15 Private History Tours in France to Book First

1.Private D-Day Experience from Bayeux

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 573 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $415Our pick

Travel by air-conditioned minivan from Bayeux with a private English-speaking guide such as Pierre-Alexandre, Charles, Marine, or Roma. Visit Omaha and Utah beaches, Pointe du Hoc, the American Cemetery, Sainte-Mère-Église, and Angoville-au-Plain, with time for lunch and independent exploring.

“It was exactly what we wanted. Very moved by the day. We got to see all of the main DDay sights and the guide Noemie was fantastic.”

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2.Private guided American D-Day Tour from Bayeux

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 255 reviews · 8 to 9 hours (approx.)

Spend 8 to 9 hours with Mike of Allied Victory Tours visiting key American D-Day sites from Bayeux. This private tour covers Sainte-Mère-Église, Utah Beach, Pointe du Hoc, Omaha Beach, and the American Cemetery, with flexible storytelling shaped around your group.

“Mike is amazing. He is a great mix of knowledge, passion and humor. We got to learn of his lifelong interests in this history and he personalized our experience and didn't just give us a canned tour. I have some mobility limitations and Mike accommodated me, and made adjustments in our day. His timing at the end of the day to put us at the American Cemetery just in time for Retreat was the capstone on an already perfect experience. His passion and professionalism was everything we were looking for. We had an absolute blast! I learned so much! Do yourself a favor and book your tour with him.”

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3.Normandy Battlefields D-Day Private Trip with VIP Services from Paris

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 240 reviews · 12 to 13 hours (approx.) · from $967

Leave Paris at 7:00 a.m. for a private, full-day Normandy tour with guides such as Hervé, Ryan, Fabrice, or Rayan. Visit Pointe du Hoc, Omaha Beach, the American Cemetery, and Arromanches in an air-conditioned minivan, with time to adjust the day to your group.

“It is a long day trip for sure, but just enjoy the ride in the French countryside. We saw all the important parts of more than these, battlefields, cemetery, etc. Well worth the trip.”

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4.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.”

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

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

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.”

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6.Private Day Tour including Normandy Landing Beaches & Battlefields from Bayeux

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 172 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $496

Travel by private minivan from Bayeux with an English-speaking guide and shape the day around your interests. Visit Sainte-Mère-Église, Utah and Omaha beaches, Pointe du Hoc, La Cambe German Cemetery, and the American Cemetery. Guides such as Hélène, Jack, Brice, and Marie are praised for personal, vivid explanations.

“Awesome to see the sights in person. Our guide Clementine was very informative and spoke very good English She was knowledgeable We will never forget the sights”

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7.Private Full day American D-Day Guided Tour in Bayeux

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 133 reviews · 9 hours (approx.)

Spend about nine hours with Boy of Neptune Battle Tours tracing the American D-Day story from Utah Beach to Omaha Beach. Your private group of up to eight rides in an air-conditioned vehicle, with time for personal questions, family connections, and possible route changes.

“Most informative tour I have ever been on. Our Tour guide Boy had incredible stories and passion. I highly recommend the tour.”

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8.Private vintage sidecar tour of the D-Day Landing Beaches

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 130 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $299

Meet Philippe, Remi, Thomas, or another Gentleman Sider in Bayeux for a 3.5-hour Normandy tour by vintage motorcycle and sidecar. You will wear helmets, gloves, goggles, and rain gear while visiting key D-Day sites, with room for one passenger behind the driver and one in the sidecar.

“Great way to see the beaches of Normandy! The guide Philip was excellent and really knew his stuff! H”

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9.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.”

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10.Strasbourg: Private Walking Tour of the Historical Center

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 107 reviews · 2 hours · from $235

Start at Place du Quartier Blanc for a private, two-hour walk through Strasbourg’s Grand Island. Your guide leads you to Notre-Dame Cathedral, the 13th-century covered bridges, Place Broglie, and medieval churches. Tours are available in eight languages, with no cathedral entry included.

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11.Normandy WWII Private Half-day Sidecar Tour From Bayeux

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 99 reviews · 4 hours to 4 hours 40 minutes (approx.) · from $249

Manuel or Thierry meets you in Bayeux and takes you through Normandy’s D-Day sites by vintage motorcycle and sidecar. You’ll visit Arromanches, Longues-sur-Mer, Port-en-Bessin, Omaha Beach, and the American Cemetery, with helmets, gloves, and rain gear supplied. Cider tasting is optional.

“The vintage motorcycle with sidecar made this a unique experience. We had a lovely day with Terry, who took us to all the American sites and a stop by a dairy farm where we all ate the best ice cream ever. I would recommend this experience to anyone who wants a little extra adventure.”

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12.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.”

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13.Private tour landing beaches from Bayeux

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 82 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $1,049

From Bayeux, your private English-speaking guide leads you through five major D-Day sites, from Sainte-Mère-Église and Utah Beach to Pointe du Hoc, Omaha Beach, and Colleville Cemetery. Expect maps, wartime photos, flexible pacing, bottled water, and a full day focused on American forces.

“Our guide Sophie was excellent. From the German cemetery to the American cemetery and many points in between, she brought D-Day to life with photos, maps, and detailed descriptions. Great energy. Loved spending the day with her.”

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14.Carcassonne: Private Guided Tour of the Medieval Fortress

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 64 reviews · 2 - 3 hours · from $235

Walk Carcassonne’s UNESCO-listed medieval fortress with a private guide in English, French, Spanish, or Italian. Choose two hours for the streets and fortifications, or three hours with entry to Château Comtal and the ramparts. Guides such as Morgan, Gwen, Amelie, and Jacqueline are praised for lively storytelling.

“The guide was fantastic. I would recommend her highly. She had a great knowledge of history and conveyed it in an enthusiastic, engaging way.”

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15.Normandy: Private tour D-Day landing beaches American sector

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 62 reviews · 5 to 7 hours (approx.)

Spend 5 to 7 hours with guide Peter and driver Sébastien visiting five major American-sector D-Day sites. Private transport, pickup in Caen or Bayeux, bottled water, and an English-speaking guide are included. Lunch is not included.

“Peter was an amazing guide. He is full of knowledge and lesser known facts. The pace of the tour was perfect, not too fast, not too slow. Peter times everything perfectly. Having a private driver and private tour made it so much better, I highly recommend this tour with Peter (and Sebastien as driver).”

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