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Top 10 gastronomic tours in Paris

Paris is considered by many to be the world capital of gastronomy. If you are in Paris you can discover the marvellous dishes of French cuisine by taking a gastronomic tour, your palate will thank you forever.

Verónica Álvarez

Verónica Álvarez

10 min read

Top 10 gastronomic tours in Paris

Hombre de servicio organizando una mesa | ©Gayot

1. Gastronomic tour of Paris: French gastronomy and history

Street with restaurants| ©photoserge.com
Street with restaurants| ©photoserge.com

Paris is home to some of the best restaurants in the world, many of them awarded with Michelin stars. Before visiting some of the best restaurants in Paris, I recommend that you take a gastronomic tour to get an insight into the gastronomic culture of Paris. On this tour you will be able to choose between two tour options, the Latin Quarter in the morning or Montmartre in the afternoon.

Your guide specialised in gastronomy will organise this tour in small groups and will take you to the best places. He will tell you the history behind the culinary habits of France and also the secrets of how to preserve products. This tour includes tastings in the price. The tour can be extended according to the interests of the group. Take the opportunity to ask any questions you want to know, your guide will be happy to answer in English!

Interesting details of this tour

  • Price: around 104 euros per person
  • Duration: 3 hours
  • Means of transport: the tour is on foot
  • Advantages of this option: it is in Spanish and the tastings are included
  • Disadvantages of this option: it can be tiring if you are not used to walking a lot.

2. Private gastronomic tour with tasting of French products

People at the shop counter| ©auhres
People at the shop counter| ©auhres

If you have always dreamed of tasting the real tapenade of Provence or macarons made by Parisian professionals, this is the ideal tour for you. You will be able to taste 10 ex libris of French gastronomy, the 10 tastings are included in the price! This tour is private, only you and your group will participate, so you will have the guide only for you, so you can make the most of the visits. The guide also speaks Spanish, so you'll feel at ease.

Interesting details of this tour

  • Price: around 125 euros per person
  • Duration: 3 hours
  • Means of transport: it is a walking tour
  • Advantages of this option: the 10 tastings are included, it is in Spanish and there are vegetarian options
  • Disadvantages of this option: if you don't like walking, three hours can be exhausting.

3. Paris Prestige: Gastronomic tour in Saint -Germain-Des-Prés

wines for sale| ©anthsnap!
wines for sale| ©anthsnap!

This tour starts next to the oldest church in Paris, the Church of Saint-Germain-Des-Prés. On this tour, meticulously planned by your guide, you will taste the best dishes of French cuisine and taste an excellent wine in the cellar owned by one of the most famous French chefs.

On this tour you will meet the artisans behind each dish and you will be able to ask all the questions you want and you will be taken to a secret place where the best cheeses come from, which you can only access with this tour. From appetizers, to wine, to food and dessert, everything is designed to give you a taste of the best of French cuisine.

Interesting details of this tour

  • Price: around 94 euros per person
  • Duration: 3 hours
  • Means of transport: it is a walking tour
  • Advantages of this option: the tastings are included in the price, it is in Spanish and you get access to exclusive places available only on this tour.
  • Disadvantages of this option: the length of the walk can be tiring

4. Gastronomic tour of the Marché d'Aligre in small group

woman showing cheese board| ©Heather Cowper
woman showing cheese board| ©Heather Cowper

This gastronomic tour takes place in the famous Aligre Market in the 12th arrondissement of Paris. You'll get to see this vibrant market live and talk to the vendors while sampling local delicacies. You will taste 5 types of cheese, 5 kinds of chocolate and two varieties of wine, all included in the price.

You can get to the Market by bus, metro, car or taxi, from anywhere in Paris, as the Place de l'Aligre (where the market is held) is a stop or stops close to different bus and metro lines. All you have to do is choose the lines or combinations that have the Place d'Aligre as a stop.

You can also buy products to take back home, such as spice mixes and handmade chocolates that can only be found at this market.

