Les Plus Grands Circuits – Top Walking Tours Of Paris Neighborhoods

Visiting the historic neighborhoods of Paris on a walking tour has to be the absolute best way to learn about the famous districts that make the city tick. Paris is full of wonderful and distinct quartiers — essentially villages within the city. A walking tour to one of these unique corners gives you a deeper understanding of the magic found there.

Even the names of these neighborhoods are the stuff of legend. The Latin Quarter is the medieval heart of the city, with narrow cobblestone streets, scholars, students and museums. On the other side of the river, the medieval Marais was once home to French royalty and its still filled with stately mansions from the 17th century, though now it's the most trendy shopping area in Paris. Montmartre, formerly a rural village on a hill, was home to the powerhouses of 20th century art, including Picasso and Dali.

1. Walking Tour of Historic Marais

A visit to the Marais gives you a glimpse into three or four different worlds. There's the Paris of the 17th century royalty, when Place des Vosges was created and the Marais was filled with the homes of the aristocracy. Then there's the Paris of Jewish life with delis, bagel shops and synagogues. And finally there's the Paris of today, filled with interesting shops and a chic destination for Sunday brunch, as well as being the center of gay Paris.

This private tour of the Marais shows you all that and more, taking you to famous sites as well as hidden gems loved by locals. And what's great about it is that the tour is just for you and your posse, meaning you have the undivided attention of the expert guide.

2. Off the Beaten Track In The Latin Quarter

The Left Bank of Paris has been the intellectual capital of Paris, and of France, for eight centuries, since the Sorbonne was founded. Perhaps because of that it's also been the seat of revolts and uprisings. The Latin Quarter and Saint-Germain are also known for 20th-century literary celebrities, like Simone de Beauvoir, Jean-Paul Sartre, Hemingway, Fitzgerald and Gertrude Stein.

With an expert local guide providing fascinating history and anecdotes, this in-depth guided walking tour takes you from the Luxembourg Gardens to La Sorbonne, Place des Vosges and everywhere in between including a favorite boulangerie.

4. Montmartre & Sacre Coeur Walking Tour

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries Montmartre changed from a village on a hill to Paris' most bohemian quartier. Today it retains a sense of difference from the rest of the city and, as such, a fascination for visitors and Parisians alike.

On this tour you wander through Montmartre, with a guide at your side to explain the historical significance of its windmills, cabarets, and monuments. You'll take in the vista at Sacre Coeur, of course, but you'll also walk to the north slope, where Van Gogh lived and painted.

5. Île de la Cité, Notre Dame & Le Conciergerie

This private walking tour concentrates on the birthplace of Paris — Île de la Cité, the island in the Seine that is home to Notre Dame. The tour starts with the fascinating 2,000 years of history of the Paris islands plus insider stories about the past of the city.

At Notre Dame you'll learn about Gothic cathedrals and how they were built by medieval masons. You'll visit mansions that were home to French royalty before the Revolution and you'll get a true feeling for the sights and backstreets of this fascinating part of Paris.

6. Explore The Marais & It's Historic Jewish Quarter

This guided walk also takes you to the historic Marais. Led by a professional English-speaking guide you explore the medieval Jewish Quarter, today an active hub of community life. There's so much to see in this quartier, and a guide can really make it come alive — the Hotel de Ville, historic churches, Hôtel Carnavalet (home to the history of Paris museum), the garden at Hotel de Sully (shown above), and much more.