What to Book in Advance in Paris (+ guided tour/ ticket suggestions)
Last Updated on 13th September 2023 by Sophie Nadeau
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If you’re planning to visit the French capital, then you’re in for a treat. Paris is like a living, breathing open museum where every turn reveals a new architectural wonder or hidden gem. Of course, the part and parcel of this amazing landscape is immense popularity and Paris is one of the most visited cities in a world. As such, in order to not miss out on certain experiences and activities, there are some things worth planning ahead of time. Here’s what to book in advance in Paris!
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What to book in advance in Paris
Eiffel tower
Of course, most visitors would argue that no trip to the French capital would be complete without ascending the world-famous Eiffel Tower. You can either summit to close to the top or opt to visit just the second floor.
Even without a guided tour, I would definitely recommend booking in advance for more flexibility on dates and times. 1 or 2 weeks prior to visiting the tower is probably a good time to book. Book your ticket here in advance
Alternatively, if you’re planning a guided visit, then guided tours of the Eiffel Tower are without any doubt the first thing you’d want to book in advance while planning a trip to Paris. This well-rated tour provided by GetYourGuide France can sell out up to 1 month in advance during peak season.
You can also opt for a river cruise with the Eiffel Tower guide to make the experience even more unique and take amazing pictures of the tower from the boat.
Arc de Triomphe
Symbol of the Champs Elysées and one of the most iconic sights in Paris, the Arc de Triomphe is situated the 8th arrondissement of Paris. Pictures of the Arc de Triomphe monument always look amazing from the roundabout or the avenue, but the views from the rooftop are also worth climbing up the stairs for.
You can access the rooftop from 11 AM to 11 PM every day. Even though it does not give you a skip the line option, you can book your entrance ticket in advance.
Many tours offer sightseeing of the Arc de Triomphe along with other famous landmarks of Paris but there is one that particularly caught my attention, an Amphibious Bus including road tours and river cruises.
Bear in mind that this tour only operates 3 or 4 times a day from Monday to Friday so be sure to book at least a week or so in advance to find the slot that best suits you. Book this fun tour here in advance
Seine River
Enjoying lunch or dinner while cruising through Paris is probably one of the best ways to have an unforgettable experience during your Paris trip. From spying the Eiffel Tower to the world-famous Notre-Dame Cathedral, you will not miss any of the famous landmarks located alongside the Seine.
I would recommend booking at least a month or two in advance if you would like to secure a table on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Book in advance for lunch, starting at 12:45 PM, 2h tour
Book in advance for dinner, starting at 6:15 PM, 75min tour
Book in advance for dinner, starting at 8:30 PM, 2.5h tour
If you would like something more private (for up to 6 people) then there are also some tours available on small boats, very comfortable and nicely designed, a skipper guide will also make the experience even more entertaining. I would recommend booking at least 1 or 2 weeks in advance in order to secure your spot as there are only 2 to 3 cruises per day and Saturdays are the first to sell out.
Book in advance this tour at 12 PM
Book in advance this tour at several times in the day
Louvre Museum
Thanks to its status as one of the world’s most visited museums, it’s always better to pre-reserve your tickets in order to skip the ticket office line. However, do bear in mind that there is still the security check that cannot be avoided and will add some time to your accessing the museum.
Guided groups cannot contain more than 6 people as it is a general rule within this museum. I have pre-selected a few tours that appear to be among the best in the market. I would personally recommend booking several weeks in advance to secure your spot and have enough flexibility on dates and time.
Book the Louvre Masterpieces tour in advance
Book a 2 hour guided visit in advance
Book a 2.5 hour small group visit here in advance
Alternatively, if you prefer to visit at your own pace, you can also opt for timed entrance tickets. Do no hesitate to book them at least a couple of weeks in advance, and even earlier if you want to have a chance to visit the museum before 11 in the morning. Book your entry tickets in advance
Musée d’Orsay
A few different options to visit this great museum focusing on impressionism Art can be booked in advance. Dedicated entrance tickets are probably your best option.
Typically, booking these types of ticket a few days in advance gives you enough time to make sure to get the time slot that suits you best. Including a late entry which is possible every Thursday until 7:30 PM (museum closes at 9:30 PM that day). Book your entry tickets in advance
You can also go directly on the museum website in order to book entry tickets, and additional exhibitions to access some other parts of the museum. Please note that entrance is free for all on the first Sunday of each month, but you need to book your tickets a month in advance (ie: tickets become are available from the Monday, September 4 for the Sunday 1st of October 2023).
