Walking in Paris by Jeff Frenette/Unsplash

15 Best Free Walking Tours to take in Paris


 

Paris is known for its richness in culture and history, it is also popular for its famous monuments. Paris is the second most visited city in the world, it does not matter whether you are traveling for pleasure or business you will enjoy Paris famous for its art and fashion, the extraordinary city of lights. France has been the world’s leading tourist destination for more than 30 years. Tourism in Paris is a major income source, featuring world-class museums, gorgeous architecture, high-end fashion, and exquisite fine dining. Paris received 12.6 million visitors in 2020. The French Capital has taken an active approach to enhance the appeal of the city to not only attract local tourists but also international tourists. Paris will arrest your attention with its classic buildings, arching Parisian bridges, and elegant boulevards. For the foodies, the city houses some of the many world-famous Michelin Star restaurants as well as some cozy bistros. Paris is known for its famous and awesome bakery with several boulangeries, patisseries, and cheese shops that will make you just stay and keep tasting the delicious food items. The city attracts adventure enthusiasts and cycling lovers hosting the world’s biggest cycling event, Paris is the place to be. You can choose to get a guided tour to take around Paris or a self-guided tour but make sure not to get lost as your tour Paris on your own.

Here are the best free walking tours in Paris

1. The Latin Quarter walking tour

Latin Quarter. Paris, France by Olivia Romo Miranda/Wikimedia Commons

The Latin Quarter is situated south of the Île de la Cite and is one of the liveliest and busiest areas of Paris. The area’s dynamic and soulful ambiance make it one of the most interesting quarters of Paris to explore. It dates back to the Middle Ages when the Université de Paris was founded in the 13th century. One can have a relaxing night walk in Paris’s old quarters, there is a lot to discover in the quarters one of them is the Famous Cluny Museum is most renowned for its collection of medieval tapestries. The oldest of the tapestries is the Flemish Offrande du Coeur, a delicate declaration of love created in the 15th century. Looking for a good place to stay when you are in the quarters look no further Hotel Central Saint Germain is just 300 m from Cluny Sorbonne Metro Station in Paris’s Latin Quarter and you cannot miss enjoying the fascinating Quarter. As you walk around the Quarters you will need a good place to relax and dine La Jacubine offers traditional French dishes like the famous onion soup.

Practical Information

Book a tour with us: Left Bank, Notre Dome, and Latin Quarter tour

How to get there: Train Line 4, 2 mins

Bus line 38, 5 mins

Taxi 2mins

Walking 16mins

2.Montmartre walking tours

Montmartre dominated by the Sacré Cœur by Christophe Meneboeuf/Wikimedia Commons

Looking for a good spot to enjoy amusing historical Gothic architectural buildings and fun activities walking through Montmartre will take your breath away. It has cobbled lanes through Montmartre and is famously known for its artistic history, the white-domed Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur on its summit, as well as a nightclub district. The Montmartre walking tour takes you through the main sights of old Montmartre and the stories and legends behind it. Whether with a guided tour or self-guided tour open your ears and eyes as you take in the beautiful scenery on Montmartre be aware of pickpockets as you walk around. La Petite Hostellerie is a nice spot one can stop and enjoy a Steak with pepper and the Creme Brûlée and a glass of wine. Your stay at Hotel des Arts Paris Montmartre will be extraordinary it’s a 10-minute drive from Champs-Elysees and Arc de Triomphe.

Practical Information

How to get there: Train, 8mins

Bus: Line 85, 15mins

Taxi, 9mins

Walk 49, mins

3. Fragonard Perfume Museum Walking tour

“Mobile perfume” Fragonard Perfume Museum by Nico Paix/Wikimedia Commons

Perfume is a story in odor, sometimes poetry in memory by Jean Claude Ellena. France has been a world center of the perfume industry since the 17th Century when Louis XV’s court at Versailles was known as le cour parfumée. We all love to smell good be it going out for dinner, drinks with friends, or just a chilled day picnic with friends, then Paris is going to shock you with a perfume museum with a whole variety of perfumes to choose from. Paris is known as the world capital of perfumery the perfume museum enlightens one on the perfume history and production process of various perfumes. You can choose to have a guided tour or a self-guided tour into the fascinating world of perfumes. The museum occupies two stories of 19th Century townhouse on rue Scribe in the 9th arrondissement. Fauchon’l hotel is a great place for one to stay offering world-class service from self-contained rooms and awesome food delicacies. After discovering the perfect perfume one can have a delicious meal at the LÁcanthe with extraordinary service.

Top 5 Parisian perfumes
Practical Information

Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday 9 am to 5.30 pm

Free entry and free guided visits are in English and French. They start every 15 minutes and they last 20 minutes.

