Paris Left Bank Tour By Night

With more than 296 illuminated sites, Paris lights up with each sunset. The city's bridges and fountains, churches and national buildings allow the charming streets of Paris to be read and navigated in the dark as they are in the day. Over the course of this two-hour Paris Night tour, we’ll experience the City of Lights in a different way. We'll learn the ins and outs of Paris’ Left Bank and explore the mythical Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood by night. Guided by a local insider, we'll explore the bohemian cafes, jazz clubs, narrow cobblestoned streets, and medieval churches that give this famous quartier its appeal. As part of our walk, we’ll head to some of the area's most important sites and monuments, and wander down some of the hidden side streets to get a feel for the atmosphere and narrative of Saint-Germain and the Latin Quarter.

We’ll start our walk in front of the Saint-Germain-des-Prés church, which barely survived the destructive acts of the 18th-century revolutionaries. One of the oldest churches in Paris, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, makes for an excellent introduction to the area's religious character. While here, we’ll also delve into the unusual history and diverse identity of the Left Bank, from its time as a Roman settlement 2,000 years ago to a scholarly enclave steeped in intellectualism starting in the 12th century.

We’ll also discuss how Left Bank fostered a growing and lively bohemian community, starting in the 1920s and 30s. We’ll focus specifically on cafés of the Left Bank, the hub of intellectual life, which were home to some of the most beloved artists, writers, and philosophers of the 20th century. (To go more in-depth, try our Paris Literary Tour.) Next, we’ll continue down some of the back streets to discover the refined restaurants and wine bars that have turned the Left Bank into an epicurean paradise. We might take a peek into some of the most famous jazz clubs in the neighborhood and visit other hidden gems, depending on the group's interests or the guide’s areas of expertise. After traversing parts of the Latin Quarter, we will finish our stroll near the Seine River, a convenient place to continue your evening stroll along the river on your own and admire the illuminations of the Eiffel Tower.

When would you recommend we schedule the Left Bank orientation walk? 
We find this Paris night tour is best scheduled at the beginning of your stay so that we can acquaint you with Paris and provide a solid foundation for further explorations of the city.

Is this tour walking-intensive and/or wheelchair accessible?
The route may include small hills, narrow sidewalks and cobblestoned streets. Please contact us to discuss in more detail your mobility so that we can best advise. You might also look at our Paris by Riverboat tour, an orientation that is done partially seated and is wheelchair-accessible.

Where do we meet? Where does it end? 
Generally speaking, the walk begins near Église Saint-Germain-des-Prés in the 6th arrondissement of Paris and stays in a compact area in the neighborhood. Your confirmation email will have the exact meeting point details along with a map.

What if it’s raining? 
Tours operate rain or shine, but in the case of inclement weather, your guide will modify the tour so more time is spent indoors. It never hurts to have an umbrella on hand.