Paris in a Day with Skip-the-Line Eiffel Tower, Montmartre Tour & Seine River Cruise

Paris is a big city packed with incredible attractions, but with careful planning and skip-the-line access, you can see it all in a single, unforgettable day. That's where we come in.

You'll meet your local guide first thing in the morning to start your complete Paris city tour at the base of Montmartre hill. Hop on the funicular for the short ride to the top to see the Sacré Coeur Basilica and stunning views of Paris. For the next hour, you'll explore the Basilica and the neighborhood of Montmartre; seeing its most atmospheric squares and streets, along with one of the iconic windmills and Montmartre vineyard. As you stroll, you'll learn about the artists and writers who called these cobblestoned lanes home and see the bars where Picasso used to party.

Afterwards, catch the metro to Ile de la Cité for an adventure into the heart of Medieval Paris. The City of Light started on this very island, growing from a Roman outpost into the most populous and prosperous city in Europe. Above it rises Notre Dame. Severely damaged by a recent fire, she still stands proudly in the heart of the city; testament to the genius of its design and the endurance of France. Your guide will bring you as close as the ongoing restoration will permit in order to give you the best views possible. You’ll cross the river into the historic Latin Quarter with its gothic churches and winding, cobbled streets ending at Place Saint-Michel - a gathering place for locals and visitors alike. You'll also see La Conciergerie, the prison where Marie Antoinette was kept before she was beheaded; Place Dauphine, possibly the prettiest square in Paris; and the gorgeous Pont Neuf bridge.

A short walk down the Seine brings you to the Louvre Museum. We'll break for lunch (not included, but your guide will give you recommendations for every taste and budget), then we will reconvene for skip-the-line entry to the museum. Then it's time to dive into one of the world's greatest collections of art.

During your two-hour Louvre tour, you'll see all the highlights; including paintings by the French Romantics, sculptures by Michelangelo and Antonio Canova, and jaw-dropping statues from Antiquity like the Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory of Samothrace. Of course, you can't go to the Louvre without pausing to see the Mona Lisa, and with an expert guide on hand, you'll get so much more from that experience.

Another short metro ride with your guide brings you to Trocadero Plaza for the best views of the Eiffel Tower. A major advantage of your Paris City Tour is that you have skip-the-line Eiffel Tower tickets, avoiding what could be hours of waiting in line. Entry times vary depending on the day, but your guide will give you a Seine River cruise ticket so if you get a later entry time you'll be able to enjoy relaxing, sundown views of the Musée d'Orsay, Notre Dame and Paris' numerous beautiful bridges in the meantime. If you get an earlier entry, simply take your cruise afterward. Either way, it's a spectacular way to end the day.

With a small group and skip-the-line access at all the busiest attractions, this complete Paris city tour fits an enormous amount of sightseeing into a single day - with minimal hassle and maximum marvels. There is no better way to see the city in a short period of time.