Which streets are the busiest, most trafficked in Paris? What are names of old streets? Bakeries!

I'll throw out a few: Rue de Rivoli, Blvd Saint Germain, Blvd Saint Michel,

The busiest are around the Arc de Triomphe (Champs-Elysees). We last stayed at the Hôtel Europe Saint-Séverin, which is in the Latin Quarter close to Notre Dame. Cute area with pedestrian-only streets that weave around. We've also stayed on my favorite street in all of Paris, Rue Cler. We've stayed at the Grand Hôtel Lévêque and the Hotel Rue Cler. Rue Cler is a pedestrian-only street. The cutest markets are on Rue Cler, from cheese shops to bakeries and farmer's markets. Google Map it and plop that little man in the middle of Rue Cler. You'll see what I mean.

All above mentioned plus Blvd de Montparnasse, rue de Lyon, Ave de General LeCler and at least a hundred more. I think you need to look for more explicit maps because Paris is filled with main arteries.

If you're walking, you'll really face very few problems.

hey hey mistimetotravel
so many different streets may be busy and may not.
here's a couple sites to check out some walking free tours or some charging a fee
discoverwalks.com
click paris, free tours and specialty tours
guruwalk.com
take your pick what would interest you
gpsmycity.com
download the app for paris. self guided walking tours of different areas/neighborhoods. enjoy and have fun
aloha

It looks like from a previous thread that you are staying in the Saint-Germain-des-Pres area. The biggest streets would be Blvd Saint-Germain and Blvd Saint-Michel as mentioned above. It will be pretty easy to hop over to a side street although it might angle off in an unexpected direction that is not favorable to your ultimate goal, lol.

I do recommend the City Mapper app for walking in Paris. You can put in your hotel as your "home" once you get there and can easily route back there in the afternoons.

Thanks for all these ideas. I have marked on our map these busier streets to try to walk around them and look for smaller streets. Also will look at the citymapper app. Thanks Pam.
Any suggestions for names of old smaller streets?

Old smaller streets are not as easy to find in Paris after what Georges-Eugène Haussmann did to the city.

And regarding the main streets, Paris has done a lot in the last few years to reduce car traffic.

I understand wanting to be away from the busy, but sometimes you'll miss a wonderful patisserie or a great cafe. Enjoy Paris!

Well we definitely want to get to great bakeries etc and want to mostly, but not entirely, miss the busier streets.
Any names of bakeries we should look for?

There are many excellent boulangeries and patisseries all over Paris. A favorite of mine on Blvd. St. Germain near the Maubert-Mutualité metro stop is La Maison d'Isabelle. Everything is delicious, but their butter croissants are exceptional.

Any names of bakeries we should look for?

Aux Mervielleux (multiple location but in St. Germain, it's on Rue de l'Ancienne Comédie). It was wonderful. Try the raisin (or chocolate) brioche. To die for!

Eric Kayser (for bread and good sandwiches). Also on Rue de l'Ancienne Comédie, but multiple locations.

BTW, you might want to check out this article by David Lebovitz, who is a chef/blogger from the US now living in Paris who writes about food in Paris. He wrote an article naming some of the best bakeries in Paris. https://www.davidlebovitz.com/paris-pastry-shops-chocolate-bakeries-patisseries-french-france/ In fact, the two I named above are on his list, although I found them since they were both close to my hotel.

Thank you both for the bakery suggestions! I have made careful notes! : )

Generally, the longest and straightiest they are, the biggest the are.
On google maps, the width of the street shows its real importance.
And a bd (boulevard) is a name for a big and important road.