The good weather may be over, but that’s no excuse to stay cooped up at home. Paris offers you numerous walking ideas, no matter the weather. Whether it’s sunny, rainy, snowy, or windy, there will always be a corner of the city, a park, or a neighborhood to discover. To help you make the most of it, here’s a non-exhaustive list of the best places to discover in Paris. So, take the metro and bring your friends, family, or roommates for an ideal stroll!
Square des Peupliers: a green and secret dead-end
First stop is the Square des Peupliers for a taste of change and tranquility. The 13th district is among the most conducive in Paris for walks and tranquility. Near rue de Tolbiac hides this little gem: the Square des Peupliers. A beautiful green and entirely pedestrian dead-end. Here, vegetation thrives in every small garden, with honeysuckle and wisteria colonizing the wrought iron gates. Ivy dresses the facades of the colorful houses.
In this protected place, there’s the atmosphere of a charming provincial village in the heart of the city, which can be explored on foot. And for good reason. In these peaceful little streets, pedestrians are king, provided they agree to share the pavement with the many cats that roam. Fancy a break on a terrace? The Butte aux Cailles neighborhood is just a stone’s throw away, so don’t hesitate.
Butte Bergeyre: a preserved haven of peace
Second stop near the Parc des Buttes Chaumont. This is where you find the Butte Bergeyre, a magnificent little village hidden between avenue Simon Bolivar and rue Manin, yet still largely unknown to Parisians.
It’s hard to stumble upon this charming islet of the 19th district by chance. Composed only of a few small interwoven streets at an altitude of 100 m, say goodbye to shopping. There are no shops on the butte. However, the shared gardens are countless. These are plots “given” by the City Hall of Paris and animated by residents grouped in associations. A small vineyard, the “clos des Chaufourniers,” has even settled here, producing a few bottles of Pinot Noir each year. The major interest of the Butte Bergeyre is the breathtaking view it offers of Paris, and more precisely of the Sacré-Coeur. In the late afternoon, if the sky is clear, the sunset is breathtaking.
Passage des Panoramas: one of the oldest arcades in France
Built in 1799, the Passage des Panoramas is considered the first covered passage in Paris. It is located in the 2nd district, between Boulevard Montmartre, to the north, and Rue Saint-Marc, to the south. Sheltered by a magnificent glass roof, the shopping artery is a historical monument.
Each showcase reflects a historical part of the capital. Today, the passage houses art craftsmen, collectors of postcards, old stamps, coins, and autographs, as well as restaurants. At number 17 is the entrance (and exit) of artists from the famous Théâtre des Variétés, which has animated the passage for two centuries.
Address: 11-13, Boulevard Montmartre – 151, Rue Montmartre, 75002 Paris
Opening hours: Open every day from 6 am to midnight.
Saint Ouen Flea Market
A paradise for bargain hunters since 1885, the Flea Market is the heir to the ragpickers chased out of Paris by the invention of the garbage can, by the prefect of the same name.
Like an open-air museum, the Saint-Ouen flea market is a bustling maze of second-hand dealers, antique dealers, merchants, and creators of curious and vintage objects, each carrying their own stories. It would be impossible to see the entire market in one day. This unique market offers one of the most eclectic ranges found in Paris. A real workshop of art and artists, it’s the ideal place if you’re looking for vintage toys, old or modern furniture, a book, or a rare vinyl record. There’s something for every taste and budget, provided you know how to negotiate. After shopping, you can stay on site and have a hot drink at Louisette, one of the many local café-cabarets.
Both cosmopolitan and so Parisian, the Flea Market takes you on a treasure hunt not to be missed. But be careful not to confuse it with the Clignancourt market, which is right next door. The products are truly not the same.
The Jardin des Plantes
Nature in the heart of Paris does indeed exist! A site of escape and discovery, just steps from the Gare d’Austerlitz, the Jardin des Plantes offers a richly varied walk. In the same-named neighborhood, you can explore its many botanical gardens, visit the Ménagerie, one of the world’s oldest zoos, or the National Museum of Natural History. Adjacent to it is a park. Early in the morning, it’s a meeting place for jogging or yoga. At noon, people picnic there, and in the evening, they stroll until sunset. It’s a perfect spot for relaxing.
All the conditions are met to take you away from the Parisian pavement and offer a walk under the theme of escape and learning about plants, flowers, trees, and herbs from all over the world.
Île Saint-Louis
Then cross the Seine to get to the Île Saint-Louis. A true haven of tranquility nestled in the heart of Old Paris, it is “the island in the heart of the city where everything is eternally tranquil” as Aragon once called it. More bourgeois and less touristy than its neighbor the Île de la Cité, the Île Saint-Louis remains one of the most pleasant places for a stroll in the capital.
Almost unchanged for nearly four centuries, it is one of the city’s most authentic neighborhoods. Another open-air museum, as Paris has so many. Bordered by the waters of the two banks of the Seine, you can enjoy a pleasant walk along the quays of Anjou and Bourbon. It’s the perfect place to discover facades, porches, and storefronts that have retained their original charm. You won’t be surprised to learn that the architecture of the luxurious private mansions has earned the island the nickname of “the island of palaces.” It is also here that the iconic Maison Berthillon, considered one of the best ice cream shops in the world, is hidden.
The quays of the Seine
A few years ago, the Paris City Hall had the brilliant idea to pedestrianize the Seine quays. A golden opportunity to enrich the already popular walking and leisure spots. There, you’ll find bars, food trucks, fitted boats, cool, trendy, and gourmet guinguettes (open-air cafes) that are crowded when the sun shines or when the evening air is mild along the river. The advantage of these quays, stretching over more than 12 kilometers, is their proximity to the metro. You’ll find access points everywhere, making them easily reachable from all over Île-de-France.
The forest in the heart of Paris is not a myth
You surely didn’t think we were going to end this article without talking about the Bois de Boulogne and the Bois de Vincennes? Always a good idea, they are the largest green spaces in the capital. Accessible by metro, you can get there via lines 9 and 1 to do sports in nature, attend concerts, or horse races. Yes, the Bois de Boulogne is home to one of the most famous racetracks: the Hippodrome Paris Longchamp.
Don’t forget the classic Jardin du Luxembourg, one of the most beautiful and flowered gardens in Paris. Its palace notably houses the Senate.
There you have it, we’ve given you some great ideas for outings in the capital.
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