Hello all...I've been reading so many posts on this forum that have helped me plan my first trip to Paris at the end of April, so let me start with "thank you."
A lot of posts are about making sure you have comfortable walking shoes. I understand the need but it seems as though it is being over emphasized for trips to Paris.
My husband and I in our early 30s, in good shape, have been to Spain (Madrid, Sevilla, Granada), London, Italy (Rome, Venice, Florence) and didn't seem to have problems with the walking then. Will be walking more in Paris than we have in these other cities? Just want to prepare myself and him. Thanks (sorry if this seems like an inane question)

Obviously you can walk as little or as much as you please, but 10 miles or more per day is not unusual for me anywhere. I don't think there's a reason that Paris should cause you to vary from your usual walking routine compared to other cities, other than that it, like the other cities, is a very interesting place to walk.

I am not sure you will be walking more in paris than in the other countries you visited, but it is definately a difference from walking in the US.

For example, in London, many of the tube stations at least have an esculator. Not in Paris! Oh no! You have to walk up stairs to walk down a hall to walk then down stairs and be at a new platform.

For me, I did tons and tons of walking in Paris and didn't take any buses, just the metro.

I say just have good water and good shoes and stop frequently for a nice glass of wine when you can!

Have a great time!

I think Paris is a great walking city. We walked everywhere---it is one of the pleasures of going there. You can plan routes along the grand boulevards (nice wide sidewalks, unlike Florence), through the Tuilleries, across bridges, or down little narrow streets---and explore. Just get a good map.

It's just like any vacation in a city.

Except for the joy of it - there's no reason to walk any further in Paris than anywhere else. (We tend to walk places in Paris we might do the tube i London).

But I think the advice s aimed primarily at people who live in the suburbs - or small cities where people drive - and the most walking they usually do is the length of the mall - they're just not used to walking several miles per day as a matter of routine.

We routinely walk 5-10 miles a day in Paris - probably more than in any other city. London is so big, we tend to take the tube; Seville, Granada, Florence, Venice, smaller and shorter distances. Only in Rome, because its transit system is not as good as some, do we tend to walk as much as in Paris. I would recommend good walking shoes for all of these cities, not just Paris.

you will do yourself a favor by learning a few buses that go by the sites or back to your hotel area.
sometimes you can walk for BLOCKS (at least it seems so) underground in tunnels to get to some of the metro tracks.

From the perspective of far more years than you have, I would advise that it is never too early go give attention to having good shoes.

I know young people can get around in misfit and dysfunctional shoes. They can also wear headphones with the volume so high the sound comes out their nose. But such things do damage that, over the years, will bring regret, as they limp through their fifties with a hearing aid and tinnitus.

So I think it is always good advice to urge that someone who will be doing some walking get suited shoes that not only fit, but give proper support. I think its particularly good advice for women, who may be habituated to wearing high heels, with their toes crammed into a stylish point.

I did walk further in Paris than in some other cities, but that is because it is so lovely and I wanted to see it all. Also because it is BIG... you could walk all of Venice and you'd still be in central Paris (if you get my drift).

Paris itself is a few miles across and is roughly oval in shape. The very high density of the city, its overall aesthetic appeal, and its abundance of interesting sights make walking in the city one of the best ways to see it. This is why walking is important in Paris; and since the best way to see the city is by walking through it, a lot of walking is usually involved in any visit to Paris.

By extension, this means that you need really good walking shoes to walk in Paris. Shoes that feel fine for a mile or two may still have you in agony after ten miles.

As a working figure, consider that I usually walk 6-11 miles with visitors over the course of a single day, and that's with regular use of the Métro to avoid long distances. However, my record is 21 miles in 14 hours with one visitor who happened to be a very dedicated walker—we crossed the city several times on foot that day.

It's possible to see the city with significantly less walking if you have mobility problems, but it will take a very long time to see all the sights, and some points may simply be inaccessible. For example, to see the Luxembourg Gardens or P&egrave;re Lachaise, you <i>must</i> walk.

I agree with all of the other posters. Paris is a city that is made for walking. In fact if you didn't walk it you would miss alot of the subtleties of the city. When I go to P aris I usually eat like a horse and always end up losing 5-10lb just because of all of the walking that I did. Have a great time.

thanks for the replies. i appreciate everyone's insight.

Walking and getting lost on a walk is fun in Paris, you happen upon things you might not have seen.

The walking is probably about the same as in Italy and London (never been to Spain). Just make sure you wear comfortable shoes or boots. My boots came in handy for the rainy weather.