A Sustainable Traveller’s Guide to Paris: 11 Awesome Eco-Friendly Things to do in the French Capital
In its mission to become Europe’s greenest capital by 2030, Paris has embraced sustainability and sustainable tourism wholeheartedly. This sustainable Paris travel guide highlights the best eco-friendly things to do on your next Paris trip!
Paris: the City of Lights, of love, of culture and tradition.
The sparkling city on the banks of the Seine is known for many things; its beautiful wide boulevards, breathtaking monuments and romantic atmosphere.
It’s probably not a city you’d naturally associate with sustainability, but that’s all about to change thanks to the vision of Anne Hidalgo, the Paris Mayor.
With a goal to transform Paris into Europe’s greenest city by 2030 and put nature back into the everyday lives of Parisians, huge change is underway in the French capital.
The two of us have flocked to the city many times, both together and separately, over the last 13+ years. But it was our latest visit in November 2021 that left us entirely gobsmacked and more than a little inspired by how much exciting progress Paris has made in the sustainable space.
Over the last few years, Paris has undergone somewhat of a sustainable revolution, a new philosophy that’s lead to a veritable explosion of new eco-friendly ways to explore the city like never before.
From urban rooftop farms and vegetarian restaurants to electric Seine cruises and radical fashion, now more than ever the conscious and curious traveller has endless options at their fingertips to enjoy the French capital responsibly.
So, in the spirit of celebrating all things sustainability in the City of Lights, here are 11 wonderful sustainable things to do in Paris for your next visit.
11 ECO-FRIENDLY THINGS TO DO IN PARIS
Our guide to the best eco-friendly things to do in the City of Lights.
ECO-FRIENDLY THINGS TO DO IN PARIS
#1 EXPLORE THE CITY ON TWO WHEELS
Paris is so beautiful you don't want to miss a single minute of it — which is why you should ditch the heavy taxi traffic and crowds of the metro and jump aboard an electric scooter or bike for a much more efficient, clean, and fun way to explore the city.
With scooters and e-bikes on almost every corner, a thousand kilometres of bike lanes, and plenty of green spaces like the Coulée Verte, you'll feel like a true modern-day flâneur as you whizz past delicious-smelling Boulangeries and down postcard-perfect streets.
On some Sundays and public holidays, streets in certain areas are closed to traffic as part of the 'Paris Respire' (Paris breathes') project. What’s more, there are also plans to transform all of the first four arrondissements into traffic-free zones in early 2022, which will mean you’ll truly have the city streets to yourself!
We used Dott Scooters during our time in Paris - download the app here
#2 VISIT NATURE URBAINE & HAVE LUNCH AT LE PERCHOIR PORTE DE VERSAILLES
The grey zinc rooftops that crown Paris' cream buildings are as much an emblem of the city as the Eiffel Tower; they've inspired the world's best painters, provided the perfect vantage point for sunset-gazing, and given the skyline of the city it's unique old-world romantic feel.
And now, they're becoming known for something more surprising: urban farming.
In 2016, the city’s mayor and government launched Parisculteurs, a project designed to repopulate over 100 hectares of the city’s rooftop and walls with vegetation - a third of which should be dedicated to urban farming.
Atop the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, just a stone's throw from the Eiffel Tower itself, the world's largest urban rooftop farm, Nature Urbaine (NU), sprouted to life in 2020. With more than 15,000 square metres and over 30 different plant varieties grown in vertical gardens, they’re showing it's possible to grow fresh, organic food right in the heart of Paris.
The urban farm supply the trendy on-site Le Perchoir restaurant amongst plenty of local eateries and hotels, while 150 community plots have been snapped up by local Parisians eager to reconnect with how and where their food is grown.
Nature Urbaine run a regular program of activities (see it here). Join a guided tour, a workshop or yoga class - and once you've worked up a healthy appetite, head over to the beautiful Le Perchoir Porte de Versailles restaurant for a delicious, locally-sourced feast!
THE DETAILS
Where | Porte de Versailles, 2 Av. de la Porte de la Plaine
When | Check Nature Urbaine’s schedule of events
#3 DISCOVER RADICAL FASHION AT LA CASERNE
It might be known as the City of Lights, but spend any time on Paris' well-heeled streets and you already know it should also be known as the City of Style.
