We start the tour in the heart of the Left Bank's bohemian quarter. We discover his early days before arriving in Paris. Then we will see Hemingway's1st flat - a cold water flat with no running water, shared toilets in the hallway & a mattress on the floor. Despite his poverty, he loved Paris & opened himself up to discovering a new city, a new life.
Next stop, the place where James Joyce finished writing his masterpiece novel Ulysses. The two men were good friends, perhaps a "Literary Odd Couple" given their differences !
We will visit the original location of the famed bookstore, Shakespeare & Company, on the rue de l'Odéon. Hemingway was a close friend of the owner, Sylvia Beach, and he shared many happy memories of the store & the woman in his novel about Paris, A Moveable Feast.
Hemingway's last flat in Paris was located nearby - the rent was paid by his 2nd wife's family and it was far more posh than his previous digs. We will hear about his friendship with Fitzgerald & discover the behind-the-scenes story of his 1st novel, The Sun Also Rises. It was a divisive book, that cost him the friendship of several close acquaintances, but it catapulted him to fame.
This was Hemingway's favorite park, and in his "lean" years the place he went to forget his hunger.
Le Select was popular with all the Lost Generation writers. We end the tour here. Guests can also choose to end the tour in one of the other famed 1920s cafés of Montparnasse (La Rotonde, the Dome, the Closerie de Lilas), at Harry's NY Bar near the Opera, or at the Hemingway Bar in the Ritz Hotel (advance notice required for this option because dress attire is obligatory to enter the bar). Drinks NOT INCLUDED in the tour price.
The guide was knowledgeable. However, the beginning explanation at the cafe was not necessary, and moving into the walking tour itself would have been better, thus shortening the time of the tour.
We thoroughly enjoyed our Paris Walks tour of Hemingway’s Paris. Brad, our tour guide, met us at a metro stop and we proceeded to a Roman amphitheater discovered in the 1860s. We continued walking through the Latin quarter [and learned why they call it that]. Brad showed us several places where Hemingway lived and/or worked, and entertained us with information about his life in Paris, the writers he interacted with, and how it affected his writing. We saw details of the Latin quarter we knew nothing about including the original city walls, a maze of city streets that were pedestrian only and packed with restaurants and cafes, and near the Sorbonne University. We also were shown the steps that started it all in Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris.” A very entertaining 2 hours with Brad – highly recommend!!
Very detailed tour. Ellen is passionate about her subject matter and is engaging and accommodating. You get it see some really cool spots.
We had a wonderful in depth and insightful Hemingway tour with Ellen. She brought him back to life along with all his friends and counterparts. We loved the tour. My best to you Ellen.
Very fascinating, informative tour. The weather was hot and the guide to care to give us each a mini fan and buy metro tickets so we didn’t have to walk as far.
A wonderful tour! Ellen is so very knowledgeable on not onlyHemingway, but also the entirety of the Lost Generation and Paris in general. Set up in presentation style, with a walking tour to accompany, you really are able to picture Hemingways life, as well as the vibrancy and pace of the quarter in the time. I’m an avid Hemingway fan and reader and was enthralled from start to finish, my wife has a passive interest but Ellen made it so interesting even she was absorbed by the story and the sites. Ellen is a wonderful guide, and her more than thirty years in Paris really shine on a walking tour. She is knowledgeable on just about everything of note, moves through Paris with ease that helps a new traveler to Paris adjust, and is friendly and pleasant to spend a day with. I recommend this tour thoroughly!
A very informative history of Hemingway and his Lost Generation cohorts. Nice to see the places they hung out and lived!
First the down side. I was overcharged for this tour, which is advertised at "starting at" $118 on Trip Advisor (and $117 on Airbnb), with a "lowest price guarantee" on TA. I was billed $179. When I inquired, I was told it was because it was a single booking--as opposed to, i guess, a couple? One other single guy was on the trip, and he paid a lot less than I did (as did each of the people in the couple on our trip). Needless to say, the difference was not refunded, so i paid a LOT for this tour and felt baited and switched. That said, the guide, Ellen, was excellent. She knows a TON about Hemingway and tells it in an interesting way, brought along visuals, kept things moving while also answering questions...she was lively, smart, and interesting. I've read a lot of Hemingway, including A Moveable Feast (which is about his life in exactly the spots on this tour), but she still had tons of information to share. Ultimately I was so pleased by the tour that i forgot how much I overpaid. So I give 5 enthusiastic stars. Just make sure you know what you're paying up front!
I had an amazing time! Ellen is an expert on Hemingway. Her storytelling is rich, detailed and inspiring. Her tour is well organized. I especially enjoyed the iPad photo video portions. It gave the tour another dimension. I would have liked to hear more about Ellen connection to Hemingway and what made her do this tour. Thank you again!
