Paris tours
Paris has one of the most developed transit system based on three major ways of transport managed by the R.A.T.P. state company: – R.E.R.: rapid regional and local transit system
• Métro: Paris subway
• Bus: for Paris and suburb
• Just ask for Paris Metro map in any metro station.
(see also Getting around Paris, France page)
Anyway, it’s by walking that you will appreciate Paris the most. Unless you choose the guided tours by bus of Touring scope. To do so, here is a variety of city tours that you will choose according to your schedule, fitness and your tastes.
On the other hand don’t miss the Bateau Mouche cruises by day or night (boats are equipped with heavy flood lights to show the monuments), you can even have dinner on board. Monuments and museums hours of opening change according to the season. You better inquire first with your Paris hotel receptionist. Versailles Palace ‘s visit takes half a day at the minimum, it is about 30 to 40 mn. away from Paris by train.
1-day Paris tour :
• Pace – Maker…
Morning
1- Eiffel Tower, Paris
Métro: “Trocadero” line 6 and 9.
You will get the best shots of the Eiffel Tower from the Trocadero Esplanade
2 – Arc de Triomphe-Champs Elysées
Métro: “Franklin Roosevelt” line 9 Direction “Mairie de Montreuil”.
You are at the bottom of the Champs Elysées, for the best perspective of the Arc de Triomphe. From there you can walk towards the Place de la Concorde and even keep going to the Louvre Museum or you can take the subway running underneath, line1 Direction “Chateau de Vincennes”, get off at “Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre”
Afternoon
3 – Musée du Louvre, Paris
Métro: “Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre” line1 Direction “Chateau de Vincennes”.
Let’s go back into time from the Antiquity to the Sixth century, the Must being the Aile Richelieu. You can even have lunch in the biggest museum on earth since it offers a variety of Paris restaurants and cafeterias.
4 – Notre-Dame de Paris
Métro: “Chatelet” line 1 Direction “Chateau de Vincennes”.
This huge upside down stone vessel, masterpiece of Gothic architecture, is anchored by the Seine on the Ile de la Cité, birthplace of Paris next to the Latin Quarter on the left bank (Rive Gauche).
• The Hiker…
Morning
1 – Palais de Chaillot
Métro: “Trocadéro”, line 6 and 9.
Nothing better than a sunrise on the Eiffel Tower, Paris, to start a good day in the City of France. It is from the Palais Chaillot that Madame Eiffel rises at her best. To wait for the opening of the Eiffel Tower (check the opening hours at Eiffel Tower, Paris page) you have the choice between the many cafes of the Trocadéro.
2 – Eiffel Tower, Paris
Métro: “Champs de Mars Tour Eiffel-Bir Hakeim” line 6 Direction “Nation”.
15 mn. walk down towards the Champs de Mars where the Eiffel Tower stands.
3- Arc de Triomphe – Champs Elysées
Métro: “Charles de Gaulle-Etoile” line 6 Direction “Charles de Gaulle-Etoile” and take the Champs Elysées exit.
You can go up the Arc and enjoy the panoramic sight before strolling down “The Voie Triomphale”. But avoid the Champs Elysées if you are a shopping maniac!.. (adore the word dropping? – see Paris shopping page) Just know that you can get back in the métro at any time since line 1 is running right under your feet on its way to Le Louvre Direction “Chateau de Vincennes” get off at “Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre”.
4 – Palais Royal
Métro: “Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre” line1 Direction “Chateau de Vincennes”.
The calm of the gardens and the charm of the shops under the arcades are an excellent transition towards the Paris Museum located across the rue de Rivoli. You might enjoy one of the arcades’ restaurants or Salons de Thé (tea-room), unless you prefer to have lunch within the museum which offers a wide choice of traditional Paris cafes and restaurants.
Afternoon
5 – Le Louvre, Paris
A draconian choice has to be made because a 5 days visit is just sufficient to visit the museum! The Aile Richelieu.
6 – Notre Dame de Paris
Métro: “Chatelet” line 7 Direction “Mairie d’Ivry/Villejuif-Louis Aragon”.
Then 10 mn. walk before going back in time to discover one of the most beautiful pieces of gothic architecture located on the Ile de la Cité, cradle of our capital. No hunchback to welcome you but the shadows of a rich history going back to the XIIth century.
To leave the Ile de la Cité walk across the Pont Double taking you to the left bank (Rive Gauche).
7 – Saint Michel – Quartier Latin
10 mn. walk.
Since you must be starving by now it’s time to head towards St Michel, a famous district of the Latin Quarter, so called because from the middle age up to the beginning of the century scholars from the Sorbonne, Paris, used to communicate in Latin.
Side streets from Place St Michel are well known for their variety of Greek, and Mediterranean restaurants and their cheerful atmosphere.
