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France

Independent Paris: People, Places, Culture

Program No. 10034RJ
Celebrate the grand culture of Paris on expert-led walks and independent excursions, reveling in architecture, world-class museums, famed cuisine and traditional open-air markets.

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Price will update based on selection
Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Mar 23 - Mar 31, 2024
Starting at
2,649
Filling Fast!
Apr 13 - Apr 21, 2024
Starting at
2,649
May 4 - May 12, 2024
Starting at
2,649
May 10 - May 18, 2024
Starting at
2,899
May 18 - May 26, 2024
Starting at
2,899
Jun 1 - Jun 9, 2024
Starting at
2,899
Jun 8 - Jun 16, 2024
Starting at
2,899
Jul 6 - Jul 14, 2024
Starting at
2,799
Sep 7 - Sep 15, 2024
Starting at
2,899
Sep 20 - Sep 28, 2024
Starting at
2,999
Oct 5 - Oct 13, 2024
Starting at
2,899
Oct 12 - Oct 20, 2024
Starting at
2,899
Nov 2 - Nov 10, 2024
Starting at
2,499
Dec 7 - Dec 15, 2024
Starting at
2,499
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Mar 23 - Mar 31, 2024
Starting at
3,439
Apr 13 - Apr 21, 2024
Starting at
3,439
Filling Fast!
May 4 - May 12, 2024
Starting at
3,439
May 10 - May 18, 2024
Starting at
3,889
May 18 - May 26, 2024
Starting at
3,889
Jun 1 - Jun 9, 2024
Starting at
3,889
Jun 8 - Jun 16, 2024
Starting at
3,889
Jul 6 - Jul 14, 2024
Starting at
3,759
Sep 7 - Sep 15, 2024
Starting at
3,889
Sep 20 - Sep 28, 2024
Starting at
4,049
Oct 5 - Oct 13, 2024
Starting at
3,889
Oct 12 - Oct 20, 2024
Starting at
3,889
Nov 2 - Nov 10, 2024
Starting at
3,199
Dec 7 - Dec 15, 2024
Starting at
3,199

At a Glance

From a table at a street-side cafe near the Sorbonne, you watch students excitedly discoursing, mothers shepherding children along the sidewalk, the life of a Parisian neighborhood unfolding before you. It’s just one moment in your independent exploration of the Paris behind the postcards. Stroll the grand boulevards, meet local experts who illuminate the city’s most marvelous treasures, compare the city’s diverse quarters and savor every new experience that crosses your path.
Activity Level
Let's Go!
Walking up to five miles per day. Extensive use of the Paris Métro system, often accessed by stairs. Activity level is based on included program elements. You may enjoy a more leisurely version of this program, "Paris at a Slower Paris: Art & Culture in the City of Light" (#22235).
Independent City Discoveries
Independent City Discoveries
Learn with a Group Leader and enjoy educational programming while also getting substantial independent time to explore on your own. Most Independent City Discoveries include lectures, self-guided excursions and passes for public transit and museums.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Be introduced by a local Road Scholar expert to life as a Parisian and explore the center of Paris.
  • Examine and discuss the art of Paris at museums, gardens and an open-air market.
  • Enjoy free time for independent discoveries or follow the Group Leader to intriguing corners of the city.

General Notes

Included in the program: Seven nights hotel accommodation, Métro and museum passes, all breakfasts, some lunches and dinners, escorted activities and optional field trips. Current Events in Paris: Due to the fire at Notre Dame, the cathedral is closed to visitors. Road Scholar programs that visit île de la Cité will be able to see the outside of the cathedral, but we will not be able to go inside.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Paris Noir: African Americans in the City of Light
by Tyler Stovall
A history of black Americans who settled in Paris, France, from 1900 to the present.
A Traveller's History of Paris
by Robert Coles
A fast-moving, short survey of French history with a focus on Paris from its foundation, through the heady days of revolution and up to modern times.
Paris Pratique Par Arrondissement
by Atlas Indispensable
This pocket atlas contains detailed maps of every neighborhood in Paris, as well as details about bus and metro stops.
Lonely Planet French Phrasebook
by Marie-Helene Girard, Anny Monet
This handy phrasebook focuses on pronunciation, basic grammar and essential vocabulary for the traveler.
The Food & Wine of France: Eating & Drinking from Champagne to Provence
by Edward Behr
Behr seeks out the best of French food, in encounters from Champagne to Provence, to tell the stories of French artisans and chefs who work at the highest level. He shares what he learns from these experts on French traditions and how to best enjoy this food.
Murder in the Marais
by Cara Black
Literate and thrilling, with a strong sense of the geography and flavor of Paris, the first in a series of mysteries starring Aimee Ledoc shows off the French-American detective's wit and wile. The series continues with Murder in Belleville (FRN562), Murder in the Sentier (FRN563) and many more.
How Paris Became Paris: The Invention of the Modern City
by Joan DeJean
A captivating history of the growth, design, and planning of Paris, telling the story of how the modern city came to be.
The New Paris
by Lindsey Tramuta
Move past the clichés and learn about what makes up Paris today. Explore the open-minded sensibility, diverse populations, and hidden corners of The New Paris.
The Flaneur: A Stroll through the Paradoxes of Paris
by Edmund White
A 'flaneur' is a stroller, a loiterer, someone who ambles through city streets in search of adventure and fulfillment. Edmund White, who lived in Paris for sixteen years, wanders through the streets and avenues and along the quays, into parts of Paris virtually unknown to visitors and indeed to many Parisians.
F is for France: A Curious Cabinet of French Wonders
by Piu Eatwell
An alphabetized catalogue of quirky French culture and history tidbits.
The Hotel Majestic
by Georges Simenon
The most famous fictional detective in France, Maigret, tackles a case in the heart of Paris.
The Most Beautiful Walk in the World, A Pedestrian in Paris
by John Baxter
Australian critic and writer Baxter draws on his second career as a literary tour guide in his adopted city for this witty memoir, laced with terrific tales.
A Moveable Feast
by Ernest Hemingway
A treasure for anyone interested in Parisian cafe society and its luminaries circa 1925. Hemingway includes sharp portraits of Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ford Maddox Ford and others who idled on their way to greatness.
Markets of Paris
by Dixon Long & Marjorie Williams
An in-depth guide to the best markets in Paris. Dive into the heart of French culture and navigate the markets like a local with maps, tips, and handy phrases.
My Life in France
by Julia Child
The touching and famous story of Julia Child in France, where she learned to cook and fell in love with French cuisine, all in her own words.
The Secret Life of the Seine
by Mort Rosenblum
After losing his Paris apartment, Rosenblum, a born storyteller, takes to a houseboat moored on the Seine. The result is this entertaining tour of the places and people he encounters during his explorations along the river.





Important registration tip:
If you want to attend the live lecture, please do not wait until the last minute to enroll.
If you enroll after a lecture is complete, we’ll send you a recording of the event.