10 best excursions in Paris - prices and our experience in 2021

See Paris and ... see it many, many times! After all, this is a city that cannot be covered in a couple of days.

We went to Paris in May, July and August.

We visited all the places, somewhere, however, not the first time. It is important to take into account that the city is large, the distances between the attractions are decent. If you don't book in advance tickets to interesting places, you can also spend several hours in line (I'm not kidding! Remember the footage from Eurotour about the giant queue at the Louvre? So: this is almost a documentary)! And some of the cafes that we wanted to visit were open only from 19.00 (wasted lunch time). Therefore, planning is the key to success.

Prices and description of excursions in Paris

Take a guided tour in the early days in the new city - i-de-a-l-no. Not to reel in 30,000 steps in ten hours and at the end of the day to remember only terrible tiredness in the legs, but to walk with feeling and plainly through the iconic places with a knowledgeable person. Get to know the city, ask all, all questions, and then look independently and, as they say, "with different eyes."
It's one thing when you see a building and think how old it is, it's impressive! And it is completely different when you know that Picasso often visited here. But in this cafe the film "Amelie" was filmed.

It is logical that you cannot buy an excursion in Paris on the corner of the Eiffel Tower, like somewhere in Moscow on Red Square. Moreover, in Russian. Therefore, I will advise two large Russian services for booking excursions around the world:

• Tripster
• Sputnik8

There are both group and individual excursions. We have personally used Tripster and Sputnik in Montenegro, UAE and Spain. Sometimes the GetYourGuide website will slip through - it is already international, and it is profitable to buy entrance tickets to museums and theaters or to book activities, such as boat trips or on red double-decker buses.

Popular excursions in Paris: prices in 2021 (in Russian)

Paris daily walk / Sightseeing tour and boat / Bonjour, Paris

Paris is big, to see everything "with your feet" - just normal such physical. load. We walked at least 25 km a day (I specially checked it using the fitness app)! I liked it, but with children / people who do not practice long walks, it is difficult! And here it is convenient, compact and, most importantly, interesting.

Sightseeing tours in Paris are very different. The most capacious and interesting in Russian (read more reviews about each by clicking on the widget with pictures below):

• A daily walk through Paris. A walking tour covering different moments of Parisian history: cathedrals, castles and theaters that have played an important role in the life of the city and country. Suitable for those who are in Paris for a short time, but wants to know everything and at once + likes to walk. Bonus - recommendations from the guide on delicious places.
  Price: € 20 per person, you can buy a tour on Tripster or Sputnik.
  Duration: 2 hours.
  Review: “Some” house suddenly becomes a significant monument of architecture and history. Knowledge, whatever you say, is power! "
• Sightseeing tour + boat trip. Everything is clear by the name. A 2-hour walk to see all the main sights of Paris. After that - sailing on a boat along the Seine with an audio guide.
  Price: € 35 per person, can be ordered on Sputnik.
  Duration: 3.5 hours.
  Review: “When everything is very compact, but at the same time, without haste, relax! Apparently, France has "
• Bonjour, Pari! Or individual excursions (that is, only your company and guide) by car for groups of up to 8 people. A huge plus of such a pastime is the ability to adjust the route, duration and start time to suit your wishes. The driver-guide will pick you up / take you to the hotel or wherever it is convenient for you, tell you about urban legends associated with a particular place, give advice on what to see on your own. Plus, the comfort of personal transport has not been canceled.
  Price: € 250 per tour.
  Duration: 3 hours.
  Review: “Perfect for a company / family trip / traveling with children. Because:
  - not so expensive for a few people,
  - you can stop / stay / finish earlier if something did not go according to plan (with children this is very common) "

Eiffel Tower Adventure

Everyone who comes to Paris is encouraged to take a look at the city from the top of the Eiffel's brainchild. You can do it yourself, or together with a Russian-speaking guide. In the first case, you are left on your own, you can wander through each tier, as long as your legs can hold, and even linger in a cafe overlooking Paris. In the second, you will learn many stories from the life of the building, and most importantly: go upstairs without a queue!

Price: from € 155 for a group of up to five people, see details on Tripster or Sputnik.

Duration: 2.5 hours.

