Private Paris Walking Tour: Sainte-Chapelle, Notre Dame & Hidden Gems

4.71

(17 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

Rain or shine, the first thing that hit me was the soft hum of the city as we crossed onto Île de la Cité. Our guide, Camille, waved us over to a tiny café tucked behind a flower stall—she greeted the barista by name. The air smelled faintly of fresh bread and river water. We started at Sainte-Chapelle. I’d seen photos, but nothing prepares you for those stained glass windows—over a thousand of them, all glowing like jewels when the sun peeks through. Camille pointed out tiny details in the glass: a king’s face here, a hidden fleur-de-lis there. She even told us how the light shifts hour by hour; we caught it just as the morning sun hit the blues and reds.

We wandered through quiet backstreets most tourists miss. There was a book vendor setting up along the Seine, his hands ink-stained from sorting old paperbacks. Then we ducked into the Luxembourg Gardens. Locals were out jogging or reading on green chairs under chestnut trees—Marie de Medici’s old palace peeking through the leaves. Camille shared stories about the queen’s obsession with Italian fountains. I grabbed a quick espresso from a stand near the pond; it was strong enough to wake anyone up.

Notre Dame stood tall even with scaffolding still clinging to its towers. Camille explained how Parisians rallied around it after the fire—she even showed us a spot where you can still smell faint traces of charred wood if you get close enough. We ended with a sweet treat from a bakery she swears by (I won’t spoil the surprise). The whole walk felt like seeing Paris through a friend’s eyes—full of small surprises and real moments.