Who can say no to a delicious éclair? Light, mouthwatering choux dough filled with delectable cream and iced with a thin layer of deliciously flavored chocolate — pure heaven for anyone with a sweet tooth. That is precisely why Chocolate Éclair Day, celebrated every year June 22nd, exists.
What better way to celebrate this decadent French desert than by visiting the place where it was invented? Sounds like a perfect excuse to go to Paris! Spend some time touring some of the city’s best bakeries to experience these delicious deserts along with many more of the specialties Parisian patisseries are so famous for.
The name “éclair,” the French word for lighting, was bestowed upon this sweet treat as a result of the glistening gloss of the pastry once the chocolate glaze has been applied. The practice of making pastries and chocolates is an art form honed for centuries in the bakeries of Paris and taking a tour of these little shops is a great way to satisfy your cravings while you explore the city.
Local patiserie in Paris. Photo: Hugo Felix | Dreamstime.com
The éclair is definitely a highlight of the Parisian patisserie lineup, but it is not the only sweet the city is known for. While you are exploring the city’s sweet shops, prepare your palate for delicious sweets, candies and pastries of all types. Here are some of the tours that will show you the best of the best:
Secret Food Tours offers a Chocolate and Pastry Tour
that takes you through the streets of Paris. This tour runs the gamut of Parisian sweet shops with visits to several shops in the Montmarte neighborhood. The tour runs approximately 2.5 hours every day except Mondays and some holidays and stops at five to six different locations. Stops will include a macaron shop, a bakery, a candy shop, a chocolate shop, an ice cream parlor and a creperie. Samples along the way are the best part of the tour but you will also learn about the history of the city and the confections they are so famous for.
The Let Them Eat Cake Pastry Tour takes guests on a two-hour romp through the streets of the Marais neighborhood. This tour visits stops dedicated to chocolates, pralines, macarons and the “best éclairs in Paris.” As with the Secret Foods Tour, this excursion sends you on your way with a belly full of sweet samples. Plan to purchase goodies along the way as the sweets you encounter will be some of the best in the world and great souvenirs (edible ones, that is!) to take with you as mementos of your trip.
Read This Next
How to Tune Kids in to Nature When Traveling
Travel Tips
Jun 18, 2026#WhereverFamily
Insta FeedDestinations / North America
Jul 9, 20265 Places to Have a European-Style Vacation Without Leaving the Country
Flying isn’t cheap, especially for a whole family. Luckily, if you want a European vacation but it just isn’t in the budget, you can get creative with your destination and have a European-style vacation without ever leaving the country.
Sponsored Content
Best of Both Worlds
Enjoy the best of both worlds when you fly with TAP Air Portugal thanks to the Portugal Stopover program. With the program, TAP passengers, whether traveling for business, leisure or both, can stop in Portugal for up to 10 days at no additional airfare on the way to their final destination. What does this mean for travelers wishing to explore by both land and sea? It means after flying to Portugal with TAP and experiencing the country in an entirely new way, travelers can then embark on scenic river and ocean cruises from Portugal’s port cities, or fly with TAP to another European destination.
Destinations / Latin America
Jul 9, 20268 Savannah, Georgia, Destinations for Family Travel
It’s time to start dreaming of your next family trip. Here’s some destination inspiration for you. Take a visual journey through Savannah, Georgia, with us.
Hotels
Jul 9, 2026Refreshed Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa Elevates Family Getaways
Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa, a 560-room resort in the Greater Palm Springs area, recently completed a comprehensive, multimillion-dollar renovation. With the updates come new resort experiences, a Kids Eat Free package, new pickleball courts, upgraded poolside cabanas, the debut of Seven Olive Modern Gastropub and Topgolf Swing Suites, and more.
Destinations / Europe
Jul 8, 2026A Trip to London: Exploring the South Bank
Courtesy of a night spent at London’s Sea Containers hotel, I had the opportunity to explore the South Bank neighborhood. Let’s dive into some family-friendly highlights:
Destinations / North America
Jul 8, 2026Summer Fun Awaits in New Hampshire’s Lakes
When you’re traveling in New Hampshire, you’re never far from water. Although its Atlantic coastline is short, lakes — including New England’s largest — are scattered throughout the state, so family travelers will have plenty of opportunities for swimming and water sports.
ShareThis