Our review: “For me, climbing the Eiffel Tower is sacred! How many were in Paris, went up every time. In my opinion, this is exactly the case when you can do without a guide. And upstairs it's better to just enjoy the views. But here to each his own: the history of the building is exciting and ambiguous, it is also worth hearing it at least once. "

Tours to the tower are usually individual and the price does not include the entrance ticket. It is bought separately (on the website toureiffel.paris/en):

• to the second tier with your own feet - € 10.4 (845 rubles)
• to the second tier by elevator - € 16.6 (1350 rubles)
• to the top by elevator - € 25.9 (2100 rubles)
• to the top on foot and from the second tier by elevator - € 19.7 (1600 rubles)

By the way, there are two separate queues for the elevator and the stairs (the stairs are much shorter). So, if you go without children and are confident in your abilities, save time and money by going up to the 2nd floor on your own.

The main treasures of the Louvre in 2 hours

To see the treasures of the main museum in France without spending a whole day on it, you need a guide. He will lead secret short paths and show the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and Nika of Samothrace so that you will see them, and not the backs of numerous Chinese tourists. Definitely, this tour is at the top of the list of "best excursions in Paris".

Price: adults - € 35 and € 17 for entrance to the Louvre; children under 7 years old - € 17. Book with either Tripster or Sputnik.

Duration: 2 hours.

Review: “I am very sorry that I did not know about this excursion on our first visit to the Louvre ... We spent more time, but saw much less than we would like. It's better with a guide! But if you decide to be independent, here's a tip: when buying a ticket, specify which country you are from. At the checkout they give out brochures with tips in the native language. "

Montmartre and its streets

A vacation in Paris would not be complete without a walk through this bohemian haven. The excursion will allow you to learn many facts from the life of Gauguin, Monet or Amelie from Montmartre, stroll past the Moulin Rouge along the intricate local streets and, finally, climb to the very top of the hill to the snow-white Sacré-Coeur Basilica.

Price: group - € 32 per person, individual - € 42 per person.

Duration: 2-3 hours.

Review: “It is best to make a trip to this quarter of Paris twice: once with a guide (because it’s really interesting), the second time on your own (and free) to wander through all the nooks and sit in local cafes (which are very inexpensive compared to the center cities)."

Great acquaintance with Versailles

We did not reach Versailles (which I am very sorry about), so here is the Luxembourg Gardens

A demanded 1-day excursion from Paris is a trip to the beloved palace of Louis XIV, who most of all appreciated luxury. Versailles is known all over the world, it is gorgeous so much that the Russian tsarist residences nervously smoke on the sidelines (but this is not certain!). It is definitely worth a visit there.

If you want to appreciate the whole royal scale in the company of a guide, it is best to sign up for a mini-group of up to 10 people. With a larger number of people (more than 15), there are constant delays due to "strayed" tourists and, in general, it can be hard to hear.

Please note that you will have to get to the palace yourself (public transport is excellent), entrance tickets to the palace and the palace park are paid separately.

Price: group - € 62 per person (for a tour) + € 8 travel + € 27 (entrance to the palace and gardens) = € 97; individual - € 250 for a group of up to four people + € 27 per person for entrance to the palace and gardens. Children under 18 do not need a ticket to Versailles.

Duration: 3.5-4 hours.

There is a similar excursion on Sputnik for € 65 with the already included fares from Paris to Versailles and an admission ticket. Benefit - about € 30. However, tourists complain about the lack of time to inspect the garden when the situation is 4 hours for everything (including the road from / to Paris).

Excursion to Normandy with cider and calvados tasting

Bus tour for groups up to 10 people. In a comfortable Mercedes sprinter (similar to a minibus :)) you have to reach the shores of the English Channel via Rouen, Honfleur and Deauville. The excursion also includes tasting the famous Calvados and Norman apple cider, shopping in local souvenir shops and stories from a Russian-speaking guide.

Price: € 84 per person, bargain price on Sputnik.

Duration: 12 hours.

Review: Oddly enough, this trip will be appreciated by lovers of independent recreation! A lot of time is devoted to walking without a guide and lunch.

Evening walk along the Seine

You can walk along the river in two ways: on foot along the embankment or by boat.

