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If you’re ready to discover the very best of Paris, we’ve got you covered! From iconic landmarks to charming neighborhoods, this city is bursting with unforgettable experiences—and what better way to explore than with a guided tour or day trip?
With so many options to choose from, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.
That’s why we’ve personally tried and tested a variety of experiences to bring you this ultimate guide to the best guided day tours and day trips in Paris. Whether you’re looking to dive into the city’s rich history, sip champagne on the Seine, or venture into the stunning French countryside, these handpicked tours will help you make the most of your Parisian adventure.
Get ready to skip the tourist traps and immerse yourself in the best that Paris has to offer—let’s dive in!
What to Skip in Paris? One thing we have learned after visiting Paris a few times is that the free tours are not really the best option. Although they seem more affordable at first glance, by the time you tip the recommended amount of $15 to $20 per person, the “free” tours are not much cheaper than some paid tours and are much less professional. On the free tours, the guides are volunteers who are oftentimes university students. On paid tours, you’ll get expert guides who have been trained and have tons of knowledge. To us, paid tours are always the better option.
Quick Pick: Our Favorite Day Tour

Don’t have time to read the full article?
Our personal FAVORITE tour in Paris was this guided tour of the Eiffel Tower! We learned so much about this iconic sight and our guide a ton of fun. Check out the 900+ 5-star reviews and reserve this tour here.
Tip: This tour is very popular – book it now and get FREE cancellation 24 hours before you depart.
- Quick Pick: Our Favorite Day Tour
- Top Day Tours & Day Trips in Paris, France
- 1. Guided tour to the TOP of the Eiffel Tower
- 2. Go on a dinner cruise
- 3. Join the best walking tour of the city
- 4. Take a tour of the Louvre
- 5. Tour the Palace of Versailles
- 6. Join a delicious food tour!
- 7. Learn about D-Day in Normandy
- 8. Learn to bake croissants
- 9. Tour Champagne on a day trip
- 10. Day trip to the Loire Valley Castles
- Where to Stay in Paris, France
- Thanks for reading!
- Why We Book Tours with Viator
- Don't Forget Travel Insurance!
Top Day Tours & Day Trips in Paris, France
1. Guided tour to the TOP of the Eiffel Tower


Now, let’s be honest: no trip to Paris would be complete without going to the top of the Eiffel Tower! And if you want the full experience, we highly recommend this guided tour.
We booked this tour because it not only included entry to the Eiffel Tower, but we also had a guide who took us to all of the different levels and taught us about the history of this iconic landmark. After all, it’s one of the most famous buildings in the entire world, so we thought we might as well go for an in-depth experience!
Our guide, Ruth, was fantastic. She knew so much of the Eiffel Tower’s history, which turned out to be super interesting! She also ensured that we had plenty of time at each level to snap beautiful photos of Paris and just enjoy the spectacular views.
There are a few options available for this tour: you can go to the second level of the tower for $67 USD, or include a visit to the summit for $84 USD.
Of course, we just had to go all the way to the top, and it was definitely worth it. The top floor is over 161 meters (528 ft) higher than the second floor, so the views are just incredible. Don’t get me wrong, the second floor is still pretty amazing, but I highly recommend choosing the summit access option to get the full Eiffel Tower experience!
This particular tour is unique because you can also Seine River Cruise after your Eiffel Tower experience. This is a fantastic option if you’re short on time and want to see the most while in Paris!
Check out the 1,000+ glowing reviews and book this iconic Paris experience here.
2. Go on a dinner cruise


Paris is the city of love, and what better way to spend an evening in the world’s most romantic city than on a luxurious dinner cruise along the Seine? We had an incredible evening taking in the sights of Paris lit up at night.
The riverbanks of the Seine are actually UNESCO-listed because they’re home to so many notable landmarks! So taking a cruise is a must while you’re in the city, but enjoying a 3-4 course gourmet meal with wine and champagne on board really takes the experience to the next level. We absolutely loved it.
The views were beautiful, the food was delicious, and the service was 5-star. We saw so much as we enjoyed our meal, including the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Grand Palais, the Louvre, and more!
There was also a photographer on board snapping photos, and a very talented local singer performed after dinner, which was a nice surprise. All in all, it was a super romantic experience, so it’s a must for couples, but it’s ideal for anyone who wants the VIP experience. It definitely injected a lot of glamor into our trip to Paris.
Plus, with over 4,000 5-star reviews, we aren’t the only ones who loved this experience! See all the positive things people are saying about the cruise here.
Prices for the dinner cruise start at $137 USD per person, although it varies according to the menu you choose. If that’s a little steep for you, there’s also the lunch cruise, which runs during the daytime and starts at $87 USD. It’s just as fabulous, with over 1,600 5-star reviews!
3. Join the best walking tour of the city


