Tour Paris in a Day, with Context: By Car

Your comprehensive exploration of Paris by car

Tour Details

About the Tour

Duration: 8 hours
Location: Paris

Photos & Highlights

A comprehensive view into the history and culture of Paris for first-time or returning visitors by car
Led by a PhD or MA level historian or art historian
Louvre Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral (exterior only), Opera Garnier, Church of Saint-Séverin, Île de la Cité, Champs-Elysées, Sacré-Coeur, Latin Quarter, and Saint-Germain-des-Prés

Tour Description

Soak up the Parisian atmosphere, history, beautiful and way of life with a local historian or scholar in a full-day tour by car. Together, we will explore the most charming sites in the city including the Louvre Museum, the exquisite exterior of Notre Dame Cathedral, Opera Garnier, and more. We’ll wander down boulevard-lined streets, visit famous masterpieces at the Louvre, marvel at exquisite Gothic architecture, and delve deep into the history of “the City of Light”, in the comfort of a chauffeured car service. Get ready for a full-day Parisian adventure in France’s capital filled with fascinating history and quintessential charms.

NOTE: This tour includes a car service that will pick you up at your accommodation. Please tell us your hotel or apartment address in the 'Additional Details' box while adding the tour to your shopping cart.

Included

8 hours with a PhD or MA-level guide
Private car service with pickup at your hotel
Pre-purchased Louvre tickets

Itinerary Details

Our day of Parisian adventure and fun begins in the morning when we will pick you up from your hotel in your chauffeured car for the day. We will make our way to a local Parisian cafe for a coffee where you’ll receive a short briefing on Paris and the areas we are going to visit. We will then drive through Paris to the Ile de la Cité, the stunning island in the middle of the Seine, the river of France, where the city of Paris first started.

Next we will drive to our first stop, the stunning exterior of the famous Notre Dame. Here we’ll learn about the architecture, stories of the Hunchback, and the fire of this impressive Gothic building. Next, we will visit the nearby Gothic church of Saint-Séverin, exploring the majestic values, aisles, and gargoyles. Continuing our adventure, we will explore some of Paris’s oldest and most beautiful neighborhoods of the Latin Quarter and Saint-Germain-des-Prés where you might spot fashionistas, French food delicacies, and trendy salons. Saint-Germain-des-Prés is known to be the meeting point of literary and artistic celebrities, from philosophers, painters, and writers.

Then, we’ll drive across the Seine to reach the Right Bank where we will visit the Palais Garnier the stunning opera house which was built for Emperor Napoleon III. We will also visit the awe-inspiring Palais Royal, a former palace from the 17th century. At both famous sites, you’ll learn some fascinating historical facts and what it was like living in the palace for Kings and Queens.

We will venture onto Montmartre, the former neighborhood for Picasso and Van Gogh, talking about the evolution of this hillside area from the 9th century until today. Montmartre was at the center of 19th-centre Paris rife with histories and intrigues to discover. It was a neighborhood that was once avoided by many Parisians due to the cabarets and other clubs that opened in the area.

Driving onwards to Champs Elysées, we will admire various historical monuments such as the Arc de Triomphe and the Obélisque. Of course, a trip to Paris isn’t complete without seeing the iconic Eiffel Tower which we will drive near to view before we leave our driver and walk through the luscious Tuileries Gardens to get to the Louvre. After a morning of fun explorations across some of Paris’s main sites, we will stop at a local restaurant, all enjoying a delicious French meal tomorrow. Finally, we will make our way into the Louvre Musem to spark our creative imaginations, and you’ll see some of the world's most known masterpieces, including the Mona Lisa.

After having ventured together across the city’s most cherished and interesting sites in a fun-filled interactive day, you will come out with an unforgettable experience that delighted your sites, senses, wisdom, creativity, and sense of adventure.

Interested in exploring more areas of Paris? We suggest adding on our Paris by Luxury Yacht Tour to end your day tour on the water.

FAQ

For more information about Context tours, please visit our FAQs.

Book with confidence — see Context's flexible cancellation policy here.

Where do we meet? Where does the tour end?

We will pick you up from your hotel, and the tour will end at the Lourve. Your confirmation email will have the exact meeting point details along with a map, and a 24-hour phone number for any last-minute issues.

What is a private tour?

Our private tours are limited exclusively to travelers in your party. They are designed to provide a learning experience that is completely tailored to you and your traveling companions. Private tours give you more flexibility with scheduling (you decide when the walk best fits in your trip), the ability to tailor your itinerary (we'll work to match the itinerary to the interests and dynamics of your group), and more personalized time with your guide.

