Top Paris Half-day Tours

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 the history and gastronomy of Paris on a family-friendly combo tour. Sightsee around the French capital from the comfort of your coach and cruise along the Seine to admire landmarks such as the Louvre and Notre-Dame. Cap it off with a gourmet meal inside a heated transparent-bubble dome on the first-floor terrace of the Eiffel Tower—priority access, drinks, and views included.

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.

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.

Imagine how the extravagance of Versailles was part of everyday life for Marie Antoinette during a guided tour of the palace with an optional fountain show. Take advantage of skip-the-line access to avoid the long lines at the start of your tour. Gaze in wonder at the Royal Apartments and the Queen’s Apartments, and walk through the glittering Hall of Mirrors to the Salon de la Guerre and the Salon de la Paix. Plus explore the expansive gardens on your own after the palace tour.

There are few palaces as world-famous as Versailles, but with some 10 million annual visitors, you could spend longer queuing outside than exploring inside. This half-day tour from Paris ensures a hassle-free experience with round-trip train transfers from the city, skip-the-line entrance, and a guided tour of the staterooms, palace gardens, and Marie Antoinette’s hamlet (if option selected).

Travel back in time to the site of France’s most extravagant monarch with this 2.5 hours guided audio tour of the Palace of Versailles. Fast-track entry allows you to skip the lines at this UNESCO World Heritage site, and you’ll arrive in style in a fully air-conditioned coach. Spend time exploring one of France's most famous and impressive landmarks.

Avoid the huge crowds, and skip the line when going to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. This 160-foot- (50-meter-) tall and 148-foot- (45-meter-) wide arch is a must-see when traveling to France’s capital. Stroll down Champs-Élysées, one of the city’s largest boulevards, to make your way there. Admire the mighty monument where the wars fought by France and the names of the French generals involved are written. Climb up the terrace for beautiful views across Paris and spend time visiting the tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Fans of French Impressionism don’t want to miss this half-day trip by luxury coach to the village of Giverny, where Claude Monet and other artists lived and painted. Enjoy priority access to Monet's exquisite 19th-century home, then, with an art historian as your guide, tour the flowerbeds, Japanese bridge, and water lily pond that served as inspiration for Monet's paintings, including the Nymphéas series.

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.

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.

Head straight into the home of the Mona Lisa with this skip-the-line tour of the world's largest art museum. Once inside, your local art historian guide will provide you with background about some of the Louvre's most stunning pieces of art. Expect to see masterpieces by the likes of Da Vinci, Raphael, Veronese, Titian, and Botticelli, not to mention the French Crown Jewels.