Are you planning a trip to Paris and looking for things to do? For free walking tours, Paris Greeters is a fabulous choice! Below you can read my review on the amazing tour my family of 4 took with this lovely organization.
This post about free Paris walking tours was written by family travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
Paris offers a whirlwind vacation with top attractions on both sides of the River Seine, beautiful architecture, historical landmarks, and much more. But it can be challenging to know where to start. Consider a free walking tour with Paris Greeters!
When it comes to free walking tours, Paris Greeters is the best. Their local tour guides work with you to plan an itinerary based on your family’s interests.
You could explore the Latin Quarter in the heart of Paris or one of the city’s suburbs.
Traveling to Paris as a family with young children, I knew I wanted to book a private tour that could accommodate us. Paris Greeters went above and beyond! Below, you’ll read my detailed review of one of the best walking tours in Paris.
What is Paris Greeters?
Paris Greeters is an organization of volunteers passionate about sharing their city with visitors. The volunteers live all over Paris and its surrounding areas.
Their website has a spot to register for a free walking tour. Then, based on your information, they connect you with a volunteer.
But these aren’t skip-the-line tours of the Louvre Museum. Instead, it’s a great way to enjoy Paris from a more authentic perspective (and still see major landmarks, if you wish).
Volunteers are passionate about their amazing city. They’ll suggest walking tours in different neighborhoods while sharing all the intriguing facts along the way.
What Happens Before Your Tour
A few weeks before our trip to Paris, I ran across a blog post about Paris Greeters. My husband and I are always looking for authentic experiences when traveling; this seemed the perfect way to do it.
I filled out the online form on their website, noting that we’d have a baby and a 3-year-old with us. A few days later, Paris Greeters proposed a walking tour of Boulogne, a suburb of Paris.
I had to Google it. This quiet neighborhood is known for 1930s Art Deco design. We excitedly confirmed the walking tour!
We kept in touch with our volunteer, Patrick Lucard, until the day of our free tour. This was helpful for planning the rest of our trip itinerary.
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Our Paris Greeters Walking Tour
We later learned that our volunteer, Patrick, was the President of Paris Boulogne Greeters. This is a “sister” or affiliated association of Pais Greeters. And he was beyond fabulous!
After we met him at the Michel Ange Auteuil Metro stop, he suggested we grab coffee like true Parisians. It was a great ice-breaker for our free walking tour!
We headed across the street to the bar to sip a cappuccino. In talking, we discovered he had just returned from a trip to Seattle a few weeks prior.
It was nice to see what he thought of our city before we explored it! It helped us trust Patrick, the way he found a common point of interest with us.
Visiting a Geniune Parisian Park
Since we had our 3-year-old, Patrick thought we’d like to visit a neighborhood park in Boulogne. We’d brought a stroller, and Patrick offered to push our son around.
This made the walk even more enjoyable! I wore our baby in our Tula baby carrier, which freed my husband up to take photos along the walking tour.
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On our walk to the park, Patrick points out a vintage Art Nouveau “Metropolitan” sign by Hector Guimard. I’d seen this on a postcard but didn’t realize how rare it was to find. There are only two left in Paris!
Then, he showed us the different styles of architecture in the neighborhood. He explained that the second floor was the most desired floor and often featured a balcony—that’s where the builder would live!
The park was a really wonderful experience. We saw several nannies there with a handful of children. It was our first time in a park in Paris, and our son was ecstatic for the chance to run and play!
Patrick and I sat on a bench and talked about life. He told me that when he travels around Europe, it’s about seeing great architecture and experiencing the culture.
But he said that when he visits the United States, it’s like a dream vacation! I told him that we feel the same way when we visit Europe.
We also discussed the importance of learning other languages and exposing our children to different cultures through travel.
We decided to continue our walking tour and “look at the fishies,” so we headed to a nearby greenhouse.
Patrick told us this was a favorite spot to bring his daughters because it was never crowded. We only saw one person in the greenhouse, and she was sketching in a notebook.
It was really beautiful to see the different plants and to see the fish. They had just pruned so we didn’t get to see as many flowers as we had hoped. But it was still very relaxing.
We saw that it was raining outside, so we lingered a bit inside another greenhouse to stay warm and dry.
Exploring the Hotel Molitor Paris
Coming from Seattle, we never let a little rain interrupt our plans. But Patrick was quick to think on his feet and told us he had somewhere to show us.
He brought us to the Hotel Molitor Paris. Originally a public swimming pool in the 1930s, they kept the Art Deco vibe when they turned it into a hotel.
It was a stunning stop on our tour! It felt like the type of place where you could just relax and soak in the cool vibes.
Patrick took us inside to show us the original 1930s pool, which was breathtaking. He also took us inside the spa area so we could see the indoor pool.
