Saint-Germain-des-Prés Walking Tour

Welcome to the real Paris

€36 per adult

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  • Local experts
    Personal stories and insider travel tips
  • Top-rated
    Thousands of reviews averaging 4.9 stars
  • Worry-free booking
    Flexible scheduling and refunds

€36 per adult

€36 per adult

review-star
  • Local experts
    Personal stories and insider travel tips
  • Top-rated
    Thousands of reviews averaging 4.9 stars
  • Worry-free booking
    Flexible scheduling and refunds

Highlights

  • Stroll down the chic Boulevard Saint-Germain-des-Prés filled with boutiques and cafes like the famous Café de Flore.
  • Walk some of the oldest streets and cobblestone passageways in Paris.
  • Explore a neighborhood that reflects real Parisian life and French joie de vivre.
  • Admire the Saint-Germain-des-Prés Church, the oldest in Paris, founded in the 6th century.
  • Learn about café society and how Saint-Germain was a hotspot for artists like Hemingway and Picasso.
  • Snap photos at a "Da Vinci Code" movie location, among the largest churches in Paris.
  • Take our Paris shuttle for convenient transportation, included with your tour.

What you'll do

If you think of Paris today as a sophisticated city of art, literature, and culture, you can thank Saint-Germain-des-Prés. This charming neighborhood will show you “la vraie vie parisienne” — real ...

If you think of Paris today as a sophisticated city of art, literature, and culture, you can thank Saint-Germain-des-Prés. This charming neighborhood will show you “la vraie vie parisienne” — real Parisian life — as you tour its best-loved sights with a local. 

Our Paris Saint-Germain-des-Prés walking tour uncovers the fascinating history and culture of this unique neighborhood, from the city’s oldest cafe, opened in 1672, to its oldest church to some of its earliest restaurants, jazz clubs, and chocolate shops. As you explore Saint-Germain-des-Prés, you’ll discover one of the trendiest areas of Paris and its intellectual and cultural heart.

Stroll down the chic Boulevard Saint-Germain and see where the medieval marketplace fairs used to be held. Learn how this area evolved as a hub for artists and writers like Picasso and Hemingway and became the birthplace of the French existentialist movement founded by Sartre and De Beauvoir.

You’ll also get the chance to see one of France’s six national theaters and one of Paris’s largest churches, as seen in “The Da Vinci Code”.

After your Saint-Germain-des-Prés Walking Tour ends, we recommend spending another couple of hours here to visit the church on your own, enjoy shopping at the luxe boutiques, and have lunch at one of the many restaurants. Your expert guide is happy to share tips on more to see and do! You can also join our Montparnasse tour on Fridays to experience a complete visit to the 6th arrondissement of Paris.

Itinerary

  • Boulevard Saint-Germain

    Historic cafes where writers and artists gathered in the 1920s 

  • Rue Jacob 

    Where the Treaty of Paris was signed declaring U.S. independence 

  • The Church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés

    Paris’s oldest church, one of the few remains of Romanesque architecture in the city

  • Hotel La Louisiane

    That once housed famous writers and jazz musicians 

  • Rue de Buci

    Among the oldest streets of Paris, dating back to the 12th century

  • Cour du Commerce Saint-André 

    Narrow 18th-century cobblestone passageway, home to one of the oldest restaurants in Paris

  • The Odéon-Théâtre de l’Europe

    A national theater inaugurated by Marie-Antoinette

  • Saint-Sulpice Church  

    One of the biggest churches in Paris, famous for its starring role in “The Da Vinci Code” movie

Plan your trip

Tour ending point

This tour ends in front of Saint-Sulpice Church, where you can take a free self-guided visit.

Refund policy

We offer a 100% refund up to 24 hours before the start time.

Reviews

Sara was very friendly and informative. Sara gave us an excellent tour around Saint Germain. It was interesting to learn about the history, architecture, food, and cafes.

— Diane
review-star
Wonderful walking tour of St. Germain!
Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and entertaining. She knew a great deal of history of the area and has resided there for many years. It was very interesting to learn the backstory of the places we toured places to see or to eat offered.

Stephanie

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Great tour of Saint Germaine-des-Pres!
Had an awesome tour with Sara of Saint Germaine-des-Pres! She took us to the older part of Paris that still has the beautiful cobblestone. She told us great stories, and I learned a lot of history about the area. Excellent tour and would highly recommend!

Shay

Meeting point

Please meet your guide outside Église de Saint-Germain-des-Prés at 3 Place Saint-Germain-des-Prés, 75006 Paris. It’s just across the street from the Louis Vuitton store. Your guide will be holding an orange sign that says “ExperienceFirst.”

For easier navigation, you can paste Église de Saint-Germain-des-Prés or “V83M+HP Paris, France” into Google Maps. 

To get here, you can take metro line 4, 10 or bus number 95, 96, 87, or 39 to Saint-Germain-des-Prés.

FAQs

How much walking is there?

This tour covers approximately 1.5 miles at a leisurely pace. If mobility is an issue, please arrange for a private tour.

What is the rescheduling policy?

We understand plans change. We offer a 100% refund or the option to reschedule up to 24 hours prior to your tour start time. Within 24 hours of your tour, we would have incurred hard costs and therefore cannot allow rescheduling or cancellation without costs.

When should I get there?

Plan to show up 15 minutes early. The tour starts promptly, and you may not be able to catch up if you arrive late.

What if it rains?

Our tours run rain or shine. If there’s extreme weather and we have to cancel, you’ll get a full refund.

Are gratuities included?

Tips aren’t included but are always appreciated by our guides. If you think your guide did an outstanding job, a tip is a great way to show that.