free walking tours of paris

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Self Guided Walking Tours of Paris

In this post, you will find a free, self-guided walking tour of the historic heart of Paris, along with a map and a GPS-enabled audio option.

The route includes many locations we cover in our free guided walking tours, so we offer you lots of information based on our knowledge of the history of what you will be seeing in this self-guided tour.

This tour starts on the Left Bank in the Latin Quarter before exploring Île de la Cité and ends at the Louvre Museum.

When you are done with this self-guided tour, why not try our others?

• Right Bank Landmarks
• Latin Quarter
• Père Lachaise Cemetery

Like this one, they come with maps, routes, and in some cases, audio tour versions.

You can use these to discover the city at your own pace or as a preview of what you will see on a live-guided tour, like our free walking tours of Paris .

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SELF-GUIDED TOUR - HEART OF PARIS

The tour starts on the Left Bank in the Latin Quarter, passes through Île de la Cité and ends at the Louvre Museum.

The route is a little less than 3 kilometers (just under 2 miles).

If you'd like to enhance your experience, you might like to use our accompanying GPS-led audio tour , developed and narrated by one of our local tour guides, Andrew.

The audio tour is a more detailed version of the written information below. It costs just 2.99€ per download.

Here is a sample of the tour.

Click on the map to expand or to download it to your phone.

For directions between stops, use the map above or download a PDF version of this tour.

1. Place Saint-Michel

Place Saint-Michel is simple – a triangle between two streets, uniform buildings along both, designed by the same architect, a walk of smooth cobblestone.

The centerpiece is St. Michael defeating a devil; far above them are four statues symbolizing the four cardinal virtues of prudence, fortitude, temperance, and justice.

This monument came to be because of the 1848 Revolution and a cholera epidemic in Paris that followed it which killed thousands.

This idea of abstract concepts given human form had been popular during the Revolution, the big one, representing the kind of big virtues – like the Four Cardinal Virtues – that everyone could strive for, instead of a single human being whose actions and legacy would turn people against each other.

Simultaneous with the creation of Place Saint-Michel, Napoleon III’s renovation brought the Boulevard Saint-Michel into being, and that is the next part of the walk.

2. Boulevard Saint-Michel

The character of the street you’re on – wide-open space lined with trees and long, harmonious buildings, plus, often, a view of some landmark in the distance – was a central part of the renovation plan, or the Haussmann plan, as it’s also known.

Georges-Eugène Hausmann was a Paris technocrat. Aside from health reasons, he also made the case to the parliament that wide streets would help prevent so many revolutions in the future.

Many buildings along this road are fine examples of the French 2nd Empire style.

On the left side of the street, just after Boulinier, a used book store, you’ll see the ruins of ancient Roman-style baths.

This is a preview of the Cluny Museum, which you’ll see from the front soon.

3. The Sorbonne

The Sorbonne, or the University of Paris, has been here since 1150, making it the second oldest university in Europe.

It’s the place where some of the fundamentals of today’s education system – things like doctoral degrees – were first put into practice.

The Sorbonne helped put Paris, and the Latin Quarter, on the map. 

It’s hard to overstate how many big names are connected with this institution, then and since.

Among them are churchmen John Calvin and Thomas Aquinas, scientists Marie and Pierre Curie, writers Voltaire, Balzac, Jean-Paul Sartre, T.S. Eliot, Elie Wiesel, Susan Sontag and so many more.

4. Cluny Museum

This is the Cluny Museum, formerly the Cluny Mansion. The name comes from the Cluny monks to whom it belonged and they were named for the city where they were based.

In 1340, they obtained what was left of the thermal baths you saw earlier and built this structure beside them.

Today, it’s France’s National Museum of the Middle Ages. It’s more an art museum than a history museum, with excellent exhibits on tapestries and stained glass.

Apart from those, the museum also has early medieval art from before the Gothic era – the style called Romanesque – medieval work from the Islamic world and the Byzantine Empire, and some other late, near-Renaissance pieces from the era of the tapestries.

There are also some much older artifacts in that oldest part of the property, the Roman baths. 

It’s open every day but Tuesday from 9:15 am to 5:45 pm. Regular tickets are 5 Euros, sometimes more if there’s a special exhibit going on ( more info ).

However, it’s free for teenagers, EU citizens under 26, and, on the first Sunday of each month, for everyone. It’s also free with a Paris Museum Pass .

5. The Church of Saint-Severin

Pause here for a moment to take in the atmosphere of the medieval city.

Saint-Severin is a 13th-century church, and the Rue Saint-Severin, the road just past it, is from that same era.

Look down to the left and you can imagine the crowdedness of these roads, shared by carts. pedestrians and animals and whatever was thrown from upper windows.

And you can imagine how easy it would be to improvise a barricade across one of these streets if you wanted to.

6. Church of Saint-Julien-le-Pauve

The Church of Saint-Julien-le-Pauve, or St. Julian the Poor, began construction in the 12th century, around the same time as Notre-Dame, and steady changes since have made it a mash-up of styles.

But it started Romanesque, the early medieval style that preceded Gothic, and you can see the heaviness of that style, compared to which Gothic would have seemed so revolutionary.

While it was originally a Roman Catholic church, today it’s used by Melkite Greek Catholics, who are part of an Eastern Catholic community, based in the Middle East.

The square is called the Square Rene Viviani, mostly known for its view of Notre-Dame.

The grounds are littered with big pieces of limestone – in the 19th century when Notre-Dame was renovated and also contains a locust tree believed to be the oldest tree in Paris, about 400 years old.

7. Shakespeare and Company Bookstore

This is the second of two bookstores called Shakespeare and Company, the other stood just southwest of here, and both focused on English language books. 

An American named Sylvia Beach opened it, and as both a bookstore and a lending library, it came to be the haunt of writers and artists, including Gertrude Stein, Ernest Hemingway, and Pablo Picasso.

The bookstore provided more than just a place for future artistic celebrities to meet; it also stocked and eventually published books that were banned back home, including James Joyce’s novel Ulysses.

This Shakespeare and Company was founded by George Whitman, who offered lodging to writers in exchange for volunteer work, and if you step inside, you’ll see some of their beds.

8. Left Bank - Pont au Double

On the quays along the banks of the Seine, Shakespeare and Company has plenty of competition in the bookselling business: bouquinistes , the booksellers who set up shop in little stalls along the river. 

From around the bridge, you can get a few important views. First is the Seine itself. The name Seine comes from Sequana, the name of an ancient river goddess. 

The river is the reason for human interest in this site going back millennia, and the Île de la Cité offered a relatively easy crossing, as well as an opportunity to build low bridges and control traffic up and down the river. 

On the opposite side of the water from here is the Île de la Cité. From here you can see the big picture of the island. 

On the west end, to your left, is the Palais de la Justice, the former site of the royal palace and still home to parts of the French government. 

On the east side, to the right, has been religious turf for even longer – Notre-Dame has stood here since 1163.

Before, there was another Christian cathedral that was likely a Roman temple, and those were sometimes built on sacred sites that were older still. 

Nowadays, there’s not much on the island besides that; Haussmann eliminated most of the residences here.

9. Notre-Dame (Exterior)

This cathedral was started in the 1100s and enhanced with some of its flashiest elements over the next few centuries.

You can see one of those additions: the flying buttresses, those gracefully curved stone supports arrayed along the side of the building. 

The cathedral has 2 beautiful rose windows, both designed in the 13th century, but they were recreated in the 19th century, and they weren’t the only parts of the cathedral added so recently. 

The same is true of much of the stained glass, the spire (now destroyed by the fire), all the gargoyles, and the heads of statues on the western side. 

To help fund that restoration, Victor Hugo penned his novel Notre-Dame de Paris, known in English as The Hunchback of Notre-Dame . 

Looking at the cathedral from the front, you can see an overwhelming number of sculptures and reliefs.

For a time when most attendees were illiterate and didn’t understand the Latin language in which the sermons were given, the church façade itself was the illustrated version of the Bible. 

Over the main western doors, on what’s called the tympanum, is a relief of Judgement Day, with the separation of souls bound for eternal paradise or eternal torment. 

