Tour Details
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Product Type
- Tour
- Venues
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- Marché d'Aligre
- Marché Beauvau
- Various specialty shops around Marché d'Aligre
Photos & Highlights
- Open the world of French cuisine to your children as they touch, see, and taste a variety of fresh produce, cheeses, charcuterie, and pastries.
- Engage in a family exploration of a popular local market with an expert leading the way.
Select a date
Tour Description
The sweet smell of buttery croissants tickles your nose just before you're whisked away to a kaleidoscope of colors – plump red strawberries sit next to sunshine-yellow lemons and the chameleonic shades of piney blue-green and plum dance across artichokes.
Prepare to dive into the delicious world of Parisian food markets and cafes, learning how to order and chatting with local vendors.
Begin at a bakery bursting with flaky croissants and gooey pastries before moving into one of the most popular food markets in Paris, the outdoor Marché d’Aligre and the covered market, Marché Beauvau.
Here the city comes alive with fresh produce, colorful flowers, and friendly vendors. Your expert will help you chat with the locals and provide a welcoming environment for young gourmands to learn the secrets behind the tastiest cheeses, charcuterie, and seasonal delights. Young culinary enthusiasts will lead the way in finding the ingredients needed to prepare a light family picnic.
After selecting items from the markets and shops, you’ll head to a charming Parisian corner for a small picnic. As you indulge in the flavors of Paris, your expert will share the storied history of French food markets. Children will learn how the French turned milk into butter, meat into pâté, and wheat into bread, and parents will appreciate insight into how the Parisian meal became a celebrated part of global cuisine.
- You want to see the world of French food come alive for your little one, perhaps sparking an interest in gastronomy and cooking.
- You and your family would like to experience a bit of daily French life and want help breaking through the language barrier to get the most out of visiting a local market.
- You are looking for a fun and hands-on activity for your kids during your visit to Paris and want to explore outside of the typical museums and monuments.
- Marché d'Aligre
- Marché Beauvau
- Various specialty shops around Marché d'Aligre
- Seasonal local fruits and vegetables
- Artisan cheeses
- Freshly baked goods, like croissant or traditional Italian cakes
- French delicatessen items
Additional Trip-Planning Resources
A few things that pair well with this tour:
- An empty belly and a hunger for knowledge
- A few phrases in French, like un échantillon (a sample), Qu’est-ce que vous cherchez ? (What are you looking for?), or je voudrais (I would like). Don’t worry, your expert will lead the way.
- Keep exploring with a tour through the hottest culinary trends in the Marais.
Can I participate in your small group food walks if I have food allergies?
Yes. If you have any specific allergies/intolerances please indicate these in the Notes section when you're booking and your guide will do his or her best to accommodate. Vegetarian, gluten-free, and nut-free diets can certainly be accommodated, although the shops we visit do use wheat flour and nuts in the kitchen for other items. Again, please make note of any dietary issues.
How old do the kids have to be to follow this tour?
Our Family Food Tour is designed for kids aged 3-12 years old.
Where do we meet? Where does it end?
The walk begins and ends in the 12th arrondissement near Bastille and stays within a concentrated area in the neighborhood. Your confirmation email will have the exact meeting point details along with a map.
What if it’s raining?
Tours operate rain or shine, but in the case of inclement weather, your guide will modify the tour so more time is spent indoors. It never hurts to have an umbrella on hand.
We understand that some of our valued guests may have mobility concerns, and we want to ensure you have a comfortable and enjoyable experience throughout your tour. If there are any accessibility concerns that your tour guide will need to be aware of, please let our team know at the time of booking.
Is this tour wheelchair accessible?
Marché d'Aligre is fully accessible. Please contact us to discuss in more detail your mobility concerns so that we can best advise.
Book with confidence — see Context's flexible cancellation policy here.
Where You'll Start
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42 Reviews
Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.
Rachel was a great guide- engaging with the kids while we experienced excellent food and the sights of Paris.
Rachel
Oct 27, 2024
Rachel was so informative. She brought a very personal touch to lending her expertise to teach us, in the most patient way, the art of the French food markets. The picnic as the end was superb, but mostly, we enjoyed her company and expertise. Merci Rachel!
Josh
Sep 21, 2024
Isobel was awesome as a food tour guide, and exceptionally patient with our 6,8,13 year old boys! She helped us to understand the seasonality of produce, and how to select the best fruits and vegetables. She included the boys in the fruit and veggie selection, and asked them many questions to keep them engaged the whole time. We ate the best mango and peach of our lives from the outdoor market she took us to! Isobel also chose multiple cheeses, meats, smoked salmon, and duck pâté for us to enjoy together at a picnic at the end… at a playground, so the boys could run around afterwards.
Highly recommend Isobel, and cannot say enough wonderful things about our experience on this food tour!
Ann
Jul 26, 2024