• Evening walk along the Seine. Walking tour, during which the guide will tell you about the role of the river in the life of the city and about all the historical vicissitudes that took place on its banks. Held in the evening before sunset, which is very romantic in itself.
  Price: € 40 per person in Tripster.
  Duration: 2 hours.
  Review: "An interesting excursion along a well-designed route."
  Editorial advice: In the warm season, after the excursion, you can comfortably settle down near the water with your snacks, wine / tea / coffee and join the many townspeople celebrating life!
• Water excursions on the Seine spend both in the afternoon and in the evening. Most of the audio guide is provided in Russian. Dinner cruises are very popular in the evening.
  The cost of excursions in Paris along the Seine: from € 15 (without dinner) to € 60 (with dinner) - all on GetYourGuide
  Duration: 1 hour (without dinner) / 2-2.5 hours with dinner
  Review: "Attention! To use the audio guide, you need to have earphones for your mobile phone (and sometimes your smartphone itself). "

Disneyland

The most coveted attraction for children of all ages (even those in their 50s) is Disneyland! You can get to the park on your own (by train or bus) or book a combo tour with an included transfer and tickets.

Comfortable public transport:

• from the center of Paris - RAR trains that run from metro stations. You need to go to the stop Marne-la-Vallée Chessy.
  One way ticket - € 8
• from the airports of Orly and Charles de Gaulle - by buses Magic Shuttle. They run from terminals 2E and F.
  Cost - € 23 (adult), € 10 (children under 12 years old)
• From Charles de Gaulle airport to Disneyland, you can also take the TGV train. Tickets are purchased online through the French Railways website: sncf.com. Get off at Paris Marne-La-Vallée Chessy station. From there, a free shuttle bus runs to the park's hotels (200 m on foot). One way price starts from € 15 per adult.

About Disneyland tickets. Park two:

- Disneyland Park

- Walt Disney Studios

Entrance tickets: from € 51 - children (from 3 to 11 years old), € 56 - adults, one day / one park; from € 71 children (from 3 to 11 years old), € 76 - adults, one day / two parks.

A combo tour (transfer + tickets) will cost € 120 per person if by train, and € 157 if by car.

Exit tour of the Loire castles

A trip as part of a group on a comfortable bus through three castles on the outskirts of Paris: Chambord - the most unusual, Amboise - with the grave of da Vinci, Chenonceau - simply luxurious.

Price: € 125 per person, book on Sputnik.

Duration: 12.5 hours

Review: “I advise you to go on this trip to those whose tour to Paris is designed for at least 3 days. It is better to ride without small children - it will be difficult for them and not very interesting. But for adults - the very fire! "

Guided tours in Paris on your own (free)

Bonus: what to visit in Paris is free or almost free;). Interesting places and cheap excursions from locals.

Fragonard Perfume Museum

It is called the most famous perfume museum. Ask why such a celebrity opens their doors for free? The answer is simple: a good marketing ploy. After the tour, you will be taken to the showroom, where a real scent tasting show (if you can call it that?) Will take place. Then they will offer to buy whatever your soul desires. And, believe me, my heart desires!

Nearest metro station: Opera RAR.

Working hours: from Monday to Saturday, from 9.00 to 18.00, on Sunday, from 9.00 to 17.00.
Tours are conducted in different languages, including Russian.

Flea markets in Paris (Vernaison market)

Flea markets are my French love! There are many of them in France. My recommendation to those who are not indifferent: the oldest flea market in Paris (since 1920!) - Vernaison. There is everything here - from old broken toys of the mid-20th century to rare antiques for a lot, a lot of money. It is a real pleasure to wander among this splendor. You may even buy something for yourself. There is where to eat.

For example, we brought from there a whole handful of retro car key rings, which later became great souvenirs for friends.

Nearest metro station: Porte-de-Clignancourt.
* The Saint-Ouen area unites almost all the fleas in Paris.

Working hours: Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 10.00 to 18.00.

Canal Saint-Martin

A whole system of locks in a quiet area of ​​the same name in Paris. It is just pleasant to walk along the canal and feel the atmosphere of the capital of France. But there is also an additional entertainment - the passage of ships through the locks.

