Welcome to Paris City Stroll & Seine River Cruise

Meet your guide near the Louvre in one of Paris' most charming and elegant small plazas, the Place Colette. Then head over to the Jardins du Palais Royal, and learn how they went from a revolutionary hotbed to the city’s most popular gardens before stepping inside the iconic courtyard of the Louvre. In front of I.M. Pei's famous glass pyramid, your guide will tell you the story of this ancient fortress-turned-palace-turned-art-gallery and recommend what to see when you go for a visit.
Head down to the banks of the Seine and pause with a map to learn how to orient yourself with some of the most recognizable landmarks. Also learn about Paris' famous escargot (snail) layout and figure out how to get to some of the other places that you'll visit later in your stay.
Cross the Pont Neuf and learn why Henry the IV, whose statue adorns one end, is looking so pleased with himself (hint, the ladies loved him). There’s also a little treat: Tickets for the river cruise ship that leaves from Pont Neuf. We won’t hop on right away but you can return and use the tickets whenever you would like during your stay.
On the Ile de la Cité, stop in the lovely square of the Place Dauphine and learn how to play France’s most beloved game: petanque. Then, continue down streets that seem to have changed very little in 500 years, past the Conciergerie - once the country's most feared jail - and turn a few corners to find yourself in front of the great Notre Dame. Finish your tour with a little surprise on the point considered the exact geographic center of Paris. Your guide can explain to you the different legends and traditions surrounding it, but it's up to you whether you want to leave a coin, spin in a circle, or kiss a loved one.
Your 2.5-hour tour will fly by, but the knowledge of Paris' history and culture will inform your entire stay and set you up to enjoy the city to the fullest.