Paris in Stride: An Insider's Walking Guide

by Jessie Kanelos Weiner, Sarah Moroz

A local’s treasure map to the sites where Parisians know to go to be oh-so-Parisian.

Finally, the “must-do, must-visit, must-see” travel list given to you by the Parisian friend you’ve been longing to have. Charmingly illustrated throughout, this practical guide will transport readers to the delightful sites and discoveries of Paris. Vibrant watercolors illustrate destinations including architectural marvels, gardens, historical highlights, cultural hubs, markets, food and wine favorites, and lots of little “je ne sais quoi’s” that make Paris so magical. Cultural musings, accessible histories, anecdotes, and informative details accompany the illustrations throughout, making this volume truly as practical as it is beautiful.

The book features seven specially curated daylong walking tours. Winsome watercolor maps of the “promenades” with colorful icons of suggested sites guide readers through the romantic, winding Parisian streets, passing cafés, historical sights, small galleries, outdoor markets, and the kind of authentic and timeless places that one hopes to find when imagining the city. The careful artistry, insider’s musings, and approachable readability—both visually and texturally—in this book will delight and inspire tourists and armchair travelers alike.

Genres: Travel, France, Nonfiction, Art

176 pages, Paperback

Published March 27, 2018

Reviews

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paris in Stride: An Insider's Walking Guide accompanied me on my current trip to Paris and it is a gem of a book. I really love that it isn't a typical guidebook that attempts to cram everything in, which only leaves me feeling overwhelmed. It's clear that Jessie and Sarah lovingly curated their favorite things about Paris and that makes this book shine.

The illustrations are gorgeous. They brighten up the book and make it one I know I'll reopen even after this trip is over. Sorting the places to go by walking path felt more intuitive than the usual list of things by category (of course there's a helpful index too if you still want to view by category).

The only thing about this book I would change was the type of information included about the attractions. By the end of the book, I found it a little tiresome to hear about so many dates and architects from the 18th and 19th centuries. Of course that may just be personal preference and it didn't detract from my enjoyment.

If you're looking for a new take on Paris, it's time to get a copy of Paris in Stride.

[Jessica Marquis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know Paris fairly well, but this up-to-date, stylish guide had me wanting to walk the city again and discover the author's picks, like hidden churches or a tailor's shop-turned-coffee house. The illustrations and easy-to-read maps are a delight, and I love having a guide specifically for the piéton: no more endless metro trips if you plan right. This neighborhood-by-neighborhood approach is smart. I also appreciate how the walks start at easy-to-reach destinations such as a metro stop or the Gare d'Austerlitz.

As useful as it is pretty.

[Ann Mah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming illustrations and excellent tips. A terrific source for les bonnes adresses. A gem!

[Kathy]

A lovely little guidebook, with watercolor illustrations. Review to come after my trip. (I may use this as my travel journal.)

[untitled lullaby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this before going to Paris and I love the art. Made me excited

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect accompaniment when you want to experience Paris as un flâneur — it changed the way I approached exploring the city this time around. Between the illustrations and the gems of information shared, even aspects of how to peruse les marchés — highly recommend!

[Wren · Rating 2 out of 5]

I might not be the right personality type for this kind of "guide." I found the illustrations to be just cute -- not actually helpful. If I have to search for pictures of the location illustrated in the book to triple-check that I'll actually recognize it on a trip, what's the point? And the illustrated maps?! Ugh, hard pass. What made this readable to me were the nuggets of "insider" tips throughout the book, like "How to boulangerie" and "How to handle the cheese counter." I wish there had been more of those.

[Stampie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute - has a lot of niche locations (including restaurants and bars)
Not as interesting or as useful as I was hoping for based on reviews I’ve read. Maybe a good recommendation for someone about to move / relocate to Paris?

[Grace · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't have the patience to use it properly in Paris. You need to bring a supplemental map since getting lost in Paris is mandatory. Will try it again on a future trip.

