Paris by Rail with Sightseeing Bus and River Cruise
London, England
- 15 hours (approx.)
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Paris is tantalizingly close to London, but planning a day trip requires coordinating numerous logistics. Enjoy the City of Light in a limited time—with none of the usual hassle—during this full-day excursion by Eurostar train. Your package includes a hop-on hop-off Paris sightseeing tour and a sightseeing cruise on the River Seine, plus the option to upgrade your Eurostar tickets.
- Explore Paris at your own pace without worrying about transportation
- Round-trip Eurostar train tickets include reserved seats
- Relax in a standard-class seat or upgrade to Eurostar Plus
- Check off dozens of landmarks during a bus tour and river cruise
What's Included
- Return train journey with reserved seats on Eurostar
- Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus Tour Ticket
- 1-hour River Seine Sightseeing Cruise
- Information Pack
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Lunch
- Tour Guide
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- St Pancras InternationalEuston Rd., London N1C 4QP, UK
Please do not wait to meet our staff at London St Pancras station as do not conduct in-person departures. Please arrive at Eurostar departure for check-in 5:30 am Monday-Friday (5:00 am on Saturday).
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
Your day trip to Paris starts and ends at London’s St. Pancras International Station. Select between standard-class or premier travel when you book, and then settle aboard your comfortable, air-conditioned Eurostar train for your journey to Paris’ Gare du Nord station.
On arrival at the Gare du Nord, take a city tour of Paris’ signature sights on a hop-on, hop-off bus tour. View must-sees such as the Place de la Concorde and Champs-Elysées, as well as the Eiffel Tower. Soak up the awe-inspiring city views.
Then, go on a scenic cruise along the Seine River. Behold the riverside sights, including Notre-Dame Cathedral.
At the end of a busy day out, return to the Gare du Nord in time to board your train back to London.
On arrival at the Gare du Nord, take a city tour of Paris’ signature sights on a hop-on, hop-off bus tour. View must-sees such as the Place de la Concorde and Champs-Elysées, as well as the Eiffel Tower. Soak up the awe-inspiring city views.
Then, go on a scenic cruise along the Seine River. Behold the riverside sights, including Notre-Dame Cathedral.
At the end of a busy day out, return to the Gare du Nord in time to board your train back to London.
1
St. Pancras International Station
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Gare du Nord
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Champs-Elysees (Pass By)
Place de la Concorde (Pass By)
Eiffel Tower (Pass By)
3
The Seine
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Hotel de Ville (Pass By)
Arc de Triomphe (Pass By)
Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Paris (Pass By)
4
Basilique Du Sacre-Coeur De Montmartre
25 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 14 days of travel. In this case confirmation will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Please ensure you have a valid passport and the necessary visa or electronic travel authorisation, depending on your nationality, for travel between the UK and France.
- Please arrive at Eurostar departure for check-in 5:30 am Monday-Friday (5:00 am on Saturday) at St. Pancras International Station. Please do not wait to meet our staff at London St Pancras station as we no longer conduct in-person departures. You will meet your guide on arrival in Paris at Gare du Nord.
- Return journey (Monday-Saturday): Check in at Paris Gare Du Nord is at 7:00 pm. Eurostar departs at 8:13 pm, arriving into London St. Pancras International at 9:39 pm. Please refer to the check-in time advice on your train tickets for further guidance.
- Train times are subject to change due to operational requirements.
- Entrance to the Eiffel Tower and other attractions are not included.
- Children under 4 years are not provided with a seat on the Eurostar or coach (maximum one child under 4 per travelling adult)
- Please note to maintain a comfortable environment for all guests, Eurostar have some limits around the amount of alcohol you can bring on board: 4 bottles/cans of beer or 1 bottle of wine per person
- Bookings are subject to Eurostar conditions of carriage
- Your train tickets and tour information will be sent to you one week prior to your scheduled departure date via email.
- Train times and check-in times are subject to change due to operational requirements.
- This is an independent (unescorted) tour.
- River Cruise: Your ticket is valid for any boat on the day. Departures are from the piers at Port de la Bourdonnais, located at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, with a frequency of every 30 to 45 minutes
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 25 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Andrea_R
Our guide, Peter, was relaxed, pleasant and humorous. He conveyed interesting facts and stories (and warnings about local scams -which were completely accurate) but avoided talking nonstop. The tour hits the tourist highlights and cruise, but had adequate shopping and exploring time (for crepes)! My teen daughter and I both highly recommend this tour.
