The Marais was swampland (its name literally means marsh) until aristocrats built grand mansions here in the 1600s, then it fell out of fashion, filled with workshops and immigrants, and emerged in the last few decades as one of the most fashionable places to walk in Paris — narrow medieval streets lined with concept stores, falafel counters, and centuries-old courtyards.
- Place des Vosges, the oldest planned square in Paris, sits at its heart — free to wander, ringed by arcades
- Rue des Rosiers is the historic Jewish quarter, still home to some of the best falafel in the city
- Most shops here open on Sundays, unlike much of Paris — useful to know if that's your only free day
- Hours
- Neighborhood always open; individual shops typically 11:00–19:00
- Price
- Free to wander
- Tip
- Go on foot and get intentionally lost — the whole appeal is in streets too narrow for a set itinerary.
Nearby
- P Place des Vosges · square
- M Musée Picasso · museum
- C Centre Pompidou · museum