Paris Metro Line 7 Must-Sees

Opened on November 5, 1910, Metro Line 7 is not only the Paris metro line with the most stations, but it’s also the third most-used line.  It traverses eastern Paris from north to south, from the northern terminus of La Courneuve 8 Mai 1945 to the south suburbs of Mairie d’Ivry/Villejuif. Line 7 originally served to connect Opéra with Porte de la Villette, but it was continuously extended over the decades. In the mid-1980s, a branch was added in the south, connecting the community of Villejuif with Paris. 

Coming up from the south, many visitors to Paris would probably only use the stop Porte d’Ivry to visit the old windmill Moulin de la Tour which dates back to 1680 and remained in operation until the early 19th century. The next stop of note is Place d’Italie in the 13th Arrondissement and from which you can quickly reach the quaint Butte-aux-Cailles neighborhood, a village within the city known for its street art, Art Deco swimming pool, and its many small cafes and restaurants.

In the area, you can also explore the underground River Bièvre, whose flow is marked by golden plaques on the ground. The next stop, Les Gobelins, is where to get off if you’d like to visit the ancient tapestry manufacture of Louis XIV fame for an off-the-beaten-path experience that’s quite fascinating.

Metro Line 7 also takes you to Place Monge where you can reach the gorgeous market street of Rue Mouffetard as well as the Roman amphitheatre Arènes de Lutèce, both great (and free) Paris sightseeing opportunities.

At the following stop Jussieu, you’ll find the superb Institut du Monde Arabe with interesting exhibitions and an exceptional rooftop view. 

Sully-Morland is steps away from Le Village Saint-Paul and its tiny antique shops.

The enormous and confusing transit hub of Chatelet comes next, connecting you with Metro Lines 1, 4, 11, 14 and RER A, B, and D. It also gives you access to Les Halles shopping center, that is if you can find the correct exit.

Probably the most-frequented stop on Metro Line 7 for Paris visitors is Palais Royal – Musée du Louvre which gives easy access to the pretty Palais Royal and its oh-so-Instragrammable Colonnes de Buren, along with the Louvre, the world’s largest museum.

A little farther on is another tourist hotspot, that of Opéra which lets out at the foot of the Palais Garnier and is also close to the famous department stores Printemps and Galeries Lafayette along Boulevard Haussmann.

Stalingrad is a good setting-off point for a walk either down the Canal Saint Martin or north, following the metro line in a way, along the Bassin de la Villette with its myriad of cafes, restaurants, outdoor swimming opportunities in summer, fabulous street art around Rue de l’Ourcq, and further on, the fun science museum Cité des Sciences.

For a full experience of this part of Paris, start at Stalingrad and walk up to the stop Porte de la Villette and then hop back onto Metro Line 7 to return to the city center.