Interesting details of this tour

  • Price: around 70 euros per person
  • Duration: 2 hours
  • Means of transport: it is a walking tour
  • Advantages of this option: cheese, chocolate and wine tastings are included in the price. It is in English.
  • Disadvantages of this option: it is only done inside the market.

5. Gastronomic tour of Le Marais with a local guide: private and personalized

Night in the streets of Paris| ©Carlos Pinho
Night in the streets of Paris| ©Carlos Pinho

On this tour, after booking, you will be sent a questionnaire about your preferences in order to assign you a guide with similar tastes and organise the tour according to your personal tastes. This is a totally personalised and private tour, just for you and your group. You will walk through the Marais district of Paris, one of the most historic areas of the city and currently linked to the gay culture of Paris. You will taste products selected by your host based on your preference and enjoy 6 to 8 meals and 2 drinks which are included in the price.

Interesting details of this tour

  • Price: around 190 euros per person
  • Duration: 3 hours
  • Means of transport: it is a walking tour
  • Advantages of this option: the tastings are selected based on your preferences
  • Disadvantages of this option: based on your preferences you don't have the opportunity to try new and unknown things.

6. French bistro-style food and wine tasting tour of Montmartre

homre in front of the café| ©hannu & hannele
homre in front of the café| ©hannu & hannele

This gastronomic tour takes place in one of Paris' most iconic neighbourhoods Montmartre. You will learn about the history behind Parisian cafés and taste local delicacies. This tour is dedicated to the Parisian culture of Bistrology, and if you don't know what it is, then this tour is the one for you, so you can discover all about Parisian bistros.

You will visit some of the traditional bistros of Montmartre, while your passionate guide will answer all your questions. You will have the possibility to taste wines and delicious meals in a small group. I recommend a tour of Montmartre, even if it is not a gastronomic one, because this is a must-visit neighbourhood if you are in Paris.

Interesting details of this tour

  • Price: around 120 euros per person
  • Duration: 2 hours and a half to 3 hours
  • Means of transport: it is a walking tour
  • Advantages of this option: the tour takes place in Montmartre so you can get to know the neighbourhood while you visit the cafés
  • Disadvantages of this option: it is not a tour in English

7. Private chocolate, pastries and macarons tasting tour in Paris Saint-Germain

smiling man with chocolate| ©Ryan Mallady
smiling man with chocolate| ©Ryan Mallady

This tour is for those with a sweet tooth. You will tour the Saint-Germain area, home of the famous French football team Paris Saint-Germain, visiting patisseries and chocolate shops. This is a private tour for you and your group, with a local guide with a passion for chocolate. Paris is also a world reference point for pastry and chocolate, so you can't miss this tour if you have a sweet tooth. The Saint-Germain area is world-renowned for the quality of its pastry chefs and chocolatiers, so take advantage and ask all the questions you want. If you have any special requests, your guide will be happy to oblige.

Interesting details of this tour

  • Price: around 160 euros per person
  • Duration: 3 hours
  • Means of transport: this is a walking tour
  • Advantages of this option: the chocolate and pastry tastings are included in the price
  • Disadvantages of this option: the tour is not available in Spanish

8. Tour of Paris pastries and chocolates

child looking at chocolate| ©Danielle Voirin
child looking at chocolate| ©Danielle Voirin

This is also a tour for gourmands and you can choose between two different neighbourhoods for the tour, Saint-Germain or Le Marais. This kind of tour, where chocolate is the protagonist, is an excellent option to do with the family, the kids will love tasting all those sweet delicacies. I suggest you add all the chocolate tours to your list of activities to do with kids in Paris, your little ones will thank you for it. On this tour, besides delighting your taste buds, you will learn about Parisian culture and history from a local guide. You will be able to choose the time of the tour, two frequencies are available, in the morning and in the afternoon. Tastings of chocolates, desserts and bread are included in the price.