How to get there: By Metro: Lines 3,7 and 8

By Bus: Numbers 21, 22, 27, 52, 53, 66, 68, 81, 95

4.Le Marais Walking Tour

Le Marais. Parizo, Francio by Unknown Arthur/Wikimedia Commons

Le Marais located on the Right Bank is one of the historical neighborhoods in Paris enjoyed by many tourists, this former French aristocratic reserve is now a melting pot of Jewish, Chinese, and LGBT cultures. Le Marais gives one the feel of medieval Paris and is a highlight of one’s trip it has more pre-revolutionary buildings and streets left intact than any other area in Paris. A glance at some of the beautiful buildings and houses indicates the wealthy status of the former residents. With Small winding streets, gorgeous old mansions, fabulous restaurants, interesting museums, cafés, coffee shops, nightlife bars, and exquisite fashion stores with the finest architecture. Looking for a place to stay as you tour Le Marais, Le Pavillion de la Reine is a small luxury hotel in the World that offers an airport pick-up service, Guests can visit the spa to pamper themselves with hot stone massages. Café des Musees voted best Boeuf Bourguignon in Paris offers the best traditional, homemade bistro cuisine and is the best place to test your taste buds.

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Practical information

How to get there: Bus,75, 1 min

Taxi: 4mins

Walk: 10mins

5. Ile de la Cite

Ever visited a natural island, then Ile de la Cite is the place to visit in Paris, the Island was inhabited by the Parisii Celtic tribe the island is one of the most beautiful neighborhoods with three-man tourist attractions Notre Dame Cathedra medieval monument, Sainte-Chapelle, and the Conciergerie, today it is remarkable for the Flower bird market. There are many massive quantities of decorative sculptures including its famous gargoyles, priceless art, and religious relics, and beautiful concerts are just a few of the many reasons to visit. Bo not only tours the Island but dines in the best restaurants Le Beignet is one of the best traditional cuisines cooked with fresh products. Cheval Blanc Paris & Dior Spa Cheval Blanc is a good and luxurious place to stay.  Do not forget to lock the love lock at the Pont des Arts.

Practical Information

How to get there: Metro Line 4

Bus: Line 67,69 and 87

RER B

6. Eiffel Tower Walking tour

Eiffel Tower, seen from the Champ de Mars, Paris, France by Benh Lieu Song/Wikimedia Commons

When visiting Paris, you cannot miss the famous landmark the Eiffel tour the tower was designed as the centerpiece of the 1889 World’s Fair in Paris. The Eiffel Tower gardens and esplanade are fully accessible without a ticket, it’s free for all visitors to explore. You will need to go through the security checks at entry one or entry two of the Eiffel Tower, via the queue for visitors without tickets. walking beneath the Eiffel Tower’s impressive structure. Touring the tower at night is magical with its golden lighting that switches on automatically as soon as it gets dark its beautiful sight to see. Located in the center of Paris this remarkable restaurant offers a taste of gourmet, creative and seasonal cuisines. Hotel de la rue de Lille is the place to stay and not far from the tower.

Practical Information

How to get there: Metro Line 9,8 and 6

RER Line C

Bus Lines 82 and 42

One can also cruise in the Seine River and admire the tower

7. Paris Mysterious and legend Free walking tour

Paris is not only a romantic city, The city has witnessed countless murders, plagues, war, and corruption. This tour is done at night so that visitors can enjoy the medieval face of buildings and Paris during the dark ages. The tour is free and helps one to understand more about Paris and to enjoy the nightlife of the city too. You cannot miss the Paris experience of seeing the mysterious catacombs city of the dead. One can book a free tour from a website and sightsee Paris.

8. Nouvelle Athens Walking Tours

New Athens also known as the Nouvelle Athens is a must-visit when you explore Paris, its full of café with live music and cabarets in the middle of orchards the Nouvelle-Athens takes its name from the ancient Greece taste of the architects that have built the townhouses and buildings of the district. In Athens, you can find magnificent mansions in neo-classical style, be sure to keep your eyes wide open and your head up. You can make a stop at the Salsamenteria di Parma restaurant to get delicious cuisine. Hotel Villa Bohema offers a 24/7 room service with comfortable rooms.

Practical Information

How to get there: Trains Like H and L

Metro: Line 12, 9

Bus: 26,43,68,74

9.Le Pigalle Walking tours

Benjamin Godard, 34 rue Jean-Baptiste-Pigalle, Paris by Unknown Arthur/Wikimedia Commons

At the bottom of the Butte Montmartre and extending out to the Gare de l’Est, this neighborhood is the non-stop part of Paris. There’s no beating around the bush, Pigalle is best known for its nightclubs and sex shops. Le Pigalle, which counts Pablo Picasso and Andrew Breton amongst its former guests, is today a hub of art and coffee-drinking creatives, nestled neatly on Pigalle’s liveliest street, with the iconic Moulin Rouge at the heart of it all. Looking for a romantic comfortable hotel it has access to the city with efficient staff Hotel Rochechouart is a great place to stay. Enjoy the impeccable oeufs mayonnaise with a bloody steak topped with green knob and matchstick fries at the Bouillian Pigalle.

