The History of Paris - City Center Guided Walking Tour & Notre-Dame Cathedral - Private
About this activity
Explore central Paris on a 2.5-hour private guided walking tour with an unguided interior visit to Notre-Dame Cathedral; the route can be adapted for wheelchair access.
Highlights
- Notre-Dame Cathedral, including an unguided interior visit
- Île de la Cité, the historic birthplace of Paris
- Pont Neuf and the Seine
- Louvre courtyards and glass pyramid (no museum entry)
- Tuileries Gardens and views of Place de la Concorde
Full description
Enjoy a 2.5-hour private guided walking tour of Paris with an unguided Notre-Dame Cathedral interior visit. See Île de la Cité, Pont Neuf, the Louvre courtyards and Tuileries Gardens. The route is wheelchair accessible and can be adapted to your group.
Begin at the restored Notre-Dame Cathedral, where your private guide shares its history before an unguided interior visit, as cathedral regulations do not permit guided commentary inside. Continue across Île de la Cité, passing Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie from outside. Cross Pont Neuf and follow the Seine toward the Louvre courtyards, where you can admire the glass pyramid without entering the museum. Walk through the Tuileries Gardens and hear the history of Place de la Concorde from the Carrousel area. Along the way, your guide brings to life Napoleon Bonaparte, Louis XIV and Henri IV. The tour lasts approximately 2.5 hours. There is no skip-the-line access to Notre-Dame, and admission to other ticketed monuments is not included. This private route is wheelchair accessible; your guide can adjust the path to your needs.
Included / Excluded
- Private guided walking tour for your group
- Unguided interior visit to Notre-Dame Cathedral
- Professional English-speaking private guide
- 2.5-hour tour
- Wheelchair-accessible route that can be adapted to your group
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Gratuities (optional)
- Louvre Museum entry, admission to other ticketed monuments, and Notre-Dame skip-the-line access
Itinerary
Meet guide at Cité Métro / Notre-Dame
Meet your private guide outside Cité Métro, then explore Île de la Cité and Notre-Dame. Cathedral interior access, when available, is unguided and has no skip-the-line entry.
Île de la Cité and Pont Neuf
Trace the historic island, the exterior of Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie, and Pont Neuf. Admissions to Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie are not included.
Meeting point
Start Location
Cité Métro (Line 4) — 1 bis Rue de Lutèce, Paris
Paris, Cité, Paris, FR
Meet outside Cité Métro station (Line 4), opposite the stairs beside the CITÉ sign, at 1 bis Rue de Lutèce. Arrive 10 minutes before departure.
Get directions →Important information
Know before you book
- Provide a mobile phone number with country code so the guide can reach you.
- Full refund when cancelled at least 24 hours before the tour.
- The private route is wheelchair accessible and can be adapted to your group.
Know before you go
- Meet your guide 10 minutes early outside Cité Métro station (Line 4), on the opposite side of the stairs beside the CITÉ sign, 1 bis Rue de Lutèce.
- Arrive at least 10 minutes before your reserved departure time.
- Wear comfortable walking shoes and weather-appropriate clothing; bring water.
Requirements
Items to bring
- Valid photo ID
Cancellation policy
Up to 24 hours before the beginning of the activity: full refund Less than 24 hours before the beginning of the activity or no-show: no refund
Accessibility
- Wheelchair Accessible
Frequently asked questions
FAQs
Additional information
This 2.5-hour private walking tour operates rain or shine. The wheelchair-accessible route can be adjusted for your group. Notre-Dame Cathedral is visited inside without guided commentary, as required by cathedral rules; there is no skip-the-line access. The Louvre Museum is viewed from its courtyards but is not entered. Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie are viewed from outside; admission is not included. National celebrations or access restrictions may require a route change while retaining the main highlights.