2-Hour Covered Passages Private Tour

Dive into the early 19th century lifestyle with a visit of 4 covered passages and the hidden Palais Royal gardens.

Spreading from the Grand Boulevards to the Louvre, the Covered Passages and arcades are little known. Even to Parisiens themselves! Built between the late 18th to mid-19th century, they are truly hidden gems full of picturesque discoveries, small bookshops, old toy stores, stamp collectors, tearooms and much more.

Your guide will begin the tour at the Palais Royal, where one of the most charming and well preserved gardens of central Paris sits. (Also far from the crowds) Originally the home of Cardinal Richelieu, it was built in the 1630s after the Cardinal's death where he fell into the hands of King Louis XIII. For a while it was the center of prostitution and brothels in Paris. Today it is the location of the Ministry of Culture and a branch of the National Library.

Your guide will then show you some of the most stunning covered passages. These shopping malls were created at the end of the 19th century to allow ladies to shop under any weather. Your guide will point out the detail oriented architecture of each passageway and will also take you to some quaint parisien shops. The oldest arcade, Passage des Panoramas, dates back to 1799. It is home to the Théâtre des Variétés, inaugurated in 1807 and still providing entertainment. Each arcade has its own character. Galerie Vivienne next door to the Palais Royal is one of the most iconic covered passages with a Jean-Paul Gaultier ready-to-wear shop. The nearby Galerie Véro-Dodat also has many upscale shops, like Christian Louboutin’s workshop-boutique. Passage du Grand-Cerf is a 12 meter high structure made of metal and wrought iron and is one of the most spectacular arcades in Paris.

Quiet and off the touristic track, this private tour will offer you an alternate vision of Paris and a more intimate image of how the city looked 150 years ago.