The Complete Guide to Paris Tours
Paris is a beautiful city full of landmarks and attractions. Founded in 250 BC, Paris is also full of history and culture. We have put together a list of the top 10 tours in Paris. This list consists of every type of tour you could possibly want; tours of the city, tours about French history and architecture, tours about art and tours that explore just outside of Paris. Check out the best deals for travelling to Paris with easyJet holidays.
Tours of Paris
The Paris Pass tours
The Arc de Triomphe
Want to take in the best parts of Paris for around 60% off what you would originally pay? Look no further than The Paris Pass. You can get access to over 60 attractions and experiences in Paris plus free public transport, no matter how long you are staying there. Some of the attractions that you gain access to are; The Louvre, Palace of Versailles, Arc de Triomphe, Centre Pompidou plus many more.
The pass also includes a 1-day Paris hop-on hop-off tour. This tour allows you to see Paris your way, with the freedom to leave and join whenever you like. You can explore Paris like a true Parisian as a walking tour is also included.
?River Cruise Tour
Boats on the river Seine
Some people believe that the best view of Paris is from the top of the Eiffel Tower, they are not wrong but there is something that lets down the view of Paris from the Eiffel Tower… you can’t see the Eiffel Tower! Therefore, in our opinion, the best view of Paris is from the River Seine.?????
There are many different types of river cruise, ones that include a meal (our next Paris tour on this list) and hop-on hop-off cruises. Some river cruises will focus on ?le de la Cité (an island in the middle of the Seine) and include tickets to attractions on the island, such as the Conciergerie and Sainte Chapelle.
The Conciergerie was once a Royal Palace, later a Revolutionary Court and then a prison used to hold Marie-Antoinette. Sainte-Chapelle Church has been described as the “jewel of the Rayonnant Gothic period”. Built in the 13th century with 1,113 stained-glass windows it really is a beautiful sight to behold.
Touring the Seine and these magnificent buildings is a must in Paris. Check availability for river cruise tours of Paris here.
Tours with food
A charcuterie board
Many tours around Paris will also offer you either lunch or dinner. This is a great way to explore the city, not just with your eyes but with your mouth! Some of the best tours in Paris with food are on cruises along the River Seine. You can feel completely relaxed surrounded by good food, live music and stunning views. Do not worry, there will also be plenty of cheese and wine!
It is also an opportunity for you to get dressed up and treat yourself. Paris is the city of love and there is nothing more romantic than a river cruise with dinner.
Paris tours about French history and architecture
Palace of Versailles
The Palace of Versailles
The Palace of Versailles is the perfect place for a tour in Paris. Originally a hunting lodge, Versailles became the main residence of the French royal family in 1682 until the French Revolution in 1789. What makes Versailles so fascinating is that each king or queen that lived here added to it in some way. Louis XIV was the first king to make it his main residence and his goal was to make Versailles a place of glory and luxury. Throughout the 100 years royalty lived in Versailles, King Louis' goal was exceeded. To learn more about Versailles' history be sure to read our blog post, “Versailles: Everything you need to know for a fantastic day trip from Paris”.
Versailles has been central to French and world history, so it is no surprise the palace attracts nearly 10 million visitors every year. The Palace is 8,150,265 square meters (87,728,720 square feet), or 2,014 acres so you will need to put aside time to fully explore. Due to its massive size, taking a guided tour of Versailles is a great option. Many tours allow you to skip the line and provide transport to and from central Paris. Check availability for tours of Versailles here.
Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower
What trip to Paris would be complete without a visit to the Eiffel Tower? The Eiffel Tower wasn't always an icon of Paris, when it was first built in 1887, many Parisians hated it and thought it was an ugly eye-sore! Today, 7 million people visit the tower every year. That is 25000 people a day: resulting in exceedingly long queues. We recommend buying tickets ahead of time that include line skipping.
Guided climbs of the Eiffel Tower are very popular, you can learn more about the history of this iconic landmark and the significance it holds for France and Paris. You can also learn amazing facts about the tower such as how the structure grows and shrinks according to the weather and the secret apartment Gustave Eiffel included. For some more information about the Eiffel Tower, check out our blog post "12 Eiffel Tower facts that will absolutely blow your mind". The view from the top is one of the best in the world. You can see an aerial view of renowned Parisian landmarks including the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, Champs Elysees, The Louvre and many more. Check availability for guided tours and climbs of The Eiffel Tower here.
