Paris Hidden Passages Walk Through City Secret Arcades

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

• 1
  Passage Verdeau

  Passage Verdeau is one of Paris’s most elegant and peaceful covered passages, known for its beautiful glass roof, refined architecture, and authentic 19th-century atmosphere. It is especially popular with collectors and antique lovers. You will be able to discover antique shops, rare bookshops, vintage prints, old photographs, and art galleries. Highlights include the beautiful herringbone-patterned flooring, the soaring glass ceiling that floods the passage with natural light, and the charming historic shopfronts. Passage Verdeau offers a wonderful glimpse into the Paris of the Belle Époque.

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 2
  Passage Jouffroy

  Passage Jouffroy is one of Paris’s most charming covered passages, famous for its elegant iron-and-glass architecture, marble flooring, and nostalgic 19th-century atmosphere. You will be able to explore quirky boutiques, antique bookshops, and traditional toy stores. Highlights include the historic Hôtel Chopin, tucked away inside the passage, and the Musée Grévin, Paris’s famous wax museum, whose entrance opens onto the passage. Looking up you will observe the beautiful glass roof, which fills the arcade with natural light and makes it a perfect photo spot.

  20 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 3
  Passage des Panoramas

  Passage des Panoramas is one of the oldest covered passages in Paris and a wonderful reminder of the city's vibrant 19th-century shopping culture. Originally famous for its panoramic paintings, it later became a fashionable destination for shopping and entertainment. Today, visitors can admire its historic shopfronts, vintage signs, stamp and postcard dealers, and charming restaurants. Highlights include the entrance to the historic Théâtre des Variétés, founded in 1807, the beautifully preserved boutiques, and the passage’s lively collection of traditional bistros and modern eateries.

  15 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 4
  Passage Choiseul

  Passage Choiseul is one of the longest covered passages in Paris. With its elegant glass roof, historic shopfronts, and lively atmosphere, it offers a fascinating glimpse into 19th-century Parisian shopping culture. Visitors can explore small boutiques, bookstores, cafés, and restaurants. Highlights include the beautiful iron-and-glass ceiling, the charming mosaic flooring, and the historic Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens, founded by composer Jacques Offenbach in 1855 and accessible from the passage. Once frequented by the young writer Louis-Ferdinand Céline, whose mother ran a shop here, Passage Choiseul combines literary history, theatrical heritage, and authentic Parisian charm.

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 5
  Galerie Vivienne

  Galerie Vivienne is one of the most beautiful and luxurious covered passages in Paris, famous for its elegant neoclassical architecture, spectacular glass roof, and colorful mosaic floors. Located just steps from the Palais-Royal, it was once a fashionable shopping destination for wealthy Parisians during the 19th century. Today, visitors can explore stylish boutiques, antique bookshops, wine shops, and charming cafés. Highlights include the magnificent floor mosaics designed by Giandomenico Facchina, the historic Librairie Jousseaume, established in 1826, and the elegant rotunda decorated with classical motifs. With its refined atmosphere and beautifully preserved architecture, Galerie Vivienne offers a wonderful glimpse into the elegance of 19th-century Paris.

  20 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 6
  Jardin du Palais Royal

  Created in the 17th century, the Jardin du Palais-Royal is one of Paris’s most elegant and peaceful gardens, surrounded by magnificent classical arcades and historic buildings. Originally part of Cardinal Richelieu’s palace, it later became a lively center of Parisian social and political life. During the French Revolution, its cafés and galleries were popular meeting places for revolutionaries. Today, visitors can stroll along beautiful tree-lined paths, admire the central fountain, and relax among colorful flowerbeds. Highlights include elegant Galeries, the famous Colonnes de Buren with their black-and-white stripes in the Cour d’Honneur, and the contemporary Sphérades fountain by Pol Bury. With its unique blend of royal history, revolutionary heritage, and contemporary art, the Palais-Royal is one of Paris’s most charming hidden gems.

  15 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 7
  Galerie Vero-Dodat

  Galerie Véro-Dodat is one of Paris’s most elegant and beautifully preserved covered passages, located just steps from the Louvre and Palais-Royal. Built by two wealthy investors, Benoît Véro and François Dodat, it became a fashionable shopping arcade during the 19th century. Its refined neoclassical architecture features black-and-white diamond-patterned marble flooring, elegant columns, decorative painted ceilings, and a beautiful glass roof. Today, visitors can discover stylish boutiques, art galleries, and antique shops. Highlights include the luxurious Christian Louboutin boutique, the beautifully preserved historic shopfronts, and the remarkable perspective created by the passage’s geometric floor design. With its intimate atmosphere and sophisticated architecture, Galerie Véro-Dodat offers a wonderful glimpse into the elegance of 19th-century Paris.

  15 minutes • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

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