What happens if it's raining?

Our tours happen rain or shine. Our guides are great at adapting their route during changes of weather. Please bring an umbrella.

I would like to start later. Is this possible?

Not usually. The Louvre closes at 6 pm, so in order to fit everything in, we need to start at 9 am. That said, we could adjust the itinerary to start our tour with the Louvre museum and continue with the other venues mentioned in the description. If you'd like to make any changes to your Paris in a Day tour please email us to discuss the options.

For how long will we have the car service?

The car service is booked for 4 hours. Your driver will drop you off at a local restaurant near the Louvre where you will have lunch with your expert guide. You will then continue with a tour of the Louvre museum and end your Paris in day inside the museum.

Is this tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, please contact us to discuss in more detail your mobility concerns so that we can best advise. We are always happy to design a private, adapted tour for visitors with mobility concerns.

What costs will I need to cover on the day?

We will pre-purchase your skip-the-line tickets for the Lourve. You will be expected to cover the cost of your lunch and any additional refreshments.

Is there a long line to enter the museum? Can I "skip the line"?

If you have one of our pre-purchased tickets, you will not be required to wait in any ticket line. There is a security checkpoint that all visitors to the museum are required to pass, and there is sometimes a line for this. Because we have advance tickets, we have access to a special ticket-holder security line, which is very short. Museum Pass holders also have access to this special line.

Is there a maximum amount of people that can be in this tour?

Yes, this tour is capped at 6 people.

There are 7 in my family, can we take this tour?
Our Louvre tours are capped at 6 due to venue reservation restrictions, this also helps your tour experience in order to best navigate the museum and crowds. Should you have a larger group, we suggest splitting into multiple groups.

Can this tour be done as a half-day?

The tour can also be done in 2 days (2x half-day tours).

Can we switch out the Louvre for another museum?

Yes, instead of the Louvre you can visit the Musee D'Orsay, a Rodin tour, Sainte Chapelle or any other museum or venue.

Can this tour be done via boat?

We'd also recommend ending with a river cruise (see our Paris by Luxury Yacht Tour)

Where You'll Start

Tour Experts

Marie

The daughter of a sculptor, Marie has been surrounded by art ever since she was born. A native Parisienne, she holds an undergraduate degree in history and art history, with a specialty in iconography and French and Flemish paintings from the 16th to the 18th centuries. She also holds a Master's degree in museology from the Ecole du Louvre and one in Art History from the Sorbonne. She currently works for the French National Art History Institute on special cultural events. Since she loves literature, ballet, theatre, opera, jazz clubs, and classical concerts—she has been playing the piano since she was 9—Paris and its artistic life are a perfect fit.

Marie Theres

Marie Theres is a painter who has made Paris her home for more than two decades. She works in her studio in Montmartre and shows her paintings in galleries in Europe and the United States. She studied history at the University of Cologne, Germany and painting at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia before coming to Paris to study art history at the Ecole de Louvre. Her knowledge of art history is enhanced by her practical painting experience. Beyond a purely academic approach, this enables her to convey the emotional dimension of the artwork and to focus attention on the act of creation. She loves to share her passion for art and painting and is fascinated by the 19th-century artistic heritage of Paris, its art movements, and urbanism.

Lorraine

Born and raised abroad, mostly in Asia, Lorraine discovered Paris intimately while studying art history at Ecole du Louvre, a school which holds most of its classes directly in museums and monuments. After several years spent in NYC, getting her Master's degree in Modern Art at Columbia University and working at the Guggenheim Museum, she returned to her adopted city in 2008 to start a PhD. Currently specializing in the history of photography and visual culture, active member of the Laboratoire d'histoire visuelle contemporaine, Lorraine also works as a freelance art critic, teaches art history, and nurtures a few artistic projects of her own.

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6 Reviews – (4.87)

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

Very interesting and well informed woman. She was delightful with all of us. She also used her excellent sense of humor to integrate with the things we were observing to make the trip extra special.

Rhonda

Jul. 22, 2022

Except for sending Lorraine to the wrong hotel, everything was perfect! Lorraine was wonderful; she was knowledgable, pleasant, and designed a great experience for us. Our family loved the tour.

Mary

Jun. 10, 2022

Lorraine was wonderful. From her punctuality, knowledge, flexibility and personality- she made the day exceptional. We all felt as if we had a new friend!

Terry

Jun. 3, 2022

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