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Montparnasse Walking Tour
The celebrities, sophisticates, and spies of Montparnasse Cafe Society
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Local experts
Personal stories and insider travel tips -
Top-rated
Thousands of reviews averaging 4.9 stars -
Worry-free booking
Flexible scheduling and refunds
Highlights
- Stroll down broad avenues filled with restaurants and theaters made famous in the 1920s.
- Learn about the crème de la crème of the Cafe Society.
- Explore the neighborhood once occupied by Nazis as you hear stories of the heroic French Resistance.
- Visit the graves of sculptors, writers, actors and more in a scenic cemetery.
- Admire Paris’ tallest building from ground level, the skyscraper Montparnasse Tower.
- Take our Paris shuttle for convenient transportation, included with your tour.
What you'll do
In a city rich in culture and famous landmarks, it’s easy to overlook the many fascinating neighborhoods that make the real Paris what it is. Montparnasse is just such a place. The neighborhood blends culture and counterculture, which you’ll learn more about as you stroll these historic and ...
In a city rich in culture and famous landmarks, it’s easy to overlook the many fascinating neighborhoods that make the real Paris what it is. Montparnasse is just such a place. The neighborhood blends culture and counterculture, which you’ll learn more about as you stroll these historic and scenic streets.
Here, the Cafe Society reigned supreme between World War I and World War II. Celebrities mingled with the workaday folk, and art thrived. Not even the shadow of Nazi occupation and the French Resistance could dim the joie de vivre of Montparnasse.
Explore the broad avenues and narrow side streets, a peaceful cemetery and a bustling “little theatre district” with your guide as you discover this Parisian neighborhood. We’ll end the tour at the tallest tower in Paris. You may even decide to take a ride to the top for the best views in Paris. Your observation deck ticket isn’t included, but your guide can tell you all about what you’ll see at the top or share tips on where to enjoy dinner in this neighborhood.
Itinerary
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Boulevard du Montparnasse
Where the cream of the Cafe Society wined and dined at legendary eateries
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Rue Delambre
A French street filled with romance
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Place de Josephine Baker
Honoring the beloved entertainer who also figured into the French Resistance
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The Sphinx
A brothel requisitioned by the Nazis during WWII
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The Monocle
Once a women-only cabaret
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Montparnasse Cemetery
Final resting place of celebrities like Simone de Beauvoir, Jean-Paul Sartre, and more
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Rue de la Gaite
Paris’s “Little Theater District”
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Tour Montparnasse
The city’s only skyscraper
Plan your trip
Accessibility
This tour is accessible for strollers and wheelchairs. If mobility is an issue, please arrange for a private tour.
Tour ending point
This tour ends at Montparnasse Tower. You’re welcome to visit the observation deck on your own. Tickets to the tower aren’t included.
Refund policy
We offer a 100% refund up to 24 hours before the start time.
Reviews
Nice tour! Interesting facts about the neighborhood. We learned a lot, including very useful tips about Paris. Highly recommended. Thanks to the guide, RT, who was super nice and helpful.
— AlvaroJamie
Erik
Meeting point
Please meet us in front of the big church at the following address: 91 Bd du Montparnasse, 75006 Paris.
Your guide will be holding an orange sign with ExperienceFirst written on it.
For easier navigation, you can paste this address into Google Maps: 91 Bd du Montparnasse, 75006 Paris.
FAQs
How much walking is there?
This tour covers about 2 miles.
What is the refund policy?
We understand plans change. You can always change your tour 24 hours or more before you tour. We offer a 100% refund up to 24 hours prior to your tour start time. Within 24 hours of your tour, we would have incurred hard costs and therefore cannot allow rescheduling or cancellation without costs.
When should I get there?
Plan to show up 15 minutes early. The tour starts promptly, and you may not be able to catch up if you arrive late.
What if it rains?
Our tours run rain or shine. If there’s extreme weather and we have to cancel, you’ll get a full refund.
Are gratuities included?
Tips aren’t expected but are always appreciated by our guides. If you think your guide did an outstanding job, a tip is a great way to show that.
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