Paris in a Day Tour with Eiffel Tower, Louvre, and Seine River Cruise
See the Mona Lisa, Sacre-Coeur, and Moulin Rouge with organized transportation and an expert guide
Want to see the best of Paris in just one day? With long entry lines and attractions spread out over the city, this can be a real challenge. But don’t worry, this day tour makes it easy! Join a local guide to see the city’s iconic highlights, including the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Sacre-Cœur, Notre Dame, and a Seine River Cruise (Eiffel Tower entry times might fall outside of tour time). With a small group, skip-the-line Louvre tickets, and transport, there’s no better way to see Paris in a day!
- Meet your guide at Place des Abbesses
- Montmartre
- Basilica of Sacré Coeur
- Ile de la Cite
- Lunch break
- Pont Neuf
- Louvre Museum
- Mona Lisa
- End at Eiffel Tower
*IMPORTANT* This Paris in a Day tour includes a self-guided Eiffel Tower ticket. Your tour will end around 4pm, but the Eiffel Tower entry could be from 4pm to 10pm. Don't worry, we will contact you in advance with your unique entry time so you can plan. If the time doesn't work for you, you can modify your tour booking up to 24 hours before the tour! The Eiffel Tower comes alive at night-- it's even home to bars and restaurants! For later tickets, we recommend you book a table, which may be a highlight of your trip!
You'll meet your guide this morning in the famous art district of Montmartre for a walking tour of this historic part of Paris, including a visit to the magnificent Basilica of Sacre-Cœur. Along with your small group, you'll continue to the city's literary heartland, the Latin Quarter, where your guide will tell stories of the famous writers who once called this place home. Here, you can also see the famous Notre Dame Cathedral from the outside—it's still undergoing repairs from the recent devastating fire, so entry isn't currently allowed.
Next, you'll catch the metro to the famous Louvre museum, home to the Mona Lisa and countless other iconic works. You'll skip the line at the Louvre so your super knowledgeable guide can show you the museum's highlights without the famously long wait. Finally, you'll cruise down the River Seine by boat, and finish you tour at France's most recognizable landmark: the Eiffel Tower. Learn the fascinating stories about the most iconic monument in Paris, before parting ways with your guide and using your entry ticket to ascend to the second floor, or enjoy a scenic river cruise on the Seine.
Paris in a Day Tour Description
Your 9-hour Paris tour includes:
Guided walking tour of the Latin Quarter and Montmartre neighborhoods
Visit Sacre-Cœur and see Notre Dame Cathedral (from the outside)
Skip-the-line Louvre ticket and guided tour
Free time in Paris for lunch (not included)
Ticket for a 1-hour river cruise on the Seine
Entry tickets to the Eiffel Tower
Metro tickets included
A fun, professional English-speaking guide
A maximum group size of 18 people
Please note that the order of this tour could be different based on ticket times for the Louvre and Eiffel Tower.
Montmartre, Sacre-Cœur and the Latin Quarter
Home of the Moulin Rouge, Montmartre is Paris' famous art district. Your guide will show you the best of the neighborhood this morning, and you'll learn the best spots to return to if you're planning a big night out in the city. In addition to the nightlife of the neighborhood, Montmartre was also the epicenter of the Belle Époque.
Once home to Renoir, Van Gogh, Picasso, and Modigliani, the neighborhood produced countless famous pieces of art between the 1870s and 1920s. You will pass the café where Van Gogh painted one his most scandalous works—he dared to paint a woman reading!
After visiting the Basilica of the Sacre-Coeur, you'll follow your guide to the Latin Quarter. Montmartre is the center of art, but the Latin Quarter is the center of literature. You will see the café and bookstore where Hemingway and Joyce spent their ex-pat lives in Paris. Then, you can take photos of the magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral from the outside—sadly, the cathedral suffered a terrible fire in 2019 and is still being reconstructed.
Louvre Museum Tour
Skip past the famously long lines at the Louvre and see the museum's most influential works on a 90-minute tour of the Louvre. These works include the two of the most important Greek statues still standing: the Venus of Milo and The Winged Victory of Samothrace. These two famous statues are full of mystery and history, and you guide will bring them to life with stories of their meanings and origins.
