Top Île-de-France Half-day Tours

First-time Paris visitors certainly have a long list of sights to see, and chances are, most of them are on the itinerary of this Paris sightseeing tour. Join your guide for a fun walk through the city, where you can see the top landmarks in just a few hours. Highlights include views of the Arc de Triomphe, Pont Neuf bridge, and of course the iconic Eiffel Tower, complete with your guide's commentary as you go.

Experience culture and art through the ages with a small-group tour of Paris’ epic Louvre Museum. Jump the queue and learn about some of the museum’s 35,000 artworks across eight themed galleries from your art historian guide. Then enjoy time on your own to explore, viewing paintings, sculpture, and architecture from 450 BC to the 19th century. Numbers are limited to 25 on this small-group tour or upgrade your ticket to a private tour exclusive to just your group. 

Spin through the city streets like a local and explore the French capital in style on this fat tire bike tour in Paris. Follow your guide through the city to top attractions such as Napoleon’s tomb and Les Invalides, the Louvre Museum and the Eiffel Tower. Cycle along the UNESCO World Heritage–listed banks of the Seine River and stop for a break among the trees in the pretty Tuileries Gardens. Admire the Grand Palais, the Orsay Museum and more, and learn of their history from your guide.

During this private excursion, beat the crowds at the popular Palace of Versailles with skip-the-line admission tickets, while learning more from your professional art historian guide than travelers exploring independently. Ideal for first-time visitors or those on a time budget, visit the palace, gardens, the Hall of Mirrors, and more, in only half a day.

Embark on a culinary tour of Paris's Montmartre neighborhood, one of the city's most charming neighborhoods. Sample delicacies like croissants and éclairs at a local patisserie, enjoy a guided tasting of various cheeses at a fromagerie and satisfy your sweet tooth at a classic chocolaterie. Of course, no gourmet tour of Paris would be complete without a stop at a boulangerie, where you learn the proper way to eat a baguette in France.

Immerse yourself in the opulence and drama of Versailles Palace and Gardens on a fully guided small-group tour from Paris to Versailles. With your skip-the-line ticket, breeze past the queue and join your expert guide for a fun and informative walk through the castle and gardens. Witness the extravagance of Louis XIV—the Sun King—who built up the massive 700-room complex, adorning the space with luxuries fit for the French monarchy.

Bypass the long lines at the Eiffel Tower with this tour that includes summit access. After fast track, skip-the-line access, proceed to the second level to survey the city from the viewing platforms while listening to commentary about Paris culture, traditions, and history. Then, proceed to the summit to see Gustave Eiffel's private apartments and sip Champagne from the onsite bar (own expense).

Save time with this Viator skip-the-line Eiffel Tower ticket. This priority access admission ticket allows for a relaxing visit to one of the world’s busiest monuments, accompanied by a host. Listen as your host adds colorful history and facts to the sights below as you look over Les Invalides, Notre Dame Cathedral, and other city landmarks.

Breeze past the crowds outside the Eiffel Tower with this skip-the-line pass and 1.5-hour tour. In the company of your local guide, you'll gain priority access to the tower's second level. Delve into the history of one of the world's most famous monuments and soak up the exhibits and maps on display. Then bid adieu to your guide and head to the tower's summit for stellar views of the City of Lights. Toast your travels with a glass of bubbly from the Champagne bar (own expense).

Experience Paris from three different perspectives during this half-day city tour that covers the city’s top attractions. Tour essential sights from the comfort of a coach, and take to the water on a Seine River cruise, floating under its many bridges as you go. Then, skip the long lines at the Eiffel Tower to absorb panoramic views of the City of Light from the second-floor observation deck.

Gain entry to the famous Palace of Versailles without waiting in line with this 5-hour skip the line tour from Central Paris. With priority access to the UNESCO World Heritage site, don your audio tour (available in eleven languages) to listen as you walk through the legendary State Apartments and the Hall of Mirrors. Stroll through the lush gardens, designed by André Le Nôtre, and learn about Louis XIV, the flashy king who once inhabited this opulent residence. Round-trip transportation from 3 departure points in Paris via air-conditioned bus is included.

See a different side of Paris’s ‘Iron Lady’ on a guided climbing tour of the Eiffel Tower. Take the slow and scenic route and climb the stairs! Learn all about the construction, controversies, and mystique surrounding the iconic tower from a guide as you ascend to the first and second levels, admiring Gustave Eiffel’s intricate design from angles and viewpoints that most visitors miss. It’s an adventurous way to go behind the scenes—and under the beams—of one of the world’s most popular attractions.