Paris is absolutely chock-full of iconic sights, and we found that the best way to see them all was to join this top-rated walking tour! This way, we didn’t miss out on any must-see attractions, and we didn’t have to plan a route or try to navigate ourselves. Instead, we had our awesome guide, Olivia, to show us the way and teach us about Paris’ 2,000-year history.
If you’re just in Paris for a few days on a city break, this tour is a must! We couldn’t believe how many landmarks we saw on this tour, including the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Moulin Rouge, the Champs Elysees, and the Sacre-Coeur Basilica. It really allowed us to make the most of our time in Paris.
We also loved walking through the Latin Quarter and Montmartre, learning about the rich history of these Bohemian neighborhoods, and admiring their cute cafes and scenic streets. We were also in a pretty small group, so we never had any problems hearing our guide or keeping up, which can sometimes be an issue with free walking tours.
Honestly, we’re not surprised that this tour has over 1,900 5-star reviews (see them all here!). It really is fantastic! It costs $73 USD per person and lasts for 4-5 hours. This is longer than your typical walking tour, but don’t worry, that’s because there are some stops for snacks and because the tour moves at a relaxed pace, allowing you to explore properly, without feeling rushed. If this tour doesn’t make you fall in love with Paris, then I don’t know what will!
Check availability and secure your spot here – before spots fill up.
4. Take a tour of the Louvre


The Louvre is probably the most famous art gallery in the world. It’s just as well known for its glass pyramid entrance as its prestigious art collection. Oh, and it’s the home of the Mona Lisa, which is probably the most iconic painting of all time. I think it’s safe to say that the Louvre is a must-visit, don’t you?
The only thing is that because the Louvre is so famous, you can expect to wait for 2 hours just to get in. No, I’m not kidding! Not only is that no fun, but it’s also a waste of your valuable time in Paris, which is why we booked this group tour with skip-the-line tickets.
The tour includes reserved access to the Louvre, so we didn’t have to wait for hours! Then, once inside, we had the benefit of exploring with a knowledgeable guide who could teach us all about the context of the museum’s most famous works of art, including the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, and Liberty Leading the People. We also learned about different schools of thought in French Art, and all the times the Mona Lisa has been defaced and even stolen!
We got so much more out of our visit to the Louvre thanks to our guide, and since the tour starts at $79 USD per person, we also think that it’s great value for money. The price included our entry fees, and reservation fees so that we didn’t have to wait in line for hours. We thought that it was so worth it, and the 7,000 5-star reviews seem to agree with us!
This tour is likely to sell out – book it here so you don’t miss out!
Why We Book Tours with Viator
Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! We almost always book our tours using Viator for a couple of reasons:
- Free cancellation on most tours – Most of the tours on Viator allow you to cancel and get a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. This is handy in case plans change, or if booking an outdoor activity, the weather forecast is looking grim.
- Reserve now and pay later – You can secure your spot on some of the most popular tours well in advance and not pay until closer to the day of the tour.
- Lowest price guarantee – If you happen to find the same tour at a lower price elsewhere, Viator will refund you the price difference.
- Pay in your chosen currency – Avoid costly international transaction fees by choosing to pay in your home currency.
- Peace of mind – When booking with tour operators you find in person on the street or in small booking offices, you are often promised one thing and given another. This online platform holds tour operators accountable with a written description of inclusions as well as the opportunity for customers to leave reviews.
Check out the Viator website here! Or, for more info, read our detailed review about Viator here.
5. Tour the Palace of Versailles


The Palace of Versailles is one of the most lavish buildings in the world, and it’s only about an hour outside of Paris. We couldn’t pass up the chance to see this extravagant feat of architecture while we were in Paris, and you shouldn’t either. There’s a reason it’s so famous!
We booked this small group tour, which includes skip-the-line entry to the palace. This is such a huge bonus, especially during the summer months when wait times can reach up to 2 hours! Plus, going with a guide really enriched our experience. Versailles is incredibly beautiful, but exploring famous rooms like the Hall of Mirrors and the King’s Apartments with a guide helped us to learn so much more about them.
Isabella was a brilliant guide, and she taught us a lot not only about the history of Versailles but also the sheer amount of work that goes into maintaining this awe-inspiring estate. The tour was super well organized and the transport was super comfortable, too. We were in a spacious, air-conditioned minivan, not crammed into a bus, which really does make all the difference on a hot summer’s day!
We were able to choose between a half and a full-day tour of Versailles. We opted for the full-day experience for $202 USD, which meant that we explored the palace in the morning and then had time to explore the enormous gardens and the Trianon Estate by ourselves in the afternoon. It’s definitely worth doing the full-day tour if you have the time, as the gardens are absolutely incredible, so it was an ideal way to spend a sunny afternoon. However, if you’re short on time, the half-day version of the tour will ensure that you don’t miss out on seeing the jaw-dropping Palace of Versailles.
This tour is popular – book it well in advance to secure your preferred date!
6. Join a delicious food tour!


