Paris in a Half-Day Tour: Highlights from Notre Dame to the Eiffel Tower

An In-Depth Introduction to the City of Light
From US$502 privately
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Tour Details
Duration
4 hours
Product Type
Tour
Venues
  • Notre Dame Cathedral (exterior only)
  • Île de la Cité
  • Palais Royal
  • Tuileries Garden
  • Place de la Concorde
  • Pont des Arts
  • Champs-Elysées
  • Arc de Triomphe (exterior only)
  • Latin Quarter
  • Eiffel Tower (exterior only)
  • Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood
Photos & Highlights
  • Explore the stories behind essential highlights of Paris, including Notre Dame Cathedral, Arc de Triomphe, and the iconic Eiffel Tower.
  • Learn how to navigate the city like a local as you explore the main neighborhoods and attractions.
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Tour Description
Weave through charming cobblestone streets with a local guide by your side, unveiling the city's soul through its most prominent sites. Four glorious hours unfold, packed with iconic landmarks and captivating stories.

Meet your expert on the charming Left Bank. Walk in the footsteps of literary giants like Hemingway and Joyce and let your guide reveal Paris's intellectual past as you stroll through the historic Saint-Germain-des-Prés district and past the iconic Sorbonne.

Next, cross the Seine River to the enchanting Ile de la Cité to see the majestic Notre Dame, its resilience a testament to the enduring spirit of Paris.

Moving into the Right Bank, head toward the awe-inspiring Louvre Pyramid that pierces the Parisian sky or make your way to the manicured gardens of the Palais Royal and the opulent Opéra Garnier. 

But your adventure doesn't end there. Led by your local expert, hop on the Parisian metro (a rite of passage for any true Parisian) to be whisked to the Arc de Triomphe.

Finally, wrap up your complete Paris highlights tour with a breathtaking view of the Eiffel Tower from the Trocadéro gardens. Here, your Context guide will bid farewell. If you have pre-purchased your own tickets, now is the perfect time to ascend the tower.

By tour’s end, you'll understand why artists flock to Paris, why revolutionaries rose on its streets, and why it continues to be a beacon of romance and beauty. 

Experts
Jennifer Jennifer
Local Guide
Samuél Samuél
Writer
Géraldine Géraldine
Art Historian
Gil Gil
Local Guide
Erell Erell
Art Historian
Sarah Sarah
Art Historian
Edwige Edwige
Local Guide
Carine Carine
Art Historian
Violette Violette
Art Historian
Nadia Nadia
Historian
Emmanuelle Emmanuelle
Local Guide
Hugo Hugo
Historian
James James
Artist
Isabelle Isabelle
Art Historian
Marine Marine
Art Historian
Caroline Caroline
Local Guide
Lindsey Lindsey
Art Historian
Eva Eva
Local Guide
Michael Michael
Art Historian
Irene Irene
Architectural Historian
Daniele Daniele
Art Historian
Caroline Caroline
Art Historian
Lorraine Lorraine
Art Historian
Marie-Ange Marie-Ange
Local Guide
Marie Marie
Art Historian
Laurent Laurent
Local Guide
Stéphanie Stéphanie
Local Guide
Camilla Camilla
Art Historian
Anthony Anthony
Art Historian
Lily Lily
Local Guide
Christopher Christopher
Local Guide
Johanna Johanna
Architectural Historian
Karine Karine
Art Historian
Ulrike Ulrike
Architectural Historian
Sylvanie Sylvanie
Art Historian
Rebecca Rebecca
Local Guide
Dina Dina
Local Guide
Adam Adam
Local Guide
Tina Tina
Local Guide
Carmina Carmina
Art Historian
Thibaud Thibaud
Art Historian
Aline Aline
Art Historian
Michael Michael
Local Guide
Emmanuel Emmanuel
Local Guide
François François
Local Guide
Georgia Georgia
Art Historian
Marie-Claire Marie-Claire
Art Historian
Beverley Beverley
Local Guide
Charlotte Charlotte
Art Historian
Sunday Sunday
Art Historian
Aymeric Aymeric
Local Guide
Eric Eric
Local Guide
Elisa Elisa
Art Historian
Ange
Historian
Heidi Heidi
Art Historian
  • You love history and literature and would like to walk the same streets as Hemingway and Joyce, feeling the energy of the Latin Quarter.
  • You want an in-depth survey of the city to get familiar with Paris and better enjoy the rest of your time visiting. 
  • You’re ready to see all the essential Parisian sites as they relate to each other with a cohesive narrative and a well-planned route led by an expert. 
  • Medieval streets and Gothic churches of the Latin Quarter
  • Right Bank classics such as the Louvre (exterior only), Tuileries Gardens, or Palais Royal
  • Views of the Champs-Elysées, Arc de Triomphe, and Eiffel Tower (exterior only)

Admission Tickets

Are Eiffel Tower tickets included?
No. We do not provide tickets to climb the Eiffel Tower. Should you like to climb the Tower following your tour, we recommend purchasing tickets well in advance. You may do so on their public site here.

