Emily in Paris: The “Delightfully Cheesy” Walking Tour

GUILTY PLEASURES

Iknow Netflix’ Emily in Paris series is about as realistic as wearing stilettos on cobblestone streets, but that doesn’t stop me from loving the over-the-top outfits, dramatic storyline, and, of course, the ultimate leading lady—Paris.

So when I went to the City of Light this year, there was only one thing to do: take an Emily in Paris walking tour. There are a few different tours, but I was sold on the one led by an actress from the show. She was an extra in Season One, and had behind-the-scenes stories to share, which made the tour even more special.

We met at the Pantheon Square, where our tour guide—dressed head to toe in pink—welcomed us with a big smile. Right away, the tour set the tone: fun, fabulous, and a little bit extra (just like Emily herself).

Over the next 2.5 hours, we strolled through some of the show’s most iconic locations, while also soaking in the real history of Paris. Honestly, even if you’re not a die-hard Emily in Paris fan, you’d enjoy this tour. A highlight? The Emily in Paris trivia sprinkled throughout, with winners getting a macaron!

One of our first stops was Place de l’Estrapade square, home to Emily’s apartment, her favorite bakery, and Gabriel’s restaurant. As you can imagine, the real residents of this charming square aren’t thrilled with constant tourists stopping by and filming disruptions. But we nonetheless got a peek behind the scenes… Here’s a fun fact: Emily’s actual apartment scenes are filmed in a studio, not inside her famous building.

As we went along, our guide played Edith Piaf on a portable speaker and blew bubbles into the air (yes, really!). This tour was delightfully cheesy… and I was all-in for it.

We wandered past Le Champo, the classic French cinema where Emily gets her dose of Parisian culture, and then made our way to the Pont Neuf bridge, where she has a pivotal phone call with her Chicago boss about staying in Paris. We also stopped at Pont des Arts, where Mindy sings on the bridge with her band. Speaking of Mindy, here’s the juiciest scoop from our guide: the actors who play Gabriel and Mindy actually dated while shooting Season One!

Finally, we arrived at Savoir, Emily’s marketing agency, nestled in the picturesque Place des Vosges square near the Louvre. By then, I was fully immersed in my Emily in Paris fantasy, mentally composing a text to Sylvie about why I deserve a promotion. This tour was the perfect mix of the show’s magic and real Parisian charm. If you ever find yourself in Paris and want a dash of an Emily-style adventure, I highly recommend it. You can book right here.