Sightseeing Tours in Paris offers a comprehensive view of the city With a Hop-on-Hop-off double-decker bus, you’ll pass by all the popular attractions such as Notre Dame, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Eiffel Tower. At most stops, you can get off and later reboard the bus. You can either complete the entire circuit in one go or disembark at a landmark and continue your journey later with the bus.
Montmartre Train takes you on a tour of the sights in Montmartre. You can either take the full tour (round trip) or a half one. Another Paris’s train operates fixed routes through various neighborhoods.
Here’s all the information you need about different Sightseeing Tours in Paris:
Paris l’Open Tour
Commonly known as the hop-on-hop-off bus. Red-white-blue buses with an open top floor. You can choose from four routes covering different parts of Paris, totaling 50 stops. A 1-day ticket costs 34 euros, while children aged 4-11 pay 16 euros. Opting for a two-day ticket (38 euros) is much more cost-effective. You can take as many routes as you like per day. With a headset, you’ll receive information in French, German, or English about the attractions along the way. Buses operate from 9 am to 8 pm in summer and from 9 am to 6 pm in winter. Tickets can be purchased in advance.
Tip: You can also combine this with a hop-on-hop-off boat tour along the Seine. You can find all the information here.
Foxity
Foxity buses don’t run as frequently as other sightseeing tours buses in Paris but are much cheaper. Moreover, during rain or cold weather, you’ll stay dry and warm on the upper deck thanks to the retractable roof.
Foxity buses operate between 7 and 16 times a day, depending on the season. The City Tour lasts for two hours, and an audio guide (in French, German, or English) provides various insights. You can also opt for a hop-on-hop-off tour. The starting and ending points of the route are at place de la Madeleine or quai des Augustins near Notre Dame. You can view the route on the Foxity website. For first-time visitors to Paris, this is a good introduction, but be aware of the limitations (you may sometimes wait longer for a bus).
The price for an adult is 20 euros for the City Tour and 24 euros for the hop-on-hop-off tour. Children up to 12 years old pay 7 euros (1 child per adult). Tickets can be reserved via the website, and you’ll receive them by email. You can also purchase them on the bus or at the office, 9 place de la Madeleine. www.foxity.com
Balabus
The Balabus is a bus that only operates on Sundays and public holidays between April and September. It follows a scenic route between La Défense and Gare de Lyon and back, passing by many popular attractions such as the Bastille, Marais, Ile Saint-Louis, Notre Dame, Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Invalides, Eiffel Tower, and Champs-Elysées.
The bus runs every 15 to 30 minutes between 12:30 pm and 8:30 pm. The journey takes just over an hour. Tickets are the same as on regular buses, depending on the number of zones (1 ticket t+ per zone). You can get off along the way, but if you want to board again, you’ll need to purchase another ticket. The stops are the same as regular buses, but with ‘Balabus’ signage. Promotrain Montmartre
A train that travels through Montmartre in 35 minutes, passing by the sights. Commentary is provided in French and English. Departures from place Blanche and place du Tertre are every half hour in summer and every three-quarters of an hour in winter. A full trip (round trip) costs 6.50 euros for adults and 4.50 euros for children up to 12 years old. Tickets can be purchased on the train. www.promotrain.fr
Petit Train by Another Paris
Another Paris organizes tours with a blue train through less-known neighborhoods. The aim is to experience the atmosphere of a particular area. There are five routes: Marais, Latin Quarter, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Palais Royal, and the 14th arrondissement. The first four operate only on weekdays, while the last one operates only on Sundays and public holidays. The frequency depends on the route, and you can check the schedule on the website. The tour lasts about 2 hours, with commentary provided via headphones (including French and English). Prices range from 13-19 euros per adult and 6.50-9 euros for children aged 4-11. You can purchase tickets on the website. www.another-paris.com (Note: as of October 2021, the website seems to be offline?)
See also: Batobus and Montmartrobus