Please sign in to post.

Walking tour or food tour, favorite Museum, restaurant recs in Marais?

Hi again,

I'll be in Paris for a very quick trip in 10 days. I'm mostly planning to wander, eat, shop, and possibly see one museum. I'll be staying in Marais.

Has anyone done a short walking tour of Marais or Latin quarter/St Germain that they loved? Or a food tour? Favorite museum or exhibit that is happening right now? I love history, culture, fashion, design. Is a Seine cruise worth seeing the city by water (not wanting dinner)? If so, recommendations?

Do you have a favorite bakery or restaurant in Marais or St Germain?

Looking forward to my trip and thanks again!

Posted by
8546 posts

The Carnavet Museum is in the Marais. Permanent exhibits are free. Not at all a "hidden gem", but I love the L’As du Shawarma, in the Marais.

Posted by
3471 posts

Seine cruise, no dinner, Vedettes de Pont Neuf, about 15 euro pp, one hour, live narrated cruise, leaves from western tip of Ile de la Cite at Pont Neuf. Can reserve a time ahead at their website. Sit up top for best views. We have been many times and find it's always worth it. Nighttime try for late enough to see Eiffel Tower and buildings lit up. Daytime great views along the route also. Depart and return at same spot. No disembarking partway through. Great bargain also! There are options for champagne cruise, etc., but I feel they aren't necessary, and I believe they are only on the lower level, which isn't as good for views of Paris. Get there about a half hour early to snag a top deck seat. Bring jackets if weather is cool.

Aside from the Musee d'Orsay on the left bank, the Cluny is a favorite museum of mine, full of medieval art and artifacts in an old mansion for upper echelon clerics, recently redone and well worth a good three hours. Walkable from the Orsay. Also, but not in there same area, the Rodin Museum, especially the sculptures in the garden, is terrific. I visit it every time I have been in Paris, it is such a treasure to me.

Also in St. Germain area for a reasonably priced meal is Breizh Cafe (there are 3 or 4 in Paris) with delicious Breton crepes both savory and sweet. I have seen mostly Parisians there (lunch time...on their lunch breaks from nearby businesses, or so it seemed to me). Excellent food, good prices, and distinctly French (from Bretagne, of course).

For a stroll, you can't get more Parisian than walking along the left bank right next to the river, checking out the bouquinistes (sellers of used books, bric-a-brac, posters and prints, etc.).

Amusez-vous bien!

Posted by
46 posts

I know it’s not near the Marais, but I think my favorite museum is the Jacquemart-Andre, on the blvd Haussmann. Housed in a gorgeous nineteen-century mansion, the collection comprises old master paintings, breathtaking porcelains, and a spectacular collection of French furniture.

If you’ve been to the Frick in New York or the Wallace Collection in London, you’ll have the idea.

In the Marais, there is the free musée Cognacq-Jay. It houses the collection of the founders of La Samaritaine. There is a lovely collection of eighteenth-century furniture and porcelains and also an extensive painting collection - think Fragonard, Watteau, Boucher.

Posted by
115 posts

The Paris by Mouth South Marais good tour was so great! They also have a session that’s just focused on cheese that I’m pretty sure happens in the marais as well. Definitely worth checking out.

The Carnavalet museum is fantastic (and free!) and I was also surprised by how much I liked the Picasso museum…both close by.

If you have a sunny day, grab a pastry at Brigat’ and enjoy in the Place des Vosges.

Posted by
17407 posts

These are the special exhibitions I visited in my recent trip to Paris:

Orsay: Renoir - This is an awesome one if you like Renoir. It was very crowded when I went 2 weeks ago. You do need to book ahead for a timed entry for this one.

Grand Palais: Matisse - This too is an exceptional one. It was very crowded BUT I just walked up and bought a ticket and there was no problem with that midday during the week.

Louvre: Michelangelo and Rodin - Compares their use of the human form. This was well done and of course I love both of these artists. You do need a timed entry for this.

Cluny: Currently has an interesting exhibition on Unicorns. The day I went it was more crowded than the Cluny usually is but they did not have a good flow thru the exhibition rooms. ONLY of interest if you enjoy the concept of unicorns and particularly if you want to see the big Lady and the Unicorn tapestries. No timed entry needed here.

Jacquemart-Andre: Has an exhibition on "Splendors of the Baroque" showcasing Velasquez and El Greco. As I understood it the collection is from the Hispanic Society of America in New York so there would be a chance to see this back in the US. I got a timed entry because I was going on May 1 which is a holiday and most museums are closed.

Museum of Decorative Arts: I saw the Art Deco exhibition. It was surprisingly crowded and again this museum does not have good flow so you have to keep coming back on yourself.

IF you want to stick just to the Marais, as mentioned the Carnavalet is excellent. There are also the Cognac-Jay, The Museum of Hunting and Nature, the Museum of the National Archives, the Museum of Jewish art and history. None of those need timed entries. Many are closed on Monday.

Posted by
200 posts

We loved the Gosselin Bakery St Germain at 258 Blvd St Germain. It has wonderful desserts and pastries! It is near the Musee d'Orsay which is our favorite museum in Paris. We enjoyed Bateaux Parisiens near the base of the Eiffel Tower for a boat cruise on the Seine at sunset which was great.

Posted by
260 posts

We don't eat much dessert, but we did enjoy our purchases at Florence Kahn, near to the location of our favorite falafel restaurant Mi-Va-Mi (now since closed due to retirement I think). LOL, we were always so full after our falafel meals that we got our bakery as take out. No current website, address is 24 Rue des Écouffes, 75004 Paris, France.

Donna

Posted by
11966 posts

Here's a fashion exhibit taking place in the Marais right now at 18 rue de la Verrerie:
Assedine Alaïa and Christian Dior two masters of Couture. I'll be seeing this very soon.