When you visit Paris, especially for the first time, getting a private tour guide is key to making the most out of your stay. With a private tour, travelers can see the highlights, learn about the art and history on display, and get a rich sense of what the City of Lights is really like.
What do you need a private tour guide in Paris? The Private guides give you more than just added information (although there is plenty of that, too). You can also get highly curated experiences — including walking tours, museum tours, gourmet tours, and more.
Just remember, it’s important to stick with reputable offers, as tours inside national monuments and museums are only possible with licensed guides.
Below, we’ve gathered the top experiences that you need a private tour guide in Paris for : The Louvre, Orsay, Versailles, Montmartre, the Car tour and more.
These are simply unforgettable ways to enjoy this beautiful city — and a guide makes them all possible.
1. Visiting the Louvre and d'Orsay Museums with a Private Tour Guide
If you plan on visiting the Louvre or the Orsay, you really owe it to yourself to take a private guided tour. you don’t want to miss out on everything that the best museums in the world have to offer.
It’s especially important to get a licensed guide for these places, as Paris strictly regulates those who are able to offer tours in museums like the Louvre and the Orsay.
Why a Private Tour of the Louvre Is So Special
When you visit the Musée du Louvre with a guide, you will learn about the exciting history of the artwork and the building itself.
The Louvre began as a fortress built in 1190. It became a royal palace in the 16th century. But in 1793, after the French Monarchy moved to the Palace of Versailles, the first public Louvre museum opened its doors, featuring 537 paintings (compared to the 35,000 works currently on display at any given time).
When you visit with a guide, you can go right to the masterpieces that should be the centerpieces of your first visit. Explore major works, like:
● Ancient Greek sculpture (the Venus de Milo and Winged Victory)
● Renaissance paintings (including the Mona Lisa)
You’ll learn about the story of painting through the centuries, and you’ll also see major highlights like the biggest painting in the Louvre — The Wedding Feast in Cana (1562-3) by Paolo Veronese.
Plus, learn about French history with pieces like Liberty Guiding the People (1830) by Eugène Delacroix and The Coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte (1805-7) by Jacques-Louis David.
There is no collection of artwork so vast, so stunning. And you can only find it in Paris, France. A private tour means that you are able to get a full appreciation for the work on display while also knowing that you are using your time in the city well.
Details of the Louvre Tour
● Maximum 6 people for each private tour (only available as a private tour)
● I will purchase your tickets in advance
● Tickets are 17€ per person, free under 18 years old
Check here to see if tickets are available.
The Louvre tour is a great experience to combine with a visit to the Musée d'Orsay.
Can I Visit the Orsay Museum Without a Private Guide?
While you can certainly visit the Orsay on your own, the bigger question is, why would you want to? The endlessly fascinating stories of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masters, along with an in-depth discussion of their techniques, await you on a private guided tour of the Orsay Museum.
A Private Tour of the Orsay
The Musée d'Orsay sits in a magnificent train station, built in 1900 using metal supports reminiscent of the iconic Eiffel Tower. The building embodies the industrial era from which it emerged, as well as the modernist style.
In this collection, you can discover the birth of the avant-garde with a private guided tour that explains the architecture that surrounds you, as well as the intimate accounts of the artists who created the works all around.
A Groundbreaking Collection
With a private tour of the Orsay, you can also stop and ask questions about the fascinating paintings and sculptures — pieces that revolutionized the way we see and make art today.
Beginning in the mid-to-late 19th century, these artists changed everything. Their names hang in our minds as titans: Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, and Edgar Degas, to name only a handful. They changed the rules, creating new styles all the time. Sculptors like Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux and Auguste Rodin soon followed suit.
Discover the masterpieces of the Orsay, a list that includes:
● Whistler’s Mother (1871) by James McNeill Whistler
● The Poppy Field Near Argenteuil (1873) by Claude Monet
● Dance at Le moulin de la Galette (1876) by Pierre-Auguste Renoir
● The Little Fourteen-Year-Old Dancer (1880) by Edgar Degas
● Self-Portrait (1889) by Vincent van Gogh
● And so many more!
2. Walking in the Latin Quarter with a Private Tour Guide in Paris
This private tour takes you to the Latin Quarter, diving into the intellectual and cultural history of Paris. It is an excellent private tour, where your guide weaves together the stories from centuries past that live alongside the present day.
This isn’t a lecture — it is a fully immersive experience that combines reliable facts with captivating storytelling, helping you connect the dots of French and European history. It’s also fully dynamic, able to adjust and adapt to your interests and curiosity.
While you can visit the Latin Quarter on your own, you’ll never get this level of depth without a trained tour guide.
What Will You See on a Private Tour of the Latin Quarter?
Our journey will take us through pivotal landmarks, including:
● the island where Paris was born
● the former royal palace
● Notre Dame (though the recent fire means we can’t go inside but we can still see its enormous beautiful facade)
● the iconic Shakespeare & Company bookstore
● Sorbonne University
● the Pantheon
● Luxembourg Gardens.
Along the way, we will talk about the history of Paris, the "Roman's ear," life in the Middle Ages, and the reconstruction of Paris in the 19th century, including an examination of the architecture and civic planning of Haussmann that defines the city’s look.
You’ll also get a firsthand account of life in the city today, including details on the Parisian art de vivre, our schools, our food, the café culture, and more.
