Paris is one of the world’s most intriguing and beautiful cities – and the best way to explore is with a quality tour. Here are seven of the best Paris city tours.
(Photo: Getyourguide.com)
There is perhaps no place on earth quite like Paris. On one hand the French capital is very much a hub for the country’s politics and business, on the other it is a living museum piece, with ancient monuments, glorious Gothic and Renaissance architecture, and buzzy little bistros and croissanteries that seem frozen in time. In short, a trip to Paris should be on everyone’s bucket list, whether you want to tick off the big sights like the Eiffel Tower and Centre Pompidou or just walk the diminutive, charming streets of Montmartre. But before you set off, phone in hand, to try and explore Paris alone it’s worth remembering that organised tours are often the best way to see any city. Here are seven of the best Paris city tours to check out.
The Paris Walking Tour Experience
Kicking off with very much the classic, Swiss Army knife do-it-all tour, taking in the best and most important sights in the city, as well as some local secret spots. Experienced guides are on hand to take you to Paris’s top spots, from the awe-inspiring Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris to the iconic Musée du Louvre, with entertaining stories and anecdotes along the way. It’s a really fun tour that over three hours also visits glamorous avenues and hipster hotspots along the way. The guides can also offer tips for eating and drinking for the rest of your trip. From €29.95.
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Paris Bike Tour: Eiffel Tower, Place de la Concorde & More
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To really see as much of Paris as possible it helps to take to two wheels. Paris is an easy place to get around on a bike – as many locals do – and this tour is a joy. Cycle along quaint streets and cafe-lined boulevards, taking in landmarks like the Eiffel Tower then continuing past Napoleon’s Tomb, and along the banks of the River Seine and on to the Louvre. The next stop is the famous avenue des Champs-Élysées, cycling along the Place de la Concorde, and finally taking a break at the Tuileries Garden. It’s all operated by the tried and tested Fat Tire Tours which also have their home in other cities. From €39.
Book at Getyourguide.com
Paris by Night
This romantic tour is totally unique. You’ll be riding in an old school Citroen 2CV and sipping champagne as you see many of the city’s best-known landmarks. Meeting you at your accommodation, over the space of three hours the cheeky Citroen trundles past the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre, Champs-Élysées, and more, all by the light of the moon (or if it’s cloudy, the street lights will have to do). The best bit is the tour is customisable so you can cut out the things you may have already seen and add the ones you haven’t. From €287.95.
Book at Viator.com
Exploring Paris with a Local: Montmartre to La Seine
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You can’t beat local knowledge when discovering a city. For this tour the guide contacts you 24 hours before to tailor the four-hour trip to what you want to see, from Le Tour Eiffel to Montemartre and everything in between. With the itinerary in place there will also be opportunities to see local spots and lesser-known sights as you explore Paris, with the opportunity to tweak what you experience as you go along. Few tours offer this kind of individuality and in a city like Paris, with surprises around every corner, it makes perfect sense. From €117.08.
Book at Getyourguide.com
Paris Luxury Tour with shopping, cabaret, cruise & city Tour
Paris is known as a city of glamour and luxury and this tour fits that perfectly. Before we go any further, it’s probably out of most weekend tourist’s price range, but if you want to go all in to make that weekend in the French capital extra special, this certainly takes some beating. In a single day you’ll be living like a film star, chauffeured around in a private car, complete with a bottle of wine, checking out the most beautiful Paris neighborhoods like Montmartre, le Marais and Saint Germain des Pres. Also included is a visit to Crazy Horse cabaret, two hours Seine River Lunch cruise, a walking Tour of Le Montmartre Area, plus a visit to Galeries Lafayette for shopping. It will certainly be a day to remember. From €1,699.
Book at Getyourguide.com
Paris 6-Hour Private Guided Walking Tour
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This walking tour goes back in time to visit some of Paris’s most historic buildings. It’s a relaxed excursion that gives a really good overview of the city’s architecture, history and art, giving a great foundation and understanding of Paris before exploring on your own. On the way you’ll see Notre Dame, arguably the most famous Gothic cathedral in the world, Cour Carré of the Louvre, a clash of Medieval and Renaissance architecture and style, and the Champs-Élysées, Paris’s most exclusive avenue. The guides really know and understand Paris and after six hours the visitors have a fair bit of knowledge too. From €250.
Book at Getyourguide.com
Paris Layover Tour
We’ve all sat in an airport during a layover in a foreign city and wondered what we are missing out on. This clever tour makes the most of that time by meeting you at Charles de Gaulle or Orly (the roundtrip from the airport is included) and whisks you by air-conditioned vehicle into the city. Over the space of three to four hours you can see the city’s most iconic sights, from the Arc de Triomphe to the Eiffel Tower, before you head back to the airport to take your onward flight. From €395.
Book at Viator.com