Sunday is the best day to be in Le Marais. While much of Paris winds down, the Marais comes alive — shops open, markets bustle, and the streets fill with locals and visitors alike. Here’s how to spend it perfectly.
9:00am — Breakfast at Marché des Enfants Rouges
Start at the Marché des Enfants Rouges on Rue de Bretagne — Paris’s oldest covered market, open since 1615. On Sundays it opens at 8:30am and fills up quickly. Grab breakfast from one of the stalls: the Lebanese counter does excellent mezze platters even at breakfast, the Japanese stall serves freshly made bento, and there are good French options too. Eat at the communal tables inside and watch the neighborhood wake up.
10:30am — A Walk Through the Upper Marais
After breakfast, take a slow walk through the upper Marais. The streets around Rue de Bretagne, Rue Charlot, and Rue du Perche are lined with galleries, concept stores, and independent boutiques — many of which are open on Sundays when the rest of Paris is closed. Browse at your own pace. There’s no agenda.
12:30pm — Lunch on a Terrace
Sunday lunch in Paris is an institution — longer, lazier, and more indulgent than any other meal of the week. Pick a terrace on Rue de Bretagne or Place du Marché Sainte-Catherine — one of the prettiest squares in the Marais — and settle in. Order the plat du jour, a carafe of wine, and don’t rush.
2:30pm — Place des Vosges
After lunch, walk to Place des Vosges — Paris’s oldest and most beautiful square. On Sunday afternoons it’s at its best: locals picnicking on the grass, children playing, musicians occasionally setting up under the arcades. Sit on a bench, read, or simply watch. This is what Paris is for.
4:00pm — Musée Carnavalet (Free Entry)
If you want some culture without the Sunday crowds of the bigger museums, the Musée Carnavalet — Paris’s history museum, housed in two interconnected mansions — has free permanent collection entry and is rarely overcrowded. It tells the story of Paris from prehistoric times to the 20th century through paintings, objects, and reconstructed interiors.
6:00pm — Apéro Hour
As the afternoon light softens, find a terrace and order an apéritif. The stretch of Rue de Bretagne near the market is ideal. A glass of natural wine, some olives, and the Sunday evening atmosphere of the Marais winding down is one of the great simple pleasures of Paris.
8:00pm — Dinner
Sunday dinner in the Marais is easy — the neighborhood has more restaurants open on Sundays than almost anywhere else in Paris. Whether you want a classic bistro, Japanese, Middle Eastern, or something more contemporary, you’ll find it within a 10-minute walk.
Practical Tips for a Sunday in Le Marais
- The Marais is one of the only Paris neighborhoods where most shops open on Sundays — take advantage
- Marché des Enfants Rouges gets busy after 11am — arrive early for a seat
- The big museums (Pompidou, Picasso) are open Sundays but crowded — Carnavalet is a better bet
- Staying at our Marais loft means all of this is literally on your doorstep