3. Seeing and Doing More at Versailles
There is so much to see in Versailles that a tour guide is essential. And if you are looking for a tour of Versailles, your guide must be state-certified. Our private guides are not only certified, but they receive special training updated yearly.
This private tour brings you up close with some of the most impressive elements of French style and culture through the ages, including Rococo, Louis XV style, the Baroque, and more.
In Versailles, our private tours grant you access to so much:
● The Palace where the King and his court worked every day
● The gorgeous grounds that include the Gardens, the fountains, the fountain show, and the Orangerie
● The Trianon, along with all the other small palaces in the Estate of Versailles
● The King’s apartment, a private secluded area where the king used to live his private intimate life (note: the area is locked to the general public and needs a special reservation)
How Do I Visit Versailles While Staying in Paris?
Versailles is outside of Paris, but it is easy to get to. You can easily visit by train, cab, or your favorite rideshare app. I can even organize a chauffeured ride — we come pick you up at your hotel and take you directly to the palace!
If you go by rail, you’ll need to use RER trains. These can be a bit confusing for a non-local, but your guide can ride with you and make sure you get to Versailles. That way, you can just sit back and enjoy the sights from the train. But if you are only visiting for a half day, it is best to drive in. Trains are a bit too much of a hassle if you are only staying for a few hours.
Private Tours of Versailles
We offer two options for visiting Versailles based on your travel itinerary and level of interest.
Itinerary for a Half-Day Tour of Versailles:
Leave the hotel around 9:30 am and visit:
The Chateau
The Louis XIVth Chapel
The King’s Apartment
The Queen’s Apartment
The Hall of Mirrors
Return to Paris around 1 pm
Itinerary for a Full-Day Tour of Versailles:
With a full day, we get in everything with the half day but extend it with hours spent at sites that interest you, like the Palace of Marie Antoinette. We can also stroll through the gardens, rent golf carts or bicycles to enjoy the grounds, or take a car tour.
(If you are looking for a safe and comfortable ride, I can recommend a great driver for you!)
If you really want an extended visit, we can even do two-day tours.
4. Exploring Paris Monuments with a Private Guided Tour by Bike, Metro, or Car
Private guided tours of Paris can take you by monuments while journeying through the historic streets of the city.
Bicycle Tour of Paris
With our bicycle tours of Paris, you really don’t have to worry about a thing.
● Bikes, helmets, and safety vests included
● Ride through safe streets and those set aside for bicyclists
● Electric bikes make it accessible
● Follow an easy circuit in the center of Paris
Begin in le Marais, discovering the wonders of the city along the way, including:
Île de la Cité and Île Saint Louis
Cathedral of Notre-Dame
the Latin Quarter
the Pantheon
Sorbonne University
the Roman baths
the famous avenue of the Champs-Elysées
the Grand Palais
the Arc de Triomphe
the Pyramid of the Louvre
the Invalides (Napoleon's tomb)
the Eiffel Tower
As you can see, this is a magical tour, taking you close to the most famous sights in all of Paris. Along the way, I will share with you the history of the city through the centuries — through Roman times, the Middle Ages, the French Revolution, the Industrial Revolution, the First and Second World Wars, and up to today.
You’ll discover the character of the many famous neighborhoods in Paris, see how the architecture has changed (including insights into why the Haussmann renovations were so important), and take in the landmarks in context.
Luckily, Paris offers very safe and manageable bike lanes, making a bicycle tour the perfect way to experience the city.
And because this is a private guided tour of Paris, you can customize everything — focusing on certain monuments and areas. We can even park our bikes and explore some places on foot, drink some good coffee, shop at a boutique, or sip some Parisian hot chocolate.
(Note: Montmartre is the only area we can’t visit by bicycle, as it is too hilly. But we have a walking tour of the area, as you’ll see below.)
Car Tour of Paris
Looking for something similar to the bicycle tour but with a little less pedaling? Check out our car tour!
When you take both a chauffeur and a private guide, everything is much safer. The guide can focus entirely on the tour, while the driver can focus entirely on the road.
5. Discovering the Secrets of Montmartre on a Walking Tour with a Paris Tour Guide
Excited to explore the most romantic part of Paris, Montmartre? Then you’ll want a private tour guide who can take you to the secret places and legendary spots that make this such a beloved part of the city.
My Montmartre walking tour starts at the Moulin Rouge, where the fortifications around Paris used to be. Here, you’ll find the lively cabaret, where the French Cancan began.
From there, we’ll walk the old streets of the village of Montmartre, discovering some of the places where famous artists used to live, like Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir.
You’ll see Painters Square, where the bohemian legend of Montmartre survives. Along the way, you’ll learn about the area’s history and see firsthand its enduring allure — with views of its windmills and old vineyard.
Expect to take some secret detours, enjoy food and beverage tastings, and even visit the Musée de Montmartre.
The tour ends with a visit to the monumental Basilica of the Sacré Coeur.
The Best Way to See Paris Is on a Private Tour
As you can see when you visit Paris — especially for the first time — a private, guided tour can open you up to experiences you could never have on your own.
And there is no end to the experiences you can have. Do you want to see the breathtaking stained glass? We have a tour of Sainte-Chapelle. Do you want to connect to the transcendent master Rodin at a museum dedicated to his work? We have a tour of the Rodin Museum. Do you want to visit the world’s most famous cemetery? We have a tour of Père Lachaise. This only scratches the surface of what we offer.
Have something specific in mind? Reach out to us today. Let’s craft your ultimate private guided tour of Paris.