Paris: Terrain and your Mobility

In this post, we will cover the terrain of Paris in the context of mobility considerations. Learn about parks, traffic-free streets and availability of sidewalks and curb cuts in this beautiful city.

Home » Location Guides » Paris: Terrain and your Mobility

The Layout of Paris

Paris is arranged into neighborhoods, called arrondissements in French. The 20 arrondissements are numbered in the shape of a snail shell, starting in the neighborhood of the Louvre (1st arrondissement), and working outward. The Seine river cuts the city in half. The left bank refers to the arrondissements below or south of the river while the right bank is the area above or north of the river. There are 23 bridges in central Paris, making it relatively quick to get to the other side of the Seine. Continue reading about the terrain of Paris in terms of mobility.

France Flag on Gray Concrete at intersection

Ground Surfaces

Paris is a fairly flat capital city, especially if you are sticking to the most popular tourist areas. The one neighborhood that will require uphill maneuvering is Montmartre. This is where Sacré-Coeur is located as well as the famous Moulin Rouge.

Note: If you want a great view of the city without having to get up to Sacré-Coeur or the Eiffel Tower, the roof of the Galeries Lafayette in the 9^th arrondissement has an elevator to the top and rewards you with lovely views of the city.

Sidewalks

Most sidewalks are in good condition. You will not be large cracks or height differences you will need to step over. Curb cuts are present at most intersections, especially near tourist sights. When you are out and about in Paris, you will likely be traversing over cobblestones, concrete, gravel and asphalt. All major Paris streets have sidewalks on each side with crosswalks at intersections as pictured above.

A great way to get a sense of moving around a city is heading over to YouTube and watch some walking tours. I am linking A Walk in Paris as they have numerous videos walking around different arrondissements of Paris and at different times of year.

Cobblestones

You will find cobblestones more frequently on roads than as sidewalks. The exception to this is at Versailles, which requires you to walk on mostly smooth cobblestones from the gates to the entrance.

Pebbles and Gravel

Something you’ll be walking on frequently if you head to some of Paris’s beautiful parks will be small gravel/pebbles. It is firmly packed but can require some extra energy to maneuver. You will be walking on this type of surface when visiting the Tulleries near the Louvre, the Luxembourg Gardens and the gardens of Versailles.

Note: Paris is focusing on being a more bicycle-friendly city. This includes more dedicated lanes for bikes. As a pedestrian, it is important to look not only for cars at intersections but for bicycles as well.

People Sitting near Seine with Notre Dame in the background.

Traffic-Free Streets

Paris has a few streets blocked off to cars. Here are some of my favorites. For a complete list, visit the links below.

Parc Rives de Seine: The walkways along the Seine (quaysides) are a great way to get away from the traffic above. Some entrances down to the river will involve stairs but there are others that are long ramps down.

Rue Cler: between Rue de Grenelle and Av. de la Motte-Picquet: This is a popular gourmet shopping street near the Eiffel Tower in the 7th arrondissement. There are plenty of food shops if you want to arrange a picnic. There are also many cafes and bistros to stop at and enjoy.

Rue Daguerre: in Montparnasse (14th arrondissement). It has lots of shops and eateries to visit as you wander.

Covered Passages: These are mostly located in the 2nd arrondissement and are covered walkways lined with shops and restaurants. This can be a great option to get out of the sun or rain. The Earful Tower has this post about their five favorites passageways.

For more, visit Pedestrianized Areas of Paris from Paris’s official tourism website

Parks

The last item we will cover about Paris’s terrain are the parks and greenspaces. Visiting at least one on your trip is great way to take a break from the rushed pace of the city. For a more complete list, visit this page from the official tourism website.

The Tulleries: between the Louvre and the Place de la Concorde. It houses the L’Orangerie museum, a couple cafes, ferryrides and has plenty of seats, benches and trees.

Luxembourg Gardens – lovely gardens in the 6th arrondissement. It includes a large fountain where you will likely find children playing with toy boats in the large fountain. There is plentiful seating to sit and enjoy Parisian life or simply walking through is also a treat.

Le Jardin des Plante s – in the 5th arrondissement. It is part of the Muséum national d’histoire naturelle. You can learn about hundreds of types of plants while you visit the themed gardens and greenhouses.

The Layout of Paris