Walking Paris: Thirty Original Walks in and Around Paris

Having been to Paris many, many times, I pretty much know my way around. I purchased this book for my last trip, to help my friend -a first time parisian- find her way around. Surprisingly, though, it was me who ended up enjoying the book the most. Very well-thought walks, easy to spot places and landmarks but thorough and interesting enough to take you off the beaten path and show you the real Paris, the charming, lively city beyond the tourist attractions. My favourite walks are Faubourg St-Germain and St-Germain-des-Pres and the ones through the Latin Quarter.

This book is so well organized and helps the bedazzled tourist focus. I am a true francophile, and the use of "themes" plus maps is so helpful. I'm going to do some walks completely, and some walks partially. I've lived in Paris before, but there are still areas I've overlooked. This book will get me oriented, once and for all.

This is by far the best guide book available for Paris. I lived there as a student, yet with this book I discovered new streets and sights on a daily basis. The historical references were excellent -- I took the walk through the area where I once lived and learned some fascinating stories about buildings I used to walk past every day. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

Gilles Desmons has crafted a combination Parisian history overview / scavenger hunt! We had such fun - and got such good exercise - taking many of these walks. I recommend it to everyone traveling to Paris, and wish that there were similar books for other destinations.

Having lived in Paris for quite some time myself, I know most of the areas that Gilles Desmons describes, and I can really highly recommend the book. His tours cover all the must-sees, but he also ventures off the beaten track and leads you to unexplored and pleasantly untouristy areas of the city, some of which even I haven't explored yet (but will unfailingly do so on my next trip home to France). His recommendations for restaurants/cafes/shops/museums are excellent, and I appreciate his pointing out certain days or times of the day when the tour is most rewarding (like with museum opening hours etc.). The only little "fly in the soup" (as we say) is that his writing is a bit professoral and stiff, but then again you learn a lot of little anecdotes that contribute to your understanding and enjoying your tour even more, and he points out a ton of small things that you normally would miss if not told of (like, an especially beautifully carved old door). Do yourself a favour and get the book for your (next) trip to the City of Lights, it's definitely worth it even if you have been there before.