You’re going to be doing a lot of walking in Paris. Here are five reasons why that’s the best way to get around:

Taking in the view from the southern end of the Ave. de l’Opera in Paris, I revel in the late afternoon light and a city that’s in transition. The cafés are full but not overwhelmed, chic workers are making their way home from the office, and I couldn’t be happier to be walking in Paris amongst them.

I’m heading to one of my favorite bars in Paris, Harry’s New York Bar, to try to grab a drink and meet the person in charge of their very nice merch cabinet. Instead of taking the metro all the way there and back in a quick trip, I’ve decided to savor the ambiance by walking in Paris instead.

Walking in Paris is by far the best way to navigate the City of Light.

This statement rings true, and it’s perhaps the easiest recommendation I can make to someone about to visit Paris. By walking, you give yourself the chance to experience Paris as it was intended. Will you cover as much ground as you would by zipping along on the metro? No, probably not. But what you DO see along the way will make the slower pace much more than worth it.

The term “Flaneur” was popularized in the 19th century after the completion of Haussmann’s renovation of Paris. To not dive too deep before getting to the point, Haussmann created the incredible boulevards and avenues Paris is known for today. This was a way to open up the city and get rid of the winding alleyways that were ripe for revolutionaries to secrete themselves away to plot the next uprising or use as defensive positions against French soldiers looking to quell said uprising. Political reasoning aside, this renovation to wide-open walkways not only gave us a side of Paris we’re still able to enjoy today, it also ushered in the Flaneur.

A Flaneur WAS any male known as a stroller, lounger, or otherwise relaxed walker. Nowadays, that term can apply to anyone and it’s become a verb unto itself. And in all honesty, to Flaneur or go walking in Paris is truly the best way to get to know this great city, whether you’re strolling along or on a mission to get somewhere quick.

Go for the frites at lunch, walking in Paris means plenty of exercise.

Have no fear about ordering the profiteroles after dinner or going up a size with your French Tacos after a night out bar hopping. If you’re walking in Paris, the calories mean a whole lot less. This is likely the most practical reason to choose walking in Paris, but it rings true. The food is incredible here, and if you’re going to be walking, there’s much less reason to worry about how rich it is. Obviously, walking doesn’t replace dietary restrictions, but the ability to conveniently exercise and burn off some calories is still a great built-in perk of walking in Paris.

What’s more, the after-dinner stroll or the walk to the café in the morning is an excellent excuse to string together some great moments on your trip. You can walk off the meal and see the neighborhood that your carefully chosen restaurant resides in. Maybe you’ll even discover something else that you didn’t expect at first, a place you’d miss if you were on the metro or in a taxi. Which brings me to the next reason.

Embrace the spirit of Adventure that brought you to Paris in the first place

The spirit of adventure comes to life when you’re walking in Paris. Sure, many people have been down that same path, but now you are discovering it for yourself! No amount of research and careful planning can replace the moment of true discovery when you happen upon a place by merely walking past it.

Here’s a good way to give yourself an adventure while walking in Paris, without even really trying. Odds are you’ve chosen some places you’d like to see already, be they major sights, great restaurants, fun bars, or great music venues. Great! But now the fun starts immediately following your exit from those places.

You made it all the way there; now choose a different way to get back. Start walking and see what you can find. One great rule of thumb is to choose a major tourist site…and then walk about a quarter of a mile away from it. This tends to weed out the crowd, and you’ll likely find a much more relaxed atmosphere and better options for food, drinks, or both.

Another great tip is if you’re on a major street, say Boulevard Saint-Germain, keep an eye out for archways between stores and restaurants that lead to semi-hidden passages. These areas harken back to an older Paris and are fun ways to lose yourself for a bit or as a cut-through to a different area altogether.

Choose walking in Paris for the scenic route the metro misses.

 The Paris metro is not only an efficient and reasonably safe mode of travel, it can usually get you all over the city in the fastest way possible. This is especially helpful to those on short trips or those looking to maximize how much they can see each day on their visit to Paris. However, as quick as it may be, the metro has one major drawback: the views.

Apart from a few areas (like crossing the Pont Bir Hakeim), the metro runs underground for the most part and you wind up missing any kind of sights and scenes along the way. So, instead of only relying on the metro for transport, make a commitment to do some walking in Paris between the sights.