Escape the city of Paris for a day, and go on a tour to Versailles, which is known for its magnificent regal architecture. Travel in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle to Versailles, which takes the stress out of organizing transport. Conveniently, an entrance ticket to the Palace of Versailles is included, so you beat the crowds. Your guide enriches your experience with stories about the area’s royal history.

Get out of Paris for a trip to the countryside on this tour to Giverny, the location of Claude Monet's House and Gardens. Travel by bus to the Monet property, where you have free time to wander around the house and grounds independently. An audio guide, available in several languages, is included, which you receive before departure. Select a morning or afternoon departure time when booking.

Discover the cultural highlights and delectable bites of France’s capital on a culinary tour of Paris. Spend the afternoon strolling past the city’s iconic monuments with a guide and enjoy intermittent samples of pastries, chocolate and freshly baked bread. Listen to commentary of Paris’ rich heritage and receive personalized attention from your guide on this small-group tour, limited to only eight people.

Celebrate 65 years of folly and glamour at Crazy Horse Paris with its new show, Totally Crazy. This 90-minute performance includes a selection of magnificent acts created by Philippe Decouflé, Christian Louboutin, Chantal Thomass, and more. Upgrade your experience to include Champagne and appetizers.

Feast your senses on the vibrant color and charisma of the ‘Féerie’ show at Paris’ iconic Moulin Rouge during an extravagant evening in the City of Light. Take a seat in the atmospheric theater and prepare for a dazzling spectacle of drama, dance and music. See elaborately dressed show girls dominate the stage; marvel at dancers as they perform compelling choreography; and opt to upgrade to include a French feast and fine Champagne before the show starts.

Dig deep into history with an underground Paris Catacombs tour. Learn why the bones of more than six million people were deposited under the city in a complex maze of tunnels that you definitely need a guide to navigate.

Discover the dark side of the “City of Lights” with pre-booked admission tickets to the Paris Catacombs. Skip-the-line entry lets you beat the rush and jump to the front of the entrance queue. Wander through tunnels and rooms decorated in the human bones and skulls of millions of Parisians. Tickets include an audio headset with commentary available in three languages.

Most visitors ride the elevator at the Eiffel Tower, but travelers with a sense of adventure can save time by taking the stairs. Climb the 704 steps to the second viewing platform of the Eiffel Tower on this guided tour and be rewarded with spectacular views of the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, the Seine River, and the Champs-Élysées. Opt for a ticket to the summit and take the lift to the very top.

Skip the line to the 2nd level of the Eiffel Tower with this combo ticket package in Paris. You'll have access to go directly up to the 2nd level for an aerial look at the city, plus receive entrance (standard, not skip the line) to the less-visited 3rd level, aka the Summit, for an even higher view. When your Eiffel Tower experience is over, enjoy a 1-hour cruise on the Seine for a look at Paris' riverfront landmarks. Select your preferred time to visit the tower when booking.

Venture beneath the City of Light to explore the dark underworld of the Paris Catacombs. Skip the entrance lines and head inside this fantastically macabre tunnel system filled with the skeletal remains of more than 6 million Parisians. Hear about the remarkable construction of the catacombs from an expert guide as you walk past ornate chambers piled with decorative arrangements of bones, and gain special access to chapels and chambers closed to the general public. Group size is limited to 19.

Get swept up in the charm of ‘Old Paris’ on a walking tour of the fashionable Le Marais district, home to stately mansions, cutting-edge galleries, rich Jewish heritage, and a thriving LGBTQ scene. Hear the rich history behind one of the oldest quarters of Paris from a guide who knows its streets well, popping into hand-picked bistros, bakeries, art centers, and wine bars that line the cobblestone streets.

Get to know the Parisian neighborhood of Le Marais on a food walking tour with a guide who introduces you to local food vendors and artisans. You'll see sights like Hôtel de Ville and visit the oldest covered market in Paris, Marche des Enfants Rouges, as you learn about and taste the fine products found in this historical yet trendy district.

Finding your way around Paris doesn't need to be challenging, thanks to this hop-on hop-off bus tour. You have the option of one, two, or three days of double-decker bus access, covering various routes with stops at most of Paris’s most important museums, attractions, and shopping areas. And with your ticket, get all sorts of freebies, including walking tours and on-board audio guides with narration in multiple languages.