2008-11-04

Paris greeters

What better way to get to know a city than to be shown around by someone who genuinely loves living there? That’s the idea behind the Paris Greeters.

: Paris - Quai de Seine by Panoramas

Paris greeters are volunteers who adore their city and love showing it off to visitors. They’ll offer you walking tours of their favourite sights or areas, showing off the architecture or the history. Greeters will take groups of up to six people (including children) on a relaxed, friendly and above all personal journey through the streets of Paris. This is a new face for the city renowned for it’s distaste for foreign tourists.

Booking a greeter is easy through their webpage. Simply fill out a form at least two weeks before you are due to arrive and the organisers will attempt to match you with a guide. This is not free - the organisers ask for 10€ to cover this but you will get that back if they couldn’t find a greeter for you. While on the tour you will be responsible for paying your own public transport costs.

The greeters themselves do not accept payment or tips, however the organisation behind it does and will happily take donations to keep the concept running. It is a wonderful chance to see the French capital through the eyes of a local while not forking out for a tour with a large group doing the usual tourist traps with a blasé guide.