Discovering Paris on Foot: The GR75 Trail
When most people think of Paris, they picture the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, or a leisurely stroll along the Seine. But few realize that Paris also offers a unique long-distance hiking experience: the GR75. Unlike the rugged mountain paths of the famous GR20 in Corsica or the GR10 across the Pyrenees, the GR75 offers an urban adventure, a 50-kilometer loop around the city, blending nature, history, and architecture in one unforgettable walk.
What is the GR75?
A GR stands for ‘Grande Randonnée’, which means ‘long-distance hiking trail’. The GR75 is also known as the ‘Boucle de Paris’ or ‘Le Sentier des Jeux’ (The Games Trail). Created to celebrate the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, it roughly follows the Paris city limits (the Boulevard Périphérique), passing through parks, green spaces, and lesser-known neighborhoods. Here’s a map with the full route.
It offers a completely different perspective of the city, far from the usual tourist spots. The trail allows walkers to explore a more authentic, everyday Paris, revealing hidden gems that even many locals have never seen. Some of the highlights the urban hike takes you include the Bois de Boulogne and Bois de Vincennes, the Bibliothèque François-Mitterrand, the Paris Philharmonic and the Cité Universitaire.
Best time to do it
Technically, you can tackle the GR75 any time of year. But if you’re ambitious enough to do the whole thing in one day, aim for a sunny, not-too-hot day close to June 21, when daylight is your friend. Since you’re never far from civilization, you can pack light: comfortable shoes, water bottle, power bank (especially those of you with iPhones, iykyk), and a few Euros for meals and coffee stops. The official starting point is at Porte de la Villette. But since it’s a loop, you can pretty much jump in wherever it suits you — near your hotel, a metro station, or wherever the mood strikes.
I managed the full loop in about 12 hours, including two hours of breaks, but I walk fast, have a stubborn streak, and a questionable relationship with endurance challenges. Most people sensibly break it into two or more days, leaving room for spontaneous detours, boulangerie (and wine) breaks, and non-hurried exploration. Honestly, that’s the whole point.
Why Walk the GR75?
Paris is so much more than its postcards, and the GR75 is your backstage pass to the city locals actually live in. But if you really want to level up, let us build you a custom itinerary packed with low-key wine bars, tucked-away bistros, under-the-radar boutiques, and those blink-and-you’ll-miss-it places where Parisians actually hang out. The kind of spots you won’t find on a Google list.
