Private Tour of Saint Germain des Pres
Description
St. Germain des Prés is one of the most beloved areas of Paris. As a former hub for writers and artists like Hemingway, Picasso, and F. Scott Fitzgerald in the 1920s, it still has a unique, carefree vibe that is unparalleled. From its lavish 19th-century Belle Époque–style buildings to its top antiques and contemporary art galleries, to its famous people-watching cafés, St. Germain des Prés is the quintessential Paris experience. Tour also includes a visit to the magnificent Luxembourg Gardens, the 17th century St. Sulpice Church, the second largest in Paris (also written about in The DaVinci Code), a bakery known for its scrumptious macaroons, and a stroll down a street known for its cafes and delicious food shops.
Tour Options
Itinerary
St. Germain des Prés is one of the most beloved areas of Paris. As a former hub for writers and artists like Hemingway, Picasso, and F. Scott Fitzgerald in the 1920s, it still has a unique, carefree vibe that is unparalleled. From its lavish 19th-century Belle Époque–style buildings to its top antiques and contemporary art galleries, to its famous people-watching cafés, St. Germain des Prés is the quintessential Paris experience. Tour also includes a visit to the magnificent Luxembourg Gardens, the 17th century St. Sulpice Church, the second largest in Paris (also written about in The DaVinci Code), a bakery known for its scrumptious macaroons, and a stroll down a street known for its cafes and delicious food shops.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(44)
This was my first trip to Paris and the best way to start off my visit. Richards knowledge of Saint Germain telling us little stories about the artists and writers that frequented the area. Pointing out the cafes where Hemingway often sat writing. I could just picture what it was like then. I enjoyed the way Richard never seemed rushed and tailored the tour to our interests and pace. So if you want a personal tour and not just a cookie cutter tour Richard is the best. This was my first trip to Paris but not my last. I am looking forward to my next visit and tour with Richard.
Richard's thorough insider knowledge and enthusiasm for Paris is contagious and expansive. Richard's background in chocolate, culinary and hand crafted art was ideal. Learning I also work in desserts, he had us inside the best of the best sweet shops with a detailed story on the history of each. With gourmet chocolates & ice creams in hand, we explored the history of Saint Germain des Pres from top to bottom.: Gardens, Cathedrals, Historical Academic scene - Truly 5 star in every aspect. We will be booking with Richard for a girls trip soon!
Our family spent 3 days with Richard, touring Paris and unique markets and food spots. We had a great experience and enjoyed his knowledge of the city and history. He did a great job tailoring the experience to our needs (we had children and grandmother with us) so all were engaged throughout all of the activities. Highly recommend!
Very interesting. Great walking tour. Experienced gardens, churches and specific food venues You will love the chocolates.
This was the second time we used Richard as a private guide and this time was as perfect as the first time. Richard is knowledgeable, fun and entertaining as has numerous antidotes to share during the tour. Besides our tour of Saint Germain des Pres we added on an inside tour of Notre Dame Cathedral. Magnificent. We will certainly use Richard again on our next trip to Paris.
Knowledgeable and personable guide gave a great tour of an interesting area. Felt like a friend showing us the neighborhood.
We spent a wonderful morning strolling around Saint Germain des Pres with our engaging guide, Richard. Richard gave us a fabulous insight into this gorgeous neighbourhood of Paris, once the literary heart of Paris. We wandered down lovely little streets, explored some hidden arcades (passages) and stopped for some delicious 'French treats". Highly recommended.
Richard was our guide for our recent visit to Paris (both my husband and I had been before but not together and not for over 30 years—so sort of “first-timers” for us) and he was terrific. We started with his highlights tour, which as the name suggests, is a guided tour (by car—he hires a very nice taxi for the day which allows you access to the bus lane thereby avoiding A LOT of traffic) to see iconic sights around this beautiful but sprawling city. Richard not only knows the sights to see but also has a vast knowledge of both the history of what you are seeing but also the current context of the neighborhoods and how Parisians living in the area see their own city. We also did a short “shopping” tour the next day with Richard, which was fun to see both a local outdoor market and again, hear how everyday folks live and shop but then also go to a “fancier” part of the city to see some beautiful boutiques and unique stores. And even beyond our actual tours with Richard, he also helped us get in touch with other guides to see Versailles, the Louvre and connected us with guides in other parts of France (who were also terrific). In all our interactions, he was gracious and fun!
Richard is an amazing tour guide. Like him, I also find my roots in Brooklyn, which made it easy for us to connect and find common ground. My girlfriend and I spent the entire day with him, first doing a morning “Photo Tour” followed with an afternoon tour of Saint Germain. Not only did he take us to all the hidden gems Paris has to offer, but his knowledge of the history of the City is impressive and we learned so many interesting details about Paris. I would not hesitate to recommend him to my friends and family spending time in that glorious City.
I recently wrote about our 5 days of touring with Richard, but failed to say that this was our 2nd time touring with Richard. The first time was our last visit to Paris over 10 years ago. Since then I have referred Richard and his tours to many of my friends. Seeing Richard again brought back wonderful memories and this trip with Richard was even better. Shopping...the best spots. Dining...great recommendations. Chocolate tasting...no one better to be with. The list goes on. Looking forward to our next trip to Paris and Richard.