Paris: Night Sidecar Tour with Local Guide & Champagne

Summary

Ride through Paris at night by sidecar with local stories

You’ll ride through Paris after dark in a vintage sidecar with your local guide leading the way. Expect hotel pickup, stops at icons like the Eiffel Tower and Palais Garnier, and even a glass of champagne on the curb. It’s lively but somehow intimate — you’ll see why people say Paris glows at night.

What’s the experience like?

Helmet strap clicks under my chin — not too tight, but I’m still fiddling with it when our guide grins and says, “Ready?” The engine’s rumble is softer than I expected. We pull away from Place de la Concorde, the air already cooler than back at the hotel lobby. My partner’s behind the driver; I’m tucked into the sidecar, knees brushing the metal. Paris isn’t quiet at night, but there’s a softness to the streetlights and the way people glance over as we pass. Someone waves from a café terrace — maybe they wish they were riding too.

We zip past the Arc de Triomphe before I can even count all its arches. Our guide — Pierre? Paul? I should’ve asked again — points out little things: old bakery signs, a couple arguing gently in rapid French (I caught “toujours” and “jamais”). At one red light he tells us about his grandfather’s first motorcycle. There’s something about hearing these stories while you’re actually moving through the city that makes them stick. The main keyword here is “sidecar tour Paris,” but honestly, it just feels like hanging out with someone who knows every shortcut.

The Eiffel Tower pops up suddenly between buildings — not as distant as it looks in photos. We stop for a minute; Pierre pours us each a glass of champagne right there on the curb (he laughs when my partner tries to pronounce “flûte” properly). The bubbles taste sharper in the night air. It’s not fancy or staged — just us, headlights flickering on wet pavement, and that big iron tower glowing above everything else.

I didn’t expect to care about Les Invalides or Palais Garnier much, but seeing them lit up from this angle… well, you get why people fall for Paris at night. Saint-Germain-des-Prés is full of late-night chatter and clinking glasses; Café de Flore looks exactly like in old movies except for all the phones out now. We switch seats halfway so both of us get to try riding behind Pierre (the view’s different up there — windier). There’s no rush anywhere. I keep thinking about that moment by the river when everything went quiet for half a block.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Paris Vintage Sidecar Tour

• Hotel pickup or meet at Place de la Concorde
• Ride past Arc de Triomphe
• Visit Eiffel Tower
• Pass by Les Invalides
• Drive through Saint-Germain-des-Prés
• Pass by Palais Garnier

Top questions

Is hotel pickup included for this Paris sidecar tour?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included in your booking.

How many people can ride on one sidecar?

The tour allows two passengers: one in the sidecar and one behind the driver.

Can we switch seats during the ride?

Yes, you can switch between sitting in the sidecar or behind the driver halfway through.

What main sights do we see on this tour?

You’ll pass landmarks like Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Les Invalides, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Café de Flore, and Palais Garnier.

Is this private or will we join other groups?

This is a private tour just for your group with your own local guide.

Are helmets provided for passengers?

Yes, helmets are provided along with gloves and goggles if needed.

Is champagne really included during the ride?

Yes, you’ll enjoy a glass of champagne during one of your stops.

Is this tour accessible for wheelchairs or service animals?

The tour is wheelchair accessible and service animals are allowed.

What’s included

Your evening includes hotel pickup and drop-off anywhere central in Paris, all safety gear like helmets (plus gloves or goggles if you want), your own professional driver-guide who shares local stories along every street, plus a glass of champagne mid-tour before heading back into city lights together.