My Favorite Paris Experiences
Paris is one of those cities where the more you understand what you’re seeing, the more magical it becomes. You can absolutely wander the streets on your own—but a great guide brings the city to life with stories, history, and little details you’d never notice otherwise. Whether it’s learning the secrets behind the Eiffel Tower, tasting wine with a French sommelier, or exploring neighborhoods with a local, these experiences turn sightseeing into something much richer. Guided tours also help you make the most of your time. Here are some of my favorite Paris experiences and excursions.
Motorcycle Sidecar Tour
See Paris in the most unforgettable way possible—riding through the city in a vintage motorcycle sidecar with your own driver-guide. As you cruise past iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, and the Latin Quarter, your guide shares fascinating stories and local insights along the way. This private experience is designed for very small groups (typically just 2 guests per sidecar), making it a fun, intimate, and surprisingly efficient way to see a lot of Paris in a short time. Book now.
Perfume Making
Create your own signature French perfume during this hands-on workshop at the historic Molinard boutique in Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Guided by a fragrance expert, you’ll learn how perfumes are structured—exploring top, heart, and base notes—while blending from dozens of essences to design a scent that’s uniquely yours. At the end of the experience, you’ll leave with a 50ml bottle of your custom perfume (and the formula to recreate it later). Book now.
Saint Chapelle & The Outside of Notre Dame
Step into the medieval heart of Paris on a guided walking tour of Île de la Cité, where you’ll learn the fascinating history of the island and admire Notre-Dame Cathedral from the outside while hearing the story of its construction and recent restoration. (Tickets for the interior of Notre Dame must be booked directly via the Cathedral website.) The tour includes pre-reserved entry to Sainte-Chapelle, famous for its breathtaking stained-glass windows, and the Conciergerie, the former royal palace that later became a prison during the French Revolution where Marie Antoinette was held. With a semi-private group of about 12 people, the experience feels personal and engaging while exploring three of the most historic landmarks in Paris. Book now.
The Louvre
Explore the Louvre’s most famous masterpieces on this intimate guided tour limited to just six participants, making it feel almost like a private experience. With pre-booked tickets and a licensed guide, you’ll skip the hassle of navigating the world’s largest museum and head straight to highlights like the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and Winged Victory of Samothrace. The small group size allows plenty of time for questions, stories, and deeper insight into the art and history of the former royal palace. Book now.
Musee d’Orsay
Explore one of Paris’s most celebrated museums on this guided tour of the Musée d’Orsay, home to the world’s largest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces. With skip-the-line entry and a knowledgeable guide, you’ll see iconic works by artists like Monet, Van Gogh, Renoir, and Cézanne while learning the fascinating stories behind them. The small-group format—limited to about 6 participants—keeps the experience personal and interactive, allowing plenty of time for questions and deeper insights into the art. Book now.
Eiffel Tower
Visit Paris’s most famous landmark with reserved access to the Eiffel Tower’s second floor or summit, where you’ll enjoy sweeping views of the city and iconic sights like the Louvre, Notre-Dame, and the Seine. Unlike simply buying a ticket, this experience includes a guide who shares the fascinating history, engineering, and stories behind the tower as you ascend, adding context that most visitors miss. You can purchase tickets directly from the Eiffel Tower yourself, but this tour is ideal if you want expert commentary and a smoother introduction before exploring the tower on your own. Book now.
Paris Food Tours & Culinary Experiences
Paris is one of the best food cities in the world, so carving out time for a food experience is always worth it. These tours range from classic neighborhood tasting walks to hands-on cooking classes and even a hidden cocktail bar crawl. Depending on your interests, you can taste, learn, cook, or drink your way through the city.
Latin Quarter Food Tour with 8 Tastings
If you want a classic Paris food tour, this one in the Latin Quarter near Notre Dame is a great place to start. You’ll explore one of the oldest neighborhoods in Paris on foot while sampling eight different tastings, which typically include French cheeses, pastries, cured meats, and other local specialties. Walking tours like this are perfect early in a trip because you’ll pick up great food recommendations while learning the basics of French culinary culture. Book now.
Cozy Wine & Cheese Tasting in Montmartre
This is a more intimate, sit-down tasting experience rather than a walking tour. Held in Montmartre, you’ll sample several French wines paired with regional cheeses while learning how the French actually approach wine pairing (which is often simpler and less intimidating than people expect). It’s ideal for travelers who want something relaxed in the evening rather than another walking tour. Book now.
Guided Wine Tasting in the 11th
Discover the flavors of France during this guided wine tasting in Paris, where an expert sommelier introduces you to six wines from different regions across the country. Each wine is paired with French cheeses and fresh baguette, while your host explains how terroir, grape varieties, and regional traditions shape the flavors in your glass. Over the course of this relaxed two-hour experience, you’ll learn how to taste and pair wine like a local while sampling some of France’s most celebrated styles. Book now.
Le Marais Culinary Tour with 11 Tastings & Wine
If you want the most comprehensive food tour, this one in Le Marais is hard to beat. With 11 tastings and wine, it’s more substantial than many other food tours and covers a neighborhood known for some of the best bakeries, chocolatiers, and specialty shops in Paris. Expect stops at small artisan producers along the way, which makes it feel more like exploring the real Paris food scene rather than just hitting tourist spots. Book now.
