Combo: Paris City Center + Louvre Museum Guided Tour

Details

Experience the best of Parisian history and art on this 5.5-hour private tour, beginning your day exploring the City of Light's historic center before discovering the Louvre Museum's most celebrated treasures!

Your day begins with newly restored Notre Dame Cathedral (visit unguided due to regulations) before exploring the ÃŽle de la Cité, the cradle of Parisian civilization and home to many of its most historic sites. Cross the Pont Neuf, the city's oldest bridge, and stroll along the river, taking in stunning views. You'll pass through the Louvre courtyards and admire the immaculate flowerbeds of the Tuileries Gardens before glimpsing the Place de la Concorde, where the guillotine claimed King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette during the French Revolution.nnAfter a break for lunch, admire the iconic Louvre Pyramid before entering the museum. Learn about its fascinating transformation from a medieval fortress to a royal residence, and how its history shaped the extraordinary collection housed within. Marvel at masterpieces like the armless "Venus de Milo," the dynamic "Winged Victory of Samothrace," and the dazzling crown jewels in the Apollo Gallery. Admire Canova's exquisite "Cupid and Psyche," and explore the era-defining works of David and Delacroix. You'll even descend into the museum's medieval moat for a glimpse of its ancient origins.nnExperience an unforgettable day tracing the footsteps of kings, revolutionaries, and artists as you uncover the stories that shaped Paris's extraordinary legacy.

Itinerary

• A 5.5-Hour Guided Tour of Paris' Historic Center and the Louvre Museum (Timing includes a 45-minute break for lunch)
• Stops Generally Include:
• Ale de la Cité- begin your tour on Ale de la Cité, the island where Paris was first founded. Once called Lutetia by its Roman settlers, this historic site is the birthplace from which the city expanded. 30 minutes
• Cathedral Notre-Dame de Paris- step inside the iconic Notre-Dame Cathedral, the world's most beloved church and a masterpiece of medieval Gothic architecture. Newly restored after the 2019 fire, it remains one of Paris' most enduring symbols. 20 minutes -Visit unguided due to regulations
• Palais de Justice de Paris - admire the gates of the Palais de Justice, once a royal residence and now a courthouse and judicial center. Formerly known as the Palais de la Cité, it houses some of Paris' oldest surviving structures. 10 minutes - Admission Ticket Not Included
• Sainte-Chapelle- marvel at the spire of the Sainte-Chapelle, a 750-year-old Gothic chapel built to house the Crown of Thorns and 21 other holy relics. 10 minutes - Admission Ticket Not Included
• Conciergerie - see the oldest part of the Palais de la Cité: the infamous Conciergerie. Once a notorious prison, it housed over a thousand "enemies of the Revolution- including Queen Marie Antoinette herself. 10 minutes - Admission Ticket Not Included
• Fontaine Saint-Michel - pass by the monumental Saint-Michel Fountain, commissioned by Haussmann under Napoleon III and inspired by a painting by Raphael. It depicts the Archangel Michael vanquishing the Devil- or perhaps Napoleon III vanquishing his enemies. 10 minutes
• Place Dauphine- discover Place Dauphine, a charming historic square at the western tip of Ale de la Cité. Commissioned by King Henri IV. 10 minutes
• Pont Neuf - walk across Pont Neuf, Paris' oldest stone bridge. Now a UNESCO World Heritage site, it remains an iconic feature of the Seine River. 10 minutes 
• Statue of Henri IV - view the equestrian statue of King Henri IV located on the Pont Neuf. Learn about the original statue, destroyed during the French Revolution, and its modern replacement. 10 minutes
• Pont des Arts- stop by Pont des Arts before heading to the Louvre. Built between 1801 and 1804, it was Paris' first iron bridge and now links the Institute de France to the Louvre.n10 minutes 
• Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel - walk through the impressive Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, the smaller sibling of the Arc de Triomphe de L'Etoile on the Champs-Elysées. This arch was built to commemorate Napoleon's military victories. 10 minutes
• Jardin des Tuileries- stroll through the manicured paths and historic landscapes of the Tuileries Gardens, the oldest park in Paris, dating back to the 17th century.10 minutes
• Louvre Museum- after a lunch break, dive into the Louvre's extraordinary collection with our expert guide. Explore its treasures, from ancient artifacts to timeless masterpieces. 2 hours 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included