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Île de la Cité Tour: Paris History Unveiled
4.6
307 Ratings
Paris
Immerse yourself in the history and beauty of Paris with a guided tour that includes a visit to the stunning Sainte-Chapelle, a stroll through the medieval quarter, and a scenic Seine river cruise. Don’t miss this unforgettable experience!
Immerse yourself in the history and beauty of Paris with a guided tour that includes a visit to the stunning Sainte-Chapelle, a stroll through the medieval quarter, and a scenic Seine river cruise. Don’t miss this unforgettable experience!
Duration:
3 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Pont-Neuf - Begin the medieval Paris walking tour along the Seine at the city’s oldest bridge.
- Conciergerie - Proceed to the Conciergerie, the oldest surviving section of the Palais de la Cité. Once a royal residence for French kings, it became a prison during the French Revolution, famously housing Marie Antoinette. Enjoy a guided tour with…
- Pont-Neuf - Begin the medieval Paris walking tour along the Seine at the city’s oldest bridge.
- Conciergerie - Proceed to the Conciergerie, the oldest surviving section of the Palais de la Cité. Once a royal residence for French kings, it became a prison during the French Revolution, famously housing Marie Antoinette. Enjoy a guided tour with pre-booked tickets to explore this remarkable piece of French history.
- Sainte-Chapelle - Bypass the long queues and admire the stained glass windows. Visiting in the afternoon ensures a more tranquil experience after the crowds have dispersed. The guide will provide intriguing insights into the chapel’s history and the importance of its artwork.
- Ile de la Cite / Ile Saint-Louis - Wander through winding cobblestone streets, discovering the tales and learning about the poets, philosophers, and artists who contributed to Paris’s reputation as the City of Light.
- Shakespeare and Company Bookstore - A highlight of the walking tour is the Shakespeare and Company bookstore, featured in numerous films.
- Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Paris - As the tour approaches the iconic Notre-Dame, the guide will transport you back to the time when this magnificent cathedral—France’s official point zero—was first constructed, offering a glimpse into a very different Paris. Although the tour covers only the exterior, the guide will explain how to visit the interior independently. Be among the first to see Notre-Dame since its reopening after the 2019 fire. Before concluding, the guide will provide tickets for a one-hour Seine River cruise, featuring live commentary and breathtaking views of Paris’s architectural marvels from the water.
What's Included
- Local English-speaking guide
- Entrance tickets for Conciergerie and Sainte Chapelle
- Ticket for Seine River cruise (until Oct. 31st)
- Local English-speaking guide
- Entrance tickets for Conciergerie and Sainte Chapelle
- Ticket for Seine River cruise (until Oct. 31st)
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
- Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off
- Notre-Dame indoor access
- Gratuities
- Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off
- Notre-Dame indoor access
Additional Information
Despite its small size, Île de la Cité boasts a captivating history. This guided walking tour, led by an expert local guide, will introduce participants to the landmarks and legends that have shaped Paris. Enjoy skip-the-line access to the stunning Sainte-Chapelle and explore the historic Conciergerie, where Marie Antoinette was once imprisoned,…
Despite its small size, Île de la Cité boasts a captivating history. This guided walking tour, led by an expert local guide, will introduce participants to the landmarks and legends that have shaped Paris. Enjoy skip-the-line access to the stunning Sainte-Chapelle and explore the historic Conciergerie, where Marie Antoinette was once imprisoned, allowing you to step back in time. Marvel at the iconic Notre-Dame Cathedral from the outside and discover the remarkable restoration efforts underway. Conclude the experience with a picturesque Seine River cruise, providing a fresh perspective on the City of Light.
- Unfortunately due to the nature of this tour it is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments or with wheelchairs, or strollers.
- Some galleries of the Île de la Cité monuments may close without prior notice, or select pieces may be removed for restoration or loan. In this case, your guide will make an appropriate substitution.
- This tour is in English.
- This is a walking tour. Guests should be able to walk at a moderate pace without difficulty.
Location
Equestrian Statue of Henri IV
Place du Pont Neuf
Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of your tour, your guide will be holding a green Walks sign. This tour meets in front of the equestrian statue of Henri IV, 15 Pl. du Pont Neuf, 75001 Paris, France.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.6
(307 Ratings)
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Prasetya_andrew
Jul 22, 2025
Great walking tour of Notre Dame island with Adam - Our tour guide, Adam, was amazing! Funny, engaging, and incredible knowledgeable. The tour was very informative and eye opening. This tour was the perfect way to kick off my first day in Paris. I highly recommend This tour and Adam!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Greg_r
Jul 20, 2025
Don’t Miss This Amazing Experience!! - We thoroughly enjoyed this tour. Manny, our tour guide, was amazing. His knowledge really brought the history behind the places we were visiting. We highly recommend this tour. Be advised there is a lot of walking and a lot of stairs so if you have any mobility issues you might want to do something different.
