A few of the longtime Secrets and techniques of Paris readers may keep in mind that I used to be a tour information for nearly 15 years, working the primary few years for the massive worldwide tour corporations (EF Excursions, Backroads, Context Excursions), earlier than creating my very own personal Secrets and techniques of Paris personal excursions in 2005. Though I finished giving excursions in 2017, I’m at all times completely happy to suggest tour guides for pals or Secrets and techniques of Paris Neighborhood members. I’ve both labored with the guides on this shortlist, or have examined their excursions myself earlier than recommending them to others. All are extremely educated, longtime residents of Paris (if not French), have registered their companies right here in France, and — within the case of museum guides — are licensed guides conferenciers.
And I simply suppose they’re all fascinating individuals who I’m positive you’ll be delighted to satisfy! Do be aware that whereas these guides could recognize understanding the way you discovered them, there’s no obligation to say my identify. I make these suggestions for the Secrets and techniques of Paris Neighborhood as a result of I stand behind them; I don’t obtain commissions or compensation of any type.
Museum & Monument Excursions with Licensed Guides
Jean-Manuel Traimond: For artwork lovers and historical past buffs, Jean-Manuel is the most effective information in Paris. A prolific writer born and raised right here, he is aware of he is aware of each nook of Paris and its historical past, from probably the most obscure to the most well-liked. He can provide excursions of any museum (together with short-term exhibitions), monument, or cemetery. He’s been my go-to information for nearly 20 years, together with latest excursions for the Secrets and techniques of Paris Neighborhood members to the Centre Pompidou and the Musée des Années Trente. He speaks seven languages, isn’t brief on fascinating (and infrequently cheeky) anecdotes, and may enchant each teachers and households with younger kids. He’s old-school — no web site, no Instagram — however he brings encyclopedic information and a theatrical aptitude to each tour. From €300 per group. Contact Jean-Manuel straight by way of e mail: hlbhlb@hotmail.com
Richard Smith of Richard’s France Excursions: Initially from England, Richard vacationed together with his household in France earlier than shifting right here in 2011 to get his Grasp’s diploma in Parisian Historical past. Now a totally accredited French information conferencier, he gives custom-made, personal excursions of not simply Paris, but in addition Versailles, Champagne, Loire Valley, Giverny and the D-Day seashores of Normandy. And he’s a kind of uncommon guides who additionally has a VTC license allowing him to drive purchasers in his personal car. Secrets and techniques of Paris members just lately loved a tour with Richard within the personal rooms on the Château de Versailles that usually aren’t open to most people, adopted by a picnic with gadgets we bought on the close by meals market, the right day! Contact Richard via his internet type: https://www.richardsfrancetours.com/enquire
Neighborhood & Specialty Excursions
Rosemary Flannery of Passport to Paris: After a profession in media and trend in NYC, Rosemary moved to Paris in 1989 the place she pursued her love of the humanities. Artist, writer and authorized guide-conferencier, she gives personal excursions of Paris museums, monuments and neighborhoods. She additionally loves sharing the story of Monet’s residence in Giverny and the historical past and splendor of the palace of Versailles and its gardens. Enthusiastic about structure, Rosemary’s excursions of Structure via the Ages, Trendy Structure of Paris, and Angels in Structure, will take you on a discovery of the historical past of Paris’s extraordinary buildings, mansions and homes from the Center Ages to the twenty first century. Having studied the the utilized arts – furnishings, porcelain, jewellery, bronzes and extra – at Drouot, France’s well-known public sale home, Rosemary is a good information for the legendary Paris flea market, the place she’ll show you how to discover no matter’s in your want checklist. She additionally creates customized purchasing excursions for artwork, classic, and trend. Contact her via her web site: http://passport-to-paris.com/contact/ or at flannery2501@gmail.com
