free walking tour in Paris
Paris is a walkable city, but there are also plenty of tours that take advantage of the city’s public transit and historical sights. These guided and self-guided walking tours are the best way to learn about Paris’ history, culture, and cuisine without relying on a car. Many are free, while others are part of a discount pass such as the Paris Pass or TurboPass that includes multiple attractions.
The Paris Greeters are an organization of locals who love their city and enjoy sharing it with visitors. You can book a tour through their website, and they match you with a volunteer in your area who will be your guide. This is a great option for those who have a limited amount of time in the city.
This tour is led by an expert in French history and offers insights into the city’s most famous Paris walking Tours sites. You will see the Île de la Cite and Notre Dame, visit Sainte-Chapelle and the buildings of La Conciergerie (where Marie-Antoinette was imprisoned). You’ll also see the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel and stroll through the Tuileries gardens. This is one of the best free Paris tours that you can do.
Is there a free walking tour in Paris?
Another popular tour is this walking exploration of the Montmartre neighborhood. Your guide will tell you about its past aristocratic roots and current trendy lounges and galleries. You will get a glimpse of the famous Lapin Agile cabaret, the Moulin Rouge and Cafe Deux Magots, the workshops of Vincent van Gogh and Pablo Picasso, and even see the place where Amelie was filmed.
While the Eiffel Tower and Champ de Mars are often crowded with tourists, this tour avoids the most crowded areas. You’ll hear some lesser-known anecdotes about the monument and the obelisk that stands in its center, and you’ll visit some hidden places that most people don’t know about.
The guide will help you understand the history of Paris in just a few hours. You will discover that the city has a rich and complex history of opulence, revolution, war, occupation, liberation, and much more. You will also see the main tourist sites of the city, such as the Seine River, Notre Dame, and the Louvre. This walking tour of the Marais neighborhood is offered by Discover Walks, which has a number of different free and paid tours in Paris. You can find more information about this and other tours in their calendar.