Walking routes
Walking routes
Paris is best discovered on foot: many of the main sights are closer to each other than the metro map suggests. Here are four routes through the centre with stops in order. We don't give exact distances or times — everyone walks at their own pace, and the most interesting things are often found between the stops.
A route is a suggestion, not an obligation. If a street catches your eye, turn down it: you can always rejoin the route later.
How this section works: each route follows public streets and quays, can be walked independently and free of charge (museums along the way are optional), and starts and ends near the metro or RER.
Île de la Cité and the Latin Quarter
From the oldest surviving bridge, across two islands to the Left Bank.
Pont Neuf
Despite its name ("New Bridge"), it is one of the oldest bridges in Paris. From here you can see both banks and the western tip of Île de la Cité.
Sainte-Chapelle
A Gothic chapel within the Palais de Justice, famous for its stained glass. Entry is by ticket; queues can be long, so check the conditions in advance.
Notre-Dame Cathedral (Notre-Dame de Paris)
The cathedral reopened in December 2024 after the 2019 fire. Check the entry arrangements on the cathedral's official website.
Île Saint-Louis
A footbridge leads to the neighbouring island: quiet streets, old houses and quays with views of the cathedral.
The booksellers' quays (bouquinistes)
Green boxes of old books and prints along the Left Bank parapets — a classic Parisian sight.
The Sorbonne and the Panthéon (Sorbonne, Panthéon)
Climb up into the Latin Quarter: the university buildings and the dome of the Panthéon stand on the Montagne Sainte-Geneviève.
Luxembourg Gardens (Jardin du Luxembourg)
The route ends in a large garden with benches and fountains, where you can rest before heading back.
The Marais
Old mansions, narrow streets and one of the most beautiful squares in the city.
Paris City Hall (Hôtel de Ville)
Start at the city hall on the Right Bank: the spacious square in front of it makes a convenient meeting point.
Rue des Rosiers
A narrow street in the Marais's historic Jewish quarter; it's always busy, especially at weekends.
Musée Carnavalet
The museum of the history of Paris, housed in old mansions. Check opening days and hours on the official website.
Place des Vosges
A square of matching façades and arcades with a garden in the middle — a good place for a break.
Picasso Museum (Musée national Picasso-Paris)
A collection of the artist's work in a historic mansion. If you don't plan to go in, simply stroll past through the quiet streets around it.
Place de la Bastille
The route ends on the site of the former fortress, which is served by several metro lines.
Montmartre
A climb up the hill, views over the city and a descent to the boulevards.
Abbesses metro station (Abbesses)
Start here: the station has one of the surviving Art Nouveau entrances. The way up to street level is a long staircase.
Sacré-Cœur Basilica (Sacré-Cœur)
The white basilica at the top of the hill. The steps in front of it offer a sweeping view of the city; watch your belongings in the crowds.
Place du Tertre
The artists' square next to the basilica. If someone offers to draw your portrait, agree on the price first.
Montmartre vineyard (Clos Montmartre)
A small urban vineyard on the hillside — a reminder that Montmartre was once a village.
Moulin de la Galette
One of the hill's surviving windmills, known from paintings by late 19th-century artists.
Boulevard de Clichy and the Moulin Rouge (Moulin Rouge)
The descent ends on a busy boulevard by the famous cabaret, with metro stations nearby.
Along the Seine: from the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower
The grandest walk of all: gardens, squares, bridges and the city's great symbol at the end.
The Louvre (Musée du Louvre)
Start in the courtyard with the glass pyramid. Remember: the museum is closed on Tuesdays.
Tuileries Garden (Jardin des Tuileries)
A formal garden between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde, with benches by the ponds.
Place de la Concorde
A huge square with an obelisk. Cross only at pedestrian crossings: the traffic here is heavy.
Pont Alexandre III
The most ornate bridge in Paris, with gilded sculptures; from it you can see Les Invalides and the Grand Palais.
The Left Bank quays
Continue along the Seine on the Left Bank, where many stretches of the quays are given over to pedestrians.
The Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel)
The route ends at the tower, which stands about 330 m tall. If you don't plan to go up, admire it from the Champ de Mars or from the other bank at Trocadéro.
How to adapt a route
- If you're tired, cut the walk short: almost every stop is close to a metro station or bus stop
- If you want to visit a museum, check its closing day and entry conditions in advance and set aside separate time for it
- With children, choose routes with gardens — Île de la Cité and the Latin Quarter, or along the Seine
- Montmartre is the steepest route: there is a funicular for people with reduced mobility, but check that it's running beforehand
- In hot weather, start in the morning; in the rain, reorder the stops so the covered places fall during the bad weather
- Routes can be combined: Île de la Cité and the Marais are next to each other, as are the Louvre and Île de la Cité
Related sections
- Destinations
Paris neighbourhoods and day trips in Île-de-France: Versailles, Vaux-le-Vicomte, Fontainebleau, Giverny, Chantilly.
- Sights
Museums, city icons and places outside Paris: where they are and what to keep in mind.
- Local guide
Everyday etiquette, safety and useful French phrases.
Sources
- Paris je t'aime (Paris tourist office)
- Île-de-France Mobilités
- Museum websites
Information is correct as of the date of preparation. Fares, timetables, museum opening hours and entry rules change, so check them on official websites before you travel.