This week, I’m suggesting a new Parisian itinerary: a stroll through the best Paris covered passages! Located between the 10th, 9th, 1st, and 2nd arrondissements of Paris, these covered passages are astonishingly diverse, and some of them take you back in time.
For this dive into 19th-century Parisian history, I suggest starting with the 10th and 2nd arrondissements, which are home to some of Paris lesser-known covered passages, then finishing in style with the most beautiful and famous ones!
And along the way, I also suggest exploring the prettiest streets in these neighborhoods to enhance your stroll!
So here is my Paris covered passages walking tour itinerary, along with my favorite places to stop for a bite to eat and a map of Paris covered passages that you can download to your phone to follow in the footsteps of La Marinière…
Enjoy your stroll!
Quick highlights you’ll find in this guide about the perfect Paris covered passages walking tour itinerary:
- Map of the itinerary
- Top Paris covered passages and secret spots
- Practical tips: How to get to the passages, how long the walk takes, where to stay, and top recommendations along the route
- Other activities to do in Paris
Click here to find out my other walking itineraries in Paris:
The Best Montmartre Itinerary
Butte aux Cailles Itinerary
The Best Latin Quarter Self-guided Walking Tour
PARIS COVERED PASSAGES WALKING TOUR ITINERARY: MAP & PRACTICAL TIPS
Paris covered passages map
Here is the interactive map for your Paris covered passages walking tour itinerary:
You can also view this covered passages Paris map to follow the route on your phone using the Cirkwi app.
Direct link of the stroll on Cirkwi app
Would you like to take a private guided tour of Paris covered passages (the itinerary won’t necessarily be the same as mine!)? You can book it here:
How do I get to the covered passages?
The covered passages tour of Paris starts on Boulevard de Strasbourg (Château d’Eau metro station, line 4). It ends on Rue du Faubourg Montmartre between Le Peletier (metro line 7) and Grands Boulevards (metro lines 8 and 9) stations.
How long is the Paris covered passages walking tour?
This Paris covered passages walking tour itinerary covers the most charming passages in 3 hours. This does not include visits (library, pretty shops, etc.).
Where to stay to explore Paris covered passages?
Here are 3 options I recommend :
L’hôtel de Suez, located a stone’s throw from the Panthéon in the heart of the Latin Quarter, offers excellent value for money (€120 per night).
Ideally located on the Seine next to the Jardin des Plantes, the Hôtel OFF Paris Seine is unusual to say the least, as it is a former catamaran converted into a floating hotel! The decor is superb, comfort is guaranteed, and there is even a swimming pool (€180 per night)!
Finally, the hôtel du Jeu de Paume is located directly on Île Saint Louis in an old residence with intact charm. The rooms perfectly combine contemporary decor and the history of the place (€240 per night).
Find your accommodation in Paris at the best price!
3 recommended accommodations for visiting Paris
HÔTEL OFF PARIS SEINE
- To sleep on the Seine river!
- With a pool
- From €150
HÔTEL DES ARTS MONTMARTRE
- Rated 9,6 out 10
- Quiet and with a view!
- From €180
HÔTEL JOSÉPHINE BONAPARTE
- In the heart of Paris
- In a former convent
- From €300
My top tips for your stroll through Paris covered passages
– Restaurants:
Brasserie Dubillot (222 Rue St Denis) – a charming, typically Parisian setting, ideal for a drink or a good meal at the start of your walk!
Bouillon Chartier (7 rue du Faubourg Montmartre, at the very end of the walk) – an institution offering typical French cuisine at reasonable prices in a superb rustic setting.
– Pastry shop: Stohrer – 51 rue Montorgueil: an institution and the oldest pastry shop in Paris! There are many great places to eat on rue Montorgueil at the start of the walk.
– Snack break: Hôtel du Louvre – Place André Malraux: for a drink or a royal tea time in a luxurious setting!