Are there any other entrance fees included?
No. There are no entrance fees included on this tour. We will visit the listed venues from the exterior only.

Transportation

Can I be picked up from my hotel?
For our private tours, we offer the convenience of optional car service and hotel pick-up. Please note that this option is not available for small-group tours. Small-group tours meet in the 6th Arrondissement.

Where do I meet my Context Guide? Where does the tour end?
You will meet your guide in front of the main entrance of the Église Saint-Germain-des-Prés, and it will end in Esplanade du Trocadéro, also known as the Human Rights Plaza, just across from the Eiffel Tower. Your confirmation email will have the exact meeting point details along with a map.

Can I do this tour by car instead of walking?
Yes, you can reserve a car service for this tour if you are booking a private tour (note: this option is not available for our group tours). Please select the option for car service with hotel pick up at checkout and provide your hotel address in the Additional Details box when placing your order.

If I book a private tour with car service, where does the tour meet and end?
If you book a private tour with the optional car service, you will meet your guide and driver at your hotel or accommodation. You will be dropped off at the Esplanade du Trocadéro, near the Eiffel Tower.
 
If we don't select a car service add-on, how many times will we be taking the metro? 
Due to the distance between sites, we will use public transport at least 3 times during the tour. Your guide will help you purchase the tickets on-site. Please note that the cost of the tickets is not included in the total cost of the tour. If you'd like to do the tour by car please add the car service to your cart when booking.

Additional Trip-Planning Resources

A few things that pair well with this tour: 


  • Your best walking shoes. We’re covering a lot of ground!
  • An explorer’s mindset and a bit of curiosity. 
  • A hearty breakfast or lunch before your tour and a full water bottle for the walk.

 Will I see all of the major monuments on this tour?
Paris is a large city with a generous amount of famous landmarks. It is nearly impossible to see everything in 4 hours, which is why your expert will take the beginning of your tour to discuss what the best route is for you and your party. 

If you are looking for an introductory tour and wish to see the Arc de Triomphe and Eiffel Tower, this is the tour for you. 
 
What other tours should I take along with Paris in a Half-Day?
Any of our museum or food tours would make a great addition to Paris in a Half-Day. If you are looking for outdoor walking highlights, we suggest following this tour with one of our neighborhood tours, such as the Marais Walking Tour or the Montmartre Tour with Sacré Coeur.

We do not, however, suggest reserving the Paris Highlights Tour with Seine Riverboat Cruise or Paris in a Day alongside this tour. These tours visit largely the same monuments and cover the same topics.

Is this tour suitable for children?
While this tour is not specifically designed for kids, we can certainly provide a family-friendly guide to ensure an enjoyable experience for everyone. For a tour tailored specifically to children, we recommend checking out our Paris in a Day for Kids itinerary, which is thoughtfully crafted with young explorers in mind.

What happens if it's raining?
Our tours take place rain or shine, and our expert guides are skilled at adjusting the route to make the most of any weather conditions. Be sure to bring along an umbrella or jacket, just in case, and get ready to have a fantastic time exploring with us.

We understand that some of our valued guests may have mobility concerns, and we want to ensure you have a comfortable and enjoyable experience throughout your tour. If there are any accessibility concerns that your tour guide will need to be aware of, please let our team know at the time of booking.

Is this tour wheelchair-friendly?
Yes, this tour is wheelchair friendly and we would recommend booking a private tour and adding a car service. 

If you are interested in visiting the Eiffel Tower after your tour concludes, you can find accessibility information on the official site
Book with confidence — see Context's flexible cancellation policy here.
Where You'll Start
(4.94) 332 Reviews

Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.

James was my tour guide for the Paris in a Half-Day Tour. His friendliness, in-depth knowledge, and clear passion for Paris history and architecture made this one of the best tours I've had. I highly recommend this tour and James in particular.
Michael was an amazing guide! He was incredibly knowledgeable and friendly! I have been to Paris before and have learned so many things I didn’t know! He was also so kind and responsive to the needs of our family!
James was superb. He is an encyclopedia of Paris facts. He is also charming and sensitive to the group. From start to finish his tour was excellent!