The City of Love is a popular getaway spot for couples and friends alike, so we asked Beeline's resident Paris expert, Kate, to share her favourite route around the city on two wheels.
Follow the banks of the Seine whilst ticking off the greatest tourist attractions Paris has to offer.
Paris has enjoyed a renaissance as a cycling city, with more than 700km of cycle paths and some of the most iconic tourist sites. Tick the big ones off, and spend some time soaking up that Parisian ambience with this cycle route.
Quick Facts
|
Highlights |
Eiffel Tower, Sacre Coeur, Pompidou Centre, Marche des Enfants Rouges
|
|
Length |
20km |
|
Terrain |
Flat, tarmac roads and cycle paths
|
|
Difficulty |
★
|
|
When |
Paris is lovely any time, but it can get very hot at the peak of summer. |
|
How to get there |
Paris might feel like a whole world away, but it's one train journey from the UK - jump on the Eurostar and book a spot for your bike!
|
|
Which bike |
Velib' used to be the undisputed king of bike docking programmes. Technical glitches have opened the door for dockless competitors, but they've struggled. Safe option: one of the hollandbikes rental stores.
|
|
Why |
One of the most famous cities in the world, beautiful and fascinating in equal measure. |
The Cycle Route
Get going from the steps of the Sacre Coeur, and wind your way downhill through the beautiful streets of Montmartre, heading south through the haunting but beautiful cemetery where Derrida and Zola now rest.
It then proceeds down the Boulevard des Batignolles towards the stunning Parc Monceau.
Next, get as close as you dare to the Arc de Triomphe, but be warned - this attraction is trapped inside the infamously dangerous roundabout, so probably best not to cycle around it. Take in the view, instead, from the Boulevard Hausmann.
One of the most famous landmarks anywhere in the world, the Eiffel Tower is best taken in from the next waypoint. The Jardins du Trocadéro have stunning views of this beautiful site - look out over the Fontaines de Chaillot, and be sure to check out the Trocedero Palace.
The cycle route then turns back on itself and heads North East along the banks of the Seine, past the Pont Alexandre III, hugging the North Bank to proceed through the Jardin des Tuileries. This serves as a great stopping point for a quick bite to eat at Angelina, nestled across the park from the Louvre. Do not miss the Angelina hot chocolate either: Kate is certain that it is the best she's ever tasted.
Onwards! The next site is the Cathedrale Notre-Dame before the cycle route bids adieu to the Seine. If you're not cultured out by this point, the Centre Pompidou is just off the cycle route, and is home to some fascinating modern art.
Well worth a quick break at this point, the Marché des Enfants Rouges, previously an orphanage hence the odd name, is the oldest covered market in Paris (dating back to the 1620s!), and is still serving delicious food, but is worth wandering through even if you aren't especially hungry.
After all that cycling and culture, the Canal St Martin is the perfect conclusion to the tour of Paris. Leafy and shady, the banks of this canal are lined with delicious restaurants, making it the ultimate place to take stock of all the sites and experiences of the day.
And finally, if you're looking for a post-dinner drink and dance, look no further than the Comptoir Général. Part restaurant, part bar, part 'ghetto museum', walk down through the courtyard to enter this eclectic hangout and you'll feel like you've been teleported to 1950s West Africa. Trop amusant!
