Take a boat ride on the Seine at night — the cathedral totally illuminated makes an inspiring sight.
The cathedral of Notre Dame is a masterpiece of French-Gothic architecture and the ceremonial focus of Catholic Paris for the last seven hundred years. The cathedral's immense interior is a marvel of medieval architecture; it holds about 6,000 people.
Many individually crafted statues are placed around the outside, serving as column supports and gutters. Among these are the famous gargoyles, designed to let water run off them, and chimeras.
As you walk around, try and imagine the exterior and statues as they originally were - bright and vibrant with colour. The cathedral was essentially complete in 1345.
You can ascend to the top up a narrow climb of 387 steps. It is possible to view its famous bell and the gargoyles at close quarters, as well as spectacular views across Paris nearer the top. You can see how Paris has grown outwards from its centre - the Île de la Cité.
Although it is lauded for its sublime architecture, there are all sorts of minor anomalies as a result of centuries of aesthetic intervention. You enter through trio of main entrances all shaped slightly differently. If anything, however, these differences only add to the cathedral’s charm. As you walk around inside, make sure to take in the beautiful stained-glass rose windows at the east end.
Notre-Dame de Paris was among the first buildings in the world to use the flying buttress. The architects added them to support the fracturing walls around the choir at the east end during its building in 1163.
During the Revolution, the cathedral was rededicated to the Cult of Reason, and subsequently to the Cult of the Supreme Being. Many of the treasures of the cathedral were sadly destroyed or plundered.
During this fabulous four-hour walking tour of Paris, you will explore the most interesting and diverse central neighbourhoods the French capital has to offer. See the sights at your own pace and adapt your tour with your guide who will be happy to offer suggestions based on your preferences.
On your private half-day highlights tour, you will:
Explore Île de la Cité, one of the two remaining natural islands in the Seine River, considered the historic heart of Paris.
The medieval city of Paris was refounded here with the magnificent Sainte-Chapelle and the former prison, the Conciergerie. While on Île de la Cité, you will have time to walk around the hauntingly beautiful Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral.
The Latin Quarter along the Left Bank was so named because, until the French Revolution, university students in the area spoke only Latin to their professors.
You will visit this famed neighbourhood to immerse yourself in the Parisian atmosphere of yesteryear, whilst exploring the medieval streets and meandering through fantastic shops like Shakespeare and Company bookshop, Place Saint-Michel, and its gorgeous fountain.
As the tour continues, you will learn little-known facts about the French Revolution. You will be exploring the beautiful Tuileries Gardens and the Place de la Concorde, the site at which Louis XVI was beheaded during the French Revolution. Whilst here, do not forget to look out for the magnificent Champs-Élysées, the most famous shopping avenue in the world.
Lastly, you will stop off at the Pont Alexander III, the most beautiful bridge in Paris, where you can enjoy a splendid view of the Eiffel Tower and beyond the majestic Seine. J’aime Paris.
Experience the highlights of Paris, the City of Lights and romance on this fabulous half-day private driving tour in a vintage 2CV with your expert driver guide.
On your private tour, you will:
Paris – the city of lights! What better way to tour this most romantic of cities than on a driving tour in a vintage 2CV!
On this half tour of Parisian highlights, you’ll be picked up and dropped off at locations of your choice, then begin with a drive up the Champs Elysees. Paris’s famous shopping avenue, named for the Elysian Fields, culminates with the iconic Arc de Triomphe, a monument to those who fought and died during the Revolution, Napoleonic Wars, and World Wars.
Drive to Opera Garnier (site of ‘Phantom of the Opera’ for more snaps, and then the stunning Place Vendôme, home of the Paris Ritz, featuring a monument to commemorate the victory at Austerlitz in 1805. You’ll drive around Place de la Concorde (the largest square in the city), with its obelisk marking the location of the guillotine, under which King Louis XVI was executed.
Drive along the river Seine and see the beautiful Musée d’Orsay, a former train station turned art gallery, and of course, stop by the Louvre. The former royal palace of the French royals, with its modern glass pyramid and largest, is the grandest museum in Paris.
Explore the wonders of the Latin Quarter, where Hemingway lived, and be famed for its university and the Paris Pantheon. Stand in awe at the gothic masterpiece that is Notre Dame Cathedral – still standing despite the raging fire of 2019. See also the Conciergerie – a former palace, turned jail of the Revolution and today it is still the Paris judiciary.
Take in the outside beauty of Sainte Chappelle (featuring the most impressive stained glass windows in the world). Then, visit the quintessentially French Trocadero where you will have the opportunity to snap some beautiful photos and catch some great views of the world-famous Eiffel Tower.
To conclude this epic tour of the great city of Paris you will head up the hill to Montmartre and the Sacre Coeur Basilica that looks over the city. Here, you’ll be able to stroll along the cobbled streets of this most colourful and bohemian of neighbourhoods, where you will learn more about the fascinating life and works of Renoir, Picasso, Gauguin, and Van Gogh, all of whom lived and worked here. The perfect way to experience the city if you have limited time, and also a great way to find out what to focus on for the rest of your trip.
