Paris: Notre Dame & Champs Élysées Private Walking Tour

Two and a half hours through medieval Paris, ending where the city opens onto its grandest avenue

You walk for 2.5 hours through central Paris with a private guide, starting on Île de la Cité and moving through Notre-Dame, medieval squares, and historic bridges before ending at the Tuileries Garden and Place de la Concorde. A snack break is included, and the tour operates in all weather. Comfortable shoes and a bottle of water are essential.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each7 stops

1. 4th Arrondissement10m
2. Palais de Justice10m
3. 5th Arrondissement10m
4. Place Dauphine10m
5. Pont des Arts10m
6. Tuileries Garden10m
7. Place de la Concorde10m

Explore central Paris landmarks

• Start at île de la Cité
• Visit Notre-Dame Cathedral interior
• See Palais de Justice buildings
• Explore Sainte-Chapelle
• Visit the Conciergerie prison
• Pass by Saint-Michel fountain
• Walk through Place Dauphine
• Cross Pont Neuf bridge
• View equestrian statue of King IV
• See Pont des Arts bridge
• Pass through Louvre Cour Carrée
• View Louvre Pyramid entrance
• Visit Palais Royal and gardens
• Walk through Arc du Carrousel
• Enter Tuileries Gardens
• Stop at Gardens’ Bookshop
• End at Place de la Concorde

The experience

Your guide is waiting at the meeting point, and the moment you arrive, you're walking. Not rushed, but moving with purpose through Île de la Cité, the oldest part of Paris, where a Roman settlement called Lutetia once stood before the city grew outward into what you know today. The streets here are narrow and old in a way that makes you feel the weight of centuries without anyone having to say it out loud. Within the first stretch, you're inside Notre-Dame Cathedral itself. The interior visit is unguided due to regulations, but you're standing in the space, looking up at the restored vaults after the 2019 fire. Your guide points out what to notice: the Gothic proportions, the light coming through, the fact that this building is still standing and still matters.

From there the walk moves through a sequence of stops that don't feel random. Sainte-Chapelle, built in seven years to house Christ's crown of thorns. The Conciergerie, which held over a thousand prisoners during the Revolution, including Marie Antoinette. Place Dauphine, tucked on the western tip of the island, one of Henri IV's first commissions: the kind of square that looks like Paris should look. You cross the Pont Neuf, the oldest stone bridge in the city, and see the equestrian statue of King Henry IV (a replica, the original was destroyed during the Revolution). Your guide explains these things as you walk, not stopping you constantly but weaving the history into the pace. There's a snack and restroom break built into the 2.5 hours, so you're not moving for two and a half straight.

The second half of the tour swings toward the grand Paris. You pass the Pont des Arts, the first iron bridge in Paris, built between 1801 and 1804. You walk past the Louvre, not inside, but around it, through the Cour Carrée and past the I.M. Pei pyramid. The Palais Royal gardens come next, peaceful and surrounded by contemporary sculptures. Then the Arc du Carrousel, built to commemorate Napoleon's victories, before you enter the Tuileries Gardens, the oldest park in Paris, where you can stop at the Gardens' Bookshop if you want. The tour ends at Place de la Concorde, which marks the start of the Champs Élysées, the world's most famous avenue. By then you've covered the central Paris that matters, and you know how it connects.

The tour runs rain or shine, so bring an umbrella and comfortable shoes. No large bags or suitcases allowed. Your guide is yours alone if you book the private option, not shared with other groups. Mobile phone number required at booking, including country code. The route can shift if national celebrations are happening, but you'll still see all the highlights.

What’s included

Your tour includes a private expert guide exclusively for you (if booked as a private tour), 2.5 hours of walking through central Paris, entry to the interior of Notre-Dame Cathedral, access to all outdoor sites including Place de la Concorde, Tuileries Garden, Pont des Arts, and Palais Royal gardens, plus a snack and restroom break during the walk. The tour operates rain or shine.

Options for this experience

7 options

Private Tour English09:00, 13:30 and 17:00Private walking tour with a professional tour guide exclusively for you; duration 2 to 2.5 hours; the tour will run rain or shine

Private Tour Russian09:00, 13:30 and 17:00Private Tour Russian

Private Tour French09:00, 13:30 and 17:00Private Tour French

See 4 more options

Private Tour Italian09:00, 13:30 and 17:00Private Tour Italian

Private Tour German09:00, 13:30 and 17:00Private Tour German

Private Tour Spanish09:00, 13:30 and 17:00Private Tour Spanish

Semi-private, maximum 12 people, English09:00 and 17:00Save money by booking a small group tour of up to 12 guests per guide. This option is not for wheelchairs.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Lasts 2h 40m, runs every day at 09:00, 13:30 and 17:00, from € 55 per person, with live guides in 6 languages, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00, 13:30 and 17:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (10 to 17 years) · Child (under 10)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Russian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Babylon Tours Paris

Is this one for you?Book this if you want the main Paris landmarks in one morning or afternoon without arranging your own route or timing. The guide handles the sequence and the stories, and you just walk and listen.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Russian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (10 to 17 years); Child (under 10).

How long is the walking tour?

2.5 hours, including a snack and restroom break during the walk.

Do we go inside Notre-Dame Cathedral?

Yes, the interior visit is included. It is unguided due to regulations, but your guide will explain what to look for before you enter.

Is this tour private or shared with other groups?

It is private if you book the private option. A semi-private option is also available at a lower price.

What happens if it rains?

The tour runs in all weather. Bring an umbrella and dress appropriately.

Are there stops for food or restrooms?

Yes, there is a snack and restroom break built into the tour.

Can I bring a large suitcase or backpack?

No, large bags or suitcases are not allowed. Bring a small day bag only.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the tour is wheelchair accessible, but only as a private tour. The semi-private option does not offer wheelchair accessibility.

What should I wear?

Comfortable walking shoes are essential. Bring a bottle of water, an umbrella, and a hat in summer.

Can the route change?

Yes, if national celebrations are happening, an alternative route will be provided that still covers all the main highlights. No refunds or discounts apply in these cases.

Do we enter the Louvre Museum?

No, the tour passes by and around the Louvre, including the Cour Carrée and the Louvre Pyramid, but does not include museum entry.