We are traveling to Paris at the first of October - and attempting to put together an itinerary. Would like recommendations on which sights are best to splurge on getting private tours. We have 8 days available for the visit - with plans to hit 6 museums, Versaille, Notre Dame, several neighborhood walks, etc. Any help would be appreciated - best things for private tours - and even sights that wouldn't go well with a private tour. Thanks in advance!
Posted by
Ohio, USA
8 posts
I highly recommend buying a "Museum Pass" when you arrive at the airport. It is good at over 60 attractions, and will pay for itself your second day in Paris. You can't skip the line at Versailles, but you can at a lot of the museums (and of course you don't need to purchase tickets). It also gets you into some of the more "quirky" places (that we otherwise might have skipped if we'd had to pay for them), like the Paris Sewer Tour!
But, please take some time just to enjoy daily life in Paris. Get up early and buy some petit pain au chocolat for breakfast. Get lost in neighborhoods, and talk to the old ladies who feed the pigeons near the Eiffel Tower. Splurge on gelato on Ile St. Louis (I love Amorino). Get a pizza from Pink Flamingo and watch the boats on the canal.
Just my thoughts....
Posted by
9 posts
Just got back from Paris. Here is my 10 cents worth. Our favorite tour was the deux cheveaux with 4 Roues Sous 1 Parapluie (page 532 in Rick Steves Paris 2015 book). We did the 45 minute tour at night. We had already seen the Eiffel tower etc.....So Vladimir(highly recommend) took us to sights we wouldn't have seen otherwise. You can even stand up in the car as he is driving through Paris. The catacombs are wonderful. We went to Notre Dame and Sacre Coeur and preferred Sacre Coeur. Worth climbing the 300 steps to see Paris (Sacre Coeur). Be sure to go at the beginning of mass - the singing is amazing. Loved sitting on the Opera stairs and watching street musicians - meeting people from all over the world. Lafayette galleries are amazing - terrace on top of the building with couches and a great view. Louve was exhausting - preferred D Orsay. Hope this helps. Museum pass is a must.
Enjoy
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11776 posts
Our one huge splurge during a week in Paris was with Paris Muse for a private tour of the Louvre. It was over two hours, just two of us and a guide, started at 4:30 PM. The crowds weren't bad and she made the museum accessible to us, so we did not wander all over the place. Saw the highlights, I think, so next time was can explore other treasures.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11776 posts
Our one huge splurge during a week in Paris was with Paris Muse for a private tour of the Louvre. It was over two hours, just two of us and a guide, started at 4:30 PM. The crowds weren't bad and she made the museum accessible to us, so we did not wander all over the place. Saw the highlights, I think, so next time was can explore other treasures.
Posted by
🏝️ Hobe Sound, FL⛱️
3279 posts
Last November I did an early Sunday AM electric bike tour with Paris Charms & Secrets. Tour was over 4 hours, great guide, visited sights not normally on most tours, parked and locked bikes at some sites so we could visit interiors - unlike other bike tours that only stop outside. The electric bikes were fantastic on which to cruise the Rues and Allees of Paris.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thanks All for the suggestions! We will add them to our itinerary!!!