Paris started as a small island town on the banks of the Seine River, at the Île-de-la-Cité, which is where you will begin your time together. You will meet at a local cafe bright and early for a briefing on Paris and the surrounding area before embarking on your Paris in a Day tour. With these useful foundations, we'll then head over to la Grande Dame de Paris: Notre Dame Cathedral. You will learn about the medieval Gothic style and its architectural innovations as you explore the exterior of one of Paris’s masterpieces. You will discuss gargoyles, rose windows, flying buttresses, and all the Gothic features that represent this impressive period of architecture and engineering. You will also touch on the fire and the impact this had on the structure. You will continue this medieval theme as you walk towards the Left Bank. You will spend some time meandering through the Latin quarter, discussing anything from churches (Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre, Saint-Séverin, and Saint-Germain-des-Prés) to literary cafes to the bohemian spirit that emerged in the 20th century. You may spend some time in the Luxembourg Gardens as you soak up this vast expanse of green symmetrical beauty, commissioned by Queen Marie de Medici in 1612. 

Your route will continue across the Pont des Arts as you head to the Right Bank. You may take some time to explore the grounds of the Palais Royal as you discuss the French monarchy and all its intricacies in alluring surroundings or gaze up at the elaborate Opéra Garnier. At this point, you will take a break for lunch. Fueled on delicious French food,  you will head to the grand finale of your Context Paris full-day tour: the Louvre Museum. Your expert guide will dive into the Louvre's vast collection, carefully selecting key works—a mixture of masterpieces (Venus de Milo, of course) and unknown treasures—to craft a narrative of kings, emperors, and the accomplished artists who served them. You will spend the remainder of your time touring the spectacular museum before finishing with an introduction to Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. You can leave with your guide or remain in the Louvre to explore freely at your leisure.

At the end of your immersive, full-day itinerary, you will emerge with a deeper understanding of this charming metropolis. You will have ventured across the city to sites relevant to Paris's historic, cultural, and artistic identity. Your Paris in a Day tour will leave you with a chic Parisian taste to add to your cultural palate.

Mobility concerns? Check out our Paris in a Day, with Context: By Car tour, a replica of this tour with car service. Traveling with kids? See our family version of this tour, which has been specially designed for younger learns and is led by family-friendly expert guides.

Our private tours are limited exclusively to travelers in your party. They are designed to provide a learning experience that is completely tailored to you and your traveling companions. Private tours give you more flexibility with scheduling (you decide when the tour best fits your trip), the ability to tailor your itinerary (we'll work to match the itinerary to the interests and dynamics of your group), and more personalized time with your guide.

Our tours happen rain or shine. Our guides are great at adapting their route during weather changes. Please bring an umbrella.

There are 7 in my family, can we take this tour?
Our Louvre tours are capped at 6 due to venue reservation restrictions, which also helps your tour experience in order to best navigate the museum and crowds. Should you have a larger group, we suggest splitting into multiple groups.

If you have one of our pre-purchased tickets (or a Museum Pass), you will not be required to wait in any ticket line. There is a security checkpoint that all visitors to the museum are required to pass, and there is sometimes a line for this. Because we have advance tickets, we have access to a special ticket-holder security line, which is very short. Museum Pass holders also have access to this special line.