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Paris has forever been one of the most loved & celebrated cities in the world. A rich history, legacy of art and culture, elegant boulevards, luxury boutiques, quaint cafes and vibrant street life – there is so much that finds expression in the city of Paris. That said, which attractions in Paris require a tour? This article explores why Paris is best explored with a tour guide and the best guided tours in Paris that you should definitely consider.
Why Paris is best explored with an experienced tour guide?
Paris is a big city!
And there is a lot to explore for your first time or even the first few times. While exploring a new city independently can be exciting, Paris can be overwhelming with its countless attractions and historical significance. With a verified tour guide, you can explore Paris with a practical knowledge of the city’s systems, manage your time efficiently, and get hassle-free navigation to your next place of visit.
How good is your French?
If your French is so-so, your city exploration can quickly become limited to the main streets and tourist attractions. Here a local guide can suggest places to visit that suit your taste and help you communicate with the locals easily.
Asking locals for direction is not always ideal
Paris sees a lot of tourists each day. As for the Parisians, their day would go for a toss if they were to stop each time someone asked for directions. So it is common for tourists to feel the locals pass by in a hurry. Not that they are inhospitable, but you get the point. With a local tour guide this bit is taken care of and you can navigate to your destinations easily.
Keeping it safe & scam-free
Paris is a safe city for locals and tourists alike. But tourist-scams are not unheard of. And any such experience can leave a sour aftertaste on your otherwise great trip. Tour guides are well aware of this and can navigate you and your family clear of such incidents, making sure you return home with cherished memories of their city.
Knowing Paris intimately
There is no greater thrill than to walk the streets of a new city. If you have a return ticket in place and your Paris visit is time-bound, the best way to get intimate with the city is to see it with a local turned guide. They’ll share with you the local favorites, stories, street-side news and facts that never make it to any book, article or podcast.
9 Best Guided Tours to take in Paris
Visiting the City of Light is on many bucket lists. It has something for everyone – from opulent palaces to heritage museums, river cruises to internationally recognized cuisine and magnificent architecture to a serious fashion sense. Here are the 9 best guided tours to explore the city of Paris.
9. Kickstarter Private Tour of Paris City
This tour is all about kickstarting your Paris trip. Explore the city with a friendly local who is passionate about his or her city and eager to share all the tips and tricks that will help you make the most of your trip.
Meet where you’re staying to get familiar with the neighborhood, find out about the best places to eat, discover the easiest ways to get around, and learn about the top things to see and do.
By the end of the tour, you’ll feel more comfortable navigating the city and confident that you have all the information needed to make the most of your Paris trip.
8. River Siene Lunch Cruise and Sight-seeing
River Seine moves through the heart of Paris and a many of the city’s attractions are located by the banks of the river.
Take a seat, sit back, relax and enjoy the cruise ride while listen to the commentary from the crew members as you drift along. See iconic sites such as the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre Museum, and panoramic city views from the glass boat.
Make sure you take photos of the French National Library, the golden dome of Les Invalides, and the bombastic buildings of the French Parliament. Enjoy a delicious 3-course lunch à-la-carte meal paired with delicious wines.
7. Paris Hop-on-Hop-off Bus Tour
The Big Bus Paris Hop-on-Hop-off tour is easily the best way to explore Paris city. It gives you access to all the main attractions, an overview of the city and an easy way of getting around all-in-one convenient package.
With an open-top, double-decker Big Bus, you get excellent panoramic views of the city. The bus moves through the Red Route that covers 10 stops. You can listen to informative audio commentary, available in 6 languages, while you see the sights.
You can hop on and off at any of the 10 different stops to explore further on your own. Then simply climb aboard the next bus when you’re done sightseeing to continue your bus circuit of the city. This Paris bus tour is absolutely loved by elders and kids in the family.
6. Giverny Half-Day Trip with Monet’s Gardens
This is something that you may find missing from the usual tourist itineraries that include the essentials only. The village of Giverny is just a short train ride from Paris and is home to only 500 inhabitants.
The village ponds are full of water lilies, picturesque weeping willow trees, and quaint painted bridges. Learn from our informed guide about Monet’s life, work, family and inspiration.
The guided tour comes with Priority Entrance, which means you can bypass the long entrance line and head right inside of the garden via a special entrance. And enjoy at least 30 minutes more time inside the gardens, rather than standing inline.
5. Montmartre Hill French Gourmet Food & Wine Tasting Tour
Montmarte is the art district of Paris with cobblestone streets, hidden mansions, Parisian cafés and charming terraces everywhere. It has a great food heritage in cakes, chocolate candies, generous cheeses, cured meats and French wine!
Your local and foodie guide will take you to the best food artisans of the area, and share some unforgettable tastings at every stop. Cakes, chocolates and a glass of good wine paired with some fresh cheeses will put you in the shoes of a real Parisian enjoying an apéritif!
4. Paris: Opera Garnier and Seine River Cruise Tickets
With this combo tour, benefit from entry to 2 of the most famous cultural attractions of Paris. The Palais Garnier, or Opéra Garnier, is a 1,979-seat opera house.
When the new opera house, the Opéra Bastille, opened at the Place de la Bastille, the Palais Garnier began operating primarily for ballet. The theater has been a historic monument of France since 1923.
Following that, meet beside the Eiffel Tower to board a Parisian boat for a cruise on the Seine River. Unwind while contemplating the history of Paris, and admire its many monuments such as the Louvre Museum, the Orsay Museum, the Notre Dame Cathedral, and the many bridges with their unique architecture.
3. Guided tour of Versailles Palace and Gardens
The Palace of Versailles (Chateau de Versailles) is the extravagant creation of King Louis XIV, and has 700 rooms abundant with carvings and frescoed ceilings! Our knowledgeable guide will lead you through the historic buildings and monuments of the palace and the gardens.
The tour includes Versailles Palace entrance with priority access, so there is no need to buy entry tickets separately.
2. A Memorable Trip to the Eiffel tower with Summit Access
Welcome to the symbol of Paris and the whole of France. A lot of guided tours to the Eiffel tower are restricted to the second level only. With this tour you can enjoy the city views from the second level and the top level i.e. the Summit access. Your English-speaking guide will share stories of the Tower’s history and architecture.
On the second level, enjoy one of the best views of Paris. Your guide can help you find Notre Dame, the Louvre, the Sacré-Cœur in Montmartre, the Grand Palais, Les Invalides, and more.
Enjoy the views, exhibits, food, and shopping for souvenirs. Then continue by elevator to the top of the tower. Highlights include views from the indoor and outdoor observation decks.
1. The Louvre Museum – Discovering the Timeless
The Louvre is easily be the most monumental museum in the whole world. You can consider it just as a must-see. Or really give it a change to reveal itself.
The Louvre is a treasure house of art from around the world and across the times. And you’ll realize this only by exploring The Louvre with a seasoned guide. We suggest no cutting corners here.
Your tour guide will have an encyclopedic knowledge of the Louvre and its artworks, so no need to refer to a guidebook. See the most influential art works from a wide range of periods including Ancient Greece, Ancient Egypt, the Renaissance, Neoclassicism and Romanticism. The tour includes your entry ticket, so breeze past the ticketing que and begin with your Louvre journey.
Special Tours to Fall in Love with The City of Dreams
Paris is discovered one secret at a time! Like with all old cities, Paris will come to you slowly, and with one song, story, one piece of art at a time. And that is what a the company of a local guide can make all the difference.
We hope you’ve found something interesting with the tours listed here. Something that’ll make you want to travel to Paris and then travel back with a headful of good memories.