When planning a trip to Paris, people often think of the metro, buses or taxis as the best way to get from one sight to another.

However, walking remains one of the best ways to explore the capital.

As well as being practical, it offers a completely different travel experience. You slow down, take more time to observe your surroundings and discover places you’d probably never have noticed otherwise.

In Paris, some of the finest discoveries are to be found precisely between two tourist attractions.

Why Paris lends itself particularly well to walking

Not all big cities are easy to explore on foot.

Paris is one of the exceptions.

Most neighbourhoods have a strong identity, distances are often manageable, and every street tells a part of the city’s history.

Walking therefore allows you to connect the various places of interest in a natural way.

Whether between the Opéra and Montmartre, the banks of the Seine and the Louvre, or the historic gardens and squares, the journey is often just as interesting as the destination itself.

This proximity encourages you to explore further and venture off the beaten track.

See what you’d never notice from the metro

Public transport saves time.

But it can sometimes mean you miss out on what gives a city its charm.

When you walk, you notice the details more:

• historic façades;
• hidden courtyards;
• small shops;
• neighbourhood markets;
• unobtrusive passageways;
• squares often overlooked by tourist guides.

These unexpected discoveries often become the most memorable moments of a trip.

They also offer a more authentic glimpse of the city.

A more leisurely pace for exploring a neighbourhood

Travelling on foot also allows you to adopt a different pace.

You’re no longer simply ticking off one sight after another.

You take more time to stop, sit on a terrace, watch local life unfold or change your route as you please.

This approach works particularly well in neighbourhoods like Montmartre.

Its streets, stairways and little squares naturally invite you to take a leisurely stroll.

In fact, it’s hard to fully explore the neighbourhood without taking the time to walk around.

A simple way to minimise your environmental impact during your stay

Choosing to get around on foot also has environmental benefits.

Although Paris has an efficient transport network, walking remains the mode of transport with the lowest environmental impact.

For travellers wishing to adopt a more responsible approach to their stay, this is often one of the simplest steps to take.

And contrary to some common misconceptions, it doesn’t mean completely overhauling your plans.

Just a few journeys on foot can make a real difference.

The most beautiful walks accessible from Montmartre

One of the advantages of staying in Montmartre is the easy access to several particularly pleasant walking routes.

For example, you can:

• walk down to the Grands Boulevards;
• head to the Opéra Garnier;
• explore the covered arcades of the 9th arrondissement;
• stroll through the streets of Abbesses;
• explore neighbouring districts such as Pigalle or Nouvelle Athènes.

These walks allow you to discover the many different sides of Paris without needing to use public transport.

Each route offers a different atmosphere and lets you see the city from a different angle.

Do you have to do everything on foot?

Not necessarily.

The aim isn’t to avoid public transport altogether.

Paris is still a big city and some distances fully justify taking the metro or the bus.

The idea is rather to strike a balance.

Walk when it’s pleasant and makes sense. Use public transport when the journey becomes too long or when it saves you precious time.

This combination is often the best way to make the most of the city.

A city to be discovered beyond the monuments

On a first visit to Paris, it’s natural to want to visit the most famous sights.

But the capital is more than just its monuments.

A significant part of its charm lies in the streets you walk through to reach them.

By taking the time to walk, you’ll discover a city that’s more vibrant, more human and often more surprising.

This is also why so many visitors return to Paris time and again without ever feeling they’ve seen it all.

Take the time to discover Paris in a different way

Walking through Paris isn’t just a way of getting around.

It’s a way of discovering the city in a different light.

You slow down, you observe more closely and you leave more room for the unexpected.

In a neighbourhood like Montmartre, this approach really comes into its own.

It allows you to fully enjoy the neighbourhood’s atmosphere whilst adopting a simpler and more sustainable way of getting around.