Paris
3 hours
9:30 AM
20

Highlights

  • From Dec 2024: Enjoy a guided visit inside Notre Dame.
  • Witness the ongoing restorations of Notre Dame
  • Wander the Latin Quarter and learn who once lived there
  • Explore the Conciergerie and Sainte Chapelle on a guided tour
  • Hop aboard a cruise on the river Seine
  • See the prison that once held Marie Antoinette

Tour description

See Marie Antoinette's prison cell and the stunning stained glass windows in Sainte-Chapelle

This in-depth exploration of the histories, myths, legends, and lore hidden behind the stones of Paris’ most interesting neighborhood takes you to the historic Île de la Cité in the heart of the city. From the gothic splendor of the bell towers of Notre Dame that inspired Victor Hugo to create his hunchback bell-ringer, to the dazzling stained glass windows in Sainte Chapelle, you’ll see Paris from several entirely different perspectives, and discover exactly what makes it such a special place.

Your medieval Paris walking tour starts in the heart of Ile de la Cité, where you’ll hear all about the hidden history of this intriguing city and take in its romantic sights along the way to your first stop: the breathtaking Sainte-Chapelle. Skip the long lines and step inside to marvel at its stunning stained glass windows. Depicting over 1,000 biblical scenes, these windows are a masterpiece of Gothic architecture and a true Paris hidden gem. Your guide will share fascinating insights into the chapel's history and the significance of the artwork, making this an unforgettable start to your tour.

Next, you're off to the Conciergerie, a former royal palace that became infamous during the French Revolution as a prison—most famously for Marie-Antoinette. Walk through the historic halls, hear the chilling tales of its past, and learn about the dark days of the Reign of Terror.

Get as close as possible to the Notre Dame cathedral to see the ongoing restoration

As you approach the iconic Notre Dame, your guide will take you back in time hundreds of years to when the mighty cathedral (the distance from which all points in France are measured) was first built and Paris looked very different than it does today. Through November 2024, you’ll get as close to the majestic landmark as the ongoing restoration will permit you to give you the best views possible.

If you visit from mid-December 2024, the highlight of your tour will be the opportunity to step inside Notre-Dame itself. After years of restoration following the devastating fire, you'll be among the first to experience its reopening—a true once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Uncover the stories of the historic Île de la Cité neighborhood with an expert local guide

From there, you'll cross the river into the historic Latin Quarter. Stroll down meandering cobblestone streets where you'll hear the stories and learn of the characters—poets, philosophers, artists—that made Paris the City of Light.

Last but not least, your guide will leave you with a special treat: a river cruise along the Seine where you can drink in Paris's magnificent buildings from a new vantage point. The cruise will last one hour and offers live commentary on board.

Sites visited

  • Notre Dame Cathedral (interior access from December 2024)
  • Île de la Cité
  • Sainte Chapelle
  • Conciergerie
  • River Seine
  • Place Dauphine
  • Latin Quarter
  • Île Saint-Louis

Included

Verified guest reviews

4.8 / 5
265 Customer Reviews
  1. Excellent

    226

  2. Great

    29

  3. Good

    3

  4. Average

    3

  5. Poor

    4

Carol

Sep 05, 2024

Our tour guide (Manny) was excellent. He was able to integrate current day patterns of human behavior with historical references which was very interesting. Great energy and sense of humour with in depth knowledge of the area’s history.

Omema

Aug 28, 2024

Emily was a great tour guide. She was very knowledgeable on French history and didn’t mind elaborating on relevant topics. She was friendly and pleasant and I learned a lot. Would recommend to a friend.

Renee

Aug 08, 2024

Nothing but great vibes about this tour and the tour guide.

Jennifer

May 13, 2024

I enjoyed this tour as Adam the tour guide enriched the visit to Sainte Chapelle and the Conciergerie way beyond a visual experience by providing an insight into French history in an interesting and engaging manner. In Sainte Chapelle we learned how to read the story told in the magnificent stained glass windows and why the Chapel was built in the first place.

Lynn

Apr 28, 2024

This tour covered several sites on our want to see list, so I was excited to find it. It was great.

Know before you book

From $65
Free Cancellation