Interesting details of this tour

  • Price: around 115 euros per person
  • Duration: 3 hours
  • Means of transport: it is a walking tour
  • Advantages of this option: the chocolate and pastry tastings are included in the price, it is in Spanish and you have time flexibility
  • Disadvantages of this option: only chocolates and desserts are included in the tour, not savoury dishes.

Book a tour of the pastry shops of Paris

9. Paris chocolate walking tour

girls on foot in front of chocolate shop| ©Daniel Kelly
girls on foot in front of chocolate shop| ©Daniel Kelly

If your trip to Paris is all about getting to know the best of the city's gastronomy, you've probably already visited the best creperies in Paris and the best restaurants in Paris, it's time for you to delve into the wonderful world of chocolate. This walking tour will take you from the Place de la Concorde to the Opera Garnier visiting the best chocolate shops in the city, your local guide will also show you historical events of the city and give you tips on the highlights of Paris to visit. Tastings of the best Parisian chocolates are included in the price.

Interesting details of this tour

  • Price: around 80 euros per person
  • Duration: approximately 2 hours
  • Means of transport: this is a walking tour
  • Advantages of this option: chocolate tastings are included in the price.
  • Disadvantages of this option: only chocolates are included and the tour is not in English.

10. Gastronomic small group tour of Normandy from Paris

carriage parked in front of the red door| ©Ted Strong
carriage parked in front of the red door| ©Ted Strong

This tour is not in Paris, but in the Normandy region, but the transfer from Paris is included in the price and you are picked up at your hotel. It is a very complete tour and the Normandy region has a very distinct gastronomy, being home to some of the most famous French cheeses, such as camembert.

Breakfast, lunch, cheese tasting, crepes and cider are included in the tour price. The transfer is done in a minivan in groups of maximum 8 people. Tours and visits to the cider cellar and local cheese dairies are also included. If after this tour you would like to explore the Normandy region in more depth, you can book one of the Normandy excursions from Paris.

Interesting details of this tour

  • Price: around 330 euros per person
  • Duration: 10 to 12 hours approximately
  • Means of transport: the transfer is by air-conditioned minivan and part of the tour in Normandy is on foot
  • Advantages of this option: breakfast, lunch and tastings are included, plus walks around the Normandy region
  • Disadvantages of this option: the tour is not in English.

Book an excursion to Normandy

How to book a gastronomic tour in Paris

person using the tablet| ©Tima Miroshnichenko
person using the tablet| ©Tima Miroshnichenko

The best way to book a gastronomic tour in Paris is online through a company specialising in the sale of package tours. While you can book directly with the tour organiser when you arrive in Paris, this is not the best option because you risk not being able to find availability for the date you intend to do the tour. It is always better to book in advance when you are organising your itinerary to avoid having to alter your plans because of unavailability. Another important advantage of booking online is the price - the vast majority of the time, tours are cheaper if booked through tour companies because there are many promotions. In some cases you can find discounts of several euros that make you save a lot during your trip. In addition to the price, you have the advantage of being able to pay by credit or debit card when booking packages or tours through specialised online companies. However, if you go directly to the tour organiser, you often have to pay in cash.

Another of the most important advantages is that by contracting online, you can see the comments and opinions of previous customers that give you a general idea about the quality of the product you are buying, if you contract directly with the organiser, you will be buying blindly, without knowing whether or not it is a good service and you may have a bad experience without the possibility of getting your money back.

Advantages of a guided gastronomic tour

Group of tourists together| ©https://500px.com/p/oscarfhevia
Group of tourists together| ©https://500px.com/p/oscarfhevia

If this is your first visit to Paris, the best thing to do is to book a guided tour. By opting for this type of tour, you will be able to benefit from the knowledge of your guide and you will get interesting and useful information that only locals know.

This advice applies to all tours in general, be they gastronomic tours, shopping tours, historical tours, etc. Once you have had an overview from a specialised local guide, you can set off on the adventure of touring Paris on your own.