Free self-guided walk · Paris

The islands, the Left Bank and the Louvre

A free self-guided walk from the Île Saint-Louis past Notre-Dame and through Saint-Germain to the Louvre and the Tuileries, with a map and directions.

Distance
5.9 km
Walking time
1 hr 18 min
Allow
About 4 hours with stops
Stops
11

Open the route in Google MapsParis city guide

About this walk

This walk follows the Seine through the oldest part of Paris: the two islands where the city began, the lanes of the Latin Quarter and Saint-Germain on the Left Bank, then back across the river to the Louvre and the long gardens of the Tuileries.

It is flat almost all the way, and every stop is outside, so it works on any day of the week. Allow longer if you want to go inside Notre-Dame, Sainte-Chapelle or the Louvre.

  • Terrain: Flat, on pavements and riverside quays. A few short flights of steps down to the quays can be avoided by staying at street level.
  • Best time: Morning, when the islands are quiet, or late afternoon so you reach the Tuileries and Concorde as the light drops.

Route map

1234567891011
Route and stop positions © OpenStreetMap contributors. North is up.

The stops

  1. Pont Louis-Philippe

    Start on this bridge from the Marais for the first view of the Île Saint-Louis and the back of Notre-Dame.

  2. Île Saint-Louis

    Walk the length of Rue Saint-Louis-en-l'Île, the island's single main street of 17th-century houses, small shops and ice-cream sellers.

  3. Notre-Dame

    Cross to the Île de la Cité. The square in front of the cathedral is the point from which distances in France are measured.

  4. Sainte-Chapelle

    The royal chapel inside the Palais de Justice, famous for its walls of 13th-century stained glass. Entry is timed, so book ahead if you want to go in.

  5. Square du Vert-Galant

    Go down the steps beside the Pont Neuf to this small park at the tip of the island, right at water level.

  6. Place Saint-Michel

    Cross to the Left Bank and the fountain at the edge of the Latin Quarter. The lanes behind it are the medieval student quarter.

  7. Saint-Germain-des-Prés

    One of the oldest churches in Paris, with the cafés of the Left Bank's literary past around it.

  8. Pont des Arts

    Walk north to this footbridge, one of the best places to stop and look along the river at the islands you have just walked.

  9. The Louvre

    Through the arches into the Cour Napoléon and the glass pyramid. The courtyards are free to walk through.

  10. Jardin des Tuileries

    The formal gardens laid out for the Tuileries Palace, with ponds and chairs to rest on.

  11. Place de la Concorde

    Finish at the obelisk, with the Champs-Élysées rising ahead of you and the Eiffel Tower over the river to the left.

Tips

  • Most of the walk is on the Left Bank; the cafés around Saint-Germain are a natural lunch stop.
  • Metro Pont Marie (line 7) is close to the start; Concorde (lines 1, 8 and 12) is at the finish.
  • Watch for pickpockets around Notre-Dame and the Louvre pyramid.

Prefer a guide?

Advertising disclosure: these link to Viator. If you book, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. See all walking tours in Paris.

Sources and review date

This walk was last reviewed on 2026-10-27. Distance and walking time come from OpenStreetMap's walking router and don't include time at stops. Opening hours and access change; please check before you go.