I am interested in public walking tours for less popular arrondissements, such as the canal area of the 10th arrondissement. Does anyone know if such a beast exists? I've done several of the Paris Walks tours over the years; quite enjoyable and I continue to recommend them warmly. I like the detail and local insight you get with a live guide, and was hoping someone might know of a company that offered public walks in these areas. A private guide, unfortunately, would not fit into the budget.
Posted by
Corvallis OR
7025 posts
I haven't seen any 'design your own' walking tours other than hiring a private guide. Do you need a guide to explain things to you? Or do you just need a laid out plan on a map and a short description of what you will see - a definite DIY tour? If you need a guide then you're stuck with pre-planned tours or private guides. If the later than you can take a look at this:
It's a box of 50 cards each with a different walking tour, some short, some longer. Each one has a map, tells you which metro stop to start at, and on the back has a list and short description of what you can see. They cover a lot of 'off the beaten path' locations. When I stayed in Paris for a month I used about 20 of these and found them very helpful to find unique places and things to see.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
784 posts
Try Paris Greeters. It is a non-profit and uses volunteers who love Paris and want to share it with visitors. When you sign up online, you can state your interests and they will match you with someone who will contact you to arrange a meeting place and other details. There is no charge although they do solicite donations at time of booking. Also, the guides do not accept tips though "un cafe" or "verre du vin" might be welcome.
Posted by
Chicago
8038 posts
There are lots of books that include Paris walks. I wish I could recall the details of one we used a few years ago -- but it was terrific and you might browse a bookstore. It provided self guided tours of many arrondissements. My favorite was an architecture walk in the 16th that included views of various Guimard buildings (he designed the fancy metro stations) and the Corbussier house/museum. It might have been the Frommer 24 Walks in Paris book. there is also a set of 50 cards each of which has a stretch of self guided walk with commentary; we have strung those together to create some shape to our own walks.
Posted by
Paris
9550 posts
You could check Vayable too.
Posted by
OP
USA
382 posts
@worldinbetween, thanks for the kind offer! However my trip will be sometime in September. Thanks for all the other replies. I will look for that card set.
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
6489 posts
One of the mainstream guidebooks, I think the DK guide, includes a walk more or less along the Canal St-Martin, I think from the Stalingrad metro to Place de la Republique. It also had another one we enjoyed in the area south of Place d"italie. Rather than buying this beautiful but heavy book just for some walks, I'd suggest looking for it in the library and photocopying those pages.
It can be hard to follow a written narrative, even with an included map, while you're trying to look at the places it features, spot street signs, dodge traffic, etc. For sure you "look like a tourist," but you'll look like one anyway, more so if you're in a herd following a live guide. I agree with you about Paris Walks, they do a great job on the more-trodden paths.