Paris Tours: Every Way to Experience the City
There is no single right way to see Paris, and that is the point of this page. You can climb the great landmarks, lose yourself in the world’s finest museums, wander the historic quarters on foot or by bike, eat and drink your way through French gastronomy, catch a glittering cabaret, or escape the city on a day trip to a château, a battlefield or another country. Which is right for you depends on your interests, your time, and how you like to travel. Below is a guide to the options, grouped by how visitors actually plan a trip, with links through to a full guide on each. Wherever you start, one tip applies almost everywhere: the famous sights get crowded, so booking ahead and considering skip-the-line access makes the biggest difference to your day.
The Famous Landmarks
Paris’s great sights are famous for good reason, and for a first visit they are close to essential. Go up the Eiffel Tower for the view that defines the city, and climb the Arc de Triomphe at the top of the Champs-Élysées for a panorama that includes the tower itself. The Louvre is the world’s largest museum, so vast that a guided highlights tour pays off, while the Musée d’Orsay holds the greatest collection of Impressionist art in a magnificent former railway station. On the Île de la Cité, the restored Notre-Dame cathedral and the stained-glass jewel of Sainte-Chapelle sit side by side, and beneath the streets lie the haunting Catacombs. Grandest of all the day sights, the Palace of Versailles just outside the city is a full day in itself.
Exploring the Neighbourhoods
Paris rewards wandering as much as ticking off monuments. Climb to Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur for the hilltop artists’ village and its sweeping views; explore Le Marais for medieval streets, mansions, Jewish heritage and some of the city’s best food; and cross to the Left Bank and Latin Quarter, the intellectual heart of Paris with its Sorbonne, bookshops and literary cafés. And no trip is complete without a Seine river cruise, which glides past the great landmarks from the water and is especially magical after dark.
Choosing How to Tour
However you like to travel, there is a way that suits you. A private tour gives you your own guide and a tailored itinerary, ideal for families and couples, while a small group tour is sociable and better value, ideal for solo travellers. At the top end, a VIP or luxury tour brings expert guides, chauffeured transport and even exclusive after-hours access to the sights. Whatever the format, skip-the-line access is one of the most valuable things to book at the busy major attractions. On foot, a walking tour is the classic, immersive way to explore a quarter; to cover more ground, a bike tour links the landmarks actively, an e-bike tour does the same effortlessly for any fitness level, and a Segway tour offers a fun, novel glide past the sights. Travelling with children? A family tour keeps the city engaging for all ages.
Food, Wine & French Gastronomy
France is famous for its food, and Paris is one of the world’s great culinary cities. Taste your way through a neighbourhood on a food tour, sampling bread, cheese, charcuterie and pastries; settle in for a wine and cheese tasting to learn the classic French pairing; or explore the lively food markets where Parisians shop. To get hands-on, join a cooking class and prepare a full French meal with a chef, or a pastry and baking class to master croissants or macarons. And for something beyond food, a perfume workshop lets you blend your own fragrance, drawing on France’s great perfume heritage.
Evenings & Entertainment
Paris earns its name as the City of Light after dark. An evening or night tour shows the illuminated landmarks and the sparkling Eiffel Tower at their most magical, whether by cruise, drive or walk. For a classic, glamorous Parisian night out, a cabaret show brings the feathers, sequins and famous can-can of the Moulin Rouge and other legendary venues.
Day Trips from Paris
When you are ready to leave the city for a day, the surrounding region and beyond offer some of the most memorable experiences of a trip. Art and garden lovers should head to Giverny, to see the water-lily gardens where Monet painted; history lovers to the fairytale châteaux of the Loire Valley, or to the moving Normandy D-Day beaches and the wider battlefields of the First and Second World Wars. Wine lovers can tour the cellars of the Champagne region, while those wanting to add another country can reach Belgium — Bruges or Brussels — by fast train. And for families, Disneyland Paris is a magical day out, a short trip from the centre.
Something Different, and the Practicalities
If you have already seen the icons, or simply want to discover a more personal side of the city, seek out unique Paris experiences — the hidden gems, offbeat tours and one-of-a-kind activities beyond the guidebook highlights. And to start and end your trip smoothly, a pre-booked airport transfer takes the stress out of getting between the airport and the city, especially after a long flight or with luggage.
Not Sure Where to Start?
A few pointers. First-time visitors should prioritise the famous landmarks — the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and a Seine cruise are the essential trio — and book skip-the-line access for the busiest of them. Add a walking tour of a neighbourhood like Montmartre or Le Marais to get under the city’s skin, and a food tour to taste why Paris is a capital of gastronomy. With more time, pick a day trip that matches your interests — Versailles for grandeur, Giverny for Monet, or Normandy for history. And for a romantic evening, nothing beats the illuminated city on an evening tour.