Paris self-guided walking tour: the Latin Quarter to Pont Neuf
A free, easy walk through the oldest corner of Paris: medieval lanes, Roman ruins, Notre-Dame and the island where the city began. Watch the whole route in 4K first, then walk it yourself, stop by stop.
- Distance
- About 2.2 km1.4 miles, on foot
- Time
- 2 to 2½ hoursabout 28 min of walking
- Start
- Place Saint-MichelSaint-Michel Notre-Dame station
- Finish
- Pont NeufPont Neuf Metro, line 7
Press play to start at stop 1, or pick any stop below.
Video by Tours by Foot - London on YouTube
This route follows a narrated walk by a local Paris guide, filmed on these streets. Each stop opens the video where the guide reaches it; one stop is from a second walk filmed nearby.
The route, stop by stop
- 1
Place Saint-Michel
Start at the big bronze fountain of Saint Michael slaying the dragon, the classic meeting point of the Left Bank, with Notre-Dame just across the river.
Leave the station towards the fountain; it is right outside.
↓ About 5 min walk (400 m) to Musée de Cluny and the Roman baths
- 2
Musée de Cluny and the Roman baths
A few streets south, the ruins of the Roman baths of Lutetia stand beside a late-medieval abbots' mansion, now the Cluny museum of the Middle Ages.
You can see the Roman walls from the street; going inside the baths is part of the museum ticket.
↓ About 3 min walk (280 m) to Saint-Séverin
- 3
Saint-Séverin
Back in the lanes, a Gothic church with a forest of twisted columns behind the altar, surrounded by some of the oldest streets in the quarter.
↓ About 2 min walk (150 m) to Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre and Square Viviani
- 4
Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre and Square Viviani
Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre is one of the oldest churches in the city, and the small square beside it, Square René-Viviani, holds a tree planted around 1601, now propped up on supports.
The benches by the old tree have one of the best views of Notre-Dame.
↓ About 1 min walk (100 m) to Shakespeare and Company
- 5
Shakespeare and Company
The famous English-language bookshop faces the river here, a stop on every literary walk of Paris.
There is often a queue to go in; it moves quickly.
↓ About 3 min walk (260 m) to Notre-Dame
- 6
Notre-Dame
Cross the little bridge onto the Île de la Cité and stand in front of the cathedral, restored and reopened in December 2024 after the 2019 fire.
Entry is free; arrive early or reserve a time slot online.
↓ About 7 min walk (560 m) to The Conciergerie
- 7
The Conciergerie
Walk west across the island to the old royal palace that became a prison during the Revolution, beside the Sainte-Chapelle and its stained glass.
Sainte-Chapelle needs a timed ticket, so book ahead if you want to go in.
↓ About 6 min walk (480 m) to Pont Neuf
- 8
Pont Neuf
Finish on the oldest standing bridge in Paris, at the tip of the island, with views up and down the Seine.
Steps beside the bridge lead down to the Square du Vert-Galant, a good place to rest by the water.
About this walk
This is the walk to do on your first morning in Paris. It stays on the Left Bank and the Île de la Cité, so everything is close together and flat, and you can see nearly all of it from the street without a ticket.
The route follows a guided walk filmed by a local Paris guide, so almost every stop opens the video at the moment the guide reaches it (Shakespeare and Company opens a second walk filmed nearby). Watch the stretch you are about to walk, or press the big button to watch the whole route from the start.
Good to know
Is this walk free?
Yes. Everything on the route can be seen from the street for free. Notre-Dame is free to enter; the Roman baths (inside the Cluny museum), Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie charge for entry.
When is the best time to do it?
Morning. The lanes around Saint-Michel are quiet before lunch, and the line for Notre-Dame is shorter early in the day.
What can I do after the walk?
From Pont Neuf it is a short walk across the river to the Louvre, which is how the first day of our Paris itinerary continues.
Distances and walking times are approximate. Check opening days and any booking requirements before you go.
Watch the full walk with its key moments on the video page. More walks in this area: Latin Quarter neighborhood guide.
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