Lily Heise of Je T’Aime Me Neither: Initially from Canada, Lily is an writer, guidebook author, and tour information residing in Paris since 2000. She focuses on personal and small group excursions of romantic Paris and Montmartre, however may do excursions of widespread neighborhoods such because the Marais, Latin Quarter, and St-Germain-des-Prés. As an knowledgeable in romance, she will be able to additionally show you how to design a singular and particular marriage proposal (full with a photographer). Lily has traveled extensively as a journey author, so her providers embody customized journey planning for Paris, in addition to France and different locations around the globe. Contact her straight by e mail: jetaimemeneither@gmail.com
Rebecca Devaney of Textile Excursions of Paris: Anybody excited about embroidery and different “fiber arts” received’t need to miss Rebecca’s excursions. An expert high fashion embroiderer, researcher, and award-winning educator who has labored everywhere in the world, Rebecca acquired her MFA in Textile Artwork and Artefact from the Nationwide School of Artwork and Design in Dublin and perfected her embroidery at Paris’s prestigious École Lesage. She labored for couture homes together with Chanel and Dior earlier than founding Textile Excursions of Paris in 2019, main excursions of the town’s celebrated haberdashery and notions boutiques, and the flea markets for classic laces, linens, and threads. Rebecca additionally conducts occasional embroidery workshops, which often fill as quickly as they’re introduced. In case you can’t guide a tour, try her Textile Travels Paris eBook with 50 listings mapped out for you. Contact Rebecca via her internet type: https://www.textiletoursofparis.com/say-hello
Samuél Lopez-Barrantes: Samuél is a novelist (Slim and The Beast, The Requisitions) and musician residing in Paris since 2010. He and his spouse are the co-founders of Kingdom Wherever, an unbiased anglophone micro-press primarily based in Paris, and he’s additionally a board member and fiction editor on the new arts & literature SOUVENIR journal. He’s the one you’ll need to guide in case you’re intrigued by the mental historical past of the Left Financial institution and its literary legends (Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, James Baldwin and Simone de Beauvoir, to call a number of), in case you’re inquisitive about what Paris was like in Montmartre through the 1870 Commune to the Belle Epoque. Samuél can also be an knowledgeable within the historical past of the Nazi Occupation. Go to Samuél’s web site to study extra & view the present strolling excursions on provide: samuellopezbarrantes.com/paris-walks
Gabrielle Arnault-Lazard of Potins de Paris: Even in case you suppose you understand Paris and Parisian historical past higher than the common customer, likelihood is you haven’t heard the tales of what was actually was happening in Versailles, on the Bastille, or within the Palais Royal till you’ve taken the cheeky “500 Years of French Gossip” tour with Gabrielle, aka La Marquise des Potins. Even I realized a number of new juicy historic anecdotes! In case your French is sweet sufficient, you’ll be able to be part of one of many small group excursions with Gabrielle’s colourful colleagues. In any other case, personal English excursions can be found on request (be aware the English model of the web site isn’t as up-to-date because the French one). Contact Gabrielle straight by e mail: lespotinsdeparis@gmail.com
Simon Burke of Txango Excursions: Simon Burke is a historical past instructor turned tour information who spent a decade hiring and coaching tour guides for different corporations earlier than combining his two passions — guiding and sidecar bikes — to type Txango Excursions. Simon and his workforce deliver friends to each nook of Paris & Versailles via their personal 2-hour excursions, from well-known monuments to off-the-beaten-path excursions reminiscent of “Vice & Violence in Montmartre” or “Secrets and techniques of the Left Financial institution”. Try my expertise right here. From €297 per sidecar. You’ll be able to ship inquiries to Simon (simon@txangotours.com) or their operations coordinator Mariana (mariana@txangotorus.com). Guide excursions by way of the online type: https://txangotours.com/en/contact-us/
Bruce McAleer of French Mystique Bike Excursions: Bruce moved to France from Boston in 2009 and spent his free time exploring the little cities, villages, and countryside exterior Paris with nothing however a Michelin map and his bike. He began French Mystique Bike excursions to share his favourite routes with guests (and Parisians) trying to escape the town. For my part, it’s by far the easiest way to expertise the Parisian countryside with none problem. Simply contact Bruce and he’ll handle every part. Learn my article about my very own expertise on his excursions “Bike Excursions of the Parisian Countryside”.
You’ll find Paris bike tour corporations I like to recommend right here (nevertheless I don’t know the guides personally).