– Green break: Jardin du Palais Royal, Square Louvois
– Restroom break: Bibliothèque nationale de France, Richelieu site
BEST PARIS COVERED PASSAGES: MY FAVOURITES IN THE 2ND ARRONDISSEMENT
Passage Brady
Our stroll through Paris covered passages begins on Boulevard de Strasbourg, in front of the entrance to Passage Brady! With its Indian restaurants and exotic storefronts, this first Parisian passage already offers a complete change of scenery!
At the end of Passage Brady, turn left onto Rue du Faubourg Saint Denis.
You can take a look at the L-shaped Passage du Prado, with its stunning decor and cosmopolitan hairdressers and barbers! Then go under the Porte Saint Denis before continuing straight ahead. This triumphal arch, less famous than its counterpart on the Champs Elysées, is one of four triumphal arches in Paris!
As you walk down Rue Saint Denis, you will see numerous passages on your left: Passage Lemoine, Passage Bourg-L’Abbé, Passage du Ponceau… They are not necessarily worth a detour, but they bear witness to the density and diversity of these passages built in this neighborhood in the first half of the 19th century.
Passage du Caire
Still on Rue Saint Denis, on your right is the Passage du Caire, which I invite you to explore! Opened in 1798, it is the oldest covered passage in Paris! If you go to the end, you will see the intertwining galleries of the neighborhood! But I suggest you exit on the left towards Rue Dussoubs. As soon as you exit, the atmosphere changes, as you will arrive in the 2nd arrondissement of the capital!
The charming Réaumur neighborhood welcomes you with the magnificent facades of Rue Réaumur! It’s no surprise to see such an abundance of monumental facades, as elegant as they are eclectic: the street hosted the first facade competition in Paris in 1897!
I particularly like the magnificent cathedral-style facade at numbers 61-63, which is especially unusual.
Passage du Grand Cerf
Turn right onto Rue Saint Denis, then turn right again onto Passage du Grand Cerf. This elegant passage leading to Rue Montorgueil is incredibly charming! It’s one of my favorites on this tour of Paris covered passages!
At the end, Rue Marie Stuart intersects with the charming Rue Montorgueil, which specializes in food. Just a stone’s throw away is Stohrer, the oldest pastry shop in Paris, perfect for a snack break!
BEST PARIS COVERED PASSAGES: MY FAVOURITES IN THE 1ST ARRONDISSEMENT
You are now approaching the Les Halles district, in the heart of Paris… To get there, take the beautifully named Rue Tiquetonne, Rue Montmartre, then Rue du Jour. This will take you around the Bourse de Commerce, now a contemporary art center, to Rue Rousseau and the sublime Galerie Véro-Dodat.
Galerie Véro-Dodat
The Véro-Dodat Gallery is undoubtedly one of the most famous stops on this tour of Paris covered passages. And with its checkerboard floor and stunning storefronts, it certainly deserves the title.
The prestigious boutiques it houses possess a timeless charm that matches the elegance of their creations… Through the storefronts, you can glimpse the interior spiral staircases and the mysterious half-levels of the windows, which give the impression of stepping back in time to the 19th century!
It’s hard to imagine, in fact, that the gallery was created by two wealthy butchers who became real estate developers!
As you leave the gallery, be sure to turn around and admire the entrance porch! Then head to the Palais-Royal garden, right across the street.
Palais-Royal and passage des 2 pavillons
Walk along the main courtyard of the Palais-Royal, home to Buren’s famous columns, then turn right onto the Galerie de Valois and head toward the northern end of the garden. The floor mosaics and luxury artisan shops lining the garden lend it a unique charm, blending luxury with lush greenery…
Head out onto Rue de Beaujolais, then turn immediately left onto the tiny Passage des 2 Pavillons. This will take you to Rue des Petits Champs.
Right in front of you, the famous Galerie Vivienne awaits… but not so fast! I suggest you first continue on to Place des Victoires.
Galerie Vivienne
To me, Place des Victoires is one of the most elegant—if not one of the most beautiful—squares in Paris, with its stunning facades… It was built in the 17th century based on plans by Hardouin-Mansart, who is best known for designing the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles!
