Guided tours are one of the best ways to get to know an unfamiliar city. And Paris is one of the best places to take a guided tour. Between the crowds in peak season and the range of sites and landmarks to visit, it\u2019s easy to miss out on some of the best spots. An experienced guide can help point you in the right direction.<\/p>\n
Read on to get our pro tips on the best guided tours of Paris in English. With our advice, you\u2019ll soon have inside knowledge of the French capital to rival Arsene Lupin<\/strong>, the fictional gentleman thief and master of disguise who recently starred in the Netflix series Lupin<\/em>. This should help you stay one step ahead of the police and the bad guys \u2014 or in your case, out of the tourist traps and ahead of the hordes of tourists.<\/p>\n This blog post gives you the lowdown on:<\/p>\n Many tour guides specialise in a neighbourhood or monument of the French capital.<\/p>\n For the Eiffel Tower<\/strong>, here\u2019s one highly recommended guided tour<\/a> of Paris\u2019s most famous landmark. This tour gives you guaranteed access, options to go right to the summit, and insights into the history of this architectural wonder.<\/p>\n If the Louvre Museum<\/strong> is more what you\u2019re after, the Highlights & Mona Lisa tour<\/a> with an art historian lets you skip the long wait lines and see all the best masterpieces on display. You\u2019ll find similar guided tours like this one<\/a> for Versailles Palace<\/strong>.<\/p>\n But perhaps you\u2019re short on time and would prefer to take in multiple iconic sights <\/strong>of Paris in a single day? Our private boat tours <\/strong>provide live guided commentary in English. They allow you to see a different side of the Eiffel Tower and Louvre Museum as well as Notre-Dame Cathedral, Orsay Museum, and many more sights. All in 1 go, and all with your feet up.<\/p>\n For more about our guided boat tours, just follow the button.<\/p>\n<\/div> Consider the type of tour you want. Are you looking for a free guided tour or the extra services of a private tour? Do you want to spend an hour at a sight or a whole day exploring a monument? Do you want to tour the city on foot<\/strong>, by bike<\/strong>, by bus<\/strong> or by boat<\/strong>? Would you prefer to be outside in the streets or inside the museums? Are you more interested in art, culture, history, or food? For example, there\u2019s the Paris Walking Food Tour<\/a> for foodies and the Versailles Palace Bike Tour<\/a> for cycling enthusiasts.<\/p>\n Our personal favourite \u2014 we would say this, wouldn\u2019t we \ud83d\ude05 \u2014 is a private boat tour<\/strong> of Paris with live guided commentary in English. This lets you combine food, drinks, relaxation, and sightseeing. Which is handy if you\u2019re traveling with children or have had enough of traipsing up and down city streets.<\/p>\n<\/div> First off, check that your tour guide speaks English<\/strong>. Most tour guides now display their languages on their website or on platforms like Tripadvisor.<\/p>\n Your tour guide also needs to be friendly and knowledgeable<\/strong>. Local tour guides grew up in the city, making them a mine of information if you\u2019re visiting Paris for the first time. But don\u2019t discount tour guides who aren\u2019t local to Paris \u2014 they too were once visitors to Paris, so they have a good feel for what other visitors like you might appreciate the most.<\/p>\n Of course, you can\u2019t know for sure what a tour guide is like until you take the tour. So look at ratings<\/strong> on Tripadvisor or directly on the guide\u2019s website. If most people are happy, there\u2019s a fair chance you will be too.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If there is a particular reason you are visiting Paris \u2014 for the food, wine, art, culture, or history of the city \u2014 be sure to pick a guided tour that caters to your interests<\/strong>. In Paris, you will find tours to match your every whim and desire. So be selective.<\/p>\n If you want to visit one of the big monuments like the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre Museum, look for guided tours that contain the words \u201cskip the line<\/strong>.\u201d The wait lines in peak season can be monstrous. Pick the right guided tour and save yourself a long and boring wait.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The big guided tours are undoubtedly more affordable for travellers on a budget. But private tours give you a more personalized experience away from the jostling crowds.<\/p>\n At My Paris River, we run private boat tours <\/strong>that allow you to take in many of the major landmarks while you put your feet up, sip a glass of champagne, and listen to your favorite music.<\/p>\n Sound like something you might be interested in?<\/p>\n<\/div> You can book directly through Tripadvisor or similar tourist websites. Do click through to the guide\u2019s website if you can. You may find better deals and better customer support.<\/p>\n The price of a guided tour of Paris varies enormously. There are free guided tours available, for example the Montmartre Free Walking Tour<\/a>. Cheaper guided tours cost between \u20ac40 and \u20ac65 per person. All have terms and conditions, so check these carefully before you book.<\/p>\n And then there are private tours such as our boat tours<\/a> with live guided commentary from our skippers. Expect to pay between \u20ac60 and \u20ac100 per person, depending on the number of people you book for and the itinerary you pick. You can also postpone or cancel your tour. Just make sure to do so 48 or 96 hours ahead of time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
What sights can you visit with guided tours?<\/h3>\n
Types of guided tour in Paris<\/h2>\n
Picking the right tour guide<\/h2>\n
Things to consider before booking a guided tour of Paris<\/h2>\n
Are private tours worth the extra cost?<\/h3>\n
How to book guided tours of Paris in English<\/h3>\n