Reviews
3.8
based on 578 reviews
Hannah_S, Dec 2024
The Eurostar return train was cancelled, but we did not find out until we arrived at the station. Visitor was notified of course but they did not pass this information along to us. Since we had no notice, all tickets for the last train were sold out and we were unable to return to London that night. I have emailed Viator and have not received any response. Don’t waste your money on this and book your own train tickets/tours.
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Dear Hannah,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback regarding your recent tour with us. Please accept our sincerest apologies for the inconvenience you experienced due to the cancellation of your Eurostar return train from Paris.
Regrettably train cancellations are beyond our control, and we were very unfortunately not made aware of this cancellation beforehand. We understand how frustrating this situation must have been.
We have received your message via email on the 7th of December and have responded accordingly requesting further information to investigate this matter. However, we have not yet received a reply from you. To help us address this issue promptly, we kindly ask you to email us at rail@evanevanstours.co.uk with further details of what happened. This will enable us to look into the matter more thoroughly and provide the necessary assistance.
Once again, we are very sorry for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. We hope to resolve this matter swiftly once we receive the additional information.
Andrea_R, Aug 2023
Our guide, Peter, was relaxed, pleasant and humorous. He conveyed interesting facts and stories (and warnings about local scams -which were completely accurate) but avoided talking nonstop. The tour hits the tourist highlights and cruise, but had adequate shopping and exploring time (for crepes)! My teen daughter and I both highly recommend this tour.
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Hello Andrea_R,
Thank you for taking the time to give us feedback. We are so glad to hear you had a 5 star experience with us. We will let Peter know that he managed to make your day special, i'm sure he will be thrilled to hear your kind words.
We hope to welcome you onboard with us soon!
Best wishes
Evan Evans
Keith_K, Jul 2023
Angela, our guide, was phenomenal! She took us to a variety of locations in Paris and shared with us her knowledge of the history and events surrounding them. If you want a great overview of Paris in a day, this is a tour I wold highly recommend!
Response from Host, Jul 2023
Hello keith_k,
Thank you for leaving us feedback about the tour.
We are glad that our team did a great job. We work very hard to ensure that our customers get outstanding service, and it makes us very happy that it reflected during your recent visit.
Best wishes
Evan Evans
April_H, Apr 2023
We did the guided tour and it was a wonderful experience. Our guide Peter was very knowledgeable and gave us many tips on customary greetings and things to avoid.
The only complaint I would have is how early it starts, but to be able to do everything that gets fit into the day it needs to be, but getting up that early still hurts a bit.
Response from Host, Apr 2023
Hello April,
Thank you so much for this 5-star review. We really appreciate you being a customer and helping to share the word about us.
We hope to see you again on another one of our tours!
Best wishes
Evan Evans Team
Sheri_S, Mar 2023
This experience was exactly what I was hoping for! I booked the guided tour, as I was traveling alone and this was my first time to Paris. It’s a great way to manage how you will get from place to place, ensure you will see the top sights of Paris without wondering why they were created or how you will get to the next point of interest, and also ensure your safety by avoiding being a lone target for anyone who may wish you danger. My goal was to see the main sights of Paris, and we saw everything on my list and then some. Carol, our guide, was impressively knowledgeable about EVERYTHING. Even when we would point out buildings along the way that weren’t necessarily part of the tour, she still knew exactly which building it was, who designed it, when it was built, why it was named so, and any other of the building’s history. I was amazed! I learned so much about Paris, French history, and all the places that would interest me further in the future. Please remember to go into this with realistic expectations. You are not booking a vacation to Paris. You are booking a day tour. One day. Do not expect to explore every single thing in great detail. Expect to SEE the sights Paris has to offer, both on land and by boat, but do not expect to see all of the art that the Louvre has to offer, or to climb the Eiffel Tower, or shop at a leisurely pace at the vast number of high end and souvenir shops. If you want to do these things, I would suggest booking more than a day in Paris to give yourself the necessary time to accomplish that, or pick your favor and book the self-guided tour. While you are given opportunities to walk around during the scheduled free time to shop, eat and explore, just know these breaks are scheduled and if you want to remain with your group you need to plan accordingly to return to your meeting spot on time. Also, it’s worth noting that even if you book the guided tour, if at any time you feel you would rather explore an area on your own you can choose not to continue on with the guided tour. You just have to be sure to be back at the train station in time to board the train back to London, including finding your own transportation back to the station. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the tour, I met some new friends in our small group, bought some souvenirs to bring back home, got a ton of fantastic photos and memories, and can officially check Paris off the list. I also now know where exactly to explore further on future trips to Paris so I don’t waste time or money on places I have learned won’t interest as me as much as another might. I absolutely recommend this tour, and thank Carol and our driver for a day I’ll never forget.