[Phyllis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book - I will be using this as my first resource on my next trip to Paris. In addition to being a cute little book with several watercolor illustrations on every page, it is full of ideas and suggestions for things to do and see. The book is divided by neighborhoods (arrondissements) and describes a variety of less touristy activities in each area. In addition to the shops, the churches, the museums, bars and restaurants, there are plenty of insider tips on what to do and where to go for specific interests - art, fashion, shopping, architecture, music, parks....This goes beyond a tourist tome, and includes French history, how to boulangerie, and things to do with kids. I would start with this book and then use a current resource (the internet?) for confirmation of hours, details, etc.

And even though some shops, bars and restaurants may change/close in the next few years, the bulk of the content provides info about historic buildings, architecture, museums, and other long-time classic spots that I know will still be there when I next visit.

The only complaint I had was the misinformation about famous historic book shop Shakespeare and Company. It is well-known that this literary institution was a 1920s expat hangout founded by American Sylvia Beach in 1919 and frequented by writers such as Hemingway, Ezra Pound, James Joyce, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Gertrude Stein. It closed in 1941 during the German Occupation in WWII. Author Sarah Moroz only refers to the reopening of the bookstore in 1951 with a new owner. That's not the reason it is a "veritable pilgrimage point for writers and readers." I wanted to dock the review a star for this glaring omission, but the rest of the book makes up for it so I still gave it 5 stars.

[Pam Cipkowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I visited Paris on a school trip more than 30 years ago, and while I felt no great affinity for the city then, I now recognize that I may have just been overwhelmed and experiencing a bit of culture shock, because I enjoyed walking most other European cities we visited. Lately, I’ve read a few books extolling the pleasures of walking Paris’s streets (see my reviews for Flaneuse by Lauren Elkin and Alone Time by Stephanie Rosenbloom), and have felt a renewed interest in the city, so when I saw this little tome with its cute little watercolor illustrations, I was intrigued. It’s not a typical travel guide—few if any hotel or lodging listings—and is definitely geared more to walking the city and it’s various arrondissements, or districts. The entries for the various cafes, boutiques, bookstores, museums, bakeries, and parks are short and interesting enough to enable you to read the guide straight through. The authors highlight less touristy sites, and you get a taste for the “personality” of each arrondissement. I’d definitely take this guide along with me if I were to revisit Paris and had time to spend walking the city.

[Kristin Bodine Pepe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I particularly like how this book goes beyond the basics looking for interesting finds on a walking tour of Paris. I like that each neighborhood section provides you with a suggested route and spots to hit all along the way. I will be visiting some of these spots and will let you know if they are deserving of the hype- I’m a little wary that some of the places are not going to be what I had in mind. Some of the places mentioned have already closed down- probably because the authors chose small boutique-ey places and not anywhere super famous or popular. I wish the book gave some of idea of how child friendly places were in the book. In general I loved the illustrations- but as I was reading the book I was pulling stuff up on Google maps- and a few times I realized I must have been looking at the same picture the illustrator drew from- bc every detail was exact, leading me to believe the illustrator drew from Google maps photos sometimes and not her own photos or from life. It didn’t ruin it for me but was just surprising.

[Lisa Carlson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Franco-American illustrator and journalist Jessie Kanelos Weiner, Sarah Moroz provide a necessary tour of Paris which is captured in a handbag size, under 200 page beautifully illustrated book. If I was going to Paris I'd bring this along as it's a view of the romantic city by two women who go beyond the usual tourist destinations. It provides both a historical and interesting account of places with the arrondissements as they are encountered by walking. The authors also give relevant advice on some common French subjects; markets, bread and cheese. I would also advise to buy at least 500 euros from your bank well before your planned trip as the places offered to exchange in Paris are very expensive. It's good to have on hand to tip the smaller establishments you may encounter.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightfully illustrated guide to hidden (and some not-so-hidden) spots around Paris, both for those who are brand new and those who have dearly loved the city for quite some time. I follow the illustrator (an American in Paris, who is now officially French) on Instagram and bought this guide for friends who are fellow Paris lovers. And then I was tempted into speed-reading it before shipping it off to them. Although I didn't get a chance to actually take the walks suggested in the book, and while the book does not cover every neighborhood (it is not meant to be comprehensive), it still sparked much joy, curiosity, and anticipation for the next time I explore the City of Lights.