2-days Paris tour:
• Historical…
Day 1 of Paris tour
Morning
1 – Middle-Age Museum Hotel de Cluny
Metro: “Cluny la Sorbonne” line 10 or R.E.R. B.
Built on the ruins of a roman public bath, for the Abbots of Cluny, this XVIth century castle, France, is housing the famous XVth century tapestry “Lady with unicorn”.
2 – Notre-Dame de Paris
15 mn. walk down the Boulevard St Michel will take you to the Ile de la Cité where the Parisians, our Gaul ancestors used to live out of fishing and trading from their dugout canoes. As the historical heart of Paris this Island was also the birthplace of Christianity in France under the late Roman Empire (3rd to 5th century A.D.) with a first cathedral built during the 4th century. Notre Dame de Paris, jewel of Gothic architecture was built from the XIIth century until its consecration in 1345.
3 – Sainte Chapelle
Still on the Ile de la Cité, 10 mn. walk will take you to this jewel of gothic style consecrated in 1248 to exhibit some Jesus-Christ relics bought for an outrageous price by Philippe Auguste to the Byzantine Empire. Let’s cross to the right bank. A 5 mn. walk to the Tour St Jacques.
4 – Tour St Jacques
5 mn. walk. This magnificent bell tower is the only remain of a former church built in the “Gothique flamboyant” style. It used to be a protected halt on the pilgrimage way to St Jacques de Compostelle at a time when traveling wasn’t a safe experience. For your lunch there are many brasseries, restaurants and cafés rue de Rivoli on your way to the Louvre, Paris, unless you prefer to wait until you get to the Paris museum offering a choice of cafés and restaurants.
Afternoon
5 – Louvre, Paris
A15 mn. walk along rue de Rivoli will lead you to one of the former royal palaces built on the ruins of the old Philippe Auguste defensive wall, converted into the largest museum throughout the world. Start with the visit of the Aile Richelieu covering a range of collections going from the Antiquity to the Sixth century. After this art history class, you deserve a break in the Palais Royal garden to catch a breath, on the other side of rue de Rivoli.
6 – Le Marais
Métro: “St Paul” line 1 Direction “Chateau de Vincennes”.
From the XIIth century some religious fraternities started drying up this swamp area north of the Philippe Auguste wall permitting later the urbanization of Le Marais which remains today a typical medieval district. With your map of Paris in hand, you will enjoy this maze of narrow streets where the traditional Jewish shopkeepers find themselves in competition with the gay ones. You will find a multitude of mansions such as beautiful Hotel Salé, today Picasso Museum, as well as many art galleries. Don’t miss the Place des Vosges where Victor Hugo used to live (museum in his former apartment at n° 6).
Day 2 of Paris tour Morning
7 – Bastille, Paris
A 10 mn walk from Place des Vosges will take you to the former location of the famous Bastille prison. The fortress assaulted by the angry mob had to surrender on the 14th of July 1789.
A clever constructor hired every bum roaming the streets he could find to dismantle the fortress and sell the stones for building monuments in various provinces and the Pont de la Concorde in Paris. This bridge is still standing strong but one can’t tell the same of the Bastille Opera built on the very spot where stood the prison. Less than ten years after its opening it already had to be restored!…
8 – Versailles Palace
Transport: Versailles is equipped with 3 train stations, the closest one to the “Chateau” being “Versailles Rive Gauche” on the R.E.R. C Direction “Versailles Rive Gauche”. To enjoy your day, leave Paris early to be there at the opening time.
The “Sun-King” Palace, one of the most visited monuments in France. After the visit of the royal apartments a stroll in the Paris Jardins à la française of the terrace is a must. Return to Paris by “Versailles Rive Gauche” line R.E.R. C all trains are going to Paris: Get off at “Invalides”.
9- Invalides
Métro/train: “Invalides” line R.E.R. C. Louis the XIV ordered the Hotel des Invalides to take care of his wounded soldiers who had no other means of surviving than begging or stealing. This was the second major architectural project of his reign after Versailles. On July 14th 1789 the revolutionaries got hold of 23 000 fire weapons stocked in the basement with the help of the veterans before marching towards la Bastille. Under the golden couple lie Napoleon’s ashes. The Army museum, in the main building, grew out of the reunion of the Artillery Museum (opened in 1797) and the Army Historical Museum (opened in 1897). To cross over to the right bank take Pont ALexandre III and walk straight towards the Avenue des Champs Elysées. On your way up the Champs Elysées you will find a variety of Paris restaurants and fast foods, before reaching the Arc de Triomphe.
