When you have come to the Canal Saint Martin, you cannot leave without shopping in Antoine et Lili where you will get Hindu postcards, all sorts of miscellaneous kitsch, colorful jumpers, neo-hippie skirts, beautiful and colorful decorations for home, ethnic beads, bright, colorful and expensive trinklets, pillows, accessories, clothing, shoes, etc. You can also shop in the famous departmental store Galeries Lafayette. You can buy apparel for ladies, men and children, skincare products and cosmetics, food products, kitchenware, cooking utensils, table linen, crystalware, chinaware, and interior decoration items.

Coming to the Canal Saint-Martin can be a pleasant experience as not only you get to enjoy the surrounding and ambience, but at the same time you will find good restaurants near the canal. At the Hotel du Nord which is a bar and restaurant, you have the liberty to play chess, browse the library, or nurse a drink on the garden balcony and delight your appetite with a simple meal prepared with fresh ingredients and conceived by celebrated chef Pascal Brebant. If you want to see and to be seen in the most happening place, Chez Prune is the place to be. Enjoy your meal at the terrace outside where you will get outstanding views of the canal during the spring and summer. At the Pink Flamingo restaurant get your pizza delivered canalside while you relax with your solitude. A pink balloon is a proof of your purchase and the delivery person will find you via the balloon. If you want to know what’s the latest happening in kitschy urban fashion and campy “ethnic” threads, Antoine et Lili is the perfect which also includes a restaurant, bakery, and tearoom.

Local attractions including Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral, Louvre Museum, are situated near the Canal Saint Martin. When you are at the Canal Saint Martin you cannot afford to miss the two-and-a-half hour cruises of the Canal offered by Canauxrama. During the cruise along the Canal Saint Martin, you will come to know more about the history of northeastern Paris as there will be a live commentary on the history of northeastern Paris, one of Paris’ best-kept secrets.

You can get easily in and around Canal Saint Martin as it is well connected by the Gare de I’Est and Gared du Nord railway station.
Getting There:
Metro: Gare de L’Est (Lines 4 & 7), Republique (Lines 3, 5, 8, 9 and 11), Goncourt (Line 11), Jacques-Bonsergent (Line 5)

Canal Saint Martin is a 4.5 km long canal in Paris, France, which was opened in 1825 after Napoleon had ordered the artificial waterway dug to supply Paris with water. The canal has become a popular tourist destination and is nestled between Gare du Nord and Republique in Northeastern Paris, in the 10 arrondissement. The canal feeds into the Seine River in the South and the Bassin de la Villete and the Canal de l’Ourq in the North. It is a good picnic spot where you can come and spend some quiet time along the banks. You can sup a cup of coffee or tea at the cafes and quirky boutiques that flank the water and iron footbridges. If you love music you can also bring your guitar along to play and soothe your soul. There are two streets running parallel to the canal, Quai de Valmy and Quai de Jemmapes specially reserved for pedestrians and cyclists on Sundays are ideal for renting a bike and seeing the city. You can also tour the canal on a boat. Visitors will find something to love alongside the Canal Saint-Martin irrespective of age. The canal is featured in the 1938 movie Hotel du Nord, directed by Marcel Came and in the 2001 movie Amelie, in which Amelie Poulain enjoys skipping stones at the locks of the canal.

Stay in the Villa Saint Martin which is conveniently located between the Canal Saint Martin and the Gare de I’Est, near the Gare du Nord. You will enjoy the warm and friendly service, and hospitality at the hotel. The hotel offer buffet breakfast and a laptop is provided for guests free of charge. Make your stay convenient by choosing Comfort Hotel Canal Saint Martin as your choice of accommodation. Ideally located between Gare de I’Est and Notre Dame, it is easily accessible to theatres, cinemas, and shops. Multilingual staffs at the hotel, Internet access, and baby sitter are some of the facilities which make it more advantageous over hotels in the Canal Saint Martin neighborhood.