Tours can be adapted to suit your needs and interests – just get in contact with us!
Uncover the history and art of the quintessentially Parisian neighbourhoods on this tour, your all-inclusive tour includes tickets to the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, and a river cruise.
On your full-day private tour, you will:
Originally one of France’s most lavish royal palaces, and home to some of the most ostentatious Kings of France, the Louvre has fast become the world's most impressive and influential museum of art in the world and is an absolute must for anyone with an interest in art. Your private licensed guide will take you through one of the most expansive and beautiful art collections in the world, where you will see some of the museum’s greatest works that span from 450 BCE to the 19th century, along with several of its lesser-known treasures.
From the museum, your guide will take you to a neighbourhood which truly evokes the ‘je ne sais quoi’ of Parisian nostalgia, where you will see the magnificent Hotel De Ville – the city’s seat of government for over 600 years. Enjoy lunch at your own pace in Le Marais, with recommendations from your guide on the best place to indulge in the local cuisine of your choosing.
Step onto a riverboat to enjoy the magic of the city from the Seine – the geography around which the entire city has been built for thousands of years.
Learn more about the city’s modernization efforts in the 19th century, which brought gas lanterns, parks, sewage systems, schools, and hospitals to the city. Your tour concludes at the city’s most iconic site: the Eiffel Tower, where you will enjoy lift tickets to the second story. Your guide will be sure to give you dinner recommendations before leaving you to marvel at the spectacular panoramic views of the city.
Please note that the "Liberty Leading the People" will be under restoration until further notice.
Embark on a private introductory tour of Paris and explore the Île de la Cité and the Latin Quarter, two iconic Parisian neighbourhoods and enjoy a Seine Cruise for amazing views of the city from the water.
On your private tour, you will:
This is a fascinating introduction and orientation tour of Paris. The Île de la Cité in the middle of the Seine is where the story of Paris, and the history of France truly begins.
Begin the walking portion of your tour at the statue of Henry IV on the Pont Neuf - the oldest bridge in Paris, that crosses onto the Île de la Cité and discover the history of the French Kings as you walk around their medieval castle, the Conciergerie - and learn how it became their brutal prison during the dark days of the Revolution.
Learn all about the French Revolution and its most infamous execution machine, the Guillotine as you stand outside the gates of the Palais du Justice, the courts where all the trials took place.
Admire the Gothic front of Notre Dame - and learn about its incredible 900-year history - as well as its survival during the fire of 2019, before walking off the island, into the Latin Quarter, an historical and vibrant area famed for its gothic churches, the Sorbonne university, and its fun nightlife, with a plethora of jazz bars and eateries.
Visit historical bookshops, once frequented by the likes of Hemingway and Orwell, and explore an area that is renowned for being the starting point of the May 68' Revolution as well as the home of French intellectual thought.
Next, take in the amazing sights of Paris on a return cruise down the River Seine. See the famous landmarks of Paris from the river like the Louvre Museum, Orsay Museum, and the Eiffel Tower to name just a few! Your one-hour cruise ends back at the Pont Neuf.
Important: This tour includes a 2-hour private guided walking tour followed by a 1-hour river cruise with onboard commentary on your own. Your tour guide will walk you to the cruise docking point where they will part ways with you. You can choose to take the cruise at the end of the tour or later during your stay.
Experience the magic of the City of Lights with an evening walk through the most romantic areas of Paris: the medieval Île de la Cité and the Latin Quarter. Take a relaxing and scenic cruise ride along the River Seine with fabulous photo opportunities of famous Parisian landmarks including the Eiffel Tower lit up at night.
On your private tour you will:
Enjoy a magical tour of central medieval Paris lit up at night! Begin by the statue of Good King Henry on the Pont Neuf and follow your expert private guide around the Île de la Cité.
This island, in the middle of the Seine, holds the founding history of Paris and France itself: it is where a Celtic tribe called the Parisi first settled, and later Clovis King of the Franks won after the fall of Rome. Learn the history of the French Kings and Queens as you gaze across to the Louvre Palace, beautifully lit at night, and walk through Place Dauphine.
Admire some Napoleonic decorations to the Palais du Justice, and hear about some of his greatest achievements, and epic losses. As you walk around this stunning beautifully lighted medieval castle, you'll learn that it was once the home of the French Kings - and later became their prison during the Revolution. Hear about the trials, both fair and foul, and decide for yourself if Marie Antoinette was as guilty as she is painted.
Admire the exquisite Gothic facade of Notre Dame - always stunningly lit up at night and hear of its extraordinary history -and survival.
Walk around the trendy, artsy and vibrant Latin Quarter - famous for its plethora of Gothic churches, the Sorbonne University - which gives it its name as Latin was the language of Academia in the middle ages! Pass by famous the Jazz clubs on Rue de la Huchette, and the bars and cafes and bookshops - like Shakespeare and Co - that were frequented by members of the Lost Generation like Hemingway, Orwell and Gertrude Stein.
