Saint Germain des Prés
The Basics
The quarter’s main street, the Haussmann-designed Boulevard St Germain, is lined with chic boutiques and cafés with outdoor terraces, perfect for people-watching. Travelers have myriad options to explore the enchanting area as part of a half-day, full-day, group, or private sightseeing tour, each with a special focus, such as culture (museums, perfume workshops for kids, pétanque, jazz), food and wine (chocolate, charcuterie, macarons, and champagne tastings), and even fun Polaroid photo safaris. Transport on tours run the gamut too, from walking and cycling to Seine hop-on/hop-off cruises.
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Things to Know Before You Go
- Suitable for solo travelers, couples, and families.
- Tours usually include a guide and round-trip hotel transport. Check specific tours for details.
- Wear comfortable shoes since Paris is one of the most walkable cities in the world.
Trip ideas
How to Get There
The main Métro stop for the neighborhood is St-Germain-des-Prés (line 4); from there, walk north toward the Seine to reach a stretch of galleries and cafés. For shopping and restaurants, cross Boulevard St-Germain and walk south. Or get off at the RER stop at Luxembourg and walk northwest through the Luxembourg gardens.
When to Get There
Paris is a place of wonder and beauty at any time of the year, as each season brings its own charms. The best weather is from late spring through early fall, May through September. Deals on hotels may be found during the winter and early spring months. Festivals abound year-round; highlights include Bastille Day in July, the springtime jazz and blues festival, Banlieues Bleues, and the summertime city-wide music festival, Paris, Quartier d’Été.
Luxembourg Garden and Museum
One of the quarter’s most sublime pleasures is to spend time in the Luxembourg Garden (Jardin du Luxembourg). Marie de' Medici, the widow of King Henry IV, created these perfectly manicured lawns and flower beds placed around sumptuous fountains and pools as part of her palace here. Within the gardens is Paris’s oldest public museum, Musée du Luxembourg, which opened in 1750.
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- Musée National Eugène Delacroix (Musee Delacroix)
- Café de Flore
- Pierre Hermé Pâtisserie
- Gérard Mulot Pâtisserie
- Mundolingua Museum of Languages (Mundolingua Musée des Langues)
- Paris Mint Museum (Musée de la Monnaie de Paris)
- River Seine
- Pont des Arts
- Palais du Luxembourg
- 6th Arrondissement
- Musée du Luxembourg
- Odéon-Théatre de l'Europe
- Pont Neuf
- Place Dauphine
- Fontaine Saint-Michel