You'll also see Eugene Delacroix's Liberty Leading the People. A symbol of French independence, strength and culture, it is the most politically important work at the Louvre. The painting is the most famous artistic depiction of the French Revolution and is often compared to the Washington Crossing the Delaware piece found in New York at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The Mystery Behind the Mona Lisa
Why is the Mona Lisa so famous? For starters, Mona Lisa’s expression has been often debated since its creation in the 16th century. Is she happy or sad or playful? Another intriguing thing about Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa is that it's the highest insured work of art at a whopping $800 million.
Leonardo Da Vinci's masterpiece (called La Gioconda in Italian), portrays the wife of a Tuscan aristocrat named Francesco del Giacondo. Though she has been in the Louvre for over 200 years, the portrait became famous when it was stolen in 1911 in a global scandal. Now she is protected with bulletproof glass and personal body guards.
Eiffel Tower
Finally, led by your professional guide, you'll head to the pièce de résistance of this Paris in a Day Tour. The guide will regale you with tales of the tower's construction, its significance to the City of Light, and the initial public reactions to this daring design. After saying goodbye to your guide, with your tickets in hand, you will have the opportunity to savor the magic of the Eiffel Tower.
Paris by Boat
With your tickets in hand, sit back and relax with beautiful views along the Seine. Paris river cruises are a great way to take in the ambiance of the city and get a taste of the luxury that Paris is known for. Cruise around the city and get a new perspective on the iconic landmarks, including the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Notre Dame, and of course, the Eiffel Tower in all its glory.
What you get with this tour
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See what people are saying
311 total reviews
Leave a reviewExcellent
Amanda Newberry
Very informative and interesting. Be prepared to walk a lot but we enjoy that. Saw many sights I didn’t know existed. Would definitely recommend
What an amazing time
Kirk Ayton
The tour and the guide were a perfect match. They both at were amazing and full of knowledge. The guide was super friendly and extremely helpful in answering all the questions and sharing some great facts about the country’s history.
William Brisebois
Frequently Asked Questions
What to bring?
This tour is primarily a walking tour, so we recommend wearing comfortable shoes.
What to bring?
This tour is primarily a walking tour, so we recommend wearing comfortable shoes.
Is the Eiffel tower summit (top level) included on this tour?
Eiffel Tower second floor tickets are included in this tour. If you'd like to head to the coveted summit (with a stop at the second floor), check out our Eiffel Tower Summit Evening Tour.
What if I have concerns about my mobility on this tour?
If you have any doubts about your mobility, we suggest taking a Private Paris in a Day Tour so your needs can be better accommodated in terms of navigating attractions and the pace of the tour. Please note, Montmartre includes stairs and steep inclines, which may not be ideal for strollers or wheelchairs.
Can I use my Paris Museum Pass to get a discount on the Louvre tour?
We pre-book all of our reservations and tickets for the Louvre Museum in advance, so personal museum passes are not valid for entry or a discount.
How do we get around the city?
Your guided tour includes metro tickets to travel the longer distances between attractions. Other areas will be explored on foot, particularly Montmartre.
Will we enter Notre Dame?
Sadly, no. The cathedral is still undergoing extensive renovations following the 2019 fire, so no one is allowed inside yet. You'll be taken to it to see its progress up close though! And you can see it during your river cruise.
Do we enter the Eiffel Tower?
Yes, Eiffel Tower Tickets are included in this tour. Please note, entry times vary based on availability, meaning that the time of entry could be in the evening or the afternoon of the tour based on the day.
When can I take my Seine River Cruise?
Your tickets will be sent to you via email within 24 hours of your tour departure time. To redeem the boat tickets, please bring them to the Bateaux Parisiens boarding line. This is located below the Carousel at the Eiffel Tower, under the bridge to your right on the river. These tickets are valid for any date for boats between 10:30 am and 10:00 pm so you have lots of flexibility to enjoy this cruise during your time in Paris.