If you prefer to visit together with a guide, then this guided tour is very well rated and it can be quite convenient to be able to make it semi-private or even add a gourmet lunch to the visit, you should book this one at least 2-3 weeks in advance to make sure you find the right slot that works with your busy Paris trip!
This private guided tour has amazing reviews and lasts a bit longer, hence why the price is higher. However, if you want to enjoy a deeper dive into the museum, then its certainly worth the extra money.
Montparnasse Tower
Even if you are not a huge fan of the architecture of Tour Montparnasse (and you wouldn’t be alone- the tower is so disliked that laws were passed following its construction to prevent more skyscrapers being built in Paris), you have to admit that the view from the top of this tower is simply breathtaking.
Make sure to book your tickets in advance as there can be a pretty big line downstairs. Book the tickets in advance
Paris Catacombs
The most famous of Paris’ underground complex is probably the tunnels and former limestone quarries which are collectively known as the catacombs of Paris.
This underground network tell the secret story of Paris: that of WWII resistance fighters, those cultivating mushrooms deep beneath the city, and of course, an underground city of the dead.
VIP Skip-the-Line Restricted Access Tour – this tour sounds pretty good even though it’s a little on the pricier side of things. Reviews are simply outstanding, especially because you can also access some parts that are closed to the general public. However, the main problem is that this tour can sell out up to 2 months in advance so should be booked well in advance…
This Skip-the-Line Guided Tour and Special Access is similar to the restricted access tour but also needs to be book a while in advance (at least 2 months or more).
If you prefer to visit at your own price and want to skip the ticket line, then make sure to book your tickets in advance. Bear in mind that the availability is quite low in general.
Indeed you can find tickets further in advance on GetYourGuide (audio guide included) which probably explains the price difference. Or you can also go on the Catacombs website but booking directly on the website is only available up to 7 days in advance (apparently due to fraud).
Sainte-Chapelle
Please note that booking a visit to Sainte Chapelle is typically only available for the next 7 days, even on certified reseller websites. This Île de la Cité landmark is one of the most popular places to visit in Paris, thus why you should make sure to book your tickets in advance.
There is also an option to add the visit of the nearby Conciergerie (where Marie Antoinette was held during the French Revolution) in a combined ticket.
The advantage of this type of ticket is that you can book further in advance, for a price which is not necessarily much higher. Even though there is more availability on this one, make sure to book in advance to be able to find the slot that suits you best.
Panthéon
You can pre-book your tickets in order to skip the line even though there is generally enough availability on the day, it is probably best to arrive with yours in hands. Book in advance your admission tickets. With this being said, visits to the dome (viewing platform) are often sold out before the day of and so should be booked at least a week ahead of time.
Les Invalides: Napoleon’s Tomb & Army Museum
Much like the Paris Panthéon, this is not the busiest place in Paris and so you can often book your tickets last minute on the day by purchasing them online or even at the ticket office upon your arrival. However, if you’re the kind of traveller who prefers booking things in advance, then you can always book your tickets in advance and have them all in the same app.
Opera Garnier
To plan a few days ahead in advance if you’d prefer to visit the Palais Garnier earlier in the day (before noon) as these are the first slots to sell out. Book your tickets in advance
Palace of Versailles
This is the only landmark in this book in advance guide that is not located within Paris itself but actually a short train ride away. Nevertheless, but the distance doesn’t discourage millions of tourists from visiting every year.
Peak season (ie summer) is definitely when you should be thinking about booking in advance especially if you wish to enjoy its gardens. Some guided tours include the trip from Paris which can save you the hassle, either by train or bus, the meeting point is generally in the 15th arrondissement.
There is usually the option to add the gardens and the Marie Antoinette estate to the visit. The full guided tour package often sells out several weeks in advance so be sure to anticipate at least booking your visit at least a month ahead of time. Book your tickets here in advance
If you prefer self-guided tours, then I would still recommend booking your ticket a couple of weeks in advance.Book your tickets here in advance
Some other guided tours do not include the roundtrip from Paris but still allow you to skip the line through a separate entrance. It has to be said that this is quite convenient given how popular the place is. Book your tickets in advance
There is a final tour that I would like to recommend if you are a cycling fan and based in Paris. However, first, let me assure you, that you are not going to cycle from Paris to Versailles!
No, on this one you will travel on a train and collect bikes upon arrival to Versailles. The tour lasts for 8 hours and can start between 8 AM and 10 AM, the starting time can vary depending on the day.
I would recommend booking in advance between April to September when the weather is meant to be nice. Finally, the reviews are simply outstanding, see for yourself: Book in advance