Not only was it a great way to warm up and stay dry, but it was definitely somewhere we never would have seen without our guide.
He rounded out the walking tour by showing us more Art Deco homes and the Rugby stadium on our way back to the Metro station. By the time our 3-hour tour ended, we really felt like we were saying goodbye to a family member.
It was so much more than just a tour of a city. My husband and I felt like we were in great hands.
My Thoughts on Our Paris Greeters Tour
When it comes to free walking tours, Paris Greeters is priceless! Our guide, Patrick, was thoughtful and passionate. He chose destinations we wouldn’t have seen as unknowing tourists in Paris.
He immediately put us at ease, and it truly felt like we were exploring Boulogne with a family friend! And you could really tell that he thought about what a family would be able to do on a Paris tour.
This was a highlight of our entire trip to Europe. I highly recommend Paris Greeters to anyone traveling to Paris. Whether you’re looking for quality free tour options or want a unique experience, this organization is an excellent choice.
FAQ about Paris Walking Tours
One of the best ways to see Paris is on foot! You could easily walk across the city in a few hours. I suggest picking a neighborhood and spending at least a few hours there! For example, you could spend an entire afternoon walking down Champs Elysées. See the Arc de Triomphe, stop at a cafe, and shop at the stores along the avenue.
The most walkable neighborhoods in Paris are along the River Seine, especially if you want to skip the metro. Le Marais and the Latin Quarter are great for a mix of old and new attractions. Rue Cler is stunning. Spend your days shopping at romantic street markets with one of the most famous landmarks in the background—the Eiffel Tower!
Prices for tours in Paris range widely. However, if you want to save some money, I highly recommend Paris Greeters. They offer an authentic experience with local guides and half-day neighborhood tours. You’ll work with your local guide to plan a private walking tour that works for your party.
Book the Best Free Walking Tours with Paris Greeters
It’s guaranteed that you’ll have a great time when traveling to Paris. You might sometimes want exclusive tours, but this Paris Greeters experience was one for the books.
When you’re looking for free walking tours, Paris Greeters is a cut above the rest. We cherished this opportunity to connect with a local Parisian and see Paris off the beaten path! Plus, we can go at our own pace.
Of course, we loved exploring the main attractions of this amazing city, like the Eiffel Tower and the Notre Dame Cathedral. And no trip to Paris is complete without seeing the Luxembourg Gardens and the Louvre Pyramid!
But sometimes, you want the authentic, down-to-earth experience that only a local can give you. Paris Greeters offers that. Plus, it’s a free walking tour! What’s better than that?
Beautiful photos 🙂 ! I have always wanted to travel to Paris !
Paris is fabulous!
I love this! It does sound too good to be true! I want to plan a trip for Paris soon and will definitely check this out, thanks for the recommendation!
This is so pretty! Thank you for sharing!
Paris is such a beautiful place!
Seriously WOW! This sounds so amazing. Having a true local show you around and be quick on his feet to show you things when others don’t work out is amazing! I love that he catered to you have children!
I have always wanted to go to paris! It looks so beautiful! Those branches through the fences are crazy.
I know, right? We really enjoyed the details like this in Boulogne.
Finding native Parisians to take you around is such a nice way to see a new city and what great pr for France in general. I will definitely keep this in mind if I ever get there.
Yes, it is great PR! We really enjoyed this experience!
What a wonderful trip. That first picture is my favorite. The vines going through the fence like that. So pretty.
I know, right? Boulogne is gorgeous!
I love this idea so much! I think it is a great way to share your love of a neighborhood. Thanks for sharing it with us!
What a really fabulous idea of the walking tour. I am still wanting to visit Paris. On the bucket list. Maybe one day it will come true – fingers crossed!
Love Paris. When I lived in England we went to Disneyland Paris and Paris is such an amazing city. I loved it. I still remember it vividly and I was only 12 years old. One of my favorite memories.
This is beautiful …I love taking walks..getting the opportunity to do in Paris would be life!
Walking tours are such a great way to really experience a city. I’m already looking for walking tours for future trips we’re taking other places!
I cannot wait until our trip to Paris! Without a doubt we will have to check this out!
Paris is fabulous! And this tour really made our trip special. Have a great time!
I have always wanted to go and visit Paris. It is for sure one of the places my husband and I plan to travel too once we have some of our debts paid off. I think it would be so much fun even for the kids to get to experience it.
Yes, I think Paris is the dream destination worth saving up for.
Oh how I love Paris. Never been myself but think it would be a real fantastic time. I would love to visit when my kids are a bit older and bring them along!
Wow, that’s a wonderful experience that is outside of the norm. I love that idea, because you get more insider information.
Yes and we could ask as many questions as we wanted!
I would love to visit Paris! This sounds like such an amazing way to get an insider view of the city and see things that you wouldn’t see on a traditional tour!