10- The Arc de Triomphe
Métro: “Charles de Gaulle-Etoile” line 1 Direction “Grande Arche de la Défense”. Ordered by Napoléon in 1806 this monument to the glory of the Great Army will be inaugurated in 1836. From the top, you can see the Sacré Coeur Basilica in Montmartre overlooking the North of Paris, it will be our next stop.
11 – Montmartre
Métro: “Anvers” line 2 Direction “Nation”. Then catch the funicular to take you up to the Basilique du Sacré Coeur erected after the Commune Revolution of 1871 as the expression of popular remorse after the atrocities which occurred during the bloodiest revolt of French history. Montmartre remains before all an artist district made famous by the Impressionists and the Cubists. The artists of the Place du Tertre will draw your portrait on request, be sure they won’t wait for it!…
12 – Pigalle
Going down from Montmartre, near the Place Pigalle you will find the famous cabaret Moulin Rouge, Paris, birthplace of the French Cancan, where the painter Toulouse-Lautrec used to select his models.
*Before making this Paris tour you probably need to look through Paris History page.
2-days Paris Tour:
Artistic…
• Day 1
Morning
1 – Middle Age Museum
Métro: “Cluny-La Sorbonne” line R.E.R. B. Built on the ruins of Roman baths this mansion of the late XVth century exhibits, among other treasures, the famous “Lady with the unicorn” tapestry. Strolling down the Boulevard St Michel you get to the Pont au Change taking you to the Ile de la Cité in the middle of the Seine, the cradle of Paris.
2 – Sainte Chapelle
10 mn. walk, on the Ile de la Cité this masterpiece of “light” Gothic style displays some Jesus-Christ relics under the red and blue light of its famous stain-glasses. Built by St Louis between 1241 and 1248, it is a “Palatine” chapel with two levels: the lower chapel for the public and the higher one for the king.
3 – Musée d’Orsay, Paris
Métro: “Orsay” from “St Michel” R.E.R. line C Direction “Montigny Beauchamp/Argenteuil/Versailles R.G./St Quentin en Yvelines”.
This former railway-station is now dedicated to the late XIXth and early XXth century Paris art. This very prolific period is illustrated through the exhibition of painting, sculpture, graphic and decorative art as well as architecture, urbanization and the birth of movie-film.
Don’t miss the Paris restaurant, you feel like attending an opening, a glass of wine in your hand.
Afternoon
4 – Musée Rodin
A digestive walk through rue de Bellechasse will take you rue de Varenne to the Hotel de Biron, a nice sample of “Rococo” architecture divided into several artist workshops when the sculptor settled down in 1908 on the advice of his secretary Rainer Maria Rilke. Old age coming, Rodin offered most of his work to the Hotel de Biron, then split into several artist studios. Then the City of Paris took over and turned it into this charming museum.
5 – Musée Picasso
Métro: “St Paul” from “Varenne” line 13 Direction “Asnières-Gennevilliers/St Denis Basilique” change at “Champs Elysées-Clemenceau” to line 1 Direction “Chateau de Vincennes”.
Located in the Hotel Salé built in 1659 by a tax collector it has been described as a “New rich house” considering the luxury of its adornments.
Picasso used to describe himself as “The greatest collector of Picasso’s on earth”. It explains why his heirs having to pay a fortune of inheritance taxes decided to trade with the Tax Department a selection of Picasso’s work which happens to be the display of typical pieces of every period of this major master of contemporary art.
Take advantage of your visit to the museum to walk around the beautiful Marais district typical of the Middle-Age urbanization.
6 – Montmartre
Métro: “Pigalle”, line 1 Direction “Grande Arche de la Défense” change at “Concorde” take line 12 Direction “Porte de la Chapelle” then walk up to the funicular station.
From the stairs of the Basilique du Sacré Coeur you can enjoy the best sight of Paris at one glance. The artists glance is also what made Montmartre famous. It is the birthplace of modern art in France and around. Great impressionists painters such as Corot, Renoir and Degas were joined later by the Fauvists, Cubists then Futurists.
Before 1914 one could come across Van Dongen, Juan Gris, Vlaminck, Braque, Cézanne or Picasso who painted “The Demoiselles d’Avignon” in 1907.
The Place du Tertre and its many portrait painters perpetuate this “Esprit de Bohème”, in a much more commercial way, one must admit!…
Day 2
Morning
7 – Louvre, Paris:
Métro: “Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre” line 1 and 7.
Five days being just enough to visit the largest museum worldwide you better start your visit with the Aile Richelieu, there you will enjoy the discovery of art history from Sumerian Antiquity to XIXth century.
