Where to Start: the 13 Best Paris History Tours

1.Normandy D-Day Sites & Cemetery Day Trip from Paris with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6,877 reviews · 14 hours (approx.) · from $120Our pick

Travel by air-conditioned coach from Paris with an English-speaking guide such as Maja, John, or Sam. Visit Utah Beach Museum, Pointe du Hoc, Omaha Beach, and the American Cemetery, with a two-course lunch and Norman cider included. Expect a fast, full day and several hours on the road.

“Maja was a great guide. Great job explaining all relevant information and providing interesting little known information.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Normandy D-Day Small-Group Day Trip with Omaha Beach, Cemetery & Cider Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,786 reviews · 12 to 13 hours (approx.) · from $320

Leave Paris at 7 a.m. in a minivan capped at eight people for Omaha Beach, the Overlord Museum, German bunkers, Pointe du Hoc, and the American Cemetery. Guides such as Bruno, Will, Augustin, and Etienne have earned praise for clear storytelling. Lunch costs extra, cider tasting is included.

“The trip to Normandy was so good. Being in a small group was worth the extra cost. There was just so much I didn’t know. We went to Pointe Du Hoc where soldiers had to climb the cliffs, they trained for 2 years to do this. It amazes me looking at it now how they managed to do it. With erosion there is a good chance the area could be closed within 5 years. We saw the Normandy American Cemetery. A peaceful and emotional place to visit. And we stood on Omaha Beach. The tide was out. Soldiers were brought to the beach, they had to get from the water…”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Normandy D-Day Beaches and American Cemetery Day Trip from Paris

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,673 reviews · 13 hours (approx.) · from $207

Spend about 13 hours traveling from Paris to Normandy with an English-speaking guide such as Camille, Steve, or Zoltan. Visit Pointe du Hoc, Omaha Beach, the American Cemetery, Arromanches, and possibly Juno Beach. Expect a fast pace, a long coach ride, and powerful WWII sites.

“Very emotional tour! Well worth the long drive from Paris. Highly recommend going! Beautiful atmosphere.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Paris: Normandy D-Day Sites Guided Day Trip with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,082 reviews · 14 hours · from $117

Spend a long but worthwhile day with an English-speaking guide such as Sam, Maja, Ash, or Lawrence, visiting Utah Beach, Pointe du Hoc, Omaha Beach, and the American Cemetery. The tour includes coach travel, museum admission, a Norman lunch, and time for quiet reflection at the major D-Day sites.

“We were lucky to have Sam as our guide. We learned more about the history of the wars on the ride to Normandy because of his knowledge and way of presenting the history. The visits to the sites were beyond our expectations. Concluding with the flag ceremony at the cemetery was a fitting end to our two week trip toNorthern Europe. We recommend this tour to anyone.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Paris: Dark History and Ghostly Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,000 reviews · 2 hours · from $35Best value

Walk central Paris after sunset with an English-speaking guide such as Morgan, Catherine, Katherine, or Leo. Hear grim tales around Notre Dame, Pont Neuf, and the Conciergerie, with ghost stories, Templar lore, murder, and a few disturbing images. Choose a shared or private tour.

“Our guide shared some interesting trivia. He was informative with a good sense of humor. He was considerate enough to ask me if I was ok with him sharing a particularly ghastly picture on the tour. If you like some chills and spooky stories this tour is a must:)”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.From Paris: Normandy D-Day Landing Beaches Full-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 698 reviews · 12 hours · from $312

Spend 12 hours with an English-speaking guide on a small-group trip from Paris to Normandy. Visit Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc, Longues-sur-Mer, the Overlord Museum, and the American Cemetery, with lunch and a brief cider or wine stop along the way.

“Our guide was very knowledgeable. He told us many interesting stories we had not heard before. He was very flexible and gave us plenty of time at each stop. Be ready for a long day, though.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Notre Dame Cathedral: Exterior Guided Tour & Unscheduled Access

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 409 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $42

Walk around Notre Dame with an English-speaking guide, learning about its gargoyles, architecture, fire, and rebuilding. Then enter free through the general line for a self-guided look inside. The tour lasts about an hour, with morning and afternoon times, but it does not provide reserved admission.

