Cheese, Wine And Pastry Walk

Paris: Montmartre Cheese, Wine & Pastry Guided Walking Tour runs through Original Food Tours. Rated 4.9 across 2,395 reviews. Runs 3 hours. From $136.

Overview

The tour begins at 5 Place Blanche, sets off past the Moulin Rouge, and spends the next three hours climbing through Montmartre to finish at the Sacré-Cœur Basilica. Between those two points the route calls at the food shops of Rue Lepic, a local restaurant for wine, and the lanes around Place du Tertre. Pastries, homemade chocolate candies, cheese, charcuterie, wine and other French specialties all appear, along with a few surprises the operator keeps unannounced.

A local foodie guide leads the way, and the group is capped at 12 guests, which the operator says keeps the experience personal and leaves room for questions. Between tastings the route pauses at the Wall of Love, Le Bateau-Lavoir, the Moulin de la Galette and Rue de l'Abreuvoir, and passes streets the listing links to painters such as Van Gogh, Picasso, Monet and Cézanne. Across the reviews, guides draw consistent praise for knowing the food and the stories behind the streets.

It suits anyone who wants food and sightseeing in one outing, and the listing names couples, families and curious travelers as its audience. The same notes recur across the reviews, generous tastings and a relaxed pace among them, so arrive hungry and ready to try new things, since the operator warns this tour is not for the faint hearted.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Place BlancheThe group gathers at 5 Place Blanche, 75009 Paris. There is no hotel pickup for this tour.
2. Moulin Rouge walkThe tour sets off with a 5 minutes walk past the Moulin Rouge.
3. Rue Lepic food tastingThe longest stretch of the day: 1 hour of tastings in the food shops along Rue Lepic.
4. Wall of Love photo stopA 5 minutes pause at Le Mur des Je t'aime for photos.
5. Wine tasting at a local restaurantA 30 minutes stop for wine tasting at a local restaurant.
6. Bateau-Lavoir and Moulin de la GaletteTwo sightseeing stops of 5 minutes each, first at Le Bateau-Lavoir, then at the Moulin de la Galette.
7. Rue de l'Abreuvoir photo stopA 10 minutes photo stop on Rue de l'Abreuvoir.
8. Place du Tertre stopThe group pauses 10 minutes for photos at the square where Van Gogh and Picasso used to meet, then stays 20 minutes for a food tasting.
9. Sacré-Cœur and finishScenic views over Paris on the way during a 15 minutes approach, ending at the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical details will shape how much you enjoy the walk, from footwear to where the route ends.

• Shoes and clothing. The listing recommends comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing, and most of the tour unfolds outdoors on Montmartre's streets. A quick check of the forecast before leaving the hotel saves discomfort later.
• Bring water. Water is not included, and several travelers said a drink during the walk would have helped. A filled bottle weighs little and covers the stretches between tastings.
• Pace and fitness. Some walking is involved, on a route that runs from Place Blanche up to the hilltop basilica. Reviewers describe the pace and length as comfortable, with frequent pauses for food and photos.
• Group feel. The cap is 12 guests, which the operator says lets the guide answer everyone's questions. Reviews bear this out, mentioning guides who include the whole group and easy conversation among the guests.
• Food and drink. Sweet and savory both feature: pastries, chocolate candies, cheese, charcuterie, wine and assorted French specialties, plus a few surprises. Travelers describe the tastings as generous, so treat the walk as a moving meal rather than a light snack.
• Photos and finish. Timed photo stops come at the Wall of Love, Rue de l'Abreuvoir and Place du Tertre, and views over Paris arrive on the approach to Sacré-Cœur. The tour ends at the basilica rather than back at Place Blanche, so plan onward travel from the hill.

Common issues. Water is the loudest complaint: it is not provided, and several travelers said a drink during the walk would help, so carry a bottle. Tips and gratuities are excluded from the price as well. Some walking is involved, and the route finishes high in Montmartre rather than at the meeting point.

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