What’s the Best Way to Tour Paris (And How Much Does It Cost) ?

When people ask how to tour Paris, they’re usually trying to figure out what’s worth their time and money. There’s no single right answer, but a few tried-and-true approaches come up again and again – each with its own rhythm, cost, and type of experience.

Here’s a breakdown of the main options, based on what real travelers recommend.

1. Walking + Public Transport

This is the most classic and affordable way to explore Paris. The city is made for walking, with neighborhoods like the Marais, Saint-Germain, and Montmartre best seen on foot.

Add the metro into the mix, and you can easily cover more ground without spending much.

The best value for getting around is the Navigo Découverte pass. It costs €31.60 for the week and covers all zones, including both airports, trains to Versailles, and the metro. It’s valid from Monday through Sunday and can be bought at major train or metro stations. Just bring a passport-sized photo for the card.

With this setup, you can tour at your own pace, visit 2–3 main sights a day, stop wherever looks interesting, and skip the stress of traffic or expensive cabs. You’ll end up spending under €50 a day on transport, food, and maybe one ticketed attraction.

See also: Is the Paris museum pass worth it?

2. Seine River Cruise

For a relaxed overview of the city’s landmarks, a Seine river cruise is an easy win. Boats leave from central spots like Pont Neuf or near the Eiffel Tower and do a loop past many of the city’s biggest sights – Notre-Dame, the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, the Grand Palais.

Daytime sightseeing cruises start around €15 – €20. Evening cruises are slightly more, and dinner cruises range from €40 to over €100, depending on the experience. Most cruises last about an hour, and some offer multilingual audio guides along the way.

It’s a good first-day activity if you want to get your bearings and enjoy the city from a different angle without having to walk or plan much.

A good example is this 9-stop Hop-On Hop-Off Seine Cruise, which has thousands of mostly decent reviews.

3. Bus Tours

Hop-on hop-off buses are a simple way to see a lot of Paris in a short amount of time. They follow set routes with stops at major monuments like the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Notre-Dame, and the Louvre.

You can get off wherever you want, explore on foot, then hop back on the next bus.

A 1-day pass costs around €38, and a 2-day pass is usually about €45–€50. Buses typically include audio commentary in multiple languages and run every 15–20 minutes.

A popular example of hop-on-hop-off bus tours is BigBus Paris.

It’s not the most immersive way to explore, but it’s easy and convenient, especially if you’re traveling with kids, have limited mobility, or just want to save your legs.

Traffic can be an issue, though – expect delays during peak hours or high season.

4. Guided Tours

If you want context, stories, and zero logistics to figure out, a guided tour might be the way to go.

You can book walking tours focused on history, food, architecture, or hidden neighborhoods. Or a complete, full-day walking tour – this guide gets good comments.

Bike tours are another fun option, covering a lot of ground while staying outdoors. In case you need a suggestion, this bike tour also has pretty good feedback.

Walking tours generally cost €20–€30 per person. Bike tours range from €40 to €60.

For something more private, car tours or even sidecar tours are available, though they get pricey fast . This popular retro sidecar tour costs about $82. Private car tours often start around €200 for a few hours.

Many companies cap their group sizes to keep things personal, and some let you skip the line at popular attractions.

These tours won’t fit every budget, but if you have a particular interest or want someone to guide you through the city’s layers, it can be money well spent.

You can also take a look at this 2-hour segway tour (lots of fun) which has excellent reviews.

The Bottom Line

If you’re looking for the best overall value, most travelers agree that walking, using the metro, and sprinkling in a few guided moments – like a cruise or a local-led walking tour- gives you a great balance of cost and experience.

You can easily tour Paris for €40–€60 a day, including food and entry to a sight or two. And if you want to splurge on a unique experience like a dinner cruise or private guide, it’s easy to add that into the mix without blowing your whole budget.