Response from Host, Mar 2023
Hello Sheri,
Thank you so much for this lovely review, we are so happy to hear you had such a good experience with us.
Guest satisfaction is our top priority. We're constantly looking for opportunities to exceed expectations.
We hope you come visit us again soon!
Best wishes,
Evan Evans Team
Stephanie_P, Oct 2022
Do not book this. I was confirmed until I got there the day of and checked my inbox to get a cancellation WHILE IN LONDON. Save yourself the heartache and just book your own train tickets. We ended up paying $300 more the day of to get to Paris on our own. Will never book again!
Response from Host, Nov 2022
Dear Stepha,
Thank you for providing us with feedback.
We apologize that your experience failed to meet your expectations. As a whole, our company strives to provide our customers with the best experience possible. Please know that your experience is not normal, and we have taken steps to ensure that no other customers have the same issue.
We would like to hear from you with any additional questions, comments, or concerns. You can contact us on 0207951777 or email us on Reservations@evanevanstours.co.uk
We would love the chance to make things right with you and hope you choose to give us a second chance.
Sending you our best wishes,
Evan Evans Team
Gregory_K, Apr 2022
I cannot believe that they cancelled this trip on us so late...totally ruined our trip
By the time we hot there we could not get any tickets...more notice would have avoided that
Response from Host, May 2022
Dear Gregory,
We are very sorry to hear your feedback regarding the cancellation of your reservation. Unfortunately due to circumstances beyond our control we could not operate this tour.
You should have received a full refund, however should you wish to discuss your booking further, please do not hesitate to contact us at reservations@evanevanstours.co.uk
All the best,
Evan Evans Team
David_B, Feb 2020
Nigel lead our all American group to Paris in February. He was remarkable well spoken and informed. Handed us our tickets and got us through the queue to get through passport control and onto the train. The train ride was quite fun and exciting for my 10 year old.
Once in Paris we had a wonderful time seeing all of the sites (which are quite close together). Nigel was a perfect mixture of leading and helpful while he also gave us time to disappear and wander off on our own. I was really excited about this trip and it was worth the time. It will be a long day but you will see so much!
KEN_D, Feb 2020
This was a very good trip it was a quick trip but if we wanted a longer trip we would have made different arrangements we got to see the highlights witch were good.
SylviaR_K, Nov 2019
It was raining day through out of the day ☹️ and during the day our tour bus broke down so we had to travel by under ground train to get to different places. Our tour guide was excellent 👌. So overall it was a good experience 😊
Climber528641, Nov 2019
We had a wonderful day trip to Paris. It's important that you understand that you are only paying for your transportation with the basic package: train tickets and hop-on-hop-off bus. There is not a guided tour. (My suggestion would be to purchase the basic package one anyway as it doesn't sound like the other options are worth the money.)
I will also say, that the instructions say that the the tour "Departs" at 6 am. This is not the case because the train left at 7 am. You will meet the representative from the travel company at 6 am to check in. You really do not need to be there until 6 am, so don't kill yourself to get there like we did an hour early.
This is a truly fantastic way to visit Paris and see what you can fit into one day. It was absolutely worth it in my opinion!
Guide11962133756, Nov 2019
This was a miserable birthday for me. It is very dirty. People there were very rude and disrespectful. This is one place I will never visit again. I would not recommend it to anyone.
kpbnorm, Nov 2019
Family of 9 women aging in range from 19-65 thoroughly enjoyed our day in Paris. Angela was a wonderful guide. The day was extremely long but we felt like we had enough time to see core Paris sites.
Julie M, Nov 2019
If you are looking for a quick basic tour (which suited us perfectly) the guided bus tour is a great option. You will see the main point of attractions and have a some free time for your own activities and to wander about. There isn’t a great deal of walking. Great for just seeing some of the sights by bus. Carol our tour guide was fantastic!
Douglas F, Oct 2019
This turned out to be a real good deal. Myself and two colleagues were trying to plan a day trip to Paris , but, the expense of the EuroStar tickets was prohibitive. Then we looked into the guided tour through Viator and the price of the tour and all it included was cheaper than the EuroStar tickets we could get on our own.