To the left, over the Portal of the Virgin, is a statue of Saint-Denis, who would have needed no introduction for most attendees.

He was beheaded by the Romans for the threat he posed to other religions. 

Now, he’s a patron saint of Paris and he’s also known across the Catholic world as someone to pray for relief from headaches.

In April 2019, a fire led to the collapse of much of the roof and a spire, plus collateral damage from impact, smoke, and water to much of the rest of the building and the artwork inside.

Hundreds of firefighters contained the disaster and kept it from doing more harm. 

The archaeological crypt under the parvis is now open and contains remains of the Roman city, plus models of what Notre-Dame looked like at the various phases of its life.

Tickets are 9€ or for free with a Paris Museum Pass .

Notre-Dame Cathedral's reopening is scheduled for December 8, 2024.

10. Rue de Lutece

Straight ahead, you can see the Palais de la Justice, the next stop.

To your right is the Marché aux Fleurs Reine Elizabeth II, a beautiful, 200-year-old outdoor flower and plant market, operating daily from 9:30 - 19:00 (7 pm).

Lutèce is the French variation of “Lutetia” the ancient Roman name for Paris. The full name was Lutetia Parisiorum – Lutetia of the Parisii. 

The Parisii were the tribe that lived in this area before the Roman conquest, and as you may have guessed, they give the city its modern name.

Though we refer to Roman in this tour, it is Gallo-Roman, to be exact.

The region’s population was the Gauls, a Celtic people, and while they were conquered by the Romans, local culture in the early centuries CE was a fusion of both. 

There’s a limited understanding of the geography of ancient life here – the ancient Gallic city was probably out west in today’s suburbs, and the Roman city, originally on the Left Bank, moved onto the island in the third century to be more easily defended. 

At the end of Rue de Lutèce is Boulevard du Palais, with the massive palace complex on the opposite side of the street.

11. Palais De Justice and Sainte-Chapelle

Altogether, what you see here is the Palais de la Cité. The site has served state functions as far back as being the home of Roman governors in the early years CE.

As for French kings, it was the royal palace until the 14th century, when it moved to various locations across the Seine on the Right Bank, including the Louvre. 

From here you can see Sainte-Chapelle or the Sacred Chapel, easily identified by the tall steeple on the left side of the complex.

As for going inside Sainte-Chapelle, the wait can be long, but you’ll see some of the world’s most impressive stained glass. 

The upper chapel, up a narrow spiral staircase from the entrance and once only accessible by the king and his family, is surrounded by windows, and comprehensive cleaning and restoration completed in 2014 have them in ideal form. 

The lower chapel, the portion originally made for the general population of the palace, has a highly decorated Gothic vaulted ceiling. 

Sainte-Chapelle 's hours are:

• April 1st to September 30th, 9:00 - 19:00 (7 pm)
• October 1st to March 31, 9:00 - 17:00 (5 pm)

Tickets are 13€ per person over 18 years of age; under 18 years old have free admission.

You can also be admitted for free with a Paris Museum Pass .

You can also get a combination ticket with our next stop, La Conciergerie, for 20€, but it’s only available from the La Conciergerie ticket desk; you won’t find it online.

12. La Conciergerie

La Conciergerie is famous as the last residence of Queen Marie Antoinette before she was executed early in the French Revolution. It was also a prison before and after her time. 

La Conciergerie

The royal palace had moved to new locations across the Seine in the 14th century. But some state functions stayed behind here, including part of the French court system. 

In the absence of the king himself, the place was run by a surrogate – a concierge – giving this building its name.

While the Revolution began with the liberation of a prison, the Bastille, it soon took over the palace and found uses for everything there. 

Sainte-Chapelle became storage, the space where the parliament of nobles met became the home of the assembly and the Revolutionary Tribunal, and the prison became... the prison. 

The royalty and their supporters, and eventually all kinds of perceived enemies, were imprisoned, tried, and executed, close to 3,000 of them in this building alone.

The Cell of Marie-Antoinette

In terms of the interior, La Conciergerie is a stark, simple building compared to Sainte-Chapelle, although still majestically Gothic.

Some spaces are set up as they would have looked during the Revolution, including the cell of Marie-Antoinette, which is now a chapel dedicated to her.

Hours : 

• 9:30 - 18:00 (6 pm). Last entry at 17:30 (5:30 pm)
• Early closure on December 24 and January 1 at 17:00 (5 pm)

Lastly, you can purchase a combination ticket that includes La Conciergerie and Sainte-Chapelle for 20€, available from the La Conciergerie ticket desk; you won’t find it online.

There are guided tours (at an additional cost) every day at 11:00 and 15:00 (3 pm) and virtual reality 'histo-pads' available for rental at a modest price. 

At the end of the block, on the corner of the palace, is the first of the palace’s four towers, Tour de l’Horloge.

13. Tour de L'Horloge

Tour de l’Horloge means clock tower, and the clock is hard to miss!

This was the first public clock in Paris, installed in the 14th century, although the decorated face you see now came along a couple of hundred years later and has been restored a few times since. 

The figures on either side are personifications of law and justice – you may be able to see the plaque on the left and the scales on the right. 

The clock face is covered by a small roof.

If you have especially sharp eyes and you look straight up at the underside of that roof, you can see a repeating pattern of intertwined letters: sometimes H and C, for King Henri II and his queen, Catherine de Medici, and sometimes H and M, for King Henri IV and his queen, Marguerite de Valois.

14-15. Place Dauphine

Place Dauphine is another city square, a triangle really; the rows of buildings that border it on the north and south sides slowly converge, leading to the edge of the island. 

Make your way gradually through to that point.

King Henri IV had a son, who would eventually become King Louis XIII, but until he took the throne, he was the Dauphin, or the crown prince. 

Dauphin also means dolphin; a couple of them are featured on the French coat of arms. 

Anyway, during his son’s boyhood, Henri IV converted a private palace garden into a public square and called it Place Dauphine, or Crown Prince Square. 

The buildings have mostly been redone since then; you can get a feel for the original square at the other end, the last buildings where the two sides converge to frame a statue of Henri IV.

16. Pont Neuf

The space where Henri stands is called the Square du Vert Galant, and it’s a relatively new piece of land.

River islands like Île de la Cité naturally build up this way on their downstream side. 

The New Bridge, when it was new at the start of the 1600s, just touched the tip of the island. 

Today, Pont Neuf is the oldest bridge still running across the Seine, and the others have followed its lead.

This one was specifically designed not to have houses on it, so as to offer a view of the Louvre, which is where we’re going next.

17. Quai du Louvre

First, the sights on the Left Bank. 

Directly across the Pont Neuf you can see the Monnaie de Paris, France’s mint, operating for more than a millennium and still producing Euros today.

The building includes a museum on the history of the institution itself and on other money-related matters.

Next to it, you’ll see a wide building with a dome in the middle, the Institut de France.

Founded as a school, this is the home to intellectual institutions like the Académie Française. 

The Academy does many things, including giving life-changing monetary prizes to artists, but it’s best known for promoting a stiff view of what constitutes correct French. 

Crossing the river in front of the Institut de France is another bridge, the Pont des Arts or Bridge of the Arts, named to match with the Louvre, the Palais des Arts or Palace of the Arts.

It’s a pedestrian-only metal bridge commissioned by Napoleon, and the view it offers makes it a popular spot for artists or just souvenir photographers.

There’s a tradition – purely touristic – of attaching locks to the bridge; you’ll endear yourself to Parisians if you decide not to do this.

18. Louvre Museum and Tuileries Gardens

The Louvre used to be a royal palace, and it’s easy to tell. (See our in-depth post on how to visit the Louvre Museum ).

The Louvre remained private after the royalty moved out, and it housed a private collection of art until the Revolution, at which point, in 1793, it was opened to the public.

The open space to the west of the Louvre, centered on a large sculpted hedge, is the Place du Carrousel, and it used to be the location of another royal palace – the Tuileries Palace, destroyed in the late 19th century.

It left behind the arch opposite the Louvre – the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, built to celebrate the military victories of Napoleon and to welcome arrivals to that palace. 

Beyond it are a couple of stairways, leading down into the former location of the moat, which contains some sculptures from the old palace. 