While the fashion industry as a whole might have been slow to adapt to sustainability, a brand new fashion incubator in the up-and-coming 19th arrondissement of Paris is leading the revolution from within.
Opened in late 2021, La Caserne is Europe's largest sustainable fashion accelerator, providing ateliers and support for eco-minded young brands to meet and grow together, plus photography and design studios for hire, and access to agencies and industry-leading brands and events.
Their manifesto is to be a place where actors of change can meet to collectively imagine the world of tomorrow, and they’re making sustainability tres fashionable.
Visitors can shop till they drop at the on-site sustainable fashion boutique - where everything stocked has met a strict criteria for sustainable, ethical production and design - attend guided tours, enjoy a gourmet meal at the super hip vegetarian restaurant onsite, Ora, and end your visit with a nightcap downstairs at the La Caserne's own club.
THE DETAILS
#4 SHOP YOUR HEART OUT AT THE MANY SUSTAINABLE BOUTIQUES
Paris is known for its shopping, and its only natural to want to indulge in as much of it as possible when you’re here!
In the past few years, an explosion of eco-friendly and sustainably minded boutiques and brands has taken place all over the city. From zero waste shops and clean skincare brands to sustainable sneaker brands and a whole department store committed to environmental transparency, our visit in late 2021 really had us feeling as though Paris has adopted sustainability as a key shopping philosophy
This is particularly evident in the ever-trendy Marais district, where very cool, very sustainable boutiques selling everything from fashion and shoes to skincare and gifts are as common as the cobblestones that line many of its streets.
We’d definitely recommend spending an afternoon traipsing in and out of the boutiques — although we’re not liable for any damage to a bank card that may be incurred!
Here are some of our favourite sustainable shopping options in Paris to get you started:
Paris is known for its shopping, and its only natural to want to indulge in as much of it as possible when you’re here!
In the past few years, an explosion of eco-friendly and sustainably minded boutiques and brands has taken place all over the city.
From zero waste shops and clean skincare brands to sustainable sneaker brands and a whole department store committed to environmental transparency, our visit in late 2021 really had us feeling as though Paris has adopted sustainability as a key shopping philosophy
This is particularly evident in the ever-trendy Marais district, where very cool, very sustainable boutiques selling everything from fashion and shoes to skincare and gifts are as common as the cobblestones that line many of its streets.
We’d definitely recommend spending an afternoon traipsing in and out of the boutiques — although we’re not liable for any bank account damage that may be incurred!
Here are some of our favourite sustainable shopping options in Paris to get you started:
Veja | The cult French sneaker brand making shoes environmentally friendly and fair-trade from heel to toe. The founders, Sebastien Kopp and François-Ghislain Morillion, also founded the Centre Commercial below.
Centre Commercial | A department store with a mission to be the coolest store in the world, Centre Commercial combines ethical transparency, sustainable sourcing and a socially-based approach to bring you a stylish and hipster shopping store with a planet-friendly heart
Altermundi | With 5 locations around Paris, Altermundi is one of the best options for sourcing sustainable and ethically-produced fashion in the city. Suppliers and product origins are traceable, profits are reinvested into social projects, and they also provide work to disadvantaged and marginalised people.
Sézane | An absolute staple brand of Mim’s wardrobe these days, Sézane is an iconic BCorp certified fashion label blending bohemian style with that too-cool French girl vibe. Their clothes are heavenly, and so is their ethos and business practice. And for the men, their menswear brand, Octobre Editions is equally brilliant!
La Maison du Zéro Déchet | The 12th’s Zero Waste House is part shop, part cafe, and part workshop facilitator for all things sustainably and zero waste. Pick up some zero waste items for yourself, or head to one of their regular workshops and learn how to make them yourself!
#5 SAIL AWAY ON AN ELECTRIC DINNER CRUISE ON THE DUCASSE SUR SEINE
An evening cruise along the Seine as the twinkling lights of Paris surround you is one of the most romantic experiences you can have in the city.
Now, you can also enjoy the magic in a cleaner, more sustainable way aboard the Ducasse sur Seine. The brainchild of globally acclaimed French chef Alain Ducasse, the cruise is entirely electric and combines a luxury gourmet experience with a commitment to low-emission transport.