Review provided by Viator
Geoff_w
Jul 14, 2025
History Personified - Ave (sp?), our guide, was outstanding. Super knowledgeable. Brought history to life and perspective and context to book learning. Engaging and personable. Considerate by assuring we were in shade as much as possible. A good pace maintained. More than earned his fee and tip. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Viator
John_d
Jul 12, 2025
Medieval tour of Paris with Sainte-Chapelle and Outside Notre Dame - I so wish I could remember our guide’s name but she is originally from the US and a current resident of Paris and her knowledge of this tour was impressive and entertaining. She lead us through the Ile de la Cite and through the Concergerie and Sainte-Chapelle giving amazingly detailed accounts for each. She had very good information regarding Notre Dame and encouraged people to queue in line as the line moves very fast which made people more willing to see it. She was lovely and entertaining and I would definitely recommend this tour and with her if you’re lucky!!
Review provided by Viator
Betsy_p
Jul 9, 2025
Outstanding Guide! - Our guide was a history expert, who gave us an excellent understanding of the Conciergerie, Saint Chappell, and Notre Dame. He was easy to understand, had a contagious fascination with Paris and its history and politics. He answered every question with respect and a comprehensive answer. We had skip the line access to every site.
Review provided by Viator
Nancy_a
Jul 5, 2025
Hugo was an excellent... - Hugo was an excellent tour guide. He was very knowledgeable and made sure to cover all the highlights. He had a sense of humor and was well like by entire group.
Review provided by Viator
Sherri_n
Jun 26, 2025
A Walk Thru History - Avi was a very educational and entertaining guide. Descriptive details and stories told in a way that is rememberable. Learning about original Paris and its Kings. And what a surprise to see Sainte Chapelle-a hidden Gothic wonder. Well worth the time and a good history learning experience.
Review provided by Viator
David_h
Jun 27, 2025
2 plus hour tour. Very... - 2 plus hour tour. Very knowledgeable guide. Sainte Chapelle was the highlight of the tour. Ended at Notre Dame exterior. Interior tour done on our own.
Review provided by Viator
John_w
Jul 4, 2025
Heat cancels half the tour - Due to the heat in Paris
Saints Chappell was not open
No ticket for another time or date were offered. No refund offered
A little disappointing
Review provided by Viator
Michael_u
Jul 19, 2025
Terrible operator turns tour into frustrating nightmare - The tour guide was informative and friendly. I would give her 5 stars. But- this tour was a nightmare. Our booking was for a 3:30 departure. It was somewhat difficult to find the meeting point but we were there about 7 min before the start. No guide, nothing. We frantically walk around for 10 minutes trying to see if we were in the wrong spot. No one there. We were very upset, thinking somehow this was our fault. We were about to give up and go back to the hotel without seeing anything. Then I thought, ok, let's just walk to Notre Dame and at least see it on our own. On the way we pass Sainte Chapelle and I stop to try and call the operator. I explain the situation- the operator was nice enough offering to reset to a tour the next day. Only problem, this was our last night in Paris. I learn from the customer service rep that the tour was changed to 3:00 pm, which is why we missed it. They neglected to inform us of the change. I asked if we could somehow catchup to the tour and join them I was told "not posdible" and "no refund". As I'm speaking to the rep on the phone, a woman comes up and asks "we're you supposed to be on the 3:30 tour?" I learn that she and her family had also booked the 3:30 and were not informed. She had booked through another 3d party (similar to Viator)- they were able to determine that the guide was nearing our location and so in the end, we were able to join the tour.
Again, the guide was good and we enjoyed the remainder of the tour.
But, through no fault of our own, we missed 1/3 of the tour. I can not express how frustrated, stressed, panicked and upset we were. Had the other family not overheard my call to the operator, we would have missed the entire tour. How do they justify booking a tour for 3:30pm and change the time to 3:00 without informing all the clients?
During the time we were wandering around and trying to get through to the company, I considered canceling all my other Viator bookings. Thankfully, I did not. I have generally enjoyed my other viator tour experiences but this was a nightmare.
Also, the guide left us without giving us our river cruise tickets, so in the end we has a frustrating meet up, missed the first third of the tour and the company never gave us our included river cruise tickets. What could have been a 5 star experience was a nightmare and a rip off for only getting half of what was promised.
Avoid this particular operator!!
Review provided by Viator
