Paris WW2 Walking Tour: Gestapo, Resistance & Liberation Sites

Where the Gestapo Held Paris: A Walking Tour Through Occupation & Resistance

You walk through Nazi-occupied Paris with a WW2 specialist, visiting Gestapo headquarters on avenue Foch, German propaganda sites on the Champs-Élysées, and liberation landmarks including bullet holes at Place de la Concorde. The tour ends at Le Meurice, where a German general's refusal to destroy Paris changed the city's fate. Four hours, private guide, no transport logistics to arrange.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Paris under German occupation

• Visit avenue Foch Gestapo offices
• Learn about resistance fighter arrests
• See Carl Heinrich von Stulpnagel's residence
• Discover Operation Walkyria involvement
• Walk down avenue des Champs Elysées
• Identify German-frequented restaurants and cafes
• End tour at Place de la Concorde
• Notice liberation bullet holes
• Learn about Von Choltitz and Paris' fate

The experience

Avenue Foch doesn't look like the center of Nazi terror, but that's what it was. The Parisians who lived through the occupation called it avenue des Boches, the avenue of the Germans, because the Gestapo offices sat right there, and people knew what happened inside. Your guide walks you through the streets where this happened, pointing out the buildings, the cafés the occupiers favored, the places where resistance fighters were arrested. It's a four-hour private WW2 walking tour through Paris from 1940 to 1944, and it doesn't soften the history.

You'll stand on the Champs-Élysées, which the Germans used for propaganda parades and displays. Your guide explains how the occupation shaped daily life, which restaurants the officers took over (Fouquets, Maxim's), how the city was divided between collaboration and resistance, what it meant to live under curfew and rationing. Then you move through to Place de la Concorde, where you can still see bullet holes in the stonework from August 1944, when Paris was liberated. The tour ends at Le Meurice hotel, where General von Choltitz made the decision that may have saved the city. He refused Hitler's order to burn Paris and destroy its monuments. That refusal changed everything.

The guide is a specialist in both Paris history and the WW2 period, so the details aren't surface-level. You'll hear about specific resistance fighters like Pierre Brossolette, about Operation Valkyrie and von Stulpnagel's role in it, about the Jewish round-ups and the conditions people endured. It's heavy material, but it's told with the kind of precision that makes history stick. The walk covers maybe two or three kilometers over the four hours, so there's time to absorb what you're seeing and ask questions.

What’s included

• Your four hours include a professional guide who specializes in Paris history and the WW2 occupation period. You'll walk through the city visiting avenue Foch (former Gestapo headquarters), the Champs-Élysées, cafés and restaurants used by German officers, Place de la Concorde with its liberation-era bullet holes, and Le Meurice hotel. The guide provides the historical context and details.
• you arrange your own transport to the starting point.

Information

Lasts 3h, runs every day at 09:30, from € 310 per person, with live guides in 5 languages, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:30

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (2 to 17 years): free

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by AWESOME GUIDE

Is this one for you?Right for anyone who wants to understand this period of Paris history with someone who knows it deeply, without the logistics of finding sites on your own or wondering if you're standing in the right place. The private format means the guide can adjust the pace and depth to what you want to know.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

4 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 17 years): free.

How long is the WW2 walking tour of Paris?

Four hours. The walk covers a few kilometers at a moderate pace with time for the guide to explain each site in detail.

What's included in the tour?

Professional guide service. Entry fees to attractions are not mentioned. The tour focuses on exterior sites and streets you can access on foot.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the meeting point?

Yes. The tour is a walking tour through Paris. You'll need to get to the starting point. Public transportation is available nearby.

What's the physical fitness requirement?

Moderate. You'll walk a few kilometers over four hours at a steady pace, with stops to listen and observe. Service animals are allowed.

What's the group size?

It's a private tour, so it's you and your group with the guide. The exact maximum group size isn't stated. Check when booking.

Can I book this tour last-minute?

Availability depends on the guide's schedule. Private tours usually need advance notice. Contact the operator to check.