Summary of Exploring Paris
Rick Steves’ Travel Philosophy
This informative guided tour of Paris might just be iBestTravel’s best-kept secret. As someone who doesn’t mind spending time alone on vacations, I find that some of my favorite travel memories include walking around a city or exploring a museum independently. On a recent trip to Paris, I aimed to experience the history and atmosphere more deeply than during my last visit, which focused solely on ticking off the “must-see” tourist attractions.
Motivated by the desire to experience the city as a traveler rather than a tourist, I chose not to hire an expensive personal guide or join a crowded group walking tour. Instead, I turned to one of the most trusted figures in European travel: Rick Steves. Known for his emphasis on embracing local culture, Steves’ guidebooks are immensely popular. For this trip, I specifically picked up the pocket version of the Rick Steves Paris guidebook.
Benefits of the Audio Tour
Although I couldn’t book Steves for a personal tour, I found the next best option: his audio tour. As I ventured out to explore the Left Bank, I enjoyed the convenience of listening to Steves directly, enhancing my walk. Great audio guides allow you to discover cities at your own pace without the hassle of planning an itinerary in advance. Simply download the audio tour, navigate to the first landmark, and hit play.
In 2022, Steves dedicated significant time to updating his audio tours, reflecting his thoughts and experiences. In April 2023, Rick Steves Europe released updated versions of these tours, including guides for Paris, London, Athens, and more. The audio tours are derived from Steves’ guidebooks, and the free Rick Steves Audio Europe app features a companion map, tips, and the full script of each tour.
I opted for the Historic Paris Walk audio tour, which encompassed many attractions near my hotel. The tour is designed as a three-mile journey, with Steves recommending two hours for walking and an additional two hours if you’d like to explore inside some sights.
Experience of Exploring Paris
Beginning at Notre-Dame de Paris, I quickly became immersed in Steves’ narrative, which unfolds the rich history of the city and the significance of the cathedral’s construction. Although the Gothic landmark is still being restored following the 2019 fire, I found the audio tour insightful, particularly with regards to the cathedral’s history and architecture visible from the exterior.
One of the advantages of the audio tour is that each chapter features its own title and image, which simplifies navigation within the audio. While strolling through the city, I genuinely appreciated having Steves as my companion, providing insights that kept my interest alive despite my jet lag. His friendly and informative narration style added a personal touch to my experience.
The tour also delivers verbalized directions, allowing travelers with good orientation skills to easily follow the route between landmarks without complication. I paused occasionally to verify my direction, but it was typically straightforward to follow the established route Steves created. I completed nearly a full loop around Île de la Cité, transitioning from Notre-Dame to Pont Neuf, the Left Bank, the Latin Quarter, and Place Saint-Michel.
When I arrived at the famed bookstore Shakespeare and Company, I paused the guide to explore inside, illustrating my tendency to deviate from the planned route. Upon reaching Sainte-Chapelle, I chose to skip that section, as its popularity surged post-Notre-Dame’s closure, leading to long lines. Steves notes in the updated tour that this is an ideal site to purchase advance tickets.
Walking through Paris felt as though I had a personal guide accompanying me, suppressing any tourist-like feelings. The absence of a map or guidebook allowed me to savor the city’s ambiance while gaining historical context.
Visit to Musée d’Orsay
The following day, I visited the Musée d’Orsay, one of Paris’s premier museums, renowned for its vast Impressionist collection featuring works by Van Gogh, Monet, and many others. I referred to my pocket-sized Rick Steves Paris guidebook while navigating through the museum’s vibrant display of art. Steves provides an audio tour for this museum as well as others, such as the Louvre, catering to those who prefer listening over reading.
If you are not an art history expert, like myself, yet wish to appreciate these extraordinary works, Steves’ guides are invaluable in highlighting significant pieces and offering insight into what to observe during your visit. I found his ability to compare and contrast various art styles and movements throughout history particularly enlightening, enhancing my understanding as I progressed through the museum.
Overall, the Rick Steves guides allowed me to discover landmarks and locales I might have otherwise overlooked. This supported a comprehensive understanding of the city without facing language barriers. Furthermore, self-guided tours afford travelers flexibility and independence while ensuring a rewarding and informative experience.
The Rick Steves audio guides are entirely free to access. Interested explorers can easily install the Rick Steves Audio Europe app to download the latest versions of the tours.