Clean and super quiet, the Ducasse sur Seine’s CO2 emissions are just 12g per passenger/km, compared with 146g on a traditional restaurant boat along the Seine. It’s also designed to float in harmony with its surroundings; silently navigating the river with dimmed lights, while the roof mimics the flowing water just beyond your window.
Ducasse’s gourmet ethos is all about responsible cuisine that connects people to both each other, the world around them, and where their food has come from.
The Ducasse menu navigates the French kitchen while also celebrating fresh and authentic produce, and Alain Ducasse’s source of inspiration: Mother Nature.
Gourmet lunch and dinner cruises are available, be sure to book well ahead of time as they do sell out! We enjoyed a wonderful 5-course dinner with paired wines (vegetarian menu is available - be sure to let them know when booking!) — all while savouring the knowledge that the experience was as clean and efficient as you could find along this river.
THE DETAILS
Where | 19 Port Debilly, 16th arrondissement
When | Closed Mondays & Tuesdays. Lunch and Dinner cruises available for booking
#6 SPEND AN AFTERNOON AT LA RECYCLERIE
We actually first came across La Recyclerie by accident, when making our way to Paris’ famous and bustling flea market in Porte de Clignancourt a few years ago. We’d peeked through the windows of its super cool interior, but as is often the way on a tight-packed travel schedule, we never got to make it inside.
An old railway station transformed into a thriving 'third place' (i.e. not your home or your business), La Recyclerie is one part wholesome hipster cafe, one part recycling/up-cycling hub, and one part education centre where people from all walks of life can meet and connect about sustainability.
Skipping it on our last trip was something we’d regretted ever since, so when we returned to the city for a week in late 2021, we knew that this eclectic and super cool hangout space had to be the top of our list.
Along the old railway line and platform, there are plenty of urban farming and circular environmental projects to be found (along with cute animals!), while inside, the cafe is a warm and inviting with a focus on local, seasonal, predominantly vegetarian soulful food.
The cafe particularly is the kind of space you could easily lose yourself in for hours, enjoying hearty food and a good book, or a chat with new friends. It was easily one of our favourite stops during our entire trip to Paris!
THE DETAILS
Where | 83 Boulevard Ornano, 18th arrondissement
Opening hours | Open 7 days but hours vary according to day, check before you go
#7 FLOAT ABOVE PARIS IN THE BALLON DE PARIS GENERALI
More than just an awesome view over Paris, Ballon Generali is basically a floating laboratory with an important role in measuring the city's air quality each day.
As you float up to 150 metres above the city in the world’s largest helium balloon, with a birds-eye view of the whole of Paris, the balloon is busy analysing complex data about the surrounding atmosphere, like the level and type of fine particles.
Every few hours, solar panels on the balloon change from green (good) to red (bad) according to the air quality, so Parisians can see what their air quality is in real time each day. The balloon hoisted by an electric winch, making it a super green and efficient system.
The flight time is about 10 minutes, and once you descend from your lofty heights, we recommend spending some time in the pretty Parc André Citroën, or wandering along the Seine promenade towards the Trocadero Gardens and the Eiffel Tower.
Be sure to stop by the ticket office at the foot of the balloon too, where you can see all the data reported by the sensors in real time.
THE DETAILS
Where | Ballon de Paris Generali, Parc Andre Citroen
Opening hours | 9am - 30 minutes before the park closes, every day
Tips | The balloon is particularly susceptible to weather conditions and as such may not always fly. Be sure to check their website in advance before you plan your visit!
Cost | Adults €15, children aged 3-11 €8
#8 DISCOVER FRENCH CUISINE THE VEGGIE WAY
Traditionally, French cuisine isn't known for being vegetarian-friendly. From cassoulet to boeuf bourguignon, foie gras to coq au vin, many of its most revered dishes are heavy on the meat and light on the greens.
But over the last few years, as the movement to eat less meat has grown worldwide, a groundswell of new vegetarian and vegan restaurants have opened in Paris, proving that beautiful dining experiences and plant-based eating can very much go hand-in-hand in the City of Lights.
