The best Airbnb experiences in Paris

There are many walking tour companies in Paris. I have traveled to hundreds of places (I reviewed some of my favorite travel agencies in this post). Besides the formal tour, there are other things I want to do in Paris. This is the Airbnb experience.

Airbnb experiences are the holy grail of travel. It’s a unique, off-the-beaten-path route and run by locals who want to share what they love. It’s not your typical walking tour or activity led by an umbrella-toting guide. I really love Airbnb experiences. This is one of my favorite things to do in any city, and honestly, I think very few travelers do it. Every time I poll them, half usually say they’ve never heard of them!

Now I tell you about them and urge you to add them to your itinerary the next time you visit Paris. There is a huge amount of Airbnb experiences in Paris and I have probably had 20-25 of them. Here is a list of the best Airbnb experiences in Paris:

Rediscovering Jacqueline Marval

Jacqueline Marval was an Impressionist painter who hovered around Matisse, influenced Picasso, and has since been largely forgotten by history. Hosted by Paris-born curator Camille, this exclusive gallery tour showcases her family’s 40-year effort to collect Marval’s art and promote her legacy to the world. As she tours the gallery, she tells Marval’s life story and the history behind each piece. I knew nothing about Marval before, so it was really interesting to learn about her story and see her beautiful paintings. She was very talented. The experience concludes with champagne served on a secluded terrace. Overall, this is an amazing experience to learn about a forgotten artist in a beautiful setting. Camille is also well integrated into the Parisian art scene and can provide suggestions on galleries to visit and temporary exhibitions.

Taste French wine and cheese in a hidden shop

This was an amazing and intimate wine and cheese tasting hosted by Erwan, a certified expert. You can taste 6 unique French wines paired with 6 different cheeses and fresh bread in a cozy, classroom-free atmosphere. Erwan shares the story behind each bottle, making this experience both educational and enjoyable. I’ve taken many wine and cheese classes in Paris and this was one of the best. The wine and cheese are very unique and delicious. Erwan provides a detailed yet accessible overview of French wines and cheeses. He is very personable and fun and I think this is one of the best wine and cheese experiences in Paris.

French food and wine experience

If you want something a little more upscale, check out this tasting experience from Greg Marchand’s Altro Frenchie. He’s a famous chef from Chef’s Table. Start with a sparkling aperitivo on the terrace at French Caviste, before the head sommelier guides you through a tasting of three unique wines from the cellar. Then head next door for a tasting lunch curated by the chef. I think it offers a lot of value for the price. A huge tasting menu (6 courses) is served, starting with 4 glasses of wine, cheese and flatbread, followed by more wines. It’s really good value if you’re looking for an upscale food experience.

Secrets of the Tower with Eiffel’s Descendants

In this experience, we go to the base of the Eiffel Tower with filmmaker and direct descendant of Gustave Eiffel, Svin Yeatman-Eiffel, and see the building through the eyes of his family. You’ll uncover the ugly controversies surrounding the creative process and see rarely-seen family photos, sketches and heirlooms from Eiffel’s private archives. I think this is a really interesting way to learn about the Eiffel Tower. Not only do you get the historical information that all the other tours provide, but you also get an inside family perspective that you’ll never find anywhere else. (memo: We will not climb the tower on this tour.)

Black Presence in Paris: A Historical Tour

This is a great tour that teaches about the contributions of black French people, a topic not often covered in standard history walks. Host Binkady begins with the Panthéon and shares the lives of pioneers like Josephine Baker, Félix, and Eugénie Éboué who defeated Napoleon and were former slaves. Along the way, you’ll discover the influence of black women writers at the Sorbonne, then finish outside the Luxembourg Palace and hear about pioneering black leaders like Severiano de Heredia and Gaston Monnerville. I learned a lot on this tour and X is a really charming and interesting tour leader. Because he worked at the opera, he has a lot of insight into seeing performances around the city.

Inside Paris’ first microbrewery

I think this is a great experience that ticks all the right boxes. It’s a unique place (Paris’ first microbrewery) in an area of ​​the city that most tourists don’t visit, and is led by a passionate local (owner Antoine). Antoine tells his story, the story of Parisian microbreweries, their brewing process, and what they sell and why. He was charming, funny and told good stories. We also got some good beer samples. This is a 5-star experience, the kind of experience that makes Airbnb experiences so special.

There are tons of walking tours and experience options in Paris, but I think you’d be doing yourself a disservice if you don’t take part in at least one Airbnb experience during your visit. To me these are the best of the best!

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