The Seine on foot, from Quai aux Fleurs to the Pont des Arts
Twenty-five minutes’ walk, two islands, six bridges. The stroll we recommend for your first evening.
Set off from Quai aux Fleurs as the light fades, around nine in summer. Cross the Pont Saint-Louis — it is pedestrian-only — and follow the Île Saint-Louis along Quai de Bourbon, the quietest quay in Paris despite being next to Notre-Dame.
Come back over the Pont de la Tournelle and go down to the lower embankment on the Left Bank. The view of the cathedral’s apse from Square René-Viviani is the most beautiful in the city, and nobody stops there.
Finish at the Pont des Arts, where sitting on the ground shocks no one. The walk back takes a quarter of an hour. No taxi needed — and it is the best way to understand the city’s layout on your very first evening.
A question about this during your stay? We answer before you arrive.
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