We’ve already written a complete guide to the best vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Paris, but in the meantime, our fave spots are:
Abattoir Vegetal | With locations on both banks of the Seine, trendy Abattoir Vegetal is all about organic, tasty vegan fare — their famous vegan truffle risotto is delightful!
Maisie Cafe | Located in the 1st arrondissement, this is the perfect spot for a quick vegan bite on the go
Le Potager de Charlotte | One of the original and best vegan restaurants in Paris, with a homey feel, delicious food and wonderful service.
Le Perchoir Porte de Versailles | An honourable mention also goes to these guys, who, despite not being solely veggie, do offer beautiful vegetarian options sourced straight from Nature Urbaine next door.
READ NEXT | Our complete guide to vegan and vegetarian eating in Paris
#9 ENJOY A BEER AT PANAME BREWING COMPANY
Beer might not be the first drink that comes to mind when planning your trip to Paris... but after a visit to Paname Brewing Company we can guarantee that you’ll be thinking about their craft beer long after you’ve left the city behind!
Opened six years ago on the Canal St Martin, Paname was Paris’ first brewpub. Cool and unfussy, it’s perfectly situated overlooking the canal, and has become a super popular spot with locals in the know especially on a warm golden summer afternoon.
They’re open 7 days a week, and always have at least 5 of their own beers on tap, plus a selection of small-batch specialities.
The staff are super friendly, and it’s a great place to come and hang out with friends, enjoy the epic sunset over the canal, and sample some of Paris’ tastiest craft beers.
But what merits their place on this sustainable guide to Paris? Well, sustainability is right at the heart of the Paname practice. Leftover cereals are baked into bread in the onsite kitchen, while beer also features as a common ingredient too.
Their spent grains are sent to a company that transforms it into biogas, water from the canal is used to pump and cool product (without actually touching it) and cycled back (clean) into the canal, and a 500L tank system onsite funnels beer straight into a tank connected to the bar which saves on water, bottles and kegs normally required for transporting stock.
A few times a year, they also run an initiative where every brew sold goes towards a foundation that plants trees. So basically, the moral of this story is... drink beer at Paname, help save the world.
THE DETAILS
Where | 41 bis Quai de la Loire, 19th arrondissement
Opening hours | Open 7 days from 10am to 12-2am (depending on day)
#10 VISIT THE MANY GREEN SPACES OF PARIS
Though it’s known for its cream and slate buildings and Haussmannian architecture, Paris is also home to more than 421 green spaces, making it Europe’s most wooded capital city.
When the busy streets of the city become too much and you find yourself craving some fresh air and greenery, make haste to one of the city’s beautiful gardens. Some, like the Tuileries, most famous of them all, are easy to find, while others, like Jardin du Palais Royal, are tucked away like little pockets of paradise amongst the bustle of town. All are definitely worth your while.
Do as the Parisians do and grab some friends and picnic food, a good book, or a simple baguette, and enjoy some downtime (and people watching!) in one of the many green spaces.
Some of our fave parks in Paris are:
Parc des Buttes Chaumont
Place des Vosges
Jardin du Luxembourg
Jardin du Palais Royal
Jardin des Tuileries
Square du Vert Galant
#11 WANDER ALONG THE COULÉE VERTE
You might have heard of the High Line park in New York, but did you know that the original elevated garden promenade is actually right here in Paris?
The René-Dumont Coulée Verte (previously the Promenade Plantée) is a 4.7km-long green walking trail that carries you along the abandoned Vincennes railway line. The line, which ferried passengers from Bastille to Verneuil-l’Étang for hundreds of years, was closed in 1969, leaving nature to reclaim the space entirely.
Regenerated in 1988 and officially reopened to the public in 1993, the Coulée Verte mixes wild vegetation with beautifully landscaped gardens and has become a very popular local path. Its elevation above the city streets below gives it the feel of a quiet stroll through a lush green oasis, while also providing some beautiful views over the 12th arrondissement too.
The project was such a success that it served as the inspiration for the famous New York High Line park too, which opened in 2009.
The Coulée Verte is open every day from 8:30am and officially starts around Opera Bastille (near the Viaduc des Arts starting point), although it’s easily accessible via discreet staircases at various points along the promenade.
