passages are 18th-century predecessors of today’s shopping malls. They are tiny towns within the larger city, private streets lined with boutiques and bistros with glass ceilings to let the light in. They were initially built to provide Parisians respite from the weather and the unsanitary conditions that plagued the city streets.
Although there were about 150 or so of them initially, only 20 or so remain today. And each provides a glimpse into a Paris of centuries ago to those who seek them out.
You may also enjoy: 2 Days in Paris / Normandy From Paris – An Easy 2-Day Trip / Photo Essay of Beautiful Paris
Bill says
My wife and I have spent days walking in Paris. Whenever we’ve been lucky enough to be there we have done everything we could to avoid The Metro and taxis. There is no question in my mind that it is the best way to see Paris regardless of the season. It’s great that you’ve organized these walks as you have done for your readers.
Jim Ferri says
Thanks Bill — Paris is one of the best walking cities in the world. I never tire of it (although, at times, my feet do)!
Sylvia Short says
Just subscribed to your web site and love it. I always love to read about walking in Paris and agree that is the only way to see/feel the city. One of my favorite places to wander in Paris …. Pere Lachaise Cemetery. It is truly wonderful to just meander through it and let your thoughts wander with you.
Jim Ferri says
Welcome to NST Sylvia! I’m glad you’re enjoying it and thank you very much for sharing that information with other readers. I hope we’ll see more of you and your travels.
Ed Boitano says
Great piece of writing. And loved the photos. I’ll use this for my next tripto Pars!
Ziggy says
Thanks for the Info headed to Paris on the 29 of Oct. will be there for 7 days with my lovely wife of 40 yrs. our anniversary present to ourselves have never been but we love to walk the cities we have visited. Hope to find many memorable views and take as many photos as humanly possible.
Mora Mcnamar says
I was excited to uncover this web site. I need to to thank you for your time for this wonderful read!! I definitely appreciated every bit of it and I have you book marked to check out new things in your site.
Jim Ferri says
Thank you very much Mora. You can also sign up for our popular twice weekly free newsletters.
Jim
Silvia says
Hello everyone,
It was great reading this article, it took me way back to years passed, to one of the travels with my family when the kids were very young. I am one of the most believing person that travel it is the best way of strengthening family or couple bonds. In a relaxed and fun mood, we rediscover feelings and appreciation for those who live beside you every day. At the same time you will learn new cultures, new places and visit the beauty of this world. Travelling is a precious time that everyone has to experience. Is more than going somewhere. I hope all of us will have the chance of doing it soon.
Jim Ferri says
Thank you Silvia.
Marla Macaluso says
Thanks so much for the tips & useful info. My husband & I will be in Paris this spring & will definitely do alot of walking.
Jim Ferri says
You’re welcome Marla. Have a great time in Paris!
Jim
Ravi Lai says
Thank you Jim for a very informative itinerary of walking through Paris. I strongly believe this is the ONLY way too see, discover and drink in the sights and sounds of any City. Great Article….Thank You.
Jim Ferri says
Thank you very much Ravi.
Jim
Rosemary Heller says
Just finished a week in Paris and I happy to say that we walked in all your recommendations except for the covered passages. We’ll have to save that for next time! I really enjoy your articles!
Thanks
Jim Ferri says
Thank you Rosemary. Have fun on your next trip!
Jim
Carole Hinshaw says
Thanks for this timely reminder about Paris walks. In June , I will take my first international trip since COVID. My 2 sons, who are in their early 50s , their children ( my grands),ages 9, 11,13, 15 & 17 and I will spend 4 glorious days in Paris. It will be a great adventure when we take the Eurostar from London to Paris!!!
Jim Ferri says
Hi Carole,
You’re going to have a great trip with the entire family, especially the grandkids! Buy a carnet for the metro on the Chunnel train. They’re usually sold in the cafe car and they’ll save you a lot of time waiting to buy tickets at the Metro stations. Have fun!
Jim
Thiago Trivelato says
Very good content! Perfect!!!
Jim Ferri says
Thank you very much! I love these walks.
Jim