Compare Best of Paris in 7 Days Tour by Rick Steves vs Paris and Versailles by Eskapas
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| Trip |
4 | Great
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 7 days | 5 days |
| Price From | $ 1,795 | $ 1,190 |
| Price Per Day | $ 256 | $ 238 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Group tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Standard |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Internal airfare and ground transport included |
| Activities |
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| Meals Included | N/A |
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| Description |
Paris is synonymous with the finest things that culture can offer — in art, fashion, food, literature, and ideas. On this tour, your Paris-savvy Rick Steves guide will immerse you in the very best of the City of Light: the Louvre, Orsay, Orangerie, and Cluny Museums, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Sainte-Chapelle, and Versailles Palace. You'll also enjoy guided neighborhood walks through the city's historic heart, and quieter moments to slow down and savor the city's intimate cafés, colorful markets, and joie de vivre. Join us for the Best of Paris in 7 Days! |
A city that simply oozes romance – the original city of love! Paris is the city of a thousand walks and is as close to perfection as is possible for a fabulous city break holiday. Paris’ monument-lined boulevards, museums, nightlife, its romantic Seine river, colorful lives, classical bistros, boutiques and much more. Paris is one of the world’s best places for food and drink. Our selection of 3*** city centered hotels and guided visits of iconic areas such as Versailles Palace, Louvre Museum, Eiffel Tower, Seine Cruise etc. during this full 5 days visited journey will make your trip unforgettable. Paris can be anything you want, but as a romantic city break it is just unmissable. In fact, for business or pleasure, Paris is a city beyond compare. “Once seen, never forgotten” Join our small group tour in Paris |
Day 1: Welcome to Paris
We'll gather at our hotel in Paris at 3 p.m. for a short meeting and orientation stroll around our neighborhood, followed by a panoramic tour of the City of Light aboard a private bus. Then we'll get acquainted with one another over a delicious "Welcome to Paris" dinner together. Sleep in Paris (6 nights). Bus: 2 hrs. Walking: light.
Day 2: The Historic Heart of Paris
Let's begin where Paris did, on the Ile de la Cité. Your guide will lead a walking tour of the city's early history, including visits to a pair of the world's most significant medieval Gothic churches: the legendary Notre-Dame Cathedral and the exquisite Sainte-Chapelle. Then we'll take a stroll through the bohemian Latin Quarter, with free time for lunch on your own. We'll end our afternoon at the Cluny National Museum of the Middle Ages, where after an introduction, you'll be free to visit the sublime Lady and the Unicorn tapestry and have a rare, up-close look at the artistry of original stained-glass windows from Sainte-Chapelle. Walking: moderate.
Day 3: Montmartre and a Seine Cruise
This morning we'll hop on the Métro, then hike up Montmartre to tour the colorful neighborhood that was the haunt of artistic geniuses a century ago — including Van Gogh, Picasso, and Renoir — and generations of hopeful artists since. We'll end our walk with spectacular views of Paris from the Sacré-Cœur Basilica. You'll be free for lunch and have time to explore more of the city on your own this afternoon. We'll regroup this evening to enjoy dinner together before embarking on a dreamy Seine River cruise. Boat: 1 hr. Walking: strenuous.
Day 4: The Marais District and the Louvre
We'll begin our day with a walking tour through Paris' diverse, history-layered Marais district. As we walk we'll learn about enlightened 17th-century urban planning at the beautiful Place des Vosges, the cultural roots of the Jewish Quarter, and how the French Revolution grew from this neighborhood. This evening, Europe's greatest museum — the Louvre — is open late, and we'll take full advantage of that. You'll come face to face with the works of Raphael, Delacroix, and Leonardo, and timeless treasures that include Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, Venus de Milo, and hundreds more. Walking: strenuous.
Day 5: All Day at Château de Versailles
Today we'll explore the elaborate palace that Louis XIV, XV, and XVI called home. We'll make the 30-minute train trip to Versailles, where we'll have a guided tour of the dazzling Hall of Mirrors and other sumptuous rooms of the palace. You'll then have free time to wander through the expansive gardens and visit the farm animals at Marie Antoinette's hamlet — or zip back to Paris early via one of the frequent trains. Train: 1 hr. Walking: strenuous.
Day 6: Masterpieces of Paris
This morning we'll tour the Orangerie Museum, featuring Monet's magnificent water lilies and home to a fine collection of other works by Renoir, Matisse, Picasso, and more. You'll be well oriented and have time this afternoon to see the world's greatest collection of Impressionist art — almost next door — at the Orsay Museum, with art from Monet and Degas to Cézanne and Gauguin, and beyond. Or visit other nearby places covered by your included 6-Day Paris Museum Pass, such as the Rodin Museum, or the military museum of Les Invalides. Tonight we'll enjoy a farewell feast together, sharing travel memories and toasting new friends. Salut! Walking: moderate.
Day 7: Tour Over After Breakfast
Breakfast is provided, but there are no group activities today. It's a breeze to reach Paris' airports by taxi, shuttle, or public transportation. Your guide will help you with any post-tour planning, leaving you well prepared for the road ahead. Merci et au revoir!
Day 1: Arrive in Paris, France
Arrival to Paris, “Bienvenue a Paris”, meet and greet and transfer to your city centered hotel in Paris.