If you want the ultimate Eiffel Tower experience, check out our blog post, "How to climb and dine with the best views of Paris".
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Paris Tours about art
Centre Pompidou
The Centre Pompidou
Built in the 1970s and named after a President of France, the Centre Pompidou is a complex building that holds the Bibliothèque Publique d'information (Public Information Library), the IRCAM (a music and acoustics research facility) and most famously the Musée National d'Art Moderne (the largest museum for modern art in Europe). In the Musée National d'Art Moderne, you can see the likes of Picasso, Matisse, Dali, Duchamp, Chagall, Andy Warhol, Man Ray and many others.
Taking a guided tour of the Centre Pompidou is a great Parisian experience. An expert art enthusiast will be able to offer you insight into modern art and see it in ways that you could never imagine. While you are there, be sure to take in the view of Paris from the 6th floor!
Louvre Museum
The Louvre Pyramid
The Louvre is the world's largest art museum, famously the home of the Mona Lisa. The museum is also home to works by Michelangelo, the French Crown Jewels and art from several periods in history including Egyptian, Greek and Roman.
Not only is the art inside amazing but the architecture of the whole building is amazing too. Built in the 12th century, the Louvre was the primary residence for French Royalty from 1546 until 1682. Remnants of the medieval Louvre are still visible below ground. Today, the Louvre is most recognized by its magnificent entrance, the Grand Louvre Pyramids, built in 1989.
As the Louvre is the biggest art museum in the world, a tour is highly recommended so that you can see everything. Many tours offer skip-the-line which is great as the Louvre welcomes 15,000 visitors a day. After your tour has finished, you will also be allowed to explore by yourself for as long as you wish. Check availability for tours of The Louvre here.
Opera Garnier
The Grand Foyer in the Opera Garnier
Opened in 1875 and built by Charles Garnier under the instruction of Napoleon III, the Palais Garnier is a renowned opera house and holds a prime position in Paris’s ballet and classical music world. At the time of its opening, it was the largest theatre and opera house in the world. The architecture of this whole building is enchanting. Garnier wanted the building to complement the opera-goers and show off their wealth.
A tour of this amazing building will include taking in the outstanding staircase, the beautiful Rotonde des Abonnés and the auditorium. An expert will be able to answer any questions that you have as well as tell you all about the fascinating history of the building. For more information and to check availability for the Opera Garnier click here.
Tours a bit outside of Paris
Monet’s Gardens
Monet's garden and pond with the famous Japanese bridge
Just over an hour outside Paris lies the beautiful house and gardens of Claude Monet. Monet was a famous French artist and one of the most prolific practitioners of French Impressionist painting. It is often said that Monet’s paintings motivated the development of what we now call “Modern Art”. His most expensive painting, “Meules” (Haystacks), sold for $110.7 million in 2019. More of his famous paintings include Water Lillies, Artist’s Garden at Giverny, Irises and The Japanese Footbridge. All these paintings (and many more) were parts of Monet’s garden and they were created in Monet’s studio. You can visit his house, garden and studio all at his house in Giverny.?
The property has been restored back to exactly how it was when Monet lived there. On a tour of Monet’s house and gardens you can see the gorgeous grounds where Monet took inspiration for his paintings as well as the actual studio where he would create his art and the house where he would spend time with his family. To learn more about Monet’s Gardens then check out our blog post, "6 of the best day trips from Paris for the perfect escape".
For a day trip to Monet's Gardens, transport is included and as Giverny is so close to Paris, the whole trip only takes half a day. Leaving you plenty of time to see everything you want inside the city as well. Check availability for tours of Monet’s Giverny house here.?
Loire Valley
Chateau de Chambord
For a Paris tour that is a bit off the beaten track, be sure to check out the Loire Valley. The Loire Valley is an area spanning 170 miles across the Loire river. Often called the “Garden of France”, the Valley is home to over 300 chateaux, some dating back to the 10th century. These chateaux are gorgeous and some have even inspired castles in Disney films! While on a tour of the Loire Valley you will be able to see multiple chateaux and perhaps do some wine tasting! Going to the Loire Valley is a great way to escape from Paris for the day and to learn about and experience the old French aristocracy. For more information about the Loire Valley then check out our blog post, "6-day trips from Paris for the perfect escape".
Thank You From easyGuide
We hope you found our guide to Paris tours useful. Don't forget you can find tickets to the top attractions, activities, experiences and tours in Paris here.
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