Tour Details
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Product Type
- Tour
- Venues
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- Place Saint-Michel
- Luxembourg Gardens
- Île de la Cité
- Latin Quarter
- Marais
- Mémorial des martyrs de la Déportation
- Memorial of the Shoah
Photos & Highlights
- Explore what the reality of life was like under Nazi occupation through the lens of soldiers, the deported, Resistance fighters, collaborators, and everyday citizens
- Visit iconic sites and walk historic streets while uncovering hidden stories of the men and women who fought for Paris’ Liberation
Select a date
Tour Description
In this city once gripped by Nazi occupation, wartime secrets are waiting to be revealed. You’ve read all the novels, watched all the documentaries, but here you’ll come to understand what no single piece of media can convey: the many shades of gray of life under Nazi occupation.
As you walk along the history-laden streets, you will hear echoes of those who came before. Perhaps you’ll learn more about your own family history, or your expert will share their family ties with a past not so far gone. From the most personal connections to the most well-known, you’ll see what the men and women who shaped this city’s history went through firsthand.
With the help of an expert historian, World War II in Paris will come to life. Discover the site of a pivotal riot sparked by sardines, see a hotel that once housed both Holocaust survivors and their imprisoned Nazi captors, find bullet holes in a building meant for those who served and protected, and more.
Choose this tour if...
- You are a history buff who craves a deeper understanding of daily life during the Nazi occupation
- You are an avid historical fiction reader who wants to learn the truth behind the stories you’ve read
- Your family was touched by the war, and you want a more profound insight into your own personal past
- You are looking to make collective memories with your family and give yourselves something to talk about long after your trip is over
- You want to see parts of Paris that most tourists don’t visit
Everyone from history buffs to history dabblers will learn something new
“Marie was a fabulous guide. She gave me a real look at WWII from the French perspective, which was so interesting. My husband is a real military/war buff and he learned new things from Marie. Highly recommend Marie and this tour. Money well spent.”
Discover one of Paris’ hidden sides
“Our guide, Sean, led us on an insightful walking tour that we really enjoyed. We read a lot of WWII history, but were unfamiliar with the details of what happened in Paris during the war years—and we learned a lot on this tour. It offered a new way to see and understand Paris. We enjoyed it!”
Follow in the footsteps of the French Resistance
“The tour with Aymeric was excellent! Standing in locations that were important to the Resistance effort to defeat the Nazis and made the history come alive. I highly recommend this tour for those interested in WWII and the Nazi Occupation of Paris.”
Beginning in the heart of Saint Germain des Prés, a critical location for both Nazi occupiers and the Resistance, your expert will weave tales of daily life for French, German, and American soldiers, Jews, non-Jews, Resistance fighters, and everyday citizens. From the start of the occupation to the final days of Liberation, immerse yourself in the stories of those whose footsteps once fell upon these streets.
Visit the hotel where the German OSS once operated, imagining details of unspoken betrayals hidden within its walls. From here, your expert may choose to lead you through the opulent Jardin du Luxembourg, which once served as the headquarters for the Luftwaffe, or to guide you north to the entertainment quarter for Nazi occupiers.
Make your way from Place Saint-Michel, a site captured for eternity in Doisneau's photo of defiant barricades, to the police headquarters, seized from the hands of French collaborationists by the Resistance. On Île de la Cité, pause at the chilling Deportation Memorial before reflecting at the Shoah Memorial, if time allows.
You’ll leave this Paris WW2 tour with a deeper, richer understanding of life for all during a time in the not-too-distant past that still echoes through today.
- The Paris Left Bank is a vibrant cultural and artistic hub famous for its historic landmarks, intellectual history, and bohemian atmosphere.
- Île de la Cité is home to iconic attractions Notre Dame, Sainté Chapelle, and the Conciergerie, offering a long and storied past.
- The Mémorial des Martyrs de la Déportation is a moving monument situated on Île de la Cité, commemorating the French victims of deportation during World War II, including 76,000 Jewish deportations, and serving as a symbol of remembrance and reflection.
- The Memorial de la Shoah is a poignant and solemn museum and memorial dedicated to the memory of the Holocaust, honoring the victims of Nazi genocide in Europer, and educating visitors about the atrocities of World War II.
We understand that some of our valued guests may have mobility concerns, and we want to ensure you have a comfortable and enjoyable experience throughout your tour. If there are any accessibility concerns that your tour guide will need to be aware of, please let our team know at the time of booking.
For more information about Context tours, please visit our FAQ page.
Is this tour appropriate for children and teens?
We cover mature topics on this tour. It is not designed as a family tour, though we welcome inquisitive minds of all ages. Please contact us to discuss further if you're concerned about age-appropriate content. Context small-group tours do have an age minimum of 13.
Is this tour available every day?
We run this tour every day of the week, except for a few holidays when downtown Paris is very congested. Please be aware that the Shoah Memorial is not open on Saturdays and therefore Saturday tours will visit other points of interest.
Is this tour appropriate for children and teens?
We cover mature topics on this tour. It is not designed as a family tour, though we welcome inquisitive minds of all ages. Please contact us to discuss further if you're concerned about age-appropriate content. Context small-group tours do have an age minimum of 13.
Is this tour available every day?
We run this tour every day of the week, except for a few holidays when downtown Paris is very congested. Please be aware that the Shoah Memorial is not open on Saturdays and therefore Saturday tours will visit other points of interest.
Where You'll Start
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737 Reviews
Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.
Thierry did an outstanding job weaving together the intricacies of how the French resistance evolved and how they significantly helped the Allies win WW2. There was no historical question that he was unable to answer and he was a true professional , in regards to keeping the conversation vibrant and entertaining!
Highly recommend Thierry to be your Paris guide the next time you visit Paris!
Peter
June 2025
Peter
Jun 28, 2025
We so enjoyed our tour of Paris focused on the occupation and the resistance. Abigail really knows her stuff. She talked about what it was like for the Parisians before the Germans occupied Paris, what they expected, what they had been told. And then what life was like under the German occupation, with rationing and incredible scarcity. Abigail told great stories about individual and collective actions of the resistance. And when we got over to the Marais, we learned about the occupation from the perspective of the Jewish community and their families. We ended at the Shoah museum. Just seeing those walls and walls and walls of names of people transported out of Paris and into the camps. How few came home. And how that history has been handled both in the immediate post war period and since then to the present day. In short, if you’re really interested in the history, the experience of making difficult choices, and the moral issues involved, this is the tour for you. Abigail was relaxed and easy to be with. She’s exactly the kind of guide that gives Context the strong reputation it has.
Mary
Jun 27, 2025
This was a wonderfully informative and entertaining tour of rive gauche areas that played an important role in Paris life during the German occupation. That the story is more nuanced than we might have believed is especially educational. Ordinary people trying to stay out of harm's way, but many turning a blind eye to the horror unfolding... I hope we don't have to be tested in this way...All very thought provoking. A masterful job by Samuel!
Michael
Jun 22, 2025