The guided tour did not have enough sign ups, but, we did the hop on hop off bus and the river cruise and it was a very nice day
Emily_C, Oct 2019
Simon was an EXCELLENT tour guide! The Magic of London guided tour is a good balance of sightseeing and independent time. This was a perfect way for us to see everything we wanted without having to worry about navigating on our own. You do not get to go inside any of the sights (Louvre for example) but we were totally fine with that. This is a great snapshot of Paris and Simon was full of interesting information!
Al_C, Oct 2019
Excellent day trip to Paris. Our guide (Alexandria) was excellent. She was well versed in the culture, and background of Paris. There were certain parts of the tour that weren't ideal for mobility limited tourist, but she was able to work with us to give us the best of what Paris had to offer. The river cruise was awesome for photo taking opportunities.
Audrey_W, Sep 2019
Most memorable trip celebrating my 70th and my daughters 50th birthdays! Fantastic day all around! Thank you Viator!
Karandeep_B, Sep 2019
The tour was pretty pathetic . I would like to caution on a few facts , If you think the tour guide is a guide to help you in a foreign country , he is not . Our Guide was Toby . He came to the trip pretty tired in the morning , seems he was sleep deprived , so in general were guided by a guy who wanted to catch some sleep while on the trip as it seems this was just another side gig for him .In general, he kept on rushing us through the trip and was short of being rude at times .
The major issue ,was on the last stop he specifically takes to a restaurant " Pret A Manger @Sacré Cœur" for reasons best known . Avoid going there and If you go please take care of your belongings . We lost our iPhone there in just a couple of minutes of negligence while were offered a complimentary Latte , which in Retro seemed to be questionable . We were quick to find that we were missing our phone while we boarded the bus and requested the guide to help , at first he pretended to call the Restaurant Manager while we were checking our bags but when we insisted he said he doesn't have his number . At this point we requested that can he wait as it was just a 2 mins walk to the restaurant , which he said would delay the group to board the train (which we later found was only a couple of blocks away and about 2 hours to board ) , made us think the fishy nature in which were rushed .
As we insisted to go back , we were left alone with no clear directions to reach the train station , not to mention we had a toddler with us to make this ordeal more painful . So we were left on our own and with the rush and urgency to move on and not to wait for us , we lost any trust in him . We later found that the station was just two blocks and 6 mins away and reached at the same time as the group , so Toby could have potentially helped and at least guided . We were shocked by the haste and the urgency that he created for nothing .
So from our experience , the thought to have a guide that would guide you through the trip , tour and help with any issues was not fulfilled and we would have been better off to not but this guided trip or this trip . I would not recommend this tour or the tour guide !!!!
Michael M, Sep 2019
I booked the independent tour, which included the Eurostar train ticket and the Big Bus hop-on hop-off pass once in Paris. Originally, I was planning to book these on my own separately, but when train tickets increased in price, this package through Viator ended up being a better deal. It was exactly what I was looking for. This package is a stress-free way to have an efficient day trip to Paris, hit the major sites, and do it on your own time and agenda rather than with a group if you choose that option. A tour representative meets you at the London train station with your tickets and all instructions. Once you arrive in Paris, the bus picks you up at the train station and takes you all around the city with stop options at multiples sites. It also provides recorded guided commentary as you are riding around to give you a better understanding of what you are looking at. One of the buses I ended up on had a live guide. The only relative challenge of the day was finding the actual bus stop once at the Paris train station, but the tourist information booth at the station was helpful to find it. If you are looking for a flexible and stress free way to see the major sites in Paris in one day, this is a great option.
Richard_S, Aug 2019
We went to Paris from London for the day on Eurostar. It was a great experience. Very easy and very enjoyable. The only suggestion I would make is that for the price we should have had better seats. On our trip to Paris we had the last seats in the car. Because it was right next to the back door next to the bathroom, the door was constantly opening and closing. A little annoying for 2 hours. Over all though it was a great experience.
Salah_A, Aug 2019
For us, this trip was the best way to see Paris in one day since our time was limited. The train ride started at 6:18am. Our tour guide (Nigel) met us at 5:30am and provided us with our train tickets as well as all needed information to start the trip. The train ride from London was comfortable and Nigel and Ahmad, the bus driver at Paris made this trip unforgettable experience. We visited the Eiffel Tower, made the river cruise tour, visited the Louvre Museum, and visited all prominent landmarks in Paris. Nigel was very knowledgeable about all the areas we visited and provided us with all needed information. Free time was the right amount, thanks to the experience of Nigel. Keep in mind that this trip would provide you with the main highlights of Paris in one day, but if you need to spend more time at the attractions, you need to consider a trip that lasts for few days.
