Sep 23rd, 2015, 01:41 AM

These Boots are Made for Walking Paris

By Alice Preat
Image Credit: Linh Nguyen
Free for an afternoon? Read our top three spots to wander around Paris.

Paris is—and will always be—a city to be discovered on foot, even if its metro and bus lines can pretty much take you anywhere. Indeed, the best discoveries are often made when randomly wandering through the city’s narrow and beautiful streets, parks, or cobblestone pathways along the Seine:

1. Stroll along the Canal Saint-Martin.

Located in the 10th arrondissement, the Canal quickly becomes very busy with Parisians as soon as the sun shows its face, and at night, when it turns into the ultimate hang-out spot. With its surrounding cafés and supermarkets, the Canal Saint-Martin is also a great place to have a picnic right on the water, watching péniches (or river boats) pass by and enjoy the peace and quiet of weekdays at noon.

Tip: Go to El Nopal (3, rue Eugène Varlin) if you want to eat one of the best burritos in Paris, made with love by Mexican locals.

2. Walk your dog on the Petite Ceinture. 

This old and abandoned railroad circles around Paris for 32 kilometers. The "Little Belt Railway" is mostly closed off to the public, except for a few sections, which have opened fairly recently to the public as an environmental and public project. You can now enjoy these promenades plantées, filled with various species of beautiful plants and flowers (along with their descriptions) for a peaceful walk that feels just like an old movie.

Tip: entrances are located in the 12th, 13th, 15th and in the 16th arrondissements. The promenades plantées and shared gardens can be found in the 12th, 13th, 14th, 17th and 18th.

3. Travel through time at the Jardins d’Albert Kahn.

For only €4, you can discover Albert Kahn’s gardens on what used to be his private property, dating back to the 1890s. Being fond of horticulture and the art of gardening, as well as a firm believer in world peace, Albert Kahn designed themed gardens on all four acres of his property. On a sunny afternoon, you can enjoy the Japanese gardens with their typical bridges, plants and ponds as well as “Les Forêts Bleues et Dorées,” or the blue and golden forests, the rose gardens, and much more.

Tip: The €4 entry also includes access to the museum’s permanent and temporary collections—so don't fret if you happened to visit on an unexpectedly rainy (and typically Parisian) day.