And beyond that is the Tuileries Gardens. At one time an exclusive royal garden, this too became public during the Revolution, and it’s another option for the next part of your adventure.

The gardens have a lot to see – it’s a sculpture garden with about 200 pieces, including several by famous French sculptor Auguste Rodin.

The gardens are bigger than the Louvre, so you could easily find yourself walking further in this park than you have through this entire tour so far!

Luckily, there are a couple of cafes around the middle if you need somewhere to rest.

It’s free to enter the gardens and is open every day, with hours changing seasonally.

• January through December 7:30 - 19:30 (7:30 pm)
• June, July and August 7:00 - 23:00 (11:00 pm)
• April, May and September 7:00 - 21:00 (9:00 pm)

At the far end of the gardens is the Jeu de Paume , a contemporary art museum and L'Orangerie museum dedicated to impressionist and post-impressionist paintings.

This magnicient museum is a must-visit in Paris. It's open 9:00 - 18:00 (6 pm) daily, except Tuesdays. Tickets are 12,50€ or free with a Paris Museum Pass .

Beyond these museums are Place de la Concorde and the Champs Élysées, included in our self-guided tour of Paris' Right Bank !

For more ideas in Paris, including things to do in the Latin Quarter, Marais, and Montmartre , check out our website, linked in the notes.

And look for our articles and audio tours about lots of other cities - you’ll find links in the notes for those, too. 

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Best free tours in Paris

Don't miss this summary of the 10 most popular and top-rated free tours in Paris.

Free Walking Tours in París

Go ahead and explore the city of love without spending too much money. If you are planning what to see in Paris , we will tell you about the best free tours in Paris so that you can learn about its history, culture, and customs in a fun and affordable way.

In this quick guide you will know which are the free tours in Paris  top rated, most popular and tours in Spanish , you will also learn how they work, what are their advantages and what is their cost (spoiler alert: almost nothing!).

What is a Free Tour?

A free tour is a tour in which you can sign up without having to pay in advance. In general, free tours are organized by tour operators or by independent guides who are truly passionate about the work they do.

Are Free Tours really free?

Despite using the word “free”, that does not mean that you do not have to scratch your pocket. It is true that there is no predetermined fee to pay, but you are expected to tip proportionally to the quality of the tour you have taken.

Advantages of doing one (or several) free tours in Paris:

• You can book for free without paying in advance.
• You will take a tour accompanied by a guide, who will not only provide you with information about the monuments of Paris , but you can also ask him about places to eat , where to go shopping or any question you have about Paris.
• It is an excellent opportunity to meet other people.
• At the end of the tour you will only have to pay the money you consider fair for the experience.

Is it mandatory to book?

Yes. To participate in any of the free tours in Paris you must make the corresponding reservation. In our list of tours, in addition to a brief review of each one, you will also find the links where you can make reservations.

Free Tour of Montmartre and Sacré Coeur

To get to know the artistic Paris where characters like Dalí and Picasso took refuge, the cafes at street level, the cabarets and some of the locations from the film Amélie, this free tour of Montmartre is the experience you are looking for.

The tour of the artists’ quarter begins at Place Blanche, in front of the famous Moulin Rouge cabaret (the banner of La Belle Époque). A short distance away is the Café deux Moulins (where some scenes from the movie Amélie were shot) .

This art-infused tour comes loaded with more surprises you won’t want to miss. The tour lasts about 2.5 hours and ends in front of the Sacré-Coeur Basilica .

See more details and book

Free Tour of the Latin Quarter

The free tour of the Latin Quarter in Paris goes through very picturesque places, such as Rue du Chat Qui Pêche (the narrowest street in Paris), to solemn monuments, such as the Panthéon in Paris, where the remains of famous people such as Marie Curie or Victor Hugo rest.

You will visit the Sorbonne Square, the San Severino church, the Cluny Museum (where you will hear the story about the unfortunate who dared to challenge the power of Notre Dame).

If you are one of those who thinks that the Latin Quarter in Paris owes its name to the influence of Bad Bunny and Shakira, you should sign up for this two-hour tour to learn the true story behind the name.

Free Tour of the mysteries and legends of Paris

Murders, wars, plagues, conspiracies and severed heads in the guillotine (the most influential French invention in the future of the country) are part of the dark history of the French capital.

If you want to know the city of love, better skip a couple of paragraphs. The free tour mysteries and legends of Paris is about death, ghosts and blood. Did you know that the Palace of Justice was a place of torture and executions?

You will hear the legend of the barber and the baker of rue Chanoinesse, you will learn the stories about the Paris Catacombs and the terrifying story about the curse of the Knights Templar.

Sign up for this 2-hour tour only if you have what it takes!

Free Tour Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe

Get to know the most emblematic symbols of the city of Paris in depth on this free tour of the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe. You will visit the Champs Elysees and have an exterior visit of the Louis Vuitton Mansion.

Do you know the meaning of the inscriptions on the Arc de Triomphe ? Can’t you even imagine that at the time of its construction, Parisians hated the Eiffel Tower! Find out about these and other anecdotes on this unforgettable tour.

Le meilleur du meilleur!

Free Tour of Essential Paris

The essential free tour of Paris begins near the Notre-Dame Cathedral and continues across the Seine on the Pont Neuf. The tour then continues towards the famous glass pyramid of the Louvre until passing through the Tuileries Garden. From where you can see the Orsay Museum and the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel.

Finally, the tour will end in Place Vendôme next to the most exclusive jewelry stores and shops in all of Paris. Do not miss it!

Free tour of essential Paris

On this free tour of Paris in Spanish (with a duration of 2 hours and 45 minutes), you will get to know the île de la Cité, where you can admire the facade of the Notre-Dame cathedral, as well as The Saint Chapelle , La Conciergerie, the Palace of Justice and the Pont Nuef .

The walking route continues along the Seine River, passing by the Pont des Arts. You will learn stories about the Sun King, Napoleon Bonaparte, the French Revolution and other important events in French history. Next, you will visit the Tuileries Gardens and you will be able to take a look at the Arc de Triomphe du Carousel.

Finally, the t`our ends in front of the Louvre Museum . This free tour of Paris is among the best rated among the more than 200,000 travelers who have taken it.

Free Tour of the historic center of Paris

The free tour of the historic center of Paris will take you to see the main tourist spots of the city. From Notre-Dame Cathedral to the Louvre Pyramid, from the Pont Neuf to the Eiffel Tower and many more. All the major attractions in one tour!

More than 780 favorable opinions give this tour the highest possible rating. Users say that it is exceptional, fun, entertaining and that they would repeat it without hesitation. The walk lasts a little less than three hours and to book you just have to enter the following link.

Free tour essential in Paris!

Free Tour of “Emily in Paris”

In the free tour of “Emily in Paris” you will follow in the footsteps of Emily Cooper, who is the protagonist of the popular Netflix series, through the real settings where it is set.

You will visit the apartment building where Emily lives, her workplace, Gabriel’s restaurant , the Royal Palace Gardens and the Louvre, among other locations in the series.

The tour lasts just over 2 hours and more than two hundred positive opinions recommend it.

Free Tour of Montmartre, Moulin Rouge and Pigalle

Art lovers will love this free tour of Montmartre, Moulin Rouge and Pigalle. In addition to visiting two of the most charming neighborhoods in Paris , you will have the opportunity to discover hundreds of anecdotes and stories related to the artistic and bohemian life of the place.

You will visit the Paiva Palace, the Gavarni Monument, the Le Chat Noir Cabaret and the building that once housed the Maison Close (an old brothel).

You will travel along the Boulevard de Clichy to the famous Moulin Rouge. You will see locations from the movie Amelie, the Wall of Love, the Bateau-Lavoir residence where Picasso lived and many other places.

The guide of this tour is called Nuria, she is from Madrid and she is an expert in art history.

Free Tour from Place de la Concorde to the Eiffel Tower

We finish our list of recommendations with this free tour from the Place de la Concorde to the Eiffel Tower. On a 2-hour tour, you’ll see iconic landmarks like the National Assembly, Hotel Crillon, and Avenue des Champs-Élysées.

The list of monuments continues until reaching the Eiffel Tower, but the tour is not only about seeing, it is also about listening to the interesting stories that the city treasures.

