Until the early 17th century the Île Saint-Louis was two uninhabited islets used for grazing cattle. In 1614 the developer Christophe Marie and his partners began joining them, building quays and bridges — the Pont Marie still bears his name — and laying out a regular grid of streets. Within a few decades the island had become a fashionable residential quarter of stone mansions, exactly contemporary with the Place des Vosges.
It remains one of the most peaceful places in central Paris. There is no Métro station on the island and very little traffic; its single main street, Rue Saint-Louis-en-l’Île, is lined with bakeries, cheese shops, restaurants and the famous Berthillon ice-cream parlour, while the tree-lined quays below are perfect for a riverside walk.
Top things to do at Île Saint-Louis
Eat a Berthillon ice cream
The family firm has made ice creams and sorbets here since 1954. The shop at 31 Rue Saint-Louis-en-l’Île keeps its own hours and usually closes on Mondays and Tuesdays and for part of the summer; many cafés on the island also sell its ice creams.
Walk the quays at sunset
The Quai d’Orléans, facing the apse of Notre-Dame, and the Quai de Béthune facing the Left Bank are the classic viewpoints. Steps lead down to the lower quays, where Parisians picnic in summer.
Look at the mansions
The Hôtel Lambert at the eastern tip and the Hôtel de Lauzun on the Quai d’Anjou are two of the grandest 17th-century houses in Paris. Plaques on the facades name former residents, from Baudelaire to Marie Curie.
Cross to the Île de la Cité
The Pont Saint-Louis, usually animated by street performers, leads straight to Notre-Dame.
How to get to Île Saint-Louis
- From the Place des Vosges: walk through the Hôtel de Sully, down Rue Saint-Paul and across the Pont Marie — about 15 minutes.
- Métro: Pont Marie (line 7) is just across the bridge on the Right Bank; Sully–Morland (line 7) is also close.
Insider tips
- Rue Saint-Louis-en-l’Île gets busy on weekend afternoons; mornings are calm.
- Seine cruises pass the island — an evening cruise shows it lit up. See our tours page.
- For a picnic, buy cheese and bread on the island and eat on the lower quay.
Best tours & tickets for Île Saint-Louis
These top-rated experiences pair well with a visit to Île Saint-Louis:
Bike tour from €45 Paris: Charming Nooks and Crannies Bike Tour
A daytime ride away from the obvious boulevards, threading through the Marais, across the islands and into lesser-known corners — with nearly 3,000 reviews averaging 4.8. Paris’s cycle lanes have multiplied in recent years, and this is a relaxed way to enjoy them.
- Quiet streets, islands and squares
- The Marais and the Île Saint-Louis by bike
- Rated 4.8 by thousands of riders
River cruise from €17 Seine River Sightseeing Guided Cruise by Vedettes du Pont Neuf
The classic hour-long Seine cruise, leaving from the Square du Vert-Galant beneath the Pont Neuf — about 30 minutes’ walk or a short Métro ride from the Marais. It passes the Île Saint-Louis and Notre-Dame, the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay and the Eiffel Tower. Great value, and lovely after dark.
- Live commentary on the monuments
- Departs from the tip of the Île de la Cité
- Notre-Dame, the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower from the water
Dinner cruise from €115 Paris: 3-Course Dinner Cruise on the Seine with Live Music (Bateaux Parisiens)
A glass-roofed restaurant boat gliding past the lit-up monuments of Paris, with a three-course menu and live music. Rated 4.7 by thousands of guests, it is the classic special-occasion evening in the city.
- Three-course French dinner on board
- Live music and illuminated monuments
- Passes the Île Saint-Louis and Notre-Dame
