The Oldest Neighborhood in Paris (Le Marais)

In this video we take you on a full-day Le Marais walking tour, through the oldest neighborhood in Paris and two arrondissements packed into ten stops. If you are planning your first visit to the Marais, or you want to see the real neighborhood rather than the tourist version, this walk helps you plan your day, your shopping and even where to stay.

The stops on our walk

• The trendy Haut-Marais in the northern 3rd arrondissement, where we start
• The Merci concept store
• The oldest covered food market in the city, feeding this neighborhood since 1615
• The mansion quarter, where the richest families in France once lived
• A free museum most tourists walk straight past
• Rue des Rosiers, the heart of the Jewish Quarter
• The Centre Pompidou, Antoine’s old teenage hangout
• A secret garden passage that leads into Place des Vosges, the oldest planned square in Paris

Our tips for the Marais

The one practical tip that should shape your whole week: the Marais is one of the only parts of Paris where the shops open on Sundays. Plan your shopping here on a Sunday and keep the rest of the week for everything else. On rue des Rosiers we have an honest conversation about the two most famous falafel spots, and we tell you where we think the best falafel actually is. We also share our where-to-stay picks, from smart value to a five-star hotel tucked behind Place des Vosges.

Why this walk is personal

These are the streets Antoine roamed as a teenager, so this one means a lot to us. We finish the day the way we love to, with a drink under the arcades of Place des Vosges as the light turns gold.

If you want to follow our route at your own pace, grab our Le Marais Walking Tour Guide. For the rest of your trip, our Paris Guide Bundle covers every neighborhood, and our 125 best restaurants in Paris guide will help you eat well all week. If you would rather taste the city with a local guide, we recommend a Devour food tour.