100% recommendable!

More tips for saving in Paris

It’s no secret that the capital of France is an expensive city. Therefore, if you are looking for accommodation, we have prepared a guide where we tell you the advantages of each district so that you can decide where to stay in Paris .

And if you are traveling with the little ones in the house, do not miss the opportunity to consult our page on what to do in Paris with children . much less all the information that we have compiled for you to organize your visit to Disneyland Paris .

To enjoy the city of light, make the most of our guide to Paris ! Where you will find all the information you need in an original and entertaining way.

Ideas and tips for traveling to Paris

Continue planning your trip to Paris and save money with these ideas

Paris sightseeing pass with entrance to more than 75 attractions such as the Louvre, and Versailles.

Useful tips if you are visiting Paris for the first time

If this is your first visit to Paris, here are some practical tips that will make things easier and save you a lot of trouble.

Free days at the Paris Museums

Save on your trip to Paris by discovering free days at the best museums.

Romantic ideas in Paris

Classic romantic ideas for a couple’s weekend in the city of love.

Go City Paris Pass

Tourist card that gives you access to the best attractions in Paris while saving time and money. It includes the Eiffel Tower climb, tour and skip-the-line entrance to the Louvre, among many others.

COME AS A VISITOR, LEAVE AS A FRIEND !

Paris Greeters are volunteer, passionate ambassadors who warmly welcome their visitors from around the world. They offer free walks in Paris and surrounding districts. Each encounter is a unique experience: sharing this world, discovering someone else and a different culture. Greeters are not professional guides. Don’t ask them for museum or historical tours.

It is the opportunity to see Paris as it is really known by its locals, to discover neighborhoods that would not have imagined or dared to visit.  These encounters enable Paris Greeters to achieve its goal of Parisians and their city ..

VISITORS BOOK

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Paris Top Ten

Best of Paris

10 Best Free Walking Tours in Paris, France

Exploring Paris on foot is always a good idea. These are the best free walking tours in Paris, France.

Whether you happen to live in Paris, or you’re just visiting from somewhere in continental Europe, or even the United States, there is much to be seen in the city in this amazing city of historical buildings, shops, cafes, and museums.

Having evolved from a small settlement in the marshes of what is now western Europe, Paris became a significant Roman colony that was visited quite frequently by Roman emissaries keen on cementing it with the rest of the empire.

The city underwent the intellectual re-awakening of the Renaissance, producing all kinds of notable artists and intellectuals in the process. It was also the birthplace of one of the most traumatic revolutions in human history, with the French Revolution accounting for endless political intrigue and quite a few beheadings at the foot of La Guillotine.

All that has faded into its distant past, but that entire past history can come flooding back when you take a walking tour of the city and observe some of the magnificent remnants of those events.

For instance, some free tour options will take in the Louvre Museum , the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the famous avenue, the Champs Elysses. Like ripples on a lake, the echoes of those earth-shattering events are never far from the surface in Paris , and you can experience them by taking one of the many walking tours available.

The good news is that you can find a number of free tours in Paris, and the best free walking tours in Paris each include itineraries rich in the city’s history, as well as a number of sights and activities that most tourists are keen to experience.

Table of Contents

Best Free Walking Tours in Paris

1. latin quarter walking tour, 2. eiffel tower and arc de triomphe walking tour, 3. morning tour through the heart of paris, 4. montmartre, pigalle, and new athens tour, 5. paris of the past walking tour, 6. tour del barrio latino, 7. ile de la cite walking tour, 8. le marais walking tour, 9. free tour in spanish, 10. montmartre walking tour, are there free walking tours in paris, how do i explore paris on foot, where is a good walk in paris.

Below, you’ll find descriptions of some of the most popular free walking tours in Paris, France, to help you decide which one you might want to arrange for on your visit to the city.

The Latin Quarter has long been a source of fascination for visitors, going all the way back to antiquity, and it’s one of those neighborhood tours that continue to hold that same interest today. The region originally acquired its nickname because students attending nearby Sorbonne University fell into the habit of conversing with each other entirely in Latin.

That influence is still felt today, because the Latin Quarter is largely comprised of a high student population, with a number of eateries and cafes, as well as bars staging happy hour activities for their patrons.

It’s centrally located in the city, and it has quite a  few museums of interest as well as some of its most famous landmarks that are worthy of further investigation.

If you tend to be excited about seeing museum displays, pastries, coffee, and cafes, this is one of the Paris walking tours that should be well suited for you. Other highlights that you’ll find on the Latin Quarter free tour include quite a few remnants of ancient Roman ruins, particularly the public baths, which are still a fascinating sight to behold.

See Related: Fun & Interesting Facts About Paris

This walking tour includes a stroll down the Champs Elysses, the famous boulevard where you’ll find the Arc de Triomphe, built to commemorate France’s fallen soldiers. It will also give you the chance for numerous photographs of Paris’ most iconic structure, the Eiffel Tower .

You’ll also have the opportunity to admire the famous Trocadero Gardens in Trocadero Square, and if you visit Paris at the right time , the Gardens will be in full bloom.

See Related : Best Boat Tours in Paris, France

This tour, as its name suggests, will take you directly through the center of the city, where you’ll see some of the most fascinating sights the city has to offer. You’ll see the Tuileries Garden , the Louvre Museum, and Notre Dame Cathedral, and your guide will inform you about some of the most interesting tidbits of the city’s past.

Even though it will be in the morning, it’s advisable to bring a water bottle along, since it may get quite warm. While there won’t be time to inspect the museums and other buildings, you can at least take note of those places you want to visit again later, in greater depth.

See Related: Best Religious Tours in France

This tour focuses on two different neighborhoods in the city, both of which came into being during the 19th century, Pigalle and Montmartre. In Pigalle, you’ll visit the Moulin Rouge, the cabaret Le Chat Noir, Wallace’s Fountain, and the Bains de Pigalle.

In the Montmartre District, you’ll get a great view of the Rue Lepic, Picasso’s residence , the Moulin de la Galette, the Place de Tertres , and the Sacre Coeur Basilica . This tour is a kind of chronological tour, where you’ll learn from your guide about the momentous events of the times in which these two districts came into being.

See Related: Top 10 Paris Restaurants with a View of the Eiffel Tower

If you’re any kind of history buff, you will probably fall in love with the Paris of the Past walking tour. The tour begins in the Latin Quarter and winds its way through the Ile de la Cite, progressing to the other side of the River Seine, ultimately ending in Le Marais.

Some of the streets remain as they were when first built, which provides a notable charm to the cobblestone roads, although it renders them unsuitable for high heels or flip flops. You should make a point of wearing some strong and sturdy shoes on your self-guided tour of the city, regardless of which free walking tour you choose.

Some of the cafes and restaurants included on the walking tour impose a minimum card spend, so it would be best if you have cash with you to pay for any purchases made at these establishments. One of the best times for taking your free tour of Old Paris is in the spring because, at that time, you’ll see many of the fantastic flowers in bloom that the city has become well known for.

See Related: Best Tours of the Louvre Museum

This free walking tour gives a glimpse into the intellectual life in Paris, and along the way, you’ll encounter numerous cafes and bookstores which have supported some of the city’s great thinkers. Part of the tour touches the Latin Quarter, where there is still a very strong student presence due to the proximity of Sorbonne University.

You’ll also have a chance to take in the Luxembourg Gardens, the Eglise St. Severin, the Cluny Museum, El Panteon, La Iglesia de Saint Etienne du Mont , and the Plaza de Saint-Michel. Your guide will fill you in on many fascinating stories about the past and present intellectual life of the city.

See Related: Best Parks in Paris to Visit

Whether you’re visiting Paris for your very first time, or you have visited the city every year of your adult life, there’s no question that at some point or other, you’ll find yourself on the Ile de la Cite. This is one of the two natural islands situated in the middle of the River Seine, and it’s also the city district where you’ll find Saint Chapelle and literally tons of history reminiscent of the Middle Ages.

Some of the highlights you’ll encounter on this free walking tour of Paris include some of the most popular coffee shops in all of Paris, as well as a tremendous display of springtime cherry blossoms throughout the region. Other items of interest on this tour include the Hotel de Ville and the shopping center of Les Halles.