I was the only person signed up for two tours. Ellen, guide, condensed the tour into a 4 hour tour. I didn't expect to watch a video in a cafe and then 2 more videos. However, in light that it rained the entire afternoon it worked out well. Ellen knows her stuff. I wish she could have given me an overview of how the tour would proceed for the duration of the literary journey. She did a great job explaining the writers and the era that they lived in. She did an incredible job creating her videos on the subject matter. I was impressed at her skill set. I would take the tour again, hopefully on a sunny day. Merci, Ellen.
Ellen is knowledgeable, organized, prepared, and thoughtful. The tour is well-designed and includes a couple of short public bus trips in order to see different neighborhoods where Hemingway lived, wrote and loved. Ellen provides a terrific summary of Hemingway's life in Paris as part of the Lost Generation of the 20's.
Highly recommend this tour! Ellen was very knowledgeable, interesting and accommodating. Thank you Ellen for the wonderful experience!
Our guide ellen was the nicest most knowledgeable person on hemingway i have ever known. Excellent tour presentation!
Amazing experience! Learned a lot and got to experience Paris from a different perspective... Ellen is extremely knowledgable.
The most memorable part of this tour was Ellen - we felt that she brought Hemingway to life and sitting at one of his favourite restaurants , having a drink and some food was an experience we will never forget. It was like having lunch with a wonderful friend.
Like many kids of my age, I was forced to read Hemingway in high school. However, he was one of the few authors. I actually enjoyed and would read on my own as well. What my teachers never got into, was the complicated and fascinating man behind those works. I knew some of the basics. The African Safari, the fishing, the womanizing, the drinking….. But this tour really brought the history of the man and the reasons and motives that drove him to life. The tour was well researched with tons of video clips and fascinating stories around his life. If, like me, you appreciate Hemingway as an author, or we’re just forced to read him, I highly recommend this tour. And my guide, Ellen made the whole event, fascinating and enjoyable
Our guide was fantastic! My wife and I both enjoyed the tour. I'm a bit of a Hemingway fan and have read most of his works and a biography. My wife didn't know Hemingway's history in Paris. Great for Hemingway fans who may already know a lot of his story and for Hemingway "rookies." The tour included great information that set the context for the lost generation in Paris. The pace of the walking tour was easy. We saw cafés that Hemingway frequented and two of his apartments (from the outside) where he lived. We both enjoyed that the tour included more than Hemingway, including where F. Scott Fitzgerald lived, the location of the original Shakespeare and Co bookstore, and where James Joyce lived for a while. Time well spent during our visit to Paris!
We could not have been more pleased with our tour and wonderful tour guide, Ellen. I knew a lot about Hemingway from reading his books, but not so much about his biography, and Ellen was able to fill in many gaps for me about his life. The information was so comprehensive and covered his entire life-the depth and breath of the information was truly staggering. We also visited many sites that were on my list-for example, Ellen showed us the steps where Owen Wilson waited to be driven back in time in the hit movie, "Midnight in Paris." We ended at the select, and the neighborhood of avant garde bars was so well preserved it felt like stepping back in time to the 1920's! We HIGHLY recommend this tour. Very informative and FUN!
Ellen knows her stuff! As a Hemingway fan, we enjoyed the tour and Ellen’s extensive knowledge. It was wonderful to bring all the biographies to life on the tour! We also enjoyed the visit to the Montparnasse bars!
Ellen was an absolutely wonderful guide; incredibly knowledgeable and thorough, this tour of Hemingway’s life is singular if you’re coming to Paris and want to dive into the Lost Generation.
Great tour for Hemingway fans, with some Fitzgerald and Faulkner info thrown into the mix. Ellen is a knowledgeable and fun tour guide. A big highlight of my Paris trip.
This was a great tour, very well researched and containing interesting media & facts. A must for anyone who is a fan of Hemingway or just enjoys a great historical tour experience.
Ellen was a great guide. She was knowledgeable, funny, and kind. She gave the true Hemingway flavor of Paris. Highly recommend.
Enjoying a drink and listening to Ellen share stories about Hemingway. A different experience from Art Museums and Food Tours.
TOur guide Ellen was fantastic. She was very knowledgeable and made the experience very fun as well.
Ellen is a clear and informed guide, she preps her material very well and gave us a very good recap of Hemingways life and interesting places that he spent during his time in Paris.
My wife and I loved this tour! We had recently seen Ken Burns' documentary and have visited Hemingway's former home in Key West several times, so we had some understanding of Hemingway's life, but both of us were very impressed with the depth of Ellen's knowledge of Hemingway and his life. She answered all of our questions and provided unknown insight into this American icon. Thank you, Ellen, for such an enjoyable tour! And a special thanks for the chocolate mousse!
My husband and I had a great time on this tour! Ellen was very knowledgeable about Hemingway, and while this is technically a walking tour, we enjoyed sitting and sipping on coffee (not included in tour fee) during her introduction, as well as finishing the tour over cocktails (not included in tour fee) at Le Select. She also gave us a list of jazz club options, from which we selected the perfect spot for us the next evening! Highly recommend all that Ellen has to offer!