“I was not able to go on this trip and I told my tour guide that our Euro star train was late so we didn’t make it to the trip and we wanted an accommodation for another day. So in case if someone has an accident or if someone has a delayed train and they’re coming from a different country, there’s no refund and there’s no compassion or support.”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Paris City of Fashion History Private Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 221 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $107

Join Ivo, a fashion professional with advanced training in fashion design, for a private two-hour walk through Paris’s couture quarter. Visit Palais-Royal, Rue Saint-Honoré, Place Vendôme, Chanel’s Rue Cambon address, and Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré while discussing designers, style, history, and shopping.

“This is a fantastic tour in the heart of Paris’ fashion district. We learned so much from Ivo who made it a great day.”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.History of Paris City Center w/ Notre Dame Semi-Private 12ppl Max

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 194 reviews · 2 hours 40 minutes (approx.) · from $59

Walk from Cité Metro through Notre-Dame, Sainte-Chapelle, the Conciergerie, Pont Neuf, the Louvre, and Tuileries Gardens. A guide such as Hugo, François, or Tamari explains Parisian history for up to 12 people. Notre-Dame entry is included but unguided, and the tour ends at Place de la Concorde.

“We were lucky to have Alex as our guide for the second time during this trip. He tailored our tour according to our interests and questions. Accommodating, enlightening and fun.”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Paris City Center w/ Notre Dame interior | Exclusive Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 190 reviews · 2 hours 40 minutes (approx.) · from $59

Join a private English-language walk from Notre Dame through Île de la Cité, Sainte-Chapelle, Pont Neuf, the Louvre, Palais-Royal, and Tuileries Gardens. Guides such as Eden, Adrien, Jay, and Maria bring Paris history to life, while the Notre Dame interior visit is unguided.

“It was pouring rain during this tour.. however Adrien was excellent! Super knowledgeable and friendly. A perfect Guide!”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Hidden Paris: Explore Medieval Marais on a Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 185 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $55

Spend two hours walking from the Centre Pompidou through medieval Marais, Rue des Rosiers, Place des Vosges, and toward Bastille. An English-speaking guide such as Paloma, Benoit, Linda, or Camille leads a small group of up to 12, with a French pastry tasting and local advice along the way.

“Cecelia was a fabulous guide who was very informative. She was very well informed. We loved this tour!”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Paris WW2 The German Occupation Small group or Private tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 128 reviews · 3 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $108

Join Chris Pollard for a three to three-and-a-half-hour walking tour of occupied Paris. In a group of up to 10, you’ll connect the Louvre, Ritz, Jeu de Paume, resistance sites, German headquarters, and Liberation scars while discussing collaboration, resistance, and the persecution of Jewish people.

“This was an intensive 4 hour education on the Nazis’ strategy for occupation of France, both the free and occupied zones. If you’re looking for a general overview this may not be the tour for you as it gets very in depth. Chris was passionate about this subject and very courteous allowing for time to sit if needed while learning. We are history buffs so came away with a greater understanding of France’s situation in WWII, including major players on the sides of both the Nazis and French resistance.”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Normandy D-Day Private Tour with Omaha Beach from Paris

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 87 reviews · 13 hours (approx.)

Leave Paris at 6:30 a.m. with a private driver-guide such as Jozef or Emilie for Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc, the American Cemetery, Longues-sur-Mer, and Pegasus Bridge. The day is long, moving, and flexible, with time to personalize the tour around a family member or military unit.

“Jozef can tell you anything you would want to know about battles on the Normandy beaches in both WWI and WW2. He respected our time and what we were interested in. Jozef presented his responses to our questions with emotion and inflections, to make you feel as though we were hearing it for the first time.”

Check availability →Read our full review