Meals & Wine Excursions
Allison Zinder: This American residing in France since 1995 skilled in Angers to turn into an expert chef, working in eating places all through the nation earlier than touchdown in Paris in 2007, the place she started educating college students in culinary arts and meals hospitality in each the French and American universities. A born storyteller, she began her personal firm giving personal excursions to share her love and information of French gastronomy and wine via market excursions, behind-the-scenes visits to Rungis, and displays on French meals historical past — excellent for demanding foodies who need to actually take a culinary deep dive! Contact Allison straight by e mail: contact@allisonzinder.com
Jennifer Greco of Chez Loulou: Jennifer arrived in Paris in 2015 after spending practically a decade residing within the southwest area of Languedoc-Roussillon after which the Calvados division in decrease Normandy, the place she blogged about regional meals and wines, particularly cheese! She now shares her huge information via her cheese and wine workshops. Comfortably seated in a Parisian wine store, these 2.5-3 hour tastings embody 10-12 French cheeses paired with 4-5 wines (and/or different drinks). You’ll study every part from how to decide on the your cheese with confidence, how one can pair it, and even the correct option to minimize it. You’ll be able to both be part of one of many weekly workshops for as much as eight individuals, or guide a non-public group tasting. Contact Jennifer straight by e mail: louloufrance@gmail.com
Geoffrey S. Finch of Paris Wine Walks: Geoffrey is a longtime French resident, wine knowledgeable, writer and instructor, with in depth expertise in guiding wine and gastronomic excursions all through Europe. His Paris Wine Walks give attention to the town’s hidden vineyards and illustrious wine-making historical past that most individuals (even Parisians) don’t learn about. After strolling and exploring Paris collectively, excursions often finish across the desk with a bottle or two of wine, “sharing private tales, sharing wine, sharing bread, sharing meals.” He does small group and personal excursions, in addition to non-drinking excursions of the the historic Medieval and Roman districts of Paris for households, and day journeys to the vineyards of the Ile-de-France. Particular charges obtainable for college students, Parisians, journey brokers, and trade professionals. Contact Geoffrey by way of e mail at pariswinewalks@gmail.com
Franck Adandé of Vegan Paris Excursions: Bringing enjoyable and enthusiasm to the rapidly-evolving Paris vegan scene, Franck is finest referred to as the creator of the Vegan Vacationer Map (in French and English), an old-school printed map that splendidly guides you to the most effective vegan spots, categorized from bakeries to connoisseur eating. He additionally conducts three-hours excursions of vegan Paris, one specializing in road meals, the opposite on pastries. The excursions are bilingual English and French, so you may as well follow your French with out worrying about getting completely misplaced (they will also be privatized on request). Franck hosts common social occasions as properly, from sport nights to vegan disco fest, which you’ll find listed on his Instagram feed. For excursions, guide on-line utilizing these hyperlinks: https://vegantourist.fr/fr/
You’ll find extra wine and cooking colleges that additionally provide meals excursions right here (though I don’t personally know who your information could be in the event that they’re not talked about by identify).
Tour Platforms
As simple as it’s to make use of the giants like Viator, GetYourGuide, and even ToursByLocals, though the guides are native (it could be a somewhat absurd commute in the event that they weren’t), the platforms themselves are owned by international companies that — not like unbiased guides and locally-owned tour corporations — don’t have pay any French taxes on their minimize of the tour proceeds. I get it; operating a enterprise in France is dear. However these avoiding taxes by registering overseas make it even more durable for the native corporations to compete. That’s why this part is somewhat skinny in the meanwhile — suggestions welcome!
#ExploreParis: This tour platform is a singular partnership between the 4 regional tourism places of work of the Ile-de-France area (with Paris at its heart), the RATP (Paris Transport Authority), and native tourism organizations. The thought is to advertise city tourism within the Higher Paris area, to maneuver guests from the identical overcrowded “High Ten” sights round Paris to the numerous lesser-known (and infrequently fascinating) sights on the outskirts and instant suburbs of the town. This may embody neighborhood excursions, waterfront actions, artisan workshop visits, meals excursions, historic manufacturing unit visits, cultural excursions, or conferences with artists. You’ll be able to seek for excursions by date or exercise; most assist you to guide instantly on-line for a spot on a small group tour at very cheap costs. You can too filter for excursions obtainable in English, though there aren’t as many obtainable as in French, so in case you see one thing significantly cool (particularly visits to locations not usually open to the general public), it could be price testing your French simply to observe alongside. A lot of the English excursions may be booked privately, as properly. For any given tour you’ll see the identify of the native tour firm or unbiased information who’s main it, which I like for the transparency. You’ll be able to subscribe to their e-newsletter (within the footer of their web site) to get updates on their newest excursions.
Are you aware of a superb Paris tour information who must be listed right here? E-mail me and we’ll speak! heather@secretsofparis.com