French Croissant Baking Class with a Chef
If you’ve ever wondered why French croissants taste so much better than the ones at home, this hands-on baking class will answer that question quickly. Working with a chef, you’ll learn how to make proper laminated croissant dough, shape the pastries, and bake them yourself. It’s a fun experience for travelers who enjoy cooking — and you’ll leave with a deeper appreciation for just how much work goes into a perfect croissant. Book now.
French Macaron Culinary Class with a Chef
Macarons look simple but are famously tricky to make. In this chef-led macaron baking class, you’ll learn the techniques needed to make these delicate pastries yourself — from mixing the batter correctly to piping, baking, and filling the finished cookies. It’s a great experience for anyone who enjoys baking or wants to bring home a very Parisian skill. Book now.
Behind-the-Scenes Paris Bakery Tour with Breakfast
If you want to go inside a real Parisian bakery, this experience is incredibly fun. Instead of just tasting pastries, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes tour of a working boulangerie and learn how classic French breads are actually made. The experience begins with a traditional French breakfast of croissants and pain au chocolat, then you’ll head into the kitchen to see how bakers prepare baguettes and other pastries. You’ll even have the chance to make your own baguette and take it with you, which is a surprisingly memorable souvenir. The tour runs about 2 hours and is limited to a small group of around 9 participants, so it feels personal and interactive rather than like a large demonstration. Book now.
Paris Speakeasy & Hidden Bar Tour
Paris isn’t just about wine and croissants — it also has a surprisingly creative cocktail scene. This evening speakeasy tour takes you to several hidden bars around the city, many tucked behind unmarked doors or disguised storefronts. It’s a fun way to see a different side of Paris nightlife while learning about the city’s growing craft cocktail culture. Book now.
Normandy D-Day Beaches
D-Day Beaches of Normandy Small-Group Tour
If you really want to understand the history of D-Day rather than just check the sites off a list, this small-group tour from Paris by minibus is the one I recommend. With a small group size, the guide can spend more time explaining the events of June 6, 1944 and answering questions as you visit powerful locations like Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc, German bunkers, and the American Cemetery. Smaller groups also move faster and can get closer to the sites themselves, which makes the experience far more personal and reflective. This tour also tends to receive higher ratings from travelers, which is usually a good signal that the guiding and pacing are better than the larger coach tours. Please note that this is a very long day from Paris. Book now.
Exploring the Champagne Region
This is a small-group tour (maximum 8 people) with hotel pickup in Paris, transportation by air-conditioned minivan, and visits to two Champagne houses, typically including one major producer and one smaller estate.
What really elevates this tour is the included 3-course lunch at a local restaurant. The smaller group size also means more time with your guide learning about the vineyards, grape varieties, and the Champagne-making process while actually standing among the vines.
For travelers who want a relaxed, intimate experience — and who appreciate good food as much as good Champagne — this tour is perfect. Book now.
Visiting Versailles
From Paris: Versailles Guided Tour by Deluxe Minibus
This is the easiest choice for travelers who want a smooth, low-effort Versailles visit. You’ll travel by deluxe minibus from central Paris, skip the long lines, and focus on the palace highlights with a licensed guide, including the State Apartments, Hall of Mirrors, and chapel. It is a strong fit for people who want the classic Versailles experience without dealing with train logistics or a full-day commitment. Book now.
From Paris: Skip-the-Line Palace of Versailles Bike Tour
This tour is ideal for travelers who want to see more than just the palace interiors. You’ll go from Paris to Versailles by train, then explore the estate by bike, which makes it much easier to cover the gardens, fountains, Trianon area, and Marie Antoinette’s hamlet. The market stop and picnic by the Grand Canal make this feel more immersive and relaxed than a standard palace tour. Book now.
Paris: Versailles Palace and Queen Hamlet E-Bike Tour
For active travelers who want a more adventurous day, this tour uses e-bikes and follows hidden routes from Paris out toward Versailles. That makes it especially appealing for people who like the journey to be part of the experience, not just the destination. Along the way, you get market time, picnic time, the Queen’s Hamlet, garden visits, and palace access, so it offers a more expansive and energetic day than a traditional visit. Book now.
From Paris: Versailles Full-Day Trip by Train
This is the best option for travelers who want a thorough, more traditional full-day Versailles experience without biking. You’ll travel by train from downtown Paris and spend the day covering the palace, gardens, Petit Trianon, and Marie Antoinette’s estate with a guide. It is a good pick for travelers who want depth and structure, and who do not mind a long day with a fair amount of walking. Book now.
About Krista
I’m a Virtuoso travel advisor based in West Palm Beach, Florida. I attended the University of Notre Dame for undergrad and I have my MBA from the University of Chicago. Before building my travel business, I spent 20 years in the investment management industry and over a decade living and working in London, England. I’ve personally traveled to 80 countries and now design thoughtful, highly customized trips for travelers who value expertise, access, and a seamless experience.
I offer a complimentary 30-minute consultation for travelers considering a custom itinerary or luxury cruise. Book a complimentary vacation consultation here.
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