If efficiency is still a concern, you can combine walking and the metro to get some views and feel the Paris street vibe but still make it to your dinner reservation on time. Have a look at a map of the Paris metro and the line you’ll be taking to your destination. Then, instead of just hopping on at the closest stop, walk a little while in the right direction. When you’ve had enough of walking in Paris, you can simply hop on at the next conveniently located metro stop. You’ll then be whisked towards your destination while giving your feet a break.

Discover places for yourself while walking in Paris 

Before you ever set foot on the ground to do any walking in Paris, odds are good that you’re doing your research for the best places to visit. Between finding events, restaurants, bars, and every historic sight you can think of, there’s a ton to learn before your trip. And I must thank you for including Chapeau in that research!

But there’s one thing research and planning can’t replace: the thrill of spontaneous discovery! Do your research, but leave time and freedom to wander a bit while walking in Paris so that you can find places that speak to you on your own. Will it work out every time? No. But it WILL give you memories that you can look back on, and when you do find those perfect places, you’ll be that much more satisfied that your good taste and sense of adventure led you there.

I can offer one very solid anecdote on this. My wife and I arranged for a photo shoot in Paris that ended near the Eiffel Tower. We’d been walking about with our photographer friends for a while and were really enjoying our time with them. Once the photo session ended and we bid our farewells, my wife and I walked back to the Left Bank near the Eiffel Tower and, well, nature called.

It was my own fault; I should have followed my own advice and gone to the bathroom BEFORE the photo shoot. Do as I say, not as I do. But now here we were walking in Paris at a brisk pace and with a purpose: find a bathroom.

Turning down a side street away from the Seine, we stumbled upon the lovely Les Deux Abeilles. A friendly bonjour, and my wife and I were soon seated in the cozy parlor, cups of coffee at hand, and more importantly, a bathroom at my disposal.

I’ll spare you further details on that, but Les Deux Abeilles turned into a really great choice for even more reasons! Not only were there homemade desserts and plentiful, reasonably priced champagne, but the family that owns it was also incredibly welcoming and very friendly to us. We asked about some of the gorgeous furniture in the room with us and were able to take a peek in the main, naturally lit dining room.

I’m rambling now, but I tell this story to make one point: Finding places while walking in Paris doesn’t always come down to doing tons of research; sometimes you need only keep your eyes open and be ready to discover places for yourself.

Keep your own pace and experience Paris at the right speed for you.

 I get asked often about how many days to spend in Paris and what to see. The answer is always as many days as you can fit in and as much as you feel comfortable doing. That’s a bit vague, I’ll admit, but it’s a question that shifts from person to person and leads to one bit of advice for everyone: go at YOUR pace and do it on YOUR schedule.

Paris is a massive city with a ton to see. For myself, enjoying it means doing just 1–2 big things in a day and leaving the rest for relaxation and just “being” in Paris. I do tend to recommend this method to most friends who ask, but the overarching message is that you really need to do what’s right for you. Whether that’s walking in Paris or deciding how long to spend in museums, there’s a speed for every person.

Let’s put it another way. I have a great friend who I love dearly. They’re well-traveled and know how to get the most out of their trips. However, whereas my wife and I prefer to choose fewer cities with more time to get a feel for each place, this friend is more barnstorming and looks to pack in as many stops as they can in one itinerary. Whereas we would prefer walking in Paris, our friend is more likely to be running!

And guess what? That’s perfectly fine. That works for their pace, and our approach works for us.

There’s sometimes a disconnect in modern travel where we feel as though we have to do things exactly as we see them on social media or in travel guides. And while it’s great to get recommendations and ideas, don’t forget to do things as YOU want to do them and at the pace that works for you.

Whether that means walking in Paris, running, or a combination of both, take time to check in with yourself and your travel companions. Make sure the pace is working for you and adapt it to how you’re feeling rather than forcing it. You’ll find yourself having a better time and able to focus on what really matters: experiencing your destination the way you want to.

Whether losing yourself for a bit or cruising along to your next big stop, get there by walking in Paris.

Embrace the exercise and the adventurous spirit that made you book your trip in the first place. You’ll find that you can tailor this to your typical pace when traveling fairly easily, and walking in Paris will become as much of a necessity as hopping on the metro or calling for a rideshare late at night. Above all else, you’ll be taking part in the time-honored Parisian tradition of the Flaneur. And finding those moments where you feel truly Parisian will stick with you long after you’ve returned home.

What are some places you discovered thanks to walking in Paris? Do you have any favorite walking routes when you visit Paris? Please share them in the comments!