The Louvre and the Tuileries, a Self-Guided Paris Walk
2h. 1.2 miles. From Palais-Royal to Place de la Concorde.
The royal spine of Paris on foot, no museum ticket required: a hidden garden of arcades, the glass pyramid and its courtyards, the grand Tuileries garden, and two small museums holding Monet's water lilies.
The local move
Cut through the Palais-Royal garden first. Tourists mob the pyramid two hundred meters away while this arcaded garden with the striped columns stays half-empty. Locals eat lunch here.
Best time to go
Morning for the courtyards, or late afternoon to end at Concorde in golden light.
When to avoid it
Tuesdays, when the Louvre and the Orangerie are closed.
The stops
Jardin du Palais Royal
A calm arcaded garden behind the old royal palace, with rose beds and the striped Buren columns.
Tip: Start here with a coffee. The tiny old shops under the arcades sell medals, perfume and lead soldiers.
Cour Carrée du Louvre
The oldest, quietest courtyard of the Louvre, pure Renaissance stone with no crowds.
Tip: Walk through it toward the pyramid. It's the loveliest way to arrive and almost no one uses it.
Pyramide du Louvre
I.M. Pei's glass pyramid in the great courtyard, controversial in 1989, iconic now.
Tip: For the photo you don't need a ticket; the courtyard is free. The small inverted pyramid is around by the Carrousel.
Jardin des Tuileries
The formal garden between the Louvre and Concorde, gravel paths, fountains and green chairs.
Tip: Pull a chair up to the round basin and sit. In summer a small funfair sets up along the north edge.
Musée de l'Orangerie
A small museum built around Monet's Water Lilies, eight vast canvases in two oval rooms.
Tip: The single best quick museum in Paris. Twenty minutes in the oval rooms is worth the ticket.
Place de la Concorde
The grand square closing the garden, with its Egyptian obelisk and fountains.
Tip: End here and look back up the axis to the Louvre. Cross carefully; the traffic is Parisian.
About these walks
This is one of the free self-guided Paris walks written by the Chic Trip team, locals who plan and book full Paris trips for American travelers. Get our free insider Paris guide at chic-trip.com/free-paris-guide, or have us plan your whole trip at chic-trip.com/paris-travel-planner.
