Lonely Planet Experiences: Experience Bohemian Paris
Paris, France
From USD 75.03
Office phone number: +34 677618087
Lonely Planet Experiences: Experience Bohemian Paris
Paris, France
Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.
Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
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Tour snapshot
Paris has certainly cornered the 'effortlessly cool' market, so why not join this Paris tour to infiltrate the scene? You'll walk the boho beat of Saint Germain, sample wine, meat and cheese in a traditional wine house and hit the park for a casual game of petanque (+ wine!) for the win.
Experience the best travel stories for yourself. Join a local expert and uncover hidden gems on this city adventure hand-picked by the world's leading travel publisher. Lonely Planet Experiences powered by Urban Adventures bring stories to life in the best-loved cities around the globe.
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Highlights
- Explore the tangled medieval streets of Paris
- Revel in the bohemian atmosphere of Saint-Germain
- Make a wish to come back to Paris in front of Notre Dame Cathedral
- Savour cheese and charcuterie in a traditional wine house
- Play petanque in Paris’ oldest square with a glass of wine or pastis
- Each Lonely Planet Experience comes with six-months free access to Lonely Planet’s Guides App which includes over 8,000 destinations guides and unbeatable discounts to Lonely Planet Guidebooks.
Local Impact: How you will help the local community by joining this tour:
- By joining this tour you help promote tourism diversity as the tour keeps travellers away from the very touristic sites and from the crowds that often damage the local atmosphere.
- During this tour you will have a cheese and charcuterie tasting in Ma Salle à Manger, a place owned by a local and one of the few traditional French restaurants left on the City Island. Despite its location, a few blocks from Notre-Dame, it still serves mainly specialties from southern France to locals.
- During your tour you will pick up some responsible travel tips from your guide, such as where to find fresh water when you need to fill up your bottle, or where to shop in a sustainable manner
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Schedule details
- Duration: 3.5 hours
- Meeting point:
In front the entrance gates of the Pantheon - Place du Panthéon, 75005 Paris (closest metro Luxembourg on the RER suburban train line B). Your tour guide will be holding a distinctive red Urban Adventures sign.
- Find the exact meeting point with what3words:
- Starting time: 2.00 PM
- Ending point:
In front of the Notre-Name cathedral, Metro 4 Cité
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English guide, plate of French cheese and charcuterie in a local wine house, game of petanque with a glass of wine.
Exclusions: A drink during the aperitif break, ttems of personal nature, tips / gratuities for your guide.
Join a local guide to discover the enigmatic charms of France’s capital on this enlightening Paris city tour that pairs secret local hangouts with delicious food and wine - winning combo!
Start this bohemian Paris tour on Sainte-Genevieve Hill, a popular spot with local university students that offers impressive views of the imposing Pantheon. Next, stop in at the Luxembourg Gardens and soak up the romanticism of this quiet haven that offers a welcome break from Paris’ busy streets.
Continue to the vibrant Saint-Germain area, a hotspot for writers, intellectuals, musicians, and artists. Full of eclectic cafes, cool coffee houses, pokey bookshops, and lively street markets, it’s easy to see why Ernest Hemingway, Jim Morrison, and many others fell in love with the bohemian vibe of this area. Despite rising prices and gentrification, Saint-Germain has managed to retain its irresistible, artistic charm. This area is one of the best places to see that unbeatable, unique Paris charm, and this Saint-Germain tour will show you exactly what it means to be a local in the area.
Next on our Paris walking tour, we wander along the serene embankments of the Seine River, and we’ll stop at a traditional wine store where you can sample a typical French charcuterie plate. Full of deliciously decadent cheese, salty cured meat, and rich pâtés, this is an authentic French gastronomic treat!
From here we move to the beautiful surrounding square, the oldest in Paris, to play a game of petanque or bocci balls. This fun game is still played by many of Paris' citizens and all over the country, and they even might have some tips on technique to share with us as we play. We'll also give you a glass of French wine or traditional pastis - who knows, it may help improve your technique!
After our game we go towards the energetic Saint-Michel area and take a peek into Paris’ first English bookshop, nestled in a medieval house and packed to the rafters with novels, from the classics to modern masterpieces. This place is like Mecca for bookworms, and definitely not to be missed if you're the kind of person who always has their nose in a good read!
Finally we’ll finish our Paris day tour with the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral, where you can take photos of this legendary building and really fall in love with the beautiful city of Paris (if you haven't done so already!). Could there be a better way to finish this Paris city tour rich in history, gastronomy, and art? Nope, didn't think so.
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local English guide, plate of French cheese and charcuterie in a local wine house, game of petanque with a glass of wine.
Exclusions: A drink during the aperitif break, ttems of personal nature, tips / gratuities for your guide.
Dress standard: Standard dress and comfortable walking shoes! Maybe an umbrella - it's Paris!
Your Trip: For your Urban Adventure you will be in a small group of a maximum of 12 people.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Closure of sites: Most of the shops and sights on this tour are closed on Sundays and public holidays, so we will not run the tours on these days.
Child Policy: This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Children under the age of 6 are permitted to join this tour free of charge. Please inform us at the time of booking if you’ll be bringing a child under the age of 6. You can do so in the special request box on the checkout page.
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Local contact
Office phone number: +34 677618087
Email address: paris@urbanadventures.com
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