Walking tours led by the author of The Movie Lover’s Guide to Paris, The Art Lover’s Guide to Paris and The Architecture Lover’s Guide to Paris.
Explore Paris through cinema, art, architecture and hidden neighbourhoods with author, journalist and performer Ruby Boukabou.
Paris is a city best explored on foot.
These small-group Paris walking tours explore the city’s art, cinema, architecture and hidden neighbourhoods.
I’ve spent years wandering its streets in search of good stories, hidden corners, film locations, interesting characters and excellent coffee spots.
As an Australian-Parisian who has spent much of her adult life moving between Australia and France, I’ve explored Paris from both a local and visitor’s perspective. Along the way I’ve researched guidebooks, written articles, photographed the city and, most importantly, shared favourite discoveries with visiting friends and friends of friends.
Now I’m opening these walks up to small groups.
These are not traditional tours with flags and microphones. Instead, they’re intimate experiences designed to feel as though you’re exploring Paris with a knowledgeable local friend. The routes have grown out of years of research for my books and journalism, and I still discover new details and stories every time I walk them.
Come along and discover a different side of Paris. We’ll uncover hidden corners, hear a few fascinating stories, walk off those croissants and build up an appetite for dinner.
About Your Host
I’m an Australian-Parisian travel and culture journalist, guidebook author and performer. I’ve written several books about the city, including The Art Lover’s Guide to Paris, The Architecture Lover’s Guide to Paris and The Movie Lover’s Guide to Paris.
When I’m not writing, I’m usually researching new stories, photographing hidden corners of Paris, filming for The Paris Plan or tap dancing somewhere around the city.
I love introducing visitors to the neighbourhoods, stories and creative culture that make Paris such a fascinating place to live. My tours are relaxed, small-group experiences designed to help you see the city through the eyes of a local writer, performer and storyteller.
“My walking tour with Ruby was one of the highlights of my trip to Paris. She has such a contagious enthusiasm for the city, and spending time with her is both delightful and eye-opening. She reveals places and stories you simply wouldn’t discover by following a map on your own. The walks are fun, creative and unhurried, allowing you to truly soak up the atmosphere of Paris. I couldn’t recommend them more.”
— Aurora Kurth
Pricing & Bookings
€85 per person
Private and small-group tours only (1–6 people).
Tours are currently available between August and December 2026.
For bookings and enquiries, please email [email protected] with your preferred date(s), group size and any flexibility in your schedule.
Ruby’s Paris Walking Tours
#1 Belleville Street Art & Backstreets
Duration: Approximatly 2 hours
Meeting Point
8 Rue de Belleville, 75020 Paris (Metro Belleville)
Tour Ends
L’Enterpot’s Café
Rue Sorbier, 75020 Paris (Metro Gambetta/ Ménilmontant)
Take a glimpse inside the Belleville tour
Paris is full of characterful neighbourhoods, many best discovered on foot. This small-group walk explores colourful Belleville, one of the city’s most vibrant and creative districts, with its street art, hidden stairways, village history and sweeping views across Paris.
Once a separate village on the outskirts of the capital, Belleville has long attracted artists, musicians, immigrants and free spirits. Today it remains one of Paris’s most fascinating neighbourhoods, where contemporary street art sits alongside reminders of its rural past and traces of old Paris survive around unexpected corners.
Together we’ll wander through mural-covered streets and hidden backstreets, discovering ever-changing artworks ranging from large-scale murals to stencils, paste-ups and graffiti. Along the way we’ll hear stories of Belleville’s colourful history, visit the site believed to be the birthplace of Edith Piaf, uncover traces of the neighbourhood’s former vineyards and explore locations linked to French cinema, including the beloved classic The Red Balloon.
We’ll pause at some of Belleville’s most beautiful viewpoints, discover places many visitors never find and enjoy the atmosphere of a neighbourhood that continues to inspire artists and filmmakers today.
There will also be opportunities to stop for refreshments, and I’ll happily share some of my favourite local recommendations for cafés, bars and restaurants.
Highlights
* Discover one of Paris’s most creative neighbourhoods
* Explore colourful murals, stencils, paste-ups and street art
* Wander through hidden backstreets and stairways
* Visit the site believed to be the birthplace of Edith Piaf
* Discover traces of Belleville’s village past and former vineyards
* Explore locations linked to French cinema, including The Red Balloon
* Enjoy panoramic views across Paris
* Receive local recommendations for cafés, bars and restaurants
Good to Know
* Belleville is built on a hill and the route includes several stairways and some uphill walking.
