Cultural Free Walking Tours in Paris

We had a wonderful time with Ben learning the history of Paris through snippets of Literature presented in a grounded way, never over dramatizing or polishing over uncomfortable truths of history. Plus we got book recommendations that connect us to Paris

Ben was fantastic Highly recommend

Very unique and well thought out tour. Ben is brilliant!!

Ben knows his stuff and has a very lively way to talk about all those different places and their connection to literature. Time flew by, definetly recommend!

This was such an insightful, well-researched and entertaining tour! Ben was an excellent guide and it was a delightful experience that brought the history of the city to life through literature. 10/10!

Ben's tour was great, packed with interesting information about books and their authors who lived in or visited Paris or wrote about the events happening in the city. I especially enjoyed the inclusion of feminist authors and themes, as well as some surprising facts about Academie Française. In the middle of the tour Ben offered each of us a pastry that illustrated a concept from a famous French novel (no spoilers), which I found amusing. All in all, it was an enriching tour. Now I know a bunch of fun facts that I will definitely use to pester my friends.

A Tour Worthy of the Pages of a Novel Walking through Paris with oncle Ben felt like stepping into the pages of a beautifully written story—one where the city’s literary past whispers from every cobblestone and café. With his wit, depth of knowledge, and impeccable storytelling, oncle Ben masterfully guided us through the streets, weaving together tales of writers, poets, and philosophers who once called Paris home. His humor made the experience delightfully engaging, his insights added layers of meaning to familiar sights, and his attentiveness ensured that every traveler felt like a cherished character in this unfolding narrative. From the Left Bank’s literary salons to hidden gems tucked away from the usual tourist paths, each stop was a revelation. If you love literature, history, or simply wish to see Paris through a new and poetic lens, this tour is a must. Ben doesn’t just give a tour—he crafts an experience that lingers, much like the closing lines of a great novel. Highly recommended!

This tour was spectacular! I really enjoyed it! I would recommend this to anyone visiting Paris. The guide was filled with energy and info.

Ben is an amazing storyteller who made the History and literary side of Paris come alive in such a fun and engaging way. You don’t need to be a book lover to enjoy it, just someone who appreciates a good story. Such a great way to see this gorgeous city from a different perspective. Obrigada, Ben!

This tour was a unique and fun way to get to know the city! Ben was an awesome tour guide, he took us through the city and explained some of the interesting literature tidbits associated with each location. His explanations were engaging and very easy to understand coming from someone who isn’t much of a bookworm. Thanks Ben!

I really enjoyed your tour. Lots of great information. Maybe needs to be 2.5 hours long, which would be ok.

Don’t miss it! I had a great time on this literary walking tour! Ben was super knowledgeable and had so many interesting stories (and even surprises!) that really brought the history to life! Recommended also for those who don’t read a lot but want to experience the city in the unique way!

I absolutely loved this tour, it’s probably one of my favorites that I’ve ever done. You don’t even have to know beforehand every book that Ben talks about in this tour, because he does such an amazing job at not only showing you Paris, but teaching you a little bit of everything. If you have the opportunity to do this tour, TAKE IT. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Loved this tour! I learned so much context and so many interesting facts about Paris! I had only read one or two of the books Ben talked about but that didn't matter. Plus he gave us some great restaurant and bar recommendations at the end. It was the best of times, it was the best of times!

I can't recommend it enough! It was an amazing experience to have a total different take on the city and my book lover self was so excited. Ben is very kind and patient and a great storyteller. He had some very interesting points of view and made it all very dynamic. Definitely a must do in Paris if you wanna avoid those "all the same walking tours".

Loved the tour! Ben was very entertaining and I loved hearing about Paris in this unique way. Five stars! ❤️

Ben was such a fantastic tour guide! He was incredibly knowledgeable, professional, fun and accommodating to everyone. He made sure to offer stops when needed and moved at a very comfortable pace. Loved spending the afternoon with Ben.

This literary walking tour is an absolute treasure for book lovers! Don’t worry—you don’t need a PhD in English to appreciate it. Ben’s inclusive and engaging approach makes this tour a delightful experience for everyone. He takes you on an enchanting journey through one of the world’s most beautiful cities, offering a fresh and unique perspective on Paris. With so much literature set in Paris, Ben masterfully curates works from various genres and time periods to weave a captivating narrative centered around Saint-Germain. It’s an extraordinary way to learn about the city through its literary history. Truly a memorable experience and well worth your time!

Ben was really enthusiastic and charismatic during the whole tour. It was super fun to get to know Paris through the lens of literature, specially for book lovers but not exclusive for them at all. Ben makes sure to get everyone to know the story of the novel or writer he's talking about. Thank you, Ben :) It was really nice to get to know you. Wish you the best of all lucks!

Ben was super great with our 4 year old son and made it a very interesting tour, one of the best I’ve been on. I’ve heard of most of the books on the tour but probably hadn’t read any, but now that I’ve learned about the stories and authors behind them I’m ready to get stuck into some Hemmingway. First time in Paris and loved the tour 👍

Great tour! It was a very unique way to learn about Paris, I’m not that much of a reader (the tour was my wife’s idea), but Ben taught us about the city through all the famous books from here and I was on board the whole way. Loved it! Would definitely recommend!

This was a very nice tour of the Latin Quarter. The guide was a very friendly and intelligent former Sorbonne student, who gave us a wonderful glimpse into the Latin quarter. He was happy to answer our questions and was inctinevwith the spirit of our group, mostly older people. Definitely recommennded.

Our guide was delightful. Very knowledgeable and she spoke excellent English. She told fabulous stories of the patron saints, the first church, the history of the area (she is passionate about history), including Sorbonne University (where she studied), the Roman baths, the Pantheon and other interesting places. Loved it!

Benjamin was very knowledgeable and had an easy and engaging style

Some highlights of the tour: - Philip (my tour guide) was knowledgeable and entertaining. - Lots of interesting historic facts (but not too much… I didn’t feel overwhelmed with facts). - Excellent recommendations: food, entertainment, must-see sites. - 10/10 would recommend; no notes.