What a fabulous idea this is! Growing up my Dad’s work took him to Paris often so it’s a city I know pretty well. I love the idea of taking a tour with a local and seeing perhaps something that as a tourist I’d otherwise miss.
This sounds like a perfect day! It is so good to see a new city from a local person’s perspective so you get a true feel for the area. I had no idea that the Metropolitan signs were so rare! As often as I’ve seen them in pictures I thought they were the norm!
Sounds like such a great change from the large tours that are normally offered. Plus you get to see a real neighborhood and talk to a local, win – win!
It was a phenomenal experience!
Aren’t walking tours amazing! I love that especially when I’m in a different country. It’s a great way to explore and learn more about the city that you’re in. So beautiful!
This looks wonderful. We’ve always wanted to visit Paris and now, more than ever, want to visit with our daughters.
Do it! It’s a great city for families!
Paris is my new spot to visit. It looks so gorgeous and this walking tour looks amazing!
Paris is fabulous! I highly recommend this walking tour!
I had no idea something like this existed. I love walking tours. Sometimes you really just get the most culture that way.
What an amazing way to see any city- through the eyes of a local! We loved our locals access tour on one of our vacations and it is amazing how different and personal it is. Good to know they have a volunteer service- I never would have known!
This sounds so nice! I would love to do a walking tour of Paris. I haven’t been to Paris yet, but I really want to go.
As they say, “Paris is always a good idea!”
This is so nice. I love to see families traveling together. Your son is so adorable! If we ever get the chance to visit Paris, we will definitely look into this.
Thanks! He talked about everything we saw when we got back to the hotel.
Walking tour that makes you feel like a family friend is taking you around the city…that sounds wonderful. The individual attention of the guide would have added so much depth to your experience.
It was such a wonderful experience! I feel so fortunate to have found them online!
I am just loving the fact that between your trip and my daughter’s trip; I am getting to see all of PAris 😉
What an awesome program, I wonder if there is anything like it in the US? by the way, your pictures are beautiful!
oh my gosh!! headed there in a month and any tips I can get traveling with kids is a plus. thank you for this. will email it to myself to have it on hand.
Wonderful! I hope you have such a lovely time! I highly recommend hitting up Monoprix or Monop’ for super inexpensive treats to bring home!
What a great idea… the Paris Greeters Walking Tour I mean! You will get more of a local view of the things while exploring the city. I wish more cities would do something like that. Or maybe I just haven’t been looking from a right place? Paris is lovely, especially at the spring time.
I loved that this tour was private because we were able to adjust it based on our children’s moods. Most of the walking tours I’ve found are for large groups. But, I’m definitely going to look into more walking tours when we travel!
What a beautiful park! Very romantic, but at the same time, perfect for families. I’m glad that you brought your kid along so he could enjoy the outdoors. Sadly, today, most kids are glued on their tabs, computers, and phones.
I know! We try to get outside whenever possible!
This was a lovely experience. I would check out the website of Paris Greeters and learn more about them. It would be so nice to meet a friendly Parisian like Patrick. I love all the places that he showed you. Patrick looks enthusiastic and knowledgeable.
Your son looks adorable. I am sure that he will have lots of travel stories to share with his friends.
Patrick was the friendliest and most helpful tour guide we’ve had to date!
This is something I would like to experience when I visit a different country! Aside from the famous tourist attractions, it’s always good to be closer to the locals and for sure they have better places to show you. I hope they have something like that in different countries too. I used to tour my friends from different countries because they said they wanted to know more about the locals, but sometimes it’sexhausting. But the idea is great! Thank you for sharing this!
Yes, I get exhausted showing people around Seattle. But, it is fun to see someone experience your city for the first time!
We never knew about Paris greeters and good we got a chance to read your post. We have been to Paris and have heard about walking tours but never thought how it would be. Now that you have introduced Paris greeters to us, we will make it a point to register and do the Paris walking tour. Your pics are incredible!
Thanks! Paris Greeters is a great program and I’m so glad we were able to try it out!
This walking tour sounds absolutely brilliant. I’m a big fan of taking a walking tour when I arrive in a new place, but they are usually in big groups and, although they can be fun and informative, they are sometimes a little impersonal. It sounds like Paris Greeters do a really good job and matching you with the right guide. This is definitely something I will look into when I visit Paris later this year.
Yes, look into it! I loved how personalized the tour was. And it went at a pace that worked for our family. Have an awesome trip!
I love this Idea of Paris greeting tours. It would be great to try it myself some time. It must be a special feeling to be taken care of. Thanks for sharing!
It would be awesome for solo travelers!
This is a really cool way to explore Paris! Especially to a traveler who’s never been to France! Thanks for the virtual tour !!!!
It was super fun!