Finally, return to the Pont Neuf where your guide will leave you to enjoy a romantic evening river cruise along the Seine. This is a wonderful way to see the great monuments of Paris lit up - including the Louvre, the Musee d'Orsay, and of course the piece de resistance: the Eiffel Tower!
Important: This tour includes a 2-hour private guided walking tour followed by a 1-hour river cruise with onboard commentary on your own. Your tour guide will walk you to the cruise docking point where they will part ways with you. You can choose to take the cruise at the end of the tour or later during your stay.
Learn about life under Nazi Occupation during the Second World War on this walking tour of Paris. You'll hear about the French Resistance, the terrifying invasion of Nazi tanks, and the horrific arrest and deportation of the Jews - exactly where it all happened. Learn of quiet daily acts of courage, and how Hitler's generals defied him at the last, which ultimately led to the Liberation of Paris.
On your private half-day tour, you will:
From Nazi Occupiers and Collaborators to French Spies of the Resistance, from famous military heroes to quiet acts of daily courage, from the horrors of the Holocaust to the final triumphant Liberation of Paris, you will discover some of the neighbourhoods and monuments that saw key events take place on this fascinating walking tour of Paris during the Second World War, with an expert and passionate guide.
You'll learn about the hardships of life in Paris under Nazi occupation, like food rationing, poverty and blackouts, as you walk through the charming neighbourhood of Le Marais. Stand in the Pletzl (Yiddish for 'Little Square') the hub and heart of Jewish culture in Paris to hear the horrifying stories of the Holocaust.
You will see evidence of shelling and shrapnel at the Police HQ and hear how the bells of Notre Dame stopped tolling throughout the Occupation, only to ring out once more at the Liberation. Hear about the French Resistance working in underground tunnels, and the role of the Eiffel Tower in disrupting communications.
Learn about Silvia Beech who refused to sell her books to the Gestapo at Shakespeare and Co, Josephine Baker, the nightclub dancer who became an Allied spy; or rumoured collaborators like Gertrude Stein and Coco Chanel.
Hop on a metro to the Tuileries, and walk to Place Vendôme. The Ritz, like all hotels, was requisitioned by the Nazis and was favoured by Hermann Göring, who filled his Imperial Suite with stolen artworks. Later, Ernest Hemingway announced the liberation of Paris from the Champagne bar, which he proceeded to drink dry...
The Hotel Le Meurice became the Headquarters of the military governor of Paris. It is where the German officer Dietrich von Choltitz failed to carry out Hitler's order to level Paris, and lied when Hitler asked "Is Paris burning?" All with consequences that you'll hear about as you reach Place de La Concord and the statue of General Charles de Gaulle on the Champs-Élysées that saw the eventual, triumphant liberation of Paris.
Enjoy a three-hour private walking tour of Paris, and explore the highlights of the French capital with an expert private guide from Montmartre to Notre Dame, followed by an idyllic river cruise along the Seine.
On your private tour, you will:
Begin with an hour's walking tour of Montmartre, the arty and bohemian neighbourhood of Paris, where an enclave of famous painters and artists like Van Gogh, Renoir and Picasso lived. Begin outside the magnificent Sacré-Cœur Basilica with its breathtakingly beautiful panoramic views over the whole of Paris, then enjoy an easy downhill stroll through the cobbled streets of Montmartre, passing through the artist's square, Place du Tertre, the studio Bateaux Lavoir, the Moulin de la Galette, the House of van Gogh and the infamous Moulin Rouge! Learn the fascinating history of this district with its many conflicts between art, religion and the military!
Then hop aboard the Paris Metro, helped by your guide, to the centre of Paris, where you'll enjoy the next part of your walking tour. Marvel at the famous Centre Pompidou building, described by its architect Renzo Piano as a "huge spaceship made of glass", and stroll through the charming Le Marais neighbourhood. This is the medieval and Jewish Quarter of Paris and is today filled with hip boutiques, galleries, and cafes.
Crossing the bridge onto one of the two remaining natural islands in the Seine, the Île de la Cité, you'll explore this historic heart of Paris, where the city was founded. You'll walk around the magnificent and hauntingly beautiful Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral, as it undergoes a renovation after the 2019 fire. Learn all about the beauty of gothic architecture, and the cunning use of gargoyles.
You'll see the Conciergerie, which was the medieval home of the kings of France, and later became their prison! It is next to the Palais du Justice where the Revolutionary trials were held, and it is still a working law court today. Walk through the picturesque Place Dauphine towards the giant bronze equestrian statue of Henry IV on the Pont Neuf (meaning New Bridge - that is actually 500 years old!) and enjoy wonderful views of the castle towers of the Conciergerie and the Louvre.
Your tour finishes at Pont Neuf, where your guide will give you tickets to join a one-hour river cruise that will take you past the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower and many other stunning monuments of Paris that line the river. These tickets can be used any time, any day during your stay in Paris.
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