Then turn left onto the charmingly named Rue Vide-Gousset and cross Place des Petits Pères to reach the long-awaited L-shaped Galerie Vivienne…
This sublime, bright, and colorful gallery was built in 1823. It remains one of the most beautiful covered passages in Paris to this day!
Galerie Colbert
When you leave the Vivienne gallery, you will find yourself right at the entrance to the neighboring Colbert gallery. The Colbert gallery is quite different: less colorful and, above all, less lively, as it is the only covered passage in Paris that does not house any shops.
It belongs to the Bibliothèque nationale de France, which you can reach by crossing the Galerie Colbert!
National Library of France – Richelieu site
The National Library – Richelieu site is well worth a visit! The historic birthplace of the Library, built by Mazarin in the 17th century, it is famous for its magnificent oval room, which you can visit free of charge. The impressive glass dome overlooks a reading room surrounded by thousands of ancient books… Peace and wonder guaranteed!
Then leave the Library on Rue Vivienne and head for the next Parisian covered passage!
Practical information: oval room: free admission, Tuesday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday to Sunday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed on Mondays, Easter Sunday and Pentecost Sunday.
Passage Choiseul
So you don’t miss the charming Choiseul Passage, I suggest you retrace your steps by taking Rue des Petits Champs.
Once again, the atmosphere changes with the Passage Choiseul! This passage contrasts with the ones of the 1st arrondissement and is more reminiscent of the first passages you discovered at the start of our tour… And it’s one of the longest on this stroll through Paris covered passages!
As you exit on the right side of the passage, you can take Rue Sainte-Anne, then the charming Square Louvois and Rue de Richelieu. This will take you to the Paris Stock Exchange!
BEST PARIS COVERED PASSAGES: MY FAVOURITES AROUND GRANDS BOULEVARDS
Galerie Feydeau
You are now in the Grands Boulevards district, with its string of famous passages… This one begins a stone’s throw from Rue Vivienne, at the Feydeau gallery.
Passage des Panoramas
The Feydeau Gallery is then extended by the Passage des Panoramas. This is the place to be for stamp collectors and lovers of old postcards, as evidenced by the magnificent signs above each shop. Narrower and less bright, this passage still has incredible charm!
Passage Jouffroy
At the end of the Passage des Panoramas, simply cross the street to discover its neighbor, the Passage Jouffroy! This passage zigzags through the neighborhood adjacent to the Grévin Museum. For me, it’s one of the most charming passages, with beautiful shops that are as diverse as they are varied.
Antique bookstores, specialty shops, tea rooms... Don’t miss the lovely toy stores and the incredible cane shop, all nestled in a setting with old-world charm.
Passage des Princes
When you exit the Passage des Panoramas, simply cross the street to discover the Passage Verdeau.
But before that, I suggest taking a little detour through a lesser-known but equally charming passage, the Passage des Princes. To get there, simply turn left onto Boulevard Montmartre, then left again onto Rue Richelieu. The entrance to the Passage des Princes is on your right.
Although it may seem empty today, far from the hustle and bustle of the Grands Boulevards, its architecture and colors are well worth a visit!
Passage Verdeau
Then retrace your steps to the exit of the Passage Jouffroy. Continuing on, on the other side of Rue Grange Batelière, you will find the last passage on our tour of Paris covered passages: the Passage Verdeau!
Antique books, antique dealers, and prints await you there… Its calm and refined atmosphere is the perfect way to end this tour of Paris covered passages!
I hope you enjoyed this walk!
If you would like to do it with a private guide, that is also possible:
Here are some other walking routes in Paris already available on the blog to continue your Parisian explorations…
Click here to find out my other walking itineraries in Paris:
The Best Montmartre Itinerary
Butte aux Cailles Itinerary
The Best Latin Quarter Self-guided Walking Tour
And to discover Paris :
3 Days in Paris Itinerary by a French Girl
11 Most Unique Museums in Paris
The 9 Best Photo Spots in Paris
10 Cute Hidden Gardens in Paris