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Practical Information

How to get there; Train H & L

Bus: 21, 30, 40, 54, 60,68,80

Metro: 12, 2

10. Pere Lachaise Cemetery Walking tours

Detail of a tomb at the Père Lachaise cemetery, Paris by Alexandre Buisse/Wikimedia Commons

Have you been to a famous Cemetery, well in Paris the Pee Lachaise cemetery it’s the largest cemetery, it is a unique place that invites contemplation and daydreaming, steeped in art, culture, and history, where one travels through its maze of stones and vegetation. The famous burial grounds that attract tourists are Oscar Wilde, James Morrison, and Frédéric Chopin. It’s the largest Cemetery in Paris in your walk you will see over five hundred different plant species. As you walk around the cemetery you will discover numerous Sepulchers.

Practical Information

How to get there: Metro Line 2 &3

Bus: Lines 60, 69

Opening Hours: Winter 8 am to 5.30 pm

Summer 8 am to 6 pm

11. Champ Elysees Walking tour

Avenue des Champs-Élysées, street sign, Paris by Unknown Arthur/Wikimedia Commons

The Champs-Élysées is a truly lovely world’s most famous avenue. The avenue is divided in two. The lower part, closest to the Place de la Concorde, runs through a park with imposing buildings such as the Palais de la Découverte, the Petit Palais, and the Grand Palais. The avenue represents the prestige, luxury, and elegance of Paris thanks to its history and numerous luxury boutiques. It is known for its theatres, cafés, and luxury shops, as the finish of the Tour de France cycling race, as well as for its annual Bastille Day military parade. Its nightlife is full of surprises and as a visitor, you will enjoy it. The avenue is known for its reputable boutiques where you can shop till you drop.

Practical Information

How to get there: Train J & L

Metro: Lines 1& 9

Bus: 32,52,73 &93

The best season to visit Champs Elysées is during the early summer and fall

12. La Madeleine walking tour

When in Paris you cannot miss visiting Le Madeleine, the name describes small cakes to appear in France for the first time in the 18th Century. The temple was devoted to Mary Magdalene its appealing to look at the outside with its classic Greek design. On the higher Alter stands the statue of St Mary Magdalene with a dome above it representing the history of Christianity. Its facades give it a stunning look and appeal to tourists, making it free to enter and see. Emperor Napoleon designed the building in its present form to serve as a temple to the glory of his army. Ladies, it is good to wear comfortable decent clothing when visiting the church. Outside the Le, Madeleine square is a popular shopping destination with many boutiques and restaurants. Do not miss visiting the famous restaurant Foyer de la Madeleine offers a three-course meal. Fouchon L’Hotel is luxurious and offers you good cuisines and pastries.

Practical Information

Opening Hours: Open every day from 9.30 am to 7 pm

How to get there: Train: Line 14

Bus: Number 72

Metro: 8,12 &14

13. St Germain des Pres Walking tour

The most expensive district in Paris St Germain des Pres is home to luxurious boutiques and iconic cafes. It’s known for its rich culture, sophisticated history, and exquisite architecture. It’s the city’s famous neighborhood with famous museums, churches, and gardens. There is a lot to explore when you visit this neighborhood but as you are walking do not miss visiting the most renowned cafe Café de Flore offering the best cuisines. Looking for an excellent place to stay when in the neighborhood Citadines St Germain des pres Paris luxurious hotel with excellent customer service.

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Practical Information

How to get there: Train: L

Metro: 10, 4

Bus: 47, 63, 72, 84, 96

14.Jardin des Tuileries walking tour

Grande Roue de Paris – Louvre et Jardins des Tuileries by Tangopaso/Wikimedia Commons

Do you love gardens located between the Louvre and the Place de la Concorde; the Jardin des Tuileries is a free public garden. All visitors visit it’s a good place to relax soaking in the beauty of Paris and also a quiet place to have a picnic with friends and family. The astonishing Garden has fountains, sculptures, cafes, and restaurants. The Tuileries Garden is part of the Axe Historique, the history of this garden is bloody the Tuileries Palace was looted and burnt down during the French Revolution. The garden is children-friendly with playgrounds for them to play. Around the Garden are famous museums and historical buildings with great architecture visitors can enjoy the scenic areas while taking a stroll in the garden. Looking for a good hotel to say around Tuileries Garden is the J.K Place Paris with a 24-hour front desk. Located in the Jardin des Tuileries is the Café des Marrionniers offers exciting burgers and awesome cocktails.

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Practical information

How to get there: Metro: Line 1,7,8 & 12

The garden is open from 7 am and closes at different times Summer at 7.30 pm and winter at 11 pm

15. Seine River walking tour

Vue depuis bateau-mouche sur la Seine by Syced/Wikimedia Commons

Walking on the banks of the Seine River allows one to enjoy all kinds of scenery from The Eiffel tower to Musee d’Orsay. The river is a UNESCO heritage It is the third largest river, The river supplies half of Paris, and in summer the river is filled up with sand and palm trees making it a Paris beach, Joan of Arc’s ashes were scattered in the Seine and its famous in most artists paintings. The riverside quays and banks in Paris are alluring spots for spontaneous or formal picnics. The Pedestrian walkways of Seine make a good spot for picnics as one relaxes and takes the astonishing view of the river. At the foot of the Pont des Arts, the left bank of the river is an awesome restaurant La Balle au Bond open for one to dine and enjoy lunch.

Practical Information

How to get there: Train L, N        RER:C          Metro: 6          Bus: 30,72