Afternoon
8- Rue de Seine:
Leaving the Louvre, Paris let’s cross the Seine on the Passerelle des Arts leading to the rue de Seine famous for its many art galleries. Don’t worry for lunch there are bistorts on your way… Don’t neglect the side streets it’s a nice district to stroll around. Going up rue de Seine you will discover the charming Place de Furstenberg where the painter Eugène Delacroix used to live, his house has been turned into the Delacroix Museum. Keep going through rue St Sulpice on your right; in the shade of this austere Rococo church flourish religious and profane art shops.
9- Saint Sulpice:
Ignored by most of the tourist itinerary this church offers both a refreshing halt and a rich display of art work of Viet and XVIIIth century through paintings and sculptures of Delacroix, Van Loo, Bouchardon, Pigalle… The XVIIIth century organ attracts many music lovers every Sunday.
10- Rue Bonaparte
From the Place Saint Sulpice turn right into the Rue Bonaparte and going down the left sidewalk you will come across African and Contemporary art galleries ending by the Ecole des Beaux Arts (School of Fine Arts) located in ancients buildings (Viet and XVIIIth century) overlooked by the oldest Paris cathedral, the Monastère des Petits Augustins.
Cross the street and proceed on the opposite sidewalk. Have a look in the crossing streets on your left while going back toward the Place St Germain where you will deserve an “aperitif” with the shadow of Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir at the “Deux Magots” terrace unless you prefer to cross the street for a drink in the publishers sanctuary, the brasserie “Lipp”.
The City of Lights
Paris tour: Illuminations and Moulin Rouge Show
At dusk, Paris becomes the “City of Lights” and tonight you can admire its fascinating history, its tree-lined boulevards with their animated cafes, and all the brilliantly illuminated monuments and squares including Concorde and Vendôme Squares, Pigalle and Blanches squares, Opera, Madeleine Church, rue Royale, Champs Elysées, Arc de Triomphe, Trocadero, Invalides, Notre Dame, Chatelet Square.
Then continue your evening at the Moulin Rouge, the home of the French Cancan for more than a century. Sit back with your complimentary glass of champagne and wait in anticipation before “Féerie” bursts onto the stage…
The theatre lights go down, the curtain is raised and the entire troupe appears, under the admiring gaze of the audience who find themselves entering the Garden of the Moulin Rouge. From this moment on, let yourself be enthralled by the beauty of the Doriss Girls and the Doriss Dancers!
“Féerie” consists of a troupe of 100 artists, including the 60 Doriss Girls which have been recruited world-wide; 1000 costumes of feathers, rhinestones and sequins and set up in the most famous Parisian workshops; sumptuous sets in shimmering colors uniquely designed by Italian artists; the best outstanding international acts; and the awaited return of the giant Aquarium…
Please note:
In winter, travelers usually see the first show at 9:00pm, however occasionally, the Moulin Rouge, Paris, allocate seats to the second show at 11:00pm. In this case, you will enjoy a complimentary cruise in between the Illuminations and the Show
In summer, the tour departs later and travelers see the second Moulin Rouge show at 11:00pm
The closest metro station is Metro Tuileries. When you arrive at Metro Tuileries, exit onto Rue de Rivoli. The exit is along the Tuileries Gardens. Cross the road (there is a pedestrian crossing with a traffic light) to get to the Paris Vision Office. The office is located under one of the arcades opposite the exit of the Metro Station.
Departure Time:
9:00pm from April 01 to October 31 (Summer)
7:00pm from November 01 to March 31 (Winter)
Pricing Policy:
Adult prices apply to all travelers
Children aged 13 years and under are not permitted
Children aged 14 to 16 are not recommended, however if you choose to take your teenager, it is at your own discretion. All teenagers must be accompanied by an adult and they will not be served alcoholic beverages.
Paris tour: Seine Cruise, Illuminations and Dinner on the Champs-Elysees
This evening begins with a cruise on the river Seine where you will sail under all the famous illuminated bridges of Paris. The cruise is followed by a drive around the illuminated capital, then dinner on the Champs-Elysees. The best tables have been reserved for you – choose from two trendy restaurants and several choices of menus and drinks.
Tour will not operate on February 14 (Valentines Day), December 24 (Christmas Eve) or December 31 (New Years Eve)
Departure Point:
Paris Vision Office, located at 214 rue de Rivoli.
The closest metro station is Metro Tuileries. When you arrive at Metro Tuileries, exit onto Rue de Rivoli. The exit is along the Tuileries Gardens. Cross the road (there is a pedestrian crossing with a traffic light) to get to the Paris Vision Office. The office is located under one of the arcades opposite the exit of the Metro Station.
Departure Time:
8:45pm from April 01 to October 31 (Summer)
6:30pm from November 01 to March 31 (Winter)
Return Details:
Tour returns to original departure point
Pricing Policy:
This tour is not suitable for children aged 17 years and under