PlanetEye

Paris is best explored on foot and any decent guide book will give you a list of the sites and a little walking map. However, if you'd like to go beyond the printed word, there are companies and groups that provide a human perspective of the city, no matter what your interests.

Context Paris offers "didactic walking seminars" - special interest tours lead by docents who are professionals in the field. The tours are limited to six participants and range in price from 35 to 90 euros for the two to four hours. Tours run on a regular schedule and cover topics such as art galleries of Paris, Modernist architecture and the chocolate shops of Paris. There are also special tours that can be booked for groups only, like "Architectural Drawing Workshop" or "Grand Dining in the French Style, Four Centuries of Parisian Feasts."

Paris Walks is run by a British couple who have lived in Paris for the past twenty years. The company offers a regular weekly schedule of walks which highlight the history of certain neighborhoods in Paris, such as "The Medieval Latin Quarter", "The Village of Montmartre" and 'Hemingway's Paris". The two hour tours cost ten euros per person, and no reservations are required. In addition to the regular schedule, there are special tours throughout the year, such as the Paris Chocolate Tour, which requires advance registration. 

The mission of the Paris Walkers United is to explore Paris on foot. The group, comprised mostly of expats with a sprinkling of native Parisians, meets almost every Sunday morning at a different location in the city and walks for about two hours. Recent themes have included a walk along the Coulee Verte to the Chateaux de Sceaux and a window-shopping tour of Paris. The walks generally finish with lunch at a cafe. The walks are very informal (there's no tour guide, and you're responsible for staying with group) but are a great way to experience the city with a friendly group.