Paris is known for its fine food, so what could be better than stuffing yourself full of gourmet French goodies on this food tour? We had the best time eating cheese, pastries, oysters, and more!
What we love about this tour is that it gives you two options, so you can choose the menu you’re most interested in. You can choose to explore the Montmartre or Notre Dame area. If you choose the former, the tour includes macarons, cured meats, freshly made crêpes, and amazing cheese. However, we went for the Notre Dame tour, so we got pastries, tarts, pâté, and wine!
We loved the Notre Dame tour because the cathedral is super central, and it was so much fun discovering hidden foodie hotspots and specialty shops in one of the most famous areas of Paris. Our guide, Louie, taught us so much about Parisian food, the cooking techniques used, and why French cuisine is so prestigious!
This is a small group tour, so it was a great way to meet some fellow travelers, and it just felt really personal and friendly. We felt like we saw the real Paris on this tour, and we definitely came away with a better understanding of why Parisians are so proud of their food!
The tour costs $142 USD for the Notre Dame tour or $153 USD for the Montmartre edition, but either way, you’re in for a treat. If we’d had time, we would have done them both!
Book this food tour here and get FREE cancellation 24 hours before you go.
7. Learn about D-Day in Normandy


If you’re interested in WWII history, then taking a day trip to Normandy is a must while in Paris. The beaches where the D-Day landings happened are around 3.5 hours from Paris, so it’s too far to drive yourself, but we booked this tour and it made the entire day a breeze!
Around 160,000 Allied troops landed on the beaches in June 1944, in what was one of the biggest invasions in military history. We visited Omaha Beach, which had the highest number of casualties. Our guide told us that Omaha was actually a military code name, but it has stuck around ever since!
About half of the troops that fought on D-Day were American, so the tour also took us to the American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, and we also visited the Utah Beach Museum, which was super interesting. Our guides, Eric and Sam, were super knowledgeable and taught us a lot about American involvement in WWII, and the impact that D-Day had.
Although somber at times, the tour was super interesting and I would say it’s a must for history buffs. We also really enjoyed the included lunch, which was at a lovely waterfront restaurant and included tastings of both cider and calvados, a local apple brandy. This stuff is usually pretty expensive, so take advantage!
The tour was super well-organized, the coach was very comfortable, and we got to see a lot without feeling rushed, so we’re really glad that we booked this tour rather than going through the hassle of planning a day trip ourselves. Prices start from $153 USD per person, which I think is super reasonable given that lunch, drinks, transport, and skip-the-line museum entry were all included. We couldn’t have done it much cheaper by ourselves, that’s for sure!
Book this tour with over 2,500 5-star reviews here!
8. Learn to bake croissants


Croissants are arguably the most famous French delicacy, so why not learn how to bake them yourself whilst you’re in Paris with this pastry workshop?
Croissants are famously difficult to make because of the laminating process, which is what makes them so flaky and delicious! Our host, Chef Delphine, did an awesome job of teaching us how to perform this process ourselves and shared all of her expert tips with us. In the class, we learned how to make three types of pastry: pain au chocolat, pain au raisin, and the classic Parisian croissant!
It was a super hands-on class and we got to eat the pastries we made at the end. They were so delicious, and the fact that they were still warm made them even yummier! We also got some coffee to enjoy alongside our treats, and Delphine gave us a recipe book to take home so that we could recreate Parisian pastries back home.
This class was so much fun, and it was definitely one of the best things that we did in Paris. It felt so satisfying to make croissants ourselves when they’re known for being one of the hardest things to bake. It costs $198 USD per person, which seems like a lot, but it’s a 3.5-hour class, and the croissants will be your lunch or dinner. We would definitely do it again, and judging from the glowing reviews, so would hundreds of other people – see all the reviews here!
Reserve this tour now and pay later when you book here!
9. Tour Champagne on a day trip


I’m sure you’ve heard many people say that sparkling wine can only be called champagne if it comes from the Champagne region of France. So while you’re in Paris, why not go and try the real thing?
We were super excited when we came across this full-day tour and just had to book it! Not only was it easier than trying to plan everything ourselves, but we also both wanted to drink champagne, of course, so there was really no point in renting a car. Champagne tasting is no fun when you’re the designated driver!
The views as we drove through the rolling hills of Champagne were just beautiful, and we loved exploring the Nicolas Feuillatte wine estate. It was gorgeous and we got to try 3 of their champagne varieties, so we were very happy.
After that, we visited Hautvillers Abbey to see the final resting place of Dom Perignon. Yes, THE Dom Perignon, the founding father of champagne! We also got a guided tour of Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Reims, which is a stunning Gothic cathedral that’s over 800 years old.
After that, we visited a family-run champagne farm for another tasting. Nicolas Feuillatte is super well-known, so it was really fun to visit a smaller estate and see the difference! Then, we had some free time in Epernay, the capital of the Champagne region, where we went and bought lunch on our own account. We may or may not have had some more champagne here, too!
Honestly, we really can’t fault this tour. We had such a dreamy day out and we loved being able to drink real champagne! It costs $253 USD per person, which is a little on the pricey side, but still a lot cheaper than staying overnight in the Champagne region and hiring a private driver to get between wineries, so we felt that it was worth it.
Check availability and book this tour in advance here.
10. Day trip to the Loire Valley Castles


