Private Tours In Paris: The 10 Best Tour Operators
Thinking of visiting Paris? A private tour could be a great way to see all the sights. These tours allow you to tailor your itinerary, while providing you with your very own chaperone to show you around. No getting whisked around from one location to the next or having to fight through crowds of strangers to hear what the guide is saying - when choosing a private tour, you can do things at your own pace and you get an expert all to yourself. But just which tour company should you use? Below are some of the top rated options to consider.
In operation for over 20 years, Luxury France Tours specializes in fully-customized premium tours all across France. This includes bespoke Paris trips where you can skip the queues of attractions like the Louvre, take a private boat tour down the Seine or enjoy French dining and cooking classes with elite chefs. All tours are led by English-speaking cultural experts, providing you with unique insights that you won’t get on any other tour.
My Private Paris is a boutique travel agency that offers tours throughout the French capital (and a few destinations beyond) led by a handpicked team of professional guides. These include exclusive tours such as trips to restricted areas of the Paris catacombs and behind-closed-doors excursions to the Palace of Versailles. All package tours come with transparent pricing, while quotes on customized private tours are also available on request.
3) City Wonders
This company serves as a directory for city tours across Europe. They advertise a number of private tours throughout Paris including Eiffel Tower guided climbs and ghost evening walking tours. While you’ll find many small group private tours on here, there are also many large group public tours listed here, so make sure you know exactly what type of tour you’re booking.
4) Paris Muse
A favorite solution for family tours, Paris Muse offers solutions like Louvre scavenger hunts and Versailles tours for kids with interactive activities. You can also find a number of specialist museum tours here for adults such as Monet tours at The Orangery and a Louvre ‘hidden masterpieces’ tour for art fanatics interested in works beyond the Mona Lisa. Take a look through some of their tour options for inspiration.
If you love discovering cities by foot, Walks In Europe could be worth checking out. From Venice to Istanbul, you can find walking tours in all major European cities here. This includes a selection of private and public walking tours around Paris including Jewish History guided tours in Le Marais and semi-private tours around the interior and exterior of Notre Dame Cathedral. It’s worth noting that you can find free walking tours across Paris, but these are not private.
6) Paris by Emy
Paris Emy is like having a personal Parisian friend plan your trip - Emy herself is a licensed guide who can customize everything for you, arranging hotel pick ups and guides of all the attractions you want to see. Visit her site to explore various packages, including ones themed around different passions like shopping, history, cuisine and entertainment. Emy also offers tips such as restaurant recommendations, hotel guides and 3-5 day itinerary suggestions on her site.
7) With Locals
This platform specializes in linking up travelers with local expert tour guides. You’ll find a number of passionate Parisians offering personalized private tours via the company’s site. Many of these guides have their own specialism with some focusing on street art while others are able to provide bespoke food crawls. Reviews allow you to determine how past customers have rated each guide. You’ll also find guides here to match all budgets - some offer very cheap tours, which are an excellent option for those exploring Paris on a shoestring.
Another luxury tour operator, Deluxe France provides high-end personalized tours all across France. Their USP is their private fleet of luxury vehicles driven by chauffeurs who double up as guides. They can pick you up from the airport and drop you off at your hotel, while also taking you to all the attractions you want to see for the duration of your stay. Using this company you can also book gastronomic dinners, fashion tours and other elite activities. Just be wary that this all comes at a much higher price tag.
For private minivan tours, Paris Minivan could be a great choice. Knowledgeable drivers can take you around the city to see iconic landmarks like the Arc de Triomphe and Eiffel Tower, with the option of extensions to Versailles. This company also offers night drives for a tour of the city after dark, and family friendly tours with frequent stops for photos and snacks.
Who should you choose for a private boat tour on the river Seine? Vedettes du Pont Neuf is a reliable choice - they’ve been organizing river tours since 1959. While this includes large public tours, they also provide a number of intimate vessels for private tours of Paris’s iconic river. Such tours offer a unique opportunity to take in all the landmarks from the water and learn about the unique and deep history of the Seine.