[Katya · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lovely, whimsical little guide to Paris!

This guidebook doesn't try to be all things to all people and cover everything there is to do in Paris - that would be impossible. Instead, it highlights some heavy-hitters and some sleeper hits through a series of neighborhood walks. The format is just right to pop into a carry on for your trip, and the guide is very accessible. I particularly enjoyed the sweet watercolor illustrations.

When you're tired of serious travel guides stuffed full of opening times and admission prices, pick up this pocket guide for a fresh and local take on the City of Lights.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

An almost $30 price tag for this pocket-sized paperback is an absurd price, and I find it hard to believe it won’t limit sales. That said, there is a lot of great info stuffed inside this small package. The charming drawings will help fuel your hunger for a trip to Paris. The suggested walks and stops cover everything from eating, shopping, sights and whatnot, and honestly, I couldn’t find a spot to skip in the bunch. I even found a few places that were new to me and I’m a frequent Paris visitor. The book does lean high-end, but there’s definitely something unique for every traveler. I’d highly recommend at half the cover price.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessie Kanelos Weiner and Sarah Monoz take readers on seven special walks encompassing most of the 20 arrondissements that make up Paris. The two Americans know the city well and provide comments on sites that many tour books might skip. Walkers who follow their routes will encounter famous museums or buildings, but the plotting ensures that walkers will also rub shoulders with Parisians rather than tourists at several spots along the way.

Delightful watercolors enhance each page, as does the occasional bon mot. This is a book worth packing if you're heading for Paris. It's design also encourages marginalia. What better souvenir than your own words?

[Precious · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is full of pretty illustrations and will definitely inspire you to take up watercoloring as a hobby. Maybe even set up a portable studio and paint by the river Seine?

With that said, this book is not meant to be a practical tool for navigation. You must read the book before getting to Paris, pick your favorites and then plot them in Google Maps. It's definitely not a book you refer to while walking through the streets of Paris (as the title suggests).

[Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It's a very digestible guide for different neighborhoods that hits some of the main tourist spots while giving a lot of info on small shops, restaurants, and architectural details. When I finally get back to Paris, this will be coming with me.

Bonus points for mentioning two shops that sell zines!

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

The reason for my rating is that I read this years after it was published, and some points of interest were no longer there when I googled them.

The guide avoids the more famous landmarks in Paris, giving you a more off the beaten path adventure in Paris. It’s well laid out with cute illustrations.

The information just wasn’t what I wanted but may be want you would like.

[E · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty painted illustrations and interesting concept. For 2020 seems ridiculous to try and follow a walk via a book - feels like there should be a GPS oriented map you can use on your phone to make it worthwhile taking with you.

[Mary Wherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A darling little guide to Paris walks off the tourist path. Perfect for those on return trips looking for something new. The brightly colored illustrations and maps are a perfect accompaniment to the text.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taking with me - will put it to work and report back.
Love the drawings.

[Lulu · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming guidebook filled with pretty illustrations of Paris and lots of suggestions for off-the-beaten-path places to visit.

[Hilary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recommendations outside the normal tourist spots, with beautiful watercolor illustrations.

[Lindsay Heller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute little guide of walking tours in my favorite city on the planet. They included sites, eats, and not to be missed shops. The pretty watercolor illustrations were a nice touch.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

i didn't like what they focused on vs what they excluded from the narrative. but the drawings were cool.

[Gretchen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty little guide book suggesting unusual points of interest. I covered most every thing I wanted to see on my trip there but just fun to learn about others.

[Jennine (Cheska) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Obsessed with the illustrations - they're gorgeous.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very dreamy guidebook full or hidden gems and local favorites, it it very endearing and I especially love that it is all based around different meandering walking paths through the city.