There are quite a few cafes and restaurants where you can purchase mouth-watering crepes. Both visitors and residents of the city make a point of patronizing the Au Vieux Paris d’Arcole, which has a reputation for serving the most mouth-watering entrees in the entire city.

See Related : Winters in France: A Comprehensive Guide to the Season

In its distant past, Le Marais consisted mostly of a vast swampland right on the very fringes of the city. However, in today’s world, it has evolved into an extremely chic Parisian District which has a great deal to offer to all visitors and residents of the city.

It has quite a few designer stores, fantastic eating places, and boutique hotels. It also still has a great many artifacts and buildings which harken back to the city’s medieval past and can be viewed on this fascinating walking tour .

One of the things you should make a point of viewing closely is the Place des Vosges , which was the first Public Square constructed in the city. The Le Marais district is on the right bank of the Seine, and this self-guided walking tour can get very busy in the summertime.

If you can arrange your visit in the springtime, you’ll definitely encounter smaller crowds and you’ll probably find this to be one of the best walking tours in Paris . One thing that’s an absolute must is wearing sensible footwear because this is another walking tour featuring quite a few cobblestone lanes.

See Related : Arc de Triomphe: Exploring the Iconic Paris Arch

If you happen to be of Hispanic descent, you’ll love the fact that you can take a tour of the city and hear your guide point out places of interest in your native language. This tour takes in the Ile de la Cite and Notre Dame Cathedral , and will then cross the Gardens of the Tuileries, where you’ll have a majestic view of the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower.

If you don’t know French history , you’ll learn a lot about Napoleon Bonaparte, King Louis XIV, and the influence of King Henry IV. Walking along the River Seine, the tour will then make a brief stop at the Louvre Museum , one of the most famous repositories of art in the entire world. The tour ends at the Place de Vendome, where you can visit some of the city’s most expensive jewelry stores and most glamorous hotels.

See Related: Best Weekend Trips from Paris, France

If you don’t have time for any other tours of Paris, you should probably select the Montmartre Walking Tour. On this tour, you’ll find a delightful mix of wooden windmills, a secret vineyard, a number of historical locations, and all kinds of photo opportunities.

This district includes such landmarks as the Lapin Agile, the Sacre Coeur Basilica, and the Moulin Rouge. Your local guide will bring all the cultural history to life for you, relating all the intriguing facts about the past that have influenced the city all the way to the present.

A number of well-known bohemian artists spent a considerable amount of time here, developing their own unique perspective of the world.

It undoubtedly contributed to the artistic development of Edith Piaf, Pablo Picasso, Renoir, and Vincent van Gogh. There are also quite a few fantastic restaurants here, as well as a thriving nightlife that you may want to pay a second visit to after your free walking tour.

Yes, there are free walking tours in Paris. A popular one is the free walking tour put on by the city of Paris, which offers two daily tour options that explore the city’s main attractions. They also offer paid tours and customized private tours.

Exploring Paris on foot is an excellent way to get an intimate knowledge of the city and its hidden gems. Stroll through the quaint cobblestone streets, take a walking tour along the Seine, or wander around one of the many beautiful parks and gardens. You’ll be rewarded with countless memorable experiences.

A great walk in Paris would be to take a stroll along the banks of the Seine River. This winding path will take you past iconic monuments , bridges , and other attractions that make Paris such a beautiful city. Additionally, taking a walk through any of the numerous parks scattered around the city is a wonderful way to explore and appreciate all that Paris has to offer.

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Free Walking Tour Paris

Free walking tour Paris shows you the capital of France and a city renowned for its rich history, stunning architecture, and vibrant cultural scene. Paris is famous for iconic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and the Louvre Museum. Paris is also known for its fashion, with many famous designers and boutiques located throughout the city. The charming street cafes and beautiful parks add to the city’s romantic and picturesque atmosphere. The Seine River and its river cruises offer a unique perspective of the city and its historic architecture. The culinary scene in Paris is also world-renowned, with a diverse range of options, including traditional French cuisine and a thriving street food scene. The city also has a vibrant cultural scene, with numerous theaters, opera houses, and museums, making Paris a must-visit destination for art and history lovers. Whether it’s exploring the city’s historic neighborhoods, strolling along the Seine, or admiring the iconic landmarks, Paris is a city that never ceases to amaze and delight visitors.

General information

Meet your guide in front of the Notre-Dame Cathedral

11:00 hrs / 18:00 hrs

Tip only basis

Please remember to check your ticket after booking to ensure you don’t miss any updates from your guide.

Free Walking Tour Paris – Itinerary

Free walking tour Paris begins in the heart of the city, at the iconic Notre-Dame Cathedral, one of Paris’ most famous landmarks. The cathedral, with its stunning Gothic architecture, is a must-visit for anyone interested in religious history or architecture. From Notre-Dame, the tour can proceed to the nearby Île de la Cité, a small island in the Seine River that is considered to be the birthplace of Paris. The island is home to several historical buildings, including the Sainte-Chapelle, a beautiful chapel with stunning stained-glass windows.  

Continuing the tour, visitors can head to the Left Bank, where they can stroll down the Boulevard Saint-Germain, one of the city’s most famous boulevards, and admire the elegant architecture of the buildings that line the street. The area is also home to several famous cafés, such as the Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots, which have been popular hangouts for artists, writers, and intellectuals for many years.

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After exploring the Left Bank, the tour can head to the famous Marais neighborhood, a historic district that is known for its beautiful architecture and vibrant cultural scene. The Marais is home to several historic buildings, including the Place des Vosges, a beautiful square with uniform buildings, and the Hôtel de Sully, a historic mansion that is now a museum. Visitors can also admire the stunning architecture of the Maison Européenne de la Photographie, a museum dedicated to photography.  

The tour can conclude with a visit to the famous Champs-Élysées, a wide avenue that is lined with trees and is considered one of the most beautiful streets in the world. The avenue is home to many famous theaters, cinemas, and restaurants, as well as the famous Arc de Triomphe, an iconic monument that honors the soldiers who fought and died for France. From the Champs-Élysées, visitors can end their tour with a visit to the nearby Tuileries Garden, a beautiful park that is a popular spot for relaxation and picnics.

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Free Tour of Paris

Book the original Paris free walking tour and visit many of the city's highlights with a local guide

ABOUT THE Free Tour of Paris

This 2.5-hour Paris free walking tour will show you many of the top attractions in the city. Local experts will take you to must-see spots such as the iconic Notre Dame de Paris, the world-famous Louvre, and the impressive Parc des Tuileries. Explore Paris' beautiful streets with the help of an expert local guide!

Your Paris Free Tour meets at the Saint Michel Fountain and finishes by the Louvre Museum. Join us on this introduction to Paris, a great way to orientate yourself in the city and at a price to suit everybody’s budget.  We never cancel; tours run rain, hail or shine.

One of the most beautiful cities in the world

You'll want to keep your camera at the ready as your expert local guide takes you on a walking tour through major Paris landmarks. The iconic sites keep coming as you make your way from Place Saint Michel over the river to see the Notre Dame de Paris. As you stroll along the famous River Seine, you'll feel like a real Parisian as you see the Paris of famous films and books. Walk across Pont Neuf, and over to the Louvre and past the Tuileries Gardens. On this breathtaking tour, you will also find yourself face-to-face with more major Paris sites like the Palace of Justice and Sainte Chapelle, and see a glimpse of the Musée d'Orsay and Place de la Concorde.

With some of the most incredible stories

However, you'll want to make sure you're not too busy taking photographs to hear the stories behind these major Paris landmarks, because the City of Love is not just beautiful - it's fascinating. The informative and always entertaining local guides will bring stories from the capital of Napoleon's empire, the beheadings of the French Revolution, and the dark times of the Nazi occupation to life.

Free Tour concept

The tips-based model of the Free Tour allows guests to support and reward only the highest quality tours, and to ensure that the tour fits within their expectations, and within their budget.

