Experience Paris On Foot With A Local Guide

Forbes Lifestyle Travel Experience Paris On Foot With A Local Guide Wendy Altschuler Contributor Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. I cover travel, adventure, and culture across the globe, specializing in nature and the great outdoors. Following May 23, 2023, 06:46pm EDT | Press play to listen to this article! Got it! Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Montmartre in Paris getty Whether it’s your first time in Paris or tenth, a guided walking tour, tailored to your specific interests, is a smart idea.

Perhaps you love fashion and want to learn about the top Parisian designers and fashion houses. Would a food-centric tour be of interest to you and your group? What about visiting Paris’ most lovely parks, gardens, and hidden outdoor locales? Experiencing the City of Lights with an insider, someone who lives in Paris and really knows the city, will help you make the most of your time and reward you with meaningful memories. Sophie Gacheny, from Le Paris Sophie , graduated with a double degree in History and Political Sciences at La Sorbonne University.

After discovering that the indoor office life wasn’t for her, she looked for other adventures. She traveled to New York City and found inspiration. “After 10 days of a solo trip consisting of visiting places, looking at artwork, and walking for miles and miles, I felt really good,” Gacheny says.

“I had this crazy thought that it would be cool to have a job in which I’d be able to learn something new every day and pass on my knowledge to others”. After her eye-opening experience in The Big Apple, she spent four months in South America, which allowed her to gain a solid perspective. “I came back to Paris with the decision to create and make tours,” Gacheny says.

“I wanted to show the richness of the city to international travelers because I realized how lucky I was to live in the most beautiful city in the world where each neighborhood has its own identity and history. ” Guiding a tour in Paris. Sophie Gacheny, Le Paris Sophie, MORE FOR YOU ‘XO, Kitty’ Immediately Dethroned In Netflix’s Top 10 List By A New Show New MacBook Leak Reveals Apple s Disappointing Decision Dodgers Reverse Decision Sisters Of Perpetual Indulgence Included In LGBTQ Pride Night Over Objections Gacheny started leading tours in her own neighborhood in the 12 th arrondissement during the summer of 2019.

Her niche is showing visitors an insider’s perspective of Paris, highlighting the places, restaurants, and sites that Parisians adore. Gacheny specializes in architecture and even after four years of guiding, she still walks down the streets looking for the smallest architectural details. Passion and curiosity have always driven Gacheny and through her guiding experiences, she’s been able to deeply learn about Paris and French history as well as how people are all connected internationally.

“Every traveler that I meet is different and has specific questions or interests about Paris history or about what life in Paris is like,” says Gacheny. “My favorite discussions, after history, are the ones about the cultural differences between life in the US and in France—from the food to urban planning, dating and social life, and politics—it’s always enriching. ” Le Paris de Sophie Top Recommendations Gacheny, of course, has many suggestions when it comes to must-see locales, restaurants, and off-the-beaten path options.

While it’s difficult to narrow down the possibilities to a few choices, here are top spots for any visit to Paris. For more insights, be sure to visit her Instagram page. Bespoke tours in Paris Sophie Gacheny, Le Paris Sophie Wendy Altschuler: What are your top three favorite restaurants and what do you love about them? Sophie Gacheny: For daily life, I love the Pause Café, an institution of the 11th arrondissement, located 15 minutes from the Bastille square.

I love the terrace where you can catch the sun basically all day long. I go there in the morning to work and have breakfast or at lunch for a salad or a tartare. This is the vision you might have of the “Parisian café” but with the quality of the food and service, fair prices, and without the crowds from the city center.

41 rue de Charonne – 75011 Paris SG : Paris is the city of love and my favorite restaurant for a date might surprise you. Located inside of the Buttes Chaumont, a park from the 19th century located in the North of Paris, is the Pavillon du Lac. The team is committed to doing things right with seasonal products and a warm service.

At summertime, you get dinner on the terrace, under the trees, or facing the lake. For me, it’s like having dinner in the middle of the countryside while being in Paris. Parc des Buttes Chaumont – 75019 SG : For a special occasion, going to a brasserie in Paris is always a special experience.

My favorite one in Paris is Le Grand Colbert. Existing since 1900, the decoration is wonderful, and you can taste the best French food on a white tablecloth while sitting in comfortable booths. For three hours, you are immersed in a very special atmosphere, with the moment being all the more delicious thanks to the thoughtfulness of the team.

2 rue Vivienne 75002 WA: What are your favorite off-the-beaten-path locales to visit? SG: My gem for the last six years has been the Place d’Aligre, located where I live in the 12th arrondissement. From the food market, open everyday except on Mondays, to the special vibe of the giant terrace every night on the square, this is my definition of authentic Paris life, which is like a village. SG: I also love wandering in the covered passageways of Paris—it’s like traveling back in time to the 19th century.

My favorite is the Passage des Panoramas, dedicated to food and stamps. WA: What are the quintessential, classic things that everyone should see and experience while in Paris, whether you’re visiting for the first time or 10th time? SG: As a Parisian, the classic activity with my friends on the weekend is to walk on the docks of the Seine on the Parc Rives de Seine. It was previously dedicated to cars, but this avenue is now open to pedestrians and bikes only.

From there, you can see most of the Paris monuments while enjoying the sun and having a break at one of the bars along the river. SG: Le Jardin du Luxembourg is very special—the trees, famous green chairs, flowers, view of the Eiffel tower and the Panthéon. This is the green lung in the heart of the city and even if you think that you already know it, spending an hour sitting on one of the green chairs, watching people enjoying life, is also part of the French lifestyle.

SG: The Hotel Maison Colbert is so romantic. I mean, you’re staying in a 16th century building with a very delicate design and all this is without mentioning the location—you’re one minute from the Notre-Dame cathedral and the Seine River while in the very heart of the Latin Quarter, but also, away from the crowds and from the other hotels of the neighborhood. SG: Finally, I would say that walking the streets of Le Marais, between the 3rd and the 4th arrondissement, in the morning as early as possible, always allows you to discover a new street, café, or pastry store—every time.

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