Overnight: Paris Meals: N/A
Day 2: Paris Highlights
Spend a day exploring Paris in a very unusual way. This excursion on foot and riverboat will show you the highlights of Paris: visit the Louvre Museum and the Eiffel Tower with our professional guide.
After breakfast, meet with our guide in the center of Paris at 08:15 am. (Arc de Triumph of the Carrousel facing the Louvre pyramid)
He/she will take you straight to the famous Louvre Museum, through this must-see museum and tell you about the main artworks: the Venus of Milo statue representing the goddess Aphrodite, the impressive painting of The Wedding at Cana the Coronation of Napoleon illustrating the emperor’s crowning in the Notre-Dame Cathedral, and Leonardo da Vinci’s famous Mona Lisa which is the most visited work in the Museum.
After your tour of the Louvre Museum which takes about 2.30 hours, your guide will take you to the riverbank, before the Pont du Carrousel, to board a Batobus boat. This short cruise will show you Paris from a different angle. You will see some of the superb bridges over the Seine and Paris monuments along the banks. The boat moors at the Quai de la Bourdonnais at the foot of the Trocadéro, right opposite the Iron Lady
You will have time then for lunch on your own before going up to the Eiffel Tower
Your guide will let you disembark to go to the iconic monument of Paris. He/she will lead you up to the second floor where the secrets of the Eiffel Tower will be revealed. After hearing remarkable commentaries, you can enjoy the beautiful panorama of Paris and see the top Parisian landmarks. Keep on visiting the Tower on the second level and get down to the first one to experience the incredible glass floor.
The services of our professional guide will end on the second level of the Eiffel Tower and you will have free time at leisure (End approx 04:30 pm)
Day 3: Paris – Versailles
After breakfast, randez-vous at 08:15 am.
Departure from the center of Paris to the Palace of Versailles. Make the most of the 45-minute journey by luxury air-conditioned coach and listen to your guide’s introduction to the history of the palace.
The Palace of Versailles covers an area of over 721,000 square feet and has more than 700 rooms.
Follow your guide straight to the front of the line to see the palaces most beautiful rooms: the Kings Grand Apartments, with seven rooms each dedicated to a different god (Apollo, Mars, Mercy, Venus, etc.) and the Queens Grand Apartments, mirroring those of the king, including the Coronation Room and the Queens Bedroom, once occupied by Marie Antoinette, among others. Also, admire the spectacular Hall of Mirrors, a unique room in which guests were received and impressed, designed by the famous architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart. Almost 240 feet-long, it was created to dazzle visitors to the Sun King, Louis XIV; it is lit by 17 windows and some 350 mirrors, and overlooks the palace’s breath-taking gardens, the second part of your visit.</span></div>
Return to Paris at 12:30 pm
After noon free time at leisure
Overnight: Paris Meals: Breakfast</span></div>
Please note:
We strongly advise against high-heeled shoes (parquet flooring in the rooms and cobblestones in the courtyard)
Strollers are not permitted inside the palace
Access to the palace is challenging for those with reduced mobility
Photography without flash is permitted inside the palace
The skip-the-line access is subject to the Versailles Palace procedures: The Vigipirate plan, the security control or an unforeseen crowd can slow down the entrance.
Day 4: Paris
Breakfast and free day at leisure. Overnight: Paris Meals: Breakfast
Optional Tours:
Disneyland® Paris: 1 Day 2 Parks with round trip transport:
1 entrance ticket 1 day / 2 Parks
We begin our day by crossing Paris as far as the Porte de Bercy to join the A4 motorway leading to Disneyland ® Paris. (average journey : 1 hour). Our driver will leave you at the group parking area close to the park entrances. Take advantage of a nice day with your family at Disneyland ® Paris. Both adults and children will enjoy discovering the magic world of Disneyland Paris. You will be able to enter both parks:
Disneyland ® Park: Magic world where you will meet all the Disney characters who live in an endless fairy tale.
Walt Disney Studios ® Park: Go behind the scenes of the movies, cartoons and tv shows.
The group will re-join the coach at the same spot at the end of the day at 7.15 PM
Come back to Paris around 08.00 PM. Departure at 7.00 PM in winter 200€ per person Children Mont Saint-Michel Tour with lunch: (Only Friday – 14 Hour Experience) An exceptional day at Mont-Saint-Michel in the company of a professional guide. Discover the history and the riches of this Wonder of the West; through the enthusiastic commentary of our guide. 250€ per person
Loire Valley Castles: (Only Mondays - 13 Hours) Come and live an exceptional day in the heart of the Loire Valley in France. You will visit the Chateau de Chenonceau and the Chateau de Chambord with our guide, two of the greatest castles of the Loire Valley. This dive into French history will be completed by a visit to the Clos Lucé castle, the emblematic place of the famous Leonardo da Vinci. Take a seat in an air-conditioned vehicle, departure from the center of Paris at 7:15 am! 250€ per person
Normandy D-Day Beaches: (Only Saturdays - 13 Hours) Enjoy a full day excursion from Paris to the D-Day Beaches in Normandy in the company of an official guide, who will bring these historic sites to life. 250€ per person.
Day 5: Paris Departure
After breakfast, free time until your flight time. Transfer to the airport and end of ou services.
Au Revoir!