The Paris Free Tour starts by the fountain on Place Saint-Michel (metro line 4 - exit 3)

• Stroll along the banks of the River Seine
• Photograph the stunning Notre Dame de Paris
• Visit the grounds of the Louvre
• Walk through the Tuileries Gardens
• Hear the incredible stories of Paris' fascinating past
• See the Palais de Justice

TOUR SCHEDULES

Click on 'See more dates' to check availability

• Local English-speaking guide
• Gratuities for the guide (optional)
• Our business is connecting great guides and smart travelers, and we're proud that so many local guides employ us to welcome travelers like you on their journey through some of the world's best cities. No two tours are alike, and the sites, stories, and length of the tour will vary depending on what your freelance guide decides is best. That's why the tours we promote never get stale or feel scripted, and why both independent guides and savvy travelers prefer SANDEMANs
• Wheelchair accessible

Customer reviews

Well worth doing if you want to see most of the sites without having to plan where to go and finding out something about each landmark. We had Oliver as our guide and we found him very good! We saw everything we wanted to see on the tour except the Eiffel Tower which is understandable because its out of the way from the centre. We ended up going there after wards. We would highly recommend this free tour. So easy and enjoyable.

Free tour with Oliver

We did the English afternoon free tour and had a great time. Oliver was an excellent tourguide. Definitely the best free tour that we had during our Eurotrip. Highly recommend. Thank you Oliver for the excellent tour!

Free Tour of Paris

We did the free tour and were happy to pay our guide who was very knowledgeable and fun! We learned some interesting facts about the famous landmarks in Paris, enjoyed some urban tales and tips from our local guide. Highly recommended.

Free tour at 10am was a blast

We did the morning free tour with Zach and really enjoyed it. We are a couple on our early 50s and appreciated Zach's history knowledge even if we didn't care for the drinking tips or the funny voices he did. He was cool and did a great job keeping the crowd amused. Would do a tour with him again.

Amazing free tour

We had Harry as our tour guide on a cold December afternoon and had the best time! Harry is friendly, entertaining and engaging. He gave us a great back history of Paris and was full of knowledge. We've done a free tour is most European cities we've visited and this one was up there as one of our favourites!

Our tour guide was Nancy & she was amazing. We had a great time & the tour was very informative. We arrived on a Saturday & took the tour the next day. Was great timing for us & it gave us a good sense of what we wanted to see during the remainder of the stay. She was quite funny & very engaging. I would highly recommend this tour. Next time we go to Europe we will look up Sandemans

What is a Free Tour?

The Free Tour is the best introduction to Paris! A general overview tour including many of the highlights of the city, the Free Tour usually lasts around 3 hours and is provided by a local freelance guide in partnership with SANDEMANs NEW Europe, so tour content can vary depending on your guide’s particular area of interest and expertise.

The Free Tour is a walking tour with no need for public transport and is designed for independent travellers, not groups. You can book your spot in advance online or simply show up at the start point on the day. There is no payment necessary at the start of the tour but you are welcome to tip your guide at the end!

We believe in supporting local communities and are committed to giving a voice to some of Paris' best local freelance tour guides, who passionately share the city's history and culture with their own unique and always-entertaining style. They'll never pressure you to tip; we believe that, if money is given, it should be voluntary and in direct proportion to the quality of the tour and the budget of the traveller.

Why join the SANDEMANs FREE Tour?

• The route covers many of Paris' major landmarks
• The meeting point is centrally located in Place Saint-Michel
• The Free Tour is guaranteed to fit within your budget
• The guides performing tips-based Free Tours are incentivized to perform every time

WALKING TOURS & ACTIVITIES IN PARIS

• Private Tour

Montmartre Free Walking Tour

Join a walking tour of the perfectly Parisian Montmartre neighborhood

Paris Latin Quarter Free Walking Tour

Visit the beautiful major landmarks that exist in Paris' Latin Quarter

2-hour Paris Highlights Private Tour

Make the most out of your visit and discover Paris' top attractions with your private tour guide

3-hour Paris Private City Tour

Enjoy a comprehensive overview of Paris' fascinating history and must-see sites with your private to ...

Tell us the landmarks, stories or parts of the city you want to see, how long you have to see them and when you want to go, and we’ll build an itinerary that suits you.

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Participation in tours promoted by SANDEMANs NEW Europe is strictly on a voluntary basis. Neither SANDEMANs NEW Europe, nor the self-employed freelance guides who are the providers of the tours promoted by SANDEMANs NEW Europe, will be held responsible in any way for injuries to body or property incurred during tours. The tour guides reserve the right to deny participation in any tour, to any person, for any reason. Thank you for your understanding.

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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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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...

Lucy Dodsworth

Monday 26th of February 2024

Thanks Jo, and hopefully one day!

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Montmartre Tour

The name of the neighbourhood comes from Latin Mons Martyrum and means “Hill of Martyrs.” It is associated with the quite creepy story of the first bishop of Paris, Saint Denis. He was beheaded by the Romans for not renouncing his faith. Afterwards, he collected his severed head and walked with it down the hill, where he finally dropped dead. So much the legend, but before it got world-famous, Montmartre was a simple, sleepy village set on the hill surrounded by vineyards, gardens, and orchards. As many as 13 mills were built on its slopes to grind wheat, barley, and rye. Of those only two survived and now people around the world recognize the mill as a symbol of this fascinating neighbourhood. 

But finally the time has come when this sleepy village changed forever. Because of its many drinking establishments, cheap wine, low rents and specific, relaxed and friendly atmosphere, 19th century Montmartre became the hotbed where many artists from all corners of the world were flocking in. Who can tell what was first? The dancing halls, cafés, and cabarets like Le Chat Noir or Moulin Rouge where girls dancing the cancan were throwing their legs up indecently high or the artists settling down there and allowing for all that to happen. One is certain, Montmartre became the most interesting neighbourhood in Paris (and perhaps in the entire world) at the turn of the 19th and 20th century. Who has not lived, worked (drank, took drugs, had sex…) there? Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, Picasso, Modigliani, Matisse, Degas, Toulouse-Lautrec to name just a few.

Today Montmartre lures everyone with its colourful history, anecdotes, and scandals associated with the artistic community once living here, but it does not only dwell on the past! It is still one of the most intriguing Parisian quarters. A place looking as if it were taken straight from a fairy tale, with its steep, winding streets and crooked buildings overgrown with ivy. At almost every corner there is a café, restaurant, or drinking parlour you want to stop at. No wonder that until the present day it is loved both by artists, photographers, film directors as well as Parisians and tourists who are combing the streets in search of places famous from hit movies filmed here.

Join our tour to discover our favourite district of Paris and let yourself be enchanted by one and only Montmartre!  

During this tour, you will see and discover:

• Moulin Rouge
• Cafe deux moulins (Cafe known from the film “Amelie”)
• Van Gogh’s house
• Moulin d’ la Galette
• Place des Abbesses
• ︎Studios Picasso/Modigliani
• Vineyard/Oldest Cabaret in Paris
• Sacré Coeur Basilica

Really cool! You will like it!

We enjoyed the tour in Montmartre in February very much. Our tour guide Tank was just great! Very energetic, passionate and – what is the most important for us in this kind of tours – he gave us a glimpse of what life in Paris really is apart from touristic perspective. We liked that he was very kind, funny and well-organised. He was also really devoted to his job and you could feel he is a local person that comes from this neighbourhood. Strongly recommended!

Montmartre Tour with a Vampire

Ruben Sebastien led us on a very fun and informative tour through the Montmartre district. The tour is a great way to get a real flavour of the history and sights of the area. Ruben had an amazing set of stories and brought the whole thing really to life.

Go to Raj’s tour and his photo exhibit

Ran was great! Not only was he personable, well spoken, and funny, he was super knowledgeable about the area, art and art history, and was very engaging and relatable!

The perfect guide, we wish we would be here for his photography exhibit!

Fantastic walking tour of historic Paris !!!

One of the best tours we have Ben on with an excellent and extremely knowledgeable guide who is also blessed with a great sense of humour! My wife and I really great walking tour of some of the most interesting sights of this wonderful city! Highly recommended

Brilliant & very informative!

An absolute must at the start of your visit to Paris!

This tour is also available as a Private Tour.

