Covered passages walking tour

Stroll beneath the elegant glass-and-iron canopies of Paris’s covered passages, which are brimming with boutique shops, antiques and cute cafés.

Your tour begins at the Galerie Vivienne, a neo-classical style arcade with intricate mosaic floors and an elegant glass roof with an impressive dome. Expect fashion boutiques, wine cellars and typical French brasseries inside.

Next up are the Passage Choiseul – the longest covered passage in Paris and a registered historic monument – and the Passage des Panoramas, which was built in 1799, making it the oldest of the city’s arcades.

Look out for the ornate clock, smart geometric tiling and old-fashioned wooden store fronts as you stroll through the Passage du Jouffroy. This walkway is also home to a small wax museum, established by cartoonist Alfred Grévin and Le Gaulois newspaper founder Arthur Meyer in 1882.

Last but by no means least, the Passage Verdeau is packed with antique stores and vintage curiosities. This is where, beneath a towering canopy of iron and glass, you can pick up antiquarian books, prints, paintings, photos and more.