Sights & Street Scenes of the Paris Latin Quarter: A Walking Itinerary

Head to the Mabillon station on Line 10 (gold) of the Paris Metro. This will be your starting point for the itinerary. Rue de Buci begins just across from the metro exit. This compact street is bustling day and night with pedestrians walking along. Shops and restaurants line the way. Start your day off with a coffee, and pull up a streetside table to watch people go by. Or simply window shop as you make your way toward Île de la Cité.

Pont Neuf is the oldest standing bridge crossing the Seine and a great place to eat breakfast and experience the surroundings of Paris.

While Notre Dame is closed, Sainte-Chapelle, another Middle Ages cathedral on the Île de la Cité (and one with arguably more impressive stained glass), is very busy, so we recommend you stop here first. Skip the line and book tickets ahead.

This quaint flower market makes for unique pictures. It might not be something you would go visit specifically, but it’s between Sainte-Chapelle and Notre Dame, so it’s an easy stop. There are multiple flower markets in the area, so the sights and smells are stimulating.

One of the most famous buildings in the world, Notre Dame is, unfortunately, closed for renovations following the devastating fire to its roof. You can’t go in right now, but you’ll want to see it anyway. For now, looking up at it from the surrounding streets will have to do.

This incredible English language bookstore helped give birth to some of the best writing of the 20th century. Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein, and many more once spent time honing their craft here. It also has great views of Notre Dame.

This beautiful fountain is worth a few pictures, and the surrounding plaza has numerous food options.

The Abbey Bookshop is much less well-known than Shakespeare & Co. This small bookshop is like something out of a dream. With books stacked floor to ceiling and a charismatic owner, it’s a stop that very few people make but that you will find yourself remembering decades from now. If you’re a book lover, this is your dream come true.

The museum just recently reopened in May 2022 after an extensive renovation. This museum is dedicated to the history of Paris in the Middle Ages. You can see some ruins of a former Roman bath here, even from outside the courtyard.

This historic palace (and former home of Marie de Medici) is free to enter, but the gardens are the real draw here. It’s a bit of a walk here but pretty spectacular. Today, the French Senate meets in the building.

As you are walking out of the Gardens, be sure to stop by this lovely fountain near Rue Soufflot, which is the street you will want to take to head to the Panthéon. It has recently undergone a deep cleaning, so its spiffy appearance is even new to the locals.

This spectacular mausoleum celebrates some of France’s greatest citizens, including Victor Hugo and Voltaire. The neo-Classical architecture is some of the most remarkable in all of the city. Book tickets ahead of time, as this is a popular spot.

An underrated attraction, this church has wonderful architecture and is just minutes from the Panthéon.

This serene gothic space houses touring exhibitions. The interior space is a fantastic example of gothic arches. Through the summer of 2022, there’s an augmented reality exhibition about Notre Dame.

A good resting spot, this park sits atop a former Roman gladiatorial arena. Have a snack, and be thankful you live in a world where you needn’t do battle to the death to proceed onward with your day.

You could probably spend an entire day enjoying the serene beauty of the incredible botanical garden that is Jardin des Plantes. The Alpine Garden, in particular, is wild and beautiful, but there is so much to see you should walk around the space more generally.

Make your way to la place de la Contrescarpe, which is the Northmost point of one of Paris’ most charming streets, la Rue Mouffetard.

End your day here with a bit of shopping and enjoy a dinner where many locals will be at nearby tables. The street is pedestrianized and feels about 10 feet wide at points. You will love it.