And it is even more interesting to buy a ticket for an excursion boat and go through the locks on the water. Ticket price: € 18 - for adults, € 9 - for children under 12 years old, children under 4 years old - free. Departure from Bassin de la Villette or port de l'Arsenal. In the off-season, boats rarely go, it is better to first check the information on the Internet.

Free Walking Tour

Free Walking Tours are popular in many cities, including Paris. They are usually conducted in English.

In fact, these walks are not entirely free (although they are positioned this way on the Internet), you will get to know the city for donation - a small amount that you voluntarily give to the guide at the end of the tour.

This pastime has its pros and cons.

+ Tours are conducted by non-professional guides. For me, this is exactly a plus, because you can find out the most unexpected things about the city and the sights. So to speak, to see everything through the eyes of an ordinary citizen.

+ Conscientious guides do charge with what you have to offer them. Usually it is € 5-7 per person.

- Difficult to guess with a guide. There are also those who, from the middle of the excursion, begin to hint that it would be nice for them to receive a fixed payment for their work. Not a pity, but also unpleasant.

- More and more often, there are messages in the reviews that the guide did not come to the appointed meeting point. In this case, you will not lose anything (except time), but the residue remains ...

Where is the best place to buy excursions in Paris? Our opinion and feedback from tourists in 2021

In Paris, excursions are booked online. Both in Russian and in English. Do I need it in advance? The most interesting ones, snapped up like hot cakes, should be taken care of in a month. But many fascinating reviews are available, and that's right tomorrow.

Where to book excursions in Paris in Russian:

• Tripster - many individually designed routes where to go / go
• Sputnik8 - good group excursions
• GetYourGuide - tickets for attractions + budget excursions in English
• Airbnb impressions - non-standard entertainment like clandestine bars or croissant master classes! If you haven't used Airbnb before, here's a bonus of up to RUB 4,000 on your first experience or accommodation booking.

On my own I will add: it is optimal to go to Paris for 5 days. During this time, you can have time to walk on your own and go on excursions. If you have less time, try to prioritize wisely.

Budget trip to Paris

Flights.
Flights from Russia to Paris are expensive all year round. It is relatively cheap to get there by a low-cost airline, but with a wild transfer (17 hours on the way!) And without luggage - from 9,000 rubles (round trip). A decent direct flight: at least 25,000 rubles per person (and it's still inexpensive!)
Where to look: Aviasales

Lodging.
Also a fairly large expense item in Paris. We usually rent an apartment through Airbnb, which is the best option for the city. Moreover, the apartments in the center are very atmospheric. The average price is around 5000-7000 rubles per night. By the way, photos of the apartment can be seen in our service overview.

But staying at Les Piaules hostel is a good option.

Transport.
It's easier with this: there is a metro (one-time travel € 1.9), trains from the airport to the center are about € 11. You can take buses # 350 or # 351 for € 2, we did this - the cheapest, but longest way. We traveled around the city by Uber, there is a tariff here when you share a trip with fellow travelers. From the Eiffel Tower to Montmartre, we paid about € 8, it comes out quite budget. Over the weekend, we spent about € 65 on getting around the city and to the airport there and back, for two.

Food.
It depends on the appetite. You can eat at McDuck (€ 10 per person), or you can pay for dinner with wine in an authentic restaurant for about € 150 for two. On average, you need to pledge about € 50 per person per day, if you don't bother too much with cooking and don't save a lot.

Entertainment.
If you take a weekend trip and 1-2 excursions (for example, a sightseeing bus, a pedestrian climb to the Eiffel Tower, Louvre), it will cost about € 150 for two.

In total, an approximate budget for two in Paris for the weekend:

• € 800 if you fly with a low-cost airline
• € 1100 - direct Aeroflot

Season.
And when is the best time to go to Paris, tell me! I will answer based on my experience. May Paris - he is blooming and all so pink-romantic; not yet hot, but quite hectic with tourists. July Paris - steam room, liked least of all. And here august, surprisingly moderate in the heat (of course, from year to year in different ways) and - attention - empty! Because at the end of summer, all potential Europeans-tourists-to-Paris and the Parisians themselves scatter across the seas to take their vacations :)