The Loire Valley is yet another stunning region within easy reach of Paris. And given its lush landscape and picturesque castles, who wouldn’t want to visit?
We really wanted to see the castles, but we didn’t have a ton of time left, so we booked this day trip from Paris. Prices start at $131 USD, which we think is pretty reasonable for a full-day trip, and our admission tickets and bookings were all taken care of, so we didn’t have to worry about a thing!
First, we headed to Château de Chambord. Disney fans take note: this was the inspiration for the castle in Beauty and the Beast! Our guide, James, gave us an introduction to the castle and then we also had some time to explore by ourselves, which was so much fun. We even spotted some deer running around the grounds!
Next, we headed for the quaint town of Blois, which sits right on the Loire River. We had free time here, so we grabbed lunch at a local restaurant. We had to pay for this on the day, but we were happy with that as it meant that we could wander around, choose a restaurant we liked the look of, and enjoy a meal just the two of us.
Then, the day really ended on a high note as we visited Château de Chenonceau, an extravagant white castle. We loved hearing about its unusual history but honestly, what was even better was that we got to do a wine tasting here! If you ask me, life doesn’t get much better than wine-tasting in a castle.
So if you want to step out of the city and into a fairytale, I cannot recommend this tour enough. It would be an ideal thing to do on a honeymoon or romantic trip to Paris but honestly, I think it would be very hard for anyone not to enjoy it!
Check out the 1,500+ 5-star reviews and book this tour here!
Where to Stay in Paris, France

Paris is a city of elegance and luxury, so it’s no surprise that the hotels match that ambiance! That being said, you can find a variety of accommodation options in Paris, whether you’re looking for a luxury, mid-range, or budget stay. Here are my top recommendations:
Luxury – $$$
You can’t go wrong with Eiffel Tower views, and L’Hôtel du Collectionneur Paris delivers that, and more! The design is Art-deco elegant, and rooms range from deluxe king rooms to suites, and even a terrace apartment for those with a large budget. There is no such thing as a bad view whether you have a window overlooking the garden or city, or a full balcony!
It’s a short walk to Champs Elysées Avenue and Paris’ best sights. Rooms start at €400 and go up, so book this stay early on Booking.com to get the best rate.
Mid-range – $$
Le Grey Hotel is a boutique hotel, located very close to the opera and Montmartre. These rooms have a modern design and you can get a standard room or a suite, some have balconies as well. The location is great, as you’re steps from the iconic Paris cafes and restaurants, and very close to the top city sights.
A room here starts around €200 and can reach €500+ depending on your room choice. Check availability and book this stay on Booking.com.
Budget – $
Caulaincourt Montmartre is a modern hostel with private or dorm rooms available. Located near the Sacré-Coeur Basilica it is convenient to see the top attractions and get around the city. Private rooms start around €130 and some have an ensuite bathroom, or for the most budget option, dorms are available for about €60. The staff are friendly and the hostel is very clean, modern, and a great way to meet people!
Check availability and book this stay on Booking.com or Hostelworld.
For more options, check out all the hotels available in Paris here!
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!
If you’re looking to save money on travel insurance, we currently use and recommend SafetyWing. We’ve been using their coverage since 2018 and they’ve had our backs when we needed emergency flights and got sick overseas.
SafetyWing is one of the cheapest providers out there and covers everything from medical costs to lost luggage, travel delays, and emergency flights. A huge difference we’ve found between them and other companies is that they let you take out a policy AFTER leaving your home country. We’ve also found it handy that it’s a monthly payment rather than a lump sum, and you can get a refund for unused time.
SafetyWing has helped us out in some scary situations before and their affordable coverage has given us peace of mind. You can read our honest review of SafetyWing for all the pros and cons.
Thanks for reading!

A trip to Paris will be magical no matter what you end up doing, but we think these top aguided tours will make your trip even better!
There is SO much to see in this iconic city that it can be overwhelming, it certainly was for us. So don’t stress and simply follow these recommendations and I know you’ll have a fantastic time exploring the city of love.
If you found this blog helpful, be sure to check out our other travel blogs! We’ve traveled all over the world and have guides to tons of destinations. So no matter where your travels take you, we’re here to help!