Ellen was knowledgeable and well organized. We enjoyed learning more about Hemingway and the lost generation as well as the cozy cafe where we enjoyed coffee and the walking tour. Ellen also brought us to a delicious chocolate shop to have the best chocolate mousse we have ever tasted. Great experience!
Excellent tour about Hemingway and his circle of friends who were living in Paris after World War I. The tour guide provided a lot of visuals through the use of ipads to enhance the walking tour. She was very knowledgable and answered all our questions.
Looking do so some new things in Paris away from all the usual museums, we thought it would be fun to learn more about both Hemingway and the 'Lost Generation' in Paris between the Wars. Ellen was our guide, she did great job. We learned where Hemingway lived, where he 'worked', all his contemporaries, etc. Very informative, very interesting. What a life this guy lived!
We had an amazing time during our Hemingway Tour with Ellen. She is very friendly and knowledgable. It was a great experience and we would definitely recommend this tour!
Can not say enough good things about the tour. Ellen was an extremely informed, helpful tour guide that went above and beyond in bringing to life Hemingway’s time in Paris. Furthermore, Ellen was extremely kind and made sure I knew how to navigate Paris as a solo traveller just getting comfortable in the city. Can not recommend enough!!
Seeing his second home, the one uncle Pffifer rent for Pauline and him. The neighborhood What a difference from the cold water flat, his first home here Aldo the hotel D Inglaterra, first hotel he stayed in Paris. After that I went to the Crillon and had a martini, the place he stayed Later on in life
My wife and I had a wonderful time on the Hemingway tour with Ellen. Great communication with Ellen and easy meet-up got the tour off to a great start. It only got better with the mix of history lesson and sightseeing that would be enjoyable for the most ardent Hemingway fan or someone who is just looking for an alternative to the standard Paris walking tour. Thanks Ellen next time we’ll have time to take you up on the drink at Harry’s!
A bit of confusion meeting Hemingway Haunts guide Ellen as we arrived early yet still didn’t connect until after designated time. She was also there on time but without signage, it was a little challenge meeting up. Some interesting spots on walking tour but in our opinion, it is a better use of time for the guide to only focus on Hemingway’s time in Paris to coincide with tour title. Tourists on this particular tour most likely already know his life biography.
Ellen has done lots of Hemingway research, and she is extremely pleasant. She really cares about everyone’s experience of the tour. Terrific and informative, she reveals Hemingway’s complex personality.
Loved getting info about Hemingway’s favorite places in Paris. The tour guide, Ellen, is extremely knowledgeable!
When there was an error in the time I booked, Ellen bent over backwards to find a time that would work for us both. The tour was incredible. She is so knowledgeable about not only Hemingway’s haunts in Paris but the entire Lost Generation. In fact, she also booked a private tour for myself and friend to Père-Lachaise. Whatever you want to see in Paris, you only need one tour guide, Ellen. Thanks again for everything. When I return to Paris, I will certainly be looking to book with you again! Jared
Ellen gave us an excellent overview of Earnest Hemingway’s life, especially while he lived in Paris. She is very knowledgeable and a good storyteller. She took us on a good walk along the same streets that Hemingway and his literary friends such as James Joyce and F. Scott Fitzgerald roamed. Along the way Ellen pointed out some of Hemingway’s favorite cafes and bars such as Les Deux Margots, Cafe de Flore, and Harry’s Bar. I would highly recommend this tour while in Paris.
What a wonderful tour! Ellen did a fantastic job and I learned quite a bit after studying Hemingway since I first saw his hime in Key West in 1964. Highly recommended. Thanks Ellen!
Ellen was very good, knowledgeable, concise, and to the point, with many worthy antecdotes and stories of Hem's life, both in and outside of Paris. Intro a bit long before the start, but good walk, and plenty of new info, along with a hearty drink at Harrys at the end.
Ellen was fantastic! She is an authority on the Lost Generation and the history of Paris. It was so cool to walk the same footsteps of Hemingway, Stein, Fitzgerald, Joyce, Cummings, Pound, etc etc etc. Ellen has great AV materials to go along with her walk and heaps of background knowledge. Highly recommend her tour!
We had a wonderful tour by Ellen. She was full of very interesting stories about Hemingway and his time in Paris. Learned a lot and saw a number of famous spots including Harry's Bar where we ended the tour. Highly recommend this tour.
I loved getting to see all the places Hemingway and others from the lost generation spent their time!
This tour is amazing! Ellen is a wealth of knowledge. She will show you the hidden treasures of Paris!
We enjoyed this tour and Ellen’s personable accounts of Hemingway’s time in Paris and the impact it had on his life and career. If you are a Hemingway fan, you will enjoy this tour.
Ellen was extremely knowledgeable and did a fantastic job of improvising when we ran in to some minor changes of plans. Definitely recommend for Hemingway fans or literary buffs
If you are a Hemingway Buff, this is the tour for you. You walk where he walked, learn about his life and friends in Paris. Lots of info from pictures and direct quotes of Hemingway and his work.
Monday through Friday 9 am to 7 pm EST
Reach us by phone
Reach us by email