We'll be in Paris mid-July and would like to take a walking tour of the main sites. No theme (like WWII, etc.), just a tour of the sites, eateries, etc. I've read about Paris Greeters and they sound good, but I don't know how big those groups are, nor if they are any good. Recommendations? We've already downloaded Rick's Audio Europe walking tours of Historic Paris and Champs-Elysees Walk. Is that enough? Thanks!
Posted by
Paris 16ème (Auteuil)
1589 posts
It's hard to find a walk that doesn't have to do with a theme as Paris is surrounded by history.
Check out the website Paris-Walks. They have been around for years and are great. I would recommend their Île de la Cité tour. It's as central as you can get in Paris.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
17122 posts
How many days will you be there? I'd probably skip the Champs-Elysses walk as that will just walk you by a bunch of high end stores. The new Louis Vuitton hotel that is being built is kind of cute as it's wrapped up like an LV bag, hahaha.
I do like Rick's Historic Paris Walk. I've done that one although not in order...kind of in sections. I wish Rick and team would update this one because on the map where he has you going from 3 to 6, that side of the cathedral is not accessible. The Tower tours start in that corner now instead of the other side (#4), then there are still workers on site so their offices are along that side and it's blocked off. You can get down the other side of Notre Dame to the Deportation Memorial.
I expect there are some walking tours thru GetYourGuide and AirBnB experiences. I had not used either of these until my last trip and did 2 experiences with AirBnB although they were not a general type walk. I booked thru GetYourGuide too but the leader immediately changed the time so I cancelled and was immediately refunded my prepaid amount.
The one thing I would suggest is that you look at the qualifications for the guide. I want someone with some "book learning", hahahah and not someone who is an out of work actor looking to supplement their income by memorizing a script. That might not bother you so you do you!
Posted by
OP
7 posts
Thanks. We are driving in from Germany and staying in an AirBnB near the stadium, so we can park our car and use the metro to get around the city. We arrive on a Saturday and have Sunday-Tuesday to explore the city. We've already reserved our Louvre tickets for Monday morning. The we're driving to Normandy on Wednesday. I know we want to see the Orangerie museum and go up the Eiffel Tower as well, but our dates are not yet available to reserve tickets.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
11815 posts
Paris has too much to show in one walking tour. There's no historic center as you might find in smaller places because most of Paris is historic, though from different time periods. There are a few exceptions of areas that were bombed in WWII and rebuilt with contemporary architecture, but much of medieval Paris was demolished in the 19th century and rebuilt with the buildings and boulevards you see today. However, instead of a walking tour, a narrated boat ride on the Seine river will take you past many important buildings.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
17122 posts
I sometimes will do the Louvre and Orangerie on the same day if I have an early morning entry to Louvre. I can last in there to about lunchtime, then head out into the Tuileries, weather permitting. I usually grab a sandwich from the Eric Kayser kiosk right next to the Carrousel Arch and head into the gardens. From there you just walk thru the gardens to the Orangerie on the other end. The Orangerie is pretty small - 2 rooms on the entry level with Monet's 8 waterlily canvases and then a downstairs area which goes pretty quickly. Maybe an hour for this museum especially if it's crowded which is the normal case anymore.
Orangerie is open Mondays as well and closed Tuesdays like the Louvre.