A Walking Tour Through Paris

By Karen Beishuizen

So you are visiting Paris and you just arrived at Gare du Nord, the big train station.

Where do you go when you have never been to Paris before?

I can help with a walking tour that you can do without a guide.

Here we go!

Walking Tour Option 1:

This is a long walk and will take most of the day:

When you come out of the station, you see a big busy street. This is Rue de Dunkerque.

Cross it where the new part of the station is and walk down Rue de Saint-Quentin.

Walk it down till you come to a crossing. Turn right and you are on Rue La Fayette.

Keep walking it all the way down.

You will see two of the grandest department stores on your right:

Les Printemps and Galeries Lafayette.

Very expensive but worth going inside.

Les Printemps has one of the most beautiful ceilings you have ever seen!

Both have roof terraces with magnificent views over Paris.

When you are done there and outside again, you will see a roundabout with in the middle a golden building: this is The Opera! Yes, the one from the phantom!

Follow the street straight down from The Opera, Avenue de L’Opera.

It will lead you straight to the most famous museum in the world:

The Louvre!

From there you can stroll through the gorgeous Jardin des Tuileries.

When you come out of there, you are on Place de la Concorde.

You will see the huge Ferris Wheel and in the distance you can see The Eiffel Tower!

From this moment on you know you are in Paris because The Champs Elysees is right in front of you.

Walk it down and enjoy the hustle and bustle!

You see The Arc de Triomphe at the end of it.

Once you are there you have a few options:

1. Avenue de la Grande Armee – follow it straight down all the way and you will get to The Grande Arche de la Défense. It is a bit of a walk but well worth it.

2. Avenue Kleber – follow it straight down and you get to The Trocadero. Go up there and you see The Eiffel Tower in full view! It is beautiful!
You can walk down the Trocadero Gardens, cross the street and you are up close and personal with La Eiffel!

When you are done here and your face is towards the river Seine, turn right on the Quay and walk it down.

Now you have a few options again:

1. Notre Dame, Jim Morrison’s House and Pere Lachaise Cemetery:

If you want to see The Grand Old Lady or Notre-Dame Cathedral walk along the river. You will pass by Musee D’orsay. Keep walking down and you then will see her in full glory. Almost destroyed in the 2019 fire but beautifully restored.

If you want to see the cathedral up close and personal go there. In front of the cathedral walk down Rue d’Arcole and cross the bridge over the river. On your right you see Hotel de Ville which is Paris City Hall.

Walk passed it and you get to Rue de Rivoli. Turn right and walk down till you get to a side street called Rue Beautreillis. Look for number 17: This is where Jim Morrison lived and died. The apartment is on the third floor.

When you are done here, return to Rue de Rivoli, turn right and walk down. You will come to a big roundabout known as Place de la Bastille.

Look for Boulevard Beaumarchais and walk this straight down. You will get to Place de La Republique, another Paris landmark.

Look for Avenue de la Republique. Walk this straight down and you get to the world’s most famous cemetery: Pere Lachaise!

Jim Morrison, Edith Piaf, Orson Wilde and many more are buried here. The cemetery is as big as a small town so decide what grave you want to visit! You get a free map at the entrance.

To return to Gare du Nord train station, just walk back up Avenue de la Republique and once you are back at Place de la Republique, look for Boulevard de Magenta. This will lead you back to Gare du Nord.

2. Napoleon Bonaparte’s Tomb, Famous Literary Cafes and Tour Montparnasse:

A short walk along The Seine and you will see Hotel des Invalides on your right. This is the army museum and Napoleon Bonaparte is buried in a tomb beneath the dome that you see.

A bit further along the river, turn right and walk down Boulevard Saint-Germain. Here you will see the most famous cafes all in one street: Brasserie Lipp, Cafe de Flore, Cafe Les Deux Magots!

Walk down Rue de Rennes all the way and you will see Tour Montparnasse, a black tall skyscraper with a viewing platform on the 59th floor.

When you are done here, visit Jardin du Luxembourg which is nearby.

From here you can walk back to Boulevard Saint-Germain and the river Seine and follow option 1 to get back to Gare du Nord.

What if you only want to do a short walk and don’t have much time?

Along comes Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre! A Paris landmark for more than 100 years.

Exit the main station entrance and you see Rue de Dunkerque. Follow this in eastern direction until you get to a busy boulevard: Boulevard Marguerite de Rochechouart. Cross this and look for Rue de Steinkerque. Walk up here and be aware: it is steep!

At the end turn left on Place Saint-Pierre and look up to the most gorgeous sight in the world!

Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre!

As if it is made from cotton candy!

There is a lovely cafe at the foot of Montmartre. Have a coffee on the terrace there and enjoy the tremendous view!

Now comes the hard part:

Climb up to the basilica: you can go left round up the stairs or right round up the stairs.

Ignore the guys who want to put bracelets around your wrist as they only want money!

Go inside the basilica if you get a chance. It is breathtaking!

There are many cobbled streets around The Sacre Coeur where you can buy souvenirs. Be Aware For Pickpockets!

I hope you enjoyed my walking tour through Paris.

Au Revoir!

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