Top Paris Literary Tours

Enhance your experience of one of Paris’ most iconic cultural institutions on a 2-hour guided tour of the Louvre with skip-the-line entry. Alongside an expert art historian guide, sail past the long lines outside of the museum and embark on an informative tour of the legendary masterpieces within. Marvel at relics from Ancient Egypt; gaze at the piercing eyes of Leonardo da Vinci’s 'Mona Lisa'; and admire hidden gems like Gericault’s 'Raft of Medusa' while listening to illuminating commentary from your expert guide.   

On this 2.5-hour private tour, walk around the famous Père Lachaise, a cemetery in a park-like setting, and see the resting places of many celebrities. Stroll along tranquil pathways and stop by the headstones for Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf, Jean Paul Sartre and others. Learn from your personalized guide about the writers, politicians and other remarkable personalities who lay buried within the beautiful stone walls, as well as the history that took place at the cemetery itself. This private tour accommodating up to 10 people is available in the morning and afternoon.

Unearth the secrets of Paris' largest and most famous 'city of the dead' on a small-group walking tour of the Père Lachaise Cemetery. Follow a guide to the final resting places of luminaries of art and music including Jim Morrison, Edith Piaf, Chopin, and Oscar Wilde, and learn about unruly episodes of Parisian history that played out within the cemetery walls. Group size is limited to 10 for a more intimate and respectful experience at this hallowed landmark.

Follow in the footsteps of Hemingway (and other members of the Lost Generation), visit the Paris landmarks that he frequented, and soak up the city’s history on this private walking tour. Meet your guide in the afternoon, and set off on foot: you’ll hear about Hemingway’s life and works, will see photos of his time in Paris, and discover highlights like the Shakespeare and Company bookstore, Harry’s New York Bar, and more.

Take a private walking tour of the Left Bank to discover the ‘Lost Generation’ of artists, writers, and jazz musicians who flocked to Paris between the two World Wars. See cafes and residences where the artists gathered, worked, and lived, including places inhabited by Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, and Ezra Pound. Note that the bohemian Left Bank of the 1920s and 30s now is largely populated by high-end establishments.

Make sightseeing in the French capital easy with a Big Bus tour of Paris. Enjoy the convenience of hop-on hop-off access at any stop along the route, and soak in the views from an open-top, double-decker bus. See sights like the Louvre Museum, Moulin Rouge cabaret club, and the iconic Eiffel Tower as you listen to informative audio-commentary, available in 11 languages.

Experience culture and art through the ages with a small-group tour of Paris’ epic Louvre Museum. Jump the queue and learn about some of the museum’s 35,000 artworks across eight themed galleries from your art historian guide. Then enjoy time on your own to explore, viewing paintings, sculpture, and architecture from 450 BC to the 19th century. Numbers are limited to 25 on this small-group tour or upgrade your ticket to a private tour exclusive to just your group. 

Save time with this Viator skip-the-line Eiffel Tower ticket. This priority access admission ticket allows for a relaxing visit to one of the world’s busiest monuments, accompanied by a host. Listen as your host adds colorful history and facts to the sights below as you look over Les Invalides, Notre Dame Cathedral, and other city landmarks.

See the major sights of Paris from the water on a hop-on hop-off Seine boat cruise. With either a 1- or 2-day ticket, glide leisurely along the river, hopping off and on when you wish to visit the attractions that most interest you, such as Musée d'Orsay and the Louvre. Or simply stay on the boat to admire Paris’ World Heritage-listed riverbanks.

Breeze past the crowds outside the Eiffel Tower with this skip-the-line pass and 1.5-hour tour. In the company of your local guide, you'll gain priority access to the tower's second level. Delve into the history of one of the world's most famous monuments and soak up the exhibits and maps on display. Then bid adieu to your guide and head to the tower's summit for stellar views of the City of Lights. Toast your travels with a glass of bubbly from the Champagne bar (own expense).

Paris’ Louvre is one of the world’s largest art museums, so don't waste your time waiting in line. Head straight inside, with your priority access admission, to see three of its biggest crowd-pleasers, including the unavoidable gaze and wry smile of Da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa." On this guided tour, hear fascinating tales and tidbits about these unmissable masterpieces. After coming face to face with several artworks by great masters, you’re free to explore the Louvre independently.

Make the most of your time in Paris with a combination of a cruise on the Seine and a 3-course dinner. This 75-minute dinner cruise allows you to see the main attractions of the City of Lights while you enjoy a casual meal. Relax into a comfortable armchair facing one of the boat's windows, the better to take in the view, and watch sights like the Louvre, Place de la Concorde, and Eiffel Tower drift by. Upgrade the experience to include wine or Champagne with dinner.

Visit the D-Day beaches during this full-day trip from Paris to Normandy. Stop at Omaha Beach to learn stories and historical facts about WWII; stop at the Juno Beach Center; pause at the American Cemetery. Gain fascinating insights from your guide into the sacrifices of Allied soldiers and the French citizens they liberated. Upgrade to a small-group tour when booking for a more personal experience.

Finding your way around Paris doesn't need to be challenging, thanks to this hop-on hop-off bus tour. You have the option of one, two, or three days of double-decker bus access, covering various routes with stops at most of Paris’s most important museums, attractions, and shopping areas. And with your ticket, get all sorts of freebies, including walking tours and on-board audio guides with narration in multiple languages.

Ensure a memorable night out in Paris with a gourmet dinner cruise along the Seine River. Float past the city’s famed monuments, such as the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, and Ile de la Cité aboard a luxury Bateaux Parisiens riverboat. Soak up the magic of Paris from an onboard dining room while enjoying a gourmet 3-course meal. Please note that Champagne and live music are also included on select 8:30pm departures.

Discover the highlights of the Louvre without worrying about crowds: this private tour makes navigating one of the world’s largest museums stress-free. Pick between several daily departure times, and meet your guide directly at the Louvre; thanks to your skip-the-line tickets, you can bypass the long lines and head right inside. Over the course of your tour, you’ll see three main wings of the museum, will discover collection highlights, will learn stories behind the artworks, and more.

Flânerie (or city wandering) is a cherished rite of modern Parisian culture. But how does one wander à la française? On this self-guided audio tour, we focus on the in-betweens of Paris: we will walk the seam between the historically and culturally rich neighbourhoods of Belleville and Ménilmontant, and explore lesser-known neighbourhood gems, history, and culture. At the same time, this tour will teach you the art of flânerie: how to wander a city and read it like a storybook, or play it like a game, rather than simply choosing the straightest and quickest shot from one famous monument to the next. Your tour guide, Jennifer Solheim, is a French and Francophone literature scholar.

Discover Montmartre, full of secret gardens, tiny streets, and windmills. Montmartre is not only my favourite neighbourhood, it's also where I live. So we’ll dive deep into its history and give you all of the insider information. There are two very marked sides in Montmartre. There is the touristic side, and then there's the local side. We will explore them both and I will show you how they both connect. Let me tell you Montmartre's small and big stories.