5 Themed Walks to Explore Paris on Foot

The best way to see Paris is on foot. These five walks each follow a clear route through the city and take under an hour. They’re easy to follow, cover a lot in little time, and show you parts of Paris most visitors miss.

1. Revolution Walk

This walk follows the path of the French Revolution through central Paris. It starts at Bastille and ends at République, passing through streets and courtyards where real events unfolded in 1789. It’s flat, easy to follow, and takes about an hour on foot.

Duration: ~50 minutes
Distance: 3.6 km

  1. Start at Place de la Bastille, where the prison once stood.
  2. Walk down Rue Saint-Antoine, one of the oldest streets in Paris.
  3. Cross Place des Vosges, a 17th-century square turned revolutionary meeting ground.
  4. Stop by Hôtel de Sully, which survived the stormy times.
  5. Wander through Rue Saint-Paul, with its historic courtyards.
  6. Detour through Cour Damoye, a quiet cobbled alley used by printers and revolutionaries.
  7. End at Place de la République, symbol of modern French values.

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2. Paris on Film

This walk takes you through real filming locations used in iconic movies set in Paris. It winds through elegant arcades, lively streets, and atmospheric corners seen on screen — all in under an hour.

Duration: ~40 minutes
Distance: 3 km

  1. Start at Palais-Royal, featured in The Dreamers and Charade.
  2. Walk through Galerie de Valois and into Galerie Vivienne, seen in Emily in Paris.
  3. Continue to Rue Montorgueil, a bustling pedestrian street that appears in several French films.
  4. Head to Passage du Grand Cerf, one of the most photogenic covered passages in the city.
  5. Stroll down Rue Tiquetonne and Rue Montmartre, both used in walking scenes from Midnight in Paris.
  6. End at Café Le Nemours on Place Colette, filmed in The Tourist and The Intouchables.

3. Paris Passages Walk

This walk explores some of Paris’s most atmospheric covered passages. It’s a quiet, mostly indoor route filled with vintage shops, cafés, glass ceilings, and 19th-century charm — perfect for a rainy day or a break from the crowds.

Duration: 40 minutes
Distance: 2.7 km

  1. Start at Passage Verdeau, calm and full of antique shops.
  2. Walk into Passage Jouffroy, with its glass roof and view of the Musée Grévin.
  3. Continue through Passage des Panoramas, the oldest arcade in Paris.
  4. Head to Galerie Vivienne, known for its elegant mosaic floors and bookstores.
  5. Stop at Galerie Véro-Dodat, where Christian Louboutin’s boutique now stands.
  6. End at Cour du Commerce Saint-André, a cobbled alley lined with cafés and revolutionary history.

4. Literary Left Bank

This walk traces the footsteps of writers and philosophers through the Latin Quarter and Saint-Germain. You’ll pass legendary cafés, bookstores, and former homes of some of the most influential names in literature and thought — all within an easy walk.

Duration: 36 minutes
Distance: 2.4 km

  1. Start at Shakespeare and Company, the English-language bookstore frequented by Hemingway and Joyce.
  2. Walk past Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre and into Rue de la Bûcherie.
  3. Head into Place de l’Odéon, near the former homes of Sartre and Beauvoir.
  4. Stop at Café de Flore, one of the Left Bank’s most famous literary cafés.
  5. Continue to Les Deux Magots, where Camus and Picasso once sat.
  6. End at the Luxembourg Gardens, where many writers came to think, walk, or scribble in notebooks.

5. Art Nouveau Trail

This walk highlights some of the best surviving examples of Art Nouveau architecture in Paris. It starts in Montmartre, stops at Hector Guimard’s most famous building, and finishes near the Eiffel Tower. The route includes decorative façades, curved ironwork, and a few quiet corners missed by most tourists.

Duration: ~55 minutes (including some public transport)
Distance: 10 km

  1. Start at Métro Abbesses, one of the last remaining Guimard-style metro entrances.
  2. Walk briefly along Rue Yvonne le Tac, then travel to the 16th arrondissement.
  3. Stop at Castel Béranger (14 Rue Jean de La Fontaine), Guimard’s most famous residential work.
  4. Continue toward Square Rapp, a hidden cul-de-sac with Eiffel Tower views and ornate balconies.
  5. See 29 Avenue Rapp, a striking Art Nouveau façade just around the corner.
  6. Finish at Métro Alma-Marceau, near the river and Pont de l’Alma.
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