13th Arrondissement Tours and Activities

Paris is made up of 20 arrondissements or neighborhoods, which are arranged in a clockwise spiral of ascending numbers from the 1st arrondissement in the center. Southeast of the city center along the left bank of the River Seine, the 13th arrondissement is best known as the home of Paris’s booming Asian Quarter or Quartier Asiatique.
The Basics
Less touristy than other parts of Paris, the 13th arrondissement has a rich Chinese, Cambodian, and Vietnamese community and is a great place to find Asian restaurants and shops as well as one of the largest Chinese New Year Celebrations in Europe. The 13th district has also become something of an open-air museum, with dozens of massive works of street art, and several walking tours of the district highlight these urban pieces.
Things to Know Before You Go
How to Get There
The 13th arrondissement is easily accessible by public transportation. Metro lines 6, 7, and 14 make numerous stops throughout the neighborhood. Not far from the Latin Quarter, it’s a nice walk from central Paris along the River Seine to the 13th arrondissement.
When to Get There
The less-visited 13th arrondissement is wonderful to explore any time of year. The neighborhood is particularly lively during the Chinese New Year, in January or February, when the streets fill with brightly lit lanterns and colorful costume parades. The festival features plenty of children’s activities, traditional music performances, and authentic food.
The French National Library
The 13th arrondissement is also home to the massive French National Library. Comprised of four 25-story glass towers, the library houses one of the largest collections of books in the world with well over 10 million titles. The library also contains numerous historical texts including thousands of ancient Greek manuscripts, as well as antique ceramics, coins, sculptures, and King Louis XIV’s globes.
The Basics
Less touristy than other parts of Paris, the 13th arrondissement has a rich Chinese, Cambodian, and Vietnamese community and is a great place to find Asian restaurants and shops as well as one of the largest Chinese New Year Celebrations in Europe. The 13th district has also become something of an open-air museum, with dozens of massive works of street art, and several walking tours of the district highlight these urban pieces.
Things to Know Before You Go
- The 13th arrondissement is great for visitors wishing to explore off the beaten tourist path.
- Explore the lesser-known Butte aux Cailles neighborhood to view the area’s abundant street art.
- Bring comfortable shoes and be prepared for lots of walking in this hilltop district.
How to Get There
The 13th arrondissement is easily accessible by public transportation. Metro lines 6, 7, and 14 make numerous stops throughout the neighborhood. Not far from the Latin Quarter, it’s a nice walk from central Paris along the River Seine to the 13th arrondissement.
When to Get There
The less-visited 13th arrondissement is wonderful to explore any time of year. The neighborhood is particularly lively during the Chinese New Year, in January or February, when the streets fill with brightly lit lanterns and colorful costume parades. The festival features plenty of children’s activities, traditional music performances, and authentic food.
The French National Library
The 13th arrondissement is also home to the massive French National Library. Comprised of four 25-story glass towers, the library houses one of the largest collections of books in the world with well over 10 million titles. The library also contains numerous historical texts including thousands of ancient Greek manuscripts, as well as antique ceramics, coins, sculptures, and King Louis XIV’s globes.
Address: 13th Arrondissement, Paris, France
3 Tours and Activities to Experience 13th Arrondissement
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Hidden water & secret villages: A self-guided audio tour around Parc Montsouris
1
Escape the crowds that linger on Paris’ large avenues to a neighborhood filled with bucolic scenes within the city.
On this audio tour, the local Comte de Saint-Germain will show you a side of Paris that most people don’t see. You'll wind your way through streets adorned with art nouveau mosaics around Parc Montsouris in the 14th arrondissement, to a small plaza in the 13th arrondissement that'll remind you of Provence. Along the way, he’ll tell you about Paris’ complex water system and let you in on where the city’s drinking water comes from. (Here’s a hint, it doesn’t come from the Seine River!)
Allow 1.5 hours for this walk. There are several stops, some with benches for you to rest on, and public restrooms along the way.
You can download the tour on your phone and do it at any time to enjoy virtually using VoiceMap's Continuous Play option or on-site where the GPS will guide you: just listen to the stories of diverse locals and follow the Comte’s directions.
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From
$7.68
From
$7.68

Street Art Electric bike Tour
Discover the contemporary art ,the street art.
You will see creations of famous artists in this open air museum .
You will follow the footsteps of the artist through this tour and admire their paintings on the walls of the capital.
Along with this tour , you will be attending an amazing street art workshop of one hour and a half.
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From
$72.59
Price varies by group size
From
$72.59
Price varies by group size

Murals XXL Street Art Tour
12
Learn about the neo-muralism movement as you contemplate the massive art-works painted by the greatest muralists from all over the world. How did it develop in Paris, why in this area, and what are the stories behind those walls?
This tour concentrates on pieces commissioned by Marie du 13eme arrondissement and initiated thanks to multiple galleries or projects like Boulevard Paris 13 (Galerie Itinerrance) or Seres Queridos. The official guide, an award winner, will present you some of the most influential contemporary artists like Obey, C215 or Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada. You will learn about different techniques that are being used on the streets, and hear lots of little known facts from the first hand - passionate professional who has been studying this movement, inside-out for minimum 6 years.
Combined group per event can have maximum 15 guests. Reservation is obligatory.
…More
From
$31.68
Price varies by group size
From
$31.68
Price varies by group size
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