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Paris: Discover Montmartre by Walking Tour + Delicious Croissant

Overview of the tour in Paris

Explore Paris' vibrant artistic district of Montmartre on a guided walking tour. From the lively Moulin Rouge to the majestic Sacré Coeur Basilica, immerse yourself in the bohemian charm that defines this iconic neighborhood. Admire the sight of the renowned Moulin Rouge, which serves as the heart of Parisian cabaret. Walk along charming cobblestone streets, and see bohemian apartments that once housed artistic legends. Climb the hill to uncover hidden gems like the Café des Deux Moulins (of Amélie fame) and the House of Van Gogh. Trace the footsteps of artistic brilliance in these historic locations. Arrive at Place des Abbesses, revealing one of Paris' oldest surviving churches and the famed Wall of Love. Discover Montmartre classics like the Bateau Lavoir, House of Dalida, Staue of Passe Murail, Moulin de la Galette, Maison Rose, and the area's last vineyard, all while soaking in the artsy atmosphere of Place du Tertre. Finally, climb your way to the pinnacle of Montmartre, the Basilica of Sacré Coeur awaits. Adorned with statues of French heroes, the basilica offers gardens, a fountain, and a panoramic dome, rivaling the Eiffel Tower for the best views in Paris.

This activity includes:

• Buste de Dalida
• Le Bateau-Lavoir
• Place du Tertre
• Moulin Rouge
• Café des Deux Moulins

Meeting point

Place Blance, Starbuck Cafe

Take metro line 2 (M2) to Blanche Station. When you exit, please look left side of the road. You will see Five Guys Burger and Starbucks, across the road from the Moulin Rouge. Please wait for me in front of the Starbucks cafe.

Things to note

Don't forget an umbrella if it is raining.

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You are free to cancel a booking anytime. We kindly remind you to cancel bookings you cannot arrive for. Being reported as absent decreases your customer level points and the benefits you can enjoy.

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A Free & Self-Guided Latin Quarter Walking Tour of Paris

By: Author Sophie Nadeau

Posted on Last updated: 6th November 2021

Categories Paris , walking tour

Last Updated on 6th November 2021 by Sophie Nadeau

The Latin Quarter, otherwise known as the  Quartier Latin  in French, is a lively district with roots dating back to a time when Paris was known as Lutetia. Here’s a free and self-guided Latin Quarter walking tour. Along the way, you’ll discover some of the best bookstores in the city, get the chance to glimpse some history, and discover why the patron saint of Paris is no longer in her final resting place.

Latin Quarter Walking Tour: Practical Advice, Tricks & Tips

Circus bakery, square rené viviani, shakespeare & co., odette paris, catholic church of saint severin, the abbey bookshop, cluny museum, place de la sorbonne, paris pantheon, saint-etienne-du-mont, enjoyed reading this free and self-guided latin quarter walking tour pin it now, read it again later:.

If I were to give just one tip for this walking tour of the Latin Quarter (i.e. 5th arrondissement of Paris), it would be to ensure that you wear comfortable walking shoes. Although the route is predominantly flat, you’ll likely end up wanting to stop off at several of the sites and wander around.

For those who think that they’ll be seeing many cultural attractions and museums when in the French capital, I would also advise that you consider the Paris Pass. Though it’s a little pricey in its initial investment, this pass allows you to skip-the-line at many attractions and allows for entry into over sixty monuments and museums! Check here for Paris Pass prices and further information.

For further information on the Latin Quarter, be sure to read my guide to the 5th arrondissement . If you’re looking to stay in this area of the city (after all, basing yourself in this area means that you’re in a great spot from which to explore the rest of Paris) , then I highly recommend booking your accommodation in advance.

Walking time: 21 minutes

Distance covered: 1.6 km

For the very best cinnamon bun in the city, you simply must head to Circus Bakery . Newly opened and located along a pretty street close to the Notre Dame Cathedral, it’s also here where you’ll find some of the best coffee the city has to offer. Please note that as of late 2021, Circus bakery is permanently closed. Luckily, many of the same products that were for sale in Circus can now be found for sale in the Café in the Merci concept store in Le Marais.

The oldest tree in Paris can be found in the heart of Square René-Viviani , a pretty green space where many Parisians and tourists choose to picnic during the summer months.

Often said to date all the way back to the 1600s, this small piece of history is now propped up by concrete and wooden pillars. Nevertheless, be sure not to miss this quirk of history while in the area!

Of all the anglophone bookshops in Paris , Shakespeare & Co. is likely the most known of. Named for a bookshop which was opened by the American, Sylvia Beach, in 1919 and hosted some of the biggest names in writing during the era. During the 1920s, Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein, all frequented the store.

Today, a new and second bookstore of the same name is open as an ode to the original . Should you wish to visit for yourself, be sure to be prepared to queue. After all, the bookstore is tiny and space is limited. If you’re visiting Paris in the cherry blossom season , you can also expect to see plenty of pretty cherry flowers outside the store.

If you’ve ever searched for the most instagrammable spots in Paris, then no doubt you’ll have come across Odette Paris . Situated in the Latin Quarter, steps away from the Church of Saint- Julien-le-Pauvre, Odette serves some of the best choux buns in the city! Located along a cobbled lane, be sure to head there mid-week or earlier in the day if possible so as to capture the pretty coffee shop with fewer people around!

Truth be told, my favourite church in Paris is not Notre Dame, nor is it the Sacré-Coeur Basilica. Instead, the beauty of the St Severin ecclesiastical building makes it well worth a wander inside if you’re ever passing through the Latin Quarter.

Home to a rather unusual formation of arches designed so as to look like trees, once inside you’ll find a quiet place to sit and contemplate, away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the arrondissement. When visiting, be sure to stay as quiet as possible. It is a place of worship, after all!

Books spill out onto the street and the smell of freshly brewed coffee is ever-wafting down Rue Parchemenerie, the pretty Latin Quarter street where the Abbey Bookshop can be found.

Established several decades ago by Canadian Brian Spence, the store now counts some 35,000 titles among its offerings. At other times of the year, the Abbey Bookshop also offers book signings and talks, meaning that it’s always an exciting place to stop by if you’re in the area.

Of all the museums in Paris, none is so enthralling for a Classical History buff as that of the Musée de Cluny. Located between the intersection of what were once the two main streets in Roman Paris, the Cluny Museum offers both the chance to see what life may have been like during the Middle Ages, and also a glimpse of the former Roman bath houses. Nearby, several important Roman locations can be found. For more information, check out my guide to Roman Paris.

Paris is home to some of the most prestigious universities in the world. With this being said, no architecture of any university in France is perhaps as famous or as iconic as that of the Sorbonne University. Once known as the Sorbonne IV, the college takes its name from the Collège de Sorbonne which was founded as early as the 13th-century.

If you’re thirsty en-route to the other locations on this Latin Quarter tour or simply want to purchase a coffee or glass of wine, then I recommend sitting in one of the cafés at Place de la Sorbonne and simply watching the world go by. Want to know more about café culture in Paris? Here’s my guide to the art of ordering coffee in Paris.

Thought that Rome was the only place to have its own Pantheon? Think again. Sitting in pride of place and overlooking the rest of the city, as well as the ever-so-pretty Jardin du Luxembourg, the Paris Pantheon was originally constructed to serve as a place in which to house the relics of Saint Genevieve.

However, over time that purpose changed and now one of the greatest honours that a French citizen can be bestowed is to be interred in the Pantheon. Now, you can not only visit the final resting place of the likes of Voltaire and Marie Curie, but you can also pay to go up the Pantheon’s dome and enjoy one of the best panoramic views of Paris.

In a kind of returning to the source of sorts, this Latin Quarter walking tour ends where the Patron Saint of Paris now finds her final resting place. Lying in the shadows of the iconic Paris Pantheon, this beautiful church contains the shrine of Saint Genevieve, patron saint of Paris, as well as several architectural features of note.

Free to visit, once inside the  Paroisse Saint-Étienne-du-Mont , be sure not to miss the rood screen. Intricately carved, it dates all the way back to the 16th-century and is the last of its kind in Paris. Wait for one of the guided tours, and you can peek behind the scenes at some truly astonishing stained glass windows.