* Comfortable walking shoes are highly recommended.
* Bring a bottle of water, particularly during warmer months. There is also a public drinking fountain along the route.
* There will be opportunities to stop for photos, refreshments and short breaks throughout the tour.
* Tours are conducted in English. French-language tours may be arranged on request.
#2 Cinema by the Seine: Paris Through the Movies
Duration: Approximately 2.5 hours
Difficulty: Easy-moderate. We will be doing a lot of walking but no hills.
Meeting Point: Institute du Monde Arabe
End Point: The Ritz
Experience Paris through the films that have captured its beauty, romance and mystery for generations.
This leisurely walk follows the Seine through the historic heart of the city, uncovering the locations, stories and cinematic moments behind films including Before Sunset, Midnight in Paris, Ratatouille, The Devil Wears Prada, Funny Face, La La Land, The Da Vinci Code and Mission: Impossible – Fallout.
Beginning at the Institut du Monde Arabe, with its spectacular rooftop views across Paris, we stroll along the river past Notre Dame, Shakespeare and Company, Place Dauphine, the Pont des Arts and the Louvre before finishing in the elegance of Place Vendôme.
Along the way, discover the restaurant that inspired Ratatouille, revisit Jesse and Celine’s Parisian wanderings from Before Sunset, explore the literary world of Shakespeare and Company, and stand in the footsteps of Audrey Hepburn, Owen Wilson, Tom Cruise and countless other stars who have helped make Paris one of cinema’s most beloved cities.
Blending film history, Parisian culture, architecture, literature and local anecdotes, this tour offers a fresh perspective on some of the city’s most iconic landmarks while revealing hidden stories often overlooked by visitors.
Highlights
- Panoramic views from the Institut du Monde Arabe
- The inspiration behind Ratatouille at La Tour d’Argent
- Shakespeare and Company from Before Sunset, Midnight in Paris and Julie & Julia
- The jazz club featured in La La Land
- Notre Dame and its many cinematic appearances
- Place Dauphine from Midnight in Paris
- A filming location from Mission: Impossible – Fallout
- The romantic Pont des Arts
- The Louvre and stories from The Da Vinci Code and the French New Wave
- Audrey Hepburn’s Paris in Funny Face
- A stylish finale at Place Vendôme and the Ritz Paris
Duration: Approximately 2.5 hours
Meeting Point: Entrance of the Institut du Monde Arabe
Finish: Place Vendôme / Ritz Paris
# 3 Amélie’s Montmartre
Duration: Approximately 2.5 hours
Difficulty: Moderate. Includes some hills, cobblestones and stairs.
Meeting Point: Lamarck-Caulaincourt Metro
End Point: Barbès-Rochechouart / Louxor Cinema
Step into the whimsical world of Amélie and discover the Montmartre that captured the imagination of cinema lovers around the world.
Released in 2001, Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s beloved film transformed Montmartre into one of Paris’s most recognisable cinematic neighbourhoods. On this guided walk, we’ll explore the streets, cafés, markets and hidden corners that brought Amélie’s story to life while uncovering the history, artists and local characters that give the area its enduring charm.
Beginning at Lamarck-Caulaincourt, one of Paris’s most beautiful metro stations, we’ll wander through the village-like heart of Montmartre, passing vine-covered lanes, the historic Montmartre vineyard, the Lapin Agile cabaret and some of the neighbourhood’s most picturesque viewpoints.
Along the way we’ll visit key filming locations including Rue Saint-Vincent, where the film begins and ends, the famous Café des Deux Moulins where Amélie worked as a waitress, Maison Collignon’s grocery store, Studio 28 cinema and the lively streets around Abbesses. We’ll also stop at the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur to enjoy sweeping views across Paris and revisit some of the film’s most memorable scenes.
Beyond the movie itself, the tour explores Montmartre’s rich artistic history, from Toulouse-Lautrec and Picasso to the bohemian cafés, cabarets and ateliers that shaped the neighbourhood’s identity.
The walk concludes at Barbès-Rochechouart near the magnificent Louxor Cinema and Le Barbes, the perfect place to relax with a drink and continue the conversation.
Highlights
- Lamarck-Caulaincourt Metro
- Rue Saint-Vincent
- Montmartre Vineyard
- Lapin Agile
- Sacré-Cœur Basilica
- Place du Tertre
- Maison Collignon Grocery Store
- Amélie’s Apartment
- Studio 28 Cinema
- Café des Deux Moulins
- Abbesses and the Wall of Love
- Louxor Cinema