VISIT PARIS DIFFERENTLY

Here are our tips for getting off the beaten track, meeting another Paris, visiting with Parisians and bringing back other memories:

• The Parisian  Greeters offer a subjective discovery of their neighborhood through personalised tours.
• PariSolidari-thé organises solidarity treasure hunts in several districts of Paris, including that of the Zazie Hotel, but also discovery workshops or visits-meetings. Tailor-made to discover urban and citizen initiatives.
• Ça se visite offers alternative tours of Paris and its inner suburbs: unusual encounters, pedestrian and scooter rallies, day or night, in the spirit of participatory, fair and united tourism.
• The Fresh street Art Tour takes fans and amateurs around Street Art, stencil and graffiti: take a curious and attentive look at the walls of Paris.
• The Explore Paris platform offers a vast program of visits to be booked online, available throughout the year, on original themes that gives priority to meeting locals: know-how, gastronomy, activities by the river, visit of special neighborhoods ...
• And for an even wide reaching Paris, Enlarge your Paris takes you beyond the ring road.
• Paris on foot is even better: check out our hiking suggestions in the Move section.

WALKING OR RUNNING

Here are four routes to walk or run from among the best of eastern Paris.

The Coulée Verte. From Bastille, the old rail track now rehabilitated, planted with vegetation and car-free, allows you to walk, run and for some of the way cycle or rollerblade along 4.5km from l’Opéra Bastille to the Bois de Vincennes.

The River Seine’s docks are easy to follow and have a pedestrian and cycle route along the left bank of the river, from Ivry to Notre-Dame. Some of the right bank of the Seine has also recently been made into a pedestrian- and cycle-only area.

Paris and its canals. From the Bassin de l’Arsenal, veer due north along the canals, first to Canal Saint-Martin under boulevard Richard Lenoir, open air further north and then along Canal de l’Ourcq up to Parc de la Villette if you fancy it.

The Bois de Vincennes. With its lake for canoeing, the zoo, hippodrome, funfairs, floral park and cultural events… there is always something to see and do at Paris’ largest public park Bois de Vincennes.

SWIMMING OR ICE SKATING

Reuilly swimming pool. Closest to the hotel along the Coulée Verte, the building opens onto the Jardin de Reuilly park. 13 Rue Antoine-Julien Hénard, 75012 Paris. +33 (0)1 40 02 08 08.

Joséphine Baker swimming pool. Swim on the River Seine all year round in a floating pool at the foot of the Grande Bibliothèque. In summer, the pool is open air and very busy. Port de la Gare, Quai François Mauriac, 75013 Paris. +33 (0)1 56 61 96 50.

Pontoise swimming baths. An old-style swimming pool listed as a historic monument with its balcony changing stalls. Located in the 5^th arrondissement of Paris. 19 rue de Pontoise, 75005 Paris. +33 (0)1 55 42 77 88.

Sonja Henie ice skating rink. With a 1,500m² ice rink and 400-person seating capacity, the “best ice in Ile-de-France” is an absolute must location for sports and leisure in Paris. Open to the public on Wednesday afternoons and on weekends. Themed evenings, parties with DJs and events throughout the year make this ice rink also a place to party.