15 Top Things to See and Do in Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Saint-Germain-des-Prés sits on the Left Bank and has long been at the center of Paris’s intellectual and artistic life. Writers, painters, musicians, and philosophers left their mark here, and the neighborhood still carries that mix of culture, history, and everyday Parisian life. Here are 15 great places that show it at its best.
1. Église de Saint-Germain-des-Prés
This 6th-century church is the oldest in Paris. The Romanesque bell tower is one of the few survivors from medieval times.
Inside, centuries of restorations reveal layers of Gothic and neo-Gothic style. A reminder that the neighborhood started as an abbey settlement before becoming the fashionable quarter it is today.
2. Place Saint-Germain-des-Prés
The square outside the church is surrounded by two world-famous cafés: Les Deux Magots and Café de Flore. Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Picasso, and Hemingway all gathered here.
The terraces still buzz with conversation today, and sitting down with a coffee remains one of the most authentic Saint-Germain rituals.
3. Saint-Sulpice Church
A short walk from the main square, Saint-Sulpice impresses with its twin towers and vast interior. Delacroix painted the Chapel of the Holy Angels there, and organ concerts still draw crowds.
Literature fans will recognize it from The Da Vinci Code. But if you don’t, it’s worth visiting for its scale and art.
4. Place de Furstenberg
Considered one of the prettiest corners of Paris, this small square is shaded by four paulownia trees around a wrought-iron streetlamp. A favorite for photographers due to its small size, it feels like a pause in the middle of busy streets.
5. Musée Eugène Delacroix
Hidden just off Place de Furstenberg, this museum is housed in the painter’s last home and studio. The apartment is filled with his works and sketches, and the small garden offers a peaceful retreat.
Easy to miss but it captures the neighborhood’s artistic soul.
6. Cour du Commerce Saint-André
This cobbled passage is lined with cafés and boutiques. At number 13 stands Le Procope, the city’s oldest café, dating from 1686. Voltaire, Rousseau, and later the Revolutionaries met here.
7. Institut de France
On the Seine stands the domed Institut de France, home to the Académie Française. Its mission is to safeguard the French language, a task it has held since the 17th century.
Just outside, the pedestrian Pont des Arts offers one of the best river views in Paris and links Saint-Germain to the Louvre side.
8. Boulevard Saint-Germain
Stretching across the Left Bank, this boulevard is the backbone of the neighborhood. Along the boulevard you’ll find fashion boutiques, art galleries, and independent bookshops.
It’s also a great people-watching path due to the broad sidewalks and plethora of café terraces.
9. Rue de Buci
This lively market street runs through the heart of Saint-Germain. Fruit and flower stalls, cafés, and bars make it a busy hub. In the evening, the terraces fill quickly with both locals and visitors.
10. Jardin du Luxembourg
The Luxembourg Gardens sit just south of Saint-Germain-des-Prés and are among the most popular parks in Paris.
The Medici Fountain, the central pond with toy boats, and tree-lined alleys are all reasons for locals to spend hours here. Statues lining the paths, flowerbeds on the lawns, and open spaces that invite people to read, play, or stroll in the afternoon.
11. Odéon-Théâtre de l’Europe
Built under Louis XVI, the Odéon is one of the great historic theaters of Paris. Its neoclassical facade overlooks Place de l’Odéon, a square lined with cafés.
Productions continue to draw international actors and directors to the place, keeping its cultural role alive.
12. Rue de Seine Galleries
Art has long been part of Saint-Germain’s identity. Rue de Seine is lined with galleries. Styles range from Old Masters to contemporary installations. Visiting a few galleries shows how active and varied the neighborhood’s art scene is.
13. Marché Saint-Germain
The covered Marché Saint-Germain brings together food stalls, specialty shops, and a few restaurants. You’ll find cheese, charcuterie, wine, and chocolate here, with fewer crowds than at the city’s bigger markets.
14. The Quays of the Seine
Quai de Conti and Quai Malaquais run along the river, with bouquiniste stalls selling old books and prints. Nearby bridges like Pont Neuf and Pont des Arts offer wide views over the Seine, especially striking at sunset.
15. Food Stops
Around Rue Bonaparte are chocolatiers, specialty food stores, and classic brasseries, showing how central food is to the neighborhood. Pierre Hermé’s is a famous stop for macarons and modern pastries.