What's in our tour?
This Marais walking tour shows what Paris is so good at: blending past and present. In Marais, we keep navigating between old mansions and newest fashion.
We meet outside “square Albert Schweitzer” garden (near Métro station Pont-Marie at street level at 18 rue de l’hôtel de ville).
Right away, our Le Marais walking tour throws you into a unique world that mixes together history, culture, fashion and refined lifestyle.
The Marais includes landmarks that every guidebook calls a must-see: place des Vosges, the Holocaust Memorial, the house of Victor Hugo, hotel de sully (not a hotel but a grand mansion), rue des rosiers, and hotel de ville.
But most important, we built this Marais walking tour into a collection of so many of the small gems that give Le Marais its one-of-a-kind personality: secluded mansions, prestigious trendy shops, art galleries, LGBT landmarks, hard-to-find gardens, and quaint medieval old stones.
We finish the Paris Marais tour by the banks of the river Seine, close to Notre Dame, hotel-de-Ville, and the Pompidou Center. To see more on this free tour, we do not spend time going inside each building. The area is best explored by foot, Le Marais is the ultimate walking tour.
Highlights
- Le Marais must-sees that every guide-book recommends: Place des Vosges, medieval Paris, the aristocratic garden of hôtel de Sully, and Victor Hugo’s first house before he even wrote Les Mis
- Lifestyle landmarks that you have to experience: trend-setting stores, walking streets, LGBT landmarks, and unique food “landmarks”.
- Insane stories: how French aristocrats lived in Le Marais. What happened to Le Marais during the French Revolution. And the famed architect who wanted to raze Le Marais and put an end to walking.
Where and when?
Our walking tour of le Marais runs every day at 10am.
We meet outside “square Albert Schweitzer” garden, near Métro station Pont-Marie (metro line 7) at street level (at 18 rue de l’hôtel de ville).
This tour ends near Metro stations hôtel-de-ville (line 4) and Rambuteau (line 11).
Advanced booking is required. We advise large groups to book a private tour. In the interest of all guests, we reserve the right to accommodate or to turn down groups of 7 and more.
Why take this tour?
So you don’t get lost in this maze! Let a born-and-raised local take you from the house of Victor Hugo to Jewish Paris to Place des Vosges in just 90 minutes.
So you an experience the Parisian art de vivre at its best.
All for free, with this free Paris Marais walking tour. Book in advance.
Price
This is a free tour of le Marais. You pay the guide what you want at the end of the tour.
Reservations are required.
Join the tour meeting point 5 minutes before start.
If you wish to book this tour, use the booking button on the right side of this page.
Privatize this tour
Groups of friends, families, and school groups often reserve a private guide for this Marais tour. Budget is €125 to €240, depending on duration, group size and itinerary.
Wheelchair-accessible tour.
Privatize this tour
Other information
Wheelchair accessible tour.
More information about Le Marais, Paris
Le Marais is the most Parisian neighborhood of Paris. It will give you the charm of the city and of the Parisian way of life. A mix of old stones and contemporary elegance.
The Marais is also a major area of Paris for arts, mostly modern and contemporary arts. It features major museums: the Pompidou center (we locals refer to it as the “Beaubourg center”),the Picasso Museum, the European photo museum, the Jewish History museum, the Memorial of the Holocaust, as well as major art galleries.
Le Marais is also a very cosmopolitan neighborhood, with many communities living there in harmony: the Jewish community around the Pletzl (from rue des Rosiers to rue du-roi-de-Sicile), the Chinese community in the North, the LGBTQ community with numerous rainbow flag bars, and finally the hipster community in all the trendy spots of the Marais.
In short, the Marais is a magical mix of the past beauty of Paris and its refined present-day way of life.
Restaurants in Le Marais
The Paris Marais has many different kinds of restaurants. And that only makes sense when you consider that Le Marais is also the most cosmopolitan area of Paris. You will find specialties from all over the world.
In the end, the Marais might be known best for its kosher restaurants, its Jewish specialties and its falafels. Most famous is “l’As du Falafel” on rue des Rosiers street.
We are here to help you...
How long does it take to walk around Le Marais?
Difficult to answer! A rough estimate suggests that it it will take you 2 to 3 hours to explore the main attractions of Le Marais on foot on your own. This involves taking a stroll along the main streets, such as Rue des Rosiers and rue des francs-bourgeois, and discovering the historical landmarks such as Place des Vosges and Hôtel de Ville.
Our Marais tour runs a relaxed 90 minutes and we will show you the best of this iconic neighborhood.
What are the best streets to walk in Le Marais Paris?
Rue des Rosiers
The Marais is known as the historic Jewish quarter. Rue des Rosiers is considered the center of Jewish life in Paris. It has a synagogue, Hebraic bookstores, the emotional Jardin Migneret memorial garden, and some famous shops and restaurants.
The street is also historically significant, with plaques commemorating victims of the Shoah, and an antisemitic attack on a restaurant that took place in 1982. This is the place to be if you want to savor amazing street food, particularly some of the finest falafel in town.
Rue des Francs Bourgeois
Rue des Francs Bourgeois, located in the stylish part of Marais, is a popular shopping and trend-spotting destination for locals. This street offers a unique blend of shopping options, museums, and the true charm of Marais.
With a variety of Parisian fashion brands such as Maje and Sandro, home decor stores and concept shops like La Piscine (offering men’s and women’s fashion), this narrow street is a must-visit for a relaxed stroll.
Rue Vieille du Temple
Rue Vieille du Temple is a charming and picturesque street in trendy Paris that offers both tourists and locals a delightful shopping experience.
The street is home to a plethora of artisan boutiques and designer shops, offering everything from unique fashion finds to hand-crafted accessories.
The architecture of the street is stunning, with many beautiful 17th- and 18th-century buildings lining its path. This street is possibly the best way to experience the unique atmosphere of Le Marais.
