Into the Local Market: Marché d'Aligre Tour

Nothing tells you more about a place and its people than a local market. Bursting with energy, colourful and vibrant with the fresh smell of produce. These are the places to discover. Marché d'Aligre is Paris’s daily market, a tourist secret to most. But with a guide on hand, it's a secret no more! You’ll explore the stalls, meet the owners, and sample the food. The real Paris? Most definitely. You’ll be entering a different side of Paris as you head into the dynamic, colourful Parisian market. For two hours you’ll see stalls overflowing with gorgeous products from spices, nuts and tapenades to flowers, poultry and North African harissa. Add in the smell of fresh coffee from the cafes, it's a tour that plays on an array of sensations. Your guide will explain the history of the market and introduce you to the sellers, during which you’ll pause to sample and enjoy some of the speciality food. From North Africa to Asia and back to France, this is a market tour that is full of treasures waiting to be discovered.

About your guide:

For Meeting the French, touring the Eiffel tower is 'old school'. They don't herd you onto a bus and have you driven to the famous sights. Oh no, they focus on intimate and original experiences which celebrate the French lifestyle and culture, helping you to see the real Paris. The city they call home.

Here’s the plan… 

You’ll meet at 100 rue du Faubourg St Antoine, 75012 Paris, from where your guide will take you to a daily market few tourists are aware of and get to experience.

Marché d'Aligre is your destination, and for the next two hours, your friendly guide will show you around, weaving historical facts with introducing you to various stalls and their owners. You discover shops overflowing with tapenades, spices and nuts. You’ll see colourful flowers and also experience the busy flea market. If that’s not enough, you’ll even walk by stalls selling North African bread, French cheeses, chocolates (that’s got your attention) and more.

This is a tour that takes you into a vibrant atmosphere which retains a local feel. Not forgetting that during your wandering you’ll also get to sample speciality foods as you go. This is one treasure hunt where you’ll be guaranteed an award.