Scott_C, Aug 2019
We did not take the guided tour - we just wanted to get to Paris. I booked this because it was actually less expensive than buying a ticket from Eurostar for a group of three of us. The group that Viator booked us in to made no attempt to sit us together on the train - we had to beg, borrow and plead with others to do so. Had they took time to sit us together this would be five stars.
James_G, Aug 2019
Nigel and Ahmad were a very good pair as guide and driver. Nigel was personable, knowledgeable and well organized. He related well to all on board. We will recommend this trip to friends!
Benjamin_N, Aug 2019
This was a fantastic way to see the highlights. Peter, our guide, made the transport process very easy. He was wonderfully helpful and informative, as well as witty and entertaining. I would recommend this to anyone wanting to do a quick visit. We are a family of three with an eleven year old. We had good time to explore two areas of Paris and a clean, convenient way to see the sights.
Guide622134, Aug 2019
Angela was very personable and informed. She made my first time in Paris well worth it. The trip was a quick overview of the city.
vickigma5, Jul 2019
This was the perfect way to see Paris in a day. Train ride from London was great. We did the river cruise tour, without lunch, saw so much from the relaxing boat ride. The bus took us to see all the "must see" places in Paris. Free time was the right amount. And our tour guide Angela was the best!
Kymberli_S, Jul 2019
Confirmed trip by calling tour center the day before trip. The Evans worker was on time with the tickets and gave clear instructions similar to what's found online. After that you are on your own if it's the hip on hop off trip. The bus stop is close to train station in Paris. The weather was lovely and traffic was a bit bad, however there were still enough time to make stops, take pictures, and enjoy the sights. It was a lovely time. If you want to do museums and other attractions you would need more than one day trip to get into those attractions.
David_T, Jul 2019
We wanted to go to Paris for a few days, but I waited to buy Euro Star tickets, and they went way up, so then choose this tour instead. It was a great way to see Paris for the first time. Very well organized and you get to see a lot. The only thing I wish I would've bought prepaid tickets to go up into the Eiffel Tower. You get about 2 hours to view and eat around the Eiffel Tower. We waited in line through the security lines to go inside the grounds,but then you have to wait in line to buy tickets to go up, which the lines we felt were too long the day we went. But, if you buy your tickets ahead of time, you'd have time, not a ton of time to be up there, but some especially if it's not a busy time of the year. If you want to go up into the tower, I'd ask the tour company if you should buy tickets ahead of time. Just walking around and taking pictures and then finding a spot to eat was great as well.
Luis_M, Jul 2019
My wife and I decided to visit Paris for a day during our weeklong honeymoon in London. We booked this guided tour through Viator. I felt the instructions were very clear. We were to meet in front of a shoe shop in the St. Pancras International station to take the Eurostar train to London by 6:00am. We met our tour guide Nigel, who was with us throughout the day. We were given our tickets and instructions for getting through customs and boarding the train. The train itself was a good experience; I was able to get a nap during the ride. Nigel came around to everyone and advised us to use the facilities on the train since they are relatively hard to find in Paris. Once we arriving at the Gare du Nord station, we were escorted to the tour bus that we used to travel around during the day. Nigel describes various facts and histories about the city as we traveled through. We stopped first at the Eiffel Tower for photo opportunities and free time to find lunch amongst the nearby restaurants. Nigel warned us about scammers with clipboards that try to rob you, and we very quickly encountered these folks that we were able to avoid trouble with thanks to the warning. Our next stop was on the River Seine where we took a cruise down the river and had more photo opportunities - especially of the Norte Dame cathedral (which was damaged by a fire shortly before our visit unfortunately - but still beautiful). Upon leaving the boat, we returned to the bus to go to the Louvre. We had a very brief stop to take photos there and appreciate the amazing size of the museum. We continued to the Champs Elysees and the Arc de Triomphe. Our final stop was at the Sacre-Couer and Montmartre area where we had about an hour to stop - a chance to see the basilica and some more souvenir shopping. Finally we were returned to the Gare du Nord station for our train ride back to London.
I felt that the tour was well worth the investment and that we achieved our goals considering we only had a day trip to try to see the major stops in Paris. Nigel did a great job of explaining everything and making sure we didn’t lose anyone along the way. I highly recommend this trip if you have never been to Paris and want someone to give you an overview as an introduction. Don’t expect to have a large amount of time at any given location; if this is what you are looking for, you may be better off skipping the guided tour.
Thanks to Nigel and Evan Evans for a great experience.
From $430.31
per person-You will not receive a refund if you cancel.
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