THE DETAILS
Where | René-Dumont Coulée Verte, 12th arrondissement
Opening hours | Open every day from 8:30am. Closing times very according to season
PARIS TRAVEL ESSENTIALS
WHERE TO STAY IN PARIS
The French capital is teeming with accommodation options, and there’s something for absolutely every budget and comfort style.
On our most recent visit, we stayed in three different hotels — check out our recommendations below!
HOTEL LOUVRE MONTANA | With views over the Louvre and Jardin de Tuileries, dreamy Hausmannian balconies overlooking a beautiful 1st arrondissement street, and some of the best interior styling we’ve ever seen, the Louvre Montana is a true Parisian dream.
Part of the Emeraude group, the recently renovated former mansion is all about luxury and comfort. The service is amazing, the breakfast delicious, and the bed conducive to one of the best night’s sleep we’ve had in a long, long time.
BOOK | Hotel Louvre Montana
HOTEL MARAIS HOME | A stone’s throw from Place de la Republique, Hotel Marais Home is another of the Emeraude group hotels and a perfect stay during your time in the city.
Rooms are spacious and luxurious — we had a duplex room with a clawfoot bathtub in the bedroom loft! — service is impeccable, and there’s a rooftop terrace with some of the best views in the city
BOOK | Hotel Marais Home
EDEN LODGE PARIS | Eden Lodge is a jungle hideaway right in the heart of the city; a true retreat from some of the chaos outside. Eden Lodge is Paris’ most sustainable hotel lodge, with a zero-carbon footprint and ecological mindset.
Built in 2015, it uses renewable energy, practices to reduce water consumption, and natural materials to create a luxury retreat. They also have a sister property in Madagascar!
BOOK | Eden Lodge
HOW TO GET AROUND PARIS
Previously, we’ve almost exclusively used the Metro to get around Paris on our visits - it’s fast, cheap, convenient, and obviously avoids the traffic that clogs Paris’ streets.
But on our recent trip, we decided to ditch the crowds of the metro and instead jump aboard an electric scooter for an efficient, clean, and fun way to explore the city.
Scooters and e-bikes adorn almost every corner of the city now, and there are over a thousand kilometres of bike lanes available to use.
Plus on some Sundays and public holidays, streets in certain areas are closed to traffic as part of the ‘Paris Respire’ (Paris Breathes) project, so you’ll have the streets to yourself!
TRAVEL INSURANCE | STAY SAFE IN PARIS
If you can't afford travel insurance, you really can't afford to travel. As the current global situation has taught many people, things can go wrong anywhere in the world - and insurance is often the only way of mitigating any issues with minimal expense or stress for you.
For all travellers | HeyMondo - COVID-19 coverage, comprehensive travel + medical insurance, an app with 24-hour medical support, and no out of pocket fees. *Get 5% off your policy ****by booking through our link here.
For digital nomads | SafetyWing - COVID-19 coverage, comprehensive travel & medical, and policies can be purchased while already abroad.
Car Insurance | Insurance4CarHire - a great annual car insurance policy
*In normal times, we recommend using World Nomads travel insurance, but unfortunately they're not currently covering COVID-19 related claims right now.
READ THESE POSTS BEFORE VISITING PARIS
VEGAN & VEGETARIAN PARIS | Our guide to vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Paris
THE BEST OF PARIS | Our favourite things to do in Paris, plus a Paris foodies guide
THE HOXTON, PARIS | Our review of the Hoxton Hotel, Paris’ hipster hotel
TRAVEL INSURANCE | Don’t leave home without travel insurance (seriously, don’t!). Click here to get the best deals with World Nomads, our trusted travel insurance provider
PHOTOGRAPHY | Love our photography? Wondering what gear we use to get all of our photos around the world?
Click here to view our detailed photography gear guide, as well as our top travel photography tips!
RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL | Responsible travel is important. REALLY IMPORTANT.
Learn our top responsible travel tips to help you, your family and friends travel more consciously around the globe
ECO FRIENDLY PACKING ESSENTIALS | Don’t leave home without our favourite eco-friendly travel essentials
EXPLORE MORE OF PARIS WITH OUR TRAVEL GUIDES
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That, and you're officially a legend.