When it comes to private tours in Paris, there is one rule to respect: choose to discover the neighborhoods and museums with a tour guide. For what ? Because thanks to it, you will have access to museums, monuments of Paris and castles. The profession is regulated and only guides holding a professional card will be able to accompany you. A guide marked “professional guide” is not a tour guide.
The Paris tourist office is a reference in this area. You will find tour guides in all languages. Most of them work with event companies who invent innovative tailor-made routes , family walks, visits to new places.
The guide provides real value thanks to the historical and fun anecdotes he knows about Paris. Astonishment awaits you, including for native Parisians who want to discover their city in a new light.
PRIVATE TOUR OF A PARIS NEIGHBORHOOD WITH A MUSEUM
Paris is full of secrets, hidden places, little-known museums with unexplored gardens. Here are some ideas for historical and contemplative walks.
THE MARAIS AND THE COGNACQ-JAY MUSEUM
You could decide to combine your walk in the Marais with the Picasso museum or the Carnavalet museum. But the Cognacq-Jay museum is one of those places for informed collectors, which reflects the history of a family, its art acquisitions during its life and times.
The couple, Mr Cognacq and his wife Ms Jay, opened the Samaritaine department stores. Housed in the Hôtel du Donon , a listed monument, the collections are 18th century pieces exhibited in an intimate manner, to preserve the Cognacq-Jay philosophy: no ostentation. The visit is calm and relaxing.
The gardens are among the most secret in Paris. Even if the configuration and historical respect of the places make it an ideal filming location.
Read also: “ Discover all the art galleries in the Marais ”
MONTMARTRE AND THE MONTMARTRE MUSEUM
What a tension between the Marais and Montmartre . The attraction of the Sacré Cœur mound, the so picturesque atmosphere, we wouldn’t want to be in your place if we had to choose!
The Montmartre Museum is a place steeped in history. The building located not far from the famous Place du Tertre where artists draw in the open air, is the oldest in the district.
As much as there are always people on the square, the Renoir gardens are more exclusive.
However, this green setting in the heart of Paris offers an incredible view of the capital and even of the Clos Montmartre vineyards.
Why the painter Renoir? Because he lived here, at the time when there were only workshops. He painted there too.
The museum houses, among others, some of the paintings of Raoul Dufy or Maurice Utrillo and Suzanne Valadon (the latter two lived in a completely reconstructed studio-apartment).
We feel the era of cabarets, the artistic excitement of the mound, still active. It is an unusual and revealing visit to the soul of Paris.
PRIVATE AND GUIDED TOUR OF THE MAJESTIC LOUVRE
No one can enter the Louvre for a guided tour without a tour guide. Ideal for a family visit, the Louvre Museum is so large that its discovery can only be partial for a passing visitor.
The Egypt section particularly impresses children and adults: on 3 levels of the Sully wing, we discover sarcophagi, an avenue of sphinxes, and the captivating universe of an ancient era very prolific in works of art.
The nighttime visit is particularly enjoyable to reveal the almost mystical atmosphere of the place, which is still very popular.
Apart from exceptional privatization, it is difficult to have the Louvre for oneself.
Other emblematic works will mark your visit: the famous painting by Eugène Delacroix , Liberty Leading the People; The Victory of Samothrace, The Venus de Milo and of course the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci.
If you don’t have time to go to the Palace of Versailles , you will find collections of art objects at the Louvre from the reign of Louis XIV to the Second Empire.
Plan a full day visit if you want to take full advantage of it.
BEHIND THE SCENES OF PARIS MONUMENTS: UNUSUAL VISITS TO SAY THE LEAST
Walking off the beaten track also means approaching a neighborhood, a route, or a place in a unique way. While everyone else looks at the obvious, you explore the mystery, the hidden side. The anecdotes abound, and these are the ones that young and old remember.
THE MUSICAL SEINE
The West of Paris opens its doors to the most popular neighboring districts: Saint-Cloud and Pont de Sèvres are the most sought after.
Saint-Cloud is the promise of a green lung just a stone’s throw from the capital. The Pont de Sèvres is the new modern cultural site of the capital.
The musical Seine was inaugurated in 2017 on the banks of the Seine. The building, a masterpiece of modern architecture, provides a space for the most varied shows.
If you are a music lover, this tour is for you: recording studios, dressing rooms, an auditorium and incredible acoustics. Perfect for then planning an evening show depending on the current programming.
A real trip off the beaten track.
THE CRAZY HORSE
Obviously, if you come to Paris, you absolutely have to go to the cabaret. The French cancan is revisited, behind the scenes, for an incredible tour of the premises in the company of a dancer and a glass of champagne. The Crazy Horse will not disappoint you. The backstage is sultry, and the show is quality.
BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE HÔTEL DES INVALIDES: EXPLORATION IN THE HEART OF THE 7TH ARRONDISSEMENT OF PARIS
The discovery of the graves of illustrious soldiers like Vauban, Foch and Lyautey, or the tomb of Napoleon , eternal faces of a conquering France, will immerse you in French history and its heritage.
Certainly the Dome, the salons of the army museum and the Saint-Louis cathedral are open to all, but not the Quesnoy salon nor the governors’ cellar . You will be able to see this secret Paris that is so inaccessible thanks to your tour guide.
It is a must if you are staying in the 7th arrondissement of Paris , which you can combine with a cruise package on the Seine departing from the Eiffel Tower.
IN A GROUP OR BETWEEN FRIENDS, PARIS CAN BE DISCOVERED THROUGH STORIES
Exceptional visits or to busy places must be planned in advance. Contacting an agency to organize your visits on specific dates ensures you visit with a guide. Last minute is prohibited for this type of event, but it is true that in Paris, you will always find something to satisfy your curiosity.