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The Latin Quarter of Paris is a historic district with a high density of educational institutions. The area includes the Sorbonne University, the Collège de France and many other famous schools. It is also home to some of France's most famous libraries, such as La Bibliothèque Nationale de France. People visit this neighbourhood for its beauty and history. It is home to many quaint cafes and restaurants that provide excellent food while enjoying the views. You can also find many art galleries, museums and theatres that will show you the best parts of French culture. And as we often recommend on this website, there's nothing better than getting to know the Latin Quarter of Paris with a Free Tour like the ones we offer here at GuruWalk. A good starting point to get to know the Latin Quarter can be the Rue du Chat Qui Pêche. Rue du Chat Qui Pêche is a narrow street in Paris that is known for its many small shops, restaurants and cafes. It is just off the Place de la Contrescarpe and is a popular tourist destination. Originally it was simply called "The Street of the Fishing Cat" because of the cat that fished in the Seine River. But over time, the name was changed to The Street of the Cat Who Catches the Fish or The Street of the Cat Who Fishes. Then, finally, the Rue du Chat Qui Pêche (Street of the Cat Who Catches Fish) came into fashion in popular usage. Not far from here is the Shakespeare and Company bookshop, one of the most famous bookshops in Paris. The Shakespeare and Company bookshop is a small shop with old-school charm. The atmosphere inside feels as if you are entering the study or library of a mad professor. It has been open since 1951, when it was founded by Sylvia Beach as her personal haven for American writers seeking refuge from World War II. Shakespeare and Company has always been known as a place for writers, readers, intellectuals, actors, musicians and painters to meet, whether they are locals or just passing through Paris. And how could we not continue with the cultural theme in such a setting? The Cluny Museum is one of the most important museums in France. The museum has a collection of Romanesque and Byzantine art, including sculptures, ivories, gold and silver work and textiles from before the 10th century A.D. It also contains Renaissance art and a number of tapestries. As you can see, the Latin Quarter of Paris has a lot to offer and we are sure you will love it.

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All cities > Paris Walking Tours > Le Marais free walking tour

Le Marais free walking tour

Trendy marais tour, mansions and fashions.

booking is required

(229 votes)

What's in our tour?

This Marais walking tour shows what Paris is so good at: blending past and present. In Marais, we keep navigating between old mansions and newest fashion.

We meet outside “square Albert Schweitzer” garden (near Métro station Pont-Marie at street level at 18 rue de l’hôtel de ville).

Right away, our Le Marais walking tour throws you into a unique world that mixes together history, culture, fashion and refined lifestyle.

The Marais includes landmarks that every guidebook calls a must-see: place des Vosges, the Holocaust Memorial, the house of Victor Hugo, hotel de sully (not a hotel but a grand mansion), rue des rosiers, and hotel de ville.

But most important, we built this Marais walking tour into a collection of so many of the small gems that give Le Marais its one-of-a-kind personality: secluded mansions, prestigious trendy shops, art galleries, LGBT landmarks, hard-to-find gardens, and quaint medieval old stones.

We finish the Paris Marais tour by the banks of the river Seine, close to Notre Dame, hotel-de-Ville, and the Pompidou Center. To see more on this free tour, we do not spend time going inside each building. The area is best explored by foot, Le Marais is the ultimate walking tour.

• Le Marais must-sees that every guide-book recommends: Place des Vosges, medieval Paris, the aristocratic garden of hôtel de Sully, and Victor Hugo’s first house before he even wrote Les Mis
• Lifestyle landmarks that you have to experience: trend-setting stores, walking streets, LGBT landmarks, and unique food “landmarks”.
• Insane stories: how French aristocrats lived in Le Marais. What happened to Le Marais during the French Revolution. And the famed architect who wanted to raze Le Marais and put an end to walking.

Where and when?

Our walking tour of le Marais runs every day at 10am.

We meet outside “square Albert Schweitzer” garden, near Métro station Pont-Marie (metro line 7) at street level (at 18 rue de l’hôtel de ville).

This tour ends near Metro stations hôtel-de-ville (line 4) and Rambuteau (line 11).

Advanced booking is required. We advise large groups to book a private tour. In the interest of all guests, we reserve the right to accommodate or to turn down groups of 7 and more.

Why take this tour?

So you don’t get lost in this maze! Let a born-and-raised local take you from the house of Victor Hugo to Jewish Paris to Place des Vosges in just 90 minutes.

So you an experience the Parisian art de vivre at its best.

All for free, with this free Paris Marais walking tour. Book in advance.

This is a free tour of le Marais. You pay the guide what you want at the end of the tour.

Reservations are required.

Join the tour meeting point 5 minutes before start.

If you wish to book this tour, use the booking button on the right side of this page.

Privatize this tour

Groups of friends, families, and school groups often reserve a private guide for this Marais tour. Budget is €125 to €240, depending on duration, group size and itinerary.

Wheelchair-accessible tour.

Other information

Wheelchair accessible tour.

Le Marais is the most Parisian neighborhood of Paris. It will give you the charm of the city and of the Parisian way of life. A mix of old stones and contemporary elegance.

The Marais is also a major area of Paris for arts, mostly modern and contemporary arts. It features major museums: the Pompidou center (we locals refer to it as the “Beaubourg center”),the Picasso Museum, the European photo museum, the Jewish History museum, the Memorial of the Holocaust, as well as major art galleries.

Le Marais is also a very cosmopolitan neighborhood, with many communities living there in harmony: the Jewish community around the Pletzl (from rue des Rosiers to rue du-roi-de-Sicile), the Chinese community in the North, the LGBTQ community with numerous rainbow flag bars, and finally the hipster community in all the trendy spots of the Marais.

In short, the Marais is a magical mix of the past beauty of Paris and its refined present-day way of life.

The Paris Marais has many different kinds of restaurants. And that only makes sense when you consider that Le Marais is also the most cosmopolitan area of Paris. You will find specialties from all over the world.

In the end, the Marais might be known best for its kosher restaurants, its Jewish specialties and its falafels. Most famous is “l’As du Falafel” on rue des Rosiers street.

How long does it take to walk around Le Marais?

Difficult to answer! A rough estimate suggests that it it will take you 2 to 3 hours to explore the main attractions of Le Marais on foot on your own. This involves taking a stroll along the main streets, such as Rue des Rosiers and rue des francs-bourgeois, and discovering the historical landmarks such as Place des Vosges and Hôtel de Ville.

Our Marais tour runs a relaxed 90 minutes and we will show you the best of this iconic neighborhood.

What are the best streets to walk in Le Marais Paris?

Rue des Rosiers

The Marais is known as the historic Jewish quarter. Rue des Rosiers is considered the center of Jewish life in Paris. It has a synagogue, Hebraic bookstores, the emotional Jardin Migneret memorial garden, and some famous shops and restaurants.

The street is also historically significant, with plaques commemorating victims of the Shoah, and an antisemitic attack on a restaurant that took place in 1982. This is the place to be if you want to savor amazing street food, particularly some of the finest falafel in town.

Rue des Francs Bourgeois

Rue des Francs Bourgeois, located in the stylish part of Marais, is a popular shopping and trend-spotting destination for locals. This street offers a unique blend of shopping options, museums, and the true charm of Marais.

With a variety of Parisian fashion brands such as Maje and Sandro, home decor stores and concept shops like La Piscine (offering men’s and women’s fashion), this narrow street is a must-visit for a relaxed stroll.

Rue Vieille du Temple

Rue Vieille du Temple is a charming and picturesque street in trendy Paris that offers both tourists and locals a delightful shopping experience.

The street is home to a plethora of artisan boutiques and designer shops, offering everything from unique fashion finds to hand-crafted accessories.

The architecture of the street is stunning, with many beautiful 17th- and 18th-century buildings lining its path. This street is possibly the best way to experience the unique atmosphere of Le Marais.

We meet outside « square Albert Schweitzer » garden near metro station Pont-Marie (18 « rue de l'hôtel-de-ville » street).

Every day at 10am

Metro station

Closest metro station: Pont-Marie (line 7)

Additional information

All tours are in English

Average tip on this Marais tour: €12 Average time: 1 hour 30 minutes Average number of guests 14 Ends near metro stations Rambuteau and Hôtel-de-ville Look for our distinct pink vests

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