The City of Lights is known for many things; breathtaking architecture, romance, good food and a deep appreciation for culture. It's probably not a city you would normally associate with sustainability, but under the vision of city mayor Anne Hidalgo to reintroduce nature into everyday life and transform Paris into Europe’s greenest city by 2030, that is rapidly changing.
#1 Explore the city on two wheels
Paris is so beautiful you don't want to miss a minute of it - so ditch the metro crowds and taxis and instead jump on an electric scooter for an efficient, clean, and fun way to explore the city. With scooters and e-bikes on almost every corner, plenty of bike lanes, and green spaces like the Coulée Verte, you'll feel like a modern-day flâneur whizzing down postcard-perfect streets past delicious-smelling Boulangeries.
#2 Visit Nature Urbaine & have lunch at le Perchoir Porte de Versailles
The grey zinc rooftops that crown Paris' cream buildings are an emblem of the city. Now, they're becoming known for something even more surprising: urban farming. Atop Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, a stone's throw from the Eiffel Tower, the world's largest urban rooftop farm, Nature Urbaine (NU), has sprouted to life over more than 15,000 square metres, showing it's possible to grow fresh organic food right in the heart of Paris. More than 30 plant varieties grow in vertical gardens, supplying the trendy on-site Le Perchoir restaurant amongst other local eateries and hotels, while 150 community plots have been snapped up by Parisians eager to reconnect with how and where their food is grown. Visit Nature Urbaine on a guided tour, join a workshop or yoga class - and once you've worked up a healthy appetite, head to the beautiful Le Perchoir restaurant for a delicious, locally-sourced feast!
#3 Discover Radical Fashion at la Caserne
While the fashion industry as a whole might have been slow to adapt to sustainability, a brand new fashion hub in the up-and-coming 19th arrondissement of Paris is leading the revolution from within. Opened in late 2021, La Caserne is Europe's largest sustainable fashion accelerator, providing ateliers and support for eco-minded young brands to meet and grow together, studios for hire, and access to industry-leading brands, agencies and events. Visitors can attend guided tours, enjoy a meal at Ora, the super hip vegetarian restaurant onsite, and finish their time with a nightcap downstairs at La Caserne's own basement club.
#4 An electric dinner cruise on the Ducasse sur Seine
A dinner cruise down the river Seine with the lights of Paris twinkle all around you is one of the most enchanting experiences you can have in the city. Now, you can enjoy the magic in a clean, sustainable way thanks to the Ducasse sur Seine, the brainchild of renowned French chef Alain Ducasse.
His ethos is all about responsible cuisine that brings people closer — both to each other and the world around them. The Ducasse sur Seine is entirely electric, so while you're enjoying a wonderful 5-course meal with paired wines, you can also savour knowing that your luxury experience is as clean and low-emission as possible!
#5 Visit la Recyclerie
In the heart of the multicultural, vibrant suburb of Porte de Clignancourt, La Recyclerie is one of the most eclectic and cool hangout spaces in Paris.
An old railway station transformed into a thriving 'third place' (i.e. not your home or your business), La Recyclerie is one part wholesome hipster cafe, one part recycling hub, and one part education centre where people from all walks of life can connect about sustainability.
Along the old railway platform, there are urban farming and circular environmental projects to discover (along with cute animals!), while inside, the cafe is warm and inviting with a focus on local, seasonal, predominantly vegetarian soulful food. It's the kind of place you could easily lose yourself in for hours!
#6 Float above Paris in the Ballon de Paris Generali
More than just an awesome view over Paris, Ballon Generali is a floating laboratory with an important role in measuring the city's air quality each day.
While you float 150-metres above Paris with a birds-eye view of the Eiffel Tower, the tethered helium balloon analyses complex data about the surrounding atmosphere.
Every few hours, solar panels change the balloon's colour from green (good) to red (bad) so Parisians can see how good their air quality is in real time. The flight lasts 10 minutes, and once you descend we recommend spending some time in the pretty Parc André Citroën.
#7 Discover French cuisine the Veggie way
French cuisine isn't known for being vegetarian-friendly, but over the last few years a groundswell of new vegetarian and vegan restaurants have opened in Paris, proving that beautiful dining experiences and plant-based eating can go hand-in-hand. A few favourites are Abbatoir Vegetal (their famous vegan truffle risotto is delightful), Maisie Cafe for a quick vegan bite on the go, and Le Potager de Charlotte, one of the original and best vegan restaurants in Paris.
For more information: - Prepare your stay in Paris
By France.fr
The magazine of the destination unravels an unexpected France that revisits tradition and cultivates creativity. A France far beyond what you can imagine…
