The Historic Heart of Paris: Private Walking Tour & River Cruise

Enjoy a three-hour private walking tour of Paris, and explore the highlights of the French capital with an expert private guide from Montmartre to Notre Dame, followed by an idyllic river cruise along the Seine.

On your private tour, you will: 

• Meet your guide outside the famous Sacré-Cœur basilica in Montmartre, and the spectacular viewpoint over Paris;
• See the best of Paris from Montmartre to Notre Dame, including the Moulin Rouge, the Centre Pompidou, and Île de la Cité;
• Visit Le Marais neighbourhood, Hotel de Ville, Palais de Justice de Paris and the Conciergerie, Place Dauphine and the Pont Neuf;
• Travel like a local – your guide will teach you all the tricks to taking the Paris Metro from Montmartre to the city centre;
• Enjoy complimentary river cruise tickets, which you can use at the end of your tour or whenever you like! 

Begin with an hour's walking tour of Montmartre, the arty and bohemian neighbourhood of Paris, where an enclave of famous painters and artists like Van Gogh, Renoir and Picasso lived. Begin outside the magnificent Sacré-Cœur Basilica with its breathtakingly beautiful panoramic views over the whole of Paris, then enjoy an easy downhill stroll through the cobbled streets of Montmartre, passing through the artist's square, Place du Tertre, the studio Bateaux Lavoir, the Moulin de la Galette, the House of van Gogh and the infamous Moulin Rouge! Learn the fascinating history of this district with its many conflicts between art, religion and the military!

Then hop aboard the Paris Metro, helped by your guide, to the centre of Paris, where you'll enjoy the next part of your walking tour. Marvel at the famous Centre Pompidou building, described by its architect Renzo Piano as a "huge spaceship made of glass", and stroll through the charming Le Marais neighbourhood. This is the medieval and Jewish Quarter of Paris and is today filled with hip boutiques, galleries, and cafes.

Crossing the bridge onto one of the two remaining natural islands in the Seine, the Île de la Cité, you'll explore this historic heart of Paris, where the city was founded. You'll walk around the magnificent and hauntingly beautiful Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral, as it undergoes a renovation after the 2019 fire. Learn all about the beauty of gothic architecture, and the cunning use of gargoyles.

You'll see the Conciergerie, which was the medieval home of the kings of France, and later became their prison! It is next to the Palais du Justice where the Revolutionary trials were held, and it is still a working law court today. Walk through the picturesque Place Dauphine towards the giant bronze equestrian statue of Henry IV on the Pont Neuf (meaning New Bridge - that is actually 500 years old!) and enjoy wonderful views of the castle towers of the Conciergerie and the Louvre.

Your tour finishes at Pont Neuf, where your guide will give you tickets to join a one-hour river cruise that will take you past the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower and many other stunning monuments of Paris that line the river. These tickets can be used any time, any day during your stay in Paris. 

Tour duration
3 hours

Type of tour
Walking tour: including 1 single metro ride and 1 Montmartre funicular ride

Attractions along this route:

Le Sacré-Coeur
The Sacré-Coeur is a white basilica perched atop Montmartre, with a stunning view of Paris below.

Montmartre
A vibrant and artistic neighbourhood once home to Renoir and Gauguin, offering spectacular views over the city.

Moulin Rouge
An iconic venue opened in the late 19th century, credited with the invention of the can-can dance.

Notre-Dame de Paris
Notre Dame, perched on an island in the heart of Paris, is one of the finest cathedrals in the world.

Pont Neuf
Built to ease traffic congestion in the early 17th century, this iconic five-arch bridge is Paris' oldest bridge.

Place-Dauphine
One of the prettiest, most peaceful locations in Paris, the square is a hot-spot for families, dog walkers and petanque players.

Hôtel de Ville
The Hôtel de Ville in Paris houses the city's local administration.

Seine River Cruise
Get delighted with the magnificent views of the city along the Seine River, on board the Bateaux Mouches.

Centre Pompidou
Home to the National Museum of Modern Art is a 20th-century building usually recognized by its exterior escalators and enormous coloured tubing.